5 Stars

*Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the eARC - this is my honest review*

I truly adored this.

Whilst Upon a Starlit Tide is in parts a combination of existing stories like The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and Bluebeard, it was such a rich, sumptuous fairy tale on its own. It gave me the same feeling that Pirates of the Caribbean and Ever After did - romantic, fluffy, heartbroken, gasping and satisfied.

Set in France in 1758 on the Manche (the Channel), early one morning Lucinde rescues a handsome sailor from drowning only to find that the rest of the crew has perished in the shipwreck. Barely lucid, the sailor kisses Luce passionately and the action changes her life forever. Amidst growing tensions in the war between England and France, secrets, lies, smugglers, fae and ghosts begin to unravel around Luce and suddenly she, too, begins to change. Her life isn't what she thought - caught between being the dutiful daughter to her merchant and shipbuilder father, the heated gazes of the handsome sailor she rescued, and the desperation to help her English smuggler friend, Luce has to learn her past to save her future.

I could really wax poetic about this one. I read it in one sitting, stayed up late to finish, and have zero regrets. It was unpredictable in a lot of ways and, though I picked up on the fairy tales woven in, I was never sure who (beyond Luce) who to trust or root for. I should have seen the mysteries coming but I was so engrossed in the story that I felt like Luce as it all unfolded.

If you are a fan of romantic fairy tales, folk lore, mermaids, pirates and mystery - I highly recommend this one!

There is so much in this book to love. The built-up mystery, the big reveal of truths throughout the book. The unravelling of the story and the life of our main character was so raw and innocent. Then we get to see her grow into herself. This book has very well made characters that is so easy to love and some that are very easy to hate.

The settings are described so well, I was compelled to keep reading and to keep living in this world. The way everything happened made sense, and it is truly one of the best mesh of fairytale while still being original.

Pleaseeee read this book. It's so so good.

While being frustrated with her life behind walls, Luce spends a lot of her days secretly being taught to sail by Samuel, until one morning, Luce rescues a drowning man from the sea. Intrigued by the man, Luce is seduced into a world of glittering balls, faerie magic and secrets.

Luce really struggles with her place in this world, and really starts to come into her own through her relationships with her family, friends and the sea. I love that the familial ties were a strong driving force of this story, and the love that Luce has for her sisters. Woods has a way of creating really beautiful and whimsical tales that tug at your heartstrings and have you rooting for all the characters.

Upon a Starlit Tide is for fans of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella, slow burn and beautiful fantasies.

Thank you Harper Collins for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods is a beautifully dark and enchanting twist on classic fairy tales. With a mix of mermaid lore and courtly intrigue, the story pulls you into a world of love, power, and betrayal. The characters are layered, the stakes feel real, and there are plenty of twists to keep things interesting. If you love historical fantasy with a touch of magic and danger, this one’s definitely worth the read!

I must say I am a fan of Kell Woods and this book did not disappoint me. I have read a book recently that had mermaids in it which I didn't enjoy that much but this one. Well I was a bit mesmerised by it as it had so much going on and such a wonderful story to it.

It is historical, it is fantasy and folklore and it is thrilling and exciting as you never knew what was going to happen next. It had all the elements I would expect from a good book and more.

I love the main character, Luce, as she has so many layers to her. Her family and her backstory is intriguing and the way of life in times so far gone by is just amazing to me. This is such a well written book, love the historical aspect, the settings of mainly France but also a bit of England as well as the battles between the two countries. This is a book I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Every author and their dog (or cat) seems to be writing a mythological, folklore or fairytale retelling these days. Which, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE that for us. Stories are meant to evolve, to be reimagined through different lenses, to find new ways to enchant us. But the best retellings don’t just lean on nostalgia, they reinvent, surprise and pioneer. My favourites off the top of my head are Leigh Bardugo’s The Language of Thorns, Naomi Novik’s Spinning Silver or Elizabeth Lim’s Six Crimson Cranes.

And that’s exactly what Kell Woods has done with Upon a Starlit Tide. I didn’t know I needed a Cinderella and The Little Mermaid historical fantasy hybrid but here we are and it was genius.

She doesn’t just remix those two iconic tales. She unravelled them, threw in a pinch of Bluebeard and a good helping of Breton folklore and stitched them back together in a historical fantasy with something far darker, stranger, emotional and haunting. Plus, when I thought I knew where she was going in the story, she subverted cliches and surprised me, many different times.

Moreover, I have to hand it to Woods for walking that fine line between historical fiction authenticity, immersive fantasy and romance (there is a love triangle and that is all I can say without getting into spoiler territory). She walks that genre blend tightrope effortlessly, never overcompensating in one area or letting another fall flat.

From La Manche (The English Channel) to the malouinière descriptions as well as Saint-Malo itself, the setting feels like it’s less of a backdrop and more of a lead character. Add in Breton superstition and folklore and magic and you’ve got a world that feels real, yet imbued with the eldritch. I also thought the romance was sweet and swoony, but not in a cloying, saccharine way.

