Thank you to Tor Books for sending me a copy of Upon a Starlit Tide in exchange for an honest review.
About Upon a Starlit Tide
In 1758 Saint-Malo, Luce Leon dreams of escaping her stifling life as the daughter of a wealthy ship-owner to sail the open seas. Only her friend, Samuel, a daring English smuggler, understands her longing, secretly teaching her to navigate the waters beyond the city’s high walls. But her carefully guarded dreams change when she rescues Morgan de Chatelaine from drowning.
The charming son of Saint-Malo’s most powerful shipping family, Morgan opens up a new world for Luce. As she finds herself drawn to Morgan’s adventurous spirit, she begins imagining a different future, one filled with possibility and romance. But beyond the grand ballrooms and stormy coastlines, dark forces stir. The fae are abandoning Brittany, taking their magic with them, while the ongoing war with England threatens the city’s safety. Soon, long-buried secrets emerge from the depths of the ocean. With no idea what’s in store, Luce enters into a world of magic, danger and betrayal.
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A Beautiful and Tragic Retelling
Upon a Starlit Tide is a beautiful and tragic retelling of classic fairytales. While the comparisons to The Little Mermaid and Cinderella are the most obvious, there are elements of Bluebeard sprinkled in, as well as fairy folktales and legends from Breton mythology. Kell Woods combines historical fiction with magic in a compelling and irresistible way.
Woods walks a fine line between these genres, but she does it so well. Upon a Starlit Tide brings the real-world settings of La Manche (the English Channel) and the walled city of Saint-Malo to life, making these locations more than just a backdrop. She also adds Breton folklore and superstition in a truly natural way that, while fantastical, makes this world all the more real.
There are some expected elements, but that’s only fair in a retelling of familiar stories. How Woods gets there, however, is always intriguing. She doesn’t shy away from the darker elements of fairy tales; this is definitely not Disney’s version of The Little Mermaid. Luce suffers betrayals and pain throughout the narrative, and the book’s overall tone is bittersweet.
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Lyrical and Heartbreaking
Luce herself is complex, compassionate and strong-willed. I didn’t always agree with her decisions, but I did understand them. You’ll appreciate the layered, complicated relationships she has with her family, each of whom is fascinating in their own right. Luce and her sisters are bound by a rigid social order and their father’s blatant favoritism. Their situation eloquently explains both their conflicts and their enduring love for one another.
Overall, Upon a Starlit Tide is a beautifully written romantasy that is both lyrical and heartbreaking. Check this one out if you enjoy fairy tale retellings with strong-willed heroines.
Upon a Starlit Tide comes out on February 18 and is available for preorder from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org.
TW: body horror, classism, chronic pain, colonization, death, death of a parent, gaslighting, grief, gun violence, murder, slavery, sexism, sexual content, torture, violence, war
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