Pantomime

Hardcover / ISBN-13: 9781399750912

Price: £20

ON SALE: 11th September 2025

Genre: C 1800 To C 1900 / Fantasy / Of Specific Gay & Lesbian Interest

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A VIBRANT TALE’ LEIGH BARDUGO ON DRAGONFALL

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Dragonfall comes the first in a gaslamp fantasy trilogy about a circus aerialist’s quest to escape his past and decipher the magical prophecy that will shape his future.

🎪 In a land of lost wonders, the past is stirring once more . . . 🎪

When Micah runs away from a debutante’s life at home and joins the circus, he harbours two secrets. One: he was born between male and female. And two: he may have powers last seen in mysterious beings from an almost-forgotten age.

As Micah discovers the joy of flight as an aerialist, courting his trapeze partner, Aenea, and confiding in the mysterious white clown, Drystan, he finally feels free. But the circus has a dark side, and Micah’s past isn’t done with him.

Meanwhile, the strange ‘ghost’ of a woman with damselfly wings whispers to Micah that only he can help magic return to the realm, and he fears she may be right . . .

Micah has much to learn, and he must do it quickly – before his past and future collide, with catastrophic consequences.

A gorgeous and inventive fantasy with queer elements, inspired by Victorian Scotland. L.R. Lam weaves a coming-of-age tale, stirrings of first love, and prophetic whispers into this unforgettable first installment of the Micah Grey series.

READERS LOVE IT
‘Lushly written and beautifully imaginative’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘It was beautiful, exciting and thought provoking’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The worldbuilding was so deeply immersive’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A luscious, intricately imagined tale of identity, love, terror, freedom and magic’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I was hooked from the start and enjoyed the rollercoaster all the way to the end’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reviews

With insightful and skillful writing, Lam vividly draws a tale like no other
Sarah Rees Brennan, bestselling author of Long Live Evil and In Other Lands
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, New York Times bestselling author of Fool's Assassin
Set in a vividly imagined world with wonderful steampunk touches, Pantomime is a fable-like story as beautifully unique as its main character
Malinda Lo, author of Ash
Lam has created a world which will take your breath away, and characters you will never want to leave. Enchanting
Lou Morgan, author of Blood and Feathers
Welcome to a world of shills and showmen, fading tech and circus freaks, where nothing and no-one is what it appears. An absorbing, accomplished debut
Elspeth Cooper, author of Trinity Rising
A lyrical, stunningly written debut novel, which set my heart racing with every lift of the trapeze. In Micah we have one of the most original - and likeable - protagonists I've read in a long time. An author to watch, without a doubt
Amy McCulloch, author of Breathless
Who hasn't dreamed off running off and joining the circus? Lam's Micah does just that, discovering a world of clowns and acrobats, con men and tricksters, corruption and incompetent doctors . . . I look forward to more from this author
Brian Katcher, author of Almost Perfect
Pantomime has long been one of my favorite queer reads that showed me how books could challenge the world's narrative. In this author's edition, Micah Grey shines on center stage with a twisting plot encased in stunning worldbuilding. Do not miss this series!
Linden A. Lewis, author of The First Sister