“Before I left, I put my hand against the glass. A promise to return. He came and placed an argentine palm on the glass against mine. A promise to wait.”
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When the Tides Held the Moon is a historical fiction set in 1910’s New York City, where our main character Benny works as a black smith scraping by. He is commissioned to create the iron frame of a giant tank for an eccentric amusement park owner. An odd request, made odder when Benny is roped into catching the tanks new inhabitant: a merman.
Through catching a merman called Rio, to preparing the attraction for opening night, we get such a lovely story of loneliness, love, forgiveness, and a reminder we have the ability to choose our own paths.
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This book is the perfect mix of lighthearted and tragic! The found family is messy and thoroughly entertaining, and the queer rep was diverse and such an important part of the story! If you are a sucker for nicknames you are going to DIE reading this.
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5/5 stars!
Thank you to Erewhon Books and Venessa Vida Kelley for the ARC copy! 💙

You know, sometimes you start a book and it just feels like it might become a favourite of the year. The writing style draws you in, the characters intrigue you, the world calls to you. This is what happened with <i>When the Tides Held the Moon</i>. I really really enjoyed this one when I started it because it had so many things I adore: historical setting with fantastical elements (merpeople!!), carneval/amusement park/freak show vibes, intriguing main character and a flowery kind of writing style. I loved it, I was into it.
I enjoyed getting to know Benigno and was immediately captivated by his plight, and I couldn't stop reading once Rio the merman got involved. It was heartbreaking, it was exciting and I couldn't wait to witness their relationship blossom.
The amazement did fizzle out a little the more I read on, though. The pacing is rather slow, the story is predictable from start to finish, the love story happens wayyyyy too quickly for my liking and the side characters, which I very much enjoyed despite some stereotypical ideas, where for the most part completely sidelined until they were needed for the story progression again. Which is why the found family aspects never worked so well. The author also chose to simply glaze over central conflicts in the story, especially regarding the romance: There should have been so much more conflict between the Benigno and Rio based on the fact that Benigno wasn't just a part of Rio's capture and death of his mother, but instrumental in it by building the cage that traps him. But Rio more or less forgives after a single conversation and it felt like two pages later they were in love already. Where is the nuance, the conflict, the struggle, the organic development of feelings rooted in such a traumatic event? That was the interesting stuff and it was simply pushed to the side for instant romance instead. Which is, more or less, when my enjoyment of the story quickly fizzled out.
Benigno is also just a bit toooo perfect to stay interesting for the whole book. He basically has no flaws other than maybe being a little naive. I also personally didn't enjoy the ending "twist". Yes, it allowed for the perfect happy ending (which I know most people will enjoy) but it also took away the more interesting, dramatic aspects of the relationship. It was magical, at least.
So in the end? There is beauty in this novel. It's a cute, magical love story with stakes that never really do feel like stakes, with villains that are little less than caricatures, with sprinklings of found family and a saccharine romance that I know will speak to a lot of people, especially romantasy fans. It's a good little read for a rainy weekend though probably won't stay with you for longer than that.
2,5 stars, I think, rounding up mostly for the strong beginning.

Beautifully written! I enjoyed the story though there were moments that seemed to lag for me. I enjoyed the family that Benny found within the troop and I enjoyed each one of their characters. The ending leaves a lot to interpretation, but you get a sense of everything even though the author doesn't tell you exactly what happened. I still have questions that weren't answered in the way that made things clear, but dang was that ending cute! And very intense! My heart!

I really enjoyed how whimsical this book was! I’m such a sucker for historical fiction mixed with magical realism, and I think this book pulled it off beautifully. The way the author blended the historical New york with a touch of fantastical made the world feel rich and vivid, and I was completely drawn in.

Benny is such a well-crafted character — I loved getting his perspective on things, especially because he’s not a straightforward “good guy.” He’s still involved in capturing Rio, and you can see his flaws and the compromises he makes, but his personal journey throughout the book really made me root for him. He’s complex, layered, and his growth felt authentic.

The found family element was also chef’s kiss — it gave the story so much warmth and heart. I love when a group of misfits comes together and builds something stronger than blood ties. That said, I did feel like a few of the side characters fell into somewhat stereotypical roles, and I wish they had been given a bit more depth or nuance. Still, they were enjoyable and served the story well overall.

In short, this book was a delightful mix of charm, magic, and emotional depth, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loves historical books with a touch of magical realism. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Lovely work of art. The illustrations alone make the book worth reading. I loved the romance and I loved the found family even more.

