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Micah Grey #3
Masquerade
In the high-stakes conclusion to the Micah Grey Trilogy from the USA Today-bestselling author of Dragonfall, Micah faces his own magical power, nebulous alliances, and a conspiracy that unravels all the way to the Royal Palace.
The gifted can’t hide their talents forever. But monsters await when they step into the light...
Micah's Chimaera powers are growing, just as dark visions threaten to overwhelm him. Drystan is forced to take him to the Royal Physician, but can they really trust the doctor? Especially when he gets Micah hooked on a mysterious medicine, and a close friend is revealed to be his spy…
Meanwhile, violent unrest is sweeping the country as anti-royalist factions fight to be heard. When a royal secret and an attack on Chimaera brings Micah into the heart of the conflict, he and his friends must fight an ancient sect that aims to spread terror once more. The fate of all Chimaera—and the world—hangs in the balance.
In this satisfying and thrilling conclusion to their inventive fantasy trilogy, L.R. Lam raises the stakes like never before.
The gifted can’t hide their talents forever. But monsters await when they step into the light...
Micah's Chimaera powers are growing, just as dark visions threaten to overwhelm him. Drystan is forced to take him to the Royal Physician, but can they really trust the doctor? Especially when he gets Micah hooked on a mysterious medicine, and a close friend is revealed to be his spy…
Meanwhile, violent unrest is sweeping the country as anti-royalist factions fight to be heard. When a royal secret and an attack on Chimaera brings Micah into the heart of the conflict, he and his friends must fight an ancient sect that aims to spread terror once more. The fate of all Chimaera—and the world—hangs in the balance.
In this satisfying and thrilling conclusion to their inventive fantasy trilogy, L.R. Lam raises the stakes like never before.
400 pages, Unknown Binding
First published March 9, 2017
19 people are currently reading
1616 people want to read
About the author
L.R. Lam
27 books1,528 followersOriginally from sunny California, L.R. Lam now lives in cloudy Scotland. Lam is a Sunday Times Bestselling author whose work includes epic fantasy romance Dragonfall (The Dragon Scales Trilogy), the near-future space thriller, Goldilocks, feminist space opera Seven Devils and Seven Mercies (co-written with Elizabeth May), BBC Radio 2 Book Club section 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 anthologies such as Nasty Women, Solaris Rising 3, Cranky Ladies of History, Scotland in Space, and more. Their romance alter ego is Laura Ambrose. Lam lectures part-time at Edinburgh Napier University and is Programme Leader of the Creative Writing MA.
*Please note I don't read my GR mail*
Their short fiction and essays have appeared in anthologies such as Nasty Women, Solaris Rising 3, Cranky Ladies of History, Scotland in Space, and more. Their romance alter ego is Laura Ambrose. Lam lectures part-time at Edinburgh Napier University and is Programme Leader of the Creative Writing MA.
*Please note I don't read my GR mail*
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
May 7, 2025
Now that this is up on Netgalley, here's a picture review! Masquerade features:
Court magic, complete with ballrooms:
Royal intrigue:
Chimaera:
A reliance on a mysterious medicine:
Fire & Flames
And it wouldn't be called Masquerade without a masked ball:
Image credits can be found on my Pinterest Boards:
Ellada People & Settings
Artists
Court magic, complete with ballrooms:
Royal intrigue:
Chimaera:
A reliance on a mysterious medicine:
Fire & Flames
And it wouldn't be called Masquerade without a masked ball:
Image credits can be found on my Pinterest Boards:
Ellada People & Settings
Artists
July 15, 2017
I'm like 99% sure I marked this as finished but it's saying I didn't so *shrug* ((I HATE THIS APP HOW TF DO I LOOK FOR DUPLICATES))
July 15, 2017
I first fell in love with Micha and Drystan way back in 2013 when Pantomime was first released so I went into Masquerade with mixed feelings from the excitement that we were FINALLY going to get a conclusion to their story to the sadness that the journey was nearing an end. I still don't feel quite ready to say goodbye to this world or these characters but I do think this was a fitting end to the series and it did answer all of the biggest questions that had been raised in previous books. Some things possibly tied up a little too easily but overall I was happy with the way it ended and I'm very glad I invested the time to read the series.
Micha has been such a wonderful character from the very beginning, all of his struggles to become the person he was born to be and to find people who will accept him for who he is have paid off and now he has created a wonderful family for himself with Drystan, Cyan, Maske and more. I loved that his brother Cyril has supported him through everything and it was nice that Cyril had a larger role to play in this story too. Drystan has always been a character full of secrets and I was a bit disappointed we didn't get to dig further into his past but he's also been on quite a difficult journey and this book sees him facing his biggest temptations yet. I was worried for a time that he would fall completely apart but it was nice to see Micha support him in his hour of need when the tables turned.
I don't want to go into much detail about the plot but this story focuses much more on the political unrest in Ellada, the Foresters have been growing in power since the beginning, people are becoming more and more paranoid and tensions in the general population are high. For Micha and the other chimera the stakes have never been higher but you'll have to read the book for yourself if you want to know more than that. This book had less of the magical performances of the previous one but probably more intrigue and investigation, more secrets and bigger betrayals. The pace felt a little slower but not in a way that stopped me enjoying it, in fact I probably appreciated the urgency more because of the way events unfolded.
Masquerade was a fitting end to the trilogy but I'm still kind of hoping Laura Lam will decide to revisit this world in the future. I'd be very happy to spend more time with these characters or even explore other parts of the world and perhaps see some of the minor characters have a chance to shine.
Micha has been such a wonderful character from the very beginning, all of his struggles to become the person he was born to be and to find people who will accept him for who he is have paid off and now he has created a wonderful family for himself with Drystan, Cyan, Maske and more. I loved that his brother Cyril has supported him through everything and it was nice that Cyril had a larger role to play in this story too. Drystan has always been a character full of secrets and I was a bit disappointed we didn't get to dig further into his past but he's also been on quite a difficult journey and this book sees him facing his biggest temptations yet. I was worried for a time that he would fall completely apart but it was nice to see Micha support him in his hour of need when the tables turned.
I don't want to go into much detail about the plot but this story focuses much more on the political unrest in Ellada, the Foresters have been growing in power since the beginning, people are becoming more and more paranoid and tensions in the general population are high. For Micha and the other chimera the stakes have never been higher but you'll have to read the book for yourself if you want to know more than that. This book had less of the magical performances of the previous one but probably more intrigue and investigation, more secrets and bigger betrayals. The pace felt a little slower but not in a way that stopped me enjoying it, in fact I probably appreciated the urgency more because of the way events unfolded.
