Shadowplay

'[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 instalment 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-renowned magician, Jasper Maske.
Micah and Drystan wonder if Maske's stage magic is all smoke and mirrors, but when Maske's arch-nemesis challenges him-and by extension, Micah and Drystan-to a duel, they might truly discover the line between trickery and real power.
Meanwhile, the Shadow still haunts Micah's steps, and as the duel draws near, Micah increasingly suffers from dark visions. Events that destroyed the ancient world are being replayed. Can Micah's latent powers break this deadly pattern that will seal all their fates?
In this rich and evocative second novel of the Micah Grey series, L.R. Lam blends a coming-of-age story, queer romance, and magical powers into a charming and original fantasy world, inspired by Victorian Scotland.
Readers love SHADOWPLAY
'[A] gorgeously written novel with so big a heart the pages can barely contain it.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I wish I'd had this (and Pantomime) to read fifteen years ago.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I read this in two sittings - it would have been one if I hadn't needed to go to work in between.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Drystan is such a heartthrob! This series is incredibly enjoyable and I'm excited for book three.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Originally from sunny California, L.R. Lam now lives in cloudy Scotland. Lam is a Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author whose work includes epic fantasy romances Dragonfall and Emberclaw, the near-future space thrillers, Goldilocks, feminist space opera Seven Devils (co-written with Elizabeth May), BBC Radio 2 Book Club selection False Hearts, the companion novel Shattered Minds, and the award-winning Micah Grey series: Pantomime, Shadowplay, and Masquerade. Their short fiction and essays have appeared in various anthologies such as Nasty Women, Cranky Ladies of History, Scotland in Space, and more.