A page turning read that will have you hooked from page 1. A brilliant atmosphere, intriguing protagonists and a plot that will keep you captivated right till the final page.

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods is a whimsical historical fantasy set in 1700s Brittany, France. Inspired by classic fairytales like Cinderella and The Little Mermaid, it still manages to feel entirely unique. At times, it gave me Bridgerton vibes—if Bridgerton were set in France rather than London.

The story centres on Luce Léon, the youngest daughter of a wealthy shipowner, doted upon by her adoptive father. While her sisters dream of advantageous marriages, Luce dreams of a life at sea. She often slips away to meet her friends Samuel and Bones, two English smugglers who share her love of adventure and have taught her to sail. But everything changes one morning when she rescues Morgan de Châtelaine, the son of another powerful shipowner, from the sea. Instantly drawn to his charm and shared wanderlust, Luce finds herself pulled into a world of danger, mystery, and magic.

The real strength of this book lies in its characters. Luce is a strong-willed, compelling protagonist whose motivations feel authentic, even with all the magical elements surrounding her. She’s a truly fabulous FMC. The side characters are equally well-developed, with rich backstories and relationships that feel genuine. None of them exist merely to move the plot forward—they all add depth and dimension to the story. I particularly loved the dynamic between Luce and her two older sisters, which was both heartfelt and complex.

If I had one critique, it would be that the pacing starts off a little slow. It took me longer than I’d have liked to get fully hooked. However, once the fairytale elements were woven in and the mystery and drama ramped up, I couldn’t put it down.

Overall, Upon a Starlit Tide is a beautifully crafted tale brimming with magic, adventure, and unforgettable characters. I was definitely enchanted by this charming, sea-swept journey.

“I found it all. Everything I wanted. Except you.”

I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did, but the story swept me in like the sea. The most stunning, lyrical writing paired with sister dynamics that had me thinking of Little Women or Pride and Prejudice—pure magic.

Kell Woods creates a world where dreams and magic collide, and I felt like I was living in it. 🐚✨ As someone who grew up enchanted by movies like The Little Mermaid and Cinderella, this felt like a nostalgic fairytale with its own unique twist, I was looking for resemblances everywhere and I loved how this author brought these elements in so uniquely. I could practically taste the sea salt in the air and hear the crash of waves. This wasn’t just a book; it was a movie in my mind.

Set in 1758 Saint-Malo, this tale follows Luce, the youngest daughter of a wealthy shipowner, who longs for adventure and her own ship. One fateful night, she sneaks to the beach and discovers a man floating in the waves. She rescues him, but that one moment changes everything. From magic stones to mermaids and betrayal, this story has it all.

Why you’ll love it:
✨ Gorgeous, atmospheric writing
🧜‍♀️ Mermaids and magical creatures
🔺Love triangle moment
⚔️ Lovers to enemies plot twist
❤️ Friends to lovers slow burn
🔪 Twists of betrayal
📖 HEA but she chose herself first


This book swept me away like a tide I never wanted to escape. Truly unforgettable. The French in between added even more beauty to this already stunning tale. I was shocked by the ending, and audibly gasped and remembered to breath again only when I saw the words “Epilogue” - I have never been more thankful🤣

This was my first book by this author but absolutely won’t be my last. This was also my first dark historical fantasy? Think I’ll be looking for more books in this genre going forward!

Upon a Starlit Tide is an irresistibly enchanting tale set against the windswept shores of 18th-century Saint-Malo, where the boundaries between reality and magic blur in a symphony of adventure, desire, and intrigue.

Lucinde Leon is a captivating protagonist, her yearning for freedom and the sea brimming with authenticity and spirit. Trapped in the gilded cage of her family’s wealth and expectations, Luce’s secret lessons with her smuggler friend Samuel offer her a glimpse of the life she craves. But her dreams are irrevocably altered when she rescues Morgan de Chatelaine, a charming heir whose arrival brings glittering balls, unspoken promises, and a world of possibilities Luce never imagined.

The setting of Saint-Malo is rendered in vivid, lyrical prose, its high walls, stormy seas, and shimmering magic creating a stage as atmospheric as it is enthralling. Woods masterfully weaves the historical with the fantastical, introducing a compelling subplot about the departing fae and the waning magic of Brittany. This element adds a rich layer of mystery to the narrative, while the threat of English attack grounds the story in the harsh realities of war.

The novel’s greatest strength lies in its ability to balance the delicate opulence of ballrooms with the stormy danger of the sea. Luce’s journey is one of discovery—not only of her own desires but of the hidden powers within her. As secrets rise from the depths, Woods delivers knife-sharp betrayals and revelations that keep readers spellbound.

Upon a Starlit Tide is a mesmerising blend of history, romance, and magic, brought to life through Kell Woods’ exquisite prose. With its heady mix of stormy desires, shimmering enchantments, and perilous truths, this book is a glittering treasure that will leave readers yearning for more. A must-read for fans of historical fantasy with a touch of fae magic.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, the publisher and Net Galley.

This was such a beautifully written book! The setting was so intensely evoked and the sensation of being by the sea was mesmerising! I could picture the setting so clearly. For setting and atmosphere this book did excellently. It was so easy to visualise the sea, the town, the ships and caves. The setting was so integral to the story too, this couldn’t have taken place in a different time and place and still have felt like the same tale.

This takes elements of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella and brings them together in a story about Luce who has badly damaged feet that cause her pain when walking, but has a natural affinity for the sea which soothes her pain. Luce lives in a wealthy family with her two sisters and parents. She’s not so interested in securing a wealthy husband like her sisters, but rather wants to sail the oceans. She rescues a drowning sailor who turns out to be a noble but is warned that the sea will demand its due. While the influence of the two fairy tales are very clear in the story, this sits so firmly as its own tale. Sometimes I feel like retellings aren’t different enough to win my interest but this one certainly did! I loved this book.

I loved the folkloric elements woven through the story. The battle between human advancement and the fae magic that brought such joy and power was so well explored. The way the folklore was used to embed the fairytale elements was brilliantly done.

I absolutely loved this book, from the first few pages the writing was so beautiful that I was engrossed. I cannot wait to see what the author does next!

This is a stunning historical fantasy with the ambience of a fairytale. Our heroine, Luce, is easily loveable, and her character development throughout the book is fantastic. Full of twists and turns, laughs and tears, this is sure to be a book which stays with you for a very long time. And that ending! It was too perfect!

✨ 4.5/5 Stars ✨

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods swept me off my feet like the tide it’s named for. This book is EVERYTHING I wanted it to be and more—a breathtaking blend of feminist fairytale retelling, lush historical detail, and heart-pounding romance. The writing is exquisite, weaving a magical tale that glimmers like sea glass with prose so lyrical it feels like poetry in motion.

Luce is a protagonist who shines with agency and resilience. Her journey of self-discovery, torn between societal expectations and her longing for freedom, is deeply relatable and empowering. Samuel, her smuggler best friend, and the mysterious stranger she rescues add layers of intrigue, heartbreak, and *chef’s kiss* romantic tension. Their dynamics kept me enthralled, especially as secrets of the sea and Luce’s own heritage rise to the surface.

The world-building is superb. Although I initially stumbled with the French setting and vocabulary, it became a richly immersive backdrop for a tale brimming with faerie magic and stormy emotions. Persevering through those early pages was absolutely worth it. And THE ENDING? Pure perfection—it left me shouting “YES!” and clutching the book with happy tears.

If you adore feminist fairytales, strong-willed heroines, and lyrical writing, grab this immediately. From its stunning cover to its unforgettable story, this is a book you must have on your library shelf 🌊

Huge thanks for the author, Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Upon a Starlit Tide is a lovely read; despite its slightly slow moving plot, I ended up really enjoying it! I’m not normally a historical fantasy fan, but this was still very accessible, and its enchanting atmosphere really helped.

Kell Woods has an incredible lyrical writing style, and despite this not being a Christmas book, it felt very apt for the season!

The synopsis says it has similarities to parts of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella. I understand that, but I think this a completely unique story with beautiful fairytale qualities to it.

I felt parts of both these fairytales at the beginning. But again, the story is unique. It completely changes half way through and has a unique fairytale story of it's own.

The main character is everything you want in a main character. She's also not the stereotype main female character in most fantasy currently. She is unique (not in a pick me way haha), but in what you expect from a fairytale character.

The port/ smuggling plots reminds me of older classics from Charles Dickens etc. I felt like I was in that time period.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants a unique fairytale story

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

Immediately drawn in by the starter’s charm, Luce is plunged into a world of glittering balls and faerie magic, seduction and brutality. Secrets that have long been lost to the shadowy depths of the ocean begin to rise again to the surface. But as Luce wrestles with warring desires, she finds that her own power is going brighter. Shining like sea glass or the scales of a mermaid’s tail.

A wonderfully captivating novel that will have you enchanted form the very first page. Whimsical prose that builds the world, explores the characters and creating a story that moves and shifts like the rising of the tides. This is a story that will stay with you long after you read the last page: it’ll leave you dreaming of faerie balls, underwater magic and your passions can lead you anywhere.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.