When the Tides Held the Moon

I said earlier this year that I’m in my mermaid era, so it’s no surprise that Venessa Vida Kelley‘s debut novel, When the Tides Held the Moon, was high on my list of new releases. Set in 1911 on Coney Island, it showcases a cast of characters who perform in Morgan’s Menagerie of Human Oddities. The latest hire is Benny (Benigno) from Puerto Rico; his job is to care for the merman that was just captured. But Benny quickly finds he’s the only one who can communicate with the merman… and they’re falling in love. How can Benny and Río have a future together when they’re both trapped in this sideshow?

What I Liked:

• The sideshow atmosphere and characters. The world-building is immersive and feels so real! I felt transported to 1910s New York in such a visceral way. And I loved the diverse characters! As the author’s note explains at the end, a menagerie of curiosities was often a place where people who didn’t fit into society’s narrow confines would find acceptance. It wasn’t always pleasant, to be sure, but they could find connection with others with physical differences, queer identity, and so on. There’s a strong element of found family here!
• Themes of being true to yourself. Benny hides so much of himself: His gay identity, his Puerto Rican accent, his asthma, how little he remembers about life before the hurricane that tore his family apart. He needs people he can feel safe and whole with. To that end, the menagerie is a place he starts to feel more comfortable… but with Río, he finds deeper connection.
• Romance between Benny and Río. I loved the romance that neither of them saw coming! A human and a merman? The captor (somewhat) and captive? In world where neither has much control over their life (at least not now)? This was a tender love story that requires Benny to step up in a major way.
• Increasing sense of urgency. Speaking of, while the human world is getting more dangerous (debts and threats!), Río is becoming increasingly ill after being in captivity for so long. Freedom is the only thing that will save him, but getting him out would certainly put Benny’s life at risk, too.
• The beautiful illustrations! The ebook version I read had such amazing artwork done by the author! They really bring the character and scenes to life, making it easier to visualize everything else. I rarely see adult novels with illustrations, so this was a special treat.

Audiobook:

Lee Osorio and Joel de la Fuente narrate When the Tides Held the Moon. I loved the narration! Benny’s voice actor does a wonderful job of capturing a wide variety of accents: Brooklyn, Puerto Rican, Russian, Irish, and more. Quite impressive! This audiobook really captured the whole setting and brought everything into full color. This was a joy to listen to.

Final Thoughts

Both the audiobook and physical/ebook are so perfectly done! I recommend a combination of both to get the full experience of When the Tides Held the Moon. Though rooted in a realistic 1910s New York setting, this was a magical book. What a wonderful debut! I look forward to reading more from Venessa Vida Kelley.

Special thanks to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy When the Tides Held the Moon here – it’s available as a hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
Audience	Adult
Genre	Romantasy
Setting	New York
Number of Pages	464
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	April 29, 2025
Publisher	Erewhon Books

Official Summary

In Coney Island, true love rises to the surface. With lush illustrations and buoyant prose, Venessa Vida Kelley forges an unforgettable New York fairytale.

Benigno “Benny” Caldera knows an orphaned Boricua blacksmith in 1910s New York City can’t call himself an artist. But the ironwork tank he creates for famed Coney Island playground, Luna Park, astounds the eccentric sideshow proprietor who commissioned it. He invites Benny to join the show’s eclectic cast and share in their shocking secret: the tank will cage their newest exhibit, a live merman stolen from the salty banks of the East River.

More than a mythic marvel, Benny soon comes to know the merman Río as a kindred spirit, wise and more compassionate than any human he’s ever met. Despite their different worlds, what begins as a friendship of necessity deepens to love, leading Benny’s heart into uncharted waters where he can no longer ignore the agonizing truth of Río’s captivity—and his own.

Releasing Río could mean losing his found family, his new home, and his soulmate forever. Yet Benny’s courageous choice may just reveal a love strong enough to free them both.