When the Tides Held the Moon

De: Venessa Vida Kelley

Narrado por: Lee Osorio, Joel de la Fuente

The Shape of Water meets The Greatest Showman in this queer historical cozy fantasy, as a young Puerto Rican immigrant goes through a journey of love and self-discovery after capturing a merman for a Coney Island sideshow act in turn-of-the-20th-century New York.

“Venessa gives life to the most unexpected things. I have a strong, strong feeling that this is the start of something special.”—TJ KLUNE, New York Times Bestselling Author of The House in the Cerulean Sea

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 everyone, especially the eccentric side-show proprietor who commissioned it. Benny’s work earns him an invitation to join the show’s eclectic crew of performers—his first welcome in the city—and share in their astonishing secret: the tank Benny built is a cage for their newest exhibit, a living, breathing, in-the-flesh merman stolen from the banks of the East River under a gleaming full moon.

The merman is more than a mythic marvel, though. Benny comes to know Río as a clever philosopher, an observant traveler, and a kindred spirit more beautiful and 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.

A cage is no place for a merman to survive. Though releasing Río means betraying his new family, bankrupting their home, and losing his soulmate forever, Benny must look within for the courage to do what’s right, and find a love strong enough to free them both.

©2025 Venessa Vida Kelley (P)2025 Recorded Books

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Venessa gives life to the most unexpected things. I have a strong, strong feeling that this is the start of something special.” —TJ KLUNE, New York Times Bestselling author of The House in the Cerulean Sea

Narrator and Story 5/5

Premise:

A man, fired from his job and evicted from his house, is lured in to a circus in hopes to find a new home. The ringleader is trying to keep the circus afloat by taking sketchy deals and capturing a mythical creature for a new exhibit in his show.

Rep:
LGBT Rep

Mermen, circus folk, and found family.

a devastating beautiful queer romance

all the queers thrive in the end!!!! so like, y'all better go read this title and fall in love with the sea alongside Benito

Beautifully moving and utterly romantic

Fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue (as I am) should download this immediately. Though this story could not be more different, Benny and Rio's love is just as epic. Part historical fantasy, part magical realism, and all romance, with a found family I would defend to the ends of the earth. This is going straight onto my shelf of all-time favorites. Gorgeous story and a beautiful performance.

Acceptance of love in all its forms and an immersive narration!

Hats off to our author and narrators! A moving story about accepting love, not only from one’s surroundings, but within oneself, as the only true path to being freely and authentically who one is. The cast of characters are layered and fully realized, and the love story between Benny and Rio is heartening. Set against real historical events in the early 20th century, the story is alive with truth of all kinds, including the one we must find in ourselves.

And our primary narrator is a talented wonder, imbuing each character with their own voice and elevating an already stellar prose with a performance that’s enthralling. The secondary narrator, the voice of the mermaid, while used infrequently, still provides a foothold for the audience.

This was clearly a labor of love on the author’s part and that makes the experience for the reader all the more moving.

Beautiful love story

The author creates a world you’re lucky to take a glimpse into. The love story, character growth, and setting of the book are beautifully crafted.