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The Shape of Water meets The Greatest Showman in this beautifully illustrated 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.
"A lushly illustrated historical romance . . . This book is a charming fable -- an elemental dance of fire and water." ―THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
When Benigno "Benny" Caldera creates an exquisite ironwork tank for famed Coney Island playground Luna Park, he's offered a wondrous opportunity: a job backstage with the show's eclectic cast. Benny knows an orphaned Boricua blacksmith like him doesn't get many chances in 1910s New York City. Little does Benny expect, however, to share in the Menagerie's most shocking secret: the tank will cage their newest exhibit, a live merman stolen from 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.
When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781645661535
Imprint: Erewhon Books
"A lushly illustrated historical romance . . . This book is a charming fable -- an elemental dance of fire and water." ―The New York Times Book Review
"I can't believe Venessa Kelley exists. Here is an artist who is not only extraordinarily talented, but she can write too? We are so lucky to be around at the same time as her. WHEN THE TIDES HELD THE MOON may be a debut, but it reads like someone at the top of their game. Lush prose, diverse characters, and a love story to swoon over? This book has got it all. Venessa Kelley is a dynamic writer who understands that little details matter just as much as the narrative itself. A feast for the senses!" --TJ Klune, New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Cerulean Sea
"Kelley's writing lands like music, infusing early 20th century Coney Island with palpable magic. I'm head over heels for Benny, Río, their unforgettable found family, and this love song of a book." --Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling & award-winning author