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Silverglass #1
Silverglass
The life of a sword-for-hire was often uncertain, but brazen and beautiful Corson brenn Torisk would have no other.
When Corson's services as a guard were engaged by the Lady Nyctasia, it seemed that fortune was finally smiling upon her. The Lady had a ready wit, an open purse and a reputation for sorcery which she assured Corson was quite undeserved.
While Corson had little liking for magic and still less for magicians, it seemed too good an opportunity to refuse. But when her employer's enemies proved to be as numerous as her coins, Corson decided that any aid was welcome--even the Lady's sorcery.
When Corson's services as a guard were engaged by the Lady Nyctasia, it seemed that fortune was finally smiling upon her. The Lady had a ready wit, an open purse and a reputation for sorcery which she assured Corson was quite undeserved.
While Corson had little liking for magic and still less for magicians, it seemed too good an opportunity to refuse. But when her employer's enemies proved to be as numerous as her coins, Corson decided that any aid was welcome--even the Lady's sorcery.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 27, 2022
One of the advantages of ebooks over print books is that it brings back to readers almost forgotten books and authors. Rivkin is a puzzle dating back to the 80's : a mysterious author who is probably hiding under a pseudonym who penned a series of unusual sword & sorcery novels, contributed to a few anthologies and then disappeared. I would have passed the author and the books by if it weren't for the heavy-metal, 80's glam covers of Louis Royo.
I know I'm shallow this way and I like to ogle at heavy chested heroines in impractical fighting costumes that are designed to reveal rather than to protect, but the actual novel is surprisingly progressive and non-conformist when it comes to the portrayal of women. Sword & Sorcery is notorious as a male dominated genre with the iconic Conan as the quintessential hero, surrounded either by females of loose morality, peanut brains and scant vetements or by ambitious, devious, deadly power grabbers of the femme fatale persuasion. Rivkin sets out to demonstrate that women can be as skilled and as adventurous as their male counterparts.
Silverglass starts with a familiar scene : a wandering mercenary walks into a seedy tavern and starts a fight, resulting in a contract to protect and serve a rich patron on a perilous quest to the other end of the map. What's the catch you might ask? The mercenary is Corson Brenn Torisk, tall and curvaceous, with golden toned skin and chestnut hair falling in rich waves to her shoulders - a head turner and a troublemaker, former professional soldier, now striking out on her own. Her patron is Lady Nyctasia, scion of the most powerful family in the city of Rhosthyl, fallen afoul of both her family and of their political opponents for proposing an end to centuries of bloody feuds between these families. Hunted by both hired killers and city guards, Nyctasya needs Corson to make her escape and to search for help from a former lover, a powerful magician in his own country. Nyctasia herself is no slouch when it comes to magic spells and keeping secrets.
The actual plot is quite forgettable and standard sword & sorcery fare, with plenty of action scenes and tongue-in-cheek dialogue to satisfy the fans of the genre. A bit more memorable are several steamy sex scenes on girl on girl action as the relationship between mercenary and patron develops and the fortunes of the road brings them closer together. Such explicit scenes may come with a warning to more easily offended readers, but I found them treated in a fun and detached manner, as the natural thing to do in the given society - something that was praised at the time of publication by various organizations militating for alternative lifestyles.
For me, the best review comes from Piers Anthony, and it was offered deservedly a prominent place on the cover:
"It's fun to see a tall, handsome, hard-fighting, hard-drinking, barbarian hero - who is female"
I will read the next book in the series, expecting another fun, if forgettable adventure.
I know I'm shallow this way and I like to ogle at heavy chested heroines in impractical fighting costumes that are designed to reveal rather than to protect, but the actual novel is surprisingly progressive and non-conformist when it comes to the portrayal of women. Sword & Sorcery is notorious as a male dominated genre with the iconic Conan as the quintessential hero, surrounded either by females of loose morality, peanut brains and scant vetements or by ambitious, devious, deadly power grabbers of the femme fatale persuasion. Rivkin sets out to demonstrate that women can be as skilled and as adventurous as their male counterparts.
