Shadowplay (2) (Micah Grey Trilogy)

Shadowplay follows immediately from Pantomime, the first book in Laura Lam’s young-adult fantasy series, and wastes no time getting into the thick of things. We return to the complex and mysterious characters who we love from the first book, and aren’t disappointed by the new characters who are just as secretive with their own hidden backstories. The genuine intrigue would be enough to keep us reading, even without the lovely and powerful atmosphere we love in Lam’s work.The plot advances a little more fluidly than the first book, with everything close-knit and woven nicely. You’ve never left wishing they would spend more time in a certain section of the plot – it always moves to exactly where you want it. One aspect of the story (touched upon in Pantomime) is done particularly well, and really helps bring the book and the character of Micah together.The characters provide the backbone of this edition to the series perhaps more so than the first book, with Micah providing a strong lead as before, Drystan who is still with her, both joined by Maske, a magician, fittingly, and a friend of Drystan’s, and Cyan, who you’ll see on the cover of the book itself. Both are compelling characters in their own rights, with Maske’s talents capturing Micah’s attention like the performance tricks in Pantomime. In fact, I would have liked more time spent on Maske, but he is slightly over-shone by Cyan, who slowly came to be a new favourite.Cyan is complex, trustworthy and reliable in a way that must have been hard to write, when introducing her to untrusting characters who have every reason to block her from their confidences. She manages to win their trust as well as the reader’s attention, and I can’t wait to see more of her. In a comment from the author, Lam says that Cyan took her by surprise, so it’s evident the character managed to click into something that resonates with the reader.This book delves a little darker in several cases, with the Shadows that are following Micah, people from her past that may or may not wish to help her, and the chimera who we learn more of as the novel progresses. It’s interesting to see characters when they don’t immediately embrace something new and different to them – in many novels that include another race or magic, they sometimes jump in too quickly. Micah makes believable decisions throughout, which strengthens the realism of the plot in that regard.Shadowplay deals with sexuality, discrimination, trust, and the choices one has to make when you’re basically between a rock and a hard place. We see all characters progress, and come to care for them more, and especially hope to see them safe in the next book.

If only all Authors were as refreshing yet skilled as Laura Lam! Not only does she have a beautifully built world in Ellada with a fascinating story, but Micah Grey is the only well-rounded intersex/genderqueer/bisexual character I've read about.Taking place directly after Pantomime, Shadowplay follows Micah as Drystan takes them to the magician Jasper Maske. Between an impeding duel with a rival magician and the growing interest from multiple parties in Micah's past, they must learn more about their abilities and take on new challenges.Honestly, this book was even better than the last. My main complaint about Pantomime was the lack of any clear climax--tensions and conflicts would rise but quickly dissipate. In Shadowplay, we really got to see things come to a head while the suspense of the side plots became increasingly exciting. Plus, I love how Lam depicted romance and grief, very realistic!I can't wait to read book #3, and anything that comes afterwards!

Yet another great installment from Laura Lam! Michah is such a great character, and seeing their growing acceptance of themselves is just delightful. As with the first book, Micah's being intersex was treated with respect and thoughtfulness, and I was also heartened to see the acknowledgement of genders that aren't 100% man or 100% woman. Sure, it was a few lines, and the only option discussed is a blend of both man and woman, but it's still more than nearly all other books (sigh at how low my bar is). The plot was pretty slow, but I didn't find it a negative at all; I enjoyed seeing more characters and learning more about characters who were also in book 1. I also liked seeing more of the history of this world, and more exploration of what Vestige is, and what is looming on the horizon. As with book 1, it ended on a cliff hanger, so if you like to dive straight into the next book to see what happens then maybe wait to pick up this series. I will definitely be rereading these in the future, and I am eagerly awaiting book 3!

I am probably at the edge of the target group agewise, but I really enjoyed this one - even more so than the first volume 'Pantomime' which I read immediately before this one.It has elements of Priest's 'The Prestige' and the cast sees some nice additions, though it stays a small tight group. Where the first book took place almost exclusively in a circus, this one moves to a decrepit theatre with a few (actually 'too few' for my taste) glimpses of the outside city and still none of the whole world.I will be aboard for the ride on Masquerade.

I could not put the book down. I don't know how it could have gotten better than Pantomime, but somehow it did. Like the first book. the whole book is littered with LGBTQ+ characters. And I now want to know more about the mystery of the penglass and the past.I wish some of the characters from the first book could have been in it more. I really missed Cyril. But the new characters were all just as great. Hopefully Cyril can come into the last book a bit more.

I swallowed the first book like there was no tomorrow but it's taken me like two months (and 3 other books) to finish this one. The plot, to put it simply, meanders. There's exciting moments but they are few and far between and as interested as I was to see Micah/Drystan... It just wasn't working. They are linked together by both their common ancestry and the events of book 1 but their closeness is left for the reader to infer, not really shown except for here and there when Micah remembers they are in love...

Such a fabulous book. I love the amount of magic, and feel that Laura has really done her research. Micah being free to explore their gender identity made me happy to see, and there is a wealth of characters I have loved seeing develop. Drystan is such a heartthrob! This series is incredibly enjoyable and I'm excited for book three.

Enjoyed this.

I came across Laura Lam quite recently and was rapidly hooked. Can't wait for no. 3 in the trilogy!

I bought the book after seeing it in the library, I don't usually read anything twice but I have gone back over several chapters and shall enjoy the next in this series

Good follow up to Pantomime. Not as much going on, I would say the tension has definitely diffused from the first book, but the intrigue continues. Definitely a strong book 2

Der Nachfolgeroman von Pantomime hat mich nicht enttäuscht & ich habe ihn genauso schnell verschlungen. Der Roman fällt nicht in die üblichen Fallen, wie es 2. Bände von Reihen häufig tun, nämlich den Plot des ersten zu imitieren und/oder an Tempo zu verlieren. Micahs Konflikt bekommt andere Dimensionen und die Welt wird komplexer.Sehr schade, dass der 3. Band wohl nicht mehr vom gleichen Verlag sein wird, die Cover des ersten und zweiten Bandes finde ich wunderschön.

This was an interesting book and really expands on the world building from the previous book. Betrayal is obviously going to be a big, recurring theme in this series..