Quicksand Theatre Company
by Molly Ringle
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Pub Date Feb 24 2026 | Archive Date Feb 23 2026
Central Avenue Publishing | Central Avenue
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Description
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.
All the books in the Eidolonia series are standalone!
Lava Red Feather Blue
Ballad for Jasmine Town
The Quicksand Theatre Company
Advance Praise
"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
“A story about finding your person at the end of the world, Ballad for Jasmine Town is both totally new and comfortingly familiar. Ancient and modern, current and nostalgic, Ringle manages to create a world unlike any other. Filled with love, family, fear, grief, and longing, this is a story about being human in an inhumane world, and ultimately a story of hope in dark times.” — Melissa McTernan, author of A Curse of Blood and Wolves
“This book slayed me with its love story for the ages, its tangled web of human/fairy relations, and its marvelously descriptive language.” — Bianca M. Schwarz, author of The Innkeeper's Daughter
"An exhilaratingly seductive return to the magical island of Eidolonia, Ballad for Jasmine Town is a deeply moving story of what it means to truly love another: acceptance of their authentic self. A deliciously exciting adventure in a remarkable fantasy realm.” — Abbie Williams, author of the Shore Leave Cafe series
Marketing Plan
Step into a realm of diverse characters and captivating world-building as an accomplished writer crafts another thrilling fantasy adventure, building upon the success of the series.
- Third standalone entry in the Eidolonia series—accessible to new readers while expanding the world for returning fans.
- Features normalized queer representation and a genderqueer protagonist in a fantasy setting.
- Blends romantic fantasy with theatrical whimsy and emotional depth, appealing to readers of TJ Klune and Freya Marske.
- Unique setting: a fully realized magical island world with strong crossover potential to YA-adult readers.
- Ideal for Pride Month promotions and LGBTQ+ displays.
- An accomplished writer with thousands of readers across a dozen previous titles known for writing diverse characters and strong world building
Marketing Includes:
- Outreach to previous fans, influencers, readers and reviewers
- NetGalley & Edelweiss ARC campaign
- Influencer outreach
- Outreach to local Pacific Northwest booksellers
- Featured Author at PNBA Fall Show
- Social media tour (TikTok and Instagram)
- Author appearances in Seattle & Portland area
- Consumer pre-order campaign via local Seattle independent bookstore
- Consumer giveaways via Goodreads, The StoryGraph & social media
- Email marketing campaigns by publisher and author
Compare to: Sorcery and Small Magics; Voyage of the Damned; The Moonlight Market; The Teller of Small Fortunes
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781771684422 |
| PRICE | CA$24.00 (CAD) |
| PAGES | 320 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 9 members
Featured Reviews
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.
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