4.5. This is a beautiful book—lyrically written, with a sweet romance and strong, well-crafted characters. Beneath the surface of the fantastic story about the love between a Puerto Rican man and a merman in a Coney Island amusement park at the beginning of the 20th century, it offers many reflections on society, difference, and acceptance.

The relationship between Benny and Rio is truly heart-wrenching and undoubtedly the strongest element of the novel. It is lyrical, full of both joy and sorrow. Furthermore, the book features a "found family" theme, which, though based on the familiar trope of outcasts in a freak show, is executed very well. The plot does have slower moments at times, unfortunately, but overall, it’s an easy and enjoyable read, thanks in part to its beautiful prose.

An additional strength of the book is the stunning illustrations that enrich the story. I have been following Venessa Kelley’s career as an illustrator for a long time, and I am overjoyed that she is also succeeding as a writer. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a light, yet beautifully written story about love.

Thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 30%

This one unfortunately I just couldn’t get into, the prose just wasn’t pulling me in, making it a bit hard for me to be fully immersed.

The illustrations throughout however are great.

When the Tides Held the Moon

**ARC Review, No Spoilers**

I have been a long time fan of Vanessa Vida Kelley as an artist. Their illustrations are stunning with the perfect amount of whimsy and detail. Admittedly, the announcement of this book was my introduction to Vanessa being a writer as well! I was fortunate enough to read When the Tides Held the Moon in advance of its release (thank you, NetGalley). I had no familiarity with the story and went in totally blind beyond knowing there was a merman involved. I’m so happy to share that I truly enjoyed this book.

Am I surprised Vanessa’s writing is as beautiful as their art? Absolutely not. I should have assumed as much. Vanessa has poured their heart, soul, and love of their heritage into the pages. The writing is vivid with details that serve the reader who enjoys picturing what they’re reading in their head. I am one of those readers so this made for an enjoyable experience.

If there was one word to describe this story, I think I’d say it would be ‘pride.’ Pride in who you are. Pride in who you love. Pride in bloodline and in creating your own family at the same time. As a side note, I can’t wait for my physical copy so I can see the final illustrations in person.

🌊 When the Tide Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley is a hauntingly beautiful queer fantasy that truly pulls you in with its captivating premise. Set in 1910s New York, the story follows Benny, an orphaned blacksmith who unexpectedly becomes entangled in a strange world of sideshow performers—and a magical, tragic merman named Río. Their love story is one that feels like it’s written in the stars, and I found myself completely enchanted by the emotional depth of their bond. 💖

Benny and Río’s connection is so much more than just a romance. It’s a journey of self-discovery, understanding, and the kind of love that defies boundaries. I adored how Kelley portrayed Río—he’s not just a mystical creature, but a fully realized, philosophical being with kindness and wisdom that challenged everything Benny knew about the world. The merfolk and their underwater world were beautifully imagined, and I could feel the weight of Río’s captivity in every page. 🧜🏽‍♂️

That said, while the story has so much heart, the prose occasionally needed a little extra nudge to fully shine. The pacing can feel sluggish in parts, especially when the story slows down to explore the more introspective moments. Some sections seemed to linger a little too long, which made me yearn for more forward movement.

But despite that, the book’s soul is undeniable. There’s something so raw and real about Benny and Río’s journey, and I found myself rooting for them until the very end. 🌙 While the prose could’ve used some tightening up, the emotional weight of the story kept me hooked.

This book is for anyone who loves a slow-burn romance, fantasy that feels both otherworldly and deeply human, and characters who truly grow and change. It’s a beautiful, bittersweet ride, and even though the pacing wasn’t always perfect, I couldn’t help but fall for this story. 🌊✨

This is one of my most anticipated reads and naturally it arrived in my hands in the midst of never ending book slump.

The story itself and the illustrations were so absolutely stunning ; I have been a longtime follower of this author and their incredible art and I’m so thrilled it’s being showcased.

This book suffered for me from the actual flow of the writing ; and the POV used to write. I wish it hadn’t been first person and was told at a distance, because as is often the case with first time authors the prose needs some hand holding and it’s less apparent when it’s not in first person.

The story is beautiful and I enjoyed the adventure of reading it and I will definitely be picking up a copy so I can gasp at the stunning art in person; I can’t wait to see what comes next.

"I'd gotten so used to being treated like I couldn't feel pain; I was a machine meant to labour until the gears failed and I became just another punchline to a white man's joke. But I was one of Río's seashells in his hands—treasured, precious, apt to shatter if pressed too hard."

When the Tides Held the Moon is an absolutely stunning creation. Venessa Vida Kelley has proven (unsurprisingly) that she is overwhelmingly talented as both an artist and a writer. This wonderful story reads less like a standard book, and more like poetry. Filled with beautiful prose and overwhelming rich in culture, this book has an almost dreamlike quality to it that you can't help but be drawn in by, I felt like I was experiencing a fairytale with each word whilst being drawn into a world of wonder.

Pair the lustrous prose with the gorgeous artwork and you've been left with something beautiful, enrapturing and utterly unforgettable.

5/5 stars! I love the cover of this book. This book is so stunningly beautiful that it took my breathe away. The setting, 1910s New York, the tone melancholy with glimmers of hope, and the characters, Rio and Benigno.... just perfect.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“But if you’re the sort who needs to see to believe, come to the Iron Pier on a clear night when the tide is in, and the moon is full.”

A queer fantasy romance, sign me up!
Words cannot express how grateful I am to have received this eARC. When the Tides Held the Moon was one of my most anticipated releases for next year, I dropped everything to read it.

At its heart, When the Tides Held the Moon is a captivating story about love, family, and identity. This novel is told mainly from Benny’s perspective, with small excerpts from Río’s. Kelley’s portrayal of the merfolk, which I had not read before, can only be described as enchanting. The way Benny and Río’s relationship developed into something so heartfelt and the depiction of queer love through the stunning prose was absolutely a highlight for me. The cast of characters we meet at the menagerie are so lovable, and the way Coney Island is described makes it feel alive. I cannot forget to talk about the beautiful illustrations by Kelley themselves. I had to stop to take in all the details before I turned the page.

I want to mention the epilogue from Matthias’s perspective and the last page of the novel, where he receives a letter from Benny, because if I was not already crying, that would have done it.

In conclusion, I have already pre-ordered a hard copy so I can experience this again, and I am eagerly waiting to read what Kelley writes next. Even weeks later, I am still thinking about this book, and I need someone to talk to about it ASAP, so when the novel releases next year, I 100% recommend it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Erewhon Books, for the eARC.

<i>When the Tides Held the Moon </i> is one of my favorite reads this year. This story was so beautiful it took my breath away. Venessa Vida Kelley created a story with breathtaking illustrations, beautiful prose, multidimensional characters, and an enduring love story. 

Benigno (Benny) is a masterful Puerto Rican ironworker in 1910s New York, who hasn't been allowed to move past his current station. When a strange request to build a tank comes into his place of work, he is chosen to take on the task. When the famed Luna Park owner comes to pick up the tank all are curious what it can be for. In an act of fate or the currents Benigno is injured and ends up among the Luna Park crew as they capture a merman.  With no job and nowhere to call home Benigno joins the Luna Park Crew and begins to care for the Merman who he affectionately calls Río. The two begin to create a beautiful friendship that blossoms into more among late night takes and earnestly shared truths. 

Benny is torn, wanting with all his heart to free Río and wanting to support the family he has built on Coney island, but Luna Park is in debt and Río might be the only thing that can pull the park out of the red. Benny has to decide what he wants and if he can trust the relationships he has made. Venessa Vida Kelley executes the found family story so artfully that you can feel the love these characters have for one another through the pages. 

Venessa Vida Kelley writes a breathtaking queer love story that doesn't shy away from challenging topics. They discuss differences in a world that wants everyone to blend in and be a certain way. If you pick up any book this year please let it be this one. It was everything I wanted in a book and more... It was everything I needed in a book. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this eARC.

Each and every character in this book comes alive. The descriptions of NY/Coney Island of years past made me feel like I was there to experience it. The storyline is fresh and devour-able. How do you not root for Rio & Benigno?!

Venessa Vida Kelley's mesmerizing debut, "When the Tides Held the Moon," weaves a captivating narrative of love, loss, and self-discovery. This lyrical and poignant tale transports readers to a mystical world of ancient magic, forgotten myths, and the resilience of the human spirit.


Plot


In 19th-century coastal Ireland, 17-year-old Maeve navigates:


1. Family secrets and ancient curses
2. Forbidden love and heart-wrenching tragedy
3. Mystical connections to the ocean and moon
4. Self-discovery amidst societal expectations


Kelley's Strengths


1. Enchanting prose and vivid descriptions
2. Richly detailed world-building
3. Complex, relatable characters
4. Emotional depth and resonance
5. Unique blend of mythology and historical fiction


Character Analysis


1. Maeve: Determined, passionate, and vulnerable
2. Cian: Brooding, loyal, and mysterious
3. Aisling: Wise, nurturing, and enigmatic


Criticisms


1. Slow-burning pacing may deter some readers
2. Supporting character development could be expanded


Conclusion


"When the Tides Held the Moon" is a wonderful debut, showcasing Kelley's mastery of atmospheric storytelling and emotional depth. This haunting tale will bring in the fans of historical fantasy, mythology, and literary fiction.


