Josh Winning pours his love of 80s film into this wonderfully original debut novel packed full of adventure, nostalgia and a surprisingly strong helping of gore.
Inspired by Henson Company classics such as the Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, the later of which it riffs off, the novel tells the story of Jack Corman, the son of an eccentric filmmaker who returns home to sort though his father's estate following his death.
His father, Bob, is the obsessive creator of The Shadow Glass, a beloved cult film from decades ago, which ended up driving a wedge between the pair.
Jack wants nothing to do with the film, but when a pair of puppets from the film turn up alive in his father's attic, he finds himself whisked unwillingly into an adventure to save the world his father created - just like the unlikely hero of the film.
Like Ernest Cline's Ready Player One, the novel uses a familiar sense of nostalgia as a leaping off point for an original new adventure, that not only honours our affection for childhood movies but questions the ways fans and studios attempt to hang onto it.
And like Peter Jackson's Meet the Feebles, it's a much darker and violent reality in "real life" than the fictional world the film portrays.
Out in March through Titan Books, be sure to send this one straight to the top of the TBR pile.

I wasn't surprised at all to find out in the author bio at the end that Josh Winning is a film writer, as The Shadow Glass read far more like a movie script than a "straight" novel. Touted as an 80s nostalgia story, it certainly doesn't fail to deliver there - the plot centres on Jack Corman, son of an infamous 80s movie director, famed for his titular cult film, and the impact this has on father and son - and the book is chock full of references to all the 80s movies (those containing puppets and those not), music, books and tech that we all adore, whether we experienced them at the time, or as retro nostalgia. The plot is very much like that of all fantasy stories, where the hero has to undergo trials and a quest, aided by various comrades, and hindered by numerous baddies, to emerge in bittersweet triumph at the end. But the stock plotline is very self-aware, and Jack's father even alludes in the text to the fact that it is the journey that binds us to our heroes; a large part of the book's charm is in its self-conscious geek awareness.
While The Shadow Glass is light on character development, and the dialogue is often illogical or stilted, it makes up for any shortcomings with the furious pace of the action, the steps in the quest are fairly logical and credible, and the Kettu are absolutely fabulous, a great addition to the canon of puppet characters of this or any other era.

My thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Shadow Glass is a thrill ride of a book, 400 pages of pure chaos. I sped through the book, too engaged to put it down, except when I was finally forced to go to sleep before an early morning shift. Even then, all I could think about was this book.

The story follows Jack, who, following his father’s death, is forced to return to his childhood home and sort through its contents. Jack’s father created a cult classic puppet film, one that has since garnered a large and loyal fanbase, but Jack wants nothing to do with it all. That is, until he has no choice on the matter, when those puppets appear in his world, along with the villains of their tale.

The Shadow Glass is probably one of the most creative fantasy books I’ve read in a long while. I loved the whole idea of puppets coming to life, leaping across worlds and trying to take over. It’s a book I could so clearly see coming to life on screen, and I think that also helps when it comes to its plot. That it’s a book about a film, that you can so easily see being a film itself, is great.

Part of that is the pacing of the book. It throws you right in there, within a few chapters, and you’re dragged along at breakneck speed, forced to get to grips with things as rapidly as Jack is (a little aside, I loved how his general reaction to everything was basically fuck no. Relatable). It’s not a book that gives you a moment to rest, and that contributes to how fun it was to read as well.

The other part of this is in its characters. All of the main characters leap off the page (there are one or two side characters who weren’t that memorable, but then, they didn’t really do much anyway), so life-like that it feels like you’re standing right next to them. Particularly the puppets, who were also the funniest part of the book. I think this is a book full of characters that I just want to read more about.

But the thing is: this isn’t just an adventure story. It’s a story about reckoning with childhood traumas, coming to realise that the experiences you had with someone may not be the same as everyone else’s, and forgiveness (where possible). Jack’s journey in this book is probably my favourite part of it—at the start, he’s bitter, and rightfully so from his POV, but throughout he’s introduced to different perspectives on his father, as a creator, as a lover, as a friend, and he starts to see where his bias lies. But none of that detracts from Jack’s experiences either. I felt there was good nuance here in that respect.

With The Shadow Glass, I’m pretty sure I’ve found a new favourite. So, when it comes to 22nd March, I’ll be begging you all to read it too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for my early copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

"The Shadow Glass" by Josh Winning is an exciting and magical romp of an adventure novel. We follow Jack Corman as he deals with his father's recent death and his legacy in the form of an 80s puppet cult classic "The Shadow Glass". As a child Jack loved the film and its world but he especially loved its fox-like hero, Dune. However, the film was a commercial flop that left Bob a laughing stock and in the end, Jack grew to resent and hate "The Shadow Glass". Upon returning to his childhood home after Bob's death, Jack discovers that "The Shadow Glass" is more than just a film.

*NO SPOILER REVIEW*

I have to say that as a kid who grew up loving films like "Labyrinth" and "The Neverending Story", I was so excited when I was given access to this early copy. Throughout the book each chapter is separated by a tweet, newsclipping, reddit post, article, etc. that has to do with "The Shadow Glass", Bob, and/or Jack and each of those little segments helps to further flesh out and ground the story in reality especially when you start to really get into the narrative once Jack meets up with the Guild.

Winning is a brilliant writer and I think it especially comes through in how he handles all of the action/fight scenes. There are moments where I think it could have easily come across as messy but Winning was able to keep the reader stable through these scenes. Another thing that I loved about Winning's writing was that while he was detailed, it was never so detailed that I felt he was going overboard into the "TELLING" aspect of writing. I really felt like this book could easily be transferred into a visual medium. Winning's writing really brought his characters to life. I mean, I absolutely loved the film's characters that we get to meet and spend time with; Zavanna and Brol were incredible and my god did I find myself feeling like Jack the longer he was with them. I was so sad when I finished this book because I realized that "The Shadow Glass" wasn't a real film that I could just put on to revisit the kettu and Iri.

At the heart of this novel is a love letter to the 80s fantasy cult films that I'm sure we all grew up loving and still love to this day. Like the two I mentioned earlier and others from the Henson Company, "The Shadow Glass", while not being a real film (which I think is a travesty), in my mind, has joined their ranks. It's so clear how much Winning loves those films and that love is so tenderly intertwined in his writing and in the final resolution of the book but like I said, no spoilers here. Just know that tears (A LOT) were shed.

Again, thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the honor of reading this prior to release. I definitely recommend picking this up at release on March 22nd.

This is such an interesting novel! People thst want some 80's nostalgia and that can handle adult themes would definitely love this as well. In this fun, fast paced, fantasy book, we get to see an 80's inspired world. The writing style was very interesting and each chapter starting with excerpts from articles, magazine, etc, was very intriguing! Overall, this was a wonderful book that I definitely recommend for older audiences.

Josh Winning has created a marvelous suspension of disbelief in this story where the fantastical world Jack Corman's father created and loved (maybe more than his own son?) comes to life to challenge Jack to find his place in the world - just like the hero of the film. If you are a fan of The Labyrinth or The Dark Crystal, you will love this story. It is an action-packed read you won't want to put down, and cleverly intertwined to provide the perfect balance of reality meeting fantasy. Don't be fooled - this is not a children's book, but a dark yet heart-felt novel about finding a sense of self in adulthood. A great read for older readers who can cope with adult themes - sometimes it is good for them to see we don't always have it totally figured out as an adult, but that it is never too late for redemption! Of course, if you are a child of the 80's, do not hesitate to jump in.

For anyone that loves the 80's as much as I do, this book is for YOU!
This is a fast paced story about what would happen if your puppets come alive, what is more fascinating than that??? Expect a world build in fantasy, action, adventure and full on nostalgia.
If you love The Dark Crystal or Labyrinth, grab this book as soon as posible.
P.S. Isn't the book cover amazing?!

the shadow glass is a perfect recommendation for readers looking for a nostalgic, 80's inspired fantasy adventure. at once fast paced, emotional, and transporting, this is a fun, strange gem of a novel that you definitely don't want to miss, especially if you've got a dark crystal or labyrinth shaped hole in your heart that's looking for something new.

“One Kettu is worth a thousand armies, if she has courage deep and blade sharp.”

The Shadow Glass is the remarkable upcoming novel by Josh Winning. To share his love for the golden age decade which brought us fantasy films featuring puppets on high-stake quests, Winning delivers an 80’s nostalgic revival tale which will have you longing to crack out those VHS tapes and become lost in an era of magic, adventure and escapism.

Back in 1986 a film by Bob Cormac was created, The Shadow Glass was born and released into the world only to become a flop at the cinema. This film had been Bob’s lifelong dream, a passion, an obsession, and it’s failure had left him broken. Yet the film did eventually find its audience and so it transformed into a ‘cult puppet masterpiece’ among its fan base. Much to his son Jack Cormac’s dismay, his father became a hero to these people, whilst beneath the surface their relationship became estranged.

