Review of Shadowplay by Laura Lam

Series: Micah Gray #2
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Magic,
Pages: 400
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Release Date: 07/01/2014
Find The Author: Website ¦ Twitter

Book Depository ¦ Amazon UK/US ¦ Goodreads
UK Readers: Check if this book is on RISI

The circus lies behind Micah Grey in dust and ashes.

He and the white clown, Drystan, take refuge with the once-great magician, Jasper Maske. When Maske agrees to teach them his trade, his embittered rival challenges them to a duel which could decide all of their fates.

People also hunt both Micah and the person he was before the circus–the runaway daughter of a noble family. And Micah discovers there is magic and power in the world, far beyond the card tricks and illusions he’s perfecting…

A tale of phantom wings, a clockwork hand, and the delicate unfurling of new love, Shadowplay continues Micah Grey’s extraordinary journey.


Shadowplay continues Micah and Drystan's story, right after the left the circus and join Maske's theatre. I liked this idea, as I felt that more of the same would quickly bore me. A new fresh setting was a great idea and introducing new characters and new challenges - like learning magic - really paid off and kept me reading, finishing the book in two sittings.

The attention grabber of this series is that Micah is bisexual and intersex, meaning they're both sexes and like both sexes too. However, this isn't just used as a gimmick, Micah really continues to struggle with identity in this book, knowing he could go back to his parents at any moment but they will try and change him into the ideal daughter they always wanted but never had. 

The romance that was hinted at between Micah and Drystan in the first book blossomed in this one and it was really sweet too, Micah and Drystan were one of my favourite couples in Pantomime, even if they weren't actually together yet. I was very happy when they realised their feelings for one another!

 The world building continues in this book and I don't think I've even been in such a richly imagined world as Ellada. We learn a whole lot more about it's history and it's people, the Chimera. Meanwhile in the present The Foresters make quite a few appearances with their often violent protests. I think we'll be seeing them a lot more in the next book!

The ending of Shadowplay was just as painful and beautiful as the ending of The Winner's Curse, another book that happily stamped on my heart. Only with Shadowplay it's more so, as Strange Chemistry shut down, it's sequel will not be published by them. However, the final book is likely to still be published by the author, so I can't wait to read it, I know it'll be amazing.

Comments

  1. Unknown2:09 am BST

    This book is sitting on my Kindle - glad to know you enjoyed it! I really hope Laura Lam gets the last book published somehow.

    ReplyDelete

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