For lovers of the fairytale world, you will love this imaginative combination of the tales of two classic French fairytales, The Little Mermaid and Cinderella. I previously shared an inside look at Kell Wood's last foray into the fairytale genre in last year's After the Forest. The author's latest novel does not disappoint. It gracefully weaves the tale of Lucinde, the youngest daughter of one of the wealthiest shipowners in the port of Saint-Malo. As Lucinde digs into her past, she makes discoveries along the way, including one that she never could have imagined in her wildest dreams.

Without giving too much away for curious readers, this was wonderful blend of new characters and plot ideas with a health nod to the stories roots. I found the characters dynamic and enjoyed following their stories and arcs. The plot was well-paced and kept me interested until the end. For anyone who enjoys, fantasy, fairy tales, and retellings; this book is for you.

This is a co-mingling of tales: the big ones as well as those pulled from French and Celtic folklore. There is the rich man with three daughters, and one is extra special; there is the smuggler who hides a heart of gold along with his silks and brandies; there is a handsome sailor saved from a shipwreck. Woven in and among these stories are the lutins, the seafolk, the vengeful drowned, all gathered in one place around a natural source that also imbues protection: storm stone.

I appreciate the way Kell Woods was able to manage all of these elements into what fellow reviewer Brend called "an Eras Tour mashup". Woods focuses on themes and story, then pulls in the element of whichever folktale matches the pattern, and does it well.

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for access to the ARC. I am not compensated for my review.

Thanks to NetGalley & Tor Publishing Group for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a fun book! I was engrossed from beginning to end. This book is less about an overarching plot and more about the protagonist discovering who and what she really is. And it's a hell of a journey.

Luce is a compelling protagonist, not wholly perfect but just a naive, sheltered young girl. It's great to see her grow and evolve throughout the story and I felt bad for her and the horrible hand she was dealt. This does combine several fairytales, most notably Cinderella and Little Mermaid, but there are more and I won't say what they are since it's a spoiler. Woods did a great job creating a very imaginative combination of stories and creating her own out of it.

I'd rate this higher but sometime about it felt like...more of a meandering story? If that makes sense. I feel like the world-building could have been expanded on, but I understood why it wasn't because this was more about Luce (protagonist) than whatever drama was going on in the rest of the world. We were stuck with her perspective, essentially. It's still a great book though.

In her new dark historical fantasy Upon a Starlit Tide, Kell Woods delights readers with a scintillating combination of The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and Bluebeard wrapped in a love story that will leave you dreaming by the shores. The novel takes place om Saint-Malo, Brittany, 1785, where Lucinde Leon, the youngest daughter of a wealthy merchant and noble woman, rescues a drowning man from the sea. When it is revealed that the sailor, Morgan, is the youngest son of another wealthy ship-owning family, social intrigue among Luce and her sisters ensues as their mother commissions dresses for each of them in anticipation of a ball to celebrate Morgan’s survival. Although Luce is drawn to the dashing young sailor whose charm hides a dark past, she is also smitten with her best friend Samuel, and English smuggler who has taught her to sail. The relationships between the wealthy families and between Luce and Samuel play out in the shadow of war on the high seas, and romance and dangers intertwine seamlessly as Woods spins her tale.

Those who love the folklore of the sea will adore Upon a Starlit Tide. Woods captures the ocean’s natural beauty and creates a world where humans and Fae live side by side. Saint-Malo has been built of storm stone, a protective ballast made by the Fae which includes korrigans, water sprites, washer-women, sea hags, and sea maids. Luce has a strange connection to these creatures who are just as likely to grant wishes as they are to cause mischief, and her skin tingles whenever storm stone, a rare and valued commodity which can protect ships and sailors at sea, is near. The past haunts this Gothic Tale as the ghosts of drowned sailors search for retribution and Luce uncovers the secrets of her past as she tries to make difficult decisions about her future.

