Shadowplay - Laura Lam

Old magics are waking. But will the world survive their return?

Micah Grey almost died when he fled the circus with Drystan - now he and the ex-clown seek to outrun disaster. Drystan persuades his old friend Jasper Maske, a once-renowned magician, to take them in. But when he agrees to teach them his trade, Maske is challenged to the ultimate high-stakes duel by his embittered arch-nemesis.

Micah must perfect his skills of illusion, while navigating a tender new love. An investigator is also hunting the person he once seemed to be - a noble family's runaway daughter. As the duel draws near, Micah increasingly suffers from visions showing him real magic and future terrors. Events that broke the ancient world are being replayed. But can Micah's latent powers influence this deadly pattern?

Laura Lam was raised near San Francisco, California, by two former Haight-Ashbury hippies. Both of them encouraged her to finger-paint to her heart's desire, colour outside of the lines, and consider the library a second home. This led to an overabundance of daydreams. She relocated to Scotland to be with her husband, whom she met on the internet when he insulted her taste in books. She almost blocked him but is glad she didn't. At times she misses the sunshine.

Pantomime by Laura Lam took me to an 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 on Pantomime (Book One)

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

Hugely recommended as one of the most imaginative, inventive, and exciting fantasy series around
The Book Bag

Lam is a genius, she writes beautifully and everything about this book was a complete and absolute pleasure. If you loved the circus, you'll fall in love with the complex and fascinating world behind the stage of Shadowplay and the Kymri theatre Micah now calls home
Jet Black Ink

This series is a must-read for all fantasy lovers . . . Shadowplay is captivating and enticing, with the most complex characters you'll ever come across
City of Books

I truly adored Shadowplay. Lam's writing is gorgeous and with Shadowplay she's proven she's here to stay and has put herself on my must-read list
A Fantastical Librarian