Rating Breakdown:


- Plot: 4/5
- Character development: 5/5
- World-building: 5/5
- Writing style: 5/5
- Pacing: 4/5
- Originality: 5/5
- Emotional resonance: 5/5
- Overall enjoyment: 4/5

I’ve been following Venessa for a little over a year now because of their amazing talent as illustrator and even from their firsts posts on Instagram about this book I could feel how proud they were of this book, so when I was approved for an ARC I almost couldn’t believe it.

In a NY of the 1910’s we find Benny, a Puerto Rican blacksmith that built the most resistant water tank on the planet, little did he know this tank would be the cage of a Merman that will completely change his life as he knew it.
An array of side characters are his found family and will support the MC along the way. But once we put everything and everyone else aside there’s Benny and Rio and the poetry of the description the author uses to depict their romance.
The illustrations are an absolute plus to an already great book. Venessa’s soul, and their attention to other’s feelings, to LGBTQ+ issues and inclusiveness come through beautifully behind every word, whether in English or in Spanish (I really appreciated Benny’s use of his mother tongue in certain situations, as a foreigner myself I could relate to that).
This is more than a love story, it’s a story that, although it takes place over a century ago, it touches a lot of points that (sadly) are still very current. The life journeys of Benny, Rio and all the other side characters are going to make every reader reflect, and we can all use a bit of that.
This was my first merman book and although it may not be my favourite genre, I totally recommend this book if you feel like you need to start believing in magic and the power of the elements again.

I can’t give this book even a fraction of a star less! What a masterpiece! Incredible! The world the author has created is nothing short of amazing. This book read like a classic even before it’s released. This was a true love story the likes of which I haven’t read about in a long while. I adore Rio and Benny together.

If I could make this even better, I would learn spanish because I found myself constantly pulled out of the story to check translations. That’s more of a me issue than book issue though. The Spanish was a beautiful addition to the story.

Also the illustrations??? Oh my, what a wonderful treat! They were gorgeous and truly helped me visualise the characters and the story.

3.5/3.75 stars

A very compelling story with a nice found family and adventure dynamic in addition to the beautiful romance. If you think the cover is beautiful, you'll be thrilled to know there are illustrations within the book which definitely added to the reading experience. I also thought the POV switches between Benigno and Río were well done and I liked the differing writing styles for them. I also really liked the growth both of them had as characters, especially Benigno.

I wish the romance had been a bit more of a slow burn and that we'd gotten to see more and Benigno and Río in the epilogue, but the parts of them together before that were very sweet. Also I feel like the constant random Spanish words made this a bit difficult to read. I haven't taken Spanish in three years and with my (admittedly very basic) level of knowledge I was constantly checking the glossary or having to translate the many words that weren't in the glossary.

a beautiful book about finding love and family the moment you least expect it. this WILL make you cry so be prepared

This book is amazing. Beautiful and poignant and heart-wrenching and interesting. There’s so much to it. It’s full of mystery and history and languages and cultures and poetry and magic. It’s all just gorgeous. A feast for the brain and the eyes and the heart.

And, as promised, a full review:

“With it. For it. Never against it.” This is the motto of a found family. 🎪

I have a long history with this novel (it was originally a SnowBaz fan fic, which I devoured a few years ago) and, full disclosure, the author is a friend. That said, WTTHTM is not your average fantasy monster fic. It’s not spicy - although there are gorgeous, swoony love scenes - but the characters are amazingly written, the story is compelling, and the illustrations (look at that cover!) are so lovely. They’ll look so much better in the actual book, which I’ll review again when it comes out, right around MerMay 2025; I’ll also review the audiobook when it drops. 🎨

However, let me say here that the writing is poetic, and, thus, this is also not your typical queer love story. It’s lyrical, philosophical, political, historical, magical - and multi-lingual (and Venessa includes a very helpful glossary), giving you that sense that something special is going on even though you don’t fully understand it. But in a good way, you know? I’m all for a book that asks native English readers to work hard to understand another language - or three. After all, we do it to others all the time in the U.S. 🇵🇷🎡🇺🇸

