The Shadow Glass is a love letter to 80s fantasy films like Labyrinth (1986) and The NeverEnding Story (1984), with its own original twists.

THE SHADOW GLASS by Josh Winning (BOOK REVIEW) THE SHADOW GLASS by Josh Winning (BOOK REVIEW)

I liked the character arc that Jack goes through, with the support of his new found friends and family, to accept Bob for who he was and loving the good times while not shying away from the bad either. And in doing so I think that this novel will indeed do just that--remind readers of the joy they have found in movies they loved long ago and hopefully bring together fans of Jack, Zavanna, Brol, and Toby as they explore the magical world of Iri. You can almost imagine that The Shadow Glass really was a film we all watched growing up, and I kind of wish I had a VHS tape of it to watch. Reads like an impassioned love letter to '80s cinema (and fandom of any kind), but will resonate with anyone regardless of age. This is a grandly cinematic novel, not only in that it echoes some of the most beloved fantasy films of the 80s in theme and tone, but also in its sweeping action and brisk pace which never allows the more serious elements to bog down the momentum.First, there were multiple points in the narrative where there was simply too much going on, and so much of it was over the top that I became desensitized to even the things that should’ve broken my heart or had me cheering. The world-building is fantastic, but it’s the beautifully drawn characters that I think will capture readers’ hearts, as they force us to think about growing up, growing old, and the importance of hanging on to that sense of wonder that the best fantasy (like The Shadow Glass itself) can inspire. School Library Journal "A worthy conclusion to a story that is, at its core, about love and letting go.

The Shadowglass by Rin Chupeco | Waterstones

The Shadow Glass highlights the fact that the true power of a story should be used to connect people and bring them joy.I would recommend it to all who like Labyrinth, Neverending Story, and similar 80s fantasy novels or movies. From these extracts we also begin to learn what kind of a man Bob Cormac really was, and how much his story meant to its fans. Fear not, though, because this story isn't a self-pity party - it is, for all purposes, a sometimes epic, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny coming-of-age tale with an adult at its center (which is the freshest thing about it), one who has to rediscover the power of magic and the hero within, while learning to process his anger and grief and, ultimately, to understand and forgive (plus to forge unexpected relationships, both with humans and puppets become alive 😂). The Shadow Glass sets out its stall as a loving tribute to the puppet fantasy extravaganzas of Jim Henson, but manages to build its own cohesive world, injecting more than enough 'grown-up' concerns (alcoholism, death of the maker, difficult family relationships) to prevent the nostalgia from ever becoming cloying.