The Quicksand Theatre Company
Eidolonia #3
A queer fantasy novel that brings literal magic to the theater, Molly Ringle’s The Quicksand Theatre Company is an original take on fae legends.
The third standalone in an interconnected series, the novel returns to Eidolonia, an imagined island nation in the northern Pacific Ocean, hidden from human sight and inhabited almost entirely by fae. Some humans have been allowed to intermingle with the fae over the centuries, creating humans with witch abilities.
Vai is one such witch; they have the ability to manipulate inanimate objects. After bringing a scandal down on their family’s head, Vai runs away to join the theater, knocking on the caravan of Leonidas, a handsome actor they have long admired because of The Quicksand Theatre Company’s performances. In exchange for using their abilities to help keep the gears of the traveling company turning, Vai is given a place to stay. Soon, they are swept up in the glittering world of the troupe—and falling for their enigmatic roommate, Leo, a witch with a dangerous secret: he’s made a bargain with a twisted fae, and his debt is coming due.
Despite the island of Eidolonia being an invention, the story takes place in the modern world, blending cell phones with mermaids and social media with magical algae rashes. Its familiar foundation gives the magical elements more room to be reveled in; the details of spellwork and the complications of a society with a blended fae and human population are enticing. Queer representation is also normalized in this magical setting, and a diverse variety of characters and relationships appear unremarked upon throughout.
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.
Reviewed by
Danielle Ballantyne
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
