I said earlier this year that I’m in my mermaid era, so it’s no surprise that Venessa Vida Kelley‘s debut novel, When the Tides Held the Moon, was high on my list of new releases. Set in 1911 on Coney Island, it showcases a cast of characters who perform in Morgan’s Menagerie of Human Oddities. The latest hire is Benny (Benigno) from Puerto Rico; his job is to care for the merman that was just captured. But Benny quickly finds he’s the only one who can communicate with the merman… and they’re falling in love. How can Benny and Río have a future together when they’re both trapped in this sideshow?

What I Liked:
- The sideshow atmosphere and characters. The world-building is immersive and feels so real! I felt transported to 1910s New York in such a visceral way. And I loved the diverse characters! As the author’s note explains at the end, a menagerie of curiosities was often a place where people who didn’t fit into society’s narrow confines would find acceptance. It wasn’t always pleasant, to be sure, but they could find connection with others with physical differences, queer identity, and so on. There’s a strong element of found family here!
- Themes of being true to yourself. Benny hides so much of himself: His gay identity, his Puerto Rican accent, his asthma, how little he remembers about life before the hurricane that tore his family apart. He needs people he can feel safe and whole with. To that end, the menagerie is a place he starts to feel more comfortable… but with Río, he finds deeper connection.
- Romance between Benny and Río. I loved the romance that neither of them saw coming! A human and a merman? The captor (somewhat) and captive? In world where neither has much control over their life (at least not now)? This was a tender love story that requires Benny to step up in a major way.
- Increasing sense of urgency. Speaking of, while the human world is getting more dangerous (debts and threats!), Río is becoming increasingly ill after being in captivity for so long. Freedom is the only thing that will save him, but getting him out would certainly put Benny’s life at risk, too.
- The beautiful illustrations! The ebook version I read had such amazing artwork done by the author! They really bring the character and scenes to life, making it easier to visualize everything else. I rarely see adult novels with illustrations, so this was a special treat.

Audiobook:
Lee Osorio and Joel de la Fuente narrate When the Tides Held the Moon. I loved the narration! Benny’s voice actor does a wonderful job of capturing a wide variety of accents: Brooklyn, Puerto Rican, Russian, Irish, and more. Quite impressive! This audiobook really captured the whole setting and brought everything into full color. This was a joy to listen to.

Final Thoughts
Both the audiobook and physical/ebook are so perfectly done! I recommend a combination of both to get the full experience of When the Tides Held the Moon. Though rooted in a realistic 1910s New York setting, this was a magical book. What a wonderful debut! I look forward to reading more from Venessa Vida Kelley.

I was worried so much of the descriptions would be lost on me, but the illustrations sprinkled throughout the book are stunning. They made the story accessible to me, but also felt like I stumbled upon photos to someone's life and love story.

I've seen others call this a beautiful book, literally and figuratively and I'd have to agree. It felt as though Vanessa Vida Kelley took the proverb, "A bird and a fish may fall in love, but where would the live" and decided to create an answer where love conquers all.

Set against a backdrop of Brooklyn's immigrant and queer communities in 1911, Kelley's WHEN THE TIDES HELD THE MOON follows Benigno "Benny" Caldera and Río, the merman stolen from the East River to feature as a Coney Island freak show's new main attraction.

Although the romantic arc is slow to get started, the tension ratchets up nicely once Benny becomes conflicted between his promise to free Río and his desire to keep the merman close and, later, once we begin to see the effects of Río being trapped away from the ocean. Río's caging works nicely as a metaphorical mirror for the ways in which Benny has caged the truth of who he is, even from himself: "I’d lost track of all the times I had melted myself down just to recast myself as someone with a slightly better shot at belonging someplace." And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Kelley's STUNNING illustrations, which add to the mythical feel of the story.

Where TIDES really shines for me, though, is its grounding in Brooklyn waterfront history, from Coney Island's freak shows, to references to queer history via iconic male impersonators, to the sinking of the General Slocum, to NYC immigrant history. Kelley has evoked such a strong sense of time and place, and it was such a delightful coincidence that I began reading this book while finishing up Hugh Ryan's "When Brooklyn Was Queer," which tells of the borough's forgotten queer history.

A few notable qualms—a somewhat underwhelming depiction of the early development of Benny and Río's feelings for each other and a disappointing lack of character depth for Lulu, whose fatness was not only her defining feature in relation to her act but also, ultimately, as a character—kept this book from being a home run for me.

