Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Shadowplay (Pantomime #2) - Paul's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Strange Chemistry on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Shadowplay (Pantomime #1)
Author: Laura Lam
Publication Date: January 7, 2014

Ashley's Pantomime (#1) PRE-READING

Synopsis: The circus lies behind Micah Grey in dust and ashes.

He and the white clown, Drystan, take refuge with the once-great magician, Jasper Maske. When Maske agrees to teach them his trade, his embittered rival challenges them to a duel which could decide all of their fates. People also hunt both Micah and the person he was before the circus—the runaway daughter of a noble family. And Micah discovers there is magic and power in the world, far beyond the card tricks and illusions he's perfecting...

A tale of phantom wings, a clockwork hand, and the delicate unfurling of new love, Shadowplay continues Micah Grey’s extraordinary journey.


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Review: "One leader to spark the zeitgeist, and the world changes."

This is a wonderful sequel to an amazing novel. What Pantomime did with the circus, Shadowplay does with stage magic. I loved the details we learn about performance magic. 

The new characters really add to the story and we learn more of characters we are already familiar with. Even after all the secrets that were revealed in Pantomime, still more come to the surface. 

The use of foresight is done well. I liked the visions and was constantly trying to determine their meanings. 
A lot more of the history is explained. Although I found it very interesting and uniquely complex, I miss that mystery of the unknown. 

This book continues to deal with gender, but it's not as much at the forefront as in Pantomime. The diversity of the characters is still present though. 

I really missed the parallel story lines of Pantomime, but I enjoyed the excerpts that start each chapter. Sometimes just by reading the excerpt for the next chapter, I'd stay up even later to read "just one more chapter".

This is an excellent sequel to Pantomime and continues this interesting story. I did enjoy Pantomime more, but that's because there was more unknown and to reveal. This book continues the series with another 5/5. I am very excited for the next book!



--PAUL

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