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Through A Glass #1
Through a Glass
Irene, a gifted young artist, always paints with a mirror strategically positioned behind her, as an aid with perspective. As she puts the finishing touches to her latest painting, and studies its reflection in the mirror. She is shocked to see an extremely tall man, half hidden by the trees staring back at her.
Irene had not placed a figure in the painting. So who was he? Where did he come from?
When she examines the canvas, there is no one there!
Puzzled and a little apprehensive, Irene turns, and refocuses on the mirror. To her astonishment, the glass appears strangely liquid. She tentatively puts her hand out to touch it, and in a split second finds herself transported into the world of her own painting.
In this strange and frightening place, Irene meets the mysterious tall man, and embarks on a journey that will test every ounce of courage and faith she possesses.
Irene had not placed a figure in the painting. So who was he? Where did he come from?
When she examines the canvas, there is no one there!
Puzzled and a little apprehensive, Irene turns, and refocuses on the mirror. To her astonishment, the glass appears strangely liquid. She tentatively puts her hand out to touch it, and in a split second finds herself transported into the world of her own painting.
In this strange and frightening place, Irene meets the mysterious tall man, and embarks on a journey that will test every ounce of courage and faith she possesses.
300 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
3 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
About the author
Y.I. Lee
8 books64 followersY I Lee was born in Swindon Wiltshire, the eldest of three children.
From a young age her greatest joy was to curl up with a good book. They became her escape from a troubled childhood.
Over time she naturally progressed into writing. At the age of ten, she ambitiously attempted her first novel but quickly gave up. However, the seed was planted, and in the coming years in between a successful singing career she continued to put pen to paper, writing poetry and short stories.
She's always had a great love for animals, especially horses. And thanks to a friend, she also grew to love Fancy rats, and spent a number of happy years breeding and showing them.
Understandably, horses and rats often find their way into her books.
Y I Lee and her husband Keith live in the UK, in the beautiful county of Warwickshire.
Y I Lee's first fantasy novel 'The Shadowed Valley' was published on Oct 17th 2011.
Followed in 2012 by 'A Rat and A Ransom.' A fantasy novel for children.
Later in 2012 'Through a Glass' a fantasy for Y/A was published.
Gathering Storm, published in 2014 is the sequel to Through a Glass. It started life as a Nano winner.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 1, 2013
Irene, a painter with a troubled past who drinks to ease her pain and thereby squanders her talent, moves to the village of Zeal to begin again. One day, while gazing at a painting she is working on, she feels a peculiar sensation--a strong sense of the reality of the scene on the canvas. Soon she finds herself physically drawn into the world of her painting. There she meets Stagman and Mira, and the adventure begins.
Evil, Irene discovers, has overtaken the land of the painting. King Murkier, the enemy of the land’s good prince, has stolen and imprisoned the prince’s stallion, and as long as the stallion remains imprisoned, the land itself remains in the clutches of evil.
Irene learns that only she can free the land from evil. Leaving Mira behind, Stagman and Irene begin a quest to find the stallion. They meet helpers along the way (some human and some not), along with malevolent creatures bent on stopping them from completing their task--including the wonderfully named wolf-like “ersatz.”
Lee is a terrific storyteller, weaving excitement and action with a sense of darkness and foreboding. Her story is both cozy (in the sense that a fairy tale is cozy) and fast-paced, and its Christian allegorical elements, though clearly there, are not heavy-handed.
A warning: The epilogue will bring a tear to your eye. I hope Lee returns to Stagman and his world. This is a story I’d love to see continued.
Evil, Irene discovers, has overtaken the land of the painting. King Murkier, the enemy of the land’s good prince, has stolen and imprisoned the prince’s stallion, and as long as the stallion remains imprisoned, the land itself remains in the clutches of evil.
Irene learns that only she can free the land from evil. Leaving Mira behind, Stagman and Irene begin a quest to find the stallion. They meet helpers along the way (some human and some not), along with malevolent creatures bent on stopping them from completing their task--including the wonderfully named wolf-like “ersatz.”
