A very satisfying conclusion to the wonderful, magical trilogy featuring Micah Grey. I have enjoyed all the books in the series, including the Vestigial short stories set in the same world. I will be sorry to say goodbye to these characters as this has been one of my favourite series of the last few years.

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.

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.

A brilliant conclusion to a magical trilogy, diverse, intriguing and full of mystery. I loved the revelations and answers of Masquerade, the dramatic tension and romance. A must read.

Review crossposted to Amazon

Full review will be online shortly (in my next email newsletter - will update this link when it's published)

The third and final instalment of the Micah Grey trilogy has been a long time coming. I first heard about <a href="http://www.curiositykilledthebookworm.net/2012/10/pantomime.html"><i>Pantomime</i></a> at the Strange Chemistry (remember them?) launch party and had an early copy for review. I loved it. Whilst bound by confidentiality not to mention that Micah was intersex prior to publication, it was a brave step in a time when there wasn’t a whole lot of LGBT+ young adult fiction about, let alone fantasy. All the books are very much about acceptance and not judging people by what they are but instead by what they do.

After a long gap between books, a recap is required. If you don’t have the time to re-read, never fear, Anisa starts off the book telling the story so far in her own way. Anisa has spent much of the story inside a Vestige so is as much an observer as the reader.

Masquerade manages to be rather topical despite being a gaslight fantasy. The Foresters are a movement wanting a better life for the working classes of Ellada. Whilst the royal family appear to be living a life of luxury, many are living in poverty, exploited by their employers. The people feel disillusioned by the lack of progress made by the Foresters and a splinter group has emerged, one who thinks you can get more done with violence.

As the crowds are riled up, blaming people who are different for their problems, it’s hard not to compare it to world events happening right now. The chimaera are the immigrants here, feared by some or just a convenient scape goat for others. The revolutionary tension is felt throughout the book and Micah can see both sides; once part of a noble family, now living in the poorest part of the city.

At the end of Shadowplay, Micah is left with a fever, supposedly his chimaera powers getting out of hand. He starts taking a potion from Doctor Pozzi, a mix of Lerium and Vestige. I was a bit frustrated that Micah was so trusting, whilst at the same time suspicious. Lerium is a highly addictive drug, one that Drystan was once in grip of, and who knows what else dangerous is in it. Yet he allows himself to become dependent on the doctor and the drug, thinking it is his only choice.

There was a satisfying conclusion to many threads. We find out why the chimaera have returned after so long and whilst families may not be reunited as such, there is closure on several fronts. We meet a few old friends along the way too as well as a few new characters.

I hadn't completed the first two - I know, I know - but this book had its good moments despite my sometimes flustered / confused face. The writing also had moments of wonder, and I really enjoyed some of the lyrical flourishes, but the dialogue sometimes let it down.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This trilogy has been an unusual and diverting addition to YA fantasy and Masquerade ends it on a strong note. There's a lot more politics in the book and less hinges on performance but in my opinion that does fit where the story goes (although the performance aspect was something I especially liked about the previous two books). All in all a really enjoyable fantasy trilogy that ends with near perfect form on the dismount. One to reread.

One million times worth the wait! Full review to follow; will update link below.

Here, in this final novel of the trilogy, we rejoin Micah in the doctor's surgery where he is given a powerful drug, an Elixir, which will restore his health and boost his Chimera powers. Unfortunately the drug's effects are brief: Micah will need to return weekly for a new dose and, although he values his health, he can't help noticing that this arrangement neatly allows Pozzi to keep a close eye on him. And can the new drug explain Micah's disturbingly vivid dreams, in which he watches a grave-robber exhuming corpses for some unknown purpose?

But there are larger issues at stake than one person's health. Popular unrest is growing ever stronger and demagogues fan the flames by speaking out against the hereditary nobility. The activists of the Forester group (who seek to cut the noble families down to size) are particularly vocal. And, worryingly, there are rumours that Chimaera have been seen in the city. As suspicion floods the streets, a witch hunt begins: neighbour suspects neighbour; accusations fly back and forth; and, when Chimaera finally do make themselves known, the results are shattering. Micah and his friends have enough on their plates protecting themselves, but when they inadvertently discover a secret about the little Princess Royal, they find themselves drawn into intrigues on a much higher level.

Earlier in the series, I was afraid that this would turn out to be yet another tale in which the hero is the only one who can save the world from the Dark Lord, and I'm pleased to say that Lam avoids that temptation. Despite the mysteries of Ellada, Micah's world is one where power only becomes dark if it is used for that purpose, and villainy wears an all too human face. However, I couldn't help feeling that there was something a bit flat about this final instalment: perhaps a lack of tension? There were certainly some exciting scenes but I didn't quite feel that overarching, breathless sense of mission that I think might have made the book more gripping. Fortunately the angst that grated on me in the last novel has eased: Lam gives us an engagingly matter-of-fact picture of two people in love, which is refreshing in its simplicity.

