This book was incredibly slow which is kind of crazy considering all of the relationship building it just skipped over. I wish I had known this was a pull to publish fanfic, I would not have requested it if I’d known. The development of a ship in a fic cannot be replicated in a standard story, there’s vital context that’s missing. It just doesn’t work :/

The performers felt like they should have been more central but they almost always faded to the background as a flurry of names. It felt very odd. Especially some of the more social nuances? It all felt pretty vague and handwavey.

Also the chapters from Rio’s point of view were WEIRD. They were so overwritten but he didn’t talk like that? So where was that coming from?

A cute-ish story that needed a little more development and tightening up on the story line.

Benigno (a/k/a Benny) is a young Puerto Rican man working at an ironworks in NYC in 1911, without friends or family. He gets tasked to build a large tank for a merman at Morgan’s Menagerie of Human Oddities on Coney Island. Benny starts working at the sideshow and finds himself a family among the crew/performers. He also finds a deep connection with Río, the merman, who has lost everything and is being held captive for entertainment.

Truly, just a beautiful, stunning book. The vibes? Immaculate. The author does a great job of setting a scene that's vibrant and full of life, filled with characters so interesting they could each easily have their own book. Benigno and Río are so pure and their love is so sweet and romantic.
"From the moment I first saw you, I knew you were a miracle."

The menagerie is a lovely found family. Altogether, I loved every bit of this story. And then there are the illustrations! Gorgeous! What a great debut novel from Venessa Vida Kelley.

When the Tides Held the Moon tells the story of Puerto Rican guy Benigno 'Benny' Caldera. An ironworker tasked with building a giant water tank for Sam Morgan of Morgan's Menagerie of Human Oddities. But this project leads to more than he has bargained for when Sam wants him to assist in the kidnapping of a mythical being.

“I’m Benny, by the way. That’s short for Benigno.”
“Benigno,” he repeated. “Your name means ‘kind.’”
” I grinned. “Yeah. Yeah, that’s right.”
An eyebrow— the one with the gash carved into it— arched at me. “We shall see.”

This novel is first and foremost a love story with a backdrop of fantasy and some historical notes. It features gorgeous illustrations by Kelley herself. They have a real talent for capturing emotion in these tableaus.

“We got a credo in our line of work,” Lulu explained. “It goes: With it, for it, never against it.”
“It’ is the sideshow ,” Matthias replied. “But it’s also the sideshow life. Being ‘with it, for it, and never against it’ means being tied to this here family. Devoted to it. Ready to die to protect it.”

Reading When the Tides Held the Moon I had some mixed feelings. There was a lot about this that I enjoyed, but there were also parts that dampened my excitement in the end. Let me start with some things I loved. One of the big themes in this novel is the found family aspect, and it's very well done. All the side characters have distinct personalities, and the way they care for one another, including Benny fills my heart with joy. The main romance builds up slowly and is very sweet. Kelley manages to weave lyrical, eloquent sentences to capture their love.

“Young as I am, and sparse as we are, the souls that have drawn my affection have been few indeed, but if my heart sought the love of another merman , we would not be hindered by senseless rules meant to separate us for being the same sex. A host of sea creatures would cease to exist under such constraints.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Honestly, Benigno, I despair for your race!”

However the pacing of this novel didn't quite work for me. There was hardly any intrigue that made me want to keep reading for the first half of the story. Major storybeats were quite predictable and the villains stereotypical. There was very little in this that surprised me. Though all this does contribute to a more lower stakes, cozy atmosphere.

“You have been strong against life’s many storms,” she whispered in Spanish, “but I worry for the part of you that has hardened under all that strength. That accepts pain and injustice as your birthright.”

What stood out for me in this story is how it does a wonderful job at capturing various marginalized identities. There are several characters with disabilities including our main character, who is also of Puerto Rican descent living in New York. Kelley deals with these themes in a careful and respectful manner. As someone who is disabled themself, I find representation like this invaluable and am always so glad to see it included, especially well executed.