Silverglass starts with a familiar scene : a wandering mercenary walks into a seedy tavern and starts a fight, resulting in a contract to protect and serve a rich patron on a perilous quest to the other end of the map. What's the catch you might ask? The mercenary is Corson Brenn Torisk, tall and curvaceous, with golden toned skin and chestnut hair falling in rich waves to her shoulders - a head turner and a troublemaker, former professional soldier, now striking out on her own. Her patron is Lady Nyctasia, scion of the most powerful family in the city of Rhosthyl, fallen afoul of both her family and of their political opponents for proposing an end to centuries of bloody feuds between these families. Hunted by both hired killers and city guards, Nyctasya needs Corson to make her escape and to search for help from a former lover, a powerful magician in his own country. Nyctasia herself is no slouch when it comes to magic spells and keeping secrets.
The actual plot is quite forgettable and standard sword & sorcery fare, with plenty of action scenes and tongue-in-cheek dialogue to satisfy the fans of the genre. A bit more memorable are several steamy sex scenes on girl on girl action as the relationship between mercenary and patron develops and the fortunes of the road brings them closer together. Such explicit scenes may come with a warning to more easily offended readers, but I found them treated in a fun and detached manner, as the natural thing to do in the given society - something that was praised at the time of publication by various organizations militating for alternative lifestyles.
For me, the best review comes from Piers Anthony, and it was offered deservedly a prominent place on the cover:
"It's fun to see a tall, handsome, hard-fighting, hard-drinking, barbarian hero - who is female"
I will read the next book in the series, expecting another fun, if forgettable adventure.
February 7, 2025
TIT LIT!
This was an interesting one, not what I was expecting, much better actually.
Having read Raven: sword mistress of chaos, which also boasts a comely warrior woman with her lovely décolletage on full display on the cover.
Raven was the kind of book aimed at horny 14 year olds, the plot was thin and it featured some explicit sex scenes, pretty much what I expected.
Silverglass takes more time with the story and characters. I haven’t looked it up by I suspect that the author is a woman. There’s lots of action and shopping.
The two main characters Carson and Tasia are both sexually charged and have sex with each other as well as other characters but the sex is implied and they are the ones in control of these encounters.
Most of the page count is spent developing the complex relationship between Tasia, a high born woman who is an enigmatic sorceress with a chameleon like ability to be perceived as a noblewoman or poor, travelling scholar, even male or female with the help of costume changes and acting ability.
Corson a hot tempered, freewheeling mercenary. She’s a warrior of Amazonian beauty and stature whose sexual lust is only outstripped by her wander lust.
Corson is initially hired to kill Tasia but somehow Tasia’s powers of persuasion convince Corson to strike a deal to be her bodyguard and escort her away from her family to her paramour who waits for her in a far away land.
As the unlikely duo make their way by land and sea, saving each others lives in process, their bond deepens.
It really winds up being a female bromance, besties saving each other from themselves in a way.
Pretty decent, I’d read the next one if I found it in the wild.
This was an interesting one, not what I was expecting, much better actually.
Having read Raven: sword mistress of chaos, which also boasts a comely warrior woman with her lovely décolletage on full display on the cover.
Raven was the kind of book aimed at horny 14 year olds, the plot was thin and it featured some explicit sex scenes, pretty much what I expected.
Silverglass takes more time with the story and characters. I haven’t looked it up by I suspect that the author is a woman. There’s lots of action and shopping.
The two main characters Carson and Tasia are both sexually charged and have sex with each other as well as other characters but the sex is implied and they are the ones in control of these encounters.
Most of the page count is spent developing the complex relationship between Tasia, a high born woman who is an enigmatic sorceress with a chameleon like ability to be perceived as a noblewoman or poor, travelling scholar, even male or female with the help of costume changes and acting ability.
Corson a hot tempered, freewheeling mercenary. She’s a warrior of Amazonian beauty and stature whose sexual lust is only outstripped by her wander lust.
Corson is initially hired to kill Tasia but somehow Tasia’s powers of persuasion convince Corson to strike a deal to be her bodyguard and escort her away from her family to her paramour who waits for her in a far away land.
As the unlikely duo make their way by land and sea, saving each others lives in process, their bond deepens.