Masquerade was a fitting end to the trilogy but I'm still kind of hoping Laura Lam will decide to revisit this world in the future. I'd be very happy to spend more time with these characters or even explore other parts of the world and perhaps see some of the minor characters have a chance to shine.
October 13, 2020
Let me tell you a story.
Three years ago, at the tender age of 14, I was asked to read a book called Pantomime, because it had been shortlisted for a local award and then provide feedback. The shortlist was actually 6 books, but Pantomime is the only one that stuck with me all these years.
I was invited to attend the award ceremony along with the other students in my school that were participating. I remember holding my copy of Pantomime and listening to Laura Lam talk about her book. It was awe-inspiring; how passionate she was about her world and the characters in it and the process she went through mapping it all out. I bought the sequel that night and waited for ages to meet her.
I still remember the conversation. I told her about the story I wanted to write but didn't think it was good enough. She listened with a smile on her face. To this day, Pantomime is the only book I have personally signed, and I treasure it greatly.
Over these past 3 years, I still read Pantomime and Shadowplay. I still thought about Micah Grey and the world of Ellada. I waited patiently for the conclusion, while also not wanting the series to be over. But now it is, and I feel a little sad.
Not just because the story is over and the characters have completed their journey, but because I am also older and wiser and now the messages resonate much stronger than ever.
And I know for sure, I will always return to the world this author has lovingly built, because it is familiar yet new each time. I love it. Wholeheartedly, eternally, completely.
Three years ago, at the tender age of 14, I was asked to read a book called Pantomime, because it had been shortlisted for a local award and then provide feedback. The shortlist was actually 6 books, but Pantomime is the only one that stuck with me all these years.
I was invited to attend the award ceremony along with the other students in my school that were participating. I remember holding my copy of Pantomime and listening to Laura Lam talk about her book. It was awe-inspiring; how passionate she was about her world and the characters in it and the process she went through mapping it all out. I bought the sequel that night and waited for ages to meet her.
I still remember the conversation. I told her about the story I wanted to write but didn't think it was good enough. She listened with a smile on her face. To this day, Pantomime is the only book I have personally signed, and I treasure it greatly.
Over these past 3 years, I still read Pantomime and Shadowplay. I still thought about Micah Grey and the world of Ellada. I waited patiently for the conclusion, while also not wanting the series to be over. But now it is, and I feel a little sad.
Not just because the story is over and the characters have completed their journey, but because I am also older and wiser and now the messages resonate much stronger than ever.
And I know for sure, I will always return to the world this author has lovingly built, because it is familiar yet new each time. I love it. Wholeheartedly, eternally, completely.
September 16, 2017
I'm never sure how to review middle and final books in trilogies/series, for fear of dropping unintentional spoilers.
This was a satisfying end to Micah Grey's journey. I would have personally liked a little more focus on Micah's inner development and a little less on the national politics, but it was overall a well done plot and a fascinating world. I really loved Micah's friendship into love affair with Drystan, and the way he found a conscious place for himself in the world, with a chosen family.
Micah Grey, "born of Man and Woman, but Neither," I will miss you. Considering that the first two books in this trilogy were published by Strange Chemistry, which went out of business, I'm really grateful to Tor for picking the series up and making it possible for me to read this final installment.
This is a really unusual YA fantasy trilogy, and I'm glad Vippi’s review got me to read the first book.
This was a satisfying end to Micah Grey's journey. I would have personally liked a little more focus on Micah's inner development and a little less on the national politics, but it was overall a well done plot and a fascinating world. I really loved Micah's friendship into love affair with Drystan, and the way he found a conscious place for himself in the world, with a chosen family.
Micah Grey, "born of Man and Woman, but Neither," I will miss you. Considering that the first two books in this trilogy were published by Strange Chemistry, which went out of business, I'm really grateful to Tor for picking the series up and making it possible for me to read this final installment.
This is a really unusual YA fantasy trilogy, and I'm glad Vippi’s review got me to read the first book.
May 31, 2021
2 Stars
Overall, I agree with the politics of this series, but they're very superficial. It's all one bad apple, really, and his (singular) reason for hatred is...a choice. It didn't go deep enough into the politics and oppressions of this world, and I wonder how much of that is down to the choice of narrator. Micah is barely affected by anything that happens, and he has very little interest in anything that goes on that doesn't directly affect him or his loved ones. Which might be fair enough, except it really limits what can be done with the story. And the ending was so neat, so pat. It was badly done. There wasn't enough detail for what really mattered to this world, and yet so much superfluous detail that these books all dragged. There were so many other little niggles (the romance, for one) that I just did not enjoy this series. I'm glad I'm basically done with the series.
ALSO, and I literally cannot believe I almost forgot this, but the only stated trans character is a duplicitous deceiver. And yeah, it's not about her gender, but that is something the main character considers.
Overall, I agree with the politics of this series, but they're very superficial. It's all one bad apple, really, and his (singular) reason for hatred is...a choice. It didn't go deep enough into the politics and oppressions of this world, and I wonder how much of that is down to the choice of narrator. Micah is barely affected by anything that happens, and he has very little interest in anything that goes on that doesn't directly affect him or his loved ones. Which might be fair enough, except it really limits what can be done with the story. And the ending was so neat, so pat. It was badly done. There wasn't enough detail for what really mattered to this world, and yet so much superfluous detail that these books all dragged. There were so many other little niggles (the romance, for one) that I just did not enjoy this series. I'm glad I'm basically done with the series.
ALSO, and I literally cannot believe I almost forgot this, but the only stated trans character is a duplicitous deceiver. And yeah, it's not about her gender, but that is something the main character considers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2018
I was pretty much glued to this for a train journey in which I just ate it up. There are some very satisfying reveals, and one particular plot element I was somewhat dreading was actually handled in a way that made me feel not so terrible about it. Content note, though, if you have problems with addiction — there’s quite a few references to drugs and craving in this one. There’s a lot I still want to know — how can Cyan be Matla and Micah, Dev? What exactly did Doctor Pozzi do? And other aspects wrapped up a little too easily; the change in the aristocracy was just, whomp, suddenly there in the epilogue.
But it was still really satisfying, and what I really loved is the relationship between Drystan and Micah. I wasn’t sure I’d support it from the first book, got fully on board in the second, and have now decided they’re a definite favourite fictional couple. I adore that they make mistakes and have trouble with communication, but they deal with it. And where authors often have adversity tearing characters apart, straining the relationships almost to breaking point, Drystan and Micah turn to each other even more, and that’s just… yeah.
Also, shoutout for Cyril as a pretty awesome secondary character in his unwavering acceptance of his sibling, always.
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
But it was still really satisfying, and what I really loved is the relationship between Drystan and Micah. I wasn’t sure I’d support it from the first book, got fully on board in the second, and have now decided they’re a definite favourite fictional couple. I adore that they make mistakes and have trouble with communication, but they deal with it. And where authors often have adversity tearing characters apart, straining the relationships almost to breaking point, Drystan and Micah turn to each other even more, and that’s just… yeah.
Also, shoutout for Cyril as a pretty awesome secondary character in his unwavering acceptance of his sibling, always.
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
February 22, 2021
There are spoilers ahead for Pantomime and Shadowplay. Micah’s Chimaera powers are continuing to develop, but when he falls deathly ill, Drystan is forced to take him to the untrustworthy Dr. Pozzi for treatment. Micah knows the doctor has secrets upon secrets, and he doesn’t trust him to have the Chimaera’s best interests at heart. When three other Chimaera announce their presence to the city, a violent sect turns on them, and disaster strikes. According to Anisa, this same sect once destroyed all the Chimaera–and the world–and they must be stopped at all costs. Trigger warnings: death, human experimentation, kidnapping, grave-robbing, severe injury, severe illness, interphobia, drug use, addiction, needles, xenophobia.
After Shadowplay picked up the pace, I had higher hopes for Masquerade, but it’s probably the weakest of the trilogy and rather anticlimactic for a series finale. Shadowplay ended up being my favorite of the three, which is unusual for second books in a series. The entire trilogy is slower and more reflective than the typical fantasy, and though the scope widens to potential planet-wide destruction in this book, the tone and action never match that sense of urgency. At no point did it truly feel like the entire world was in danger, or that the heroes wouldn’t succeed in averting disaster (though maybe with some personal losses to their number). Masquerade spends too much time floundering in its own conspiracy theories instead of acting on actual threats, and it felt like a lot of potential was wasted in characters just not knowing what was going on until it’s almost too late.
It doesn’t help that I never had much interest in this particular plot, which has been developing slowly since book one. I never cared about Anisa’s history with the Chimera/Alder or how Micah fit into it, and I still don’t. I was much more interested in Micah’s personal development, first with the circus and then as a magician, and there’s not much to take their place here. Performing magic takes a backseat to unraveling Chimera mysteries, and it turns out the novels were sort of relying on those settings to stay interesting. That being said, I do enjoy the characters of the series and the found family they’ve established by this point in the book. Micah and Drystan’s relationship continues to develop, and Maske and Cyan round the group out nicely. I recommend it for someone looking for something different in their fantasy, but it’s probably not for everyone.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
After Shadowplay picked up the pace, I had higher hopes for Masquerade, but it’s probably the weakest of the trilogy and rather anticlimactic for a series finale. Shadowplay ended up being my favorite of the three, which is unusual for second books in a series. The entire trilogy is slower and more reflective than the typical fantasy, and though the scope widens to potential planet-wide destruction in this book, the tone and action never match that sense of urgency. At no point did it truly feel like the entire world was in danger, or that the heroes wouldn’t succeed in averting disaster (though maybe with some personal losses to their number). Masquerade spends too much time floundering in its own conspiracy theories instead of acting on actual threats, and it felt like a lot of potential was wasted in characters just not knowing what was going on until it’s almost too late.
It doesn’t help that I never had much interest in this particular plot, which has been developing slowly since book one. I never cared about Anisa’s history with the Chimera/Alder or how Micah fit into it, and I still don’t. I was much more interested in Micah’s personal development, first with the circus and then as a magician, and there’s not much to take their place here. Performing magic takes a backseat to unraveling Chimera mysteries, and it turns out the novels were sort of relying on those settings to stay interesting. That being said, I do enjoy the characters of the series and the found family they’ve established by this point in the book. Micah and Drystan’s relationship continues to develop, and Maske and Cyan round the group out nicely. I recommend it for someone looking for something different in their fantasy, but it’s probably not for everyone.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
March 19, 2017
I loved Pantomime and Shadowplay but Masquerade didn't quite hit the mark, the world built by Laura Lam is quite wondrous but the writing in this finale contained far too much exposition to make the book enjoyable. For that I deducted one star. It was a great beginning in the first book, the second was almost as good but the third was a bit of a flop and I didn't feel as invested in the story at all. Almost deducted another star but decided to leave it at four.
November 27, 2015
I was (incredibly) lucky enough to act as beta for Laura - trust me guys, you will love what happens in this book!
A full review shall be posted once the book is out for ARCs, and I can't wait to get my hands on a finished shiny version with cover art and everything.
Thank you Laura for the privilege - this is easily one of my favourite books for 2015!
November 9, 2025
"Masquerade" by L.R. Lam is the conclusion of the "Micah Grey" trilogy.
Thank you DAW for the digital copy of the book.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.
This series was first published in 2013, but this is an edited and improved version.
After finishing "Shadowplay" I immediately started this book, but as this will be published next year, the author included a short recap of the previous book.
If the previous book took us to a theater, we are going to court.
This story is full of magic, royal intrigue, danger and revelations.
There is such a good character development for both Micah and Drystan.
The Chimaera powers were such a mystery and we finally get a lot of questions answered.
Also, Micah gets a lot of answers about his past.
This was a good ending to the story, but it also left space for more.
Thank you DAW for the digital copy of the book.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.
This series was first published in 2013, but this is an edited and improved version.
After finishing "Shadowplay" I immediately started this book, but as this will be published next year, the author included a short recap of the previous book.
If the previous book took us to a theater, we are going to court.
This story is full of magic, royal intrigue, danger and revelations.
There is such a good character development for both Micah and Drystan.
The Chimaera powers were such a mystery and we finally get a lot of questions answered.
Also, Micah gets a lot of answers about his past.
This was a good ending to the story, but it also left space for more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Overall this was a good conclusion to the re-written Micah Grey trilogy. There's been excellent character development, and overall good closure of the story and setting. I could definitely see more works in this world by the author, and between Dragonfall and this trilogy I know I look forward to any future works by L.R. Lam!
