When the Tides Held the Moon was an absolute joy to read. The writing is beautifully crafted, drawing you into a mesmerizing story that’s as enchanting as it is immersive. The illustrations were the perfect complement to the magic of the narrative. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

So very good! In all aspects. The setting ,the characters, the themes, the writing; I have nothing bad to say about this book. I read it all within one sitting and I'm devastated that it's over. I highly recommend.

I found this book incredibly easy to binge-read. The writing style is lyrical and poetic at times in a way that may have come off to me as cheesy in another book, but fit the story and atmosphere well.

The romance was sweet and intimate, though it was primarily rooted in angst/drama. This was reasonable given their circumstances, but I would have loved to see more levity in their relationship to help me buy into it a bit more completely.

The ending is a bit ambiguous, and I would have appreciated some clarification on some physical mechanics of how things play out, but I had a really good time with this! I look forward to reading more from the author.

First things first, the illustrations in this book add SO MUCH to the story and really highlighted the almost fairytale-like aspect of it. Plus, that cover? Immaculate.

Now into the review, despite my rating, I think the writing was very, very lovely. There were definitely more than a few moments where the way the author wrote something just left such a vivid picture in my head that I had to stop and just sit there for a moment. It's very difficult to highlight passages on my phone, but rest assured, I wanted to highlight a lot.

So, why the three stars? That's a bit tricky. I really liked the romance and both main characters. I just think that the story itself felt a little too long in parts and the ending was quite rushed and ambiguous. I wanted a bit more of a clearer ending. No spoilers, but it felt like I'm not quite certain exactly what the author intended. While I appreciate the nod the epilogue made to a recurring moment in the book, it did leave me wanting just a bit more.

Also, there were certain aspects of the story that felt very... familiar. That's not a bad thing, per se, but I really wanted something a little different, I think. It felt like I saw the trajectory of the story basically from the moment we got introduced to the other cast members of the show. There were very few surprises. Which, again, isn't a bad thing--especially when the writing is this evocative--I just wanted a little something more.

This is just a smaller thing, but there was a mention of Filipino people captured and held in a human zoo in the park, which I realize was both to highlight the way non-white people are othered in that time, but also give light to those darker parts of history that don't seem to get talked about as much as they should. Again, it was just a passing line, but I'd honestly hoped for some resolution on that front that I just didn't get, not even in the epilogue. I don't know. Something about it just felt weird and I can't really articulate it fully.

Even though I didn't fully fall in love with this one, I'd still highly recommend picking this up for the illustrations alone. And I'm definitely interested in seeing more of what this author has to offer in the future (especially if it comes with some more of those stunning illustrations!).

This is a novel I’ve been so excited to read, having followed Vanessa Kelley for a while now. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I absolutely fell in love with the story and the characters and think it is a phenomenal debut novel

4.0

Thank you NetGalley, Kensington publishing, and Venessa Vida Kelly for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever read a book that you wanted to like, there is everything in it that would make you like it, yet still, you find yourself unable to immerse yourself in the world and characters?

That’s this book for me, and I’m sad to say that I’ve moved this one over to my DNF shelf. I feel such despondence writing this review because I fully believed that I would devour this book. Its synopsis had everything I would normally love, the cover was beautiful, and the prose was well-written. However, I’m two weeks in, and I’m stuck trying to make it past the 30% mark because I do not feel connected to these characters, nor do I carry any desire to finish reading what happens.

This is such an odd feeling because I can’t say that the characters are written badly. They aren’t. They feel like real people, with histories, personalities, wants, and needs. Even our mythical creature Rio, has some personality to him and yet I find myself uninterested in seeing how this plot comes to fruition.

I think what it really comes down to is the pacing. It’s incredibly slow. And I feel because it’s so slow and there is nothing truly pressing happening to keep this in the back of my mind, giving me the itch to pick it up again, that it’s making me not want to continue reading.

