Pantomime
first in a gorgeous magical trilogy about a circus performer, set in Victorian Scotland
Published on 11. September 2025
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-1-3997-5091-2 (ISBN)
Description
'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' ?????
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 / Votes
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 *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Hodder & Stoughton
Product notice
Trade binding
Illustrations
N/A
Dimensions
Height: 238 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
516 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3997-5091-2 (9781399750912)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
L. R. Lam
Pantomime
first in a gorgeous magical trilogy about a circus performer, set in Victorian Scotland
E-Book
09/2025
Hodderscape
€2.99
Available for download
Person
Originally from sunny California, L.R. Lam now lives in cloudy Scotland. Lam is a Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author whose work includes epic fantasy romances Dragonfall and Emberclaw, the near-future space thrillers, Goldilocks, feminist space opera Seven Devils (co-written with Elizabeth May), BBC Radio 2 Book Club selection 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 various anthologies such as Nasty Women, Cranky Ladies of History, Scotland in Space, and more.