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.

I really enjoyed this beautifully written, slow-burn tale! It has elements from some of my favorite childhood fairytales, but darker and more intriguing! The narration was great and easy to listen to. I look forward to reading more books from this author!

I absolutely adore this book!!! It felt like it was speaking to my very soul. The prose was lovely and the story was recognizable but new and revamped. It is clear the author did her research very well in terms of the history. I loved the FMC so much as she navigated so much hardship. While I did predict the ending, it was a beautiful journey. I do think this will be a fave read of 2025!

The audiobook was decently done. However, I wasn’t a big fan of the voice used for the love interest. It felt a bit too old and raspy in my opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I very much enjoyed this book by Kell Woods. As others have said, it had a bit of a slow start, but the pay off is well worth it! This adult version of fairytale mash-ups has beauty, romance, and betrayal. I imagine most Fiction readers would treasure this book with a touch of whimsy.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story. The narrator did a fantastic job with tone and pace. Her accent even added another immersive element.

Thank you to Kell Woods, Macmillan Audio, and Net Galley for the ARC!

This is so beautiful. I love the setting and the narration. I love the darkness that is evident in this romantic tale. This is why I keep coming back here for more audiobooks.

A jealous sister, a stolen sea maid, a magical ball. This historical romantasy gave Cinderella and The Little Mermaid vibes all the way through. I loved the combination.

Lucinde, the daughter of a wealthy ship owner, is at the shore one stormy morning where she finds and rescues Morgan, the son of a powerful ship owner. His crew were not as fortunate. Morgan's mother invites Lucinde and her family to a ball she is hosting, as a thank you for allowing her son to recover in their home. The town they live in has always been protected by the fae and their magic, but the fae are leaving.

Upon A Starlit Tide audiobook was enthralling. Esther Wane was the perfect choice for the narrator.

I was invested right from the beginning when Lucinde rescued Morgan. There is something about Morgan that draws Lucinde in. Her best friend, Samuel, is a storm diver. Their friendship is hidden from her family, as they would frown upon it. As Lucinde and Samuel collect the remains of Morgan's ship, Lucinde tells Samuel about Morgan. Samuel instantly dislikes Morgan. It was hard to tell whether it was jealousy—that Morgan caught his attention and would be a good fit for her in her parents' eyes over a lowly smuggler like Samuel—or if it was something darker he sensed. Although, Lucinde feels guilty, she still attends the ball she was invited to, but not without some troubles. It is obvious someone doesn't want her to attend.

The way that Lucinde seemed to befriend the remaining fae, even the ones that were feared was interesting to me. I was waiting for the catch on what she may have owe for what the fae gave her in order for her to attend the ball.

Their was one unexpected scene on Lucinde's ship that turned gruesome.

cinderella • fae • fairytale • historical fantasy • mermaid • retelling • romantasy • the little mermaid

Just beautiful. A touch of the little mermaid (darkness and all), a touch of Cinderella (masquerade ball with a touch of magic to get here there), and a healthy dose of feminine rage. I’ll take every single part of this story! Didn’t want to put it down. Loved it!

Thank you to #macaudio2025 and @netgalley for a copy of this audiobook for my review.

I really loved the cross between the Little Mermaid and a French Cinderella story. I loved Luce’s character development and her relationship with Samuel. I was in tears because of Bones, and truly loved the way this book kept me throughly entranced. I wish there was more to Luce’s story at the end, but overall it was a fantastic audible. I also loved the British accent of the narrator.

I loved this. I’m so glad I listed to this book instead of read it. The narrator added to the story and I would have absolutely butchered some of the names of places and people. This was magical, dark, romantic and just beautiful. I loved the characters, and the story. It was a love letter to fairy tales but became its own unique fairy tale all at the same time.

Absolutely my favorite ARC read of the year. I was gripped from the very beginning, and could not put it down until the magical epilogue. I loved the unique magical realism setting-18th century famous French port city, with mythical sea and other folklore creatures roaming at will. The characters were complex and dynamic, and there was never an uninteresting moment. My only complaint was that at times in the middle the pacing felt slightly muddled but it was still absolutely worth it. While I received this as an ARC audiobook via NetGalley (Esther Wane does a WONDERFUL narration), I will probably purchase the physical copy because frankly I enjoyed it so much and the actual copy of the book is stunning!

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for providing a copy for review. All opinions are my own.

4 out of 5 stars

Thank you to #macaudio2025 and @netgalley for a copy of this audiobook for my review.

I enjoyed this one! It took a little while to get into but then after about 30% in it got very intriguing. I thought the Little Mermaid/Cinderella retelling was so fascinating. The way she wove the two stories together to make one large story was so inventive. Also, I really loved Samuel and Luce. The narrator did a good job, although sometimes I thought some characters were older than they probably were based on the voice they were given.

Keep in mind that if you are sensitive to gore like myself some of the parts will be difficult for you, it was for me but I was able to make it through. I would read books by this author in the future.

Upon a Starlit Tide is an historical novel set during the Seven Years War that tells the story of Lucinde Leon. The story itself is a creative retelling/mash-up of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella, but don't let retelling of old stories fatigue stop you from passing this one over. The author takes great care to develop complex characters that don't neatly fit into "cruel stepsisters" or "evil stepmother" stereotypes. Additionally, the narrator for the audiobook, Esther Wane, does a fantastic job of bringing the story and its characters to life. If you have the chance to listen to it, take it.