It really winds up being a female bromance, besties saving each other from themselves in a way.
Pretty decent, I’d read the next one if I found it in the wild.
January 4, 2014
This novel was a light, easy read and, coming as it did after some enjoyable but heavier fare by way of Karl Edward Wagner, it was a good change of pace and really hit the spot. Like a delicious, but forbidden bag of chips, it was difficult to put down. A combination of short chapters, nice pacing, and mostly enjoyable banter/bickering between the two main characters made this book easy to read and enjoy; the time just flew by.
Saying it was light and easy is by no means meant to disparage the work. I read the work specifically to be entertained, and for me it met that goal in spades. And adding to the ease of accessibility the characters, based around existing genre tropes, were familiar enough that they quickly became comfortable, allowing me to slip into the story without effort, while still managing to maintain enough distinction to be their own people, as it were.
Silverglass is a Sword and Sorcery novel more character driven than some; with entertaining characters and enjoyable bickering that sometimes walks the edge of being a little bit too much of a good thing. While the fact of the 'barbarian warrior' being female is touted on the cover (from a Piers Anthony blurb, no less), the book itself doesn't rely on this assumed novelty (if, in fact, it is such) for its appeal, but instead builds on it to create a story that I found pleasant and worth reading. I will definitely be looking into the remaining three works in this collection: Web of Wind; Witch Of Rhostshyl; and Mistress of Ambiguities.
Saying it was light and easy is by no means meant to disparage the work. I read the work specifically to be entertained, and for me it met that goal in spades. And adding to the ease of accessibility the characters, based around existing genre tropes, were familiar enough that they quickly became comfortable, allowing me to slip into the story without effort, while still managing to maintain enough distinction to be their own people, as it were.
Silverglass is a Sword and Sorcery novel more character driven than some; with entertaining characters and enjoyable bickering that sometimes walks the edge of being a little bit too much of a good thing. While the fact of the 'barbarian warrior' being female is touted on the cover (from a Piers Anthony blurb, no less), the book itself doesn't rely on this assumed novelty (if, in fact, it is such) for its appeal, but instead builds on it to create a story that I found pleasant and worth reading. I will definitely be looking into the remaining three works in this collection: Web of Wind; Witch Of Rhostshyl; and Mistress of Ambiguities.
October 6, 2014
Despite the focus of the cover art, the back cover text, and Piers Anthony's exuberant cover quote, the series looks like it circles the sly, scholarly Nyctasia, while the brash warrior Corson is the steadying influence (contrary to appearances).
Unlike many series with a strong woman as protagonist (cough cough Demon in the Mirror), the role of the characters are not a matter of note within the story itself. Nobody ever adds the qualifier "...for a woman!" to their abilities, and I picked out several cases of women in traditionally masculine jobs: mercenaries, guards, merchants, and the smuggler captain, none of which are remarked upon.
Their love interests--their long-term love interests, that is--are also reversed from the traditional sword-and-sorcery viewpoint. Corson's Steifann runs a successful tavern and inn and is not the traveling type. Erystalben awaits Nyctasia in a distant stronghold, where he is lord. The women wander, the men keep house.
Unlike many series with a strong woman as protagonist (cough cough Demon in the Mirror), the role of the characters are not a matter of note within the story itself. Nobody ever adds the qualifier "...for a woman!" to their abilities, and I picked out several cases of women in traditionally masculine jobs: mercenaries, guards, merchants, and the smuggler captain, none of which are remarked upon.
Their love interests--their long-term love interests, that is--are also reversed from the traditional sword-and-sorcery viewpoint. Corson's Steifann runs a successful tavern and inn and is not the traveling type. Erystalben awaits Nyctasia in a distant stronghold, where he is lord. The women wander, the men keep house.
August 9, 2009
First in a series about a female barbarian warrior. Decent Sword & Sorcery. I enjoyed it and I like the main character pretty well, although I prefer the Raven stories of Kirk in some ways. This has more going for it than just action, though. It definitely made me want to read more in the series.
