3.5⭐️


Benigno es un hombre optimista que se mudó a Nueva York en busca de una vida mejor. Sin embargo, por más que lo intenta, es despedido de varios trabajos hasta que lo contratan para capturar una sirena. Acepta el trabajo, aunque no cree en la existencia de tal criatura, pero para su sorpresa, logran atrapar a un tritón.
Lo que no esperaba es que lograría comunicarse con el tritón, llamado Río, y que establecería una conexión profunda, algo que nunca había experimentado con nadie. A medida que pasan más tiempo juntos, Benigno se da cuenta de que está mal tenerlo encerrado y debe idear un plan para liberarlo.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so broken. I loved this book so much. Vanessa, how did you manage to take so many things I love and put them into a book? (OK ok I know this wasn't just written for me 🤣🤣🤣🤣)

If you all haven't pre-ordered When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Kelley, what are you even doing with your life?

This was so beautiful. The drawings, the characters. It gave me all the Shape of Water, Greatest Showman vibes, while also being unique and completely its own thing. Beyond that, a story of a Puerto Rican immigrant in New York, fighting his way just to survive, with an abundance of untranslated language that gives so much depth and character that made me want to learn more about the culture.

This book is so needed right now. #resist

Thank you kensington books, Vanessa Kelley, and netgalley for the chance to read the advanced copy of this book.

I received a n e-ARC and am giving my honest review, thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity!

I don’t know if I can properly express how much I enjoyed this book. From the get-go, Benny’s character was charismatic and intriguing. I wanted to know more about him, his background, etc. His view on life felt so real. Real in a way that feels unique compared to other books I’ve read before. I loved reading of his work ethic, how headstrong he was, strong in general. It felt a bit refreshing.
And then, Rio. Obviously, the moment he was described I was completely at this book’s mercy. The imagery we were given, Rio truly seemed to dazzle based off of simply words on a page. It felt as if the reader was also there, taking in the beauty of Rio right in front of us, in a way not dissimilar to how he would describe the Currents. Maybe that sounds a bit dramatic, but he truly did feel magical.
Rio and Benny’s relationship was one I will treasure for a long time. Their initial meeting being so violent, given Benny was, in fact, part of the crew that stole Rio from the sea, was incredibly well done. It was put in a way that allowed for growth from both parties. The initial writing for the both of them was just done in a very genius way where the power dynamics weren’t as off as it’s easy to allow it to be. But, still mentioning it here and there so the reader knows that they are still a bit off. It really helped me to feel more comfortable not only with the characters but the story as a whole.
The mini chapters from Rio’s POV really added to the romance as well, giving both sides of yearning even though it was from Benny’s POV.
The found family aspect was also just so cute. I loved how intricate it was, not just being 100% good together, but having their ups and downs. Every character felt well fleshed out and explained. The characters were so unique and different from what I’ve read before. Or, what I’ve read that was done well. The author did a fantastic job with all of the characters and not writing them to be caricatures. And I loved how they were both involved in the story and the romance.
I also am so obsessed with the artwork!! Hello??? It was placed Perfectly every time, exactly in a great place for it.
Funnily enough, I read almost 50% of this book while in the waiting room of Urgent Care due to respiratory distress, what a silly little coincidence, haha!

With thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was an enjoyable, quick read! I loved our characters immediately, and was rooting for them the whole time. This book is set against the beautiful scenery of 1910s New York, with circus performers and Coney Island! The author really helps bring this to life with gorgeous descriptions and illustrations! The illustrations are lovely and bring so much to the story.

This book, as well as following Río and Benigno's story, is about finding home, and creating a home for yourself. The side characters in this book are well developed and I loved seeing them interact with Benigno and show him the ropes.

I had a good time reading this book and I would strongly recommend it to people who want to read anything with historical romance and merfolk!

first… i am thankful as always that i was lucky enough to receive this arc.

i really wasn’t expecting to love this book the way i did and i certainly didn’t expect to cry either but lo and behold… this was so beautiful from start to finish, an incredibly tender story about family, hardships and love beyond just a surface level. honestly, i feel like i NEED to have the physical copy now to hold close to me. the illustrations were phenomenal and i haven’t felt so attached to characters in quite a while the way i have while reading this… literally couldn’t put this down from the second i picked it up and so obviously i finished it all in just a few hours. i have absolutely no regrets.

