The Quicksand Theatre Company
Coming February 2026
A swoony, slow-burn, cozy, queer romantic fantasy of runaway secrets, fae bargains, and sequins in the spotlight. Though set in the same world as Lava Red Feather Blue and Ballad for Jasmine Town, this book is a standalone—no need to have read the other two first.
When Vai Delvecchio leaves their home in the night, fleeing a family scandal, they stow away in 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.
Read the first four chapters at the bottom of the page
or request the book now on NetGalley or Edelweiss!
OTHER EIDOLONIA BOOKS (all can be read as stand-alones): Lava Red Feather Blue and Ballad for Jasmine Town
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
"The Quicksand Theatre Company is a love letter to found family, theater kids, and dreamers, with a cozy queer romance that will warm you to your toes."
— Jasmine Kuliasha, author of The Midnight Pack
“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
"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 Gentleman Spy Mysteries
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