August 17, 2022
Rep: bi mcs
October 20, 2013
A glance at the truly beautiful Luis Royo wraparound cover reveals that Silverglass takes place in a land where hair metal reigns supreme, but the humble bra is yet to make an appearance. Our protagonist is destined to regret this lack of support in years to come, but as the novel opens, sensible undergarments could not be further from Corson brenn Torisk's mind. The former solider turned borderline alchoholic sword-for-hire has recently been employed by two rival factions to eleminate the "dread sorceress", Lady Nyctasia ar'n Edonaris. This happy circumstance allows Corson to pocket twice the reward, and she is celebrating by getting spectacularly drunk and gambling badly. She will remain either drunk or hungover for much of this novel.
In a further twist of fate, the astute and charming Nyctasia is also aware of Corson's lethal reputation and offers an even larger financial reward for her services as bodyguard rather than agent of death. What begins as a business transaction gradually transforms into a mismatched friendship as the two set off to reunite Nyc with her beloved.
This unlikely partnership is the heart of the novel, and the strongest point has to be the interactions between them. They bicker - constantly and hilariously. Early on, Nyctasia has been stabbed and is in pretty shit shape. Aware that she has a payday whatever the outcome, Corson asks if she is fit to stay on the horse,"I'm warning you, if you fall off, I'll leave you behind."
From the cover and the early pages, you would be forgiven for thinking that Corson is the most terrifying warrior to ever pick up a sword and mousse her hair. However, this is not the case. She is robbed, poisoned, and is generally quite dim. To refer to the Xena-verse, she is more Meg than Warrior Princess...
Alas, it's not all drinking and LOLs. I have two gripes with Silverglass, and here they be:
1. The treatment of same sex relationships. On the one hand, there is no issue at all, and I feel a bit rubbish for even bringing it up. Homosexuality isn't considered in any way unusual. Silverglass takes place in a sexually fluid world wherein the characters are either bisexual, or don't have an issue with anyone who is. Hoorah! You might think. What a joyous find! Sword and sorcery with an open minded approach to the wonderful panoply of human sexuality! Oh, truly this is a day for celebration!
....But calm yourself, dear reader. Being the analytical and generally miserable old soul that I am, I found it not quite that simple. Corson and Nyc first sleep together after a disagreement, with Nyc seducing Corson largely to shut her up. The next morning, they wake up and begin discussing their male paramours. We end up with a situation in which there is recreational sex and flirting between women, but relationships only exist between men and women. There is also a cruel and rather clumsy double standard at play - Corson flirts with barmaids and buff warriors alike, and thinks nothing of sleeping with Nyctasia, but is constantly anxious about her boyfriend Steifann, imagining him getting up to all manner of infidelities. Not cool, Corson. Not cool at all.
2. It's just not that good. The plot is a bit flimsy and there is surprisingly little action.
That said, the dynamic between our two main dames is an absolute delight. The dialogue between them is excellent, and the book remains fun throughout - I'm entertained enough by the whole thing to be actively pursuing books 2-4.
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pulp-pit.blogspot.com
October 27, 2015
Fun sword and sorcery romp, really nice to see a hard drinking, hard fighting, lusty FEMALE barbarian. The book centres on the friendship between a warrior heroine and the boyish looking sorceress she is paid to protect. All characters seem bisexual, teases the reader on that front, a bit like Xena. Not quite as engaging as Phyllis Ann Karr's Frostflower and Thorn, but certainly in the same vein. This is the first of four volumes. Looking forward to the other three.
July 14, 2024
A silly and confused little read
October 27, 2014
"Silverglass" is an easy read in the best sense of the word. It weaves danger into the narrative and a mildly surprising twist at the end seems authentic.
It's not a complex read (I finished in about three hours) but it's a breezy story with some slight character development and world-building. Corson is a fantastic female character, lead by her sense of wanderlust, appetites, and - perhaps - connection. Simply put, it's just a lot of fun.
It's not a complex read (I finished in about three hours) but it's a breezy story with some slight character development and world-building. Corson is a fantastic female character, lead by her sense of wanderlust, appetites, and - perhaps - connection. Simply put, it's just a lot of fun.
