Historical Fiction
When the Tides Held the Moon
2025·464 pages
A young Puerto Rican immigrant in 1910s NYC captures a merman for a Coney Island sideshow, sparking a transformative love in this queer historical fantasy.
Owned
No reviews yet
Owned
A young Puerto Rican immigrant in 1910s NYC captures a merman for a Coney Island sideshow, sparking a transformative love in this queer historical fantasy.
About
Details
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 “This is the start of something special.” —TJ KLUNE, New York...
What's Inside
will contain mild spoilers
Romance & sex
AI
Central queer romance between a human and merman; emotional depth with likely intimate moments, though explicitness unclear.
Violence & gore
AI
Minimal violence; potential for mild conflict related to captivity, but no graphic details noted.
Profanity
AI
No evidence found in available sources.
Substance use
AI
No evidence found in available sources.
LGBTQ+ Rep.
AI
Central queer romance and identity themes; LGBTQ+ characters are core to the narrative.
Religious content
AI
No evidence found in available sources.
Magic & witchcraft
AI
Fantasy elements with a merman as a central character; magical realism woven into the historical setting.
Occult / demonology
AI
No evidence found in available sources.
Political content
AI
Subtle themes of immigration and outsider status in early 20th-century NYC.
Self-harm / suicide
AI
No evidence found in available sources.
Abuse & suffering
AI
Themes of captivity and ethical dilemmas regarding the merman’s imprisonment; emotional suffering likely.
Other
AI
No information found.