I picked this one up for the cat. Which is fair, because from a certain perspective, this whole story is, in fact and for real, all about Shoestring the cat. Even though, like Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol, Shoestring is dead, to begin with.

If you’re also here for the cat, I will give you one spoiler, a spoiler that I seriously wished I had at the beginning. Because at the end, Shoestring will be just fine. Really, truly. (Not knowing that gave me some terrible approach/avoidance problems when I began reading the story. I was having as hard a time dealing with Shoestring’s apparent death as Cyril was.)

In a terrible future that should never have been, Cyril has been barely surviving as what used to be the Kingdom of Farsala literally rots all around him. It’s been years with bad air, almost no sun, and a starvation diet for both himself and poor Shoestring.

Cyril’s only reason for continuing this meager, guilt-ridden existence is to catch fish for his familiar, Shoestring. Everyone else he ever cared about is dead. From a certain perspective – namely Cyril’s – it’s all his fault.

But Shoestring’s passing is the cosmic kick in the pants that Cyril needed. Without Shoestring, he’s faced with two choices. He can either wither away into death, as all mages do when their familiars die, or he can get off his magical ass and go back and fix things.

Or at least try, making this whole marvelous story a fix-it fic, set in a magical world that needs a hell of a lot of fixing. The only problem is that Cyril isn’t really the right person to get the job. But he is the right person to keep his loved ones alive – and they absolutely are.

Escape Rating B: I had some mixed feelings about this book, in spite of how much I generally adore fix-it fics. Part of that can be laid at the feets of poor Shoestring, as I was nearly as heartbroken at his early, first-chapter death as Cyril was.

And, I’ll admit, I’m used to the protagonists of fix-it fics – which I usually love – being somewhat more competent hot messes than it seems Cyril could ever possibly be. He does not look before he leaps. It often seems as if he doesn’t even look after he leaps. Or at all. He doesn’t act – he reacts – and generally cluelessly at that.

Which is how his country got in the mess it did in the first place. Because Cyril is the heir to the Grand Mage of the whole entire kingdom and he’s supposed to be a whole lot more capable than he has ever demonstrated being. His great-aunt, Heléne, the current high-court witch, is that great and it seems from Cyril’s barely-adult perspective that she always has been.

But Heléne is slowing down, and Cyril hasn’t been stepping up. Which is why everything went pear-shaped. Because he didn’t see the rot in the kingdom at a point where it could be stopped. This time around, he has to do better, to be better, and at the beginning, he isn’t.

He does, eventually, and with frequent application of several boots to his ass, get better enough to figure out what went wrong the first time around – but he’s a bit slow on the uptake. Frequently. Often.

Which is why the comparisons between Shoestring Theory and Legends & Lattes fall spectacularly apart. They are both cozy fantasies – but they take vastly different approaches to both the coziness and the fantasy.

For one thing, Viv in Legends & Lattes is very competent and gets shit done. It’s just that what she wants to get done is very cozy in that her goal is to open a coffee shop. She has doubts, she has fears, she backslides in her ambition to eschew her old, violent ways as a mercenary – but she gets the job done because of herself.

Cyril gets the job done in spite of himself. In the end he does get there, but he faffs around a LOT. If it wasn’t for his friends he wouldn’t manage to get his head on straight. He IS, actually, quite capable – but he’s never been pushed to apply himself until now and it takes him a LONG time to get out of that mindset.

A lot longer than it took this reader to figure out who the true villain of the piece really was, and that Shoestring’s restoration would be part of Cyril’s reward for finally getting his act together.

In the end, I liked Shoestring Theory, but not nearly as much as I expected to. There just wasn’t enough of Shoestring himself in the story, and Cyril turned out to be a surprisingly incompetent protagonist for a fix-it story.

But I did enjoy the way the story turned itself inside out, that all of Cyril’s intentions and memories of that first, terrible, time around turned out to be not what he thought they were, and that he did manage to get to the truth and the whole truth of what went wrong the first time – and that it wasn’t ALL his fault.

So, in spite of Cyril’s frequent faffing around, the one thing he always was that shone through was that he loved deeply if not always wisely, that he had a huge capacity for trust even if it was sometimes misplaced, and that the story, the kingdom and even Cyril himself are finally saved by the depth of his loyalty to those he loves – and the reciprocation of that love and loyalty in full measure in return.

I really loved this unusual and charming book - there’s lots of humour, some pretty ridiculous plot lines, things go wrong with hilarious consequences, some great themes of found family, and a really interesting concept about what you might do differently if you could have a second chance at being young and in love. Advertised as a cosy fantasy, which ultimately it is, I should point out that the book does deal with some darker themes. I genuinely couldn’t put this one down, a great read!

