SHADOWPLAY - Laura Lam

This is one of the oldest books in my ARC queue ... clearly no longer a 'new' book, and likely out of print since the publisher closed down a number of years back.  Still, I committed to reading and reviewing it, even if I am a decade (or more) behind! This book is the second in a trilogy (typical of my luck to pick up in the middle of a series) and jumps right into action, presumably from where the first book left off.

Micah and Drystan are on the run from a circus that they both once worked for. Drystan takes them to a run-down old theatre to meet with Jasper Maske, once a renowned magician, who agrees to provide refuge for them. Maske promises to also teach them magic so that they have another skill they can use as they continue on their own.

Micah discovers he has a special talent, having visions and seeing glimpses of the future, which will be important as their new mentor, Jasper Maske, is about to face an old foe.

Despite my feeling just a little bit lost because this picks up (presumably) right after the first book ends, this was a really great adventure. The characters of Micah and Drystan are precisely the sort of characters that you want to read about in a strong, urban fantasy. They would be especially appealing to a YA audience. Jasper isn't quite as interesting, though the magic he wields most certainly is.

A romance is brewing for Micah and this is handled so wonderfully appropriately (again, for a YA audience). It doesn't overshadow (pun intended) the meat of the story, but it's definitely an important part of what Micah is going through.

There's enough magic and mystery here to engage and entertain a reader who's grown up with the famous boy wizard, but this carves a unique story path rather than trying to recreate something that already exists.  Setting such a fantasy in a circus and old theatre brings about as much magic (perhaps moreso) as does a school for learning magic.  Here lessons are learned on the run and we get to the heart of the lesson quickly, rather than seeing our heroes learn step by step.

Lots of fun, and I'm really eager to read the full trilogy.

Looking for a good book?  If you haven't read Laura Lam's Shadowplay and you like YA fantasy, then go out and find this book ... find this series! ... right away.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

* * * * * *

Shadowplay

author: Laura Lam

series: Micah Grey #2

publisher: Strange Chemistry

ISBN: 9781908844408

paperback, 400 pages