A big thank you to DAW for the Netgalley arc in exchange for my honest thoughts and to Colleen for buddy reading it with me :)
A big thank you to DAW for the Netgalley arc in exchange for my honest thoughts and to Colleen for buddy reading it with me :)
December 28, 2019
This was such a unique trilogy, I really enjoyed it!
March 18, 2017
The third book in a trilogy is always the hardest to pull off, I think, because everybody's expectations from the previous books hinge on this one to address all the questions and doubts they had with the other two books.
I think this is probably the problem I have with this book and why I feel in the middle ground about it. It's a good book, and concludes the series well, but I am left with the feeling that it could have been just that little bit more.
The biggest problem I had was that we were given a lot of information throughout the story - there was a lot more telling than doing, and some of it was repeated a number of times, which made the story slow down a lot... and this book already had the pacing problem of the first book. There are moments of action sprinkled throughout the book, but in between the reading is often a little slow.
I struggled with the slow bits more in this book because the characters were hard to reach and the main characters didn't progress much. If you removed people's names from a conversation, you'd struggle to know who was speaking, because they all seemed to blur a little and become similar to each other.
The conclusion was predictable, which isn't a bad thing. It just sometimes leaves you wanting that little bit more (perhaps because we got such a good climax at the end of book one).
Overall, this was a good conclusion to a unique world and story. I have zero regrets about reading the trilogy, and I can't wait for Laura Lam's future books.
I think this is probably the problem I have with this book and why I feel in the middle ground about it. It's a good book, and concludes the series well, but I am left with the feeling that it could have been just that little bit more.
The biggest problem I had was that we were given a lot of information throughout the story - there was a lot more telling than doing, and some of it was repeated a number of times, which made the story slow down a lot... and this book already had the pacing problem of the first book. There are moments of action sprinkled throughout the book, but in between the reading is often a little slow.
I struggled with the slow bits more in this book because the characters were hard to reach and the main characters didn't progress much. If you removed people's names from a conversation, you'd struggle to know who was speaking, because they all seemed to blur a little and become similar to each other.
The conclusion was predictable, which isn't a bad thing. It just sometimes leaves you wanting that little bit more (perhaps because we got such a good climax at the end of book one).
Overall, this was a good conclusion to a unique world and story. I have zero regrets about reading the trilogy, and I can't wait for Laura Lam's future books.
July 19, 2017
I don't know what to think of this one. I really liked Pantomine, and Shadowplay was ok, but this left me feeling nothing. It fell flat. I'm not sure if this is the last book in the series as there was no cliffhanger, but the story just didn't meet expectations. I love the magical Gothic feel of the world Lam has created and i really liked some of the characters in the first book, but i felt like the story was lacking in this one. I loved that she summarised the previous books at the beginning or i would have been completely lost. But there was so much more Lam could have done with the latter half of this book. I would have liked a lot more history and a better concept for why the penglass was there, and
why the chimeras and the Alder disappeared. I wasn't satisfied with Lams explanations. There was no mystique to this as there was with the other books. Disappointing.
why the chimeras and the Alder disappeared. I wasn't satisfied with Lams explanations. There was no mystique to this as there was with the other books. Disappointing.
March 6, 2017
I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of this through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved Pantomime and Shadowplay so very much and to say I was excited about this book was an understatement.
Did it live up to my expectations? Yes and no. Laura Lam is still a beautiful writer and I love the world she's built so well, plus the characters are still brilliant. But there were moments that felt a touch info-dumpy and things seemed to come to a quite neat conclusion at the end.
However! It was very much a fitting end to the series and even with the niggles I had, was still head and shoulders above some of the other end-of-series books I've read recently.
For a more detailed review, check out my blog.
Did it live up to my expectations? Yes and no. Laura Lam is still a beautiful writer and I love the world she's built so well, plus the characters are still brilliant. But there were moments that felt a touch info-dumpy and things seemed to come to a quite neat conclusion at the end.
However! It was very much a fitting end to the series and even with the niggles I had, was still head and shoulders above some of the other end-of-series books I've read recently.
For a more detailed review, check out my blog.
March 9, 2017
The series didn't really live up to the first book. That is, what I liked about the first book was the main character's sorting out of their own identity. That was kind of over by the end of that book, and what was left was developing the world and advancing its - much less interesting - story. There's nothing wrong with the series, but it's just not that new or interesting. The setting is a little more Victorian than most fantasy, and the remnants-of-the-past parts are reasonably well handled, but they're not what drew me to the series.
April 25, 2017
I have waited such a long time to read this the final volume in the Micah Grey series. It is utterly fitting and beautiful and Drystan will always be my favourite character because he needs smooshes.
July 1, 2017
BRILLIANT CONCLUSION TO AN AMAZING TRILOGY
Micha and Drystan along with Cyan and the Phantom Damselfly are catapulted even more deeply into a world of conflicting politics and legends of the past coming to the life.
The book starts a couple of weeks after the previous, where we find that the inhabitants of Maske's theatre are still on a high from winning their magic duel. Soon however disaster strikes which leads them all to flee the home they've began to feel safe in.
Now not only do they have their own problems to face the political façade is crumbling and Micha is becoming seriously ill and has to rely on Doctor Pozzi cure, while not actually knowing if they can trust the doctor himself. I would have liked to have known more about Doctor Pozzi as I found him such an intriguing character... spin off series??? :D
We find out more about some of my favourite characters and I partially liked learning more about Drystan, it made me love him that little bit more.
Micha is showing more acceptance towards being male and female and seems to come to the realisation that it is not something that has to define him. This was a steady character growth between the three books, which was so well handled and done. It had the possibility of being poorly executed but Lam manages to do it with such a normal acceptance that I take my metaphorical hat off to her.
What made me love this series so much was not just the interesting and gripping plot. It was the characters themselves. I loved the way that each major person in these books goes through some personal struggle and journey that we get to take with them. In a way it is like a study in human nature.
I am so glad that I finally picked up the first of these books, its now a firm favourite.
For anyone who would like to read my view on the series as a whole please check out my blog post about it on www.bookmother.co.uk
Micha and Drystan along with Cyan and the Phantom Damselfly are catapulted even more deeply into a world of conflicting politics and legends of the past coming to the life.
