When the Tides Held the Moon is a compelling queer historical fantasy and the debut novel of Venessa Vida Kelley. Set in 1911, the narrative follows Benigno “Benny” Caldera, a young Puerto Rican orphan immigrant and blacksmith who lands in NYC. His craftsmanship earns him a job building a tank for Luna Park, a Coney Island amusement park. Unbeknownst to him, the tank is intended to house a captured merman named Río. As Benny becomes acquainted with the park’s eclectic performers, he forms a deep connection with Río and devises a plan to set the merman free.

This is a beautifully written story with descriptive language and rich, animated characters. It definitely doesn’t come across as a debut novel, especially with the multilayered storyline and the sophisticated sweeping romance that evolves between Benny and Río. One of the central themes in the story is the concept of captivity in physical and psychological forms. Benny’s marginalized background and sexuality create obstacles and even dangerous situations for him that force him to conform to societal standards. By the end, because of his profound and life-altering connection with Río, he is able to shift his mindset to one of self-acceptance and break free of the constraints imposed upon him. Seeing as the story is set in the early 20th century, you’ll have to suspend your disbelief at some of the contemporary-sounding dialogue and open-mindedness of some of the characters, which are not representative of that era. Even still, the messages are powerful and heartfelt and will have a lingering effect, especially for readers who have had similar struggles as Benny.

The world-building is a great mix of fantasy and reality, with merpeople in existence alongside an authentically portrayed early 20th century New York City. As Río is captured very early in the story, the only insight readers get about the lives of merpeople is through his dialogue with Benny, some of which is very interesting, including his strong connection to the moon. The operations of the amusement park are extensively discussed, and readers can easily visualize all the attractions, oddities, and excitement when the shows are put on.

The book has a large cast of diverse characters, including a charming dwarf performer and a queer older couple who become a found family for Benny. Benny, a Puerto Rican protagonist of color who is also queer, gives readers a fresh and important perspective. The story alternates POVs between Benny and Río, giving readers two very different emotionally resonant characters who both have profound journeys of self-discovery by the end. Their realized attraction for each other comes at different points in the story, which makes their romance feel organic and believable.

Overall, When the Tides Held the Moon is a standout debut that seamlessly weaves together fantasy, historical references, and a fresh take on queer romance. Kelley’s dual talents as writer and illustrator are extremely impressive. The artwork of this book, including the visually stunning cover art, interior illustrations rendered in aqua blue and black inks, endpapers, and chapter headers, is all created by Kelley. This is one you’ll definitely want a physical copy of—and it’s a fantastic idea to pair it with the expertly narrated audiobook for a fully immersive reading experience. Readers who enjoy queer romance, magical realism, and historical fantasy should immediately grab a copy of this book!