4,5/5

Oh boy I was invested in this story. Is it a bit slow, demanding a bit of time before being really engaging (though it has a really strong start) ? Yes, at least for me, needing a bit of time to adjust. But once I was hooked and free of reading with my mind fully on it, I couldn't stop.

The prose is beautiful, a bit slippery at time but doing its job. I usually prefer third person pov's, but I wasn't bothered by the first peron pov here. It is suitable and helps a lot with conveying the main character's thoughts and language related important facts. It is poetic prose, readers who prefer simpler ones might be annoyed by it. I wasn't. It felt justified and suited to the story, deeply poetic and symbolic in multiple levels.

I didn't expected to like it that much, though I hoped I would. The setting is full of its times complexities, rich and grim, joyous and horrendous. It is perfectly conveyed in the story, without taking that much place, but never forgotten. The character has to deal with some pretty big discriminations, like some of the other characters, and while it does impact them as it should, it doesn't reduce them to it, which is something really important to me.

The romance is beautiful, in its loud quietness, its slow but steady built. It has a deep sense of finding your home, finding yourself and being able to act for the persons you love and for yourself. I feared that given how the protagonists meet, I would have a hard time accepting that feelings would be born. But it wasn't the case, because the author managed to balance it all very nicely, with our main character feeling bad about his part in his future lover's fate. The emotions and rancour are there as they should be but evolve into something else, in a believable manner.

As for the baseline of the plot that comes quickly once the set up is done, I won't say much apart from: I deeply hate one of the character (as I should, given the narrative), and love the crew our main character finds himself in. A little family, doing its best despite everybodies flaws, helping each other in the end.
There a nice build up of clues about some "secrets" I really enjoyed too, leading to the reveal at the end, a reveal that managed to be clear without being too much.
I have to say I would have like to have more information on our main charcter's past, and to see more of him after the final event, but it is only a little "criticism", nothing that would change much of the story.

All in all, a very good and touching story, beautifully written!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced digital copy.
This is a masterpiece. The writing is so beautiful and poetic, every line played with my heart. I loved that the characters weren't perfect and that everyone was so distinctly different and yet they were like a big family. I loved the illustrations the author scattered across the pages and I can't wait to hold this in my hands once it comes out. I can't put it into words how much I loved this book.

“Río,” I whispered, out of breath, and not from wheezing. “You make me feel like I’m kissing the tides.”
“Benigno,” he whispered back. “You make me feel like I am holding the moon,” (221).

I am over the moon about this book. I am so inexplicably sad that it’s over. Everything from the romance to the action to the found family was exquisite. And the art!!! That was such an amazing addition.

I am truly at a loss about what else to write here. The beauty the prose had to offer was lovely, combined with a mer-romance was something I didn’t know I was missing. If you love mermaids and found family, this is the novel for you.

Please read it my mermaid/ocean loving friends!

“Benigno, surely you know,” he breathed. “You are my heartsong,” (249).

THIS BOOK!!!!
first of all, historical fiction, fantasy and romance are my three roman empires. And when an author combines all three of the genres, it’s holy in my eyes. To be honest, even though i keep reading synopsises, i forget them instantly, so going into this book i didn’t know a lot (don’t judge me if my selection also based on the cover).
This book is a beautiful queer historical romantasy set in the beginning of the 1900s in New York City. The book mostly takes place in a circus and the found family there also made me like it even more.
The writing was extremely lyrical and beautiful as well as the illustrations!!
(as a person who doesn’t communicate her feelings, this book is exactly the opposite🥲 beware!😂)

Would definitely recommend every single person!

This was just gorgeous in every way shape in form! The setting (both location and time) are so well done that you are transported back to Coney Island in the time when Sideshow Attractions were a big hit and people were sold on an American dream that often went undelivered. The characters were absolutely amazing, I adored Benny and Rio and their lovestory was beautiful and compelling, but all the rest of the "acts" were full formed and added so much to the story. There's a lot more than a love story as well as the book sometimes subtlety, and sometimes not, dives into issues of race, gender, and poverty in a way that felt very poignant, even with the setting in the past.

It's hard to believe this a debut novel, it felt like a seasoned author with the lovely prose and the, excuse the pun, perfect amounts of ebb and flow of the storyline. The illustrations were such an amazing addition and the cover is gorgeous.

I loved the cover and description and was so glad I got to read this book. It had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed how well everything flowed together. It had that romance element that I wanted and enjoyed the overall story being told, it had that element that I wanted from this genre and had that feel that I was looking for. Venessa Vida Kelley has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

when the tides held the moon

i loved every single bit of this book. it was an absolutely beautiful ride from beginning to end. i'm going to attempt to write this without spoilers!

