A Shadow on the Glass: 1 (View from the Mirror)

ONCE THERE WERE THREE WORLDS each with their own human species. Then fleeing out of the void came a fourth species the Charon. Desperate on the edge of extinction they changed the balance between the worlds forever. Karan a sensitive with a troubled heritage is forced to steal an ancient relic in repayment of a debt. It turns out to be the Mirror of Aachan a twisted deceitful thing that remembers everything it has ever seen. At the same time Llian a brilliant chronicler is expelled from his college for uncovering a perilous mystery. Thrown together by fate Karan and Llian are hunted across a world at war for the Mirror contains a secret that offers each species survival or extinction! In a world full of epic fantasy clones this stands out as a world-building labour of love with some truly original touches. - Locus.As good as anything I have read in the fantasy genre. Adelaide Advertiser.Shortlisted for the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel 1998.US edition Listed in Sciencefiction.coms Best of 2001.