£5.99 – £9.99
A queer, madcap, friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers time travel romance with the future of the world at stake, this charming fantasy tale is sure to satisfy fans of Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
File Under: Fantasy
Cyril Laverre, former Grand-Mage of the High Court of Farsala, has spent the last decade hiding himself away in a ramshackle hut by the sea. He spends his days catching fish for his cat familiar, Shoestring, and suppressing his guilt over the kingdom’s ruin.
After finding Shoestring dead one morning, a desperate Cyril casts a powerful spell that catapults him back in time to a happier period of Farsalan history – a time when Tigris Margrave was destined to ascend to the throne and Cyril’s tentative romance with Tigris’ brother, Eufrates, had not yet bloomed.
Armed with the knowledge of Tigris’ sudden and tragic death and Eufrates’ subsequent descent into madness, Cyril is adamant to keep Eufrates from ascending to the throne and setting in motion the kingdom’s downfall.
But the magical oath he made to Eufrates at the altar, transcending both time and space, may prove to be his most enduring – and most dangerous – feat of magic to date…
File–under: Spell Check | Not So Familiar | Timeless Love | Backstabber
“A tender, charming debut which entertains while masterfully delving into complex themes of regret, grief, friendship, and sacrifice, SHOESTRING THEORY gripped me by the heart and didn’t let me go. Costa weaves a magical spell around readers with a tale of what it means to love someone enough to finally see the truth of them – and let them show you the truth of yourself in return. ”
– Laura R. Samotin, author of The Sins On Their Bones
“Shoestring Theory has a classic RPG feel woven into its diverse and queernorm world, and at its heart is a resounding message of found family and self-love. Come for the twists, but stay for Cyril.”
– Al Hess, author of World Running Down and Key Lime Sky
“A surprising and clever gem of a novel, Shoestring Theory sparkles with banter between scorned lovers and lost friends alike. Equal parts wittily irreverent and stirringly poignant, Costa has crafted a heartfelt story about second chances, never giving up on the people we love, and one very good cat.”
– S. A. MacLean, author of The Phoenix Keeper
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