When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
When the Tides Held the Moon
Author: Vanessa Vida Kelley
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Publish Date: April 2025
Read: June 2025
Favorite Quote: No one called Marty Walsh “Farty” but me, the only reason being that anyone who talked out of his ass as much as he did deserved a name to match.
Story Synopsis: Benny, an ironworker in Brooklyn, is trying to start a new life having come from Puerto Rico to escape poverty and a near-death experience in a hurricane in 1911. He’s asked to build a unique item: an iron-wrought enclosure for a massive tank. When its customer, Morgan, picks it up, he’s so impressed he offers Benny a job.
The job turns out to be capturing a merman.
Once in the tank, Benny’s guilt overcomes him, and he tries to care for the merman as much as possible. Through their time together, they develop an unlikely friendship, which leads to realizations for Benny about who he is and what he desires from his future.
Why does this book beguile? The owner of my LBS said When the Tides Held the Moon was one of her favorite books so far of 2025, so I had to read it. Superficially, it’s gorgeous. The author is also an illustrator, so she’s done the illustrative work throughout the novel. It’s fun to have a grown-up book with pictures! When the Tides Held the Moon is a sweet story about two beings who find love in an unexpected place at a time when their love isn’t celebrated. The sideshow members and Coney Island setting made it more believable and tangible.
As a side note, I had the privilege of attending Venessa Vida Kelley’s author talk at Blackbird Books & Coffee on 24 June 2025 and she’s a truly lovely person.
Bookshop.Org Link*: When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
Amazon.com Link*: When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
If you’re interested in this, read*: Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall