First and foremost, from the bottom of my heart, I’d like to thank the publishing team at TOR for reaching out to offer me an early copy of this book for review. It’s an honor and a genuine treat!!

And now:

BE STILL MY HEART!! Swoons. Giggling. Stomach-swooping-heart-melting yearning! Reading this made me feel all the things, in all the best most invested ways. I felt like a little kid reading fairytales again- I believe I said something similar when I reviewed ‘After the Forest’ and I can happily say that Kell Woods has nailed that feeling for me once again.

I absolutely ate this up, and I knew I would right from the beginning. The mashup of The Little Mermaid/Cinderella set in an utterly lush 18th Century France is just too delicious to pass on!

There’s a beautiful balance here between the attention to the real life historical setting and the feeling of magic permeating through and surviving in hidden corners of the world. The story absolutely dragged me under and swept me away. It was pulled together so well by beautiful prose and a rich atmosphere.

It’s so surprising when a story can feel familiar and comforting while still being unique. Some of the twists were what I was anticipating… some were not. It made for a wonderful ride. One I sincerely had a hard time putting down!

This will likely be one of my last books for 2024 but what a high note to end on!! I loved this, and I just know that I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next retelling from Kell Woods. Now please!!

Fairytale retellings are something I love in theory, but in practice… they rarely hit the mark. I crave that comforting familiarity, but I also need enough originality to keep me hooked. Upon a Starlit Tide is the first retelling in a while that truly nailed this balance.

A big reason it worked for me? It’s obvious how much time and care Woods poured into research and editing. The result is a beautifully crafted blend of history and fantasy, with a well-paced plot and complex characters.

If you’ve been feeling let down by the romantasy genre lately and don’t mind a lower (but still present!) spice level, I strongly recommend giving this one a shot. It delivers all the romance and magic you want, wrapped in a rich, layered story.

Thank you Kell Woods, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for my advanced review audio copy. My opinions are my own. Get your copy on February 18th, 2025!

Plot - 5
Writing and Editing - 5
Character Development - 5
Narration - 5
Personal Bias - 5
Final Score - 5

Wow! Kell Woods is so good at taking old familiar tales and turning them into something completely new and enchanting. This was such a unique and captivating blend of Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and Woods's own mix of magic. I loved every moment of this book from start to finish. It ensorceled me and will live rent free in my brain for a long time. Having lived in France after college, I have a sweet spot for a story that takes place there and was particularly thrilled to read a book set in Saint Malo. Woods's writing is utterly absorbing, and I found myself transported to the beautiful seaside of Normandy. The plot is practically perfect in every way, and the characters are a delight. Nobody is perfect, everyone is flawed, yet there are good and evil characters to root for and hate. The magic permeates the story and builds as Luce finds her way in the world. Everything about this book was breathtaking.

My one complaint with the audio version of the book is that the narrator makes the MMC sound like an old man...so then the romance felt a bit creepy. I knew in my head that he was not, but the way that she read his voice made him sound like a 60 year old sailor courting a woman young enough to be his daughter...so...not ideal. Do not miss it if you enjoy fantasy stories or retellings of classic tales, but maybe go for the traditional reading experience rather than audio.