The book starts a couple of weeks after the previous, where we find that the inhabitants of Maske's theatre are still on a high from winning their magic duel. Soon however disaster strikes which leads them all to flee the home they've began to feel safe in.
Now not only do they have their own problems to face the political façade is crumbling and Micha is becoming seriously ill and has to rely on Doctor Pozzi cure, while not actually knowing if they can trust the doctor himself. I would have liked to have known more about Doctor Pozzi as I found him such an intriguing character... spin off series??? :D
We find out more about some of my favourite characters and I partially liked learning more about Drystan, it made me love him that little bit more.
Micha is showing more acceptance towards being male and female and seems to come to the realisation that it is not something that has to define him. This was a steady character growth between the three books, which was so well handled and done. It had the possibility of being poorly executed but Lam manages to do it with such a normal acceptance that I take my metaphorical hat off to her.
What made me love this series so much was not just the interesting and gripping plot. It was the characters themselves. I loved the way that each major person in these books goes through some personal struggle and journey that we get to take with them. In a way it is like a study in human nature.
I am so glad that I finally picked up the first of these books, its now a firm favourite.
For anyone who would like to read my view on the series as a whole please check out my blog post about it on www.bookmother.co.uk
August 8, 2017
I've waited for what seems like SO LONG to see this series to its end. Now that I have, I wanna immediately go back and read again from the start.
Thankfully, I still have some Vestigal Tales to catch up on.
Masquerade is the long awaited finale in the trilogy about Micah Grey, a young Kedi--intersex--character who fell in love with a circus performer and ended up becoming a magician. In this novel, he, Drystan and their friend Cyan struggle to make sure that a fringe group in Ellada doesn't make sure that all Chimera like them are killed.
It does very much feel more like a direct continuation of Shadowplay, largely because our characters are still in the same place, around the same characters and, with the exception of the prologue, the whole of it is told without any seeming of a dual narrative. The themes, though, are quite different. While, in Shadowplay, the focus was on the magic of the world and the relationship between Drystan and Micah, in Masquerade, that relationship is more established and the plot is more of a murder mystery.
The book starts with an introspective from Anisa, a character who has been with us through all three books, and she recounts the events of the first two books in the series in a way that advances her own character and also happily reminds the readers of the pertinent points of what came before. It was perfectly done, giving me at least the feeling of sinking right in where I'd left off.
There wasn't a not perfect note of this entire book. I can not rate it high enough.
Thankfully, I still have some Vestigal Tales to catch up on.
Masquerade is the long awaited finale in the trilogy about Micah Grey, a young Kedi--intersex--character who fell in love with a circus performer and ended up becoming a magician. In this novel, he, Drystan and their friend Cyan struggle to make sure that a fringe group in Ellada doesn't make sure that all Chimera like them are killed.
It does very much feel more like a direct continuation of Shadowplay, largely because our characters are still in the same place, around the same characters and, with the exception of the prologue, the whole of it is told without any seeming of a dual narrative. The themes, though, are quite different. While, in Shadowplay, the focus was on the magic of the world and the relationship between Drystan and Micah, in Masquerade, that relationship is more established and the plot is more of a murder mystery.
The book starts with an introspective from Anisa, a character who has been with us through all three books, and she recounts the events of the first two books in the series in a way that advances her own character and also happily reminds the readers of the pertinent points of what came before. It was perfectly done, giving me at least the feeling of sinking right in where I'd left off.
There wasn't a not perfect note of this entire book. I can not rate it high enough.
November 26, 2025
What a fantastic conclusion. We finally get to see the payoff of everything Micah and his friends have been working towards. This was an extremely satisfying ending, all of the questions I had were answered and the characters all felt like their stories came to an ending that made sense for them.
Micah remains a standout character, he works hard and you can really see him evolving and becoming who he hopes to be, especially from where we saw him in book 1. Despite the almost wholesomeness of this series, (as wholesome as this series can be with all the terrible stuff happening) there is an underlying melancholy that really endeared me to the characters throughout the series.
Drystan had a lot of development in this book which I particularly enjoyed. He struggles a lot with feeling like he’s not enough, being the only non magical one of the main three. Seeing him battle with that insecurity while still trying to be the best partner he can be for Micah was really touching to read.
I’m so sad to be leaving this world behind but I will definitely be revisiting it in the future.
Thank you DAW and NetGalley for the ARC
Micah remains a standout character, he works hard and you can really see him evolving and becoming who he hopes to be, especially from where we saw him in book 1. Despite the almost wholesomeness of this series, (as wholesome as this series can be with all the terrible stuff happening) there is an underlying melancholy that really endeared me to the characters throughout the series.
Drystan had a lot of development in this book which I particularly enjoyed. He struggles a lot with feeling like he’s not enough, being the only non magical one of the main three. Seeing him battle with that insecurity while still trying to be the best partner he can be for Micah was really touching to read.
I’m so sad to be leaving this world behind but I will definitely be revisiting it in the future.
Thank you DAW and NetGalley for the ARC
September 7, 2017
Luckily, having discovered the first two books of Micah Grey's trilogy pretty late, I only wound up having to wait about a year and a half before finally getting around to the long-awaited conclusion - and thank the Lord and Lady that Laura Lam got to see the whole series through in the end, because I, for one, would've been extremely devastated if Micah and Drystan didn't get their shot at a happy ending. That said, though...haha, I almost said "that sad," because while this book does devote a good amount of time to wrapping up the story's loose threads and constantly twisting and subverting expectations and just being full of beautiful imagery that begs for a movie adaptation yesterday, there were also tons of feels-making moments with Micah and Drystan's ongoing romance - imperfect, but lovely and sweet and Styx, I'm jealous of them for each having someone to love!
I have no idea what Lam's giving us next. Maybe a new Pacifica book (I'm still counting on her taking us to the Pacific Northwest for the next one), maybe another YA book of some stripe. I don't know.
But for now, I bid Micah, Drystan, and all their beautiful coterie ave atque vale.
I have no idea what Lam's giving us next. Maybe a new Pacifica book (I'm still counting on her taking us to the Pacific Northwest for the next one), maybe another YA book of some stripe. I don't know.
But for now, I bid Micah, Drystan, and all their beautiful coterie ave atque vale.
