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Glass Thorns #2
Elsewhens
Touchstone, the magical theater troupe, continues to build audiences. But Cayden is increasingly troubled by his “elsewhens,” the uncontrolled moments when he is plunged into visions of the possible futures. He fears that his Fae gift will forever taint his friendships; his friends fear that his increasing distance will destroy him.
But worldly success follows them—an apparent loss in the Trials leads to Touchstone being selected to travel to the Continent with a Royal Embassy to collect Prince Ashgar’s new bride. They are the first theater artists to appear outside Albeyn for at least seventy years—for magic is suspect and forbidden elsewhere, and the Kingdom’s easy race mixing and magic use horrifies the people they are to travel among.
But worldly success follows them—an apparent loss in the Trials leads to Touchstone being selected to travel to the Continent with a Royal Embassy to collect Prince Ashgar’s new bride. They are the first theater artists to appear outside Albeyn for at least seventy years—for magic is suspect and forbidden elsewhere, and the Kingdom’s easy race mixing and magic use horrifies the people they are to travel among.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published October 16, 2012
22 people are currently reading
661 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Rawn
76 books1,227 followersMelanie 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).
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).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 27, 2017
I'm really tired of all of the drug use and heavy drinking in this series. "Thorn" leads to the characters being high and having problems performing.
I don't like Mieka's wife, and I really don't like that Cade didn't tell Mieka what he saw with Mieka's wife using magic to manipulate him into loving her.
I don't like Mieka's wife, and I really don't like that Cade didn't tell Mieka what he saw with Mieka's wife using magic to manipulate him into loving her.
April 30, 2024
too much sex and drugs. not enough rock and roll.
i finished this maybe an hour ago and have already forgotten how it ends.
i finished this maybe an hour ago and have already forgotten how it ends.
July 30, 2014
Again, wayyy to much use of the F-word. I like her humor though, and appreciate the character perspectives. I wish there was more of a continuous plot instead of trying to tack on an interesting tid-bit to the very end of the book to try and get you to read another one. Make the whole book about the plot instead of just a meandering story.
June 23, 2013
Too much tell, not enough show. Moments of wonderful writing, but much more wrestling with far too much angsty exposition. A wonderful world that could be much better explored.
October 5, 2015
Fantastic book, I really loved it.
September 9, 2024
The side story at the end being the only connection to the overarching story and the people watching Touchstone is absolutely maddening, as not knowing who it is and who is involved is just infuriating.
I'm enjoying this more the second time around-this was the first time I actually finished it. The section on the other continent was exceptionally interesting, I really enjoyed the characters of Vrennerie and Miriuzka (the lady-in-waiting and Princess respectively), I'm glad that I peeked ahead to see that they're both in the future stories. I do wish that there was more information on the alternate Continent magic.
The drug use is...a lot. I cannot believe how open and free it seems to be, and they just keep sinking more and more into addition and bad habits that are harder and harder to break. I am absolutely annoyed as hell that we don't know Mieka's wife's name, quite honestly, she is just the absolute worst and I want to slap her and her mom both.
I'm going to continue reading, and I'll try and write more cohesive reviews, but I spent the majority of this book being mad at the characters and putting it down for second-hand embarrassment, which happens a LOT. Side characters are still the best part.
I'm enjoying this more the second time around-this was the first time I actually finished it. The section on the other continent was exceptionally interesting, I really enjoyed the characters of Vrennerie and Miriuzka (the lady-in-waiting and Princess respectively), I'm glad that I peeked ahead to see that they're both in the future stories. I do wish that there was more information on the alternate Continent magic.
The drug use is...a lot. I cannot believe how open and free it seems to be, and they just keep sinking more and more into addition and bad habits that are harder and harder to break. I am absolutely annoyed as hell that we don't know Mieka's wife's name, quite honestly, she is just the absolute worst and I want to slap her and her mom both.
I'm going to continue reading, and I'll try and write more cohesive reviews, but I spent the majority of this book being mad at the characters and putting it down for second-hand embarrassment, which happens a LOT. Side characters are still the best part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2022
there are no good reasons for me to like this series so much. more cade angst? more and more of meika making his own stupid decisions just because it feels good? more jeska being a ladies man and rafe being the only normal one in the bunch? more sex, drugs, drinking, and rock and roll of living on the road?
sign me the hell up!!!
meika opens up at the end, which was very good. cade keeps exploring more of what his elsewhens can do. i think part of why i like these books is that i relate to cayden’s uptightness, and meika’s need to do fun things just for the fun of it. golly i love it. this one is slightly less gay but does have a scene where all four members of touchstone are naked and have a pillow fight (like you do with the homies, right, completely normal) which i think is just so funny. can’t wait to see how much more thorn the dynamic duo shoots up in the next one!!
sign me the hell up!!!
meika opens up at the end, which was very good. cade keeps exploring more of what his elsewhens can do. i think part of why i like these books is that i relate to cayden’s uptightness, and meika’s need to do fun things just for the fun of it. golly i love it. this one is slightly less gay but does have a scene where all four members of touchstone are naked and have a pillow fight (like you do with the homies, right, completely normal) which i think is just so funny. can’t wait to see how much more thorn the dynamic duo shoots up in the next one!!
