Shadowplay: Micah Grey, Book 2 (Strange Chemistry) Paperback – January 7, 2014

The middle book of any trilogy has the hardest job to do: it has to complicate the overall narrative while still being its own book. Bad middle books feel like filler; hundreds of pages of marked time between two cliffhangers. Good middle books walk the fine line between staying true to the story you fell in love with in the first book and twisting it enough to keep you interested in reading the next installment.Shadowplay, I am happy to say, is a good middle book. As the second book in Laura Lam’s Micah Grey series, Shadowplay opens after one crisis and ends with another, but the path between them never feels like filler.The events at the end of Pantomime force Micah into hiding again, this time with Drystan at his side. Drystan calls in a life-debt from the disgraced magician Jasper Maske to secure a hiding place at the dusty Kymri Theater, and thus begins Micah’s second adventure. Again, Micah goes into hiding. Again, Micah takes on a false identity. But the difference in Shadowplay is that he does so in plain sight. And at night he has a place to return to where people know who he really is and accepts him for that. I loved that nuance.One area ripe for exploration that was missed, though, was Micah’s new identity. In the city of Imachara, while outside on the street, Micah wears a small piece of Vestige which makes him appear to be Temnian. In the book, Temnian people are coded as people of color; visibly foreign and visible different—“from the colonies,” mistrusted. As Sam (Micah’s name when passing as Temnian), Micah should face structural oppression. Unless Ellada is much further along in terms of race relations than we are in the real world, this should probably have been more than a couple of scowls on the street as mentioned in the text. This oversight is compounded when Cyan, an actual Temnian girl, joins the group. She either never speaks of whatever structural oppression she faces or she never experiences any. She seems to have no feelings on the matter that these two White kids are passing themselves off as Temnian. I’m not saying she should be bothered by it, necessarily, but she probably should have had an opinion on it one way or the other. In any case, there is a potential for this element of the book to rub readers of color the wrong way since Micah is literally using race as a costume for large sections of the book without any substantial reflection of what that means.That said, I did truly appreciate that in Shadowplay Lam began to unweave Micah’s intersexuality from his apparent special abilities around Vestige—which become more pronounced in this book. We learn more about that in Shadowplay; the Phantom Damselfy herself becomes a prominent character with a name and a history and a future. We also learn that there are others with similar abilities in Micah’s world. It’s confirmed more than once over the course of the book that it may just be coincidence that Micah is intersex and has these abilities. Micah is allowed to be just Micah.Shadowplay is excellently paced and explores a different part of Elladan culture than Pantomime—magic shows and seances. I, actually, am fascinated by the historical spiritualism movement and the practices of debunking seances, so this was an oddly perfect match for my interests. Between Micah’s Phantom Damselfly induced visions, magician training, and tracking down people who are tracking down him, there is plenty of plot to go around. There are double agents. There is a slow-burning, very sweet romance, but not before the trauma of the ending of the first book has to be dealt with and processed by both Micah and Drystan. There is the question of Micah’s weird abilities and the potential and the danger they pose. And there is a hell of an ending and the questions it raisesI cannot wait for Masquerade.

Such intriguing world-building, and I really love the exploration of the main character's issues with their gender identity/presentation as well as intersex status. I also enjoy the slow build of the relationship between the main character and one of the other characters in the story (trying to avoid spoilers here). Excellent sequel to Pantomime, which I devoured quickly. I would love to read more about this character, or even just this world!

Well written story that keeps you reading. I thought the ending was not the best part of the book, I do not like it when the author cuts off the book abruptly so another sequel can be written.