You can see the plot summary in the second slide. The story builds slowly, AND it is beautiful, compelling, heartbreaking, seat-of-your-pants thrilling, poignant, funny, and even a little scary. The love story is one for the ages, and the side characters are amazing. I love the MCs with all my heart, AND the circus-act found family members are so lovely and memorable. Indeed, Benigno’s found family is noticeable from when they first meet and start the work of capturing Río, the derringer notwithstanding. 🏠🤹‍♀️

From a personal perspective, I must here admit to being a bit merpeople-obsessed, so I would also like to share some pop culture references that I couldn’t ignore. I’m not sure if they were intentional, but here are a few thoughts I had while reading. 🧜🏽🧜🏼‍♂️

Río’s tank makes me think of the movie SPLASH, except the evil in that story is the U.S. government, which feels eerily like past is prologue … because, of course it is, but half the population doesn’t seem to know that. 🎏

Puerto Rican immigrant Benigno’s backstory puts me in mind of HAMILTON and his literal and figurative hurricanes. Also, funny coincidence, Lin-Manuel Miranda is famously enamored with THE LITTLE MERMAID. 🧜🏼‍♀️

And there is a little reference to the Peter Pan mermaids, and to Benigno being a lost boy, too, and I can’t help thinking of mermaids watching ships in all of these stories. 🛳️

Finally, having just seen the movie WICKED PART 1, I have to say that the evil sideshow manager, Morgan, reminds me of the Wizard of Oz in his green suits. 🗽

ANYWAY, thanks for reading the first of my three WTTHTM reviews, and, yes, please read this gem of a book!!! This is not your typical queer smut (hey, which I also like - attention: this is a no-shame zone). No, this book is literary & evocative & thought-provoking & beautiful. And it’s masterful world-building; take it from just three of many amazing world builders, Lex Croucher & TJ Klune & Freya Marske, all of whom have written glowing blurbs. ♥️

This is a story about outcasts finding family with each other, about all the prisons that humans trap themselves into (from capitalism to homophobia cutting through racism), and also, a touching love story between two lost souls.

You have read this story a million times, and also you have never read it like this.

The characters are memorable and the setting (amusement park from ages past) is so novel and interesting. They all tie so well with the theme - when it comes to 'monster' romance, us the queers and the weirdos and all the 'others' are the monsters, or so tells us proper society, so to hell with fitting in and being proper, let us find our own kind of love.

4.6

What a great story! I loved it especially for the peep into carnival/freak show life of last century USA, the bits about it were so interesting and vivid! In fact, it was all very vivid, in this novel, the world clear and present, very much alive, i really enjoyed that. Also enjoyed the cast of characters and their oddities, their quirks and peculiarities and the way it sometimes reminded me those Charlie Chaplin early movies. The diverse rep was really good, and the way the author explored 'difference', being foreign, an outcast, misunderstood and impossible to grasp was done superbly through all those characters, but especially Benigno and Río. The twist at the end came as validation to me, for I'd sort of figured it out right from the start, and although it felt just a tad too rushed, it was also quite satisfying. The romance angle was delightful, but to me, it was actually the least important bit in this novel - rather the found family angle and the sense of belonging were far louder in my head, throughout the reading, as well as the bonds that are formed through kindness between people in moments of adversity. Well worth reading for all this.

That was simply incredible. What a beautifully written story that just tore my heart apart.

The story is set in Coney Island in the early 1900’s, but with a touch of magic. This was such a ✨vibe✨ and I was so here for it. Added to that was some excellent found family, a sweet romance between a Puerto Rican boy and a merman, AND lovely illustrations throughout the book!

I loved it.

This is an absolutely STUNNING book. The poetic storytelling, the illustrations, the found family. It all hit me right in my feelings.
Kelley represents the intricacies of Benigno's story with excellent detail and precision. I am in love with the clear narrative differences between Rio and Benigno, and how we got those small glimpses into Rio's mindset. I especially admire Kelley's attention to Rio's slow-to-trust attitude with Benigno.
And let me just gush about Benigno and Rio for a second. The trust that slowly builds between Benigno and Rio over the course of the book makes me feel so warm. Through memories, experiences, true names and language-songs, Benigno and Rio share the most intimate parts of themselves to the other and they receive each other with gratitude and love.
If you needed another reason to read this book, let it be the GORGEOUS illustrations. With each illustration I was surprised and gob-smacked. Not only were they beautiful, but they also added so much to each scene. (Not to mention these are the author's own illustrations!!)
I was essentially tumbling through the last half of the book, I couldn't put the book down!