November 24, 2018
This book ending with an ominous note. And one that makes me want to jump on the third book. I hear that the latest book is coming out soon, so she's still working on the series, or is finishing it, one of the two. I'm a little excited to get caught up. This second book was about as fun as the first. I'm not sure that my initial thought on what was ultimately going to happen is actually going to happen, but even so, I'm now caught up in a new page-turner quest to see what happens with Cayden. Rawn is good at subtly hooking the reader. Nice, different, fantasy from what I usually read.
August 16, 2017
Finally got around to book 2 and it was a bit of a filler novel. No real revelations, nothing major, just a long journey to find out the answer to something. Hopefully book 3 will be better as I enjoyed book 2.
March 11, 2018
Touchstone is Rafe and Jeska and Mieka and Caydon and the magic they bring to the art of the performance. And it's Caydon's secrets and Mieka's elfness and the secrets they keep. Thoroughly enjoyable!
May 31, 2017
I enjoy having read this book. Reading it, though, was a struggle. The characters have changing and conflicting emotions, motivations, and desires, which makes for great realism, but slow narrative.
July 20, 2018
Touchstone was great. This sequel was not. Things that were new were left unexplored. To much repetition, too little was new.
April 3, 2019
Book two wasn't better than book one.
Read
May 30, 2014I don't use star ratings, so please read my review!
(Description nicked from B&N.com.)
“Touchstone, the magical theater troupe, continues to build audiences. But Cayden is increasingly troubled by his “elsewhens,” the uncontrolled moments when he is plunged into visions of the possible futures. He fears that his Fae gift will forever taint his friendships; his friends fear that his increasing distance will destroy him.
But worldly success follows them—an apparent loss in the Trials leads to Touchstone being selected to travel to the Continent with a Royal Embassy to collect Prince Ashgar’s new bride. They are the first theater artists to appear outside Albeyn for at least seventy years—for magic is suspect and forbidden elsewhere, and the Kingdom’s easy race mixing and magic use horrifies the people they are to travel among.”
I admit that when I picked up the first book in this series, I was a bit skeptical. Although I love Melanie Rawn, I wasn’t sure I could get behind the way she constructed this new world of hers. Once I read it, though, I was absolutely enchanted and this second book, Elsewhens, captivated me just as deeply.
The characters take a very different journey than you’re used to seeing. Many books on the shelves have heroic battles and daring rescues and the like, but this story follows two men struggling with their inner lives. Cayden is tormented by visions of what could be, and he never knows what may or may not lead to that future. His friend Mieka, often the subject of Cayden’s visions, slips further and further into self-destructive behavior while losing much of what makes him extraordinary. The two play off of each other in a friendship that is both as strong as iron and threatens to unravel at a moment’s notice.
Of course the novel isn’t all brooding and introspection. The Touchstone troop travels to a distant land where magic is anathema, in the hopes that they can begin to ease fears about such powers. Subtle politics and worldbuilding are woven into the tale, much the way Rawn’s characters weave magic into their storytelling. By the end of the book, you realize you’ve gotten much more out of the novel than you were conscious of during the reading.
As someone who does a bit of artistic stuff myself, I also find the story interesting as a portrait of what it’s like to be a person with strong creative impulses. Cayden’s struggles as a writer hit close to home for me, as I can certainly identify with getting writer’s block! Mieka is the one whose situation is really heartbreaking, though, because his personality burns too brightly for even he himself to handle. He’s the celebrity of the group, mirroring the many actors and artists we see in rea life as they self-destruct. Because of how Rawn shows the various sides of creativity, both the glories and the pitfalls, I think it deserves much more attention than it has gotten.
Elsewhens is another incredible book from Melanie Rawn—different in pace and tone than most, but possessing a shine and depth all its own. If you’d like something a bit more introspective, pick up this series and prepare to be dazzled.
This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on April 8, 2014.
(Description nicked from B&N.com.)
