🌟 4.5

🐚 Historical fantasy
🐚 Mystical
🐚 Mermaids
🐚 Fairytale retelling - new twist
🐚 Dark vibes
🐚 Folklore & history - seamless
🐚 Slowburn romance
🐚 Love triangle

I usually don’t like historical fiction but this was such a fun and engaging combination of fantasy genre with history; folklore and fairytale retelling that felt fresh and interesting, and had a good amount of realism. Gorgeous world building, great and interesting characters that I enjoyed reading about.

Review of Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods – ★★★★☆

A beautifully written historical fantasy blending elements of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella. Set in 1758 Saint-Malo, Brittany, it follows Lucinde Léon as she seeks freedom beyond her privileged life.

Highlights:
Fairy Tale Retelling – Inspired by classic stories with a fresh twist.
Engaging Protagonist – Lucinde’s adventurous spirit drives the plot.
Magic & Reality – A seamless mix of history and fantasy.
Rich Descriptions – Vivid seaside setting enhances immersion.
Compelling Story – Themes of love, power, and self-discovery.
A must-read for fans of historical fantasy and fairy tale retellings!

“Upon a Starlit Tide” by Kell Woods is a captivating historical fantasy that masterfully intertwines elements of “The Little Mermaid” and “Cinderella” into a unique tale of love, power, and betrayal.

Set in 1758 Saint-Malo, Brittany, the story follows Lucinde Léon, the youngest daughter of a wealthy shipowner, who feels confined by the city’s high walls and her societal expectations. Secretly learning to sail from her best friend, Samuel—a charming English smuggler—Luce’s yearning for the sea leads her to rescue a mysterious drowning man, propelling her into a world of glittering balls, faerie magic, and hidden dangers.

As secrets from the ocean’s depths emerge, Luce discovers her own burgeoning powers, challenging her understanding of identity and destiny. Woods crafts an enchanting narrative filled with rich historical detail, complex characters, and a mesmerizing blend of familiar fairy tale motifs reimagined in unexpected ways.

Such brilliant read.

Upon a Starlit Tide is an amazing adult fairytale retelling that I absolutely loved. Kell Wood’s writing is stunning and descriptions made me feel transported. The story is enchanting and I felt completely swept up in the magical world of midnight balls, fae mermaids and magic. The romance was tender and beautiful and made me tear up. Overall this book is a gem that I’m so glad I read.

I will continue to pick up every single book Kell Woods writes and push her books onto everyone I meet.

Absolutely loved this book! I'd had the moments of awe and wonder we love from fairytales but also the femine rage that I absolutely love to find in books. It really is as described a combination of the Little Mermaid and Cinderella.
The characters were so well written and they just came alive. Luce's development throughout the book was amazing given the size of the book. I loved her strength in this story.
The world and the way in which Luce viewed the sea was so amazing to read! I'd love to follow the tides with her.
Another amazing book from Kell Woods!

An historical fantasy set in 1700s Saint-Malo, Brittany. It’s a combination retelling of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella, with additional local folklore. It worked for me! An enjoyable read, gentle pacing but more action towards the end.

A wonderful historical fantasy re-telling of the little mermaid that will forever be apart of me and keep me thinking about it

I was overwhelmingly impressed with this! I'm not usually one for fairytale re-tellings or mermaids, but this worked for me. It was a cool blend of historical fantasy with drops of fairytales and romance. I really liked the French based setting, and felt as though it fit the classic image of mermaids, ports, and the sea. I thought the FMC Lucinde was well-written as being strong, but through a journey of empowerment.
Overall, this was a refreshing read in a setting and blend of genres I don't typically lean toward but was so compelling in terms of setting, characters, and magic.

Upon A Starlit Tide is a captivating story that picks you up and transports you to the past but adds a fantasy spin to it. This beautiful story draws inspiration from Cinderella and The Little Mermaid but also weaves in the lesser known fairytales & folklore, along with the magic of the fae.

Kell Woods has a way of stamping her mark on fairytale retellings. While we are all familiar with the better known fairytales, Kell works her magic on the story and really makes it her own.

Luce is an enchanting character, caught between two men. Samuel and Morgan were polar opposites, one a smuggler and the other part of the aristocracy, which added some interesting dynamics to the story. Luce herself is part of that aristocracy but she cannot resist the call of the sea.

I loved Luce’s relationship with her sisters Charlotte and Veronique. Charlotte and Veronique were Luce’s adoptive sisters, so it wasn’t the typical Cinderella familial relationship. Often times there was sisterly love interlaced with jealousy instead of the full wicked step sister’s vibe.

Upon a Starlit Tide is beautifully written and well researched. There is a lot of focus on the nautical elements and life of the aristocracy in the story and I found it so immersive.

Thank you to HarperVoyager Australia for gifting me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This beautifully dark historical fantasy reimagines elements of Cinderella and The Little Mermaid, immersing the reader in 18th-century France. Among the human folk, mythical creatures, magic, and folklore intertwine seamlessly. The story follows Lucinde, the daughter of a wealthy shipowner in St. Malo, France. She and her two sisters live a life of opulence, where society expects them to secure suitable husbands. However, Lucinde longs for adventure and the open sea.