The Shadow Glass opens with our main protagonist Jack returning to his childhood home some time after his father had passed away. When Jack returns to Bob’s house it is with much resentment and reluctance, but what he finds forever changes the course of his life. The puppets from the movie are alive, Iri, the world they live in, is on the brink of destruction and the only one who can help save it is Jack. Unfortunately Jack doesn’t believe any of this is real, but with the help of an excitable teenage fanboy, a group of quirky Shadow Glass guild members, and a short tempered studio executive cousin, they band together to conquer the impossible. Iri must be saved, the puppets must return to their world, and Jack must finally confront his past.

Each chapter begins with different excerpts from film reviews, to transcripts of YouTube Videos, script segments from The Shadow Glass screenplay, magazines articles, or interviews with Bob Cormac. Through these Winning builds a picture of The Shadow Glass, a story centred around the hero kettu, a fox-like puppet called Dune, who saves the land of Iri from the clutches of the amphibian-like skalion race and their evil queen, Kunin Yillda, who the Kettu’s have been in conflict with for centuries. From these extracts we also begin to learn what kind of a man Bob Cormac really was, and how much his story meant to its fans. Those who love The Shadow Glass relive their childhood and their fond memories of the film by rewatching and then introducing it to their children, sparking a new generation of fans, which we all know in turn inspires reboots, sequels, fanfic and spin-offs, to bring a classic to a modern audience. Thus Bob’s creation lived on.

“A story only kept going if people remembered it, if they lived it over and over again. If it was forgotten, it
evaporated.
Ceased to exist.”

I immediately connected to this story in a multitude of ways. The narrative is wonderfully laced with references to 80’s pop culture which I adored spotting, and many scenes replicated the kind of scenes found in movies from the era, with Winning paying homage to The Jim Henson Company. Winning perfectly captures how the escapist movies of the 80’s, such as The Neverending Story and Labyrinth, enthralled its audience in worlds full of puppets, fantasy adventure and a touch of peril. They stay with us because they remind us of a time when we believed in magic, when life wasn’t so complicated and good always conquered evil. The way many of the characters felt about the world of Iri, is exactly how I feel for Middle-Earth, it feels like home.

”One by one, images around the room shivered and stirred, as if awakened by her words. Jack stared in astonishment. All around them the canvasses whirled, leaves
rustling as creatures dipped in and out of view while a hulking painted leviathan opened its fanged mouth to roar at a bleeding sky. Jack almost thought he heard it.
'It is wild,' Zavanna said. 'It is Iri.
It is home.'”

Speaking of characters, I loved how quirky they were and how they were often extremely relatable. When Jake, a man in his mid thirties, jobless and in a fair bit of debt, enters his father’s attic and discovers the puppet Savanna, Dune’s sister, and her mate Brol have come to life and need his help, is understandably overwhelmed and reluctant to believe for the first half of the novel. It is Toby, a teenage Shadow Glass fanatic, who steps up and helps Jack on his quest. Oh how I adored excitable nerdy Toby so much, his deep knowledge of The Shadow Glass, his faith in the quest to save Iri, held such charm. He also added a great deal of humour, as did many of the other characters.

The way feisty Zavanna continuously referred to Jack as ‘the manchild’, never failed to make me laugh, and loyal warrior Brol often made me chuckle, especially when he declared Mike’s Video store as ’The domain of the Scribes of Film’ - almost as though it was a holy religion, which I guess to the puppets it was. Then there were the Shadow Guild members, Anya, Sumi, Nell, and Toby’s boyfriend Huw. I loved how these were characters from all different backgrounds banding together in their love for a fantasy movie and how their belief was unquestionable. Jack’s cousin, Amelia, was also a significant character as she showed him another side to his father.

On a deeper level Winning doesn’t just give us a fun escapist novel, he also shows us that although we fans idolise the creators of our favourite movies and books, and put them on a pedestal, they can be entirely different people behind the curtains, messy and complex. We discover that Jack’s father was a drunk, a man who neglected his son throughout his childhood, a man who cared more for his own obsessions. Yet as the novel progresses Jack discovers that his father was more than just a bitter drunken man, behind the mask he was a man sunk into depths of grief after Jack’s mum passed, whose lifelong dream failed. Essentially Bob was a father who made many mistakes, but once he became ill, he tried to right his wrongs and found a way to use The Shadow Glass to reconnect with his son even after his passing. I loved how poignant and heartfelt this narrative arc was.

