"I do not understand humans, but I think I am beginning to understand you."

what to expect:
✧₊⁺ MERMAIDS DONE RIGHT!!
✧₊⁺ the cutest found family that has your back😭
✧₊⁺ finally finding your person that sees you
✧₊⁺ ILLUSTRATIONS. I repeat BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS!!!

This story had everything I loved. Mermaids and a found family DONE RIGHT, emotional moments, and heartwarming character growth. The characters in this story were so well developed and thought out. AND THE ILLUSTRATIONS??? The author truly outdid herself, these were stunning and I will be purchasing a physical copy just so I can look back on the artwork in the future. I will admit the pacing in the beginning was a bit on the slower side, but once the story took off, I thought the pacing was done really well . I was STRESSED by the time I got towards the end, screaming and hoping that everything would work out 😭

"Way I see it, you can spend the rest of your drear days hammering metal or painting walls 'cause that's what the world's told you you're good for. or you can ask yourself what you really want."

The found family in here was done so well. The way they interacted and cared for one another, and how they came to accept Benny into their group of misfits was so beautiful. I loved how much they opened up to him, and told their own stories, and how Benny was able to trust and open up himself to them. In a life where he is constantly belittled and discriminated against, it was incredibly touching for him to find it in himself to have hope for others and to trust a family he never thought he had a chance of finding in America.

"Because as the company cheered and Rio smiled at them from the floor of the tank, I realized that, just when I thought I'd lost my faith in everything, I believed in my family."

Benny and Rio's relationship that started from hatred on Rio's end, but slowly blossomed into friendship and later into something more was so heart wrenching to watch (in the best way). It was beautiful the way Benny was able to become more and more himself with Rio. To feel safe and be seen by him, but their situation ("are you my captor of my savior") made everything so difficult for them 😭

"In my whole dumb life, I've never felt as safe anywhere as I feel sitting on a metal grate twenty feet above the ground with you."

If you want a refreshing story about a mermaid who falls in love with a boy and shows him all the things that are wonderful about him, with a found family that has the strongest bonds, and BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS THAT THE AUTHOR DREW HERSELF, you have to pick this one up. 🥹🫶

What an incredible story that warms the heart. There found family and a true love story here. The art throughout is incredible. Venessa Vida Kelley is a true talent in every single fingertip. Her way to tell words just captivates. The words will draw you in in ways you would never imagine and you can just imagine the story so visually in your mind. She was able to take so many scenes and illustrate them beautifully and the publisher packaged them beautifully as well too.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it completely blew me away!! I could have never even dreamed of such a perfect story with Benny and Rio and the whole gang. Truly perfection.

From page one, I was fully immersed in the story and loved it more and more with every chapter. I normally can write most coherent reviews but right now, I’m just in awe of the incredible writing, character building, and story telling by Venessa.

This one has the best found family, the most tender relationship, an incredibly unique plot line, and the prettiest illustrations I’ve ever seen in a book. I always know a book is good if it made me cry, and this one certainly did (from happiness don’t worry!) But as Rio notes, tears and salt water have healing powers and this book does too

-- found family -- merman romance -- queer rep --


Benigno -- a talented metal worker is struggling to achieve the 'American Dream' in the face of a prejudiced and often hostile early 20th century New York when he is commissioned to create a strange aquatic enclosure.

Drawn into the schemes of his client, the slick and quietly dangerous Sam Morgan, Benny's life will be forever changed.

Immediately upon starting this novel I was captivated. The prose flows as effortless and sweeping as the tides that wash against the finely drawn portrait of a 20s Coney Island.

While the romantic plot is written with a lyrical grace, I found that I was drawn most to the ensemble cast. Vanessa Vida Kelley pulls together one of the most eceletic and enjoyable found families I've ever had the pleasure to read.

Every scene with the extended cast of the novel is delightful and the setting amidst the waning glory era of the sideshow is handled with empathy and dignity.

This novel is a gorgeous tale of finding your place in the world and the love which makes it feel like home.

You should read this book.

This book swept me away from the very first page. When the Tides Held the Moon is the kind of story that seeps into your heart and lingers there. The writing is lush and immersive—full of sensory details that made me feel like I was standing on the boardwalk of 1911 Coney Island, tasting sea salt in the air and hearing the distant crash of waves. There’s something almost dreamlike about the way the world is built—equal parts historical and magical.

What stood out most to me were the characters. Benny and Río felt raw and human in the best way—tender, flawed, yearning. Their connection is a slow-burn, aching kind of love that unfolds with patience and depth, and I found myself rooting for them fiercely. The emotional arc felt so honest and deeply personal. I was surprised by how much it moved me.

The themes woven through the story—grief, identity, longing, and found family—are handled with such care. And the illustrations throughout? Absolutely stunning. They added an extra layer of atmosphere that made the entire experience feel that much more special.

If you're someone who loves character-driven fantasy with quiet, powerful magic and emotional depth, this book is not to be missed. It’s tender, lyrical, and unlike anything I’ve read recently.

✨ Emotional. Atmospheric. Unforgettable.
📖 Pub Date: May 7, 2024
⭐ 5/5 stars
🧜‍♂️ LGBTQ+ historical fantasy
🖋️ ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Knopf Books

When the Tides Held the Moon is such a beautiful debut! This was gorgeous love story but also such a wonderous combination of history and urban fantasy. I've been following Venessa Vida Kelley's art career for years but their writing is just as stunning. Cannot wait to continue following her career!

New York City, 1911

At the final behest of his Tití Luz, Benigno Caldera immigrates from Puerto Rico to America for a fresh start. She wanted him to find himself and his place in the world, but all Benigno’s found is a more virulent strain of ostracism. When the ironworks where he works accepts a commission to build a massive tank for Coney Island playground, Luna Park, Benigno is lured into building it by the bait of a promotion. Despite the beauty and integrity of the one-story structure, Benigno is again reminded of his place and left empty-handed—well almost. The invitation from Luna Park’s owner is a lifeline. He finds the promise of a family with the “exhibits” of Morgan’s Menagerie of Human Oddities — Matthias, Madam Navya, Lulu, Igor, Vera, Eli, Emmett, and Sonia. Benigno no longer has to labor in noxious air full of smoke and vitriol. Instead, he’s tasked with theater renovation and tank maintenance, granting him plenty of time with el tritón.

Unlike their fellow mer, Río’s mother didn’t see humans as hopeless savages, despite the horrors they perpetrated upon one another and the seas. She believed their souls are as pure and worthy as any child of Neptune, and to Río, rescuing a woman stranded in a row boat is simply right. Attacked and traumatized by loss, he comes face to face with human cruelty. Enraged by his imprisonment, Río is disinclined to engage with his captors, until he recognizes Benigno’s heart and sincerity. Their friendship and love make him feel close to his beloved sea. Yet, saltwater is not the sea, and mer cannot live by love alone. As much as Benigno loves Río, freeing him means sacrificing his family’s livelihood and losing the love of his life. . .and Benigno may not be strong enough.

When the Tides Held the Moon is a beautiful debut novel full of warmth, healing, and love, complemented by lovely illustrations. The writing is as fluid as the element at its heart—flowing from unassuming to turbulent to moving with ease. Its bilingual narrative centered me in Benigno’s perspective, and it simultaneously conveys a sense of place in time and timelessness. The characters’ lived experiences and resilience resonated strongly, as did the simple turns of phrase or kindnesses that demonstrate how easily consideration can be extended, but how often it is abandoned. The story is mostly from Benigno’s perspective and how the relationships he forms guide him from physical, spiritual, and emotional drought to a restored whole.

Benigno feels his otherness down to his marrow—a lost boy with lost memories and a friend lost to homophobia. It was mitigated by his adopted aunt’s love, but he lost himself again when she died. His brown skin, accent, and social class push him further into isolated waters, as even his fellow poor immigrants consider him immigrant filth. As a person whose mere existence causes disdain without saying a word, Benigno “accepts pain and injustice as [his] birthright” and lives in a state of resigned docility that precludes the strength of will to free himself, let alone Río. The fact that noble, intelligent, and awe-inspiring Río sees him and offers forgiveness and comfort despite his shortcomings is wondrous but painful. Río’s esteem threatens the dam Benigno built against his desires and expectation of common decency and respect.