Thank you NetGalley and Erewhon Books for giving me access to an e-arc for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

1911, Coney Island. Benigno "Benny" Caldera is a Puerto Rican immigrant, a steel worker with asthma hoping to make a life for himself in a new country. When showman Sam Morgan commissions a giant iron and glass cage, Benny is the one who makes it, and is then recruited to the side show as a general handyman. But what's going into the cage? A genuine merman, torn from the sea. Benny slowly earns Rio's trust and they fall in love. As Benny gets close to both Rio and the rest of the show cast, he has to make some horrible decisions: if he frees Rio, he loses his love and destroys the show and the new family he has. If he doesn't free Rio, he will die and worse things even may happen.
I really loved this. Benny was wonderful, and so was the rest of the cast. I wish there had been more Rio chapters, but the chapters we did have were really well-written and had this dreamy, inhuman quality that emphasized that he wasn't human, but was so human at the same time? On the topic of the side show crew: there are a pair of "conjoined" "twins," a giant grieving Russian man, an Indian little madam who was maybe my favorite, a contortionist with hidden depths, a fat lady who mothers the whole crew, and an Irish firebreather. They stole the show. I loved it. The setting, 1911 New York, was also such an underrated setting. I would read dozens of books set in this time and place. Just very good. A very stellar book.

A good overall vibe for a fantasy book, not my usual cup of tea especially with the found home/family tropes but it was an enjoyable read for me overall which is why I have given it 4 stars.

As a girl who grew up watching fairy-tale films and reading mystical books, I am a huge fan of mermaids. As soon as I hear about this book, I knew it was going to be something I want to pick up and read. Everyone I know had been talking about its release!

I really enjoyed the author writing style. Vanessa Vida Kelly’s debut blends lyrical prose with stunning visuals to tell a deeply emotional story of a queer Puerto Rican blacksmith and a captive merman discovering trust, family, and home.

This is a delightful, heartfelt read with a huge amount of emotional depth. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in mermaids or found family. This year has been a really strong queer year with so many new books coming out and this is there competing for a top spot.

Such a beautiful book. I absolutely adored this book. The beautiful, lyrical writing was captivating. I highly recommend this for all fantasy romance lovers.

When the Tides Held the Moon is, and probably will be, one of my top reads of 2025. First, the author is an absolutely gifted artist and their illustrations throughout the book really bring the characters to life. As we get to know Benigno (Benny), we learn about what brought him to America, and how (like many of us), see that the American Dream isn't the reality that he found. The slow-burn romance between Benny and Rio is heartwarming to experience, and the tenderness and care that they have for each other just shows that they're a perfect pair.

I really loved the way that the author wove in real events that happened in American history, and not only highlighted but uplifted marginalized communities and voices in the book. Found family plays such an integral role throughout the story, and through Benny's eyes we get to see just how crucial it is to find representation and community.

I absolutely adored this book, and I cannot wait to see what Venessa Vida Kelley has in store for us in the future - I've found a new auto-buy author, for sure.

“The moon and the ocean are lovers. Companions in the night,” he murmured. “When the moon is full and the sea is calm, it hangs so large and luminous in the sky; I would go to the surface just to bathe in the silver glow and feel the tides rise to greet it.”

Beautiful writing, engaging story, likeable characters, an adorable found family - I just can't find it in me to love the circus in general. However, the historical setting is rich and vividly depicted, the relationship between the main characters is sweet and lovely, though there were times when I wanted to shake Benny lovingly to wake him up and stop dragging his feet.

"I’d gotten so used to being treated like I couldn’t feel pain; I was a machine meant to labor 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."

This was a beautiful story. I loved the illustrations in between chapters, the elements of found family, the diverse group of performers, the descriptiveness of people and the theme park, the inner thoughts of Rio, and watching two people slowly realize they’re in love. I enjoyed the soft moments, and the exciting action packed moments. If you’re a fan of The Greatest Showman, this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

Benny is an asthmatic Puerto Rican orphan, barely surviving his blacksmith job in New York City when he is given the opportunity to create an ironwork tank for a Coney Island attraction. He never expects that the work of art he’s created to catch the eye of the sideshow manager who commissioned it, nor for the manager to offer him a job with the sideshow. He definitely doesn’t expect for the tank to hold a mermaid, and he absolutely did not plan to fall in love with him.

At the surface this book is a romance about a man and a merman, but it’s so much more. This book is about what it means to be a family, self-acceptance, and finding your home in the world. I absolutely adored When the Tides Held the Moon. Benny and Rio’s romance was beautiful to watch unfold. All of the characters, even side characters were planned out with their own backgrounds and stories that made this really cohesive. The use of Spanish phrases was beautifully done and the glossary was comprehensive. This book also had absolutely gorgeous illustrations.

🔥M/M romance
🔥found family
🔥 BIPOC representation
🔥 merman
🔥 sideshow setting!

This was a 5 star read and I’ll be thinking about it for a long while.

This was an absolutely stunning read. I came for the merman, stayed for the found family. As someone who has struggled with a sense of belonging many times in life, this story resonated with me in such a delightful way. I found myself attached to every character and absolutely LOVED Rio and Benigno. I also ended up buying a physical copy on release day and the thoughtful design of the entire book is absolutely GORGEOUS.

An amazing story. The found family in land and in the ocean made the entire book for me. The portrayal of hardships that south america immigrants had to go through in those times was beautiful written but hard to read. The treatment of the people that were part of freak shows was also heartbreaking specially thw treatment of Mary.

Thank you to Venessa for a beautiful story.