This isn’t to say that this book was bad. I feel that there is a lot of promise to it. I do like Kelly’s writing. Her prose it excellent and immersive. You feel like you’re in this historical age with Benny and this odd cast of characters. I simply don’t think that this book is right for me, but I have full confidence that others who like a slower paced read will wholeheartedly enjoy it.

I did love the illustrations! I think they added a wonderful touch to this overall magical tale. I hope that anyone who reads this review gives the book a chance. This is a very talented author, and I fully plan to look for more works by her. Hopefully those will be more to my taste.

Again, thank you NetGalley, Kensington publishing, and Venessa Vida Kelly for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When the Tides Held the Moon was a pure delight to read. The gorgeous prose sweeps you into a captivating story. And the illustrations were *chef's kiss.* I adored Rio. Protect that merman at all costs. I can't wait to read more by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this amazing book!

I honestly can't say enough good things about this book.
It's my roman empire and no one is safe from me yapping about it

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

I have been following Venessa Vida Kelley on Instagram for a number of years now and thus, have been waiting for this book for a long time. As a lifelong mermaid fan, I have always felt there just weren't enough mermaid books out in the world. So, when Venessa started posting art of a copper haired merman in a tank with a young man staring from the other side, I have been desperately waiting for their story to finally make it into my hands. And I am happy to say it was worth the wait!

I am truthfully very impressed with this book, especially considering it is a debut novel. But I was honestly taken away with how much I found myself loving so many aspects of this book: the romance, the found family, the setting. I don't know how else to describe it except that it feels... alive. I grew so attached to Benny and Rio, to the little found family Benny found himself in, and to the amusement park it all takes place in. So much so that by the end of the book, when the climax was reaching it's end, I was so terrifyingly excited for what was going to happen.

This was a very fast paced book, and some of the story beats are similar to other mermaid stories that have come out. But the main romance and found family really carry this book. If you are a mermaid fan, or love found family, queer fantasy romance, and beautiful art, I highly recommend checking this out!

This book was INCREDIBLE. The depth of the characters really sucked me in and had me feeling like a part of the story. This is one of those books where, I think, it’s best to go in blind and let it take over. The illustrations were gorgeous and added so much to the story. Just really incredible. I don’t want to give too much away. Go read it! Also, the cover!!! Stunning.

This was really good 😭

Rating: 4 ⭐️

This book has such an amazing aesthetic. It is 1910s New York, with circus performers and mermen. I love it so much. And there are pictures. Certain important scenes are illustrated and it's amazing!

This story follows Benigno who, permanently down-on-his-luck being a queer Puerto Rican immigrant in the 1910s, finds himself embroiled in a scheme to capture a mermaid. Along with a circus troop, they find and capture a merman who is slated to become his very own attraction. Now imprisoned in a tank of Benigno's own making, Río and Benigno form an unlikely friendship and something... more?

More so than anything else, this book is about finding home. A place where you belong. These performers have created a family that is less about what you look like or who you love, and more about who you are.

Now, it wasn't perfect. There were definitely parts that frustrated me. While for valid reasons, Benigno was afraid to take action to protect himself and others and it made me want to shake him sometimes and say "you gotta do something, man! Time's a wastin'!" But I did really love him. Such a sweet, lost character just trying to find his way home.

Overall, When the Tides Held the Moon was a delightful read. It took me a little while to get into it at the start, but once I was in it, I was in it. The book started to fly by. I would recommend it to anyone who loves mermaids, found family, or queer romance 💘 Put it in your TBR!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Erewhon Books for providing me early access to When the Tides Held the Moon in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Pre-read:
Mermaids/mermen are an automatic read for me 👏 every 👏 time 👏
This is only the first of 4 different mermaid books I requested on NetGalley!! Let’s go!

Oh MAN, this book was GOOD. Fuck. I loved it from start to finish. And the art???!!! IT'S AMAZING. This book is absolute gold.

My heart is going absolutely apeshit, still. The suspense towards the end had me so captivated I almost forgot how to breathe.

I'm gonna need to buy a physical copy of this too; that's how good this one is.

