With lush illustrations and buoyant prose, Venessa Vida Kelley blends historical fantasy with epic romance at the turn of the 20th century in this unforgettable New York fairytale of queer identity and found family.

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 cant 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. Bennys work earns him an invitation to join the shows eclectic crew of performershis first welcome in the cityand 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 Ro as a clever philosopher, an observant traveler, and a kindred spirit more beautiful and compassionate than any human hes ever met. Despite their different worlds, what begins as a friendship of necessity deepens to love, leading Bennys heart into uncharted waters where he can no longer ignore the agonizing truth of Ros captivityand his own.

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

“When the Tides Held the Moon is a beautifully illustrated novel with artwork throughout by Venessa Vida Kelley, known for her stunning romance and fantasy art. This novel includes two different full-color endpapers for front and back, fully-designed chapter headers, and 27 pieces of detailed illustrations throughout, using beautiful two-color, aqua blue and black inks.