Quicksand Theatre Company

Librarian 1459507

This is one of the greatest slow burns I have read this year. This book is a great example of actual slow burn and the fact that it is queer is just amazing.

Elly H, Reviewer

That was cute, a rapid fall down the rabbit hole, where our protagonists falls 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

Lali H, Bookseller

I love a romance book with a nonbinary main character and this did not let me down. I loved the relationship between these two, and felt that the miscommunication was both justified and also resolved well, which doesn't often happen. This worked for me even without having read previous books in the series, and I felt I had a good understanding of the world and the theatre company. I'll definitely be reading more in this world!

Courtney T, Bookseller

Quicksand Theatre Company is lush, eccentric, and quietly moving—a queer romantasy that feels like velvet and starlight. Ringle captures the chaos and intimacy of life on the road with a troupe that’s part theatre, part found family, and entirely magic. The world of Eidolonia remains as vivid as ever—grounded in whimsy, undercut with melancholy. Vai and Leo’s story unfolds with tenderness rather than spectacle, balancing humor, longing, and the ache of two people learning what freedom really costs. The prose shimmers with theatrical flair, but it’s the emotional honesty that steals the scene. Readers looking for queer fantasy with warmth, wit, and gentle heartbreak will find this one an utter delight.

“With appeal to both young adult and adult audiences, this charming, inviting LGBTQ+ fantasy novel is set on the shores of a magical realm and tells a very human story about love, sacrifice, and self-discovery.” — Foreword Reviews 

"A delightfully queer and genderqueer romance set in an inventive fantasy world, The Quicksand Theatre Company has slow-burn yearning, magical bargains, joyful performance, and all kinds of drama. I loved it." — Felicia Davin, author of The Scandalous Letters of V and J

“A cozy delight wrapped up in a warm hug of a book! The Quicksand Theatre Company will sweep you into the found family you didn't know you needed.” — Jasmine Kuliasha, author of The Midnight Pack

“The Quicksand Theatre Company is a book for this age, complete with election fraud, unbreakable contracts, and deadly prejudice. It explores ordinary people doing extraordinary, hard things that completely disrupt their lives. And it is the best love story I have read in a long while. The story, the characters, the romance, and the writing—just beautiful.” — Bianca M. Schwarz author of The Innkeeper's Daughter

"Seamlessly blends a unique magic system, complex family dynamics, a poignant romance, the everyday chaos of a traveling theatre company, and wonderful queer characters. The result is a story that’s as vibrant as it is compelling.” — Jamie Deacon, author of The Music of Unexpected Things and the Boys on the Brink series

Praise for the Eidolonia Series

"Humans and fae collide in this vivid urban fantasy." — Publishers Weekly

"Intoxicating ... Set in a fantastical world populated by fae and human beings, Ballad for Jasmine Town is a buoyant novel in which people fight for what and how they love." — Foreword Reviews