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but I'm so glad I did. This was my first introduction to Venessa Vida Kelley's work, and I'm totally blown away as this was my favourite read of the year so far!

When the Tides Held the Moon was packed full of gorgeous prose and even more gorgeous illustrations. I knew almost straight away that this was something special. I can't wait to pick up a physical copy when it is published so I can see the finalised artwork!

The story follows Benigno, a Puerto Rican immigrant in New York City, as he struggles to find his place within an unwelcoming new country. Drawn to Río, a captive merman on Coney Island, he takes the plunge and joins a team running a sideshow. Benigno begins to think about what he calls home as he meets this multifaceted family and is seen for who he truly is.

I knew I would love this book when I felt an instant connection to both main characters. I think this was due to the dual first-person POV. The representation in this book was also fantastic. I especially liked the choice to leave most Spanish phrases untranslated. I was able to translate using the Kindle feature, but a glossary was also included at the back of the book. This gave a realistic dimension to the communication between Benigno and Río. The connection between the two characters was beautiful, and I loved seeing their relationship flow naturally.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys more romantic romances and lyrical prose. Although, I'd recommend for everyone to give it a try!

thank you so much NetGallery for allowing me to read and review this book before it’s official release.
and what a book that was. I started it not having any idea what I was getting myself into, save for the fact that I’d loved Venessa for their art i’d seen across many platforms before. I was excited to get into this very first book of theirs—and I come out of it having loved every second of it.

it’s true that it took me a few pages to find my footings with the story, not used to reading much fantasy books with that many characters these days, but once I’d gotten into it it was impossible to come out. all the characters are delightful, and the found family that is built throughout the story is a delight to read. I have loved getting to know them through the pages, adored that they got their own backstories as well, and I am so delighted to have gotten so many wonderful illustrations throughout the pages.

all in all, when the tides held the moon was a truly beautiful queer read about love, identity and family, and I would recommend it to anyone who’s looking for their next emotional read. you’re in for a rollercoaster of emotions, and you’re going to like every second of it.

5 ⭐️

This was a really enjoyable book to read, and the artwork was superb throughout. It's a beautiful cover. I found Benigno and Río to be fascinating characters, and I particularly liked their early relationship. I enjoyed watching them get to know one another, discuss their pasts, and share their love of music. Even though the second half of the book seemed to move more slowly, I still thought it was a great read! The passages from Río's point of view were particularly poetic and rhythmic, and I thought the prose was stunning.

Bewitched by the cover, I jumped in joy when Venessa and Kensington approved my request for the ARC.

It is MASTERPIECE!! I’m in awe. I’m in tears. I’m in pieces. This book literally melt my heart and mold it into bright full moon. As a fans of The Little Mermaid and American Horror Story (guess which one?), this book (WTTHTM) is a MUST read.

Benny and Rio officially become a permanent tenant in my heart. They choke my hollow heart with such joy and delight.

Venessa’s writing style is poetic and elegantly composed. One of my favorite line
“All I know is that he misses the moon. If I could, I’d ride a rollercoaster to the sky just to steal it for him.”

and imagine how shocked I am to find illustrations between the pages!! oh Author, this is bad for my heart. The artworks are beautifully drawn! I can FEEL the drawing, does that makes sense?

Anyway, WTTHTM is indeed a hidden GEM, and I would be upset if it does not become viral in 2025. I already recommend WTTHTM to many friends, and will post this clumsily worded review in many platforms. I hope WTTHTM have special editions, because it DESERVES THEM, and this book is WORTH every penny.

My very first merman/human lovestory! I will admit I wasn't sure what to expect because I've never read a book on this basis but I will say I was pleasantly surprised. I loved that this book mostly took place in a circus. It was such a rich and entertaining setting, the atmosphere was palpable. The characters were vivid and the love story was so sweet and pure. The dialogue is so poetic, especially between Rio and Benny, they have a gentleness between each other that's just so precious. This is a must read for 2025!

