This was such a beautifully written historical fiction fairy tale. I felt like I was there with these characters. It was dark and atmospheric in the best way. I listened to the audio and Esther Wane did such a beautiful job. With the intricate writing I did feel like I really had to fully invest all thinking to catch every detail, which was hard to do when I love to listen at work. I cannot wait to read more books by Kell Woods. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

This is a captivating, dark, enchanting take on a historical fantasy, folklore, and fairy tales, specifically "The Little Mermaid" and "Cinderella." The descriptions of Luce and her family, the charming Morgan and stalwart Samuel, the opulent homes and fabulous gowns of Saint-Malo, and the dangerous coves of the sea are all highly detailed and weave together a plot full of likeable characters and dangerous intrigues. Esther Wane's narration was well-done. I particularly enjoyed Charlotte's love affair, Luce's relationship with her sisters, and the various fey throughout the story. This was a refreshing take on a fairy-tale retelling.

Upon A Starlit Tide✨🌊

Cinderella meets The Little Mermaid in this dark fantasy by @kellinthewoods

I enjoyed this one so much, it was a step out of reality and straight into 1700 France with a twist. The twist being that fae & sea maids exist (but do we really know they don’t, I mean come on).

I was able to listen and read this one and the combo of the two was such a good experience! I felt a little more immersed if I listened and followed along in my physical copy, but each on their own would be just fine.
The audio production was done extremely well and felt exactly if I was listening to 1700’s ladies and seamen talking, very well done!

& thank you @macmillan.audio for the audio copy in exchange of an honest review!

As far as retellings of a classic go, this wasn't my favorite. I am a HUGE "Little Mermaid" and "Cinderella" fan, so this could just be my bias speaking. I just couldn't be fully sold into the world Woods was building. This is where retellings or reimagining tales gets incredibly difficult. I am however extremely excited it wasn't another retelling of "Beauty and the Beast." Can we agree in the romantasy community that we have enough of those and we can just move on. I'd appreciate that!
This was a balanced tale of old (from the original tales) and a new unique twist, so it wasn't bad. I just kept waiting throughout the unraveling of the tale for there to be MORE. I don't feel sated. I can't even say I really like the main female character, Luce. Samuel on the other hand was a character that had some depth and I really look forward to seeing where his story leads.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, & Macmillan Audio for the audioARC in return for an honest review. I look forward to seeing where the story goes from here.

Maybe a regret...or two!!!
solid 3/5 stars

This book did not work for me. Maybe I'm too old, maybe I'm just extra grumpy, but it simply felt too long to me. I spent most of the book waiting for something to happen but when it finally did I swear I thought, "That's it??" Also the main character, Luce, is TSTL from beginning to end.

I have to say that I think my feelings are so strong partially because of the narration. Esther Wane voiced Luce and a lot of the descriptive passages with a high, babyish voice. And Samuel, Luce's love interest? He sounded like a 65-year-old sea dog to the point that I was shocked to realize he was both young and romantically interested in her. (In the beginning, he's described as having taught her everything she knows about sailing, so the voice made sense... until he got all angsty about not being good enough for her, and I was all, "WTF? How old is this scurvy old salt, anyway?")

I've read very different reviews so this might work for you. If you like fairy tale mashups (Cinderella + The Little Mermaid), don't mind a meandering plot, and are interested in Brittany at the turn of the 18th Century, you might want to check it out.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.

“Thievery! Thievery!”

This fantasy is told in third person and follows Luce in 1758 Brittany. Luce is the youngest daughter of a wealthy ship owner and unlike her two older sisters is less interested in fashion and flirting and more interested in her dreams of going to sea and sneaking out of their estate to visit her best friend Samuel, an English fisherman and smuggler. Her father dotes on her, often showing her favor over her sisters causing petty jealousies to cloud their otherwise friendly sisterly relationships. It’s sort of a twist on a mish-mash of Cinderella and The Little Mermaid with a few nods to both stories, but the relationships and situations are unique and different. When Luce saves the life of the son from another shipping family, the appearance of Morgan in their lives begins to reveal cracks in the family history.