Ultimately though this is a story of the power of fandom. I love, love, love the way Winning portrayed fandom and our obsessions; the way we collect as much merchandise from the movie as we can - figures, games, posters, novelisations. The way we also collect as much information as we can, always trying to delve that bit deeper. How we band together in our nerdom. Movies, books and games can have such a wonderful impact on our lives. The scene with The Dragon Con illustrated this perfectly and was an absolute delight.

Winning shows us that a single person alone does not own a film or book, these things are created to be shared, to be loved by a community, to be built upon and to grow. Upon its release it is no longer just the creator’s work, it belongs to us, for us to interpret and enjoy in our own ways.

“This wasn't about using nostalgia
as a shield, it was about celebrating
the things that defined them, the characters that spoke to their
heart's truth, the things that made them different and unique and powerful in their own special way. It united them.”

The Shadow Glass speaks to a generation who hold a deep fondness for their childhood, who still long to believe in magic and adventure, but also to those who are proud to be different. Ultimately Winning writes a love letter to 80’s fantasy fans, fandoms, and those enamored by nostalgia.

All quotes used are taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

The Shadow Glass will be released on 22nd March 2022 but you can preorder now.

*sticks on Labyrinth soundtrack, ties hair back in scrunchie, dons day-glo leg-warmers*

Okay, Josh Winning's debut fantasy adventure/horror novel The Shadow Glass isn't actually set in the 80s, but that's where still where reader will find themselves transported to, in this face-paced nostalgic love-letter to dark puppet-packed fantasy movies, the power of imagination and the magic of (inner)childhood,

The Shadow Glass follows Jack Corman, estranged son a legendary puppet-fantasy filmmaker Bob Corman - whose most controversial movie, a Dark Crystal style-adventure called The Shadow Glass, thrilled & traumatised 80s kids in equal measure - and was ultimately responsible for the destruction of Jack's relationship with his once-beloved Dad.

Jack returns home for his father's funeral, hope to selling off one of The Shadow Glass's most prized puppets in order to pay off his own debts. Instead, he finds himself face-to-face with actual, living puppet characters (both good and cartoonishly, terrifyingly evil) from the Shadow Glass's "fictional" world of Iri. And so, in true 80s movie style, Jack and his ragtag band of misfit allies (including sweet Corman-fanboy, Toby, and two puppet-warriors-come-to life, Savanna & Brol) embark on a real-world quest to find missing magical mcguffins and save both Iri and our world from classically Unspeakable Evil. But of course, the clock is ticking - and not everything is what it seems...

The Shadow Glass is a cinematic, tropetatstic master-class in adventure & nostalgia, drawing on enough of the 80s greatest hits to feel immediately familiar whilst still staying fresh and original enough to avoid falling into "tired & clichéd territory". Josh Winning knows (and loves) his 80s movies, and it shows. The story pays tribute to childhood escapism and imagination- a sort of Toy Story for movie lovers - with fun twists on familiar concepts & character names, a couple of nightmarish plays on what it means to be a puppet and an adorkable band of helpful nerds who wouldn't be out of place hanging out with Justin Long's Brandon in Galaxy Quest (not an 80s movie, I know, but another nostalgic love-letter to fandom nonetheless).

Grown-up 80s kids will love the nostalgia-kick of The Shadow Glass, but those too young to remember the 80s first hand will still adore the quippy characters, loathsome villains and Winning's clever critique of toxic fandom as well as the thrill twists and turns of Jack & Toby's quest - and the tear-jerking payoff!

Obviously, this needs to be a movie. And I need a Zavanna Doll - stat!

Jack Corman has a complicated relationship with the fantasy world his father created. On the one hand, it was his escape as a child, but as he grew older he blamed it for his father’s erratic and often abusive behaviour. Now, in the wake of his father’s funeral, the fantasy world that he’s spent so many years avoiding is asking for his help, and puppets from the cult film are becoming sentient.

I would be fascinated to see what readers who don’t love 'The Neverending Story', 'The Dark Crystal', or 'Labyrinth' thought of this book. I actually had a lot of fun with it, but how much of that was from buying into the nostalgia the book evokes? I can’t be sure.

'The Shadow Glass' definitely has things to offer beyond nostalgia, however. Jack’s relationship with his father – the bad and the good – is often dealt with very well. It’s complicated, and the book goes to some length to show that, which lends a real emotional maturity to the subject matter. Which, honestly, I enjoyed anyway.