Benigno’s search for a home and constant emotional displacement explores the tendency to dehumanize certain people. After all, it’s easier to exploit, disregard, and destroy those categorized as “other”. Among his countrymen, Benigno was shunned for being gay, and as accepting as his family is, they too fall into the trap of ignoring suffering and discounting the different. They’ve created a warm space welcoming of outsiders because their livelihood is rooted in derision; their motto “with it, for it, never against it” encompasses that. Yet, Río is no more than a thing to most, not a sentient being whose compassion is the only reason they caught him. They show that even the best can fall short, but innate goodness can prevail.

The narrative is character driven and has little plot movement; emotional action is the name of the game. The pace is sedate, but for the most part, the book doesn’t feel like 450+ pages. There are places it could be trimmed, but the time taken to create bonds and heal wounds feels right for how locked down and twisted up Benny is. When the Tides Held the Moon is a charming mix of fairy tale and historical romance. It’s a love letter to generosity of spirit and respect and the belief that hope, love, and community can carry you home.

A metal worker and a merman? A queer merman story? I was in love before I started reading.

I loved the romamce in this story and the world and esthetic were amazing 💚

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When the Tides Held the Moon
Author: Venessa Vida Kelley

Wow. Thank you so much Kensington books for this ARC! This book was beautiful!! We find ourselves immersed in 1920s New York. Our main character Benny is a poor blacksmith who finds himself out of a job after injuring his hand. Before being let go, he had crafted a very interesting tank for a showman. Somehow he ends up as part of the cast and tasked with taking care of the tank and what it is holding captive…. The merman slowly begins to develop a friendship with Benny and they begin to form a bond unlike any other. However Rio is dying and Benny needs to decide if he is going to follow his heart, or stay loyal to his new found family. Benny was such a great main character that was so easy to connect and empathize with. Rio was mysterious and alluring. The images in the book were such an added bonus. 🥰. Gosh I can’t wait to read more from this author. I will probably be reading this again. This just released yesterday 4/29!

Wow, okay, amazing!

Let me begin by thanking Erewhon Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Vanessa Vida Kelley's When the Tides Held the Moon follows Boricua blacksmith, Benny, as his ironworked creation plays a key role in a Coney Island side show, the star of the show and newest "exhibit" being the captured merman, Rio. Set in 1910s New York City, When the Tides Held the Moon explores the intricacies of identity, otherness, and human connection. Benny and Rio's relationship is written so beautifully, and I loved the cast of characters involved in the side show, as well. The bond that Benny and Rio share is so intimate and tender, and allows for a wonderful (and subtle) exploration of Benny's demisexuality, as well as their shared experiences with otherness. A fantastic character-driven, Queer historical fantasy.

The author's note at the end of this book was wonderful, offering historical and social context, including a discussion on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, Puerto Rico, colonialism, queerness, hybridity, and intersectionality.

Happy pub day! This was such a beautiful story. No one does yearning quite like the gays, and adding mermen to the equation made it all the more aching. Benny and Rio are such special characters, and surrounded by a wider cast of lovable weirdos who make the best sort of found family.

The writing has some hiccups. The book is overlong and sometime veered into cartoonish territory. But I think those can be overlooked in view of the excellent vibes and sweetness of the romance.

Also, I strongly recommend grabbing a print version of this book, the illustrations are spectacular and done by the author!

Thank you to netgalley and Erewhon books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Such an exquisite read; the cadence of the writing was - it was exceptional. Such an uplifting and tender love story - for that is truly what it was. It was a love story of two souls - both caged and trapped not of their own volition, but because society does not accept that which it cannot explain, and finding the courage and determination to break free of the very constraints and restraints that tied them down.

Loved the Puerto Rican rep. The early 1900s NYC setting. The low fantasy.

I've been a fan of Vida Kelley's art for years and was so excited to read this ARC!

I was an ARC reader for this book.

