Rating: 
Summary: a truly compelling read
Review: Karan of Bannador is just an innocent young woman who wants nothing more than to save her manor, sire some children, grow old, and die. However, the chance of this occurring becomes very slim as she is dragged into a conspiracy that ruins and raises the most powerful people on the planet, people whose eyes inevitably turn to her. Ian Irvine is an inspired writer, and this is truly an amaziing series. Unfortunately for those of us from the U.S., Irvine is Australian. A Shadow on the Glass is the only book currently out here, although the next book, the Tower on the Rift, should be coming out soon. I had to go all the way to Canada to get the next two books in the series--they're great, as well--and will journey yet again in December when the fourth and final book comes out in Canada. A five-star series!
Rating:
Summary: Compelling
Review: The title says it all!! I can't wait for the rest of the series to be published, but having something to look forward to for the next couple of years is quite intriguing, if you're a person like me. It's also a good source of character names if you're a person that plays online RPG. ;-)
Rating: 
Summary: a great book ...hoping for a great series
Review: as seems to be the ultimate irony of life almost every book that is a series was first printed in australia first and together or so long ago they are all out now. the only book out in the good old u.s.a is "a shadow on the glass" i thought this book was smart, inventive and highly orginal. the only complaint i have is the inconsistent detail. there are parts of this book where irvine describes everything to perfection, down to the herione's, karan, fiery red locks. but on the flip of that there are times when nothing more than dialouge and movement are written. before anyone screams a fit hear me out, the last scene of the book is a prime example. no i am not going to give it away but like every other vital scene in the book key elements are left out. a courtroom is filled with people but people are suddenly just next to someone, there is no explanation of why anything is happening, it just does. this annoyed me since the less crucial scenes were described in exquisite detail. i love this book and will read the following. i recommend this book but be prepared to read a few passages over again to try and gleam out what exactly just happened.
Rating:
Summary: An awesome book
Review: I thought that this book was one of the greater finds for me. I read cover to cover (672 +- pages) in 3 days. The book pulls you in quickly and has a great cliffhanger ending leading to book 2 (A Tower on the Rift, January 2002). Overall, a great read and well worth the time.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting story
Review: I bought this book because I wanted to start reading a series, that the author had already finished writing(for once). I have just read books 2 and 3, which are much better than Book 1; I would give both of them a five star rating. In Book 1, Karan, a sensitive is forced to steal a mirror from a warlord (Yugger) in repayment for a debt. Karan meets up with a story-teller (Llian) who was thrown out of college for telling a new alternative ending to a famous story. Most of the book tells about Karans escape from Yugger, and her dilemma over who to give the mirror to. Parts of the book annoyed me a bit; Karan always seems to be being chased by someone, the writing is a bit stiff in places and you get the feeling that the book is being written to a formula. However both the plot and the characters are very interesting and original. There are no all powerful big baddies-even the 'nasty' rulers have their weaknesses. Karan and Llian are also two of the most interesting central characters i have come across. Karan is determined and tough but also is very vunerable, with a tendency towards madness. Llian is a dreamer who even in very strange situations can imagine that he is famous. As i said before, the series gets much better as it progresses-the formula feel wears off and the writing improves. I can't wait until the final book is published here.
Rating:
Summary: Surprising delight.
Review: Having run out of things to read, I decided to browse the book aisle at my local grocery. The only thing that caught my eye was 'A Shadow on the Glass' How very glad I am that I decided to buy this book. The story is wonderful, a rich tapestry of characters, action, adventure, intrique and subtle but endearing romance. I am quite sad to have finished it (in near record time for me) and anxiously look forward to the next installment. If you are a fan of fantasy or just a really well-written tale, pick up this book.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, wonderful read
Review: The storyline has been covered by other reviewers so I won't go there.
What I will say is that this is a rich, rewarding book. If you are looking for something that dashes along at warp speed with trauma, blood and guts, and action on every page....this isn't for you.
However, if you are looking for something that you have to apply some of your imagination to, writing rich in description and feeling, characters that you gradually come to know and understand. Well.....this is it. Some of the description are so clarifying I've stopped reading to think about it and can hear the wind sussing in the grass, feel the snow falling or the chill of twilight.
Well....I'm getting a little verbose but I wanted you to have an idea of what I got out of this. I've read the first book and amon the second and, boy, what a treat!
Rating:
Summary: A good start to a superb series.
Review: One of the problems with first books is that it often takes a while for the author to find their voice. Such was certainly the case with Mercedes Lackey's first book, and she turned into an excellent fantasy author. Similar problems afflict A Shadow on the Glass, though not quite to the same extent. The View from the Mirror is a complex tale, primarily focused around the mystery of the Forbidding, a magical shield that has trapped three 'human' races on the same planet, along with the original inhabitants, 'old human'. The four races only marginally get along, and though interbreeding is possible, the blendings produced are often unstable - though powerful. All of the intruder races want to get home, and so seek to find a way through the Forbidding. Two separate events trigger the events of this series: The Chronicler Llian discovers documents written at the time of the Forbidding, and a blending, Karan, is recruited to steal a magical Mirror - which was present during the creation of the Forbidding, and may hold the secret to its breaking. From there the hunt is on! This is a world where no-one is truly evil, all have their own motivations, magic has its cost, and the survival of the various species is all important. I really can't recommend this series enough. The first book has its flaws, but the writing improves as the series progresses. The series is thematically complex, extremely original, and very rewarding.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: My only complaint is that I have to wait until January for the second book. I thought the characters to be more human, with normal weaknesses, easier to relate to. The different cultures in this story are so diverse. The story moves very quickly. I hated to put it down. I have read all of the books Robert Jordan has written and most of Terry Brooks. I would have to say that Ian Irvine and this view from the mirror series ranks rite up there. Over all, GREAT BOOK! Can't wait to read the rest of the story.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as it might have been...
Review: I found it to be quite a bit disappointing. Perhaps Irvine should attempt to emulate the worldbuilding of Feist. I am halfway through the second book it it appears to be going downhill and is not as suspenseful as many other books I've read. Even Jordan's first few books were better before he devolved into go nowhere, do nothing books selling on his name. I think Dune will be much better, so I may start that instead of finishing this series - it just doesnt seem good value at (price)(aus) a book.
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