Window Wall

February 16, 2015
The personal travails of magical theater group Touchstone continue to interweave with the greater welfare of their country in Rawn’s rich but leisurely fourth Glass Thorns installment (after Thornlost). Playwright Cayden Silversun and his troupe are enjoying a stellar reputation despite internal conflicts, many stemming from Cade’s deliberate refusal to experience the Elsewhens, glimpses of possible futures. When Mieka Windthistle suggests that Cade might have been able to prevent a suspicious construction accident on Cade’s Namingday, Cade reluctantly opens himself to receiving the visions, including one of an attack on the royal family. Rising opposition from anti-magical factions in both the theater and the general populace, political intrigue, and the consequences of Cade and Mieka’s drug use all contribute to a fully fleshed and atmospheric Renaissance fantasy world. Readers new to the series will struggle to get their footing, but fans will love this lush installment. Agent: Russell Galen, Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary.

February 1, 2015
Another entry in Rawn's fantasy series (Thornlost, 2014, etc.) about a magical theater company in a sort-of Elizabethan, multispecies setting. For more than two years, Cade, the heart of theater troupe Touchstone, has consciously denied and rejected his prescient visions, or "Elsewhens," out of a misplaced desire to be more like everybody else. As a result, Touchstone has lost its creative edge, and tensions between Cade and the other players-Mieka, Jeska and Rafe-cause grumbling and dissent. Finally, Mieka confronts Cade and forces him to admit that denying his gift is destroying both himself and the troupe. Meanwhile, in other developments, somebody's experimenting with using magic to blow things up-but why? Cade learns that his younger brother, Dery, has the magic ability to detect gold-a very dangerous talent. Touchstone finds that their agent is not, perhaps, the most reliable of folk. Princess Miriuzca's brother, Ilesko-they're both from a land that rejects the use of magic-presents a play without magic (a thinly disguised Faust) and impresses Touchstone despite their skepticism. Then, in one of his Elsewhens, Cade sees the royal castle exploding. He knows the futures he glimpses can be changed. But who would believe him? His deadly enemy, the Archduke Cyed Henick, that's who. The plotting and politics are well-managed if somewhat thin and shadowy. Readers will already be thoroughly familiar with the background. And the youthful characters do begin to develop some maturity, though their performances are still fueled by drugs, with heavy drinking and more drugs to relax. A decidedly improved outing, much more inventive and involving than the previous.

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March 15, 2015

The continuing story (after 2014's Thornlost) of Cade and his theater troupe has our protagonist behaving in an increasingly erratic manner the longer he rejects his fae gift. When Cade finally uses his ability to see possible futures, he feels compelled to stop an impending disaster.

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