"You only swallow ashes if you know what it’s like to go hungry."

morgan's menagerie of human oddities were incredible. they were each complex in their own ways and added so much to benny's finding himself.

“I cannot take your burdens” ... "But if you let me, I can bear them with you for a while.”

rio, oh big beautiful majestic rio. not only did he speak beautifully to benny but the words he gave to his mother were POETRY.

“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.”

their love was LOVE and i could FEEL it.

"Ain’t no being free on the outside unless you’re free on the inside."

benny had an experience when he was younger that made him lock up his true self and the way that not just rio, but others in the menagerie help him free his true self and be okay with it was such a joy to witness. some who went through the same trials and others who already accept that people can love whoever the hell they want.

“I believe you can lift two thousand pounds.”

the friendships, the relationships, the love, the support, the encouragement. were there some tough cookies? of course. but the camaraderie that was found made my heart smile.

"Don’t waste your damn life trying to smother a spark what wants to be a blaze.”

this isn't a "smut" book or even very spicy. i had no idea going in if i was about to figure out how a merman and human would get it on. they don't, what they do is much more beautiful and deep. it wasn't an issue for me, but i wanted to include this in case it would be for you.

the ONLY issue i had while reading this is a very subjective and personal issue. i'm an only-english speaker, and spanish is drizzled through the book, as the MC is a puerto rican immigrant, so him speaking spanish added to his depth and the believability of his character, which is why it didn't affect my rating bc it was important he spoke his native tongue. i had to translate EVERYTHING bc i didn't want to miss a single thing, even though a lot of times, the phrase was explained right after. i did learn that kindle has a translation feature right in the book, though so that was cool.

Que hijueputa libro and for those not B2 in Colombian, what a fucking good book.


I started this with my expectations high, which means I was also really scared I would be disappointed. I am very glad I was not.

This book is a ride, it took me, as always, a good 30% of it to get into the story, but then I couldn't stop, and then at some point in the 50-something% I fully believed risking my sleeping schedule just to keep reading was worth it (it was)

The illustrations, the care put into Benigno and his connection to Puerto Rico y Tití Luz, the story, I simply loved everything and you could see it was made with love too. If I could go directly to Venessa's house and give them an ancheta to congratulate her I would in a heartbeat.

A simply beautiful book, I'd love to live in this world forever.


Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an arc in exchange of an honest review.

When the Tides Held the Moon is a knockout debut from beloved fanartist Venessa Kelley. Kelley intersperses their art throughout the book, adding depth to an already amazing story. I loved all the details and the way Kelley infused their own Boricua experiences into Benigno.
Benigno is an immigrant blacksmith in New York who winds up building a tank for the local fair's new exhibition: a real merman. Benny quickly forms a bond and names the mer Río. The two share deep truths while both are trapped in boxes they must breakout of if they want to truly live freely. This book is full of heart and hope and I look forward to reading any future works from Kelley. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I adored this book.

I've been following Vanessa's work for years now and I read this story back in the early days when it was still a fanfiction. I had been apprehensive to start, because interspecies romance isn't necessarily my cup of tea. But I kept seeing the artwork Vanessa created and I fell in love so I gave a chance to the story as well and what a wise decision that had been.

This all to say that when I got the chance to read the "new and improved" original novel through NetGalley, I got incredibly excited. The artwork is still just as gorgeous and perfectly intersperses the text. It's all reminiscent of the old classics that feature small illustrations throughout the book, makes everything come alive.

Not that the characters needed any help coming alive on the pages. They were all fully fledged, complex, lovable characters. Even the villains' motivation could be understood. They all felt real.

Vanessa has a very immersive way of writing, I enjoyed every second of the book. It made me feel all sorts of emotions. The romance story line was beautifully done, but what I loved even more was the forged family they all created.

So all in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone would like a cosy, but thought-provoking book to curl up with.

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley is a captivating historical fantasy that weaves romance and queer identity into a beautiful New York fairytale. Benny’s journey from a struggling blacksmith to a hero in love with a merman is both heartwarming and poignant. The lush illustrations enhance the enchanting narrative, making every page a delight. This is a must-read for anyone who cherishes stories of love, courage, and found family.

My heart. This book has my whole heart. I've been fortunate to follow Venessa's meteoric rise from book-related fan art to designing covers for some of my favorite authors, and now to publishing her own book. (And believe me when I say she's found a spot among my favorite authors.)

