Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by eloise_bradbooks
When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Everyone seems to be loving this book right now, and although it took me a while to feel truly invested, I can absolutely see why.
🧜‍♂️ At its heart is a tender, slow-burn romance between a blacksmith and a merman held in captivity, raising complex questions about love, freedom, and moral responsibility.
🎪 Alongside that is a beautiful story of friendship and found family among the performers at Luna Park. Despite the 1910s setting, the community is surprisingly warm and accepting, especially as they come to understand that Benny is a gay man—and that he’s fallen for a merman??
đź’• The overall tone was heartfelt and comforting.
That said, I personally struggled with some elements of the romance. It’s hard for me to fully embrace a love story where one party is held captive, even if the captor isn’t cruel. I wasn’t convinced by how quickly and deeply the connection developed under those circumstances, especially given the limitations on how they could spend time together.
🧜‍♂️ At its heart is a tender, slow-burn romance between a blacksmith and a merman held in captivity, raising complex questions about love, freedom, and moral responsibility.
🎪 Alongside that is a beautiful story of friendship and found family among the performers at Luna Park. Despite the 1910s setting, the community is surprisingly warm and accepting, especially as they come to understand that Benny is a gay man—and that he’s fallen for a merman??
đź’• The overall tone was heartfelt and comforting.
That said, I personally struggled with some elements of the romance. It’s hard for me to fully embrace a love story where one party is held captive, even if the captor isn’t cruel. I wasn’t convinced by how quickly and deeply the connection developed under those circumstances, especially given the limitations on how they could spend time together.