June 23, 2018
It has been nearly three years since I read the first two books in this series, which means it was kind of tough for me to remember what exactly had happened in those books. But thankfully, there was a short summary at the start which really helped me get into the book. It still took me a little bit to get into it, but once I was I really enjoyed the story. I'm glad to now have read the final part of Micah's story, which really expanded the world into something interesting and unique. I think sometimes there was a little too much exposition, but since I had forgotten so much about this universe it wasn't too out of place for me. I thought the end was also perhaps a tad rushed, but it did leave me satisfied. All in all, a really nice end to a series I had left unfinished for too long.
April 9, 2020
I've rated this trilogy as average mainly because of its pacing. This book, like the first, suffered from slow pacing. It was information heavy and felt very tell-don't-show. It's a good plot, with some likeable characters, but I just couldn't connect to the story because of how detached the narration feels.
December 30, 2020
a good way to end a good series, though l felt it was a tiny bit of a letdown after all the built up from the second book. nevertheless l enjoyed every bit of it.
July 17, 2017
This is by far one of my favourite series of the year, if not of all time - not just because of the story's premise, but its execution.
What I loved most is how the author has managed to portray the reality of many social topics and situations whilst never diverting from the fantasy of the world. This series has dealt with many important social topics such as gender, sexual orientation, racism, politics, and social divides (and portrayed these topics pretty damn good in my opinion). But my favourite was the inclusion of cultural appropriation. Throughout this particular book, Micah and Drystan remain fugitives and so disguise themselves as from another country using an illusion. What was so remarkable to me was how on multiple occasions, Micah expresses how uncomfortable he is with donning a culture that isn't his, and how he finds it disrespectful. This was wonderful for me as I have rarely if ever, heard of such a topic being mentioned in a YA book, let alone a high fantasy.
For me, Micah is the epitome of an ideal main character. Headstrong, but not reckless. Kind, but not overly trusting. But most importantly, he never tries to be anything or anyone but himself.
One thing that has always bugged me about many books is the lack of communication between characters. There was none of that in this series. Yes, characters had secrets, who doesn't? But they were honest with each other, which ultimately meant less drama between characters. Usually, the protagonist is keeping secrets from their love interest, best friend, parents, etc. This usually ends up just causing more trouble than it's worth, and I've often found myself just internally screaming at the characters' stupidity, (I mean, come one, you're not gonna tell your best friend that you're dating a vampire or werewolf or whatever fantastical creature the book is about, yeah right!). It just goes to show that communication works and should be shown more, particularly in YA.
While on the topic of communication between characters, let's go into Drystan and Micah's relationship. Their relationship was honestly the most realistic portrayal of a long-term relationship I've ever read. Both characters relied on each other, but never clung to each other. They trusted each other and actually talked through their problems, none of that brooding or whining. There was no power play in their relationship, Micah and Drystan were complete equals, partners in crime so to speak. That's not to say there weren't relationship problems between them, but it was handled well.
I admit that I was concerned that the finale wouldn't quite live up to the previous books, and whilst the ending seemed to be wrapped up a little too neatly for my liking, overall, this is a wonderful series that deserve WAY more recognition and praise than is given.
What I loved most is how the author has managed to portray the reality of many social topics and situations whilst never diverting from the fantasy of the world. This series has dealt with many important social topics such as gender, sexual orientation, racism, politics, and social divides (and portrayed these topics pretty damn good in my opinion). But my favourite was the inclusion of cultural appropriation. Throughout this particular book, Micah and Drystan remain fugitives and so disguise themselves as from another country using an illusion. What was so remarkable to me was how on multiple occasions, Micah expresses how uncomfortable he is with donning a culture that isn't his, and how he finds it disrespectful. This was wonderful for me as I have rarely if ever, heard of such a topic being mentioned in a YA book, let alone a high fantasy.
For me, Micah is the epitome of an ideal main character. Headstrong, but not reckless. Kind, but not overly trusting. But most importantly, he never tries to be anything or anyone but himself.
One thing that has always bugged me about many books is the lack of communication between characters. There was none of that in this series. Yes, characters had secrets, who doesn't? But they were honest with each other, which ultimately meant less drama between characters. Usually, the protagonist is keeping secrets from their love interest, best friend, parents, etc. This usually ends up just causing more trouble than it's worth, and I've often found myself just internally screaming at the characters' stupidity, (I mean, come one, you're not gonna tell your best friend that you're dating a vampire or werewolf or whatever fantastical creature the book is about, yeah right!). It just goes to show that communication works and should be shown more, particularly in YA.
While on the topic of communication between characters, let's go into Drystan and Micah's relationship. Their relationship was honestly the most realistic portrayal of a long-term relationship I've ever read. Both characters relied on each other, but never clung to each other. They trusted each other and actually talked through their problems, none of that brooding or whining. There was no power play in their relationship, Micah and Drystan were complete equals, partners in crime so to speak. That's not to say there weren't relationship problems between them, but it was handled well.
I admit that I was concerned that the finale wouldn't quite live up to the previous books, and whilst the ending seemed to be wrapped up a little too neatly for my liking, overall, this is a wonderful series that deserve WAY more recognition and praise than is given.
March 20, 2017
I fell in love with this series so quickly, and my heart is broken now that it's over.
This series will live on my shelves for the rest of my life.
I don't know what it is about Laura's writing, but she is always able to intrigue me more than most writers. This entire series has been a privilege to read and I can't even begin to explain why everyone should read these books.
The ending to this series was wonderful; Laura didn't let me down at all and managed to create a perfect ending - but I so wish this book had been longer so that I could have enjoyed it for longer (or that it wasn't actually the end!) I deliberately didn't read this book in one sitting so I could immerse myself in the finale for more than one day. This series has so many layers to it and tells many more than just one story. Books like this are so important in today's world, and I hope there's more... even if no one can do it like Laura has.
I don't know if it was deliberate but I always hear Micah's voice as female, or feminine... for me, at least, Laura has managed to build Micah up so carefully that, even though I know Micah is dressing as and is more comfortable in clothing considered male in his world, there is still a touch of femininity in the way he talks and thinks - and I think this is beautiful, because it stops the reader from forgetting what Micah went through before he became Micah. The series has also been a massive journey, because the plot has travelled so far over three books. Part of me wishes I hadn't discovered the books until Masquerade was released so I could have read the entire series in one go; but if that had happened I probably wouldn't own the original cover editions for Pantomime and Shadowplay - and the Shadowplay cover is one of my favourite book covers. I also think that waiting between books allows the gravity of the plot development of one book to really sink in - there was no way I was going to remember everything, which makes me so grateful that Laura wrote the book with reminders and hints within the text. I will definitely read this series back-to-back one day though (when my to-read list isn't quite as long!)