“Touchstone, the magical theater troupe, continues to build audiences. But Cayden is increasingly troubled by his “elsewhens,” the uncontrolled moments when he is plunged into visions of the possible futures. He fears that his Fae gift will forever taint his friendships; his friends fear that his increasing distance will destroy him.
But worldly success follows them—an apparent loss in the Trials leads to Touchstone being selected to travel to the Continent with a Royal Embassy to collect Prince Ashgar’s new bride. They are the first theater artists to appear outside Albeyn for at least seventy years—for magic is suspect and forbidden elsewhere, and the Kingdom’s easy race mixing and magic use horrifies the people they are to travel among.”
I admit that when I picked up the first book in this series, I was a bit skeptical. Although I love Melanie Rawn, I wasn’t sure I could get behind the way she constructed this new world of hers. Once I read it, though, I was absolutely enchanted and this second book, Elsewhens, captivated me just as deeply.
The characters take a very different journey than you’re used to seeing. Many books on the shelves have heroic battles and daring rescues and the like, but this story follows two men struggling with their inner lives. Cayden is tormented by visions of what could be, and he never knows what may or may not lead to that future. His friend Mieka, often the subject of Cayden’s visions, slips further and further into self-destructive behavior while losing much of what makes him extraordinary. The two play off of each other in a friendship that is both as strong as iron and threatens to unravel at a moment’s notice.
Of course the novel isn’t all brooding and introspection. The Touchstone troop travels to a distant land where magic is anathema, in the hopes that they can begin to ease fears about such powers. Subtle politics and worldbuilding are woven into the tale, much the way Rawn’s characters weave magic into their storytelling. By the end of the book, you realize you’ve gotten much more out of the novel than you were conscious of during the reading.
As someone who does a bit of artistic stuff myself, I also find the story interesting as a portrait of what it’s like to be a person with strong creative impulses. Cayden’s struggles as a writer hit close to home for me, as I can certainly identify with getting writer’s block! Mieka is the one whose situation is really heartbreaking, though, because his personality burns too brightly for even he himself to handle. He’s the celebrity of the group, mirroring the many actors and artists we see in rea life as they self-destruct. Because of how Rawn shows the various sides of creativity, both the glories and the pitfalls, I think it deserves much more attention than it has gotten.
Elsewhens is another incredible book from Melanie Rawn—different in pace and tone than most, but possessing a shine and depth all its own. If you’d like something a bit more introspective, pick up this series and prepare to be dazzled.
This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on April 8, 2014.
July 30, 2014
I’m guessing Melanie Rawn is a fan of the Who.
In “Elsewhens” (Tor, $15.99, 400 pages), the second installment in the Glass Thorns series, Rawn tracks the ups and downs of Touchstone, a four-man band of touring artists who are led by an enormously talented writer with a large nose (read Pete Townshend), who are inspired by an unreliable (if not crazy) but enormously talented member (read Keith Moon), whose front man is incredibly handsome (read Roger Daltrey) and whose fourth member is solid as a rock (read John Entwhistle).
Rawn sets this quartet on a world with magic – these four perform dramas that are fueled by that magic, which allows four people to put on complete shows – and then sends them off, in “Elsewhens,” to tour another continent.
OK, there’s more to “Elsewhens” than the British Invasion of the ‘60s, as Rawn has given her Townshend figure a troubling magical ability to see potential futures, most of which end up with the Moon figure dead, dying or a miserable drug addict (and Moon did die of a drug overdose). The relationship between these two is really the focus of the first two books in the four-book series, and it’s complicated by their devotion to alcohol and a complex drug called thorn, which apparently combines the impact of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines depending on how it’s made.
This constant harping on the rapidly changing emotional states of the two protagonists – complicated, of course, by their relationships with women and other band members – gets in the way of enjoying Rawn’s carefully built world (there are Giants, Wizards, Goblins and other races) and a plot that could be a lot more interesting if it were more front and center.
And for me, at least, there’s too much time spent on the many negatives of drug abuse, as I can find plenty of that just reading the morning paper.
In “Elsewhens” (Tor, $15.99, 400 pages), the second installment in the Glass Thorns series, Rawn tracks the ups and downs of Touchstone, a four-man band of touring artists who are led by an enormously talented writer with a large nose (read Pete Townshend), who are inspired by an unreliable (if not crazy) but enormously talented member (read Keith Moon), whose front man is incredibly handsome (read Roger Daltrey) and whose fourth member is solid as a rock (read John Entwhistle).
Rawn sets this quartet on a world with magic – these four perform dramas that are fueled by that magic, which allows four people to put on complete shows – and then sends them off, in “Elsewhens,” to tour another continent.