This book is beautiful. The writing is tender, funny, sincere, and deep. I highlighted passages I wanted to file away forever. The main characters felt real and their struggles, their hopes, dreams, their love, were expertly crafted I want to wrap them both in bubble wrap and keep them safe. This book had everything I love: perfectly imperfect characters, supportive and loving found family, friendship, love, heartbreak, humor, and tears. The characters are diverse in a way that feels natural and real, and Benny and Rio are perfection. I can't wait for the world to meet them and I am so happy I got a chance to read this book early.
The artwork in the e-book edition adds so much to the story, and every single drawing made me love Venessa's art more, and drew me deeper into the story. I look forward (though not patiently!) to the printed artwork in the finished book.

When the Tide Held the Moon by the multi-talented author-illustrator, Vanessa Vida Kelley (she/they) is an exquisitely lyrical and expressive piece of speculative historical fiction. With a strikingly ethereal romance simmering beneath the lush, visceral prose, and pitched as The Shape of Water meets The Greatest Showman, this life-long mermaid enthusiast simply couldn't resist the siren call of this novel. I was a child obsessed with fairytales, so the whimsy nostalgia genuinely swept me off my feet.

My, oh my, I know I sound like such an ol’ romantic, but I would love to place this novel in the hands of Hans Christian Andersen!

As fate would have it, I have been following Kelley’s art for years and was delighted to discover they are an equally talented wordsmith as they are an artist. My mind conjured all manner of voices and resplendent imagery to accompany such stunning illustrations. I loved being transported to another time and place and I was bereft when roused from the dream-like stupor of this novel, and now that it's over, my only consolation is that I will be able to add the physical copy to my bookshelves next year (April 29th, 2025).

These characters permanently carved themselves a place in my heart. I loved how seamlessly Kelley drifted between English and Spanish and how Benigno and Rio built the foundation of their relationship between languages and, at times, with nothing but silence, as they had this beautiful intuitiveness that existed between them (something that seldom - if ever - translates onto the page with such ease and intimacy). Benigno is a man of little words, and Rio is a philosopher. As a couple, they align and enhance one another.

Vanessa Vida Kelley is something special. A diamond. And I simply can't wait to see what they create next. I wait with bated breath.

Thank you, NetGalley and Erewhon Books, for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley is that girl of a book! Wow! What a ride! I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

Thank you so much for an early copy. This was was a beautiful story and gorgeous illustrations. I look forward to more works from this author

I won’t be adding my review to Goodreads for this because it just wasn’t my kinda book.
I feel like it would have been better for me if I spoke Spanish too. I didn’t like reading and having to google translate to try and get the nuance of what was happening, it the end it had me feeling left out. Like I would have been more invested if I spoke Spanish too.
So, I posted this book to my reading group in Miami, most of whom speak English and Spanish.

Literally everything you could ever want. Fantasy, romance, mermaids, found family, diversity (sexuality, gender, race, culture, language), self-acceptance. I legit both cried and laughed reading this. Laughed a lot, the company is so funny and heartwarming. This read is both cozy and devastating and beautiful. Not to mention the gorgeous and evocative and emotional illustrations!!!

If I could rate this more than five stars, please note that I absolutely would. This is 100/10, freaking nothing but pure perfection.

I've been a fan of Venessa Vida Kelley's illustrations for awhile (check out her lovely artwork for Red, White, and Royal Blue along with numerous other novels and fandoms) so I was thrilled to find out she's a writer as well. Her debut novel is a gorgeous, evocative adventure starring a Puerto Rican immigrant and a beautiful merman in early 1910s New York City.

I loved the found family of performers in a "freak show" and the unexpected kindness and acceptance that Benny finds. Also how the growing friendship between him and the merman Rio bloomed into shared passion very naturally. There are a lot of Spanish phrases woven throughout the book which lend an authenticity and depth to the story. If I had any quibbles I would say I wish there had been a bit more explanation of how Benny was able to live in the sea and what that looked like, it was a little confusing. An epilogue that gave more details about the couple in later years would have been great too. But otherwise this is a heartbreaking, exciting, and romantic story, and of course the illustrations are stunning. More novels with illustrations, please! I hope to see a lot more from Kelley in the future.

I was thrilled to get the ARC of one of my favorite artist's debut novel. And it didn't disappoint.
Set in Coney Island in the early 1900s, the story follows Puerto Rican immigrant Benigno as he stumbles into employment with an oddities act at the fair, only to befriend (and fall in love with) its newest acquisition, a captured merman, Rio.
This was a true found family, #ownvoices, queer celebration of love! The characters were well developed, flaws and all. There was palpable tension as Benigno worked to free Rio. The romance felt tender and real. Mermaids have been my jam since the animated Disney film came out when I was 15 years old. Vanessa's prose captures the beauty and majesty of these mythical creatures.
And the illustrations? 🤌💋 Vanessa Vida Kelley brings their talent and whimsey to every drawing. I can't wait to see this book in print!

When the Tides Held the Moon will be released April 29, 2025