I was completely swept away by this story. The pacing was excellent, drawing me in from the very first chapter. The writing is both descriptive and lyrical, and Lucinde, as the FMC, has remarkable depth. It’s clear the author conducted extensive research, from the historical clothing to the vivid landscapes. This book offers love, betrayal, and secrets, all set against a lush nautical backdrop, where unexpected twists keep me engaged.

The novel explores themes of female empowerment, disability, social hierarchies, sisterhood, romance, and self-discovery. It also highlights the effects of colonialism and the destruction of lands and cultures, leaving a lasting impact. Simply put, this was a delight to read. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fairytales with depth and whimsical, immersive writing.

what a hauntingly beautiful story.

4.75 stars!

this is a dark historical fantasy with a twist on cinderella & the little mermaid & had me enraptured from the very beginning.

set during the 18th century in france where fae exist, we follow luce (a fmc that you can’t help falling in love with) where she uncovers secrets & betrayal as she pushes the boundaries to finding her true self. she was selfless, sharp witted & the sweetest individual who went after what she wanted.

this was so luscious in the prose, the storytelling & folklore it was just bewitching. i truly felt like i was immersed & didn’t want to leave.

one of my favourite parts was the romance, the yearning was unbearably heartbreaking & had me in actual tears! and don’t get me started on the amounts of betrayal - it kept me on my toes as i could barely keep up!

read if you like:
- folklore
- romantic fairytales
- mermaids
- betrayal
- yearning

i’ve never read a story like this & just know it’s going to stay with me for a long time. definitely one of my favourite fantasy standalones & i can’t wait to read more of kell woods!

a big thank you to harper voyager, harper collins & netgalley for the arc! i can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

For all of the mediocre candy reads that I do, along comes a gem of a story that will stay with me.

I am wowed by this book. This is a dark historical fantasy with a romantic heart.

“Perhaps we will find a fair wind and follow a path of stars.” p. 345

The stunning prose begins from the opening stanza sweeping the reader to Saint-Malo (circa 1758) and the sea beyond. Luce Leon has always been drawn to the sea. The daughter of a successful corsair, she unlike her sisters, cares less for an advantageous marriage but more for the mystery of the sea. Perhaps stowing away aboard one of her father’s ships.

The story is full of lyrical imagery, offering an enchanting, immersive and fulfilling tale woven with familiar elements of mermaids, sea-folk, Cinderella, pirates and Bretagne folklore.

The magic and mystery ebb gently together. The realtionships around her are built on love, on truth, on betrayal, on lies and on greed. In trusting her instincts Luce has a quiet fierceness and inner knowing that like the tide, is ultimately transformative.

Be brave
Be free.
“I‘ll wait for you.” p.409

With thanks to the author, Kell Woods, HarperVoyager Australia and Netgalley for an eARC to read ahead of publication.

Sadly, the formatting for this book was not readable whatsoever on my kindle! I absolutely adore Kell Woods however, and have no doubt that this is going to be a phenomenal book.

istorical fantasy is one of my favourite genres, and it seems Australia is rich with phenomenal historical fantasy authors who write amazing fairy tale retellings. Two of my favourites are Juliet Marillier and Kate Forsyth, and after reading Upon a Starlit Tide, I need to add Kell Woods to this list.

Set in a version of 19th century France where fae exist, Upon a Starlit Tide follows Luce, the youngest adopted daughter of one of the richest men in Saint Marlo as she butts against the confines of society’s expectations, uncovers family secrets, and falls in love. There are lots of little nods to The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and faerie folktales and legends.

I don’t know if I can find the words to properly describe how much I loved Upon a Starlit Tide.

It caught me like a siren’s song, enchanting me with its gorgeous words and fascinating characters. I want to gush about how much I loved Luce, the setting, the lore, the sweet friends to lovers romance (which had plenty of yearning), the way it portrayed the sisters’ relationships (the good and the complicated), my heartbreak for Luce as she uncovers her family’s secrets, the ending, and more.

But you might just have to settle for that word vomit. Trying to come up with short, coherent sentences to describe what I loved might just be impossible.

Thank you for approving me to read this review copy via Netgalley! I can’t wait to add the physical trophy to my shelf. I know this will be a book I reread more than once in the future.

5 Stars

*Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the eARC - this is my honest review*

I truly adored this.

Whilst Upon a Starlit Tide is in parts a combination of existing stories like The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and Bluebeard, it was such a rich, sumptuous fairy tale on its own. It gave me the same feeling that Pirates of the Caribbean and Ever After did - romantic, fluffy, heartbroken, gasping and satisfied.

Set in France in 1758 on the Manche (the Channel), early one morning Lucinde rescues a handsome sailor from drowning only to find that the rest of the crew has perished in the shipwreck. Barely lucid, the sailor kisses Luce passionately and the action changes her life forever. Amidst growing tensions in the war between England and France, secrets, lies, smugglers, fae and ghosts begin to unravel around Luce and suddenly she, too, begins to change. Her life isn't what she thought - caught between being the dutiful daughter to her merchant and shipbuilder father, the heated gazes of the handsome sailor she rescued, and the desperation to help her English smuggler friend, Luce has to learn her past to save her future.