October 26, 2021
I read this as a bit of a throwback salute to the mass market 1980s fantasy novels. This is a surprising novel, while the style (lots of infodumping and telling) and storyline (character walks into a bar, all hell breaks loose), is decidedly 80s, the characters are pretty progressive for the time. No one says, 'you are a pretty good sword considering you are a woman', or 'you can hold your drink for a woman.
Corson is at least bisexual, and Nyctasia seems pan, or at least willing to flirt with anything with a heartbeat. There is also (briefly), a trans or intersex character - it's not really made clear: 'Are you a man or a woman?', 'Why don't you come over here and find out?' sort of thing.
My criticism is that none of it is done particularly well. It's like the author thought up a male character and then put boobs on them. The trans/intersex character is made into more of a scene for comic relief than seriously introducing them.
At one point Corson essentially rapes a male character she just met. The bloke is pushing her away and shouting, 'stop it', but she keeps on going until he finally relents and lets her have her way with him and seems to enjoy it. There's a big difference between a seduction between two people and physically assaulting someone you've just set eyes on until they give in.
Fair enough, the novel is 35 years old and one could argue I can't look at it with modern eyes and expect it to hold up to current societal expectations of inclusion, acceptance, and consent. The author probably thought they were being very forward thinking by including a gender or sexually ambiguous character and a female on male sexual assault scene. I chose to read this novel as an historic peek into how we used to see things and how much we have changed. Sad thing is, there are probably people about who will read it now and not see anything wrong with it.
As far as the story goes, it is a pretty basic 80s fantasy set up - hired sword gets tangled up in the good v evil affairs of people in power, initially for money, but then they start to care. There are scary magical forests, spells, mirrors, and things that go bump in the night. There is also lots of drinking and fighting.
I found the writing kind of choppy, with a fair bit of head hopping in scenes. Although that might have been a formatting issue. I bought a print copy that was published independently by Encyclopocalypse Publications and they didn't do very good job of it - there is even a note left in at the end of a chapter saying [[why does a blank page follow, I can't delete it?!]] p.167. The style was typically 80s too, as I mentioned, lots of telling and info dumps rather than showing and weaving information in via the characters' dialogue or actions. The story is very plot based, with things happening to the characters and them reacting rather than being character driven and emotive. I think this is just another thing that has changed with the times.
Overall, this was a quick and easy read. It was kind of fun in a nostalgic sort of way, however I don't think I'll buy the rest of the series because the characters didn't grab me emotionally and I got tired of rolling my eyes and wincing - it's hard to do both at the same time.
Corson is at least bisexual, and Nyctasia seems pan, or at least willing to flirt with anything with a heartbeat. There is also (briefly), a trans or intersex character - it's not really made clear: 'Are you a man or a woman?', 'Why don't you come over here and find out?' sort of thing.
My criticism is that none of it is done particularly well. It's like the author thought up a male character and then put boobs on them. The trans/intersex character is made into more of a scene for comic relief than seriously introducing them.
At one point Corson essentially rapes a male character she just met. The bloke is pushing her away and shouting, 'stop it', but she keeps on going until he finally relents and lets her have her way with him and seems to enjoy it. There's a big difference between a seduction between two people and physically assaulting someone you've just set eyes on until they give in.
Fair enough, the novel is 35 years old and one could argue I can't look at it with modern eyes and expect it to hold up to current societal expectations of inclusion, acceptance, and consent. The author probably thought they were being very forward thinking by including a gender or sexually ambiguous character and a female on male sexual assault scene. I chose to read this novel as an historic peek into how we used to see things and how much we have changed. Sad thing is, there are probably people about who will read it now and not see anything wrong with it.
As far as the story goes, it is a pretty basic 80s fantasy set up - hired sword gets tangled up in the good v evil affairs of people in power, initially for money, but then they start to care. There are scary magical forests, spells, mirrors, and things that go bump in the night. There is also lots of drinking and fighting.
I found the writing kind of choppy, with a fair bit of head hopping in scenes. Although that might have been a formatting issue. I bought a print copy that was published independently by Encyclopocalypse Publications and they didn't do very good job of it - there is even a note left in at the end of a chapter saying [[why does a blank page follow, I can't delete it?!]] p.167. The style was typically 80s too, as I mentioned, lots of telling and info dumps rather than showing and weaving information in via the characters' dialogue or actions. The story is very plot based, with things happening to the characters and them reacting rather than being character driven and emotive. I think this is just another thing that has changed with the times.
