Window Wall

Glass Thorns #4

by Melanie Rawn

For nearly two years, Cade been rejecting his Fae gift, his prescient Elsewhens—simply refusing to see or experience them. But the strain is driving a wedge between him and his theater troupe, Touchstone, and making him erratic on stage and off. It takes his best friend Mieka to bully Cade into accepting the visions again. But when Cade finally looks into the possible futures, he sees a royal castle blowing up, though his vision does not tell him who is responsible. But he knows that if it is in his visions, he can take action to stop it from happening. And when he finally discovers the truth, he takes the knowledge to the only man in the Kingdom who would believe him: his deadly enemy the Archduke.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Adult, Novels

368 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 2015

About the author

Melanie Rawn received a BA in history from Scripps College and worked as a teacher and editor before becoming a writer.

She has been nominated for a Locus award on three separate occasions: in 1989 for Dragon Prince (in the first novel category), in 1994 for Skybowl (in the fantasy novel category), and again in 1995 for Ruins of Ambrai (in the fantasy novel category).

Reviews

[Ruth Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long while since I read the first three of this series, but it took no time at all to get myself engrossed in this wonderful novel! The characters are memorable, interesting, flawed and well- written, and the story is clear and interesting. Can't wait to read no.5 xx

[Cyndy Aleo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Series fans will need to make sure they've read--and probably reread--the first three books in order to keep track of the action here. Rawn starts off right in the thick of things, and the sheer number of characters in this series make for a confusing beginning, and it doesn't help that the story centers on Cade but leads off with Mieka. The action is slow-moving and details are numerous, making the pacing feel too slow. New readers to the series should definitely not attempt to come in without reading the other books first.

Originally reviewed for RT Book Reviews, April 2015, 2 STARS

[SFReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best series I've read over the last couple of years is this one -- see my review of the first book Glass Thorns. Will this next slice about the magical theater company sustain the very high standard Rawn has set so far?

For nearly two years, Cade has been rejecting his Elsewhens, the Fae gift that grants him prescient glimpses of possible futures, by simply refusing to experience them. But the strain is driving a wedge between him and his theater troupe, Touchstone, and making him erratic on stage and off. It takes his best friend Mieka to force Cade into accepting the visions again, but when he does, he witnesses a terrible attack, though he cannot see who is responsible. Cade knows the future he sees can be changed, and when he finally discovers the truth behind the attack, he takes the knowledge to the only man in the Kingdom who can prevent it: his deadly enemy.

Once more, Rawn provides an engrossing, grown-up adventure. I love the fact that Cade and Mieka are now no longer the young, driven newbies desperate to prove themselves. Although being established stars provides its own challenges... Rawn gets right inside the skins of her two spiky, complicated characters and if you are looking for a simple escapist tale where everything is cut and dried, then this isn't it.

Read more at SFReader: Window Wall , Book 4 of the Glass Thorns series, by Melanie Rawn

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think my biggest complaint at this point is that the series could have been condensed with solid results. (I say the same about GRRM's Song of Ice and Fire and Jordan's almost-neverending Wheel of Time.) The first couple of Glass Thorns books would have blended well together, and the next two would have been close to Exiles quality. And yes, it's been a long wait for the conclusion to that trilogy, but I'm just glad to have proof in my hands that Ms Rawn hasn't lost her touch.

Thank you Ma'am, keep up the good work.

[Linda Wallis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series!
Ms Rawn back to her best.
Fantastic characters who leap off the page.
The writing makes you live in their world & care what happens.
Very prescient too as there was an article this week about using scents to enhance theatre performances....
Next!!

[James Hein · Rating 2 out of 5]

What to say about this book? This one was a slog to get through. It was long, the story line progressed very slowly, and it felt like another filler book. Not sure where this series is going but it needs to get there a little faster.

[Melissa Ann]

Fantastic, I can't wait to read the next one.

[Jenni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm becoming as repetitive as this series - my comments about this book, which probably could and should have finished the series are the same as for the first three. Minimal plot, lots of repetition, angst and introspection, with not much happening until a fairly minor crisis at the end. Lots of descriptions of the theatre troupe preparing for their plays, lots of descriptions of the meanings of said plays, lots of descriptions of drug use and inebriation, lots of, well descriptions but not much action.

There is just not enough of a plot to hold my interest for five books. A good editor could have condensed this into three books with no loss of plot integrity. As it stands, unless my library acquires book five, I doubt I will bother reading it.

[DemetraP · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am really sick and tired of all of the "thorn" use and the drug use and the drinking excessively. These performers should know better. But they keep telling themselves they need it to be at their best when they're tired. I don't want to read a book about drug addicts.

I also really didn't like the betrayal by Lord Fairwalk. What a backstabber. Now what are they going to do for money? They should have taken the loan offered by their friend, Megs.

I don't know if I'm going to read further in this series. I'm upset by Mieka's marriage and cheating, their swindling by Fairwalk, etc.