This was a fun read! That ending?! MY HEART 🥺

I started off a little confused but as more details became unraveled, I was hooked. I loved the characters so much - all of them unique and with the wittiest remarks. I did not suspect the plot twist at all. I am so happy with how the story was resolved.

You should read this if you like:
🐈Mages
🐈Court politics
🐈Animal familiars
🐈Murder mystery
🐈Time travel
🐈Lovers to enemies to lovers
🐈Witty banter
🐈Queer love

This definitely gave more cozy fantasy vibes than high/epic fantasy so if you’re looking for a cozier fantasy read, I would absolutely recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Shoestring Theory is a charming escape into a world of magic, love, and second chances. This queer fantasy tale, with its madcap plot and endearing characters, is sure to captivate readers who enjoy a touch of whimsy in their stories.

Costa's blend humor of heart, and high stakes made this such a quick and enjoyable read. Cyril's journey through time is both hilarious and poignant, as he grapples with his past mistakes and the complexities of love and loyalty. The characters are wonderfully nuanced; Cyril as both cantankerous old man and love-struck youth in one awkward body made for some brilliant moments. The supporting cast, including the formidable Great Aunt and her crow familiar Ganache, add depth and charm to the narrative and if you love a strong female, Queen to be, Tigris is all that and more (even while squashed into the body of a cat).

Fans of Legends and Lattes will appreciate the author's ability to create a world that feels both familiar and fantastical. Shoestring Theory is a refreshing and enjoyable light fantasy read.

Since I saw the cover Shoestring Theory is on my tbr list. I mean there is a cat on the cover, of course, I want to read this book and I need more cosy fantasy in my life. Shoestring Theory is a cozy time-travel fantasy with a darker tone, so make sure to check the content warnings before reading it. The story was truly unique, and I loved the worldbuilding. But for me, the characters stole the show. They were written amazingly. I had a great time and can't wait to read more from Mariana Costa. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to Angry Robot and Netgalley for providing me with an early copy.

Sometimes domestic issues escalate. Sometimes, sometimes you have to travel back in time to kill your husband before he destroys the kingdom, killing many, turning the skies black, and ruining the land for growth. All it takes is a wizard with nothing left to lose in "Shoestring Theory" by Mariana Costa (Out now!).

Cyril is falling apart, his existence for the last decade has been scrapping by fishing for his familiar and hiding from his guilt. See, he married the king and didn't prevent his madness from hurting people. But now he has nothing to lose, his familiar, Shoestring, died; something that isn't supposed to happen. Now he is a reckless wizard with nothing holding him there, obviously he does a blood sacrifice to send himself backwards in time. There he will try to right the wrongs of inaction and hopefully save the people who could have prevented this mess in the first place. Just have to confront his husband back when he hadn't done the whole "killing everyone thing." Or bleed out in his shack and no one will find his bones.

Reasons to read:
-The Aunt, I lost it when she started swinging
-Cyril is honest about his short comings and finds methods to cope/flee magically from situations
-Maybe too many books is something to watch out for
-Catharsis for fixing a mistake in a way I need to work on myself

Cons:
-You didn't want to be rude?!?!

I have been looking for more cozy fantasy to cuddle up with and ones which make me laugh or tug at my heart strings a bit. This one does all of the above and a bit more.

Cyril is desperate to change the past. As a mage in his 50's with no familiar and the love of his life having gone rogue. He knows his life went off track somewhere. With his power, he casts a spell to send him back to his younger form but retaining his memory to try to prevent some of the tragedy which may befall himself and the kingdom if he cannot change the course of fate the second time around.

Even though Cyril is technically, mentally, in his 50's, he is out of his depths when it comes to trying to find a way to change the flow of how things will play out. Without too may spoilers, he will have to divulge his secrets and elicit the help of some of the people around him to see if changes can be made.

I thought this book was so cute and I thought it was incredibly charming. There were times I was on the fence as to whether I really wanted Cyril and his love interest to work things out, but the story plays out the way I think it ultimately should. Once you read it, I think you will understand. If I were to offer one critique; it is a bit longer than I expected it to be so there are some parts which could have been cut and simply just felt wordy. Other than that, it was great and I will look forward to more works by this author in the future.

While starting off a bit darker in tone, this book was everything I ever want from a cozy fantasy book. The magic and world building was perfect - completely new, but introduced slowly and not overdone. Unlike many fantasy books, Costa strikes the perfect balance of explaining the world and magic for it to feel understood without needing to know each minutia. The plot zigzaged so I while I guessed some spoilers early on the path to getting to them was unexpected and kept me enthralled regardless. All the characters are standouts and I cannot pick my favorite (although Eufrates might inch out, because... well just because). This book pulled at all my heartstrings and also made me laugh so many times with the sassy one-liners and Cyril's self deprecation. In another author's hands could have easily slipped into unlikable, but he is maybe the most relatable aspirational flawed character I've read in a long time and I want to hold him (actually all of them) tightly forever.
I desperately need Costa to write more books, and ideally bring me back to this world I am still heartbroken that I had to finish the book and leave. I will be ready to reread this asap.

Shoestring Theory had everything I wanted in a cozy, magical story. Time travel, enemies to lovers, evil monarchs, and gay romance! Not to mention a fierce female character with a smart mouth, and a talking cat! I can’t wait to add this one to my physical collection.

This was an easy 4 star read for me, it was such an interesting romantasy read, and I really loved the queer representation in this novel, as well as the idea of time travel to hopefully make a better future. This book provided all the best feelings regarding found family, second chances, and the kind of love that never really dissipates, and is explored perfectly through an almost lovers to enemies/enemies to lovers type story line. There was a decent pace that didn’t make me feel rushed, while also establishing the world and relationships between characters, and I can’t tell you enough how much I really loved Tigris. I will say there are some pretty dark themes in this book and if you are sensitive AT ALL you should definitely check your trigger warnings because your mental health is important.

Content/trigger warnings:
-suicide
-self harm
-death
-murder
-attempted murder
-knives
-blood
-body swap
-abusive marriage

This cozy fantasy had it all: cute romance, intriguing plot, and a cat! I had a really great time reading this book, and I thought it was a unique plot. Cyril is such a special character. Looking forward anything Costa writes in the future.

I had so much fun reading Shoestring Theory, it was definitly a right place right time kind of book, I was coming off reading two books that weren't really for me and I need a light (ish) pick me up. Shoestring Theory does deal with dark themes like war, unaliving and animal passing but I don't think it detracts from the fun, whimsy, fantasy vibes that Costa creates. There exists a fine balance between all the themes which in my opinion, alongside, the goods vibes I had reading Shoestring Theory made this book a five star read.

We start the story with Cyril our male protagonist unaliving himself, the death of his cat familliar Shoestring and time travel, so from the start I would say this book may be a trigger for some and to completely avoid it if that is case. Cyril, a powerful mage, travels back several years in times to undo the past, as his husband has in the future or past depending on how you look at it become a tyrant.

I'm not sure who my favourite character was, okay I lie, it was Tigris, she was the only one who had her stuff together. I apologies to Cyril and Eufrates but they were both total idiots half the time. I was rooting for Cyril, It was very odd because normally I detest whiny characters, a part of me always wants to slap them across the face with a newspaper and say "pull yourself together" but I think with Cyril it worked. A lot of Cyril's journey was confidence based, he's self-loathing and self-deprecating and it was interesting to see how that impacted a man that was almost fifty but also how in the presence of a friend it's almost as if no time has past and you can revert to your younger self.

I enjoyed Shoestring Theory and I'm very excited to read what Mariana Costa writes in the future, I think I've found another auto-buy author.

Thank you Angry Robot, Netgally and Mariana Costa.

Shoestring Theory by Mariana Costa is a delightfully quirky read that manages to be cosy and whimsical but also veers into darker, more serious territory. It’s not the sort of book that fits neatly into any one box, and that’s part of its charm. The story has a unique blend of mystery and magic, with Eufrates and Tig providing some of the most fun, memorable moments in the book through their banter and distinct personalities.

One thing I appreciate is the way the world feels both grounded and fantastical at the same time, giving you just enough information to keep you intrigued while leaving plenty of mystery in the air. The stakes are much higher than one might expect from a cosy story, and while I wouldn't compare this book to Legends and Lattes, it does have its cosy moments mixed in with more intense, sometimes dark, elements.

However, I did feel that the pacing was inconsistent. At times the action slowed, giving us a chance to really get to know the characters, and then at other times, events moved too quickly, especially towards the end. The fast-paced conclusion didn’t allow the story to fully breathe, and I couldn’t help but think it might have worked better as a duology. Splitting the story in two would have allowed more time for the characters and plot to develop without feeling rushed.

Despite the pacing issues, the characters remain the heart of the novel. The interplay between Eufrates, the main characters, and Tig is one of the highlights, bringing out a lightness and humor that contrasts with some of the darker plot threads. The banter and their quirks gave the book its personality and kept me engaged throughout.