Lee is a terrific storyteller, weaving excitement and action with a sense of darkness and foreboding. Her story is both cozy (in the sense that a fairy tale is cozy) and fast-paced, and its Christian allegorical elements, though clearly there, are not heavy-handed.
A warning: The epilogue will bring a tear to your eye. I hope Lee returns to Stagman and his world. This is a story I’d love to see continued.
March 4, 2014
The main character is an artist whose parents never supported her and made her feel so inadequate. She becomes and artist and goes to live in London and starts to stay out all night partying and drinking. Her agent friend tells her this is affecting her painting and that she should stop drinking because its bad.
One night she does drinks a bottle of wine and her apartment nearly burns down from a candle falling,she is rushed to the hospital and wakes up to her agent/friend berating her.
I would like to add that is 1)not the behaviour of a friend and 2) not professional behavior
Did she own a share of the building the maincharacter nearly burnt down or what? Not saying that it was ok but if you need to get fitted with an oxygen mask shes probably not feeling too well to begin with so hold off a day or two with your comments.
This is the only person she is described interacting with apart from some bits with her mother and stepfather and mention of a grandmother. But its very mystifying why that is as we are told before this that she joined into the social whirl of London. Social implies other people but we never get to see even a glimpse of them
Agentfriend decides she needs to get out to the wholesome countryside. AWAY FROM BAD INFLUENCES.
The village where she goes is called Zeal.
Zeal. as it sounding very similar to ZealOUS. For the first time Irene finds peace and starts to attend services at the local church.
((I researched and there is a village called Zeals in Wiltshire where the author is from but in this context it made me think it was ripe with christian significance)
and then yada yada something about her painting coming alive.
I have to DNF
This book is thick with christian themes and even if that element had been dropped Im not sure this would have improved this book much.Its written in so black and white a way with a lot of show and tell and admonious fingerwaving it was ridicilous.
One night she does drinks a bottle of wine and her apartment nearly burns down from a candle falling,she is rushed to the hospital and wakes up to her agent/friend berating her.
I would like to add that is 1)not the behaviour of a friend and 2) not professional behavior
Did she own a share of the building the maincharacter nearly burnt down or what? Not saying that it was ok but if you need to get fitted with an oxygen mask shes probably not feeling too well to begin with so hold off a day or two with your comments.
This is the only person she is described interacting with apart from some bits with her mother and stepfather and mention of a grandmother. But its very mystifying why that is as we are told before this that she joined into the social whirl of London. Social implies other people but we never get to see even a glimpse of them
Agentfriend decides she needs to get out to the wholesome countryside. AWAY FROM BAD INFLUENCES.
The village where she goes is called Zeal.
Zeal. as it sounding very similar to ZealOUS. For the first time Irene finds peace and starts to attend services at the local church.
((I researched and there is a village called Zeals in Wiltshire where the author is from but in this context it made me think it was ripe with christian significance)
and then yada yada something about her painting coming alive.
I have to DNF
This book is thick with christian themes and even if that element had been dropped Im not sure this would have improved this book much.Its written in so black and white a way with a lot of show and tell and admonious fingerwaving it was ridicilous.
October 11, 2013
This is my third book by YI Lee, and it is by far my favorite. And not just because of the horses. Although I've never seen a glass horse quite like the author describes, her rich use of senses and descriptions make me feel like I have. YI Lee is a master of dark allegorical fantasy. Like CS Lewis or Lewis Carroll, her character finds herself falling into another, stranger, fantastical world, where she must complete a task, because she is the only one who can do it. But then unlike Lewis or Carroll the world built beyond the glass is not silly or childish, it is dark and scary with creatures that screech in the night and threaten to steal your heart and soul. And it's not a child who is chosen to overcome herself, it is a full-fledged adult with deadlines to meet and a wee bit of a drinking problem.
All these things make Through a Glass more real for me. A less than perfect person finding the strength within herself to do incredible, self-sacrificing things and becoming more than she ever thought she was. Lovers of Dark Fantasy do not want to miss this one, especially if they like a spark of inspiration added in.
All these things make Through a Glass more real for me. A less than perfect person finding the strength within herself to do incredible, self-sacrificing things and becoming more than she ever thought she was. Lovers of Dark Fantasy do not want to miss this one, especially if they like a spark of inspiration added in.