Benny doesn't belong anywhere. He's a Puerto Rican immigrant trying desperately to fulfill his aunt's dying wish by making it in New York City (in the early 1900s). He's a gifted craftsman, however, and one day his welding skills make him an asset to the mysterious leader of an oddities exhibit at Coney Island. Benny unwittingly becomes part of The Plan: to capture a mermaid and become the most successful company in the park. Soon they have their own merman. Initially, Benny is afraid, but quickly, he and the merman discover that they have more in common than they thought. What follows is a gorgeous and dangerous story of found family, tenderness, true love, and finding oneself. You will NOT want to miss it.

I can't remember the last time I read a book this EPIC. There have been comparisons made to the movies "The Greatest Showman" and "The Shape of Water", and I can understand why. Honestly, I felt like I was watching a movie the entire time I read this book. The author is a gifted storyteller, taking us to early 20th century New York City as seen through the eyes of a young Puerto Rican immigrant. They not only write, but ILLUSTRATE the book! I adored the pictures, along with the narration, done beautifully by Lee Osorio and Joel de la Fuente, who has the Herculean task of conveying more accents than you can shake a stick at! (Yes, I bought the book AND the audiobook, despite having the ARC, because I wanted to be fully immersed. I'm SO GLAD I did!)

There are many richly developed characters within these pages, and the story is stronger for it. We get to see flawed but beautiful people who try to hide the ugly parts of themselves in hopes of finding acceptance and success. We learn that often empathy, compassion, and love are the greatest gifts we can both give and receive. Scenes in which loyalties are tested become some of the most gripping of all. But, shining brightest, is the BEAUTIFUL bond between our heroes. It made me want to weep, and use a word like "weep", because no other word will do! To be clear, this is not "man and merman get it on". This is "two gorgeous souls find, uplift, and make one another whole through tenderness, care, and understanding". It's emotional, poignant, and unforgettable. 😭😭

Trigger warnings: shooting/being shot, blood, tuberculosis, asthma (severe), burns, sex trafficking, violence, assault, racism, neglect, homophobia

I'd like to thank Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have to say, THE WORLD BUILDING, phenomenal!
I was instantly captivated in the first chapter, and I couldn't put the book down.

Compared to another merfolk book I picked up, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, The depth of the characters, the relationship between Benigno and Rio, the development of the story... It had me right in the feels the entire time.

Benigno is a metal worker who is tasked to kidnap and frame a tank for Rio, a merman. The form an unlikely friendship that develops into something...more.

Found family is a weak spot for me in books. This is about finding home in the unlikeliest places, and I am 100% sure that it'll have you in tears.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this work of art. I am so excited to see what else Venessa has in store!

i went into this thinking nothing more than “man, i love mermaids”. it helps that i was obsessed with the shape of water back when it came out, and i’ve felt like a fish out of water for most of my life, so there’s just something about stories like this/anything with mermaids that Get To Me in a way that other fantasy beasts could never do quite as deep. Benigno is a lonely and orphaned puerto rican metal worker in 1910s new york who builds a tank to trap a merman for a coney island circus show and oops! falls in love with him! and oops! finds himself a whole family in the process! this isn’t exactly low stakes but it’s sweet as hell, had me giggling and ooh-ing and aw-ing all over, and just about gave me everything i expected, even if it did take a while to hook line and sinker me in.
thank you to netgalley and erewhon books for this digital arc, and to Venessa Vida Kelley not only for the words but also for the breathtaking illustrations <3

Personally, the writing style of this just wasn't for me! This was an interesting take on the Greatest Showman, however that story didn't really resonate with me. I wanted to give it a chance though.

I knew this was going to be good. I knew it was going to be excellent, really, but this level of perfection?
Insane. I sometimes truly had to put the book down because my own feelings overwhelmed me so much. The writing is beautiful and expressive and so full of emotion. The world that Venessa Vida Kelley has crafted is magnificent. Horrifying and wondrous. I am so in awe of her immense talent, be it for writing or for illustrating because those illustrations? I RAN to get a physical copy for my shelf because getting to hold these pictures in my hand is so very needed. 10/10, cannot wait for more stories.

5⭐️ 0🌶️ 5 🎧

Wow! Just wow! Literally everything about this book was stunningly beautiful.

Not only did Venessa write the most amazingly cinematic book filled with so much love, compassion and resilience, she filled it with gorgeous illustrations and topped it off with one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen!

Even the audiobook was a work of art! Lee Osorio and Joel de la Fuente gave outstanding performances! The number of accents in Beningo’s chapters was astounding and the lyrical way Rio’s chapters were brought to life both left me in awe.

I loved this book so much! At the heart of it this book was about family and love. Not just the romantic love between Benny and Rio but also the amazing family that the Menagerie found with each other. The no holds barred, sacrifice anything kind of love.

But of course finding yourself and that family doesn’t come without challenges and the Menagerie faced more challenges than usual. While my heart ached for the racism, homophobia, and othering these characters faced, their acceptance of each other, love and resilience brought me so much joy.

I savored this book and took my time reading it and was so sad when it was over. I wanted more!