I found Luce to be relatable though at times, she was a little on the timid side for me. The relationships within her family and the locals were complex and slowly revealed over the course of the novel. At times I was suspicious of everyone in the story. It was a challenge to discover which characters had genuine good intentions towards Luce and which ones were using her for their own selfish reasons. I really enjoyed the themes and setting for this lovely fantastical story from the sea-faring community to the fae characters, sometimes cute and sometimes creepy. “Thievery!”

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Ester Wane. I found her voice for the characters to be pleasant and distinctive. I would recommend the audiobook for readers that enjoy this format.

Recommended to readers who enjoy fantasy with a mix of fae, tales of the sea, and retellings.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.

Lucinde Léon, youngest daughter of one of the oldest ship-owning families in Saint-Malo, yearns for the sea. Early one morning she rescues a shipwrecked young man, setting off a chain of events that will change her life forever.

This book is a gem for fans of dark fairytale reimaginings and historical fantasy. The first half blends Cinderella and The Little Mermaid with lush, lyrical prose, while the second half races toward an epic, satisfying conclusion. In the beginning I kept thinking: less prose, more plot, and it almost lost me. I’m glad I stuck with it, the ending made it all worth it.

The audiobook performance beautifully reflects the beautiful words within the book. At times, my mind wandered early on but that was due to the slow pacing and not the narrator’s performance. I recommend this book on audio for readers who enjoy the format.

Readers who enjoy dark fairytale retellings of Cinderella and The Little Mermaid, and historical fantasy genre should pick this one up!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was a fantastic mash-up of historical fiction and fairytales like the Little Mermaid. Esther Wane's narration brings Luce and her world to life with such emotion. The characters are lovable and flawed, and the villains aren't just black and white. Kell Woods is amazing at fairytale retellings, and this book is packed with secrets, fae, and adventure. Highly recommend it for anyone who loves enchanting stories!

I listened to an audiobook while occasionally reading along with a physical copy (I knew I would be wanting a shelf trophy). Esther Wane does a wonderful narration, bringing Luce and the world around her to life. Wane's voice is filled with emotion, and I hold her equally responsible (along with Woods) for the tears I shed.
Upon a Starlit Tide is a unique mash-up of historical fiction and tales like Cinderella and the Little Mermaid. The majority of it really feels original. Luce has family and friends who are fleshed out, lovable, and flawed creatures. The villains aren't as black and white as we might expect from a fairytale.
Kell Woods is an auto-buy author and quite possibly the Queen of fairytale retellings (as far as I'm concerned). I also loved her previous tale, After the Forest.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook!

This book didn't do a whole lot for me, I never got into the story and it just wasn't for me. On to the next one.

This was a great retelling, and the audio format did not disappoint. This was my first book by this author and I'm sure it won't be my last. I loved that this is a standalone that blends fairytale fantasy and real historical events beautifully.

This is a fun mashup of Cinderella and the Little Mermaid. Loved the twists and turns. The narrator does a great job with both voices and accents for those voices.

First of all, thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillion audio for this audio ARC!

I loved this fairytale retelling/mashup! Luce was an excellent main character whose depth and wistful tone brought an enchanting spin on this tale. I liked how her love interest/best friend Samuel was sweet and also gruff. The world building was also fascinating. I would say that this story is jampacked with secrets, fae and adventure and I was absolutely enthralled.

I am going to mention as a side note that I did listen to the audiobook and the fact that there was so much going on in the story made my ADHD brain had trouble staying focused at times. So I think I am definitely going to have a reread with a physical copy of this awesome story.

Thanks Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

Is this the year of fairytales written in a way that pays homage to the original myths? Dark and serious, with horror aspects woven throughout? Because I AM HERE FOR IT!

