Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

When I first spotted this cover, I thought this was book written in the 80’s. Perhaps, remarketed. So, I was incredibly surprised to find out this was a new story in a new world. An amazing world full of puppets that are lively and in search of pieces of the shadow glass.

As a Jim Henson fan, I enjoyed the Dark Crystal aspect to the book. I enjoyed the sarcastic MC who hated his father’s legacy. And the journey to unite the pieces of the shadow glass is epic.

Wonderful narrator! I recommend this book to fans of Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal and Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. This book is mysterious, magical, and adventurous.

The Shadow Glass is a standalone contemporary crossworlds fantasy by Josh Winning. Due out 22nd March 2022 from Titan, it's 400 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The thematic tie-in cover art as DVD case is well done and adds a nice little fillip to the overall vibe.

This is for all the lovers of The Neverending Story, The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth. The plot revolves around the inner lives of the puppets from an 80s cult film by an eccentric genius director/creator who has passed away, his son who is grown up now and still working through issues, a dorky fanboy, and a prickly all-business producer for the current day production company who is representing the creative properties, and, of course, the puppets. It turns out the puppets were alive all along and now the hapless unwilling protagonists have to help them save the world.

This is full of pop-culture references and throwbacks to the original genre material and fans of the movies and ITC/Henson projects will get a lot more out of it than newer fans. It certainly does work well as a straight contemporary fantasy, but the nostalgia aspects were a lot of the appeal for me personally. The entire book has a very offbeat creepy vibe (especially the house!) and the author does a great job of writing creeping dread and atmospheric eeriness. There aren't so many jump scares, but there is some body horror.

The unabridged ebook has a run time of 10 hours and 16 minutes and the final release narration is capably rendered by Colin Mace. He has a gravelly and expressive voice which suits the story very well. He narrates the disparate characters distinctly and it's never a problem to keep them straight. Sound and production quality are high throughout.

Four stars. I enjoyed this one very much, both print and audiobook formats.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This was such an entertaining dark fantasy story that I would highly recommend for anyone who loved Jim Henson shows of the 1980s like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. 

Clearly, inspired by these iconic films, this story was entertaining, imaginative and a little creepy. 

I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves those old movies with the strange puppets.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This was a fantastic read. Exploring the relationship of a son and his father through the fantastical world that the father created was fun to read about. Think Dark Crystal coming to life and crashing into our reality. The book was full of lore and the world felt fully fleshed out. I hope this turns into a series I would love to learn more about this fantastical land. I highly recommend this.

Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media who sent me an ARC audiobook of this title in exchange for my honest review.

A very confusing start, a film within a book. I had no idea what was going on for the first 2 chapters. This is probably a lot clearer in a physical book rather than an audiobook. (I was googling the film at one point thinking it was real, quite possibly just me being a dunce though)

I really enjoyed the little nods to classic films and once I got my head around what was going on I absolutely loved it. The characters were so fun and the writing really brought them to life. Funny, playful and action packed. Completely brilliant! I need a sequel immediately!!

TWs - Death of a father, puppets, gore, violence, death of a friend, stalking, terminal illness, child abuse, alcoholism, debt

Actually a 4.5 stars

As someone who grew up on 80s fantasy such as Labyrinth, Willow, Sword Of Xanten and of course, The Dark Crystal, I was so excited for this book which truly is a love letter to that genre and era of film.

Two things to know about me are that I'm not a fan of 80s nostalgia and I'm not a fan of books about fandom. This book is both of those things and it didn't bother me because the book was THAT GOOD.

I found that having an extensive knowledge of those films really came in handy when reading this book because it is HIGHLY referential in nature. The MC's father is essentially Jim Henson, The Shadow Glass IS The Dark Crystal and if you know anything about the cult following around films of that time, you'll be able to spot many references throughout.

While part of me does feel that the level of referencing in this book does take away from elements of its originality, it's pretty much my only gripe with this book that's actually just a really fun, slightly dark, fantasy adventure novel.