As a lover fairytales, I highly enjoyed this book. This book is something that Hans Christian Anderson would’ve been very proud of I think. There are a lot of rumors that Anderson wrote the little mermaid as a reflection of himself. As a gay man who wanted to be with someone that he couldn’t, and when I failed turned into sea foam.

Vanessa Vida Kelley did an incredible job well writing this book. The writing is poetic and beautiful. I enjoyed that each sentence was crafted with skillful thought.

Like the little mermaid, there is a character that feels like they do not belong in their world and our striving for more finding a family. In the case of this book, it is Benny the blacksmith and human that feels this way. He’s Puerto Rican and moved to New York and unfortunately never seemed to find his place there. At least not until he started to form friendships with the carnival folk.

Along with them, though he starts to form a deep interesting friendship with Rio, which slowly turns into more. The building of their relationship was incredibly well done with it being a low trust that began between the two of them which slowly evolved into love.

A great point of the book is doing the right thing even if it means costing you what you love. And I felt this topic was very well done in the book and realistic.

Other than the beautiful writing and storytelling, I also love the fact that there are stunning pictures throughout the book and a lot of how well the pictures matched scenes in the books and brought them to life.

I highly recommend reading this book to anyone that loves supernatural LGBTQ+ romances.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I hadn't looked too much into what the book was actually about when I first requested this book. I was absolutely in shocked how much I fell in love with this love story. The beginning of this book starts out quite slow but picks up by about half way through for me.

This is truly one of the best "romantasy" books I've read. Between the wonderful found family and the heartwarming romance I truly recommend this book if it intrigues you.

Small Spoiler: BARNACLE??? HIS NICKNAME IS BARNACLE I CAN'T!

This book is so very good. The story, like the actual art within it, is a work of art. It is a beautiful story set in 1911 where a man has come to the "land of opertunity" at the behest of his late aunt. Like so many new comers to America he found the enviroment less than welcoming, but manages to muscle through it. He gets an oppertunity that he thinks will finally lead him to a path of true betterment, but the path to better is sometimes a wee bit of a rollercoaster. A rollercoaster that involves capturing something that isn't supposed to exist, at all.

This is a wonderful story of two individuals finding love in a place, and a person, they never expected to. The supporting characters are all wonderful and as loveable to the MCs. To add to it all the whole story is a wealth of emotions and I personally was left with all the dang feels.

If you're looking for spice, it's not there in the traditonal sense. The spice is all emotional, and pure and magic.

Loved it. Cried at the end. Will highly recommend this book. It was beautiful. The characters, the setting, the struggles. All of it was so good.

There is no way this was a debut. It was so heartfelt and gut punching. I think upon reread this could be bumped up to a 5 star all time favorite. Also I cannot wait to get a physical in my hands to just stare at the artwork all day long. It's absolutely beautiful.

A poignant queer historical fiction with tides of magic and surrealism, while also feeling grounded and gritty. A really enthralling read with beautiful illustrations to elevate the story.

In When the Tides Held the Moon, Benny is a Puerto Rican immigrant living and working as a blacksmith in 1910s NYC. He builds a beautiful tank for a Coney Island sideshow and when his own employment circumstances change, he finds himself working for the man and show that commissioned his artwork. On his first night of his new job, Benny helps capture a merman from the East River to be the show’s newest attraction. A deep friendship between Benny and the merman, whom he names Rio, forms. As the stakes rise, Benny must choose between the well-being of his new friend and the success of the sideshow itself.

I just loved this story! Benny and Rio pulled at my heartstrings the whole way through. My favorite parts of the book were the nights Benny spent sitting next to Rio’s tank while they got to know each other. The story kind of gave me The House in the Cerulean Sea vibes (which I mean as the biggest compliment, as it’s one of my favorite books ever) - cozy fantasy with a sprinkling of romance and a cast of lovable characters who tend to be misunderstood by most of the world and in their time. They were the definition of “found family”, which I adore. I loved how the author blended 1910s historical fiction with fantasy in such a whimsical way. And the illustrations throughout were just the cherry on top of a wonderful story. Loved it so much!

Give When the Tides Held the Moon a read if you enjoy :
▫️Cozy fantasy / romantasy
▫️Merpeople stories
▫️Historical fantasy
▫️Found family