Where do I even begin to rate this masterpiece? UGH! Everyone, it was so beautiful! I couldn't put it down. It followed me to work and it followed me to class. It kept me awake at night, drifting me off to sleep on a cloud of blue light. It was packed full of emotions and finding your identity in a foreign country. It was about finding peace in another intelligent creature, and finding comfort in a family of oddities. It was about weighing the values in your life, hoping not to come up short in the end. Y'all, this book had everything I wanted in a merperson-human love story and the author did a fabulous job of writing it just right. It's not cringey, it's not sappy, there's no over-used tropes! I beg of you, read When the Tides Held the Moon! You won't be able to put it down! (especially once you realize how the title correlates with the story AGHHHHH!!) (Also, the illustrations are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Vanessa Kelley's artistic abilities! This woman can DRAW!)

Thank you Kensington publishing and netgalley for the chance to read this ARC.

I have been following Vanessa Vida Kelley for a few years now - for those who don't know, she's a very gifted illustrator who has also created official art for the Red, White and Royal Blue adaptation - so when she announced she would be writing her own novel, I honestly was very excited to read it.

Kelley has proved to be not only very skilled with images, but also very good with words.

Her novel is a queer fantasy love story set in the 1910s made of love, hope, friendship, diversity and acceptance against a world of hate, tragedy and sorrow.

There was a tenderness in this book that I especially felt in the main character Benny/Benigno, a kind soul in search of a home he had lost any hope of actually finding.
His life changes forever when he meets the Menagerie and he finds himself the unwilling captor of Río, a creature of the sea.

Their relationship develops slowly into a love made of understanding, tenderness and vulnerability, two lives destined to find one another in tragic circumstances.
I very much appreciated that we get a glimpse into Río’s thoughts and feelings too, although more briefly compared to Benny's.

The side characters that make up the menagerie are fleshed out enough to be likeable both individually and especially as part of the found family of misfists and outsiders that welcome Benny and give him a place to belong.

The pacing felt more slow in the first half and a tiny bit rushed in the second, but on the whole I think it worked well enough.

Although the final revelation was actually rather expected considering all the clues were there, it didn't take away at all from the tension that kept rising in the last chapters towards the end.

I think the ending was just right, although I wouldn't have minded seeing more of Río and Benny in those last few pages.

Much appreciated is the glossary at the end of the book, where one can find the translations to all the words and phrases spoken in other languages other than English by the characters.

And finally, I must of course mention the gorgeous illustrations that Kelley herself included in the book every few chapters, a more than welcome addition that enriches a beautiful evocative story.

If you're looking for a book with found family, queer protagonists that celebrates diversity and hope in the face of adversity, this is the story for you.

As always, my most sincere thanks to the publishing house and the author for sending me an advanced copy of this masterpiece, I enjoyed it deeply and I felt very lucky to have read it so early.

I hoped, from the moment I saw the beautiful cover, that the book would be amazing. I knew, after reading the first chaper, that it would be more than that.

I was more than pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing, the richness of the story, the roundness and depth of the characters… I was hooked. I was rooting for Benigno from the very beginning and my heart ached with his as the plot advanced.

I fell in love with these characters. The beauty of this found family is unmatched. The romance was, as well, so charmingly well written that I felt myself dragged into it and worrying for the characters as if they were alive outside the page as well, which in itself speaks for a writer’s talent and hard work.

I gave it five stars, and if you’d have told me this was a debut novel I wouldn’t have believed you. To me, everything was perfect. The story, the characters, the Puerto Rican heritage and the words in spanish (and I was privileged enough to understand them without consulting the glossary, which made the reading experience more fluid and uninterrupted). The ending had me sobbing, and if a book makes me cry then I instantly hold it in high esteem.

I will buy the book as soon as it is released, and I can’t wait to see the illustrations on paper because the digital copy does them no justice.

Please read this for yourselves if you love mermaids and stories that stick with you for a long time. This is my favourite historical romantasy story BY FAR.