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Cover of Shadowplay

Shadowplay

by L.R. Lam

🌶️🌶️mild·spoiler·Micah Grey #2·✓ Series Complete

Why Read This?

A beautifully written queer romance with an intersex protagonist that handles identity and first love with rare tenderness. The Victorian-inspired magical world is atmospheric and original, and the slow-burn romance between Micah and Drystan is one of the most emotionally resonant in YA fantasy.

Synopsis

In the second installment 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. Drystan claims Maske’s stage magic is all smoke and mirrors, but where’s the line between trickery and real power? Micah and Drystan will soon learn the answer, when Maske's arch-nemesis challenges them all to a duel that will seal all their fates. 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? 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.

At a Glance

4.14 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️🌶️mild
Endingspoiler
PairingM/M
Romance Pacingslow burn
Energymedium

Top Tropes

hidden identityforbidden lovefriends to loverssurvival romancesecret power

Mood

atmosphericmysteriousbittersweetdreamyintrospective

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

4.14 ★

Page Count

352 pages

Published

2014

Primary Genre

Fantasy

Pairing

M/M

POV

First Person

Romance Pacing

Slow Burn

Cliffhanger

spoiler

Audiobook

Available

No

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

Mood

Writing Style

lyricalintrospectiveimmersiveatmosphericemotional

Story Pacing

medium

Emotional Weight

heavy

Energy Required

medium

Vibes

Victorian magic and murderqueer tenderness amid dangerstage illusions and real powerintersex identity woven with care

Characters

FMC Archetype

N/A

MMC Archetype

dark/tortured soulmysterious strangersecretly soft

Relationship Dynamics

friends to loversmutual pininghurt/comfortfound familyslow burn

Spice Details 🌶️

🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 2

Spice Style

slow burn with late spiceemotional / lovingtension / anticipation focus

Getting Steamy

longing glancestouch starvationeye contact intensitytensionanticipation

Bringing the Heat

None
Browse more books by spice level →
murderviolencetraumakidnappingdeathgrief
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World & Setting

World Type

historicallow fantasy / secret magic

Primary Setting

circus / theatre / performance troupebig city / metropolis

Fantasy Creatures

Representation

intersex MCqueerbisexual MC

Reading Context

Emotional Payoff

Best Time of Year

anytime

When & Where to Read

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