OK, there’s more to “Elsewhens” than the British Invasion of the ‘60s, as Rawn has given her Townshend figure a troubling magical ability to see potential futures, most of which end up with the Moon figure dead, dying or a miserable drug addict (and Moon did die of a drug overdose). The relationship between these two is really the focus of the first two books in the four-book series, and it’s complicated by their devotion to alcohol and a complex drug called thorn, which apparently combines the impact of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines depending on how it’s made.
This constant harping on the rapidly changing emotional states of the two protagonists – complicated, of course, by their relationships with women and other band members – gets in the way of enjoying Rawn’s carefully built world (there are Giants, Wizards, Goblins and other races) and a plot that could be a lot more interesting if it were more front and center.
And for me, at least, there’s too much time spent on the many negatives of drug abuse, as I can find plenty of that just reading the morning paper.
January 12, 2015
I really disliked this book, mainly because it was so boring and nothing really happened. In the first book I loved how different it was, where the characters were a traveling theater troupe, using their potentially devastating magic to instead entertain. Even though nothing happened in the first book I didn't really mind, I was there for the originality of the story and the interplay between the characters. I just thought that the action would pick up in the second book, especially with how it ended. However, the story definitely doesn't pick up in Elsewhens, and instead it slows down. Even worse, since all of the characters have already been introduced in the previous book, this book instead focuses on destroying their friendships. Also, there's some really odd parts of this book, especially scenes that seem really homosexual in nature, even though the author goes out of her way to say they aren't at all gay. Mainly with the two main characters talking about their penises, and who they're having sex with, at one point the one viewpoint character berates the other for jerking off next to him in the bathroom, because the fans love to see the bulge in his pants (it's all very awkward and weird). There's even a crossdressing scene at one point that seemed completely pointless. My biggest gripe though, is definitely that nothing happened in the story, and it took awhile to get through because it wasn't entertaining at all to read. The author even again towards the end tries to act like something big is going to happen in the next book, so you better keep reading it. For me though, I'm probably giving up on the series.
July 17, 2014
Elsewhens by Melanie Rawn
Touchstone was the first book in this thought provoking trilogy. It was a behind the scenes look at theatrical production powered not by animation but magic. Touchstone is a theatre group struggling for success and identity. In this volume, Touchstone has had some success but made some enemies and allies in the process.
Political intrigue is introduced in this book. It is not apparent who is behind it until the final pages and then it is dealt with circumspectly. This book shows more depth on the characters and explains Cayden Silversun's elsewhens. His elsewhens might be described as precognition of a limited nature. Cayden is particularly concerned with the elsewhens referring to his glisker, Mieka.
Cayden feels that what Touchstone can do through theater is nothing less than change his society. Again societal ills are shown such as discrimination, prejudice, poverty and more.
This is the second book in the trilogy, I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I recommend the book.
Web Site: http://www.melanierawn.com/
Touchstone was the first book in this thought provoking trilogy. It was a behind the scenes look at theatrical production powered not by animation but magic. Touchstone is a theatre group struggling for success and identity. In this volume, Touchstone has had some success but made some enemies and allies in the process.
Political intrigue is introduced in this book. It is not apparent who is behind it until the final pages and then it is dealt with circumspectly. This book shows more depth on the characters and explains Cayden Silversun's elsewhens. His elsewhens might be described as precognition of a limited nature. Cayden is particularly concerned with the elsewhens referring to his glisker, Mieka.
Cayden feels that what Touchstone can do through theater is nothing less than change his society. Again societal ills are shown such as discrimination, prejudice, poverty and more.
This is the second book in the trilogy, I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I recommend the book.
Web Site: http://www.melanierawn.com/
February 14, 2016
I honestly cannot comment on how good this book is, aside from saying that the writing style is amazing and incredibly descriptive, and the characters are fascinating. There are also some aspects exploring addiction that are completely unexpected in a high fantasy series. It's just, it took me a week to read it, and the whole time, I had the theme song from that old SNL cartoon playing on repeat in my head: The ambiguously gay wizards, the ambiguously gay wizards, here they come to save the day, fighting crimes and ambiguously gay!
I gave my spouse a daily update, soap-opera style, on examples for each side. Like, one of them got married to a woman and fathered a child, while the other found a lady from a foreign land who is completely perfect for him, but then they come together for a photo shoot and one rests his cheek on the other's hand, or says something like, "No more nightmares now that I'm here, you know you sleep better when I'm in the room."
