The co-op bookstore for avid readers
Book Cover for: Shadowplay, L. R. Lam

Shadowplay

L. R. Lam

"Pantomime is a fantastical, richly drawn, poignant take on a classic coming-of-age story . . . a vibrant tale told with surety and grace" - Leigh Bardugo

In the second installment of the Micah Grey Trilogy from the award-winning, USA Today-bestselling author of Dragonfall, Micah must learn two types of magic--one for the stage, and one with deadlier consequences--while navigating a tender new love

Old magics are waking. Will the world survive their return?

Micah Grey almost died when he fled the circus with Drystan. Now he and the ex-clown must use glamours to disguise themselves and hide in the once-grand Kymri Theatre, run by a once-renowed magician, Jasper Maske. Drystan thinks Maske's 'magic' is all smoke and mirrors, but where's the line between trickery and real power?

Micah and Drystan will soon learn the answer, when Maske's arch-nemesis challenges him--and by extension, Micah and Drystan--to a duel. A duel that will seal all of their fates.

Meanwhile, an investigator is hunting the person Micah once seemed to be: a noble family's runaway daughter. As the duel draws near, Micah increasingly suffers from dark visions. Events that broke the ancient world are being replayed. Can Micah's latent powers break this deadly pattern?

Book Details

  • Publisher: Daw Books
  • Publish Date: Nov 11st, 2025
  • Pages: 352
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 0.00in - 0.00in - 0.00in - 0.81lb
  • EAN: 9780756420291
  • Categories: Fantasy - GaslampLGBTQ+ - GeneralFantasy - Romance

More books to explore

Book Cover for: The House in the Cerulean Sea, Tj Klune
Book Cover for: Even Though I Knew the End, C. L. Polk
Book Cover for: Summer Sons, Lee Mandelo
Book Cover for: When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain, Nghi Vo
Book Cover for: A Marvellous Light, Freya Marske
Book Cover for: A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, Foz Meadows
Book Cover for: Witchmark, C. L. Polk
Book Cover for: Fireheart Tiger, Aliette de Bodard
Book Cover for: Haunting of a Witch, Suza Kates

About the Author

L. R. Lam was first Californian and now Scottish. Lam is the USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling award-winning author of Dragonfall and Emberclaw (the Dragon Scales duology), the Seven Devils duology (co-written with Elizabeth May), Goldilocks, the Pacifica novels False Hearts and Shattered Minds, and the Micah Grey trilogy, which begins with Pantomime. They are also a writing coach at The Novelry.

More books by L. R. Lam

Book Cover for: Emberclaw, L. R. Lam
Book Cover for: Dragonfall, L. R. Lam
Book Cover for: Seven Devils, L. R. Lam
Book Cover for: Seven Mercies, L. R. Lam
Book Cover for: Goldilocks, L. R. Lam
Book Cover for: Shoreline of Infinity 34: Science fiction Magazine, L. R. Lam
Book Cover for: Pantomime, L. R. Lam

Praise for this book

"[A]n exotic and detailed world, peopled by characters that I'd love to be friends with . . . and some I'd never want to cross paths with" - Robin Hobb

"A lyrical, stunningly written debut novel, which set my heart racing with every lift of the trapeze. In Micah we have one of the most original - and likeable - protagonists I've read in a long time. An author to watch, without a doubt" -- Amy Alward

"Welcome to a world of shills and showmen, fading tech and circus freaks, where nothing and no-one is what it appears. An absorbing, accomplished debut" -- Elspeth Cooper

"Set in a vividly imagined world . . . Pantomime is a fable-like story as beautifully unique as its main character" - Malinda Lo

"Pantomime is a remarkable debut novel, one of the best I have read, and one that I hope leaves its mark on the fantasy genre as a whole" - Fantasy Book Review

"Who hasn't dreamed off running off and joining the circus? Lam's Micah does just that, discovering a world of clowns and acrobats, con men and tricksters, corruption and incompetent doctors . . . I look forward to more from this author" - Brian Katcher

"Pantomime is almost certainly the best fantasy of the year . . . a phenomenal book" - The Book Bag

"Well written and intelligent fantasy with characters I loved and a wonderful protagonist, in a fascinating world. I really enjoyed Pantomime and I can't wait to re-enter Ellada and continue to unravel its secrets" - Fantasy Faction

"Absolutely amazing! It's a fantastic character-driven fantasy that will draw you in from the very first page . . . A completely eye-opening, enthralling debut, and I can't thank Lam enough for writing it. Another book to add to the favourites list" - Once Upon A Bookcase