While I won’t go into plot or story, trust me—go into this one blindfolded—what I particularly appreciated was the richness to the family dynamics in the characters, particularly in Ariel-coded FMC’s Luce’s relationship with her sisters. I almost caught a whiff of the dreaded ✨not like other girls✨ trope, but Woods sidesteps it beautifully by layering the female relationships with nuance.

For example, her sisters, at first glance, slot neatly into the “wicked stepsister” mold, but Woods does something far more interesting: she makes them human, shaped by their father’s blatant favouritism, by the rigid social order that measures a woman’s worth in marriage prospects and made them complex, layered individuals who genuinely love and care for Luce and vice versa.

Finally, I have to shout out Woods’ growth as an author. Having read After the Forest, I’m blown away by her evolution and this book proves that she’s not just a one-hit wonder. She’s here to stay, and I can’t wait to see where she takes us next. Highly recommend this one for anyone who ever loved The Little Mermaid and Cinderella, and loves a dark retelling... I was awestruck!

My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The sea gives life but it also takes it away

Saint-Malo, Brittany, 1758; To Luce Leon, the youngest daughter of a wealthy shipowner, the high walls of Saint-Malo are more of a hinderance than the safe haven she has been taught to believe in.

While her sisters are busy trying to secure advantageous marriages, Luce spends her mornings and evening at sea, secretly being taught to sail and learning the mysteries of the ocean.

One morning following a storm, Luce rescues a drowning man from the sea. Immediately drawn in by his charm, Luce is plunged into a whole new world of magic, seduction and brutality. Secrets that have been lost to the sea begin to rice to the surface and Luce is left to find out how far she will go to find out who she really is.

This is one of those books that I just didn’t want to end! Brilliant from the beginning, Luce’s adventures give the ocean a magical feeling and as we are brought along for the journey we learn the mysteries and secrets hidden within the waves.

I loved that this was a combination of two different fairy tales and while this story is loosely based on Cinderella and The Little Mermaid, they provide a great base for what to expect while reading.

Historical fantasy but steeped in the lore we know and love from childhood fairytales. Upon a Starlit Tide was enchanting and full of whimsy from beginning to end.

We follow Luce on a journey of love, betrayal and discovering the harsh truth of her past, she's sweet, but sharp witted, knows what she wants from life and refuses to accept anything else.
The story is a dark retelling of the little mermaid and cinderella but morphs into a captivating tale of it's own that I couldn't put down.

This book is an absolute must read for anyone that called their friends up to play mermaids as children!

This book was immaculate. The writing is both beautiful and immersive, the world building is phenomenal, and the characters are three-dimensional and well-constructed. This book brought me so much joy. The blend of fairy tale, historical fiction and fae mythology is everything!

The story itself is a story of strength, betrayal, longing, loss, hope and love. The characters grow on the page and to me, all the characters ended up being so much more then when they started.

I am leaving this book with zero criticisms. It was everything I was hoping for and more. I will be re-reading this in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you to HarperCollins Australia and NetGalley for the ARC

A dark and enchanting fairy tale-inspired historical fantasy combining elements of "The Little Mermaid" and "Cinderella" into a wholly original tale of love, power, and betrayal.


i really like the art on the cover ( its the reason i requested this book )

i enjoyed this book a lot and look forward to getting a special edition of it to add to my trophies :)

" i found everything , except you "

Like waves drawing you into the dark depths, Upon a Starlit Tide is an enchanting tale of romance, secrets and transformation against a sea-faring backdrop. Kell Woods blends lyrical prose with a lush immersive 18th century France sparkling with fae magic to deliver a feminist twist on Cinderella and The Little Mermaid. More than just a heartfelt romance it's an exploration of self discovery, power, and dark secrets, full of adventurous spirit.

Woods's prose is pure poetry, bringing to life windswept coasts, masquerades, ships and shimmering seas. It's a world that's dazzling and magical, with the sea becoming a living breathing part of the story ready to sweep you away in search of adventure and freedom.

Which is exactly what Lucinde Leon longs for, to escape the strictures of respectable life, join a ship crew and experience the world. Luce is a kindhearted and spirited lead and its impossible not to get caught up in her hopes, dreams and loves. Her two love interests, the dark, charming stranger she rescues from the sea and Samuel, her British smuggler friend who has been teaching her to sail, are both alluring in their own ways. The romance is electric as Luce is torn between her desire for them and the future they can offer.

But this isn't the story of Prince Charming sweeping in to save the day. Told through a bold feminist lens, Woods tells Luce's story through her relationships with her family, local fae and love for her land and the sea with a twist I genuinely did not see coming. Every good fairy tale has a lesson and Upon a Starlit Tide is about self discovery, the price of dishonesty, and finding our own power. Like the tide itself, it pulls you in and leaves its mark — bold, breathtaking, and utterly unforgettable.