“It is the simple truth of every creature with a soul. You are not your body, Benigno.”

When the Tides Held the Moon could be your next favourite read if you enjoy cozy fantasy with added social commentary, found family and queer love. If you enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea or Bookshops and Bonedust you will probably enjoy this novel as well.

“I cannot take your burdens,” he went on. “But if you let me, I can bear them with you for a while.”

Oh gosh, I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with this book, but I did! It was such a beautifully written book.

1910s, New York - Benny, a Puerto Rican blacksmith, is “stuck” in his life. He came to New York in the dying wish of his Tití Luz, hoping to get a better life, but ended up working in a dingy Brooklyn foundry. He ends up being tasked to build a huge glass tank and is indirectly roped into a scheme to capture a merman. The scheme succeeds, and the merman is meant to be the latest attraction of Luna Park’s Menagerie of Oddities exhibition. During the capture process, Benny feels beholden to save the merman and ends up joining the motley crew at Luna Park.

Benny is such a sweet character, I want to wrap him in wool and give him a hug for everything that he went through. The bond he slowly develops with Río is beautiful, and it is no surprise that they bonded, given that they are trapped in their ways. The comfort they provide to each other is so sweet, and the connection that builds together is raw and real! The spice level in this book is very minimal (kissing/touches) given that the author chooses to focus more on the relationship and emotions. The yearning in this book is heartfelt, and such aching moments leave you wanting more.

|”Can you imagine it? A liquid universe, infinite in its mysteries, and still it holds you as though you are its most precious star. A place where, no matter which sea realm surrounds you, you are always home”|

This book also touches on the found family trope with Benny’s relationship with the rest of the Menagerie members. The differences each of them brings yet the code they follow and the means they will go through for the family are so sweet and full of heart. I also love the diversity in their uniqueness and additional languages (Hindi) featured in this book.

|”Ain’t no being free on the outside unless you’re free on the inside”|

This book also hits themes like racism, power and corruption, and freedom for a debut! I also love the added illustrations the author created for the book; they were so beautiful and would capture the scenes of the book, bringing the feelsssss!

|”Your emotions are not madness. Nor are you broken. Everyone else - the cowards who taught you that keeping your heart safe meant caging it - they are broken.”|

My only critique is that I wish there were a bit more of an epilogue to tie up some loose ends <spoiler>such as Benny's actual circumstances</spoiler>...and if the language translations can be on footnotes on the end of every chapter or the same page as opposed to it being in the back like a glossary because I didn't even know it existed!

Thank you Hambright PR for the invite to review this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This story was absolutely beautiful. I loved every single second of it. Oh what a marvel a story can be to make you feel safe and protected and hopeful. It felt so good for my soul to read it. It did honestly seem like I was listening to my mother narrating me a bedtime story. And I was there, eager to hear her every word and if and how the main characters would have found the happiness they deserved. Benny and Rio’s story was carved from seashells of wonder where finding a pearl is the most magnificent challenge known on earth. The feelings they experienced and the companionship they built is enviable and something to aspire to in life. And the found family of a circus of people who are simply looking for a home made me want to read From Now On from the Greatest Showman musical. I was so overwhelmed with this wave of emotions that I simply couldn’t stop reading and I finished this book in one sitting. I’m so happy now. And I’m so grateful that I had the chance to read it !!

This book checks so many boxes, it’s hard to categorize. It’s a cozy historical fantasy and a queer romance, but it’s also a historical romp through 1910s Coney Island featuring one of the loveliest “found family” stories I’ve ever read. This book was taut with suspense and utterly charming and while it did read a little overly long for what it was doing, the ending was perfectly satisfying. I think this book will resonate with readers who loved Legends and Lattes as well as The House in the Cerulean Sea.