My reviews are always messy and unorganised, but especially so for books that I love uncontrollably... and this series is made up of those kinds of books. I adored this series so much and was always hungry to learn more about the world it's set in. I hope one day that Laura with either right a partner book/series to this one, or will do a future-set sequel. The only reason I'm not currently having a breakdown over the Micah Grey series being over is because I know Laura has another book out soon, and I love her newer series (maybe not quite as much as this one but Laura's writing it incredible regardless). I love Micah and will miss him and his friends a lot (especially Cyan... could we maybe have a book based on her life?!); this isn't the end of this series for me, because I will reread it as many times as I can.
Thank you Laura, for bringing me such joy with these books and characters.
This series will live on my shelves for the rest of my life.
I don't know what it is about Laura's writing, but she is always able to intrigue me more than most writers. This entire series has been a privilege to read and I can't even begin to explain why everyone should read these books.
The ending to this series was wonderful; Laura didn't let me down at all and managed to create a perfect ending - but I so wish this book had been longer so that I could have enjoyed it for longer (or that it wasn't actually the end!) I deliberately didn't read this book in one sitting so I could immerse myself in the finale for more than one day. This series has so many layers to it and tells many more than just one story. Books like this are so important in today's world, and I hope there's more... even if no one can do it like Laura has.
I don't know if it was deliberate but I always hear Micah's voice as female, or feminine... for me, at least, Laura has managed to build Micah up so carefully that, even though I know Micah is dressing as and is more comfortable in clothing considered male in his world, there is still a touch of femininity in the way he talks and thinks - and I think this is beautiful, because it stops the reader from forgetting what Micah went through before he became Micah. The series has also been a massive journey, because the plot has travelled so far over three books. Part of me wishes I hadn't discovered the books until Masquerade was released so I could have read the entire series in one go; but if that had happened I probably wouldn't own the original cover editions for Pantomime and Shadowplay - and the Shadowplay cover is one of my favourite book covers. I also think that waiting between books allows the gravity of the plot development of one book to really sink in - there was no way I was going to remember everything, which makes me so grateful that Laura wrote the book with reminders and hints within the text. I will definitely read this series back-to-back one day though (when my to-read list isn't quite as long!)
My reviews are always messy and unorganised, but especially so for books that I love uncontrollably... and this series is made up of those kinds of books. I adored this series so much and was always hungry to learn more about the world it's set in. I hope one day that Laura with either right a partner book/series to this one, or will do a future-set sequel. The only reason I'm not currently having a breakdown over the Micah Grey series being over is because I know Laura has another book out soon, and I love her newer series (maybe not quite as much as this one but Laura's writing it incredible regardless). I love Micah and will miss him and his friends a lot (especially Cyan... could we maybe have a book based on her life?!); this isn't the end of this series for me, because I will reread it as many times as I can.
Thank you Laura, for bringing me such joy with these books and characters.
July 6, 2017
This book is the final in the Micah Grey trilogy, wrapping up all the loose ends. Micah and Drystan are living in a shoddy apartment in the bad part of town after the theater is destroyed. Micah is ill; Drystan is forced to take hir to Dr. Pozzi, who injects Micah with a mysterious elixir that strengthens hir- and also increases hir Chimaera powers. S/He’s having nightmares where s/he inhabits the body of a grave robbing doctor. Protests against the royalty are increasing and some are getting violent. Three Chimaera go to the Royal Family, are welcomed, attempt to speak to a crowd, and the square is rocked by an explosion.
Other than Drystan and their friend Cyan, Micah doesn’t know who s/he can trust. Everyone seems to have at least one secret. Even with hir mind reading abilities growing, Micah can’t dig deep enough to get to the truth. It’s a struggle to survive, for the Chimaera, for the Royal Family, and for their world, Ellada.
This is the book I waited so long for, and it was *almost* as good as the first two. I love the main characters and they all struggle with things and grow in this book. Micah comes of age and faces down all hir demons, including hir mother. Drystan has his own demons to conquer. Even Ellada itself has to learn and grow.
Ellada is described like an exquisite jewel box- one with slums, yes, but still shards of Vestige can be found. It’s a mix of futuristic and Victorian, but not the usual steampunk futuristic. My only complaint is that the book feels a bit rushed, like the author was trying to wrap up all the dangling bits and needed to do it under a certain page count. I’d give four and a half stars but Amazon and Good Reads only use whole stars, so for them I’ll have to go with five stars.
Other than Drystan and their friend Cyan, Micah doesn’t know who s/he can trust. Everyone seems to have at least one secret. Even with hir mind reading abilities growing, Micah can’t dig deep enough to get to the truth. It’s a struggle to survive, for the Chimaera, for the Royal Family, and for their world, Ellada.
This is the book I waited so long for, and it was *almost* as good as the first two. I love the main characters and they all struggle with things and grow in this book. Micah comes of age and faces down all hir demons, including hir mother. Drystan has his own demons to conquer. Even Ellada itself has to learn and grow.
Ellada is described like an exquisite jewel box- one with slums, yes, but still shards of Vestige can be found. It’s a mix of futuristic and Victorian, but not the usual steampunk futuristic. My only complaint is that the book feels a bit rushed, like the author was trying to wrap up all the dangling bits and needed to do it under a certain page count. I’d give four and a half stars but Amazon and Good Reads only use whole stars, so for them I’ll have to go with five stars.
March 8, 2017
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Okay so first off let me start this with a wow. Wow! WOW!! What an ending to a fascinating trilogy! New mysteries are uncovered, violence breaks out, family bonds are formed again, friendship becomes more important than ever, the political climate gets worse by the day.
But let's start from the beginning. Micah who normally never grows sick has fainted quite a bit in the second book and right at the end he fainted again, Dr. Pozzi's warning that it might be a sign of a mortal illness ringing in his ears. Drystan is forced to take him to Dr. Pozzi, who helps him with some medicine that strengthens his powers. But unfortunately its effects only last for a week and then Micah has to return to Pozzi. Does Pozzi really just want to help chimera like Micah? Or is there something far more sinister behind his actions? And if that was not enough an old friend of theirs is revealed to have been working as a spy for him. But do they do it out of their free will or are they also forced to help him?
Many of the questions you might have had from the first two books are answered. At least mostly. I still have no idea how Ellada looks like, the lack of a map is something that is probably one of the few things that still bother me, having finished the series now.
There are still a few scenes that felt very info-dumpy, more flashbacks, a lot of hints at what happened in the books before, which bothered me a bit, since I had just read the first two books, but if you don't plan on re-reading them just before reading Masquerade they should definitely be very helpful. Also the ending was so neatly tied up, it bothers me a bit. It is just absolutely perfect, which felt like a bit too much. However, it fit well with the series and the character's deserved this ending a lot, so it doesn't bother me that much.
Despite all that the story was amazing. There was more focus on politics now, the demonstrations of the Forester Party grow violent and a rekindled hatred for chimera leads to a terrorist attack in which many people are wounded. Then a secret in Micah's past is unraveled and he finds out another secret that might as well cost him his life. And then there's also still those weird grave robber dreams that plague him in the night.
Micah and his brother also connect more again and their loving relationship really shows through, I love good sibling relationships, they are great. Drystan's and Micah's relationship grows even further and honestly I could cry because these two are so cute together and I honestly love them so much! Micah also grows more secure in his non-binary identity and realizes that while he likes being seen as a man more than he does a woman, he is still very much both and neither at the same time.
This story was, while still very focused on the characters, also good at giving us world building answers that we have been yearning to know since the first book. Not all questions are answered in the ending, but many of them are and so the ending is pretty satisfactory.
Also, don't worry, there will be a real masked ball in the end, but even before the title of the book fits well with all the deceit and hidden identities in the book.
All in all this story was a worthy ending for a lovely trilogy and if you're looking for diverse books, books with bisexual, trans- and intersex characters, a fantastical world building, amazing fantasy, then this is the story for you.
Okay so first off let me start this with a wow. Wow! WOW!! What an ending to a fascinating trilogy! New mysteries are uncovered, violence breaks out, family bonds are formed again, friendship becomes more important than ever, the political climate gets worse by the day.
But let's start from the beginning. Micah who normally never grows sick has fainted quite a bit in the second book and right at the end he fainted again, Dr. Pozzi's warning that it might be a sign of a mortal illness ringing in his ears. Drystan is forced to take him to Dr. Pozzi, who helps him with some medicine that strengthens his powers. But unfortunately its effects only last for a week and then Micah has to return to Pozzi. Does Pozzi really just want to help chimera like Micah? Or is there something far more sinister behind his actions? And if that was not enough an old friend of theirs is revealed to have been working as a spy for him. But do they do it out of their free will or are they also forced to help him?
Many of the questions you might have had from the first two books are answered. At least mostly. I still have no idea how Ellada looks like, the lack of a map is something that is probably one of the few things that still bother me, having finished the series now.
There are still a few scenes that felt very info-dumpy, more flashbacks, a lot of hints at what happened in the books before, which bothered me a bit, since I had just read the first two books, but if you don't plan on re-reading them just before reading Masquerade they should definitely be very helpful. Also the ending was so neatly tied up, it bothers me a bit. It is just absolutely perfect, which felt like a bit too much. However, it fit well with the series and the character's deserved this ending a lot, so it doesn't bother me that much.
Despite all that the story was amazing. There was more focus on politics now, the demonstrations of the Forester Party grow violent and a rekindled hatred for chimera leads to a terrorist attack in which many people are wounded. Then a secret in Micah's past is unraveled and he finds out another secret that might as well cost him his life. And then there's also still those weird grave robber dreams that plague him in the night.
Micah and his brother also connect more again and their loving relationship really shows through, I love good sibling relationships, they are great. Drystan's and Micah's relationship grows even further and honestly I could cry because these two are so cute together and I honestly love them so much! Micah also grows more secure in his non-binary identity and realizes that while he likes being seen as a man more than he does a woman, he is still very much both and neither at the same time.
This story was, while still very focused on the characters, also good at giving us world building answers that we have been yearning to know since the first book. Not all questions are answered in the ending, but many of them are and so the ending is pretty satisfactory.
Also, don't worry, there will be a real masked ball in the end, but even before the title of the book fits well with all the deceit and hidden identities in the book.
All in all this story was a worthy ending for a lovely trilogy and if you're looking for diverse books, books with bisexual, trans- and intersex characters, a fantastical world building, amazing fantasy, then this is the story for you.
April 13, 2024
To me, this was the worst book of the trilogy. There were too many unanswered questions still, and the questions that were answered, were anti-climatic (e.g: Penglass has been portrayed as so mysterious and unique, but all Lam revealed about them was that it was where the Alder & Chimaera lived… that’s it). I expected more backstory on Alder and Chimaera- it was such a big point in book 1&2 but completely neglected in the third. The development of these topics were seriously lacking, which took away the whole “mystique” vibe that was beautifully set in Pantomime.
The pacing was once again too slow, and there was too much repetition for my liking. Lam spent too much time summarizing previous books or referring back to them opposed to coming up with new material; it was almost as if she had nothing better to say and was fighting for words.
And the ending… it was over too soon, the build-up wasn’t fantastic, it all kind of fell apart for me. That’s the moment you want to be on the edge of your seat! Instead, I was skimming the pages, hoping the story would end.
Now for the positives! I love that characters from book one made a comeback (though I wish they’d have a bigger, more significant role). Loved Lily Verre’s secret; I knew something was up but I could’ve never guessed the truth! As always, love the trio (Cyan, Drystan and Micah); their friendship makes me feel happy and peaceful.
Overall, I probably wouldn’t recommend this trilogy. I’d recommend the first book, Pantomime, and then tell friends to read the short summaries of book 2&3 online.
The pacing was once again too slow, and there was too much repetition for my liking. Lam spent too much time summarizing previous books or referring back to them opposed to coming up with new material; it was almost as if she had nothing better to say and was fighting for words.
And the ending… it was over too soon, the build-up wasn’t fantastic, it all kind of fell apart for me. That’s the moment you want to be on the edge of your seat! Instead, I was skimming the pages, hoping the story would end.
Now for the positives! I love that characters from book one made a comeback (though I wish they’d have a bigger, more significant role). Loved Lily Verre’s secret; I knew something was up but I could’ve never guessed the truth! As always, love the trio (Cyan, Drystan and Micah); their friendship makes me feel happy and peaceful.
Overall, I probably wouldn’t recommend this trilogy. I’d recommend the first book, Pantomime, and then tell friends to read the short summaries of book 2&3 online.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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