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The Quicksand Theatre Company
Not yet published
Expected 24 Feb 26A swoony, slow-burn, cozy, queer romantic fantasy of runaway secrets, fae bargains, and sequins in the spotlight. A standalone third book set in the same world as Lava Red Feather Blue and Ballad for Jasmine Town.
When Vai Delvecchio leaves their home in the night, fleeing a family scandal, they knock on the door of the least likely but most alluring of sanctuaries: the traveling Quicksand Theatre Company. Actor Leo Takahashi—a.k.a. Leonidas the Obstreperous—grants Vai a bed in his caravan in exchange for Vai’s magical assistance in theatrical productions. Vai finds their respectable, dignified life transformed into a whimsical world of sequins, makeup, and irreverent comedy sketches.
In the caravan’s close quarters, it’s inevitable that Leo and Vai grow curious about each other, a feeling that blossoms into mutual desire. But trouble waits in the wings. Vai has to face the fallout of their family’s mistakes, and Leo guards a somber secret: soon, an unbreakable deal he made with a malevolent faery will take effect, destroying his freedom and potentially his life.
Yet it may be in the darkest lairs of the fae realm, and in the painful longing of separation, that Vai and Leo each find the truth that makes them whole again.
When Vai Delvecchio leaves their home in the night, fleeing a family scandal, they knock on the door of the least likely but most alluring of sanctuaries: the traveling Quicksand Theatre Company. Actor Leo Takahashi—a.k.a. Leonidas the Obstreperous—grants Vai a bed in his caravan in exchange for Vai’s magical assistance in theatrical productions. Vai finds their respectable, dignified life transformed into a whimsical world of sequins, makeup, and irreverent comedy sketches.
In the caravan’s close quarters, it’s inevitable that Leo and Vai grow curious about each other, a feeling that blossoms into mutual desire. But trouble waits in the wings. Vai has to face the fallout of their family’s mistakes, and Leo guards a somber secret: soon, an unbreakable deal he made with a malevolent faery will take effect, destroying his freedom and potentially his life.
Yet it may be in the darkest lairs of the fae realm, and in the painful longing of separation, that Vai and Leo each find the truth that makes them whole again.
- GenresQueer
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 24, 2026
4 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Molly Ringle
16 books407 followers[Aug. 2022 note: I'm going dormant on Goodreads and moving over to Storygraph. Find me there! I'm under username mollyringle and would love to connect.]
Bio: Molly Ringle was one of the quiet, weird kids in school, and is now one of the quiet, weird writers of the world. She/her, demi, bi.
Bio: Molly Ringle was one of the quiet, weird kids in school, and is now one of the quiet, weird writers of the world. She/her, demi, bi.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 12, 2025
Vai flees their home in the night after being the whistleblower in a family scandal. Needing somewhere to go they decide to join the Quicksand Theatre Company, with many many caravans to knock on they choose to enter the home of Leonidas the Obstreperous, or Leo. Leo agrees to house Vai and have them travel with the company in exchange for their magical help.
And so begins a very slow burn romance between the two. But it's hard for Leo to really devote himself to Vai when he's keeping a terrible secret of his own, he made an unbreakable deal with faery that will take away his freedom for a year.
Despite some of the darker elements this was a cozy and warm queer romance. This is a queernormative world and I'm always glad to see a non-binary character. I really enjoyed this worlds mix of magic and technical elements, like cells phones and streaming services.
Both Leo and Vai are dealing with issues regarding families and the theatre company was a wonderful found family for both them. The story dealt both with what it means not only to feel worthy of yourself but also of other people's love.
Although the story did drag a bit around the 60% mark it really began to pick up again around the end and I couldn't put it down. Leo and Vai's slow burn was delcious and once you got there it was well deserved and earned by both of them. A really soft, lovely and warm story.
Thank you NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
And so begins a very slow burn romance between the two. But it's hard for Leo to really devote himself to Vai when he's keeping a terrible secret of his own, he made an unbreakable deal with faery that will take away his freedom for a year.
Despite some of the darker elements this was a cozy and warm queer romance. This is a queernormative world and I'm always glad to see a non-binary character. I really enjoyed this worlds mix of magic and technical elements, like cells phones and streaming services.
Both Leo and Vai are dealing with issues regarding families and the theatre company was a wonderful found family for both them. The story dealt both with what it means not only to feel worthy of yourself but also of other people's love.
Although the story did drag a bit around the 60% mark it really began to pick up again around the end and I couldn't put it down. Leo and Vai's slow burn was delcious and once you got there it was well deserved and earned by both of them. A really soft, lovely and warm story.
Thank you NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After reporting their family for political corruption, Vai runs away and joins a travelling theatre company. She begins to fall in love with the actor whose caravan she's sharing... but before he can commit to her, he has to fulfil a deal with a fae that might just prove fatal.
It's a cute romance with likable characters. As a former theatre kid, I enjoyed the scenes with the troupe, and as an enby, I liked the representation. The plot is predictable, but sometimes, that's exactly what you want in a romance. At times the messaging about letting yourself feel worthy of being loved felt a little clunky, especially when the rest of the plot felt quite lightweight, but overall this was enjoyable.
It's a cute romance with likable characters. As a former theatre kid, I enjoyed the scenes with the troupe, and as an enby, I liked the representation. The plot is predictable, but sometimes, that's exactly what you want in a romance. At times the messaging about letting yourself feel worthy of being loved felt a little clunky, especially when the rest of the plot felt quite lightweight, but overall this was enjoyable.
November 15, 2025
That was cute, a rapid fall down the rabbit hole, where our protagonists fell in love, but also - at the circus (!) where there is magic (!!) and mermaids and fae.
The world was a delight, a mix of modern contemporary (where they still have phones and google and drive fancy Mercedes ) and magic (with algae curses and magic lights and magic soothing (but also ridiculous things like magic hair removal). There’s a border between the world of fae and not-fae, and the fae world is deliciously dark (both figuratively and literally, it turns out).
I liked the circus and the found family, I liked that our MC is non binary, I like how they fell in love and the delicious night with the roses. I liked the quirky not-villain with his pet names (my tart stinging nettle!) and ridiculous speech, who loved theatre and Shakespeare (and how at the end, he was careful with his friend. I’m glad he showed up again, and I hope he finds a way to watch theatre, see some shows that doesn’t involve kidnapping and death).
It was a cute read, for sure.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eArc!
The world was a delight, a mix of modern contemporary (where they still have phones and google and drive fancy Mercedes ) and magic (with algae curses and magic lights and magic soothing (but also ridiculous things like magic hair removal). There’s a border between the world of fae and not-fae, and the fae world is deliciously dark (both figuratively and literally, it turns out).
I liked the circus and the found family, I liked that our MC is non binary, I like how they fell in love and the delicious night with the roses. I liked the quirky not-villain with his pet names (my tart stinging nettle!) and ridiculous speech, who loved theatre and Shakespeare (and how at the end, he was careful with his friend. I’m glad he showed up again, and I hope he finds a way to watch theatre, see some shows that doesn’t involve kidnapping and death).
It was a cute read, for sure.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eArc!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews