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 A Goodreads
Choice Awards Finalist | USA Today Bestseller | BookRiot Best Books of the Year | Amazon Best
Romantasy of the Year | Reader's Digest Top 10 of the Year 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. "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.