And I know one's an elf and not a wizard at all, but there it is. The ambiguously gay wizards! Changing the world, saving the world, being completely co-dependent! I can't stop reading this series!
I gave my spouse a daily update, soap-opera style, on examples for each side. Like, one of them got married to a woman and fathered a child, while the other found a lady from a foreign land who is completely perfect for him, but then they come together for a photo shoot and one rests his cheek on the other's hand, or says something like, "No more nightmares now that I'm here, you know you sleep better when I'm in the room."
And I know one's an elf and not a wizard at all, but there it is. The ambiguously gay wizards! Changing the world, saving the world, being completely co-dependent! I can't stop reading this series!
March 26, 2013
All right, I'm not an unbiased reviewer here, because I love Melanie's writing, but there's just something about this series that takes my breath away. The ending to this book definitely adds some intrigue into the series, but it doesn't really come out of nowhere. There HAS to be a third book. There has to be!
Emotions roil during this whole series. You know there's something larger going on with Mieka's lady, and you feel justified in feeling this way due to Cade's Elsewhens, but you also want him to be happy. You soar with Touchstone when they're doing well, and you crash with them when they're disappointed. And, I don't know about you, but the phrase, "This life, and no other," still gives me goosebumps (even though it does get trotted out an awful lot).
Overall, it's a great read, and I can't wait to reread it after rereading Touchstone.
Emotions roil during this whole series. You know there's something larger going on with Mieka's lady, and you feel justified in feeling this way due to Cade's Elsewhens, but you also want him to be happy. You soar with Touchstone when they're doing well, and you crash with them when they're disappointed. And, I don't know about you, but the phrase, "This life, and no other," still gives me goosebumps (even though it does get trotted out an awful lot).
Overall, it's a great read, and I can't wait to reread it after rereading Touchstone.
May 7, 2020
Touchstone, the magical theater troupe, continues to build audiences. But Cayden is increasingly troubled by his "elsewhens," the uncontrolled moments when he is plunged into visions of the possible futures. He fears that his Fae gift will forever taint his friendships; his friends fear that his increasing distance will destroy him. But worldly success follows them: an apparent loss in the Trials leads to Touchstone being selected to travel to the Continent with a Royal Embassy to collect Prince Ashgar's new bride. They are the first theater artists to appear outside Albeyn for at least seventy years, for magic is suspect and forbidden elsewhere, and the Kingdom's easy race mixing and magic use horrifies the people they are to travel among.
June 1, 2013
I actually picked this book up at the local library because I thought the cover was cool, but I couldn't manage more than about 20 pages before I put it down. The story opens to Cade sniveling and complaining, and I just really didn't care. But at some point I picked up the 1st book in the series and read it, and then the 2nd book made more sense. Once I know the characters and their motives, it all made more sense. So, if you have not read Book 1, I strongly recommend you start there. This was a unique take on the magic/fantasy genre with a theatrical twist. Very enjoyable!
April 11, 2013
Another really solid very good entry for this series though slightly not as good as the first. there were moments,particularly in the early going before the journey to the Continent, where the pace began to stagnate, thankfully not for very long. The characters are marvelously rendered; full and flawed exaspering and unique. A series well worth reading and one that stands apart from most of the glut in the genre today.
May 30, 2013
Better than the first book in this series, Elsewhens zags when you think it will zig. In addition to the interactions between the four main characters, there's now political intrigue, an untrustworthy manager, and the delving into prejudice and discrimination. We also learn about the elusive Fae and more of the history of the world.
December 19, 2013
I gave it 4 stars because I know I'll come back for the next book, but I felt like there was a bit too much filler in this one. I will have to wait to see where all the miscellaneous scenes lead. Maybe they were important to something down the line, but the long journey in a foreign country made me restless.
June 13, 2016
An OK second book. I was looking forward to having more about the "continent" but it was pretty much glossed over. While this book moved faster than the first one, it just seemed to be cramming in too much stuff so she could get to the 3rd book. Didn't feel like I really got what was going on until the final chapter. Sadly, not one of her best, but good enough that I'm on to book 3 now.
August 4, 2013
I love the use of magic for theater. Theater already seems magic to me so actual magic could only make it better and I love how close Meika and Cade are (strong hetersosexual bromances are sexy). I've read so much fantasy and I love when something different stands out in a good way.
Want to read
October 30, 2015Going to come back to this ASAP, once I'm caught up with book club stuff. :) So excited to read it :)
August 25, 2013
loved it! can't wait for #3!
March 1, 2013
Like!
March 28, 2013
Another excellent Rawness book. Cannot wait fo the the third book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews