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The Quicksand Theatre Company
A 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.
320 pages, Paperback
Published February 24, 2026
About the author
Molly Ringle
16 books409 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
Fae-rly fine. I would say the title does not exactly do justice to the storyline entirely. While it was at the Quicksand Theater Company's caravan where Vai and Leo's paths did cross and their stars aligned, the narrative is divided between the time spent working in the acting troupe and then the events that unfold once Leo's ticking clock has reached its final countdown. 🎪 So while the separation is inevitable, I did not feel the balance to the plot was done well.
I enjoyed my time in the literary circus; vibrant, lush imagery, with their playful flirtation, their sensual frolicking, their trust building over the glitzy glamor of bringing the stage to life with all the charm and colorful flair that their troubadour excels at, introducing a flurry of characters who fulfilled their necessary roles as confidantes and supporters in their blossoming romance. 🎭🎭
“Act like a person in love, indulging in caresses with her sweetheart, celebrating freedom, beauty, truth, and love even under the shadow of doom? Easy.”
Leo was so very accepting of Vai, and Vai in turn was so very dear and wanting for Leo. Very sweet, very accepting, a long session of foreplay of their affections for each other. Yet, their love story was always doomed, with Leo's burdened truth, but the efforts of surviving the hardships in the wake of that pain may have been the downfall of the story. 💟 For it fell into the dynamic of time being the conflict rather than the drive.
It was hard to discern what the objective truly was of the plot; was it the intended literal villain? Was it how they had both been wronged by their families and it only took a tragedy such a doomed love story to pave the way for a better prospect of their relationship with them? 😕 I was left bored and wanting for a sense of satisfaction, despite the closure they both received, after much heartache and fierce longing.
“You turned my life upside down,” I said in his ear. “How dare you?... But it feels like having led two lives, one before all this, and one after.”
I also found it difficult whenever the perspective would alternate between the two within a chapter. It's confusing, especially when certain chapters are solely dedicated to one of the povs, and then abruptly shift with only a small font-type to indicate, which was as small as a border-break, made my reading a bit disruptive, as I stumbled in confusion, before going back a paragraph or two to see that I had missed it. 😵💫
The world-building was well done. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 I'm still a novice when it comes to urban fantasy, so I'm always a bit off kilter when modern technology is imbued with witchery and spells and curses. But a lot of thought and care was built into entwining the political turmoil of the human world into the unsettling darkness of the fae realm that enriched the vibes of the setting in a breathtaking way. 🪷
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“I vowed my performance would make my friends and family understand they were loved. Make them smile, even. Because tragedies be damned.”
Fae-rly fine. I would say the title does not exactly do justice to the storyline entirely. While it was at the Quicksand Theater Company's caravan where Vai and Leo's paths did cross and their stars aligned, the narrative is divided between the time spent working in the acting troupe and then the events that unfold once Leo's ticking clock has reached its final countdown. 🎪 So while the separation is inevitable, I did not feel the balance to the plot was done well.
I enjoyed my time in the literary circus; vibrant, lush imagery, with their playful flirtation, their sensual frolicking, their trust building over the glitzy glamor of bringing the stage to life with all the charm and colorful flair that their troubadour excels at, introducing a flurry of characters who fulfilled their necessary roles as confidantes and supporters in their blossoming romance. 🎭🎭
“Act like a person in love, indulging in caresses with her sweetheart, celebrating freedom, beauty, truth, and love even under the shadow of doom? Easy.”
Leo was so very accepting of Vai, and Vai in turn was so very dear and wanting for Leo. Very sweet, very accepting, a long session of foreplay of their affections for each other. Yet, their love story was always doomed, with Leo's burdened truth, but the efforts of surviving the hardships in the wake of that pain may have been the downfall of the story. 💟 For it fell into the dynamic of time being the conflict rather than the drive.
It was hard to discern what the objective truly was of the plot; was it the intended literal villain? Was it how they had both been wronged by their families and it only took a tragedy such a doomed love story to pave the way for a better prospect of their relationship with them? 😕 I was left bored and wanting for a sense of satisfaction, despite the closure they both received, after much heartache and fierce longing.
“You turned my life upside down,” I said in his ear. “How dare you?... But it feels like having led two lives, one before all this, and one after.”
I also found it difficult whenever the perspective would alternate between the two within a chapter. It's confusing, especially when certain chapters are solely dedicated to one of the povs, and then abruptly shift with only a small font-type to indicate, which was as small as a border-break, made my reading a bit disruptive, as I stumbled in confusion, before going back a paragraph or two to see that I had missed it. 😵💫
The world-building was well done. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 I'm still a novice when it comes to urban fantasy, so I'm always a bit off kilter when modern technology is imbued with witchery and spells and curses. But a lot of thought and care was built into entwining the political turmoil of the human world into the unsettling darkness of the fae realm that enriched the vibes of the setting in a breathtaking way. 🪷
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2026
I love the premise of this book! Rich kid runs away to join a traveling theater group, but with magic. With their backstory, their pronouns, and their genderqueerness (I personally read them as nonbinary), Vai Delvecchio has a lot going for them (for those who speak Italian, yes, that pun was intentional. It's also a terrible pun and I'm sorry.), and they're an intriguing protagonist through and through.
The author clearly has a love for theater, and I loved getting immersed in their world. (Also, cool worldbuilding everywhere!) Leo is a great love interest, if you're into the brooding, self-sacrificing type (I sure can be!), and the rest of the troupe is both colorful but not over-saturated. I loved each and every side character.
Now, this book is its own thing, with its own story structure and I think that'll be a hit or miss for every reader. I personally appreciate the story it was trying to tell, though I kept bumping on the pacing. There's also quite a bit of additional drama and dramatic timing that I felt was more for plot convenience than out of genuine character motivations. With all that, it was still a great story and I appreciated the attention to detail.
[SPOILERS]
I also felt like the book made a few unfortunate choices for one of its villains. While I appreciate showing the "disgruntled marginalized youth to far right activist" pipeline, I think making the character an immigrant (and having that status influence their choices in a major way) was... not great.
[END SPOILERS]
With all that, I think this book could be a great read for anyone who loves a little theater magic, both the figurative and the literal kind.
Thank you to Michelle Halket of Central Avenue and to netgalley for the ARC!
The author clearly has a love for theater, and I loved getting immersed in their world. (Also, cool worldbuilding everywhere!) Leo is a great love interest, if you're into the brooding, self-sacrificing type (I sure can be!), and the rest of the troupe is both colorful but not over-saturated. I loved each and every side character.
Now, this book is its own thing, with its own story structure and I think that'll be a hit or miss for every reader. I personally appreciate the story it was trying to tell, though I kept bumping on the pacing. There's also quite a bit of additional drama and dramatic timing that I felt was more for plot convenience than out of genuine character motivations. With all that, it was still a great story and I appreciated the attention to detail.
[SPOILERS]
I also felt like the book made a few unfortunate choices for one of its villains. While I appreciate showing the "disgruntled marginalized youth to far right activist" pipeline, I think making the character an immigrant (and having that status influence their choices in a major way) was... not great.
[END SPOILERS]
With all that, I think this book could be a great read for anyone who loves a little theater magic, both the figurative and the literal kind.
Thank you to Michelle Halket of Central Avenue and to netgalley for the ARC!
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.
January 11, 2026
Cosy, whimsical and full of emotional depth, this is the story of how a runaway whistleblower and a charismatic performer fall in love and save each other.
When Vai stumbles upon an illegal cover-up implicating their family, they blow the whistle, setting a curse into motion that means they won’t be recognised or remembered for a year. To escape the scandal during this time, Vai runs away with the Quicksand Theatre Company, magically altering sets and clothes, and bunking with the charismatic Leonidas. As the pair of them travel together, sparks fly. But Leo has secrets of his own, and with a dangerous fae stalking their caravan, it won’t be long before they come to light.
I loved getting completely lost in this tale. The characters are flawed and lovely, supporting each other through (and learning from) guilt, hard choices and family drama. There’s a ton of development in the two leads, and this and the romance definitely take centre stage, but - especially in the second half - there’s also enough action to keep the plot interesting. From life-threatening fae bargains to kissing festivals, to a magical performance of Moulin Rouge, it’s a boisterous ride of dangers and dramatics.
Though it technically reads as a standalone, It’s set in the same fantastical world as two of Molly Ringle’s other books: Lava Red Feather Blue (which I ADORE) and Sage and King (which is also brilliant). I love the subtle crossovers in setting and culture, which make you feel like you’re returning to a familiar place. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of Eidolonia, with its interesting magic system, fae/human boundary and beautifully diverse representation.
A massive thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Vai stumbles upon an illegal cover-up implicating their family, they blow the whistle, setting a curse into motion that means they won’t be recognised or remembered for a year. To escape the scandal during this time, Vai runs away with the Quicksand Theatre Company, magically altering sets and clothes, and bunking with the charismatic Leonidas. As the pair of them travel together, sparks fly. But Leo has secrets of his own, and with a dangerous fae stalking their caravan, it won’t be long before they come to light.
I loved getting completely lost in this tale. The characters are flawed and lovely, supporting each other through (and learning from) guilt, hard choices and family drama. There’s a ton of development in the two leads, and this and the romance definitely take centre stage, but - especially in the second half - there’s also enough action to keep the plot interesting. From life-threatening fae bargains to kissing festivals, to a magical performance of Moulin Rouge, it’s a boisterous ride of dangers and dramatics.
Though it technically reads as a standalone, It’s set in the same fantastical world as two of Molly Ringle’s other books: Lava Red Feather Blue (which I ADORE) and Sage and King (which is also brilliant). I love the subtle crossovers in setting and culture, which make you feel like you’re returning to a familiar place. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of Eidolonia, with its interesting magic system, fae/human boundary and beautifully diverse representation.
A massive thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2026
Ahhhh i adore this world and these characters!!! The authors note says she wrote this purely for fun, and i can feel that in this. i had the best time!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I feel like I should start with the things I liked before I go into what didn't work.
- I liked that the MCs were both older, 31 and 35 respectively.
- There was an interesting array of fae folk.
- The setting of secret islands in the Pacific Ocean, that had been solely fae territory until they allowed some humans to find Eidolonia was interesting as well.
- The magic, exo-witch, matter-witch etc was neat and I liked the way it was presented. There is something inherent in your magic that means you can do these things and it's not conveniently useful in all situations.
- Fair feasters were a chilling concept, and I liked the idea behind them.
- Also queer rep! I love a queer rep book that just makes it totally normal. Especially when you're talking about a world where there is magic. Why shouldn't it be normal? There are fae, there's no question there should be non-binary individuals.
Now, with the exception of the queer rep, I can also jump off these points as to where things fell off for me.
For MCs in their 30s, both Vai and Leo felt painfully younger. I understand that Vai was meant to be sheltered but Leo just didn't feel like he was in the right age for his dialogue and choices at times. Part of this was the fourth wall breaks that kept appearing in his focal chapters. These didn't work for me, but they did work for making it feel like he was meant to be at least a decade younger. Particularly the "What in our 20 years together as BFFs led you to expect smart decisions from me?" My guy, what???
Despite taking place on an island hidden and inhabited by fae folk, we actually don't get TONS with them. At least not for the bulk of the book but even in the fae realm it's kind of glossed over. The magic is kind of common place, rather than anything extraordinary. Which is fine when you remember that it would be common place there. But we still only get the basic intro to the different witch magic, the fair feasters, and then a mention or two of some other types on the island like Wayshaw's background or the sylph. We don't lean into the magic as much as you'd hope for a story that is entirely placed in a magical island that borders the fae realm and largely follows a magic theatre troupe.
An aside to this, because it takes place in the 'real world', there cell phones, brand names, and a lot of pop culture references. There is a Silence of the Lambs quote, Eurovision mention, and mention of krumping, which I have not thought about since like 2007. Rather than adding into the story, it all just felt extremely out of place. It did not add to the story. I am sure there are many ways we could have known Vai was well off without throwing out they wore Chanel.
And on the mention of cell phones, a lot of conversations are happening by text. There is no shift in formatting, at least in the eARC that illustrates this, so at certain points it became very messy to follow a conversation. Even changing it to italics would have been clearer when it was texting dialogue and when it was general narration. I suppose it doesn't really matter since communication between the MCs is neither of their strong points. This is more a formatting complaint than anything about shoehorning the real world into fiction.
But, while I'm talking about shoehorning things into the story, let's venture to the romance.
The romance largely progresses on festival nights. Like brand names and other pop culture, there was simply no need for this. I am so unclear why Molly did not let it progress naturally. We hear about certain festivals on the magical hidden island only because they have traditions where you're meant to kiss someone or meant to get frisky with someone. Otherwise, the festivals and celebrations of Eidolonia literally do not matter. You could replace them with anything else under the sun, it would not change a thing. Had the romance progressed as it was doing otherwise, and not with some festival to force some kind of action, it would have felt more natural. It would have been that slow burn, yearning, will-they-won't-they which could have led to a very powerful reunion post Leo's "somber secret".
I'd have really liked more of somethings, like the magical theatre troupe, and far less of others, like political plots that don't really develop despite being the cause of things, Charles' entire arc, and the shift to just telling readers exactly what's what without leaving it any shape or depth. I think it's clear that a lot of this didn't work for me already. There was enough I liked that I don't feel I could drop this to 2/5 but it does feel like a generous 3/5.
- I liked that the MCs were both older, 31 and 35 respectively.
- There was an interesting array of fae folk.
- The setting of secret islands in the Pacific Ocean, that had been solely fae territory until they allowed some humans to find Eidolonia was interesting as well.
- The magic, exo-witch, matter-witch etc was neat and I liked the way it was presented. There is something inherent in your magic that means you can do these things and it's not conveniently useful in all situations.
- Fair feasters were a chilling concept, and I liked the idea behind them.
- Also queer rep! I love a queer rep book that just makes it totally normal. Especially when you're talking about a world where there is magic. Why shouldn't it be normal? There are fae, there's no question there should be non-binary individuals.
Now, with the exception of the queer rep, I can also jump off these points as to where things fell off for me.
For MCs in their 30s, both Vai and Leo felt painfully younger. I understand that Vai was meant to be sheltered but Leo just didn't feel like he was in the right age for his dialogue and choices at times. Part of this was the fourth wall breaks that kept appearing in his focal chapters. These didn't work for me, but they did work for making it feel like he was meant to be at least a decade younger. Particularly the "What in our 20 years together as BFFs led you to expect smart decisions from me?" My guy, what???
Despite taking place on an island hidden and inhabited by fae folk, we actually don't get TONS with them. At least not for the bulk of the book but even in the fae realm it's kind of glossed over. The magic is kind of common place, rather than anything extraordinary. Which is fine when you remember that it would be common place there. But we still only get the basic intro to the different witch magic, the fair feasters, and then a mention or two of some other types on the island like Wayshaw's background or the sylph. We don't lean into the magic as much as you'd hope for a story that is entirely placed in a magical island that borders the fae realm and largely follows a magic theatre troupe.
An aside to this, because it takes place in the 'real world', there cell phones, brand names, and a lot of pop culture references. There is a Silence of the Lambs quote, Eurovision mention, and mention of krumping, which I have not thought about since like 2007. Rather than adding into the story, it all just felt extremely out of place. It did not add to the story. I am sure there are many ways we could have known Vai was well off without throwing out they wore Chanel.
And on the mention of cell phones, a lot of conversations are happening by text. There is no shift in formatting, at least in the eARC that illustrates this, so at certain points it became very messy to follow a conversation. Even changing it to italics would have been clearer when it was texting dialogue and when it was general narration. I suppose it doesn't really matter since communication between the MCs is neither of their strong points. This is more a formatting complaint than anything about shoehorning the real world into fiction.
But, while I'm talking about shoehorning things into the story, let's venture to the romance.
The romance largely progresses on festival nights. Like brand names and other pop culture, there was simply no need for this. I am so unclear why Molly did not let it progress naturally. We hear about certain festivals on the magical hidden island only because they have traditions where you're meant to kiss someone or meant to get frisky with someone. Otherwise, the festivals and celebrations of Eidolonia literally do not matter. You could replace them with anything else under the sun, it would not change a thing. Had the romance progressed as it was doing otherwise, and not with some festival to force some kind of action, it would have felt more natural. It would have been that slow burn, yearning, will-they-won't-they which could have led to a very powerful reunion post Leo's "somber secret".
I'd have really liked more of somethings, like the magical theatre troupe, and far less of others, like political plots that don't really develop despite being the cause of things, Charles' entire arc, and the shift to just telling readers exactly what's what without leaving it any shape or depth. I think it's clear that a lot of this didn't work for me already. There was enough I liked that I don't feel I could drop this to 2/5 but it does feel like a generous 3/5.
March 4, 2026
Real Rating: 4.25* of five
The Publisher Says: A runaway witch, a cursed actor, and a magical theatre troupe full of sequins and secrets—this cozy, queer fantasy takes the stage with romance, rebellion, and fae-fueled drama.
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.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Nonbinary magic-practicing person in an ocean of really hot water falls for queer performer guy with a *major* secret that keeps him from showing how reciprocal their interest in him is. Set, as so many stories seem to be, in a theater company, a world of playacting, dissembling, and self-invention, it takes its time getting Vai the enby character and Leo our queer hero together.
Too long. It's dragged out to explore the world, the fae's roles in human events, Vai's terrible choices vis-à-vis their family, Leo's errrmmm, uhhh, equally terrible decisions of a very different sort. It's a found-family narrative that one spends the entire read dreading the end of because every single one of the Quicksand Theatre Company's participants very, very badly needs the protection as well as the support of the whole company.
It's hard to relax, honestly, with the Sword of Damocles hanging by a fraying strand from a horse-hair wig. It was a good narrative choice, in other words; but it went on that small fraction too long and wore out my readerly patience. I was quite happy pnce the pace picked up in about the last third of the narrative. I was reading the last 10% at two in the morning; exhausted when I got up, was pretty pleased with the resolution presented.
I'm told this story shares a storyverse with other tales by the author. I never felt that level of mildly bewildered exclusion. I intend this as a compliment. Too often the shared background of a series obtrudes with major points feeling obscure if one is not already acquainted with the rest of the world that's already built. I didn't feel that reading this story...yes, I could tell some characters must've been from somewhere else by their introduction or the responses to them, but what they did in the moment was complete and logical in the context of *this* story. It's a tough feat, and Author Ringle pulls it off.
Normalizing all facets of queerdom earns the book its fractional fifth star. I was utterly gruntled as I ran into characters from everywhere on my peoples' spectrum; this is something I will always round up on the curve for. I couldn't offer a full fifth star because "fae" is a four-letter word in my vocabulary and rhymes in my mind with "feh."
I ain't helpin' y'all with that one, do your own research. My word was this fun. I'm so very happy I got to read it!
The Publisher Says: A runaway witch, a cursed actor, and a magical theatre troupe full of sequins and secrets—this cozy, queer fantasy takes the stage with romance, rebellion, and fae-fueled drama.
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.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Nonbinary magic-practicing person in an ocean of really hot water falls for queer performer guy with a *major* secret that keeps him from showing how reciprocal their interest in him is. Set, as so many stories seem to be, in a theater company, a world of playacting, dissembling, and self-invention, it takes its time getting Vai the enby character and Leo our queer hero together.
Too long. It's dragged out to explore the world, the fae's roles in human events, Vai's terrible choices vis-à-vis their family, Leo's errrmmm, uhhh, equally terrible decisions of a very different sort. It's a found-family narrative that one spends the entire read dreading the end of because every single one of the Quicksand Theatre Company's participants very, very badly needs the protection as well as the support of the whole company.
It's hard to relax, honestly, with the Sword of Damocles hanging by a fraying strand from a horse-hair wig. It was a good narrative choice, in other words; but it went on that small fraction too long and wore out my readerly patience. I was quite happy pnce the pace picked up in about the last third of the narrative. I was reading the last 10% at two in the morning; exhausted when I got up, was pretty pleased with the resolution presented.
I'm told this story shares a storyverse with other tales by the author. I never felt that level of mildly bewildered exclusion. I intend this as a compliment. Too often the shared background of a series obtrudes with major points feeling obscure if one is not already acquainted with the rest of the world that's already built. I didn't feel that reading this story...yes, I could tell some characters must've been from somewhere else by their introduction or the responses to them, but what they did in the moment was complete and logical in the context of *this* story. It's a tough feat, and Author Ringle pulls it off.
Normalizing all facets of queerdom earns the book its fractional fifth star. I was utterly gruntled as I ran into characters from everywhere on my peoples' spectrum; this is something I will always round up on the curve for. I couldn't offer a full fifth star because "fae" is a four-letter word in my vocabulary and rhymes in my mind with "feh."
I ain't helpin' y'all with that one, do your own research. My word was this fun. I'm so very happy I got to read it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Quicksand Theatre Company starts off with a combination of whimsy (a traveling magical theatre company on a hidden island shared by fae and humans!) and poignancy (MC1, Vai, leaves home after blowing the whistle on their family's complicity in fixing an election in favor of an anti-fae candidate) that worked beautifully for me. Ditto the world of Eidolonia, even if on close scrutiny it didn't hang together logically -- not many magic systems or supernatural worlds do, I think. Also ditto the way the members of the theatre company (and maybe everyone in Eidolonia?) mess around with gender: MC2, Leo, for example, is male-bodied and male-identified but he sure does rock an evening gown.
Vai stows away in Leo's caravan; he lets them stay, Vai puts their witchy skills to work for the company, and of course Leo and Vai fall in love, with a lot of mis- and noncommunication that I was willing enough to go along with because the threat hanging over Leo was so compelling. To save his dearest friend, he's made a bargain by which he has to spend a year with a "fair feaster" [honestly the name alone gives me chills], an malignant kind of fae with a strong resemblance to a vampire. Leo keeps this a secret from Vai, because he doesn't believe anyone could really love him but he loves Vai and knows they will worry since after all Vai cares for him despite his unworthiness. Needless to say, this leads to problems.
All in all things were headed for four-star territory -- not five-star, because the love between Vai and Leo came on rather too fast, and also because some of the miscommunication was a little much; but then we got near the end of Leo's year with the fair feaster Nalibak. I'm not going to quote at length, but here's a sentence that should hint at what goes wrong. It appears after Leo returns:
"On those outings, taken all over the Tesoro [city] area during that beautiful June, we laid the groundwork of honesty."
The last quarter of the book lapses into this kind of telling-not-showing. I'm emphatically not saying that telling is always and inevitably the wrong narrative method, but there's this, how to put it, conclusory kind of telling, removed enough from events and actions to flatten them. On top of that, the therapy-speak. Therapy-speak turns up in any number of romances, the chief problem being that it's usually the therapy-speak derived from cognitive behavioral therapy and other non-insight-oriented forms of therapy. Those forms of therapy help many people! I know that! But they don't emphasize deep, particularized insight, and deep, particularized insight is essential to almost all fiction.
More than this, Quicksand collapses (sorry) because Molly Ringle has stopped trusting the story to reveal itself. Which I guess is another way of saying that she's stopped showing and started telling. It would be so easy to let us listen to Vai and Leo talk to each other as they cope with the aftermath of Leo's deception and of their traumatic year apart; instead we start getting homilies. It's a shame.
Thanks to Central Avenue Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Vai stows away in Leo's caravan; he lets them stay, Vai puts their witchy skills to work for the company, and of course Leo and Vai fall in love, with a lot of mis- and noncommunication that I was willing enough to go along with because the threat hanging over Leo was so compelling. To save his dearest friend, he's made a bargain by which he has to spend a year with a "fair feaster" [honestly the name alone gives me chills], an malignant kind of fae with a strong resemblance to a vampire. Leo keeps this a secret from Vai, because he doesn't believe anyone could really love him but he loves Vai and knows they will worry since after all Vai cares for him despite his unworthiness. Needless to say, this leads to problems.
All in all things were headed for four-star territory -- not five-star, because the love between Vai and Leo came on rather too fast, and also because some of the miscommunication was a little much; but then we got near the end of Leo's year with the fair feaster Nalibak. I'm not going to quote at length, but here's a sentence that should hint at what goes wrong. It appears after Leo returns:
"On those outings, taken all over the Tesoro [city] area during that beautiful June, we laid the groundwork of honesty."
The last quarter of the book lapses into this kind of telling-not-showing. I'm emphatically not saying that telling is always and inevitably the wrong narrative method, but there's this, how to put it, conclusory kind of telling, removed enough from events and actions to flatten them. On top of that, the therapy-speak. Therapy-speak turns up in any number of romances, the chief problem being that it's usually the therapy-speak derived from cognitive behavioral therapy and other non-insight-oriented forms of therapy. Those forms of therapy help many people! I know that! But they don't emphasize deep, particularized insight, and deep, particularized insight is essential to almost all fiction.
More than this, Quicksand collapses (sorry) because Molly Ringle has stopped trusting the story to reveal itself. Which I guess is another way of saying that she's stopped showing and started telling. It would be so easy to let us listen to Vai and Leo talk to each other as they cope with the aftermath of Leo's deception and of their traumatic year apart; instead we start getting homilies. It's a shame.
Thanks to Central Avenue Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Queernorm romantic fantasy, with lovely performing arts vibes.
Vai has to leave home quickly after whistleblowing on their family's corporate malfeasance. So what better place to hole up than to "run away with the circus", or in this case, in the travelling theatre caravan of an attractive actor, Leo. Who soon turns out to be intriguing to Vai offstage as well as on, and the slowburn begins. Much secret mutual yearning ensues. However, Leo has made a time-based bargain with a deeply unpleasant fae, and it cannot be broken.
I very much enjoyed Vai settling into the theatre life, finding ways to use their magic in the service of performance, and starting to think about who they are without family expectations guiding their way. Leo is also an interesting character, rather messed up by the consequences of the death of his parents as a child. Both characters need to mature before they can be good partners, and I agree with other reviewers that they read younger (maybe early 20s, not the 30s mentioned) than they actually are. The development of their relationship, and the fallout of Leo's bargain, is my favourite part of the book. The side plot around politics and Vai's original whistleblowing didn't hook me at all. Compared to other aspects of the world-building, it felt slight; our MCs are bit-players there, and so it feels a little unbalanced to have focus. I also feel like the ending is an example of what happens when people beg the author to know "but what happened next, and what about after that". I like loose ends being tidied up, but would have liked this to feel more organic in scenes between the two, showing/implying rather than telling.
However, I was so invested in the two of them by that point, and in their friendships & family connections too, that it carried me through and overall I really had a good time with this, recommended!
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
Vai has to leave home quickly after whistleblowing on their family's corporate malfeasance. So what better place to hole up than to "run away with the circus", or in this case, in the travelling theatre caravan of an attractive actor, Leo. Who soon turns out to be intriguing to Vai offstage as well as on, and the slowburn begins. Much secret mutual yearning ensues. However, Leo has made a time-based bargain with a deeply unpleasant fae, and it cannot be broken.
I very much enjoyed Vai settling into the theatre life, finding ways to use their magic in the service of performance, and starting to think about who they are without family expectations guiding their way. Leo is also an interesting character, rather messed up by the consequences of the death of his parents as a child. Both characters need to mature before they can be good partners, and I agree with other reviewers that they read younger (maybe early 20s, not the 30s mentioned) than they actually are. The development of their relationship, and the fallout of Leo's bargain, is my favourite part of the book. The side plot around politics and Vai's original whistleblowing didn't hook me at all. Compared to other aspects of the world-building, it felt slight; our MCs are bit-players there, and so it feels a little unbalanced to have focus. I also feel like the ending is an example of what happens when people beg the author to know "but what happened next, and what about after that". I like loose ends being tidied up, but would have liked this to feel more organic in scenes between the two, showing/implying rather than telling.
However, I was so invested in the two of them by that point, and in their friendships & family connections too, that it carried me through and overall I really had a good time with this, recommended!
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
Review of advance copy
Thanks to Central Avenue Publishing for the ARC.
4.5/5
My goodness, I have fallen in love with Vai and Leo, plus all the other members of the Quicksand Theatre Company!! 😀 And of course Truffle, we can't forget Truffle!
With this story, Molly takes us back to the world of Eidolonia for this stand-alone story. You do not have to have read the other books to dive into this one and be swept away with this compelling story that is as full of heart and longing as it is tension. Vai has blown the whistle on his family business and seeks to escape the limelight by joining the traveling Quicksand Theatre Company, where he invites himself into the caravan of one of the lead actors, Leo. While using his skills as a witch for the company he begins to dig into Leo's history and finds himself totally drawn to Leo, who is hiding a secret from Vai that has the potential to be deadly.
I adore the world of Eidolonia that Molly has created, it feels so grounded and I totally volunteer to be a crosswater and go live there!! The abilities of the witches and how that is integrated into everyday life plus the constant tension with the fae really makes for an intriguing setting. The fair feasters are fascinating, frightening and Nalibak was surprisingly endearing. Vai and Leo are so very easy to root for and Leo's insistence that he is not worthy of love and commitment from someone else is so incredibly relatable. Finding your family, giving yourself grace and allowing yourself to move forward with love make this such a wonderful story and there's also a twist at the end that I absolutely did NOT see coming!! Quicksand is a great entry into this world, and I also highly recommend the other books set in Eidolonia, Lava Red, Feather Blue and The Ballad of Jasmine Town, all are terrific!!
4.5/5
My goodness, I have fallen in love with Vai and Leo, plus all the other members of the Quicksand Theatre Company!! 😀 And of course Truffle, we can't forget Truffle!
With this story, Molly takes us back to the world of Eidolonia for this stand-alone story. You do not have to have read the other books to dive into this one and be swept away with this compelling story that is as full of heart and longing as it is tension. Vai has blown the whistle on his family business and seeks to escape the limelight by joining the traveling Quicksand Theatre Company, where he invites himself into the caravan of one of the lead actors, Leo. While using his skills as a witch for the company he begins to dig into Leo's history and finds himself totally drawn to Leo, who is hiding a secret from Vai that has the potential to be deadly.
I adore the world of Eidolonia that Molly has created, it feels so grounded and I totally volunteer to be a crosswater and go live there!! The abilities of the witches and how that is integrated into everyday life plus the constant tension with the fae really makes for an intriguing setting. The fair feasters are fascinating, frightening and Nalibak was surprisingly endearing. Vai and Leo are so very easy to root for and Leo's insistence that he is not worthy of love and commitment from someone else is so incredibly relatable. Finding your family, giving yourself grace and allowing yourself to move forward with love make this such a wonderful story and there's also a twist at the end that I absolutely did NOT see coming!! Quicksand is a great entry into this world, and I also highly recommend the other books set in Eidolonia, Lava Red, Feather Blue and The Ballad of Jasmine Town, all are terrific!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An absolutely delicious slow burn queer romance. The world is a sumptuous and vibrant urban fantasy and I am itching to get my hands on the other books now that I’ve read this ARC.
The build of Leo and Vai’s tension, adoration, and love, truly threatened to take me out on several occasions throughout the book. Oh, to be seen and loved, and longed for in such a way. I love a good love letter, and while I suppose their missives were more video than letter, it felt the same to me. The world was immersive and had an energy thrumming through it that made me itch to pick the story back up every time I had to put it down.
I got very attached to the weirdest guy in town, Nalibak, right from the beginning, which maybe was an odd inclination but I stand by it.
Fans of Into the Midnight Wood by Alexandra Mccollum will really enjoy this. While the stories themselves aren’t all that similar aside from slow burn queer romance in a magical setting, the vibes are immaculate and give a similarly wonderful feeling.
Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for the early access to this installment of Eidolonia’s lush world.
The build of Leo and Vai’s tension, adoration, and love, truly threatened to take me out on several occasions throughout the book. Oh, to be seen and loved, and longed for in such a way. I love a good love letter, and while I suppose their missives were more video than letter, it felt the same to me. The world was immersive and had an energy thrumming through it that made me itch to pick the story back up every time I had to put it down.
I got very attached to the weirdest guy in town, Nalibak, right from the beginning, which maybe was an odd inclination but I stand by it.
Fans of Into the Midnight Wood by Alexandra Mccollum will really enjoy this. While the stories themselves aren’t all that similar aside from slow burn queer romance in a magical setting, the vibes are immaculate and give a similarly wonderful feeling.
Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for the early access to this installment of Eidolonia’s lush world.
Read
January 6, 2026The Quicksand Theatre Company is a warm, enchanting romantic fantasy that blends slow-burn desire, theatrical whimsy, and fae magic into a story that feels both cozy and emotionally resonant. Molly Ringle crafts a world filled with sequins, secrets, and found family, where tenderness and danger exist side by side. The traveling theatre setting is vividly imagined, inviting readers into a life defined by creativity, intimacy, and quiet rebellion.
At its heart, the novel is a love story about becoming whole. Vai and Leo are richly drawn characters whose connection unfolds with patience and sincerity, allowing longing, vulnerability, and trust to take center stage. The fae bargain at the core of the conflict adds urgency without overwhelming the emotional core, creating a beautifully balanced narrative that celebrates queerness, chosen family, and the courage it takes to step into one’s truth.
At its heart, the novel is a love story about becoming whole. Vai and Leo are richly drawn characters whose connection unfolds with patience and sincerity, allowing longing, vulnerability, and trust to take center stage. The fae bargain at the core of the conflict adds urgency without overwhelming the emotional core, creating a beautifully balanced narrative that celebrates queerness, chosen family, and the courage it takes to step into one’s truth.
Read
January 11, 2026The Quicksand Theatre Company is a dazzling, swoony blend of queer romance, fae magic, and theatrical whimsy. Ringle crafts a world that feels intimate yet expansive, where runaway secrets, sparkling sequins, and the subtle tension of magical bargains keep readers enchanted from start to finish. Vai and Leo’s slow-burn romance is rich in emotion, vulnerability, and longing, perfectly balanced by humor and the vibrant life of the traveling theatre company.
What makes this novel truly memorable is its ability to weave fantastical elements seamlessly into human emotion. The fae bargains, looming threats, and magical intrigues heighten the stakes without ever overshadowing the deeply personal journeys of self-discovery, desire, and courage. Ringle’s prose sparkles, capturing both the sparkle of stage life and the shadow of hidden secrets, leaving readers fully immersed and emotionally invested in every twist of the story.
What makes this novel truly memorable is its ability to weave fantastical elements seamlessly into human emotion. The fae bargains, looming threats, and magical intrigues heighten the stakes without ever overshadowing the deeply personal journeys of self-discovery, desire, and courage. Ringle’s prose sparkles, capturing both the sparkle of stage life and the shadow of hidden secrets, leaving readers fully immersed and emotionally invested in every twist of the story.
March 2, 2026
I enjoyed this, but not as much as I was hoping. While I did love the world building, the magic system, and the plot, I had a couple of problems with some aspects of the story.
For one, I found that the author told the reader the main leads were in love rather than showing us. I would have much preferred to read more about their time living together within the first few months of meeting, and have it shown that they care for each other in that way. I felt that the way it was written felt sudden, and that there wasn't much lead up to it.
I also found that the pacing dragged on a bit, especially in the second half of the story. The writing got a bit repetitive, and didn't keep my interest as much as in the first half. I did really enjoy the world building as I said before, and I especially loved the found family aspect in the traveling theatre troupe.
A huge thank you to the author Molly Ringle for this ARC!
For one, I found that the author told the reader the main leads were in love rather than showing us. I would have much preferred to read more about their time living together within the first few months of meeting, and have it shown that they care for each other in that way. I felt that the way it was written felt sudden, and that there wasn't much lead up to it.
I also found that the pacing dragged on a bit, especially in the second half of the story. The writing got a bit repetitive, and didn't keep my interest as much as in the first half. I did really enjoy the world building as I said before, and I especially loved the found family aspect in the traveling theatre troupe.
A huge thank you to the author Molly Ringle for this ARC!
Did Not Finish
February 18, 2026I am very disappointed to say that unfortunately this book was not for me. It was a DNF at 33%. As much as I was excited by the premise and the blurb I did not enjoy reading it. The dialogues felt as though there was no emotion behind them when they were being written, they were very one-dimensional. There was a lot of stating actions and expressions rather than describing them and showing them. There was no connection between any of the characters. The world-building, though created very well, was not utilized much. It was more like just a background noise to the story. There was no chemistry between the main characters, even the communication between them fell flat. There were also multiple switches between the POVs in just one chapter. It was very confusing to follow. This book was not meant for me and due to multiple reasons I decided not to finish it.
March 31, 2026
Set on an island isolated by both magic and the North Pacific, Molly Ringle’s The Quicksand Theatre Company opens with “matter witch” Vai Delvecchio ratting out a corrupt family member and going on the lam to escape the fallout. She slips into the caravan of Leonidas the Obstreperous—her favorite performer in the troupe—unaware that Leo is hiding a dark secret of his own: he’s in thrall to one of the island’s bloodsucking, corpse like “fair feasters.” It’s a testament to Ringle’s skill as an author and creator of worlds that the menace never overshadows either the wit or the charm. Whether you’re a fantasy fan or not, ride along with The Quicksand Theatre Company to enjoy its sprawling cast of well-drawn characters (of all shapes and sizes), convincing and (mostly) beautiful setting, and an abundance of sparkling conversation.
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.
May 4, 2026
Method: Physical Book
Genre: LGBTQ+ Romantasy
Spice: 1/5
Favorite Quote: "Yes, there's a lot to deal with. Some of it's going to be uncomfortable. But if you take it one step at a time, and bring love and honesty with you, you'll end up at one best possible outcome that was ever an offer for you anyway."
This is an emotionally layered story that spans the full emotional spectrum. From the weight of family trauma to new love, it is deeply human despite being fantasy. It captures sacrifice, fear, tenderness, and hope. I loved it!
Genre: LGBTQ+ Romantasy
Spice: 1/5
Favorite Quote: "Yes, there's a lot to deal with. Some of it's going to be uncomfortable. But if you take it one step at a time, and bring love and honesty with you, you'll end up at one best possible outcome that was ever an offer for you anyway."
This is an emotionally layered story that spans the full emotional spectrum. From the weight of family trauma to new love, it is deeply human despite being fantasy. It captures sacrifice, fear, tenderness, and hope. I loved it!
May 5, 2026
This book definitely gives cosy and whimsical vibes in such a unique setting. I can't say I've read another book taking place in a magic theater but it worked so well for this book! I loved the banter between Vai and Leo and learning about their background and the story why Vai ran away.
Overall the story and the plot was really good until the end. I felt like things fell a little bit flat but otherwise everything else about the story was wonderful.
I do hope Molly writes more stories within this world as there's so much to explore.
Overall the story and the plot was really good until the end. I felt like things fell a little bit flat but otherwise everything else about the story was wonderful.
I do hope Molly writes more stories within this world as there's so much to explore.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DNF at 16%
This book generated no thoughts or feelings from me. I usually try to get to at least 20% before DNFing a book but I just couldn't bring myself to care about anyone or anything. I was expecting cute vibes with the theatre company but the performances and other members have hardly even been mentioned at the point I stopped reading. If I had connected with the two main characters, then I might have been able to finish the book but they just didn't feel "real" to me in any way.
This book generated no thoughts or feelings from me. I usually try to get to at least 20% before DNFing a book but I just couldn't bring myself to care about anyone or anything. I was expecting cute vibes with the theatre company but the performances and other members have hardly even been mentioned at the point I stopped reading. If I had connected with the two main characters, then I might have been able to finish the book but they just didn't feel "real" to me in any way.
March 4, 2026
there was a lot of telling not showing happening, a semi confusing mix of modern and fantasy/historical environment that didnt always mesh well and over explained itself to make up for it, and plots that didnt feel like they went as far as they could have. the romance gets drawn out for strange reasons, multiple patterns occur that dont play out for any importance, and it just felt like even the high stakes didnt matter. not my taste of book currently.
thanks netgalley for ARC access!
thanks netgalley for ARC access!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was a beta reader on this new novel. As a theatre freak, it spoke to me. The show aspects are fun. The fantasy is interesting. But it was the queer characters that kept me coming back to the book—they are tender, tumultuous, and I found myself rooting for them with the turn of every page. Looking forward to reading the final version!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love traveling through the world of Eidolonia, and while not my favorite of the Eidolonia tales, this was still a fun adventure! There is representation in ALL forms and if you have any experience working in theater, you'll love the atmosphere set by the players. I am not a big fan of miscommunication trope leading the storyline but in the end, the character growth won me over.
May 7, 2026
I don't know why I kept putting this book aside because it's just the escape from reality I needed. I'm a theater gal so that was the original draw for me but Leo and Vai's relationship ended up being the main story for me. (Leo is yet another character I wish was real. *sigh*) I think anyone who is involved in theater and has even a passing interest in fantasy will love this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
cozy, lyrical, and cute slowburn romance with some good plotting and some excellent fantasy aspects, especially later in the novel. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
Did Not Finish
March 4, 2026DNF 25%
I’m going to tackle this one again when I’m not in a reading slump.
I’m going to tackle this one again when I’m not in a reading slump.
January 23, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and I've been thinking about this book ever since. Looking for a warm hug in the shape of a book? This is it. THE QUICKSAND THEATER COMPANY is a love-letter to found family, theater kids, and dreamers, with a cozy queer romance that will warm you to your toes. QUICKSAND has it all from a gender-bent Moulin Rouge, to energy vampires, to a swoon-worthy slow burn I want to keep going back to. I'm already looking forward to a re-read!
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