This is the kind of story that draws you into its world and doesn't let you go until the very end. The prose is rich and immersive, and the love story at the heart of the book is haunting and well developed. The found family trope gets me every time, and I teared up as the protagonist Benny found his place and voice in the world alongside the amusement park troupe. This book definitely lives up to the hype of being The Greatest Showman meets The Shape of Water - I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"When the Tides Held the Moon" is one of the best books I've read in quite a while. The writing is just fantastic, the illustrations are gorgeous, and the characters felt so real I found myself feeling like I was missing my friends after I finished reading. This book is classified as fantasy but it would also be very enjoyable to people who don't read much fantasy as it's primarily about the people in the circus, it just so happens one of them is a merman. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes circuses, queer fantasy, or historical Brooklyn.

Gentle and romantic story of Benny a young Puerto Rican blacksmith and Rio a captive merman. Fantastical, yes and also emotional enough you need to just keep reading. When Benny volunteers to build a tank for an unscrupulous sideshow manager he finally finds a home and the relationships he’s longed for. “Morgans Menagerie of Human Oddities “ has a cast of engaging characters who take Benny to heart. Torn between them and his promise to free the merman Benny has a difficult decision to make. Found family, self worth, and freeing yourself from the shackles you have made are all consistent themes here. But the heart of this story is Benny and Rio, their past, present and future. A big thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC of this novel.

I'm in love with this book. The way this is written is so beautiful and the blending of all the languages when appropriate was exquisite. The pacing was fantastic, the worldbuilding great, the characters I just want to hug and sit around table eating a meal with. I loved everything. Literally no notes. I gonna make like Ariel and "want moooooooooooooore".

Seriously this is my new favorite book.

New York, 1911. Benny Caldera is working at an ironworks and has been tasked with building a metal tank for an eccentric Coney Island theme park sideshow proprietor. After losing his job at the ironworks Benny finds himself helping capture the cage’s mysterious ‘exhibit’: a merman.

I have loved Vanessa’s artwork for years, and it came as no surprise to me that their words are just as beautiful as their drawings. I knew right from the beginning that this one would be special.

This book was absolutely stunning, just a delight from start to finish. The plot was well-executed, the slow-burn romance was sweet and swoony, and the prose was just gorgeous, lyrical and poetic.

The characters were the absolute stars of the show (literally). I fell completely in love with Benny and Rio, and the entire supporting cast from the ‘menagerie of human oddities’ (although I am a sucker for a found family vibe).

Overall, so much fun, and the last fifty or so pages had me right on the edge of my seat. I’ll definitely be picking up a physical copy of this one, for the beautiful pictures, and so I can read it again slower!

Thank you so much to Kensington Publishing/Erewhon Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This was gorgeous, beautiful, show-stopping. I loved the characters, even the frustrating ones. The love-Story was cute as all hell and the illustrations beautiful! definite recommend!

This historical fantasy about a Puerto Rican blacksmith and a merman trapped in a tank on Coney Island is going to be one of this summer’s best love stories. This magical tale is set in NYC at the turn of the 20th century. The Coney Island setting is rich, lush, and atmospheric. There are two equally beautiful stories told in this book: a tender queer romance, and a heartwarming tale of found-family. I was captivated by both.

The love story was everything I needed. It was so beautiful and tender. There was pain, yes, but also healing and self discovery. I never expected a merman romance to feel so real. I loved seeing two individuals be so good to each other.

I adored the found family of sideshow performers. Each character was written with nuance and care. No one-dimensional caricatures here. You can tell how much research went in to creating this diverse cast. I was cheering for them all.

The threads of these two stories weave together in such a compelling way. Queer characters, Black and Brown characters, and immigrants all coming together to stand up to a cruel con man? Yes please! This is exactly what I needed right now.

There are so many things I loved about this book! The richly intervowen Puerto Rican Spanish was a joy to read. The language really breathes through the pages and that's beautifully done.

(There's a glossary at the end of the book just in case you didn't catch everything.)