Excellent read

Shadowplay absolutely solidifies my complete love and admiration for this series. Not only do the mythology and world grow, but it's all set behind a stunning story of love, trust, and family--with magic!If you read this book (series, really) for no other reason, read it for Micah and his situation. (In an attempt not to reveal spoilers for those who haven't read the first book, it is a "situation".) It is unique and not something I've seen anywhere else, but that's not why it's so special to this series. What makes this series so special is the treatment. Never does the situation feel exploitative or there for shock value. And Micah's journey into acceptance is lovely and truly wonderful. He comes to feel comfortable in his skin, just as he is.Part of this comfort stems from his relationship with Drystan, and this whole romance plot line is, honestly, beautiful, yet understated and slow. Drystan seems to take rather a backseat to Cyan, which makes sense given that she needs introduction like Drystan got in the first book, but there would have been no complaints had he been around a lot more. That being said, Cyan is an interesting character herself, with just as many secrets and as much history as the rest.There is quite a lot revealed in this book, not only explaining certain moments from the first book but also setting up for the final book. We see a lot of Chimera and learn a lot about them and how they disappeared. It's obvious most people can't be trusted, and this should all lead into an explosive finale.If you haven't read Pantomime, I thoroughly recommend that changes soon. (I've attempted to avoid spoilers for the first book, in the hopes that anyone who sees this will go and read it! Hence vagueness.) Shadowplay is a worthy sequel that expounds on everything set up in the first book and brings new strings into the fold. It reveals new characters and love. It is mysterious and magical. Read it, eh?I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 Stars.It's taken me quite a while to read Shadowplay by Laura Lam. I really enjoyed the first book in the Micah Grey trilogy, Pantomime, but I've struggled to find the motivation to read the second book. And now I've read it, I wasn't missing out on too much. Considering how much I loved Pantomime, I'm quite disappointed in Shadowplay.Micah and Drystan are on the run for the events that happened at the circus. They seek the help of Jasper Maske, a magician and an old friend of Drystan's. Maske can no longer perform magic to an audience due to losing a duel 15 years ago, and agrees to teach the two runaways magic to perform at the Kymri Theatre. Cyan, also an ex-circus performer, is hired as a magician's assistant, despite Drystan and Micah's misgivings and distrust. Discovering that Maske is teaching, his old rival, Taliesin, challenges him to a rematch duel; Maske's students against Taliesin's grandsons, the outcome of which could be disastrous. Meanwhile, the Phantom Damselfly turns out to be more than she seems, and as he tries to figure things out, Micah discovers so might he and Cyan.Despite being gripped by Shadowplay, really eager to find out what happens, it left so much to be desired. I am a huge fan of magic. In a big way. If there's a magic programme on TV, I'm watching it. I've even been to see Paul Daniels perform live. I love magic! However, Shadowplay's magic was far from magical. I wasn't interested at all, and except for the fact that it gave Drystan and Micah somewhere to live at the theatre, and introduced them to Cyan who is quite important, I was struggling to understand why any of it mattered. The outcome of the duel was predictable, so other than being an environment where Micah gets to grow, in my opinion, there was no reason for all the magic. I was reading along hoping something interesting would happen soon far too often.And when those interesting things do happen, I ended up with more questions than I had answers. I understand the Damselfly now, but there were no other distinct revelations in this book. We got hints, and clues, and questions, and I'm still none the wiser. I still know very little about Micah's nature, and - although for this story it's linked to what I'm interested in - I'm not talking about Micah being intersex. I'm talking about what happened with the Penglass, and why. What is so special about Micah? (With regards to my comment about Micah being intersex, it might seem dismissive to those who've yet to read Shadowplay, I'd like to just clarify, I'm not being dismissive of his being intersex, it's obviously a very important factor when it comes to how Micah views himself, to his identity. However, there's something that happens in this book in relation to him being intersex that I can't talk about that has me less interested in it than I am in other aspects of the story.) So the fact that we get possibilities about Micah - and Cyan - but nothing concrete, nothing definite, and that even these infuriating hints are so few and far between, I was so frustrated by the time I finished the book.As for the romance between Drystand and Micah, what romance? I didn't feel it, I didn't believe it. Considering I started this book hoping something would happen between them, I'm so upset that I found it unbelievable, that it did nothing for me; I wasn't wowed, I wasn't hoping for more, I didn't particularly care about their relationship.The brightest point in this book, other than the Damselfly, which I can't really discuss, is Cyan; she's a little funny and she's quite intriguing, and I found her to be a much more fascinating character than Micah in this book. Yet, saying that, I'm not sure I care about her enough. Too much of this book left me flat and unfeeling.Considering how most of the story went, I was expecting a great deal from the ending, but it didn't deliver. Shadowplay is very much a middle book, with not much happening. Quite the let down. On the plus side, despite how disappointed I am, I am still intrigued by this world, even if I'm not so infatuated with the characters. So I will read Masquerade, the third book in the trilogy, sometime after it's release in 2016 from Tor - who bought the series after Strange Chemistry closed last year - but I won't be rushing out to get it. Don't get me wrong, I have read far worse books, but with Pantomime being so incredibly good, I can't believe how badly Shadowplay disappointed. It just didn't come close to the story I expected.

When I bought this, I was not clear that it was a 'teen' novel, but I thought it was great! Really well-written, engaging story, I loved this from start to finish. I thought that the...ambiguity of the central character was dealt with really well; I have ordered the next one, for when it comes out. I imagine many teen readers would really find this inspiring and helpful, but I am so glad I read it anyway, wish I'd read it when I was 14!!

As a previous reviewer said, the only problem with this book is that the next one's not out yet. I want more of Micah and the worlds that Lam has created. Shadowplay has a more direct storyline than Pantomime but retains the tension and intrigue. The introduction of Cyan in particular is very welcome. I can't wait for the next in the series.

The only problem with this book is that the next one is not out yet.I had to download this book as soon as I finished Pantomime to continue following Micah Grey's story. The world created by Laura Lam is vivid and intriguing and had me hooked! Would be so awesome as a movie!

I just can't get enough of these characters! I was hoping that Shadowplay would be as good as Pantomime but it was actually better! More of that magical world, more incredible characters, and more unbelievably heartfelt romance and mystery. I just can't wait to see what will happen next. Bring on the third instalment!

Continues to provide a refreshing viewpoint in an interesting world.Feels a little like too much is left for the finale, unless it's drawn out to more than three books. Laura's teasing me a little too much...

5 stars for the sequel to 'Pantomime'. Truly develops the story of Micah and the struggles of being a runaway in a world so different to others. Hidden powers and new characters add an extra level to the novel. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the next one; if there is one in the pipe lines.

A great story, with original and strong characters, expertly told by a writer going places quickly. Can't wait for Laura's next book!

A beautifully written fantasy story that captures your imagination on every page. Lam creates unforgettable characters.I was so excited to meet Micah again in book two, having loved Pantomime, and Shadowplay was more than worth the wait. Micah is finding his footing, coming to terms with the perils of their world. With danger, intrigue and sleight of hand, Lam puts heart into every act of trickery and leaves you guessing. The central romance is incredibly important and lovingly written - and it develops slowly in a wonderful unfurling. Faithful to the events of book one, the duo are complex and slow on the uptake which makes it all the more delightful. The unwavering support is a joy to read after their suffering.Although I missed the circus from book one, Shadowplay makes up for it with some dazzling new characters and expands on the world building with aplomb.The fantastical elements are back in full force with attention grabbing visions and unexplained happenings. Liam's descriptions are exquisite and pull you completely into the scene.Now I just have to wait with baited breath for book three..can't recommend this series highly enough. Five stars!

I loved Pantomime, but found Shadowplay to be even better. The world is incredibly rich and detailed, and the story compelling. I read this in two sittings - it would have been one if I hadn't needed to go to work in between. I would not hesitate to recommend the series - in fact, I have done so to various friends.