I loved the mix of the original Cinderella and Siren stories, but rewritten in a way that makes women not the bad guys. The stepsisters have depth, the mother is understanding, and Luce is not just "not like other girls". I mean she is, but she isn't a pick me.

I really love it when authors do their research into the original myths from which they gain inspiration from, and it is clear that Kell Woods did that. This story adds to the depth of fairytales, paying respect to the originals, while also giving us something new. I was hooked from page 1!

Actual Rating 4.5

One of my favorite aspects of this work was the worldbuilding and the strong incorporation of the detailed setting. While I don't always like when works of fantasy utilize pseudo-historical settings, in this case it worked really well. The author didn't have to spend pages explaining the relations/politics between factions since they were recognizable. Instead, details about the fantasy world and how it differs from the real historical setting were incorporated in a way that brought it all to life. The author also heavily borrowed from folklore, enriching this tale even more.

The characters are strong as well. I really liked how the author relied on some familiar tropes from the fairytales but changed them enough for the characters to feel original and dimensional. I also loved the relationship between the siblings and how dynamic they were, even though it doesn't feel like it's going that way at the beginning. Is there a love triangle? Sadly, yes. BUT I didn't hate it the way I normally do, so don't let it deter you from checking this one out.

If you're looking for a fairytale retelling that actually feels like it was written for adults, then this is a must read. I listened to the audiobook version of this work, and the narrator did an excellent job. Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

DNF @ 30%

I was really interested in this one because I love fairytale retellings. However, I tend to like fairytales by way of Disney adaptions, where we get to know the main character and their motivations really intimately. Upon a Starlit Sea was beautiful and atmospheric, but at the 30% point I didn’t feel like I really KNEW the main character.

In addition, I listened to the audiobook and I really disliked a lot of the narrator's choices. I found many of the voices to be grating on my ears - the young women’s voices a little too high pitched, and the dad’s was very cartoonish.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

'Tears and salt. Sorrow and sea. There is magic in such meetings.'

Stories are rarely simple, including 'once upon a time' fairy tales that can evolve with every retelling. And even stories that might seem like a retelling of the Little Mermaid because of the oceanic elements can include themes from other stories like Cinderella on a closer inspection. This is the story of Lucinde, a young woman who can leave her adopted parents' mansion only with difficulty but still hears the call of the sea and dreams of exploring shores far away. But what made Upon A Starlit Tide truly delightful to read was Kell Woods' added modulation to the age old themes from the fairy tales.

Luce's relationships with her two adopted sisters has overtones of Cinderella's relationships with her stepsisters, but it is refreshing to see them grow and be more mature as the book progresses. There are also no simple one-dimensional wicked sea witches and fairy godmothers in this story, the good and the bad are nuanced and Lucinde has to learn whom to trust. The world-building is wonderful, with layers of historical fantasy, war efforts and mystic fae magic developed with each other, and Woods' writing lends itself well to each aspect drawing the reader in slowly. I was invested in the book as a whole until the end, where the protagonists seemed off in what they tried to do before it ended as I expected anyway. But I'd recommend the book to everyone nostalgic about fairy tales and like more depth to them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this book, the review is entirely honest. The audiobook was produced well.

🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the characters; One star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing; One star for the story and themes - 4 1/2 stars in total, rounded up to 5 stars.]

Upon A Starlit Tide is an interesting retelling of both The Little Mermaid and Cinderella. We follow Luce who is drawn to the handsome Morgan after she saves him from drowning.

I overall enjoyed this novel and thought it well written. The lore was well thought out and the writing descriptive enough to draw me into this world. I do think the novel was a bit too long overall, however. And I would have loved more scenes with Luce and her sisters in the second half!

While I liked the audiobook, I was a bit annoyed by the narrator’s choice of voice for Samuel. I’d still overall recommend the audio version!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Tears and salt. Sorrows and sea. There is magic in such meetings.