Overall, this was a quick and easy read. It was kind of fun in a nostalgic sort of way, however I don't think I'll buy the rest of the series because the characters didn't grab me emotionally and I got tired of rolling my eyes and wincing - it's hard to do both at the same time.
October 30, 2024
Light read with a lot of twists and turns. Corson, one of the main characters reminds me of a female Conan. She even expresses her disdain for magicians, which I found funny while reading. Corson and Nyctasia are polar opposites and it’s fun to read about them interacting with each other. Corson is a rough, and rowdy mercenary. Nyctasia is a poised, lady-like scholar/witch. They balance each other out very well. There personalities clashing leads to a lot of entertaining and funny banter. As often as they fight and disagree with each other, they always end up uniting again. The book is smutty but it doesn’t override the story, which is nice. The cover art is lovely as well, I was mostly attracted to this book because of the art. I’m obsessed with retro sword and sorcery art, so the moment I saw this cover I knew I had to get this book. Definitely worth reading. I wish there were more S&S books like Silverglass.
October 29, 2019
For 3 years I have been telling myself, i will start reading more fantasy books. Well finally, I did it. This series is where I will return. A twist on the sword and sorcery genre where the two main characters are female, a barbarian and a wizard. Together they build a unlikely odd couple relationship, which is where the most fun comes from.
As for the story, while fun was quite average. But I am hoping that the next books become even more exciting, maybe this was just an introduction.
The heroine of our tale also, then to sleep around a lot, which I was not expecting. Not sure if the author was male or female, but my guess is towards the male. Would recommend this for a fun light hearted read. Looking forward to see how the next book progresses.
As for the story, while fun was quite average. But I am hoping that the next books become even more exciting, maybe this was just an introduction.
The heroine of our tale also, then to sleep around a lot, which I was not expecting. Not sure if the author was male or female, but my guess is towards the male. Would recommend this for a fun light hearted read. Looking forward to see how the next book progresses.
August 16, 2022
Nyctasia leaned against the back of a chair and looked searchingly at Corson. "I hope you've no weakness for gambling. Your face betrays your every thought."
"I always lose," Corson admitted. "And this looks to be a losing game."
This book was recommended to me by my bestie who thought I might need this book in my life.
Silverglass is a very old-school tale with a modern twist in its portrayal of warrior women, a superbly funny fantasy that screams 80s! and has amazing main characters on an entertaining quest I fell a little in love with.
I absolutely appreciate how unapologetically this book was towards its female characters going against typical female roles and how nonchalant the author was about introducing their sexuality.
I love it when books include diversity without creating a fanfare for it.
The story is quick and easy, with a plot its easy to fall into and an engaging adventure, and sure, it could use a little more world-building and backstory, but it serves its entertaining purpose well and it reminded me a lot of Xena: warrior princess, which I adored when I was a kid.
March 6, 2025
Just finished reading .. for something different.
Genre states this is Science fiction fantasy. There is no science fiction here to be found. The first half of the book felt like historical adventure fiction … but then the lesser part started leaning towards magic and the novel started to lose me. Actually better written than I originally expected based off the front cover. The highlight of the book was the rambunctious hard drinking Amazonian esque Corson. I would have been happy for the plot to focus singularly on her quests and not that of her mystical master.
3/5
Genre states this is Science fiction fantasy. There is no science fiction here to be found. The first half of the book felt like historical adventure fiction … but then the lesser part started leaning towards magic and the novel started to lose me. Actually better written than I originally expected based off the front cover. The highlight of the book was the rambunctious hard drinking Amazonian esque Corson. I would have been happy for the plot to focus singularly on her quests and not that of her mystical master.
3/5
August 25, 2021
A so-so sword and sorcery adventure with two female protagonists. The ending kinda lost me and I was really not that interested to go back and reread it.
None of the relationships or characters are really three dimensional and the storyline meanders along to the fuzzy end,
I will read the next in the series but I cannot see me reading to the end of the series - just not interesting enough unless some spark between the two m/c catches fire, there is plenty of dry wood!
None of the relationships or characters are really three dimensional and the storyline meanders along to the fuzzy end,
I will read the next in the series but I cannot see me reading to the end of the series - just not interesting enough unless some spark between the two m/c catches fire, there is plenty of dry wood!
January 24, 2024
Alright, I'm not claiming this is high literature but it is bloody good sword and sorcery. Ignore the lurid cover (or enjoy it the view but don't judge the story based on it). This is swift, fun female led fantasy which was written in 1986 and is still more unashamedly, unpolitically bisexual than most of it's ilk written now. It's an adventure story with shapeshifting, sorcery and sword play with enjoyable characters that goes down like ice cream. Highly enjoyable.
August 30, 2024
This is a ton of fun and genuine surprise.
What on the surface appears to be a pretty typical fantasy story, in actuality there are some fun deeper layers at play. The book is WAY more queer than other entries into 80s fantasy playing around with sexuality and gender in a very fluid natural way.
The plot is nothing completely new but the journey between the two characters is a blast. Would definitely pick up more from this author.
What on the surface appears to be a pretty typical fantasy story, in actuality there are some fun deeper layers at play. The book is WAY more queer than other entries into 80s fantasy playing around with sexuality and gender in a very fluid natural way.
The plot is nothing completely new but the journey between the two characters is a blast. Would definitely pick up more from this author.
August 17, 2025
Lady warrior, Corson, stumbles upon an escaping fancy Lady, Nyctasia (aka Nick), who happens to be an accademic/sorceress/fancy lady. They have to escape Nick's pursuers while they both figure out what they want. Action and hilarity ensue.
August 26, 2025
Bisexual ladies of the 80s hell yeah! A classic buxum babe fantasy cover disguising an adventure for a freeloving barbarian bodyguard and her rich sorceress lover. The plot is pretty whatever, constant cycle of battle travel battle, but it filled me with a lot of fondness.
November 20, 2018
This was a fun little adventure! I really enjoyed the warrior character being written as a woman and the changes that brought to the dynamic of playing bodyguard to the lady.
September 15, 2023
Really good fun, and hasn't really aged, despite what the cover might make you think.
July 22, 2025
10/10 swords and sorceries!
February 14, 2024
A lost sword and sorcery series from the roaring genre days of the 1980s, J.F. Rivkin's "Silverglass" is an exciting fantasy adventure whose main feature is the love-hate friendship with benefits between the two central protagonists. As much as they might like to, Corson and Nyctasia just can't seem to leave one another to their fate. One of them is always showing up to save the other, despite Corson complaining about it the entire time and Nyctasia sighing at Corson indulgently. The dialogue between the two of them is sparkling and sometimes hilarious.
One of the things I enjoyed about the plot was that both of them are far from perfect. Despite Corson's experience and practicality, and Nyctasia's knowledge and self-assurance, the two of them often find themselves in situations that are way out of their depth, and only as partners are they able to survive and escape. Hopefully in one piece and with enough money to justify their escapade. The world-building is a little light, but the story's perspective is mainly focused on the two main characters. What does a sellsword know about ancient migrations of magical tribes and great battles from a thousand years ago? Her main interest is when she's getting paid and if there's an inn nearby with halfway decent beer at a reasonable price. Instead, the characters sing old songs to each other, or tell war stories, fables and legends they've heard around the table at mead halls.
On a personal note, one thing I don't enjoy in books is authors who move the plot along by the characters doing stupid things, especially when they try and explain their lapses in judgement later on as being the victims of circumstance, family or societal expectations, past trauma, etc. This novel, by contrast, was clearly written by adults with characters who overcome or even exploit the obstacles and antagonists in their paths instead of just complain about them. The characters in Silverglass are capable of bad decisions, just like the rest of us, but they don't have bad decision-making PROCESSES, if that's the right word. The reader isn't rolling their eyes at Corson and Nyc when they get themselves into a jam, they're excited to see how they get out of it.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book and I'll be moving right along to the next one.