Kelley's choice in epilogue was interesting and unexpected, in part because the shift in perspective shifts the story a bit more in a mythic/folklore fantasy direction. I enjoyed it, and am glad that we got to read some of the memoir Mighty Matthias referenced so many times, but it did leave me with a lingering craving for the emotional satisfaction and HEA conclusiveness a good epilogue provides.

Overall, however, the story worked really well for me as a romantic fantasy, and I definitely recommend it for fans of historical romance in atypical, interesting settings; queer romance fans; and readers who enjoy exploring history through fiction.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing & Erewhon Books for the advance copy of this title! WHEN THE TIDES HELD THE MOON is out now!

When I heard beloved bookish artist Venessa Vida Kelley was releasing a gay mermaid romance book of their own, I was intrigued. When I learned the book also had demisexual rep and illustrations throughout, I simply knew I had to read it. And for the most part, it lived up to my expectations!

This is a quietly beautiful book that unfurls, unhurried, into a story of found family, agency and control, love, and carving out a place for yourself in the world. Benny and Río are both "fish out of water"--the merman literally, the human because he is both brown and queer at a time when both identities were heavily stigmatized (even more so than they are now)--and yet they find kindred spirits in one another, bonding because they see each other as people, rather than as something "other." This theme of resilience and community in the face of oppression is one Kelley weaves throughout the novel, not just in the romance, but also in the many-faceted dynamics of the cast members, most of whom are also seeking solace from a world that would have otherwise stigmatized them, and all of whom are at once liberated from societal norms by their sideshow jobs and imprisoned by Morgan's domineering nature. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention two other great parts of this book: (1) Kelley clearly did a lot of research on this time period, which shines through both in the vibrant imagery conveyed by artful language and in the thoughtful author's note at the end, and (2) Kelley's blue-and-black illustrations throughout the text absolutely help to elevate the narrative even further (swipe to see an example of one!).
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Now, as much as I enjoyed most of the book, I did have three minor issues with it. First, the pacing. The middle, in particular, dragged quite a bit, and I think the text would have benefited from some more tightening up there, while the end could have used just a beat longer to wind down (though the epilogue was perfect!). Second, the split narration between Benny (standard paragraphs) and Río (centered text, far more poetic) was a nice touch, but it would have been nice to have more, or longer, sections from Río to make him and Benny feel more like equals in the tale's telling. And third, the ending was ambiguous on a pretty significant plot detail, and every friend I have discussed the ending with has had the same point of confusion. There are at least two or three possible interpretations, and I think it alters the thematic resonance of the story depending on which one is correct. Alas.
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That said, my overall impression of this book was still very much a positive one, and I'd still recommend it, especially to fans of queer romance, immigrant stories, and books that play with the conventions of both genre (historical fantasy queer romance for the win) and format (art throughout, chapter headers that gradually evolve, the narration style differences of Benny and Río).
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P.S. there are a lot of languages spoken throughout the book, including Spanish, Punjabi, Russian, Italian, and more. Be smarter than me: there is a glossary in the back you can use!
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Rep: demisexual homoromantic Puerto Rican immigrant MC with asthma, pansexual LI, Indian SC with dwarfism (or similar condition, not explicitly named), nonbinary/genderfluid SC, gay SCs
TW/CW: confinement, racism, xenophobia, allusions to sexual assault/r@pe, classism, fire, burn injury, gun violence, murder, bullying

To think I almost passed this gorgeous book up because I already had a lot on my plate. Inconcebible!

I shared some of the artwork in my stories as I was reading it, but there’s so much more. I’m absolutely dying for a physical copy. This is one where you’re going to want a shelf trophy.

It’s 1911 and Benny Caldera is a talented blacksmith working in Brooklyn. He landed this job when he was fresh from Puerto Rico four years earlier. He’s tasked with building a huge glass tank for an oddities show which he does beautifully, of course.

As things happen, he begins working for the show and is with the crew the night they catch a merman. A beautiful merman intended for that beautiful cage Benny created. Well shiiiit.

This story of Benigno and the merman he names Rio is a slow build to trust, as you can imagine. But it’s lovely and full of yearning. What else can it be when one of the pair is a captive?

Benigno and Rio steal time together. Our Benny is crafty. They learn each other’s souls in a way I’m not sure I’ve ever read before. I keep coming back to the word “beautiful” and it doesn’t feel like enough. These two souls go beyond beautiful.

And y’all- the setting of 1911 Coney Island is one of my favorite things ever. And all of the Menagerie, the show folk, are written so lovingly. You’ll come to know them and they’ll live in a tiny corner of your heart forever.

This book is the story of a man who has experienced great loss and terrible trials being loved by the most stunning being he’s ever known. And finding family he never thought he’d have again. The feeling I had when I read the last word is indescribable, but happy tears were shed.

Oh! And the incredible artwork was also created by the amazing author @vkelleyart.

Highly recommended! Especially if you love love stories and turn of the 20th century NYC.

I received the eARC via @hambright_pr. All thoughts are mine alone.

#booksbooksbooks #historicalromance #historicalfantasy #lgbtqia+ #lgbtqia+fantasy #lgbtquia+books #whenthetidesheldthemoon #venessavidakelley #bookreview #bookrecs #bookstagram

I really enjoyed this book however, I felt that it could have used some more editing to make it more concise. It sometimes felt a bit meandering. I really enjoyed the author's note at the end and of course the illustrations were gorgeous.

Puerto Rican immigrant Benny is a blacksmith tasked with building a tank to house the latest exhibit in Coney Island’s Luna Park. Benny is offered a job working on the exhibits at Luna Park, where he is befriended by the company of Morgan’s Menagerie of Human Oddities.
Over several weeks, Benny builds a relationship that develops into a romance, but eventually they must make very deep life decisions that impact the story.
I loved the slow-burn story, as it allowed their romance to develop naturally and tenderly without feeling rushed. I also appreciate the amount of backstory that we got, as it showed the homophobia and racism that Benny had to deal with on a regular basis, interspersed with moments of kindness. This is a meandering story, all character-driven with little plot. I enjoyed the diverse characters in this book and loved the found family aspect of the story.
The writing in When the Tides Held the Moon was charming and atmospheric. It’s a beautiful queer romance about love, family and being true to yourself. I was completely immersed in the story from beginning to end and recommend this to anyone who celebrates diversity and believes in the power of love.

Sadly, this book didn't work out for me.. I really wanted to love it, but I was bored out of my mind.. had to dnf at 40%

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5 rounded up)

This was so beautiful! The writing is lyrical in a way that felt immersive but never overdone.

Benny and Río’s bond is the heart of the story. Quiet, queer longing with a strong sense of found family is basically my catnip, and this absolutely delivered. I absolutely loved the circus setting, and the atmosphere. I need more stories like this!

That said, I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed. So much careful buildup, and then suddenly everything was happening at once. I wanted more time to sit in the emotional payoff, especially after getting to know the characters so intimately.

I guess I like mermen now!

Not gonna lie, I mainly requested this book because of how beautiful the cover is...

This book had a bit of a slower start, but it got a lot better after a while! I feel like I didn't fully take in the story because I was in a lot of pain when I read it, but it was still pretty good!
So glad I ended up requesting it, and I highly recommend it to other people!

This does perfectly what most historical romances (especially queer and/or BIPOC) fail spectacularly at.

It is at once a devastatingly beautiful and hopeful love story while also grappling honestly with the historical period it is set in. I am actually all for historical fiction escape—queer normative versions of the past, or stories where BIPOC are front and center in times when we were not—but this weaves the truth with the poetry of the love story in such a way that they are almost inextricable.

Beautiful work and will be recommending to everyone.

Thank you to Erehwon books for a free advanced reader copy of this book.

5 stars

What a beautifully written historical fantasy. If you get swept up in the whole “the greatest showman” craze and then later were like “Uhhhhh… wait, he was actually exploiting those people!” This is a great book for you.

Found family, commentary on how immigrants are treated in America, this book is a breath of fresh air when it comes to historical fantasy.

Magical, romantic, and lovely! Rio and Benny are the ultimate star-crossed lovers and their story is beautiful, bittersweet, and full of yearning. The historical setting is well described and researched, and at times I felt like I was right there with the characters. I appreciated how diverse the cast of characters is, and how Benny is adopted into their unique found family. The artwork is incredible! When the Tides Held the Moon is a gorgeous tale of reinvention, desperation, striving, becoming, and finding yourself and your people.

(4.5 stars, rounded up)

I had been looking forward to this book for a long time, and was delighted to find that it did not disappoint. In addition to its compelling historical setting and delightful cast of characters, it also had absolutely stunning illustrations throughout, and was a fantastic read from start to finish. I especially enjoyed the very strong character development throughout.

While first started reading this book as a digital advance copy, it never quite hooked me the way that I thought it would and so when I did read it through, it was a final physical copy that I read. I do think that this book is uniquely suited to a physical format, with the dual-colour illustrations and the gorgeous borders that surround the page at the start of each chapter (the borders slowly change over the course of the book along with the plot progression, which I thought was a particularly lovely touch).