Something that's always bothered me with fandom spaces is how they are and are often presented as being the dominion of cis, straight, white men and Josh Winning makes efforts in this book to show that the reality of fandoms is that they are diverse spaces full of people of all walks of life. There are queer characters, POC, elder members of the fandom, younger members, multi fandom people and it's really refreshing to see an updated take that shies away from the gatekeeping many people who aren't cis, straight white men have faced when engaging in fandom spaces.

While I think Jack's cynicism could be a big turn off for some people in this, I actually thought it was great. He's a very hurt and jaded individual who's lost his inner child and this book is his journey returning to that and understanding that it's okay to have complicated feelings about things and people that hurt you.

Overall this book is a really fun, nostalgic adventure full of self discovery and reflection through a share love of fantasy, whimsy and art which I thoroughly enjoyed

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an audiobook ARC of this book

Fan service for a nostalgic generation abounds in this novel. You'll know if you will like this book by the description. If you want to take a walk back through the 80s, this story will carry you there. Geeky and fun, Josh Winning's narrative features a lovely diverse cast. The protagonist faces a hero's journey with a sprinkling of unexpected therapy as he works through an assortment of childhood traumas. The plot moves along at a good speed. Well narrated, Colin Mace has great pacing and clear enunciation. His voice work is gentle and does not overpower the narrative flow.

Content warnings include alcoholism, gore, parental death, childhood trauma. All except the gore are broadly referenced offscreen. Minimal gore.

Thank you to Recorded Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Shadow Glass is a loving tribute to the 80’s action fantasy films - the Dark Crystal and Labyrinth vibes are strong here. We follow Jack whose recently deceased dad ran a popular movie studio famous for its puppets. The studios fantasy magnum opus didn’t do great business but was popular in cult circles long after. One stormy night though, the puppet movie props come to life…

This book nicely straddles the line between servicing tropes and fan moments and having a story with a real heart and emotional core.

This is the book I hoped Meddling Kids would be - while that book was a macho posturing horror version of Scooby Doo that had paper thin ‘kick ass heroine’ characters and teenage boy level plotting, swearing and violence this struck a much more pleasing balance and remembered that at the heart of nostalgia is just that - heart.

You will fall in love with the fanboy characters, root for the emotionally damaged and complex hero and cheer for the wise, sage fox like puppet creatures.

The world is drip fed to you so the first quarter of the book suffers a little from catching up with all the characters having a shared memory of a fantasy film world that you’ve never heard of, once the story gets going though, you realise you have enough context to get lost in the present day story.

It’s knowing and referential - at one point a character realises they’re stopping for exposition and says as much - so you love its quirky charm and humour despite some batshit plotting and narrative leaps of faith!

Cracking action, fun characters and a small scale quest (that feels epic) mean this was a pleasure to read.

As a 40 year old man I am TOTALLY the right audience for this book but it is well written enough that it should find a much wider audience.

It’s also made me realise that I’ve never actual seen Labyrinth all the way through. Sacrilege!

Every now and again you come across a book that merges the best of your past with a fresh new adventure. This is the Shadow Glass. This release combines the best of the 80s cinema adventures with a whole new voice. Josh Winning does an amazing job telling a real story that gives a voice to all parts of fantasy. From puppets, to saving a world or two The Shadow Glass is an adventure you MUST take!
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Jack Corman is failing at life. Jobless, jaded and facing the threat of eviction, he’s also reeling from the death of his father, one-time film director Bob Corman. Back in the eighties, Bob poured his heart and soul into the creation of his 1986 puppet fantasy The Shadow Glass, but the film flopped on release and Bob was never the same again.

In the wake of Bob’s death, Jack returns to his decaying childhood home, where he is confronted with the impossible — the puppet heroes from The Shadow Glass are alive, and they need his help. Tipped into a desperate quest to save the world from the more nefarious of his father’s creations, Jack teams up with an excitable fanboy and a spiky studio exec to navigate the labyrinth of his father’s legacy and ignite a Shadow Glass resurgence that could, finally, do Bob proud.