There's a lot of (extremely well aimed) criticism for the American Dream and how it affects immigrants (I believe the book takes place before PR became a US territory so Benigno would be an immigrant), especially if they're not white.
[Disclaimer: I'm white so I can't begin to understand the reality POC live in. That being said, I've seen enough acts of casual racism to make my blood boil.]

Río and Benny's romance is sweet and tender, but also fun. They're dreamy and have all the chemistry. I loved that about the book.

With all that, I do want to bring up a few points that have made it a less than perfect book for me. While the romance has a dreamy quality that is very much my cup of tea, I felt that the rest of the characters came off oversaturated, leaning too much into their stereotypes. The Italian Mafia boss and his goons seemed just a little too Godfather-like, the roadside performers just a little too quirky, Benny's ex-colleagues just a little too meatheady. I'm not a fan of the representation of body types and disabilities as sideshow attractions, if I'm being honest. I don't have anything against them being performers but it felt like the book was trying too hard, having them all dialed up to eleven in a way that broke me out of the immersion.

With all that, I feel that the pros outweigh the cons and I'd still recommend this book for the things it does well.

A tender, queer romance that will have you jumping into the ocean to find a merman of your very own.

This book is like a big cozy hug.

I am a sucker for great art in novels. I picked this up because of the AMAZING illustrations throughout the book and I'm so glad I did. This novel includes two different full-color endpapers for front and back, fully-designed chapter headers, and 27 pieces of detailed illustrations throughout, using beautiful two-color, aqua blue and black inks.

This is a beautifully written story that makes you feel like you're right there beside our main character Benny, as he navigates his young life as an immigrant to New York City in the early 1900s.

I love the setting of an amusement park with a crew of sideshow performers. They are all different and lonely in their own way, but ultimately love and support each other through everything.

The pacing is great, the atmosphere is on point, the characters are all compelling and interesting and the romance between Benny and our merman Rio, feels very real even though they're separated by glass.

Pick this up if you love
🧜🏼‍♂️ Queer romance
🧜🏼‍♂️ Found family
🧜🏼‍♂️ GORGEOUS illustrations (27!)
🧜🏼‍♂️ Circus/sideshow setting
🧜🏼‍♂️ So many amazing quotes

This book is best read by the ocean, searching for your very own merfolk to fall in love with.

Thank you to Erewhon Books for the physical ARC!

Benigno “Benny” Caldera is a Boricua blacksmith in 1910s Brooklyn, New York tasked to create a tank for famed Coney Island playground, Luna Park. Benny is invited to join the show’s eclectic cast & share in their secret: the tank will cage a live merman stolen from the banks of the East River. While everyone else sees the merman Benny eventually names Río as some mythical monster, Benny sees him as beautiful & kind, a miracle. They soon find they have something in common, they're both caged. As they spend more time together their friendship grows to love & it becomes clear that Río will not survive in the tank. He needs to be returned to the ocean. But that could mean Benny losing Río, his new home & his found family forever.

I have been waiting a really long time to read this book! It absolutely broke my heart & put it back together. I was ugly sobbing by the end. My heart hurt so much for sweet Benigno who has no family left & has never felt good enough or worthy of love. Until he meets Río. Both of them are grieving & find a home with each other. I loved watching them begin to trust each other, the playful banter & the oh so tender moments.
This book has a colorful cast of characters, especially those in the menagerie. I loved learning all of their backstories & how they came to be in the show. While this book is a romantasy with a mythical creature, so much of it is about self discovery & identity & the messages are so important.
I could say so much more about this book & try not to give away the rest of the story, but you truly need to experience this one for yourself. I'm not much of a fantasy reader but this book had me fully engaged from beginning to that perfect ending.
Venessa's writing is heartbreakingly beautiful & vivid. So cinematic! SO much love & care has been put into this book by Venessa & it shows. Bonus that the book is fully illustrated by the author!

This book! Gah! It was so unbelievably beautiful. The characters, the setting, the lore….everything was described in intricate detail that made it so easy to see this wild sideshow family. I have loved Venessa Kelly’s art for a long time, and I wanted to read the book at first just to see the art, but she is a magnificent storyteller. I loved it so much.