Unfortunately I wasn't actually able to read this as the PDF sent to my Kindle didn't allow me to adjust the font size and it was far too small for my eyes, nor did the text even take up the whole screen on my Kindle.

I am looking forward to reading this one and expect good things, especially given its ratings so far, so I will read once it's published.

Wow. Anyone who just describes this book as a fairytale retelling is selling this book short - I loved how effectively the author interweaved the history of Saint-Malo with the fantastical elements at play, and the conflicting character motivations and actions served to propel the action at every turn. I cannot believe how some of the plot threads wrapped up. Would happily read again and again.

A simply glorious addition to the world of fairy-tale re-imaginings.

Did I think that mashing Cinderella and The Little Mermaid with a dash of Bluebeard (and a lesser known Breton tale) would work? I had doubts, but I did love Woods' first novel so I decided to have faith. And it was amply rewarded.

Set in Saint-Malo in 1758, it seemed at first like this is going to be a largely real-world story... until it becomes clear that the Fae exist, although they have appeared less often to mortals in the last generation or two. And Saint-Malo, a coastal town thriving on the revenue of its sailors - both through legit trade and through privateering - is protected by storm-stone, which is also magical in some way.

The focus is Luce, youngest (and adopted) of three daughters of one of Saint-Malo's chief and richest seamen. Her damaged feet only slightly hamper her determination to get out of the house when everyone else is asleep, to go beachcombing and even sailing with a pair of English smugglers she has befriended. And one day, she rescues a young man from drowning... you can already see some of the fairy-tale shapes here. Woods does a brilliant job of using familiar beats and combining them into an intriguing, captivating, and highly readable story.

I enjoyed Luce, and the stories of her sisters; I was generally delighted by the world (with the usual caveat that it's not aiming to be an utterly realistic and historical warts n all story, plus it's about a super wealthy family); I liked the way the Fae are imagined and presented.

I can't wait to see what Woods does next.

It’s a salt soaked historical fantasy fairytale remake filled with furious fae folk, punishing privateers and defiant daughters.
Read if you like bloody fairytales, sea-swept secrets and feisty mermaids.

Only criticism would be that I could have done with less info about the shipping business. Friends to lovers also isn’t my thing

Would read anything she writes

Also pdf was glitchy and you cannot adjust text size which made it hard to read

Kell Woods' sophomore book was everything I loved in her debut and more. A sprinkle of fairy tales retold and a hint of history alongside the strong heroine Luce makes this book irresistible to any reader. True love conquers all.

*4.5 stars*

*Thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins Australia for providing a digital copy to review*

Historical fiction meets fantasy with hints of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella. If you’re thinking this sounds like an amazing book you would be right.

I loved everything about this book. The setting, Saint-Malo, is a real place and it’s beautiful (I looked at some pictures). I love how historical events, such as the attack from the British, were present but were interwoven with fantasy elements.

Luce, our FMC, is amazing. She has gone through a lot in her life and it never stops coming at her in this book. This story is about her self-discovery, finding out where she came from, and figuring out what she wants for her life. There is some romance, Luce has not one but two suitors who are very different from one another. One, which her family would approve of, and the other… not so much.

The other relationships I love in this book are between Luce and her sisters, especially Charlotte. Their relationship really struck a chord with me, from being cold and making nasty quips to being loving and accepting of one another. It just felt like a true sister dynamic.

I loved this story so much. It was so immersive and just spoke to the part of me who (still) always wanted to be a mermaid. I was obsessed with The Little Mermaid as a child so this was just perfect.

Imagine if The Little Mermaid and Cinderella got a dark, enchanting makeover filled with faerie magic and betrayal. In the stormy port town of Saint-Malo, Lucinde is far from your typical society girl. While her sisters chase suitors, Luce is out sailing with her smuggler bestie Samuel. But everything changes when she rescues a mysterious man from the sea, pulling her into a world of glittering balls, dangerous secrets, and powers she never knew she had.

Kell Woods’s writing is an absolute dream, painting such a vivid and magical world that you’ll feel like you’re floating through it. The villains are complex, the heroes misunderstood, and trust is as slippery as sea glass. Every word feels carefully chosen, creating a lush, lyrical experience that’s pure magic. Sure, I had to look up a word or two, but that only added to the charm. This is the kind of book you’ll wish you could experience for the first time all over again.

I loved this story, a mix of historical fiction and fantasy mixed in with a Cinderella and Little Mermaid reimagining. It was a beautiful story and kept me engaged the entire time I was reading it.

This was a wonderfully vivid story.

Loved the prose, the story as a whole felt unique and I particularly loved the setting. I sympathised for Luce our FMC. She felt very relatable and ordinary in an otherwise extraordinary world.

I loved the parts of the story inspired by cinderella and the little mermaid as well. It was so nostalgic to read about having grown up with those stories.

Thank you to harper collins and netgalley for giving me an arc copy of this book to read.