May 19, 2014
I truly enjoyed Y.I. Lee's dark allegorical fantasy THROUGH A GLASS. I
found the plot unusual and intriguing. As a recovering alcoholic, I can
identify with Irene who eventually stops wasting her life with alcohol
and develops her God-given talent as an artist. The story touches on
many of my favorite things - horses, art, eagles, wolves, suspense and
romance. The evil beings in the story were well executed and truly scary.
The slithering branches of the woods were very creepy. The plot kept me
reading eagerly to the satisfying conclusion. I look forward to the
sequel as I'm very interested in hearing more of the adventures of Irene
and Stagman. If I have any criticism, it would be the repetition of
certain words and phrases such as 'we need to make a move.' Otherwise,
I say, "Good job!" and give it four stars.
found the plot unusual and intriguing. As a recovering alcoholic, I can
identify with Irene who eventually stops wasting her life with alcohol
and develops her God-given talent as an artist. The story touches on
many of my favorite things - horses, art, eagles, wolves, suspense and
romance. The evil beings in the story were well executed and truly scary.
The slithering branches of the woods were very creepy. The plot kept me
reading eagerly to the satisfying conclusion. I look forward to the
sequel as I'm very interested in hearing more of the adventures of Irene
and Stagman. If I have any criticism, it would be the repetition of
certain words and phrases such as 'we need to make a move.' Otherwise,
I say, "Good job!" and give it four stars.
October 29, 2014
I received a free ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this. The cover really caught my interest as well as the synopsis of the book. Through a Glass is a very well written fantasy. It takes you on an amazing, and also terrifying adventure. The main characters Irene and Stagman must set out to find and free the prince's stallion that has been captured by the enemies. Of course their adventure isn't an easy one as they encounter tree branches that come to life, creatures called erzats, and goblins. They also get help from some very friendly animals who of course can talk. My favorite was Ezekiel, the grumpy, but very funny rat who's afraid of heights. The ending really wasn't a surprise to me, as i kinda guessed it from the beginning. I'm happy that this story isn't over yet, and that there is going to be a second book.
If you love adventure and fantasy then this is the book for you!
I really enjoyed reading this. The cover really caught my interest as well as the synopsis of the book. Through a Glass is a very well written fantasy. It takes you on an amazing, and also terrifying adventure. The main characters Irene and Stagman must set out to find and free the prince's stallion that has been captured by the enemies. Of course their adventure isn't an easy one as they encounter tree branches that come to life, creatures called erzats, and goblins. They also get help from some very friendly animals who of course can talk. My favorite was Ezekiel, the grumpy, but very funny rat who's afraid of heights. The ending really wasn't a surprise to me, as i kinda guessed it from the beginning. I'm happy that this story isn't over yet, and that there is going to be a second book.
If you love adventure and fantasy then this is the book for you!
January 17, 2013
A world through a mirror, talking animals, gruesome hideous beasts, evil trees and an important quest to be completed:Y I lee crafts an exciting and imaginative adventure that keeps you engaged until its triumphant conclusion.
Irene is a talented artist who paints with a mirror behind her to reflect the painting.She notices aspects of a painting that she definitely didn't create and ends up through the mirror and in the world of her own picture. There she embarks on an adventure with her new friend Stagman that aims to conquer the evil darkness in the land and release the kidnapped horse belonging to the prince of the land. The journey is often scary and dark with wonderful moments of peace and beauty and leading to......well you'll have to wait and see for yourself.
Y I Lee has a vivid imagination which lends itself to writing fantasy.In particular she excels at conveying fear and darkness through amazing descriptions of hideous creatures and evil events. The characters are warm and likable and the story is fast paced and easy to read.
The story is of course a christian allegory and Irene's journey is one of self discovery and, more importantly, discovery of faith in God even in the darkest and most discouraging of circumstances. Towards the end Irene needs to swing across a ravine on a rope[I think I can say that without a spoiler warning] and it reminded me of a line in a song I know.Our faith is like a rope and the song said "although a rope looks strong, you don't know how strong until you're hanging from it " Irene discovered her faith was strong enough and I guess Y I Lee is meaning to inspire the reader to test their own rope as it were.Other spiritual themes were the use of spiritual armour in our fight with the enemy.
YILee's writing is easy read and very simple and would, I think, suit young adults very well although adults and children of all ages would also enjoy it.Christians in particular would enjoy the biblical references and themes.I have given it 3 stars to show I enjoyed it very much and because I rarely give 4 or 5 stars,;only for literary masterpieces.
Irene is a talented artist who paints with a mirror behind her to reflect the painting.She notices aspects of a painting that she definitely didn't create and ends up through the mirror and in the world of her own picture. There she embarks on an adventure with her new friend Stagman that aims to conquer the evil darkness in the land and release the kidnapped horse belonging to the prince of the land. The journey is often scary and dark with wonderful moments of peace and beauty and leading to......well you'll have to wait and see for yourself.
Y I Lee has a vivid imagination which lends itself to writing fantasy.In particular she excels at conveying fear and darkness through amazing descriptions of hideous creatures and evil events. The characters are warm and likable and the story is fast paced and easy to read.
The story is of course a christian allegory and Irene's journey is one of self discovery and, more importantly, discovery of faith in God even in the darkest and most discouraging of circumstances. Towards the end Irene needs to swing across a ravine on a rope[I think I can say that without a spoiler warning] and it reminded me of a line in a song I know.Our faith is like a rope and the song said "although a rope looks strong, you don't know how strong until you're hanging from it " Irene discovered her faith was strong enough and I guess Y I Lee is meaning to inspire the reader to test their own rope as it were.Other spiritual themes were the use of spiritual armour in our fight with the enemy.
YILee's writing is easy read and very simple and would, I think, suit young adults very well although adults and children of all ages would also enjoy it.Christians in particular would enjoy the biblical references and themes.I have given it 3 stars to show I enjoyed it very much and because I rarely give 4 or 5 stars,;only for literary masterpieces.
November 7, 2014
**3.5** An interesting book that I give two separate ratings. As an adult fantasy I'd rate this novel 3** but as Y/A or N/A 4**. Despite college & drinking the heroine Irene struck me as younger than her 20-something. Her reactions to the situations she found herself in seemed better suited to a 17-19 yr. old. I also did not find the bits of faith woven throughout overpowering. I tend to abandon enthusiastically Christian novels but thankfully was not compelled to here. :-) The idea of a world inside a painting was fascinating. I appreciated the author's note, it's neat to know some of what inspires a writer. I loved the detail in the descriptions! Once through the glass the descriptions especially of the landscape were vivid & lifelike. I've mixed feelings over the ending but all in all it was a fun book to read. Many thanks to the author for a copy of this book.
November 13, 2014
This has to be up high on the list of best books I've read this year. The characters take the reader on a journey of longing laced with a growing love and the fear of what happens if their quest fails. Each character is so well formed the reader can picture them and what is happening around them throughout the story which has a depth all of its own. The reader takes every breath the characters take, every step along the road they travel and feels the love, friendship bonds and the fear that surrounds them all. I struggled not to read this story but to put the book down unfinished and found myself losing time in large chunks as I became wrapped up in the events happening in the world Through a Glass.
Many thanks to the author for offering me a copy of this wonderful book for an honest review. I do not hesitate to recommend it to anyone of any age
Many thanks to the author for offering me a copy of this wonderful book for an honest review. I do not hesitate to recommend it to anyone of any age
June 5, 2013
I liked the book. For me it was a charming and adventurous fairy tale type of book. At first it was a little thick with the amount of support needed for the character and the amount of hot liquid refreshment. But maybe it is part of the customs of the land. The idea of the painting and observing it in the mirror by The artist, Irene, great! What then happens in the story to turn her life into a different life and the journey she takes is a great tale. I would love to go to Mercy Falls and would not want to run into any of the baddies along the way.
April 30, 2014
A good, well written fantasy, with some original ideas such as a helmet in which the wearer only hears the truth.
I am not a 'believer' in the Christian sense but some of the expressions of faith were worthwhile.