Fans of the three titles listed above can find plenty of references and nods to Jim Henson projects, but Winning has spun it out into a new style. There’s all the old conceits of course: saving the world, discovering how brave you really are, the hero’s quest, the blending of reality and the fantasy. It’s familiar, but just different enough to be something new. I also appreciate the semi-meta structure of the book, pulling in newspaper articles, interviews, videos, and letters to expand the reader’s context of the world beyond the immediate story events.

That being said, I don’t think the writing style is always the best. Winning keeps description on the light side – which moves the plot along nicely – but makes it difficult to linger on the more emotional scenes. The supporting characters are a nice mix – I especially appreciated the number of queer characters given pivotal roles, did not expect that – but due to the timeline of the plot, we don’t really have the time to give them much depth, which is a shame.

Overall, I enjoyed this. I’m glad I read it. I may even read it again. It’s fast-paced, cinematic, nostalgic, and surprised me. If you are a fan of any Henson-style 80s fantasy, I’d recommend you give this a try.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½
Genre: Fantasy
Representation: MLM, WLW (implied)
Trigger Warnings: Character death, mild gore, mild body horror
Would I recommend this? Yes
Would I read a sequel? Maybe

The Shadow Glass is a nostalgic delight for fans of Jim Henson. There are cinematic elements of The NeverEnding Story, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and other films from the 80s that relied on the magic of puppetry rather than CGI. This story transports me to my childhood and the love of such Fantasy films and books.

This is a thrilling, edge of your seat read with a cast of amazing characters. It makes you think about growing up, and getting older, and the importance of hanging on to the childhood wonder and love of magical possibilities. It’s funny, full of suspense and a thrill ride of a read!

The book fans of 80s fantasy movies always needed but never knew it.

A perfect mix of fantasy, horror, and puppetry.

The Shadow Glass is a fast paced adventure and a homage to the 80s fantasy horror classics like The Labyrinth.

When one-time puppet fantasy film creator Bob Corman dies, his son returns to his childhood home hoping to sell the most famous puppet to a collector, hoping to make a fresh start in his life with the money.

But he is confronted with an impossible reality: the puppets have come alive, heroes and villains, and the clock is ticking to find the prop of the Shadow Glass, and stop the evil creatures from taking over the world of Iri and seeding chaos in this one.

Jack wants nothing to do with his father's legacy, the memory of his father being sour: Bob became an alocoholic and progressively more and more obsessed with his creation, neglecting everyone and everything else. If he wants to succed in his quest though, he will have to make peace with Bob and his brainchild.

With him are his studio exectuvie cousin, an excited and adorable teenage fanboy with his nerdy friend group, and a bitter old rival of Bob.

The book is fast-paced, fun and enthralling - it feels more like a movie. If one little thing is missing is a bit of depth for the supporting characters (I'd like to know more of Toby and Huw!).

Overall, I'm very happy I got to read this book and I think it would make a great film if it is ever optioned !

The premise sounded interesting, but it missed the mark for me a bit. I really liked the cover, though it led me to believe the target audience was teens. Not the case! So much swearing, which surprised me, particularly in relation to the comparisons with The Neverending Story and Dark Crystal. I had a hard time staying engaged with the storyline and multiple characters.

Thanks, Netgalley and Publisher for the opportunity to read and review!
This was an amazing story carrying the vibes of Jim Henson Company's puppet classics, which I greatly enjoyed!
The book offers everything a fantasy fan needs - intriguing narrative, compelling characters, mystery, magic, action & adventure in 80's style as well as my favorite part - puppets coming to life! Throughout the reading, I could easily imagine the setting and everything passed through my mind like an old movie! I recommend the read to everyone!

Prepare to be transported to the 80s films you know and love, with a dark sideways look at fandom, fame, and legacy. The Shadow Glass sets out its stall as a loving tribute to the puppet fantasy extravaganzas of Jim Henson, but manages to build its own cohesive world, injecting more than enough 'grown-up' concerns (alcoholism, death of the maker, difficult family relationships) to prevent the nostalgia from ever becoming cloying. Josh Winning has a very deft hand with action sequences and making the unbelievable seem both normal and inevitable (seriously - puppets come to life!) and you'll race through this book wanting to know if Jack and his growing cast of friends and companions-in-arms, both human and kettu, manage to overcome forces of both greed and supernatural darkness. An absolute treat of a book for anyone who's ever dreamed of entering the Labyrinth.