Upon a Starlit Tide Audiobook By Kell Woods cover art

Upon a Starlit Tide

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Upon a Starlit Tide

By: Kell Woods
Narrated by: Esther Wane
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Upon a Starlit Tide is a dark and enchanting historical fantasy combining elements of "The Little Mermaid" and "Cinderella" into a wholly original tale of love, power, and betrayal.

Saint-Malo, Brittany, 1758. To Lucinde Leon, the youngest daughter of a wealthy French shipowner, the high walls of Saint-Malo are more hindrance than haven.

While her sisters are busy trying to secure advantageous marriages, Luce spends her days secretly being taught to sail by Samuel, her best friend—and an English smuggler. Only he understands how the waves call to her. Then one stormy morning, Luce rescues a drowning man from the sea.

Immediately drawn in by the stranger’s charm, Luce is plunged into a world of glittering balls and faerie magic, seduction and brutality. Secrets that have long been lost in the shadowy depths of the ocean begin to rise to the surface, but as Luce wrestles with warring desires, she finds that her own power is growing brighter and brighter, shining like a sea-glass slipper.

Or the scales of a sea-maid's tail.

"Magnificent. This is a must-read!”—Juliet Marillier, award-winning author of the Sevenwaters and Blackthorn & Grim series

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

©2025 Kell Woods (P)2025 Macmillan Audio Fairy Tales Fantasy Historical Feel-Good Merfolk

Critic reviews

“A magnificent blend of reimagined fairytale and epic adventure, anchored by excellent research and buoyed by brilliant writing. This is a must-read!”—Juliet Marillier, award-winning author of the Sevenwaters and Blackthorn & Grim series

"Upon a Starlit Tide is an enchanting read, as rich with historical detail as it is with magic, with surprising beings around every corner and a sea-foundling with a grand, dark secret. The novel mines the material of fairy tales in a unique and delightful way that fantasy fans will love."—Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches

“A dark and enchanting twist on two fairy tales in one, Upon a Starlit Tide will draw you into its depths from the very first page.”—Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Weaver and the Witch Queen
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The story has soo much depth and development in the characters. Plus i loved how it captivated true love instead of princessy love. loved it!

Captivating!

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It’s a shame really, I listened to at least the first 2/3rds on audio and the narrator did a huge disservice to the story. She made the main character sound small and frail and insecure and the male characters sound like 60 year old pipe smoking seamen instead of characters in their 20-somethings. I didn’t even realize how much the narration was distorting my opinion of the story until I finally gave up listening and read the hardcopy for the last 1/3rd - I wish I had read the entire novel.

I was, however, surprised by how wonderful the story itself was! Being described as a combination of sorts of Cinderella and the little mermaid but darker, I was wondering what aspects would be woven in and honestly I thought it was done very well. It was completely its own story, and the story was beautiful and poetic. I loved the setting and the description of the seaside city & the subtle magic. I figured out a huge plot point fairly early on, but it was made so obvious I almost wonder if you weren’t supposed to and still left me wanting to know how it tied in, so I wasn’t disappointed as it all unfolded.

Highly recommend the BOOK.

Great story, disliked the narration

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Mermaids, magic, fey, betrayal, love and family. A wonderful blending of cinderella and the little mermaid mixed with a historic setting that leaves you wistful and awed. Perfect book to welcome in the melting of winter.

Perfect book to welcome spring

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This is such a great story! A wonderful new telling of the little mermaid with hints of Cinderella. I would listen to this again and again! Hopefully there's a sequel or a similar sotry!

Phenomenal

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I read a LOT and I'm a harsh critic. I didn't expect this book to be as good as it is! Engaging story of dark(ish) fantasy with characters you immediately like—or dislike. I lost 3 hours of sleep last night listening to it to finish it in the wee hours. I'll be recommending this one to everyone I know. Give us more, Kell Woods!


Happily surprised

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Best mermaid book I’ve ever read. And one of my favorite books in general to boot.

Wow!

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It’s rare that a book completely captures my heart—rarer still when that book is a fantasy - it’s just not the genre I ever gravitate towards.

But oh how Upon a Starlit Tide is a dazzling exception! It was absolutely glorious and spellbinding from start to finish. It is easily one of my all-time favorite reads now, and the only fantasy to ever land there.

It is a sweeping tale set in 1700s France, steeped in real history yet shimmering with magic. This is a world where witches and mermaids are not myth but fact—seamlessly woven into the fabric of daily life. Somehow, Kell Woods makes it all feel natural and entirely possible. Perhaps that is why this fantasy worked for me. It takes place in our world, in a real place and time, where historical events are actually happening - yet, there is magic. Think, Pirates of the Caribbean vibe.

The writing is just exquisite. So many romantasy books suffer (in my opinion) from jarring, contemporary language that clashes with their ancient or historical settings. But not here. Woods’ prose is lush, lyrical, and cinematic. It reads like the finest historical fiction, yet carries the wonder of a fairy tale.

The characters are equally vivid. Luc is a compelling and tender protagonist, but it’s not just her story—every character, even those with just a few scenes, feels fully alive. There are no flat archetypes here. Everyone is given space to be complex and real.

And then there are the echos of familiar fairytales, which I worried would make the entire plot feel unoriginal. Yes, Cinderella and The Little Mermaid are here, but not as you know them. The stepsisters are kind. The stepmother is loving. The prince and “sea monster” (the Tide Witch) tropes are also turned on their head. Just to name a few examples. Don’t worry though, there is still a ball, a “slipper”, a “carriage”, and yes, a mermaid!

There are other twists I won’t spoil, but let me just say, there were moments that left me shocked and shaken.

I’d recommend this book to readers who love historical fiction, to those who usually avoid fantasy but are open to something richly written and beautifully imagined. To anyone longing for a story that reads like a myth reborn—something timeless and strange and achingly human.

This book enchanted me, and I’ll be thinking about it for a very long time.

Glorious and Spellbinding!

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great story concept and good writing except for the constant interruption describing shirtless men. female MC is inconsistent in her knowledge about ships and nautical terminology

romance ruined it

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