I appreciated all of the main cast of characters, and thought that there was a good balance between developing the platonic relationships between Benny and the rest of the performers and the romantic relationship between Benny and Rio. My preference generally falls in favour of giving 'screen time' to the former, and I was very pleased to find that it felt like the platonic relationships were valued in their own right throughout, even as they also helped to advance the romantic arc of the story.

Another thing I think this book did really well was balancing action with calmer sections that allowed you to connect with the characters properly. A lot happened over the course of the book, but I still felt like I got a chance to see how all of the characters interacted with each other when they had a little space to breathe, which really helped to cement the found family aspect of the book. It meant that I truly believed in the trust built between the characters and so the payoff at the end seemed very much earned.

The best word I think I can find to describe this book is heartwarming. The core of it is all about making your own family, and trusting that they will stand with you when you need them the most, through all of the trials and tribulations that life inevitably brings.

Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book. I found it engaging, the plot was unique, and every character was memorable. I love an historical fiction novel that takes parts of history that are rarely shown. Coney Island in 1910s New York definitely fits the bill. Throw in fantasy elements and people/mermen discovering who they are, and the fact that they may not be so different? Perfect combo.

June has been the month of queer POC mermaid stories for me, apparently. (I've also read Skin of the Sea this month.) This one is a slowburn historical M/M romance between an orphaned Puerto Rican blacksmith and a kidnapped mermaid.

My favorite part was the worldbuilding around mermaids, how they are one with the water, they have their own religion, etc. It was interesting to learn about through Rió's conversations with Benny. At the same time, Benny became part of a found family of "freaks", the other performers at the circus who didn't fit society's ideal for whatever reason. There are also multiple queer side characters, including gender fluidity in a way that felt very historically appropriate.

I literally do not have enough words to explain how much I loved this book! Venessa Vida Kelley is a superb artist and author and deserves every praise!!!

This book got off to a really slow start, but god am I glad I stuck with it. I ended up going from considering putting it on hold to being completely enraptured with the full cast of characters and so invested in everyone's stories. I will absolutely be recommending this to everyone who wants a romantasy or a found family trope.

When the Tides Held the Moon was a fun, queer, found-family historical fantasy about a Puerto Rican man who joins a sideshow on Coney Island in the 1910s and falls in love with the merman the crew captured for the show. I had a few quibbles with it (and with the way it was marketed), but ultimately I had a good time with it and would recommend it to anyone who felt drawn by the premise.

Here’s how the book was introduced on NetGalley: “The Shape of Water meets The Greatest Showman in this beautifully illustrated queer historical cozy fantasy.” Those comps are perfect, but I wouldn’t call this cozy by any means. It includes real stakes (lives threatened) and heavy themes (lots of racism, homophobia, and even sexual assault). That said, the romance aspect is definitely toned down in a way I’d expect from more of a “cozy” book. So it felt like it walked a weird line between cozy and high-stakes at times. There were also some plotlines that I felt could have been better resolved, tbh.

But overall, net positive on this one. It was a little predictable but not in a bad way, and the found family vibes were excellent, as they always are. The pacing was good and the ending was exciting. I mostly listened to this on audio and I feel like that’s a really good format for it. Also, when you understand the title, you’ll squee!

This book was beautifully written, and the artwork is amazing. I've been a long-time fan of the author's art and was really excited to read this book! The imagery is so vivid and gorgeously written. I loved the historical setting mixed in with magic realism, and throwing in mermaids with some unique lore and I'm happy! This book was incredible.

I appreciated the use of Spanish in the novel and felt it added an additional layer of authenticity, and as a non-Spanish speaker, I found the balance written very well. This book had a strong LGBTQIA+, POC (specifically Puerto Rican), and found family rep. I appreciated how each of these were handled.

It felt timely to read a book about the plight of an immigrant during current times with all that is going on. It was hard to read about Rio's captivity, but that made the story even more powerful. The book deals with racism and sexism, and the dehumanization of everyone in the show, pretty much. The book also demonstrates the different levels that one can become trapped. I think the themes were handled well. It's important to have this in books so that we can learn from history and not repeat it.

I loved Benny and Rio each as characters as well as their romance. Their journey was a slow burn and slow coming together, gradually getting to know each other. They accept and see each other for who they really are. Their story was truly a beautiful one.

This book takes you on an emotional journey along with the characters, and of course, I cried. This book was incredible. I highly recommend this book and have ordered the physical copy so I can see the artwork!