I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Shoestring Theory by Mariana Costa Series: Standalone
Published by Angry Robot on 2024 October 01
Genres: Cozy, Fantasy
Pages: 260
Format: E-Arc
Source: Netgalley
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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.
The kingdom of Farsala is broken and black clouds hang heavy over the arid lands. Former Grand-Mage of the High Court, Cyril Laverre, has spent the last decade hiding himself away in a ramshackle hut by the sea, trying to catch any remaining fish for his cat familiar, Shoestring, and suppressing his guilt over the kingdom’s ruin. For he played his part – for as the King, Eufrates Margrave, descended further and further into paranoia, violence and madness, his Grand-Mage – and husband – Cyril didn’t do a thing to stop him.
When Shoestring wanders away and dies one morning, Cyril knows his days are finally numbered. But are there enough left to have a last go at putting things right? With his remaining lifeblood, he casts a powerful spell that catapults him back in time to a happier period of Farsalan history – a time when it was Eufrates’s older sister Tig destined to ascend to the throne, before she died of a wasting disease, and a time when Cyril and Eufrates’s tentative romance had not yet bloomed. If he can just make sure Eufie never becomes King, then maybe he can prevent the kingdom’s tragic fate. But the magical oath he made to his husband at the altar, transcending both time and space, may prove to be his most enduring – and most dangerous – feat of magic to date…
Featuring a formidable Great Aunt, a friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romance, an awkward love quadrangle and a crow familiar called Ganache, this charming story is imminently easy to read and sure to satisfy fans of fanfiction who like their fantasy lite.
Finally, another gem in my pile of digital ARCs! I am so glad that I found it on Netgalley and requested for the ARC because I absolutely loved everything about it. The expectation was that it’s going to be your typical cozy fantasy story wherein every trope will be thrown at you and you just have to deal with it. I am so glad that Shoestring Theory offered a lot of new things which put a smile on my face.
For a debut novel, Mariana Costa did a wonderful job with Shoestring Theory. She has a good grasp about what she wanted the readers to feel and how to make them invested with the lovely characters. The story’s prose is akin to poetry, lilting and magical. The main characters Cyril and the Margrave siblings (Eufrates and Tigris) were just plain adorable in their own quirkiness. It’s very refreshing to read something that you did not expect for a character to do. Surprise, surprise, surprise! Cyril, who was deeply besotted with his husband, Eufrates, suddenly decided – after years of marriage – to kill the latter. It was pure delight to see Cyril, a seemingly innocent mage, take grievous matter into his own hands and do things that are purely out of character. What could have driven such an endearing character to such actuations against the equally endearing Margrave siblings?
Shoestring Theory has a perfect balance of being enchanting, surprising, and grisly. Mariana Costa certainly knows the recipe to make an atmosphere that was both cozy and spine-chilling as the plot moved forward. A lot of things happened and revealed gradually in the book that I didn’t see coming. Even the antagonist carved a space in my heart because who wouldn’t love such despicable and cunning villain? The romance was also something that you can look forward to because it elicited a lot of feelings from my end. With the past and present timelines, it was interesting to read the progression of the romantic relationship between Cyril and Eufrates and how it became a perverse kind of love as they plotted against each other.
I don’t think I could give Shoestring Theory enough praises because it’s perfect for me. It gave me all the things that I need in a cozy fantasy story. It’s a standalone so no pining for the next story although I would appreciate it very much if it has a second installment as long as Mariana still has a lot of tricks up her sleeve. It has characters, both main and supporting,that are unforgettable including the familiars. It’s gender inclusive. The story is refreshing with a well-executed plot. It ended wonderfully with all the loose ends tied up nicely and the conflict resolved without resorting to crazy deux ex machina. I have not yet read Legends and Latte but do I look like I care? What I only care about is that I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I seriously wish that you do yourself some favor and pick this worthwhile read.