I could really wax poetic about this one. I read it in one sitting, stayed up late to finish, and have zero regrets. It was unpredictable in a lot of ways and, though I picked up on the fairy tales woven in, I was never sure who (beyond Luce) who to trust or root for. I should have seen the mysteries coming but I was so engrossed in the story that I felt like Luce as it all unfolded.

If you are a fan of romantic fairy tales, folk lore, mermaids, pirates and mystery - I highly recommend this one!

There is so much in this book to love. The built-up mystery, the big reveal of truths throughout the book. The unravelling of the story and the life of our main character was so raw and innocent. Then we get to see her grow into herself. This book has very well made characters that is so easy to love and some that are very easy to hate.

The settings are described so well, I was compelled to keep reading and to keep living in this world. The way everything happened made sense, and it is truly one of the best mesh of fairytale while still being original.

Pleaseeee read this book. It's so so good.

While being frustrated with her life behind walls, Luce spends a lot of her days secretly being taught to sail by Samuel, until one morning, Luce rescues a drowning man from the sea. Intrigued by the man, Luce is seduced into a world of glittering balls, faerie magic and secrets.

Luce really struggles with her place in this world, and really starts to come into her own through her relationships with her family, friends and the sea. I love that the familial ties were a strong driving force of this story, and the love that Luce has for her sisters. Woods has a way of creating really beautiful and whimsical tales that tug at your heartstrings and have you rooting for all the characters.

Upon a Starlit Tide is for fans of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella, slow burn and beautiful fantasies.

Thank you Harper Collins for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods is a beautifully dark and enchanting twist on classic fairy tales. With a mix of mermaid lore and courtly intrigue, the story pulls you into a world of love, power, and betrayal. The characters are layered, the stakes feel real, and there are plenty of twists to keep things interesting. If you love historical fantasy with a touch of magic and danger, this one’s definitely worth the read!

I must say I am a fan of Kell Woods and this book did not disappoint me. I have read a book recently that had mermaids in it which I didn't enjoy that much but this one. Well I was a bit mesmerised by it as it had so much going on and such a wonderful story to it.

It is historical, it is fantasy and folklore and it is thrilling and exciting as you never knew what was going to happen next. It had all the elements I would expect from a good book and more.

I love the main character, Luce, as she has so many layers to her. Her family and her backstory is intriguing and the way of life in times so far gone by is just amazing to me. This is such a well written book, love the historical aspect, the settings of mainly France but also a bit of England as well as the battles between the two countries. This is a book I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Every author and their dog (or cat) seems to be writing a mythological, folklore or fairytale retelling these days. Which, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE that for us. Stories are meant to evolve, to be reimagined through different lenses, to find new ways to enchant us. But the best retellings don’t just lean on nostalgia, they reinvent, surprise and pioneer. My favourites off the top of my head are Leigh Bardugo’s The Language of Thorns, Naomi Novik’s Spinning Silver or Elizabeth Lim’s Six Crimson Cranes.

And that’s exactly what Kell Woods has done with Upon a Starlit Tide. I didn’t know I needed a Cinderella and The Little Mermaid historical fantasy hybrid but here we are and it was genius.

She doesn’t just remix those two iconic tales. She unravelled them, threw in a pinch of Bluebeard and a good helping of Breton folklore and stitched them back together in a historical fantasy with something far darker, stranger, emotional and haunting. Plus, when I thought I knew where she was going in the story, she subverted cliches and surprised me, many different times.

Moreover, I have to hand it to Woods for walking that fine line between historical fiction authenticity, immersive fantasy and romance (there is a love triangle and that is all I can say without getting into spoiler territory). She walks that genre blend tightrope effortlessly, never overcompensating in one area or letting another fall flat.

From La Manche (The English Channel) to the malouinière descriptions as well as Saint-Malo itself, the setting feels like it’s less of a backdrop and more of a lead character. Add in Breton superstition and folklore and magic and you’ve got a world that feels real, yet imbued with the eldritch. I also thought the romance was sweet and swoony, but not in a cloying, saccharine way.

While I won’t go into plot or story, trust me—go into this one blindfolded—what I particularly appreciated was the richness to the family dynamics in the characters, particularly in Ariel-coded FMC’s Luce’s relationship with her sisters. I almost caught a whiff of the dreaded ✨not like other girls✨ trope, but Woods sidesteps it beautifully by layering the female relationships with nuance.

For example, her sisters, at first glance, slot neatly into the “wicked stepsister” mold, but Woods does something far more interesting: she makes them human, shaped by their father’s blatant favouritism, by the rigid social order that measures a woman’s worth in marriage prospects and made them complex, layered individuals who genuinely love and care for Luce and vice versa.

Finally, I have to shout out Woods’ growth as an author. Having read After the Forest, I’m blown away by her evolution and this book proves that she’s not just a one-hit wonder. She’s here to stay, and I can’t wait to see where she takes us next. Highly recommend this one for anyone who ever loved The Little Mermaid and Cinderella, and loves a dark retelling... I was awestruck!

My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.