Believable characters, some a little too 'good' set within an interesting plot which enabled the protagonist to work through considerable problems.
Overall, a good read.
I am not a 'believer' in the Christian sense but some of the expressions of faith were worthwhile.
Believable characters, some a little too 'good' set within an interesting plot which enabled the protagonist to work through considerable problems.
Overall, a good read.
March 15, 2017
Although the beginning of this book seemed to move a little slowly, the story soon took off and me with it! I loved the characters, scenery and allegory. Sometimes you have to make a move, take a step to find your path... Happy with the way this book stood alone but I am excited about reading the sequel. A very good romantic fantasy read!
March 20, 2020
Good storyline but gets bogged down repeating itself...repeatedly!
I liked the storyline but the book is easily twenty percent too long. It could have been a much crisper read if we hadn't had to read her emotional crisis every chapter or her crying endlessly after every challenge she faced.
I liked the storyline but the book is easily twenty percent too long. It could have been a much crisper read if we hadn't had to read her emotional crisis every chapter or her crying endlessly after every challenge she faced.
October 29, 2013
YI Lee captured me with her storytelling abilities with her first book, The Shadowed Valley. I have all her books, including A Rat and a Ransom in paperback. In Through a Glass, I turned the page and ended up reading until 4am! The entire story idea was very unique and not many can give such animated life to both four legged and winged friends as good as this author can.
In Through a Glass, it'd be hard for me to pick favorite characters, but I know that Stagman ranked right up there. The journey into beautiful, and some frightening cities was a page turner. The evil forest was a place I could picture so well. All that darkness and those dang trees! YI Lee does a great job at making the reader experience it all.
Irene, the main character, is an artist who ends up being transported into her painting. As the journey unfolds, there are lots of surprises, and the biggest one, I never saw coming at all. Faith is a theme throughout, and it was a breath of fresh air to witness love, deception, evil, goodness, and new friendships described so wonderfully. One of the characters I won't name, but I will always remember his beauty...
If only we could all soar like Zenith. I really wish this book was a series. It was hard to say goodbye to all the delightful characters. They worked as a team, and the plots were created by such a great imagination!
I will forever recommend this book. I can't wait until I can place this paperback beside the others!
In Through a Glass, it'd be hard for me to pick favorite characters, but I know that Stagman ranked right up there. The journey into beautiful, and some frightening cities was a page turner. The evil forest was a place I could picture so well. All that darkness and those dang trees! YI Lee does a great job at making the reader experience it all.
Irene, the main character, is an artist who ends up being transported into her painting. As the journey unfolds, there are lots of surprises, and the biggest one, I never saw coming at all. Faith is a theme throughout, and it was a breath of fresh air to witness love, deception, evil, goodness, and new friendships described so wonderfully. One of the characters I won't name, but I will always remember his beauty...
If only we could all soar like Zenith. I really wish this book was a series. It was hard to say goodbye to all the delightful characters. They worked as a team, and the plots were created by such a great imagination!
I will forever recommend this book. I can't wait until I can place this paperback beside the others!
October 27, 2013
This is an enjoyable fantasy novel that follows Irene as she discovers a whole world behind on of her paintings and embarks on a life changing quest that not only helps her new found friends but also herself. Lee brings this new world to life with descriptive prose without bombarding the reader however I did find the characters lacking in a little depth with no element of shock or surprise in their actions. The Christian overtones and references also come across a little awkward at times and it often feels that the meaning and purpose behind the story was decided first and the story molded around this. Having said that the story itself is pretty good and has everything that a good fantasy story should from strange and unusual creatures and beings to a mythical quest to save a kingdom.
June 16, 2014
A good, well written fantasy, with some original ideas such as a helmet in which the wearer only hears the truth.
I am not a 'believer' in the Christian sense but some of the expressions of faith were worthwhile.
Believable characters, some a little too 'good' set within an interesting plot which enabled the protagonist to work through considerable problems.
Overall, a good read.
I am not a 'believer' in the Christian sense but some of the expressions of faith were worthwhile.
Believable characters, some a little too 'good' set within an interesting plot which enabled the protagonist to work through considerable problems.
Overall, a good read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews