Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods
While it feels like romantasies have saturated the book market as of late, Upon a Starlit Tide distinguishes itself as a historical fantasy blended with romance. I liked that the plot, character development, and world-building didn’t fall short in favor of the romance. Kell Woods does an incredible job of weaving an atmospheric 1700’s France, rich with descriptions of the people, places, and food of the time, as well as fascinating pieces of Fae folklore. She seamlessly weaves themes of Cinderella and The Little Mermaid into the narrative. Woods succeeds at paying tribute to these classic tales while also breathing new life into them in unique and original ways.
I also appreciate how much depth Woods gives her characters. Luce, Samuel, Morgan, and Luce’s family get fleshed out well in the story. Luce’s sisters make for compelling, nuanced characters, rather than the evil stepsisters trope one might expect. Woods also crafts a heartfelt, slow-burn romance that sweetens the narrative. While the love triangle keeps you guessing at first, Woods deftly turns the tide in favor of someone without overdoing the deliberation between potential love interests.
Most of all, I loved Woods’s lyrical writing. She creates a beautiful world with her words, and I’ll carry these images in my mind long after reading. At one point in Upon a Starlit Tide, Woods writes, “Some words, she had found, were more important than the rest. They stood apart from their companions because they gleamed like stars in the night sky…shining so hard and so beautifully bright she feared she might be burned.” I hope this fairytale retelling stands out like a star amongst the books you read in the coming months.