For me, the most interesting thing about this series has been Lam's wonderfully fluid treatment of gender and, in that respect, I think the Micah Grey books are worth reading to see how a writer is echoing the increasingly flexible and open attitudes of her target audience (remember that these books are officially young adult). Despite the steampunk-style technology, the ancient lost cultures and the growing threats of Micah's world, what will stay with me is his confidence in the integrity of his own self.

For the review, which will be published on 14 February 2017, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/02/14/masquerade-laura-lam

This is my Goodreads review, which will be posted to my blog later this month (possibly with minor edits).

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I will try and write a coherent review of this, because it was from NetGalley and I was particularly keen to read it so I feel like a review is important. However, I'm feeling pretty unwell at the moment, so this isn't likely to be the greatest thing I've ever written.

First of all, I was glad I decided to reread the first two books before I read this one. Although Lam is quite good at summarising the plot and past events within the narrative of the current book -- there are a few parts that are clearly designed to remind you of what's previously happened, but they don't feel like infodumps even when you've literally read those stories that day, which is effective -- it meant I was able to pick up on the themes and ideas that have been slowly building throughout the trilogy. This namely involves the political situation, and the Forester party, which has been hinted at since book one and became more significant in book two, but only really dominated the plot in this one.

This book definitely took the political aspect of the worldbuilding to a level that the previous books didn't reach, and for the most part it was effective: the conflict between peaceful protest and violence, the difference between wanting reform and civil war, and the idea that parties could have some admirable goals while also being problematic. That said, even after reading the whole trilogy in the space of three days, I still don't feel like I've got a firm grip on the LAYOUT of the world, and I could've done with a map. I don't know if the paper editions have one, maybe, but the Kindle editions (and of course the eARC of book three that I read) didn't, and it might've helped me keep track of things.

I have good news to those who read my Goodreads review (if you can really call it that) of book two: Ricket the cat does indeed appear in this book and, while his appearances are brief and all too infrequent, Lam doesn't forget about him halfway through like she seemed to do in book two, so he appears even at the end. I know this because I highlighted every single one of his appearances to keep track of them. It's possible I'm too invested in a cat who is really a very minor character...

I almost wrote in this review that it seemed odd for the title to be Masquerade when the only masked ball that happens is in the very final scene, the epilogue in fact, rather than forming a more significant part like the pantomime in book one. But then I realised I was taking too narrow an approach to the term: this book's full of deceptions, hidden identities, different personae, and people pretending to be somebody that they're not. The idea of appearances being deceptive is central to the plot. So really, the whole thing's a masquerade, even if sometimes it's a dangerous one.

That said, there is less PERFORMANCE in this book, or rather, fewer of the main plot points hinge on a performance (like the pantomime in book one, the magical competition in book two, and so on). There are many smaller tangential moments of magic and some that put the characters in a position for other plot stuff to happen (e.g. performing at the palace, which then puts them in a position to be close to the monarchy, an important position in such a politically-minded book), but it doesn't have as much weight, unless you count deception and double-crossing as performance. That's not necessarily a good or a bad thing, it's just an observation.

Trying to avoid spoilers, I will nonetheless say that I felt a few aspects of the ending were a little bit too neat. I was pleased with the way the plot was wrapped up, as that had a good balance of reward and cost and so on, but some of the characters' individual arcs weren't as convincing. Problems that had seemed insurmountable in previous books suddenly melted away, particularly where Drystan was concerned. Maybe that's unfair: there was a lot of character growth and struggles leading up to that point, but because we only saw one side of it (i.e. Drystan's), the other side seemed sudden and the catalyst for that change was unclear. This is impossible to explain better without giving spoilers, so I won't try. The political situation, too, was wrapped up quite neatly, although I didn't think it felt unrealistic.

On the whole, I felt this was a strong ending to the trilogy, and reasonably satisfying -- my main complaint would likely be that in places it felt a little bit TOO satisfying, although I think I'm also glazing over a lot of the less happy moments that came before the positive ending, probably because I'm ill and not thinking straight. Having just reread the first two books meant I skimmed a few places, particularly at the beginning, where the characters were effectively summarising what had happened before, but most people wouldn't have the story as fresh in their mind and for forgetful readers like me, I can see that being a positive thing when picking up the book after a long delay.

The cat needed more screentime, though. I mean, there are enough psychic people in this book: surely someone could have had an entertaining and cute conversation with it? Give me more cats in YA fiction or give me death, tbh.