One of the things I enjoyed about the plot was that both of them are far from perfect. Despite Corson's experience and practicality, and Nyctasia's knowledge and self-assurance, the two of them often find themselves in situations that are way out of their depth, and only as partners are they able to survive and escape. Hopefully in one piece and with enough money to justify their escapade. The world-building is a little light, but the story's perspective is mainly focused on the two main characters. What does a sellsword know about ancient migrations of magical tribes and great battles from a thousand years ago? Her main interest is when she's getting paid and if there's an inn nearby with halfway decent beer at a reasonable price. Instead, the characters sing old songs to each other, or tell war stories, fables and legends they've heard around the table at mead halls.
On a personal note, one thing I don't enjoy in books is authors who move the plot along by the characters doing stupid things, especially when they try and explain their lapses in judgement later on as being the victims of circumstance, family or societal expectations, past trauma, etc. This novel, by contrast, was clearly written by adults with characters who overcome or even exploit the obstacles and antagonists in their paths instead of just complain about them. The characters in Silverglass are capable of bad decisions, just like the rest of us, but they don't have bad decision-making PROCESSES, if that's the right word. The reader isn't rolling their eyes at Corson and Nyc when they get themselves into a jam, they're excited to see how they get out of it.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book and I'll be moving right along to the next one.
May 8, 2020
This book is better than its cover, which to me suggested generic fantasy. It is a fast-paced first installment of the story of the sorceress Nyctasia and her bodyguard Corson. In the first novel in the series, Nyctasia has offended the two main noble families in Rhostshyl (one of which, the Edonaris, she happens to be a member of) and flees the city toward an enchanted forest that offers a source of magical power.
Three things made Silverglass a 4.5 star novel for me. First, the world and the magical system are both interesting and complex. Magic in particular is subtle and typically requires the sorceress to pay a price for using it. Second, the characters are well-developed and grow during the story. Nyctasia has trust issues (who wouldn't with their family trying to kill them?) but her friendship with Corson builds over time, after Nyctasia initially treating her as a chess piece. Third, there is a considerable amount of story packed into this book.
Three things made Silverglass a 4.5 star novel for me. First, the world and the magical system are both interesting and complex. Magic in particular is subtle and typically requires the sorceress to pay a price for using it. Second, the characters are well-developed and grow during the story. Nyctasia has trust issues (who wouldn't with their family trying to kill them?) but her friendship with Corson builds over time, after Nyctasia initially treating her as a chess piece. Third, there is a considerable amount of story packed into this book.
October 21, 2016
An easy and entertaining read. Don't expect an epic here its old school so the book is thin and can fit in your back pocket. The story itself is of a female mercenary in a strong female role, but one who felt more of a male than a female as I was reading it.
If your doing a bit of old school fantasy reading and browsing the used book stores pick up a copy if you see it. It may give you a break from the usual male barbarians that filled the shelves of the day.
If your doing a bit of old school fantasy reading and browsing the used book stores pick up a copy if you see it. It may give you a break from the usual male barbarians that filled the shelves of the day.
May 6, 2011
Entertaining series, reads a lot like the Conan books. Pulpy and not greatly written, but fun.
April 10, 2016
This is a great series (four in all). Well worth a read. Characters are fun and the story is entertaining.
April 10, 2017
Having reread this, a review, if a short one.
Silverglass is basically a story about two women journeying from one place to another; it's a road story, but it's an entertaining one set in a solidly built world with an interesting system of magic. There's a little political intrigue and some romance, but the main point of the tale is watching Corson (a war-tested ex-soldier of low-born status) bounce of Nyctassia (high-born, learned, versed in magic and other forms of knowledge, but also lying and conniving).
It's good entertainment with some interesting twists and turns, and I enjoyed it.
Silverglass is basically a story about two women journeying from one place to another; it's a road story, but it's an entertaining one set in a solidly built world with an interesting system of magic. There's a little political intrigue and some romance, but the main point of the tale is watching Corson (a war-tested ex-soldier of low-born status) bounce of Nyctassia (high-born, learned, versed in magic and other forms of knowledge, but also lying and conniving).
It's good entertainment with some interesting twists and turns, and I enjoyed it.
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