5.0 stars
Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this audiobook for a honest review. I was so impressed by this book that I am going to be purchasing it right away. If you are like me and love anything 80's then this book is for you.
It has elements that is reminiscent of classics such as Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Legend and I also felt like it reminded me of the 80s Muppets at time.
What this book has is a blend of adventure, magic and horror, all things that are great for a wonderful time. I would highly recommend the audiobook, the narrator captured all the characters beautifully and it felt more like I was watching a movie than listening to a audiobook.
The only thing I wish we had more of was bob (the dad) his backstory . Overall I enjoyed Josh's character and how he went from being benevolent towards his dad and his dads legacy , to being more empathic after experiencing first hand the realism of the Shadow Glass.

I loved this book! I hope someone does a special edition of it.

It’s reminiscent of The Dark Crystal or The NeverEnding Story or Labyrinth. Like an 80’s vibe movie. There’s some pop culture that cracked me up.

Bob Cormac created a movie with puppets that flopped, they came to life after he died to save the world. I know, right?!

It deals with coming of age, coming to terms, fandom, a quest, etc.

The Shadow Glass
by Josh Winning
Its an amazing story that draws in the fans of the puppet epics of the 1980's. The entire world of magic born from the imagination of a puppeteer. The breath of adventure of the unlikely hero who learns to not only find the salvation but value all that is in his world. The story shows the regrets of real life, mistakes and people that make it hard to be in an adventure world. A cross between the fandom of conventions, and love of stories brings to earth magic that is always needed.
The characters are as remarkable as a luck dragon, as dark as the dark crystal, and hopeful as the last unicorn. The love of Sebastian saved the never ending story.. The love of Jack may save The Shadow Glass. Reading this book had me looking to see if I missed a child hood story I just should have seen. This story is remarkable at remembrance and is poignant lessons.

This was a beautiful story, full of adventure and I just loved the 80s nostalgia. The narrator did a beautiful job and I really enjoyed it and got immersed in the story.

The power of belief is the best magic out there! This is the type of fantasy I needed, just pure adventure and entertainment. The way Winning wrote this book made me go going to google a made-up movie. If you're a big film lover like me, you will love The Shadow Glass.
The narration was great and always made me feel immersed. At some points, his voice was noticeably different between chapters. but that doesn't bother me.

'Move another inch & your blood will be my wine'.

Jack Corman is the son of the famed Bob Corman, the man who created the 80's flopped now cult classic fantasy movie The Shadow Glass. Now in his 30's Jack is jobless, broke & in desperate need of money & decides to sell one of the beloved puppets from his dad's collections. But Jack is in for a surprise when his childhood wish of the world of The Shadow Glass to be real turns out to be true & now Jack, his cousin & some die hard fans must fight to save it & the creatures that inhabit it.

This is a must read for any fans of the fantasy movies of the 80's - Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Legend, NeverEnding Story etc. Josh Winning has created an amazing real life fantasy world of a reluctant hero's journey. The Shadow Glass was Bob's obsession causing a rift in his relationship with Jack. While trying to save his fathers work Jack must come to terms with the man his father was & the importance of his work. And with a beloved movie you always have those fans who want more & more & those who want to just preserve the beauty of the original & the conflict these two fans groups can have.

The story moves at a good pace, you are sucked in from the start & will be reaching for those 80's classic before you've even finished.

I listened to the audiobook version & Colin Mace did an amazing job bringing this world to life.

Thank you to Netgalley & Titan books for the chance to listen to the audioarc.

This was an interesting story. It talks about how family can be misunderstood. There is lots of talk about the 80s and how people can become fanatics about a science fiction movie. This book shows how some people can be good fanatics and bad fanatics. It follows the son of a man who created a box office flop but it turned into a cult classic that was being talked about years later. In the end, you discover what your imagination can create and what it can destroy.

I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book had me gripped from page one. I did find the beginning a tad bit odd since I listened to the audiobook arc for this book, but after I figured out what was going on it was all smooth sailing. The main characters feelings are very relatable for me. Especially his relationship with his dad. I desperately need a physical copy of this book for my reading pleasure. I look forward to reading any sequels or other books by this author. I loved having animals that talked in the book and were so much more than just an animal companion. They made me think of redwall by Brian Jacques. That is something I have been craving to read in a book for years.