Rating: Absolutely Loved It, Favorite of the Year, 5 stars

Upon a Starlit Tide cemented Kell Woods as an autobuy author for me. It is a beautifully told, historical fantasy that weaves together elements of the Little Mermaid and Cinderella in a tale that is as dark as it is enchanting. Lucinde, the adopted daughter of a wealthy French corsair, longs not for the world of parties and society but for the sea, a place she soon discovers is filled with secrets, fae, and old magic.

I sat on this review for almost a week and a half at this point, waiting for the point that I would be able to speak coherently about it, but I am still in the "AHHHH! READ IT!" headspace, so here goes.

Kell Woods has established herself as an author of fairy tale retellings the way that I think they should be written. Both of her books now have had a dustmote-fairy tale feel, which for me, personally, is one of the highest praises I can give a book. Essentially the story and the writing gives me the feeling of dustmotes dancing in a sunbeam in an old cottage library - that magical feeling I had as a kid spending spare time organizing and reading my grandparents dusty, old book collection. The vibes of this book are more akin to strings of gleaming pearls being pulled from a treasure chest filled with gold and daggers in a lagoon grotto, but even so, I will continue to refer to it as one of my dustmote-fairy tales. And the audiobook narrator? Chef's kiss! Esther Wane only adds to the magical ambiance and feeling of the story.

So that covers the basic premise and the vibes, both of which I loved. I will now try to explain the other things about it that I loved:
Luce as a main character. She is the adopted daughter of a corsair whose feet didn't develop properly, leading to significant amounts of pain when she walks. This pain is only eased by the sea. Luce spends her time sneaking away from her parents' estate and spending time on the beach, collecting treasures, swimming in the sea, and learning to sail from her best friend, Samuel, an English smuggler. I loved Luce's personality and her character arc throughout this story. She is such a sweet and kind character, and I loved seeing her grow and start to prioritize herself and what she wants from life. She was such an easy character to root for.
I loved the interpersonal dynamics with her family, especially with her sister, Charlotte. Their relationship was one I treasured. In general, the interpersonal connections and relationship development was spot on. I think that a lot of the characters are well fleshed out with their own personalities, which made for a really engaging story. I laughed with them and cried with them
The pacing in this was excellent. Honestly from about 25% in, I was so invested and on the edge of my seat, even though the plot itself was not necessarily always the reason for it. I wasn't sure where it was going, but I could see the threads of the tapestry start to come together and was so eager to see where it all would go and what would become of the characters. I had an early listening copy from Netgalley, and I was desperately waiting for my preorder of it to come in because my eyes read faster than my ears. Unfortunately my preorder was delayed and came the day after I finished it, but I can't tell you the number of times I debated buying an ebook version or driving to the bookstore just so that I could finish the book faster. I was cheering along with the characters, laughing, crying, and shouting back at the characters, which in my mind is the mark of an excellent audiobook narrator bringing to life an excellent story.
The vibes of this were absolutely on point.
The historical fiction aspect was woven in immaculately with the fantasy elements. I loved how the magic and the fae existed in this world. It felt wholly unique. And the fairy tale elements were so well done. It wasn't over the top, but definitely had familiar elements, and they way everything was woven together and came together at the end was perfection.
I had predictions of some of the plot points (the good kind that were formed and refined as the story continued), but there was so much tat surprised me too! And the ending was absolutely perfect.

What I didn't love:
There wasn't a whole lot honestly. There is the hint of a love triangle with her friend Samuel, and the young man she saves from the ocean, Morgan. However, I always felt like the correct choice was extremely apparent, and her choice was made decently quickly.
I honestly can't think of anything else that I didn't love about it.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and HIGHLY recommend it. The audiobook was fantastic, and Esther Wane brought it to life perfectly. I think it added to my overall experience. Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan audio for an advance listening copy. Upon a Starlit tide released on 2/18/25 and is now out in the world. All thoughts and opinions are my own.