A beautiful tale of an immigrant underdog rising from the underbelly of a metalworks to the famed Coney Island ventures following a menagerie. And then throw in a merman! Benny’s tale was one of triumph and standing up for what you believe in. I really enjoyed his and Rio’s dynamic as Benny slowly gains the (mer)man’s trust. Their relationship was beautiful to watch unfold. I especially loved Rio’s POVs for the prose-style writing. I am simply awed that this is a debut novel and I’m so excited for others to bask in this beautiful story. I also really appreciated the illustrations here and there, they really helped set up the scenes in my mind. Again, a beautiful read and absolutely cannot wait for more from Venessa Vida Kelley in the future.

When the Tides Held the Moon
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

“I imagined us, bronze and pewter, melting together until we glowed with the same light.”

🌊found family
🌊forbidden love
🌊hurt/comfort
🌊Merfolk
🌊representation: disabilities, LGBTQ+

When the Tides Held the Moon has been on my radar for a bit now because of the mermaid community. So I was thrilled to be able to receive and read it early. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC copy.

I’m still in an emotional state over this beautiful story. I was captivated by Benigno “Bennie” and Rios story. Bennie is a character you can’t help but love and feel for. You see him grown throughout the story and find himself along with his self worth. His regret over Rios capture is expressed in a way that you can’t help but relate too.
Rio our merman is a character full of compassion and forgiveness. Rios small chapter breaks bring so much emotion to the story. His and Bennie’s relationship feels Starcrossed but natural. They help to heal each other throughout the story.
The found family aspect of the story brings the very diverse cast of characters together in a beautifully balanced way. Each character of the Menagerie is uniquely layered.

THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING I CAN POSSIBLY WANT IN A MERMAID BOOK!!!
First of all I wanna say there are ILLUSTRATIONS throughout and they’re done by the author themselves!! Vanessa did such wonderful job crafting this story, from the plot, the writing, the side characters, and of course Benny and Rio themselves. I love the way she integrates the different languages (theres also a glossary in the back) I think it really elevates the visibility of the cultural richness of the characters. Something about the book also reminds me of the movie “The Greatest Showman” but also completely different.

*spoilers* I LOVE THE ENDING I LOVED IT SOO SOOO MUCH! its my biggest pet peeve when stories have the mermaid turn into human at the end, so I’m soooooo glad this book end that way.

Upon starting this novel, I wasn’t quite sure what I was walking into besides it being written by one of my favorite artists. I was absolutely not surprised that it was one of the most profound and beautiful books I’ve ever read, much like her stunning art. This story is sweet and tender and makes you believe in the magic of connection and empathy. The prose is incredibly well written and the variety of languages spoken draws you into the world (pro tip: there is a glossary in the back-you don’t have to spend hours on Google translate like I, unwittingly, did). I adored this story and I believe it comes at such a crucial moment in time when we need to see queer and immigrant stories more than ever. Obviously, the illustrations throughout the book are beautiful and exactly what I would expect from V Kelly. This was an incredible read and I can’t wait for it to be in the hands of the world!

This book is an absolute delight to read! I had so much fun! A beautifully woven queer fairy tale romance, it follows Benny, a Puerto Rican refugee and blacksmith, as he navigates love, loss, and the deep bonds of found family. The characters feel incredibly realistic and multidimensional, making it easy to connect with their struggles.

One of the book’s strongest elements is the gorgeous artwork—I absolutely loved it! The illustrations add so much depth to an already compelling story, making the reading experience even more immersive. I truly found them to be a wonderful bonus to an already great read.

The writing has a great flow, though some Puerto Rican expressions were a bit difficult to decipher at times. However, this only added to the authenticity of the storytelling. The historical setting is richly detailed, and the relationships between the characters feel heartfelt and genuine. Rio's nickname for Benny, 'Barnacle' made me melt!

The middle section of the book was particularly emotional. When Rio announced he was dying, it left me genuinely worried and panicked. The way he pulled away from Benny was heartbreaking, adding so much weight to the story. The final 50 pages were nerve-wracking, keeping me on edge until the very end.

The ending was satisfying, though I do wish we had seen more of Benny and Rio’s relationship fully blossoming in the ocean. Still, this book was an incredible journey—one that had me kicking my feet with excitement.

Favorite Quote: “Like every foreigner, Rio seemed to become more imaginary in person.”

My rating: 4.5/5 stars

5 stars

Did you watch The Shape Of Water and think, "I wish this was more gay"? Then this is the perfect book for you. I had so much fun reading this. The romance is sweet, the setting is super interesting, and the found family was so amazing. Honestly, anyone who knows me isn't surprised by how much I loved the found family here. The dynamics are unique and so real. The characters are so believable and somehow relatable despite the fantastical elements of the story. Benny was a great narrator, and I felt immersed into his POV. His character is layered, and the intersectionality of his identity (being Puerto Rican and gay in the early 20th century) was really interesting to see how it affected aspects of the story and his experiences. It felt real, raw, and genuine. His relationship development with Río was so endearing. I loved watching it evolve throughout the story alongside Benny's own personal character development. All in all, this was a great read. The writing is great, the story is amazing, and the characters are super well done. And that ending?! It really worked for me. It was somehow both very vague but also super specific. This is definitely worth checking out.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a truly lovely story about “Benny” Caldera, a Boricua blacksmith in turn-of-the-20th century Brooklyn who’s asked to create a cage for a shady Coney Island showman. Before he knows it, Benny finds himself conscripted into the showman’s carnival of curiosities, joining a found family of sideshow acts, but he’s not the only newcomer as a voyage on the East River reveals who the cage will confine: a merman. This leads to a story about two "fish out of water" as Benny has to balance his growing camaraderie with the carnival acts with his feelings for the merman and desire to set him free.

This story fired on all cylinders for me. Benny was a compelling character with a clear character arc and a breathing disorder than worked on multiple levels. The writing was immersive and popped off the page. It felt like I was right there with Benny in turn of the twentieth century Brooklyn. Each carnival "act" had their own distinct personality and relationship with Benny. The pacing of the story was great, beautifully building to the thrilling conclusion. And Kelley's gorgeous illustrations were a beautiful bonus that took the book to the next level. Overall, this was a pleasure to read.

I was hesitant at first since period pieces aren’t always my thing, but this book surprised me. The plot, characters, and romance were all great.

Even though I’m not a fan of that time period, it worked for the story. Some parts were predictable, but I still really enjoyed it.

Five stars! The writing is engaging, the characters are unique, and the story is emotional.

Can’t wait for everyone to read it! Support Venessa, add it to your StoryGraph or Goodreads, and pre-order if you can!

this book has actually been on my radar for quite some time, ever since i discovered venessa vida kelley through their artwork! i’ve been very excited to get my hands on it.

first of all, i loved the overall setting and narrative. bringing a merman into new york in the 1910s isn’t exactly an everyday plot, but it worked very well! i always appreciate a really unique setup for a book, and even with all the supernatural/fantasies out there, there’s a surprising lack of merpeople represented. thankfully, río more than makes up for this! i loved both him and benny as characters, and the supporting cast were equally lovable.

one thing i will say is that i felt the narrative might’ve dragged on a bit too long. for the most part the pacing was good, but towards the ⅔ mark i felt like benny’s journey had stalled a little in terms of him going over the same things again and again. this didn’t last too long, but i think cutting some of that down would’ve been beneficial. at the end of the day, i still had a great time, and i look forward to reading and of their future works!

I'm very excited for this book to be in the world! I read another fantasy recently that had similar vibes, and if this is the year of the mermaid, I am here for it.

I will be interviewing Venessa in the coming weeks for a podcast episode, which will be coming out April 20th, and I am very much looking forward to chatting with such a talented woman!

While I was excited to read this, I didn't really connect with the writing. It felt more juvenile than it needed to be and clunky at times. However, I do like the premise of the story and I'm sure other people will enjoy it more than me! Also, like others have mentioned the art is really good! I like the style and the cross-hatching technique used. Sadly, this book was still a dnf for me.

