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cindyc's review against another edition
4.0
‘Pantomime’ was a very refreshing story, like nothing I've ever read before. It was original from setting to characters, with an interesting story and topics that you don’t come across that often in SFF books.
The story is told through a series of flashbacks where we meet Gene, a girl that doesn’t really fit in with her rich family and their strict, upstart way of living. In the here and now, we meet Micah, a boy, a runaway who wants to join the circus, but he has a secret too.
The Micah - Gene story was really intriguing and though I knew what the big secret was early on in the story it was still such a fascinating journey to follow. I loved finding out about Gene en Micah's story step by step throughout the book. We were really eased into the whole background while soaking up the circus atmosphere.
Micah's interaction with the other members of the circus was a whole journey on its own. He immediately clicks with the trapeze artists, for which he is training, but particularly the clowns are a bit difficult to win over. But between these bullies, Micah might find a surprising, familiar friend.
Micah also gets a really deep connection with the female trapeze artist, which was endearing and really sweet.
Gene also has to deal with a lot, forced in a certain lifestyle by her mother, burdened by a secret she has to keep silent to keep her family's social standing intact and hurt by how people, even her own parents, react to that secret. The only one that really sticks by her side is her brother, who accepts his sister just how she is. The relationship between the siblings is another real gem in this novel, it really warmed my heart to see them interact and I could literally feel the unconditional love between them.
Pantomime is a book where LGBT is a central theme and I have to admit this was the first book I'd ever read where this subject is such a big part of the storyline. Some books I've read have same gender couples or hint at it, but nothing this prominent. Now, I don't want to make a big deal about this, because I am of the opinion that LGBT is a part of our society now and in my eyes it's pretty normal. So yes, it was great to read a story that mirrors my thoughts and doesn't see anything special or abnormal about same gender love or transgender characters. It's a book about a subject that is a part of our life and that says 'screw you' to everyone who doesn't want to accept that.
Lam ends her book with a rollercoaster of an ending. I totally didn't expect anything that happened there, it completely took me by surprise. It makes me eager to read Shadowplay!
Certainly a book that I’d recommend to anyone who wants something different, original or with a strong LGBT theme. Go read this book!
The story is told through a series of flashbacks where we meet Gene, a girl that doesn’t really fit in with her rich family and their strict, upstart way of living. In the here and now, we meet Micah, a boy, a runaway who wants to join the circus, but he has a secret too.
The Micah - Gene story was really intriguing and though I knew what the big secret was early on in the story it was still such a fascinating journey to follow. I loved finding out about Gene en Micah's story step by step throughout the book. We were really eased into the whole background while soaking up the circus atmosphere.
Micah's interaction with the other members of the circus was a whole journey on its own. He immediately clicks with the trapeze artists, for which he is training, but particularly the clowns are a bit difficult to win over. But between these bullies, Micah might find a surprising, familiar friend.
Micah also gets a really deep connection with the female trapeze artist, which was endearing and really sweet.
Gene also has to deal with a lot, forced in a certain lifestyle by her mother, burdened by a secret she has to keep silent to keep her family's social standing intact and hurt by how people, even her own parents, react to that secret. The only one that really sticks by her side is her brother, who accepts his sister just how she is. The relationship between the siblings is another real gem in this novel, it really warmed my heart to see them interact and I could literally feel the unconditional love between them.
Pantomime is a book where LGBT is a central theme and I have to admit this was the first book I'd ever read where this subject is such a big part of the storyline. Some books I've read have same gender couples or hint at it, but nothing this prominent. Now, I don't want to make a big deal about this, because I am of the opinion that LGBT is a part of our society now and in my eyes it's pretty normal. So yes, it was great to read a story that mirrors my thoughts and doesn't see anything special or abnormal about same gender love or transgender characters. It's a book about a subject that is a part of our life and that says 'screw you' to everyone who doesn't want to accept that.
Lam ends her book with a rollercoaster of an ending. I totally didn't expect anything that happened there, it completely took me by surprise. It makes me eager to read Shadowplay!
Certainly a book that I’d recommend to anyone who wants something different, original or with a strong LGBT theme. Go read this book!
logarithm's review against another edition
3.0
This book was recommended to me some time ago, and I was lured in by the pretty cover and the fact that this was a signed copy!
For starter’s, I enjoyed the way the story was told - alternating between the present and the past, with tiny excerpts at the beginning of each chapter highlighting its contents.
Then, there’s the worldbuilding, or lack of thereof. Many interesting things are hinted at, but that’s it. It’s a bit disappointing for me, but I’m hoping to learn more in subsequent books because I feel like there’s a lot to say about the world!
And that leaves us the characters. I was interested by Micah’s quest of their gender identity, but I am not really sure this book was a good representation of intersex people.
Overall, I’m not quite sure what to think of that one. I had a fun time reading it, and it made me curious enough to want to pick up the next one, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it.
For starter’s, I enjoyed the way the story was told - alternating between the present and the past, with tiny excerpts at the beginning of each chapter highlighting its contents.
Then, there’s the worldbuilding, or lack of thereof. Many interesting things are hinted at, but that’s it. It’s a bit disappointing for me, but I’m hoping to learn more in subsequent books because I feel like there’s a lot to say about the world!
And that leaves us the characters. I was interested by Micah’s quest of their gender identity, but I am not really sure this book was a good representation of intersex people.
Overall, I’m not quite sure what to think of that one. I had a fun time reading it, and it made me curious enough to want to pick up the next one, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it.
rhrie385's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I liked it, but the story dragged in some places. The ending felt a bit abrupt but this is a series so its forgivable to me
adeselnaferreira's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
23_nikki_23's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 stars. I really enjoyed this book, I’m looking forward to the next two.
aarnireads's review against another edition
5.0
I'm only giving four instead of five because five stars is the kind of a book that etches itself into my very soul. Four stars means it makes me ache in all the right places.
Oh Micah, Micah, Micah. First of all, it's refreshing as hell to see a protagonist who is anything but the standard YA-hero, who represents people pretty much never seen in any sort of media ever. Even bisexuality, which is nothing rare or unheard of is so rare to see and Micah's bisexuality is just as it is: a part of the character. But um, holy shit? I can count with one finger the amount of books that have even mentioned intersexual people: this one. While I think the matter is still understandably a sore spot and I cringed whenever someone acted like Micah was disgusting because of what he is, I appreciate that his gender dysphoria was handled. (I'm using 'he' mainly because that's what he ends up with and seems more comfortable with). Not to mention the not-so-gentle shift from being raised as a woman, identifying as a woman (although she says often in her own words that she doesn't feel like a woman- at least not the kind her mother would like her to be) to living as a boy. Anyhow, I appreciate that the book lets Micah question his identity and that it's not swept under the rug.
As someone who was born a woman and has always identified as a woman- albeit with some trying times- I don't think I'm the right person to judge if Micah's gender issues were handled well; but then again, everyone's view of their own gender is personal and this is the one the writer chose to go with.
By the end of the book I was ready to wrap Micah in a blanket and make sure no one ever hurts the poor babe ever again. :( And I want his society to accept him as he is- very much like I want our society to accept intersexual people and genderfluid people as they are. Gender is so much more than just a man or a woman and I wish more people realized that.
I have hope that books like this can help.
Oh Micah, Micah, Micah. First of all, it's refreshing as hell to see a protagonist who is anything but the standard YA-hero, who represents people pretty much never seen in any sort of media ever. Even bisexuality, which is nothing rare or unheard of is so rare to see and Micah's bisexuality is just as it is: a part of the character. But um, holy shit? I can count with one finger the amount of books that have even mentioned intersexual people: this one. While I think the matter is still understandably a sore spot and I cringed whenever someone acted like Micah was disgusting because of what he is, I appreciate that his gender dysphoria was handled. (I'm using 'he' mainly because that's what he ends up with and seems more comfortable with). Not to mention the not-so-gentle shift from being raised as a woman, identifying as a woman (although she says often in her own words that she doesn't feel like a woman- at least not the kind her mother would like her to be) to living as a boy. Anyhow, I appreciate that the book lets Micah question his identity and that it's not swept under the rug.
As someone who was born a woman and has always identified as a woman- albeit with some trying times- I don't think I'm the right person to judge if Micah's gender issues were handled well; but then again, everyone's view of their own gender is personal and this is the one the writer chose to go with.
By the end of the book I was ready to wrap Micah in a blanket and make sure no one ever hurts the poor babe ever again. :( And I want his society to accept him as he is- very much like I want our society to accept intersexual people and genderfluid people as they are. Gender is so much more than just a man or a woman and I wish more people realized that.
I have hope that books like this can help.
liam_raphael's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this story. I found Gene/Micah's journey with their gender identity well written and compelling, though I did take issue with the way the cover of the book and the blurb on the back mislead the reader and treated Gene/Micah's intersex identity as a surprise. In the actual novel you are aware of their identity from the beginning, so I could not understand why they would make it more difficult for readers who are looking for books with LGBTQ representation. To me, it made it seem like they were trying to 'trick' people into reading a novel about an intersex person by intentionally writing a summary that is misleading. In addition to this, Gene/Micah's intersexuality is written as mythical and other-worldly, which seemed disingenuous and needlessly othering, considering intersex people actually exist and Gene/Micah's superpowers could have been written as unrelated to their intersexuality and it would have made no difference to the plot.
Despite this, I thought Micah's bisexuality was well executed and their relationship with Aenea was sweet. Lam's writing was engaging and I found Gene/Micah's character a likeable and worthy protagonist. The ending was chaotic, and kind of jarring considering the bulk of the novel was somewhat meandering.
Overall, it kept my attention and I liked the LGBTQ representation, which even now is hard to come by.
Despite this, I thought Micah's bisexuality was well executed and their relationship with Aenea was sweet. Lam's writing was engaging and I found Gene/Micah's character a likeable and worthy protagonist. The ending was chaotic, and kind of jarring considering the bulk of the novel was somewhat meandering.
Overall, it kept my attention and I liked the LGBTQ representation, which even now is hard to come by.