With lush illustrations and buoyant prose, Venessa Vida Kelley blends historical fantasy with epic romance at the turn of the 20th century in this unforgettable New York fairytale of queer identity and found family. “Venessa gives life to the most unexpected things. I have a strong, strong feeling that this is the start of something special.” —TJ KLUNE, New York Times Bestselling author of The House in the Cerulean Sea Benigno “Benny” Caldera knows an orphaned Boricua blacksmith in 1910s New York City can’t call himself an artist. But the ironwork tank he creates for famed Coney Island playground, Luna Park, astounds everyone, especially the eccentric side-show proprietor who commissioned it. Benny’s work earns him an invitation to join the show’s eclectic crew of performers—his first welcome in the city—and share in their astonishing secret: the tank Benny built is a cage for their newest exhibit, a living, breathing, in-the-flesh merman stolen from the banks of the East River under a gleaming full moon. The merman is more than a mythic marvel, though. Benny comes to know Río as a clever philosopher, an observant traveler, and a kindred spirit more beautiful and compassionate than any human he’s ever met. Despite their different worlds, what begins as a friendship of necessity deepens to love, leading Benny’s heart into uncharted waters where he can no longer ignore the agonizing truth of Río’s captivity—and his own. A cage is no place for a merman to survive. Though releasing Río means betraying his new family, bankrupting their home, and losing his soulmate forever, Benny must look within for the courage to do what’s right, and find a love strong enough to free them both. "When the Tides Held the Moon is a beautifully illustrated novel with artwork throughout by Venessa Vida Kelley, known for her stunning romance and fantasy art. 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.
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Pub. date 4/22/25
I usually spend several hours editing and polishing my GR reviews, but I'm going to go straight from the heart on this one because it's so freaking good and I want everyone to put it on their TBR shelves.
Like the best fairy tale adaptations, the plot is familiar, but the appeal lies in its lyrical writing, strong sense of time and place, and memorable characters. MC Benigno “Benny” Caldera starts the story alone, an asthmatic Puerto Rican without family or friends who barely gets by on his Brooklyn dockside blacksmith wages. By the exciting climax, he has been befriended by the sideshow's “oddities,” fallen passionately in love, and evolved into a genuine hero who organizes a daring rescue of his beloved. The merman, dubbed by Benny as “Rio,” is noble and beautiful, furious about his captivity but quickly able to discern Benny's pure soul. There's not a lot of nuance to their relationship, but when the two of them sing Spanish love songs to each other my heart grew three sizes. Although I knew there was a happy ending, my anxiety level spiked as the moustache-twirling villain tried to permanently separate them, then settled back down to appreciate the word-perfect finale.
At a time when we need it the most, this book celebrates those who are labeled as “other,” whether they are a queer immigrant, a land-stranded merman, a Russian giant, or an Indian little person. One of the female carnival performers is put through more trauma than a silent movie heroine, but she too emerges on top (CW for forced prostitution).
Kelley's enchanting writing is accompanied by beautiful illustrations that emphasize the early 20th century feel of the story. A number of the drawings were not completed in time to be included in my ARC copy, but you can be sure I will seek out a published version to get the full benefit.
When the Tides Held the Moon broke my months-long fiction dry spell, and I know it will go on my comfort re-read shelf (except for the nerve-wracking denouement). If you are looking for a cheesy but sincerely romantic novel that feels both period accurate and timeless, grab it as soon as you can.
ARC received from publisher and Net Galley in exchange for review.