You can tell this is Costa's debut, but there's so much potential here. Her storytelling style feels refreshingly different from current trends, with a narrative structure and tone that stand out. I’m excited to see where she goes from here and would definitely read more of her work in the future. Her distinctive voice is one to keep an eye on :)

Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot Books for the advanced reader copy, as always. I really appreciate most if not all books you put out in the world. You are the best! Happy publication day for tomorrow!!!!

Timey wimey and full of heart, Shoestring Theory will tug at your emotions and take you on a wild ride across lifetimes and kingdoms!

To be honest, this book had me at the premise of a cat familiar and a cozy fantasy vibe, but it's always a worry whether these promises will deliver. In this case, they most certainly did! The story follows Cyril, a magician who has deep connections to royalty and a very big secret - he has completed a sacrificial spell to take him back in time to try to right wrongs and save his homeland. Unfortunately, a different spell from his original timeline complicates things, as he's not the only one to have his memories of the future...

I loved the quick pace and complicated characters, especially towards the end when we get more interactions between Euphrates, Tig, and Cyril. The genuine wish to do better makes this a cozy read despite the high stakes, and the atmosphere reminds me of The House Witch which is lovely.

I didn't like how the actions of Euphrates from the other timeline are never really explained. He was awful and evil and a despot (etc etc), but other than a mention of an execution, the reader is left clueless as to what actually happened which makes his characterisation struggle to really shine. I also found the romance problematic at points, and it wasn't until near the end when I started being more invested in that aspect.

I couldn't put this book down though - I finished it in a day, reading late into the night because I wanted to see how everything resolved. It was a fun magical adventure, and I definitely would recommend for those looking for an action packed cozy fantasy that has some danger, romance, political tensions, and of course, cats.

If this is the new standard for romantasy, count me in. The plot was very clever and so smartly intertwined with the love story, it got me reading, and reading again. It was funny, and sad, and happy, and... I will never forget Shoestring. This is definitely the ultimate cat lovers romantasy.

Title: Shoestring Theory
Author: Mariana Costa
Pages: 400
Rating: 5/5

Arc Copy (gifted) - review left voluntarily
Publish date - 8th October 2024

A book about cats, mages, queer romance, time travel, court politics - it's like this book was written specifically for me, and had me crying!!!

This was beautifully written from start to finish. With fast pacing of world building, plot progression and action holding my attention all the way through.

The writing and relationships between characters were incredibly thought out. The tension, the love the betrayal was artistically written. (Although I wanted to bang the boys heads together to have a proper conversation)

I loved Tig. An absolute power woman with no fear.

Although a "cosy fantasy" there was still darker themes spun in the story.

This was a standalone book about self acceptance, love, friendship and doing what's right. A beautiful comfort read.
At the last page, I hugged my kindle and cried my little cold black heart out. I even took the rest of the day off from reading.
I'm sad this is a standalone as the world and characters are perfection. I'll be buying a physical book trophy for myself as it deserves a spot on the shelf!!

You'll love this book if you like
- second chances
- queer romance
- books by TJ Klune
- time travel
- cosy fantasy
- mages and cats
- revenge
- friends to lovers to enemies to lovers
- found family

Thank you @netgalley, @angryrobotbooks for allowing me to review.

Will you be putting this on your tbr? Have you read it already, what were your thoughts??

Delightful, and exactly what I want from a cozy fantasy. Stupid idiots in love, brilliant female and queer characters, and adorable animals. It gripped me from the get go, and the story unravelled at a quick but not too rushed pace. Love the play on string theory, and would definitely read more from the author.

YAY!!!!

I am so enamored with this book! It's fantasy with wizards, familiars, and lots of schemes! I had such a blast reading this and very much enjoyed everything about it! The humour, characters and plot were all so well done.

Cyril finds himself flung back in time before his entire life fell apart. Now he is a 50 year old man stuck in his early 20's body and trying to right the wrongs this time around. Only problem is that he accidentally brought along his despot estranged husband.

I feel like I could have read this in one sitting. There was just enough plotting, magic, and twists to keep your eyes glued to the page. A perfect fantasy standalone that is the ideal balance of adventure and coziness.

This is the kind of cozy fantasy that also does its fair share of heavy lifting on subjects like loss, grief and regret - if you like that, Shoestring Theory will not disappoint you! I had a grand time reading the adventures, and I do agree with those reviewers to compared the novel to fanfic experience: very on point if you like to dig into a long novel-sized timetravel fixit kind of fics. Very enjoyable, really recommend.

🥹 this scratched my brain in all the good ways, which means that this won't be a proper review because I am unable to say what was so good about it. It's just, the combination of tropes, the tension between characters and the absolute perfect balance of plot and coziness was made for me, you know? I read it in one day, which hasn't happened in forever (it was also a rainy day) so that has to mean something.

Anyway no review just vibes, read this book, bye