As soon as I saw the premise, I knew I HAD to read this book. I'm a huge fan of time travel, second chances, complex relationship dynamics and Shoestring Theory really delivered on a fun plot, endearing main characters and a compelling how-to-stop-the-world-from-ending mystery to solve which made it hard to put this book down! I absolutely love Mariana's writing style and while some parts could be predictable by some people, it really didn't detract from my enjoyment of this at all. The first 30% packs so much that it made the rest of the book super duper fun to read.

I absolutely love the bits we get of Cyril and Eufrates in the future, the past, and the new present. Their relationship is the highlight for me, and obviously, is central to the plot too. Eufrates was a delight to see through Cyril's POV, and it was fun to see Cyril have to navigate through reliving his youthful love for Eufrates while knowing what happens in his original timeline. The rest of the cast round our leads really well, and I absolutely love Tig's banter with both Cyril and her brother.

Honestly, my only major complaint is that this is only 400 pages because I could've easily read another 100 pages of this cast. The pacing wasn't too jarring, but I did get to the ending with a "Wait, can't we see more, please?" feeling. 🤣 That said, it is a fabulous standalone that also leaves room for a sequel if desired, which is always satisfying to me. Another minor complaint is that this reads a teeeny tiny bit YA-leaning, but that's not bad either.

I see that this is comped to Legends & Lattes and marked as a cozy fantasy and feel like that brings in the wrong expectations so I'm glad I only saw that post me finishing the book. While it is really easy to read like L&L is and there are some cozy elements, a better tone and plot comparison to me would be The Sins on Their Bones with needing to stop an evil ex-husband, but TSTB goes much darker than here as well as specific danmei titles, but maybe that's a bit too niche. 😂

I really can't wait to see what Mariana writes next!

I absolutely loved this queer fantasy debut by Brazilian author and professional illustrator @marinscos and published by @angryrobotbooks.

This book delivered on so many levels for me. The writing style was wonderful, with Costa able to weave so much magic and humour into the scenes, while at the same time as exploring dark and difficult moments throughout. The gay romance was moving, with the time travel element adding depth and complexity.

I adored Cyril and his journey, but the whole cast is intriguing and develop in their own way through the story. The twists had me second-guessing myself throughout, and I really couldn't put the book down. With great world-building and an interesting magic system, plus a queer-normative and diverse setting, Costa creates a place I really hope to visit again in future books!

It's a strangely cosy fantasy story, despite some dark and possibly triggering scenes, and it explores themes like grief, guilt, self-worth, trust, independence, sacrifice, and of course, love in all its forms. It leaves you feeling bittersweet and hopeful, and many of Cyrils points of growth and realisation really moved me.

I genuinely loved reading Shoestring Theory, and I hope to see more from Costa very soon! Thank you to @angryrobotbooks and @marinscos for this wonderful e-ARC - my opinions are my own, honest, and freely given.

This book is very inner monologue heavy...like to the point that I found it a little boring. So much I'd happening up in the characters' thoughts, and not enough is actually occurring. Was really looking forward to this one, but it wasn't my vibe.

⭐️⭐️.25/5

Shoestring Theory had potential, but the execution did not work for me. The characters and the character development felt odd and inconsistent. The book is marketed as cozy, but it felt more like an action-packed fantasy with high stakes and a few cozy moments. I appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation and lovely queer romance, but I also wanted to see more development of the world and magic system. I would still recommend this book to readers who have already had their eye on it!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!