To describe how beautiful this book would be an injustice because there aren’t sufficient words in my vocabulary that are powerful enough to convey that essence. 5 freaking stars because it’s THAT good. I normally get a little shy recommending books I like because I worry it may not be for others, but I truly feel everyone who picks this book up (of course given they like a historical fic romantasy!), will equally love it as much as I did.

The writing - no notes. Just immersive, charming, fills you all the feels.

The characters - diverse, layered, all have their own personalities, but essentially a found family you want to be part of.

The plot - ah, it’s so well told. The story is just rich with emotion, experiences told from an Afro-boricua man, and that feeling of being in the 1910s.

Excited for everyone to get to read this when it is released! Go support Venessa and add it to your StoryGraph or Goodreads, or pre order if you can, ask if your library will get it. Do it!

When the Tides Held the Moon has been one of my most anticipated books since I first heard about it in mid-2024. I've been looking forward to reading it for so long and been so excited about it that I actually got nervous when I sat down to finally start reading. What if my expectations were too high? Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about because this exceeded even my sky-high hopes.

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley starts in 1911 with Benny, an immigrant from Puerto Rico, being offered a job to build a unique tank for a Coney Island businessman. He meets the performers of Luna Park and begins to find a place in the unique family of outcasts. Soon, he begins to befriend the merman, Rio, who is to be Luna Park's newest attraction. That new relationship soon leads to feelings and decisions that could turn Benny's and his new friends' lives upside down. 

The characters in this are loveable and layered. Benny and Rio are obvious highlights, but all of Luna Park's stage performers are diverse and endearing with interesting backstories. Their found family was one of the many highlights of the book. I loved all the characters in this so much that it hurt to finish the book! I wasn't ready to leave these characters that I grew to adore so much!

The relationship between Benny and Rio is beautifully romantic and emotional. Benny feels guilt about his role in Rio's imprisonment and wants to make that right. Rio is angry and grieving, but sees how kind Benny is and grows to care about him. Benny is a queer man of color in an incredibly racist and homophobic era. He feels caged by the world he is forced to live in and Rio, who is actually caged, sees the similarities in their circumstances. Their love story is incredible and had me crying many times. Some of the lines they say to and about each other are so incredibly romantic that they took my breath away! These two captured my heart so completely that felt every emotion they went through in this story.

The whole book is beautifully crafted and uses language skillfully. It captivated me so immensely that I purposely slowed down reading it to savor every line and chapter. I don't want to give too much away, but this is a heartfelt story about society's outcasts that feels especially powerful in the time we are currently living in. This story truly moved me and won't be one I ever forget.

The book is also full of gorgeous art. The digital ARC that I have access to includes early sketches of the art, so I am very excited to see the full art when I get my hardcover edition. The art helped bring this story and the characters to life. Though it may be tempting, I would recommend not flipping through the pages to look at the art before you read the story. Some of the best pieces of art are of pivotal moments in the book and may spoil big moments. 

When the Tides Held the Moon will 100% be on my list of the best books of 2025 list. It may even be #1! I've read some very good books so far this year but nothing I've read in a very long time has come close to how much this moved me. I laughed out loud, cried my eyes out, and highlighted so many lines in this book. I can't recommend and can't praise this enough. It's a new all-time favorite for me.

I was a bit apprehensive to read the book. I sometimes, have a hard time connecting to period pieces.

This book pleasantly surprised me. I enjoyed the overall plot as well as the characters. The romance was beautiful.

I am not a fan of circus and that time but it makes sense for the overall tone. I did find some parts predictable but I still enjoyed the story.

I thought that it ended well as well as something that wasn’t to drawn out.

I appreciated the glossary and the lyrics as well. I have learned and embraced this story of finding yourself.

Thank you so much Netgallay and Erewhon Books.

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc! This book was absolutely heart warming, particularly the ending. I loved the story and how it flowed it was so cute, the only thing I will say is that me personally I am not a fan of "gonna " "gotta" which I know is personal preference. It was so witty but also very moving. Considering the time is around 1920s its crazy to understand what Benny is going through. He is going THROUGH IT and learning to love at the same time, in a time where his love wouldnt be acceptable. The illustrations were absolutely stunning I ate it up. Also I did’nt bawl my eyes out but I did tear up at the end simply because its so touching and beautifully written.