In addition to her kind and adventurous personality, Luce has a talent for music, releasing it into the air rather than simply playing the notes, and this talent is evocative of Wood’s writing ability. Woods has a way of releasing characters, settings, symbols, and themes into the air, letting multiple story lines churn over each other before coming together like a rising tide. Her lush descriptions of silk dresses and masquerade balls sit next to beautiful explorations of the coastline and sea, creating a narrative that is impossible to put down. If you are a fan of Gothic tales, family mysteries, romantic unions, ocean legends, or ancient fairy tales released in innovative new ways, you must read this book. I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

I really enjoyed that this uses Cinderella and the Little mermaid to tell a story to create a new story. The plot was everything that I wanted and was really enjoyed the overall feel of this. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and had that charm that I was looking for from the concept. I really enjoyed the time-period and getting to go through this story. Kell Woods wrote this perfectly and was glad I got to read this.

Impossible to put down. Magical and masterfully done. Will reread, most definitely. And I will also be looking out for this author again. Such a fantastic tale!

I am quite the sucker for a mythlogical based fantasy. Kell Woods did not disappoint! This book was completely charming and has a beautifully woven storyline. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods is a beautiful, yet dark, retelling that combines “The Little Mermaid” and “Cinderella”. The story speaks to love, betrayal, and self-discovery.

The story is French-inspired and has a strong female lead, Lucinde “Luce” Leon. Luce has a strong desire to be out at sea but knows it’s not typical for a woman high in society and has a deformity in both feet making walking and standing difficult. One day, Luce rescues a gentleman from the ocean who turns out to be the son of a prominent family named Morgan. He attempts to court Luce while she realizes she’s in love with another, an English smuggler named Samuel. After uncovering that a war fleet is headed to conquer her home, Luce knows she must save her family only to discover that Morgan is a monster and her father is not who she truly thought he was.

The book was a page turner but the story never felt rushed. It was laced with love and utter betrayal but Luce discovers who she truly is and who she is meant to be. It was beautifully written and a great retelling of two classic fairytales. I would highly recommend this book to those who are fans of the show “Once Upon a Time”, fiarytale retellings, and general fantasy fans.

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods tells the story of Luce, the adopted daughter of a wealthy French sea captain. Like many young upper class women of the 1700s Luce led a fairly sheltered life in her family's home by the sea. Her connection to the water drew her out of her father's protective watch to the cove on the mansions land. Here she finds a sailor dying on a shipwreck that she immediately saves despite old wives tales that would advise her not to. This kicks off a series of events that unearths dark secrets of her past and a love for her future.

Woods built a world that combined many different fairytales to create one of her own. Some of the themes she explores are familiar, while others less so. Even within these narratives that are so familiar to readers, she still was able to surprise me with twists and turns along the way. The conflict inside Luce builds so beautifully along with the weather and temperament of the sea. It drew me in so completely it was hard to put down. The prose were elegant and flowed from one chapter to the next just as her use of the sea as a constant throughout the story.

Truly a beautiful addition to my shelf. I cannot recommend it enough to those who love tales of fae, fantasy, and fortune.

i fear miss kell woods is gonna become my favorite retelling author. This was so deliciously dark - especially if you have read/watched Cinderella, Little Mermaid, or Blackbeard. Luce was such a refreshing mc in that she didn't preach forgiveness and go "the giving up your powers" for a man route. The cover is also stunning, as will any of the limited edition copies will be I bet.

Set against the historical backdrop of 1758 Saint-Malo, Brittany, Lucinde "Luce" Leon is a refreshing and spirited character who defies the conventions of her class, gender, and time. Instead of yearning to marry like her sisters, Luce wants to sail the sea, where she feels truly alive. Samuel, an English smuggler and her best friend, secretly teaches her sailing lessons. When she struggles with familial duty, women's societal roles, and desires, she sets herself apart as a brave and fearless character.

The book expertly balances the enchantment of fairy tale magic with the rawness of betrayal. Luce's gradual discovery of her power adds another layer of depth. This transformation of her character proposes that her true power lies in embracing her true identity. The romance storyline blurs the line between love and manipulation. I will let you decide the complexities of Luce's relationships and the power dynamics. It also emphasizes the novel's theme of breaking free from societal or self-imposed restrictions, creating a gritty retelling than most with character depth and tension.
It's a story of love and the lust for power wrapped in the seduction of the sea.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group, Tor Books.

Upon a Starlit Tide combines Cinderella and The Little Mermaid in an 18th century Fae-touched Bretagne to create an atmospheric and vibrant story. Lucinde is the young adult daughter of a shipping magnate who took her in during his travels as a privateer, to be raised alongside his two biological daughters. Luce is his clear favorite, as she has an affinity for sailing and the sea. She sneaks out regularly to a cove next to that of a sea-witch, to meet with Samuel and Bones: smugglers who also dabble in scavenging through shipwrecks. The novel begins with Luce rescuing a handsome young man from a shipwreck—Morgan de Châtelaine, the youngest son of another, wealthier, shipping magnate. She finds herself torn between her attraction to Samuel and Morgan, the former her longtime friend, the latter an incredibly advantageous (and, baseline, acceptable) marriage for her family. Ultimately, Lucinde learns more of Morgan’s true character and of her own personal history, and she has to choose between loyalty to the family that raised her and faithfulness to her own identity.

I found this novel beautifully written and utterly engrossing—the setting, on the shores of Bretagne and in shipyards and grand mansions, was so well described that I could almost smell the salt air or feel the texture of the wood of the ships. The story is brutal at times, no one safe from familial jealousy or a spoiled young man’s wrath. It takes place in two worlds, as Luce does, balancing between the society of Saint-Malo and the wildness of the Manche. The groac’h—the sea-witch—was my favorite figure within the novel; I genuinely gasped when she stepped in. I really enjoyed Upon a Starlit Tide, and would recommend it to readers of historical fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, and those who, like me, have been subconsciously seeking a Pirates of the Caribbean version of The Tail of Emily Windsnap.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor for providing me an advance copy of Upon a Starlit Tide in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this! Woods' writing has come a long way since After the Forest, which I felt pretty neutral towards. I liked the combination of both The Little Mermaid and Cinderella that was present in the story, although it was so unique that it wasn't a true retelling. I loved Luce and Samuel, and I thought their romance was realistic and not rushed at all. There are such complicated themes of family in this book, I felt like I was a fly on the wall listening to a real family.

It was overly narrative for my personal taste, and I stopped after chapter 1 (5%). I don't think it's the right fit for our libraries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

4.5 stars If you are looking for a story with strong women, deep emotions, abd a story as moving and unforgiving as the sea, this is it. Highly recommend.

Kell Woods has wonderful writing and I can see this being very popular, especially with such a gorgeous cover, but for me, the melding of two fairytales felt forced rather than creating something more than the sum of its parts. As I read more fairytale retellings, I find I am gravitating more toward fresh takes or things that go in unusual directions. This felt very by the book, the setting more an excuse to give us lots of beautiful gowns than a chance to really place the characters somewhere in history. There are so many intricate nuances to trade in the 1700's, many of them ugly. A few hand-waving paragraphs at the 40% mark to extricate our protagonist from direct involvement in the slave trade felt both too late and unsatisfactory when so much of the book is based on the character's desire to set to sea and her father's many trading ships. For adult fantasy, I want more than that.
There were also moments when the protagonist judged her sisters harshly for doing exactly what she herself wanted to do that struck a sour note. It felt hypocritical in a book meant to be about discovering who you are and living for yourself and, if not out of character, then an unpleasant aspect of someone who we were meant to wholeheartedly root for and relate with.

I really enjoyed this book!! The plot was so interesting and full of adventure that I was never bored. The author did a great job with character development because I was full invested in there stories. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends and family.

This book was almost impossible to put down. I was drawn into the story so quickly that I barreled through it because I had to know what happens!! I'm not overly familiar with the time and place in which it takes place so I had to do some Googling and looking at maps, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the novel one bit. It does try to do a lot of things and sort of drags in places, but I was so engrossed in this world that I didn't mind spending more time in it. And the ending is also very satisfying. I enjoyed this author's debut well enough, but I think Kell Woods has definitely leveled up with this one! We love to see it!