[Melissa Kidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I don't know exactly what it is in these books that draws me so, but drawn I am. This installment felt more like a filler than anything however. It felt more like a set up for the next book. And the next book is the last book so I've been told. It's already sitting on my desk. After finishing this series, I'm going to have to go back and reread her older series Dragon Prince. And then sit back and see if Rawn writes any more books.

[chloë womble barr · Rating 4 out of 5]

golly i love it. this one mixes it up a little more, with cade rejecting the elsewhens and becoming so cold, the fact that it takes place two years after thornlost, and the higher stakes. i love the developing relationships between touchstone and the nobles!!! i really am enjoying this series. here the addiction problems truly hit hard as the characters can’t make it through the day without taking multiple hits. and i eat it up every time.

[Alayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read the three preceding stories of this series, and found that to be a difficulty as there were so many things mentioned that the people had been through and I felt lost. However, once I got to know the characters somewhat, the story kept me interested. Recommended that you read these books in order.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cade and the Archduke finally face off. But who is the winner!

[Debby Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

didn't read 2 and 3, doesn't seem I missed much. I /really/ like Melanie, but this was a classic get-everyone-into-place-for-the-big-ending, not much story, moving characters into position. I will likely read the final book, but I don't think I'll bother with however much is left of the back story.

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my introduction to the series and I was pleasantly surprised by the characters and the world building. Thespians in a medieval kingdom vie for position in the sponsored, formal tours. Their country is mixed magical and mundane, with humans mixed with other magical creatures like elves, goblins, trolls, giants etc. to on degree or another depending on family history. Other human kingdoms are less accepting of magic, mixed bloodlines, or thespians for that matter. Domestic politics is more about court rivalries and contending for the throne. Most of the story is that of one theater troupe which is probably the second-best and desires to be first. There are plenty of allusions to the prior novels, but they were sufficient as background for this one. Good for fans of fantasy with adult touches and fans of the theater. The writing was occasionally hard to follow when discussing multiple characters and some heavy-handed foreshadowing at the end made it a little clunky at times. All in all, though, a fun read and intriguing enough to want to go back and read the prior entries.

[Brian Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

More theatre in faerie land! The series is an intriguing read, but it cracks me up in some fashion that it's set in a land populated by a mixture of human and magical races (elves, goblins, trolls, etc) in the aftermath of a great war ... and it's primarily focused on the travails of a traveling theatre company (there is a very slowly advancing B-story in the series involving Great Machinations and prophecy, but its pacing is incredibly slow, mostly referred to in a handful of chapters each book).

The plotting is very slow ; it feels much more like 'slice of life' than anything else. And there are moments of weakness -- the theatre company is producing Great Work so when she tries to summarize what is being done she's at a disadvantage when she describes the plot and it doesn't seem amazing. Unfortunately, in this novel she describes a play (and counter-play) that tackle the themes of Doctor Faustus ... but here they sound very juvenile and undeveloped.

This is a quiet series but one I've been glad to read every time I start.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

For nearly two years, Cade has been rejecting his Fae gift, his prescient Elsewhens - simply refusing to see or experience them. But the strain is driving a wedge between him and his theater troupe, Touchstone, and making him erratic on stage and off. It takes his best friend Mieka to bully Cade into accepting the visions again. But when Cade finally looks into the possible futures, he sees a royal castle blowing up, though his vision does not tell him who is responsible. But he knows that if it is in his visions, he can take action to stop it from happening. And when he finally discovers the truth, he takes the knowledge to the only man in the Kingdom who would believe him: his deadly enemy the Archduke.

[Bree Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book. I like this series, but I really wish it was going somewhere discernible. it feels very loose with the plot.

The loss of Cayden's previous Elsewhens felt like lazy writing to me knowing that the author requested information for book 3 of the Exiles trilogy.

A four star book given three stars because of Exiles. 20 years is too long for the end of a trilogy, especially if the author has published at least two new series in that time.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a better instalment but I reached the end and I'm still waiting for something to happen.

There's a lot to like here but I can't get a sense of the series' ultimate direction, and so this feels like filler. It may not be - certainly some of the developments around Mieka and thorn are interesting - but I still feel like I'm romping through the story with no idea where we're going.

[Missi · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the storytelling as always!!! can't wait for the next one (or for the next captal's tower book either)!!!!!!!!!!

[Vader · Rating 1 out of 5]

5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish

[Rachel Kasch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the wonderfully Shakespearean slang. The subplot with the Archduke seems poised to go on for a while. Can't wait for the next installment.

[Pat Stearman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do love this series! love the characters, the theatricality and the setting.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and couldn't put it down until I was done. I love the characters and the way they interact.

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love anything by Melanie rawn by default, but I do have to adsmit that this series lacks some of the luster of her earlier work. This was good but ... anticlimactic? I adore the characters though.

[Maddelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this series. Cade is a deeply flawed guy, but you see such potential in him.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good! A unique mix of magic and theatre, with some intrigue thrown in as well. Another excellent book in the Glass Thorns series.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melanie has found the magic again, now we just need more dragons!!!!

[Kathy Klinge · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only complaint is having to wait for the next book

[Emily Wragg · Rating 5 out of 5]

this series just gets better and better I can't wait for the next one.