Pantomime

Micah Grey, Book 1

By: L.R. Lam

Narrated by: Ian McLean

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.©2025 Laura Lam

Critic reviews

With insightful and skillful writing, Lam vividly draws a tale like no other

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

Set in a vividly imagined world with wonderful steampunk touches, Pantomime is a fable-like story as beautifully unique as its main character

Lam has created a world which will take your breath away, and characters you will never want to leave. Enchanting

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

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

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

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!