This is a beautiful and colorful story! If you are a historical romance fan that loves getting actual history lessons, appreciates yearning over spice, and wants an MM where one “M” also means “merman” - look no further. It’s a romance, yes, but an even more than that, a story of identity, belonging and dreaming for more. And there are ILLUSTRATIONS done by the author and they’re gorgeous!

Ever since Benny Caldera moved from Puerto Rico to New York City he’s survived on the bare minimum - wages, lodging, clothing, attention. One day a wild request comes into the blacksmith company where he works: an enormous tank. Benny puts everything he has into building the piece, but as it turns out that’s only the beginning of his journey…

The story of Benny & Río falling in love is full of angst and sweetness. It’s forbidden for so many reasons - first, both are under the watchful eye of their vicious ringmaster boss, second it’s an era where same sex relationships are extremely dangerous, and third, the obvious…one is a human and the other a merman. Benny in particular opening himself up to Río layer by layer to get to the pain and loss underneath was heartbreaking and so well done.

I absolutely adore found family, and that’s one of the other strengths of this book. Each of the Menagerie members took circus stereotypes and made them unique and three-dimensional. All have SUCH vibrant backstories, and have overcome so much to claim their place in the world. If you loved Greatest Showman you’ll love this.

What Greatest Showman glosses over however is well-represented here: the cultural melting pot that was New York City in the early 1900s. Between the various languages and accents deployed - and often - you really feel the diversity, and it makes the world come alive. Benny’s culture is especially present in the narrative. From his aunt, to his life in Puerto Rico, his music and more - and especially the prejudice he faces because of it every day.

There is also a lot of real history represented! Events such as the sinking of the General Slocum, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and Dreamland Fire of 1911 factor into the plot.

An incredible, thoughtful, poetic debut novel!

i don't know if i have the ability to articulate how magical and wonderful this debut novel is.

the cover? stunning. the illustrations within the text? gorgeous. truly, this was a work of art.

to give a brief summary, this was a story about a puerto rican blacksmith, benny, who joins a menagerie of gifted individuals and ends up falling in love with the merman, rio, who's become the latest act to join the show. everything in between that overall plot line was a wonder. to say that the writing was beautiful is a damn understatement. the lyrical prose, the imagery, and the unique voices between each of the characters was done immaculately. while this was on the longer side, the author really took the time and care to give each character their own voice and development.

in this we follow what i can only describe to be the best depiction of a found family. despite mainly being in benny's pov, we get fantastic scenes of the characters dynamics with each other. because they are all seen as outcasts and freaks of society, they may not always get along, but every interaction is made with sincere love and understanding for one another. the author also does a really great job of building the world of this particular time period through the way the characters dress, speak, and act. i appreciated the diversity of the cast, coming from all shapes and sizes (literally) of the world, especially for the where and when this took place.

the slow burn of the friendship to something more between benny and rio happened at the best pace. we got glimpses of their relationship budding while also balancing the outside plot and other character stories. there was action, there was emotion, there was humor, and there was a lot of love. i lived for the tender and touching moments between benny and the rest of the menagerie cast - they really took him in and treated him as one of their own. there were many times that i teared up!

the ENDING. wow. it was the best ending. this was stunning. absolutely no notes.

Set in 1910s NYC, a Puerto Rican labourer ends up working for a carnival side show after helping them trap a merman (who he then falls in love with). Sweet and kind of slow-burn romance, which doesn’t entirely gloss over the captor/captive power dynamics. There were strong Shape of Water (but queer) and found family vibes from the ensemble cast. The story felt really authentic to the time period and location. There's lots of Spanish in it too. I speak Spanish, so it didn't interrupt the flow of the story for me. There was a glossary at the end, so you could look up translations. The eARC had the gorgeous illustrations by the author in it as well. I don't often buy physical copies of books, but will probably make an exception for this one because I don’t think the screen did them justice!