Play of shadows

Damelas Chademantaigne, avoiding a duel he knows he'll lose, flees to a theater because, in the city of Jereste, actors are protected by ancient and sacred privileges. The director turns away the pursuing vigilantes and lets Damelas take on minor roles. Damelas grows to appreciate the theatrical life, but one night he delivers a line that borders on treason, accusing one of the historical heroes of the land of being nothing but a murderous villain. Instead of imprisoning him, though, the current duke insists that the play must go on. There are sinister forces at work, something driving the vigilante Iron Orchids and their Orchid Laws, a draconian list of edicts aimed at stoking the fears and hostility of the city's most bigoted inhabitants. The duke hopes the play's the thing that will reveal not only the truth about historical heroes but the mysterious origins of the Orchids and whoever controls them from the shadows of anonymity. An entertaining tale with a charming ensemble cast, plenty of danger and intrigue, and a solid setup for follow-up adventures.