A Shadow on the Glass

His voice is his magic, his memory is his strength – and ambition is his doom …



Llian, a brilliant Tale-spinner but inept at everyday life, uncovers a 3,000-year-old mystery too dangerous to be revealed and is expelled from his college. 


Karan, a sensitive whose family is cursed by madness, is compelled by honour to steal an ancient magical device and take it to the Magister, in Thurkad. But it’s the treacherous Mirror of Aachan, and hidden within it is a deadly secret.


Thrown together by fate as they struggle to reach Thurkad, Karan and Llian are snared in the machinations of immortals, the vengeance of feuding warlords and the magic of all-powerful sorcerers. Magic that could break Karan’s fragile mind, and corrupt Llian as he pries into the riddles of the mirror.


And if they fail the Twisted Mirror will spark a millennial war, terrible as a tsunami, that will deluge the land in banned magic, tear nations apart, and crush all the little people in its path.



You won’t want to miss this truly epic fantasy series by million-selling author Ian Irvine.



What reviewers say about the Three Worlds books


“A compelling adventure in a landscape full of wonders.” – Locus


“A page-turner of the highest order … Formidable!” – SFX on Geomancer


“It is the most engrossing book I’ve read in years.” – Van Ikin, Sydney Morning Herald


“Readers of Eddings, Goodkind and Jordan will lap this one up.” – Starlog


“Utterly absorbing.” Stephen Davenport, Independent Weekly


“For sheer excitement, there’s just no one like Irvine.” SFX on The Destiny of the Dead


“As good as anything I have read in the fantasy genre.” – Adelaide Advertiser



Reviews and Honours for A Shadow on the Glass


Shortlisted for the 1998 Aurealis Award, Best Fantasy Novel.


US edition listed in Sciencefiction.com’s Best of 2001.


"In a world full of epic fantasy clones, this stands out as a world-building labour of love with some truly original touches." – Locus.


“A grand-scale epic fantasy that features a pair of unusual heroes and a complex world rich in history and variety.” Library Journal


“Those who like quests will enjoy A Shadow on the Glass. A recurring theme of betrayal - of people, places, and ideas - heightens the tension and increases the plot's emotional grip.” Starburst, UK


“Ian Irvine is a great find! He writes beautifully about a vast and intricate world that seems utterly real. His characters are as well drawn as any I’ve come across in fantasy.” – Kate Elliott, author of King’s Dragon


“Irvine has built a history and wonderful culture for his vivid world. His first novel vibrates with originality.” – The West Australian