Not So Well Read | Upon a Starlit Tide

Upon a Starlit Tide

Kell Woods

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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. The hardcover edition features beautiful custom endpapers.

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

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Posts about this title from Not So Well Read

Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Jan 12 2025

[Look! Week two of me doing something I said I would do! Am I... better than everyone? We shall see...\ \ This Week in the Book World: \ \ Fable hosted their town hall and it was... weird. There was a lot of self-promotion, a weird section where they talked about feature requests, and then very little time spent actually addressing the reason we were all there.\ \ Long story short, they said they're removing the AI for now. However, their founder made it very clear that they will continue to invest in AI in the future. So, while I am staying on the platform for now, that is subject to change.\ \ This week's publishing news: \ \ There were some great horror deals announced this week, and even some from one of my favorite new authors:\ \

Donyae Coles (Midnight Rooms) announced two new horror novels. The Sunken, The Adored is a historical horror novel about a freed slave and something sinister in the canals of 1700s Venice. What Kills You is a gothic novel about a Black family and the "inescapable realities of poverty".\
Johnny Compton (The Spite House, Devils Kill Devils) announced a new short story collection called Midnight Somewhere.\
In debut news, Ruth McKell's Honey in Her Veins is described as a "cottagecore fantasy romance set in Appalachia". This one sounds absolutely incredible and I cannot wait to leanr more!\
And then in YA news, we had Ravenfield Hall by Leanna Renee, which was pitched as "Rebecca, but written by the Bronte Sisters" about a spirtualist, ghost ships, and robber barons. Say less.\ \ This week's new releases:\ \
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young (Adult, fiction)\
All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall (Adult, distopian)\
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan (Adult, ficiton): The Three Lives of Cate Kay is an adrenaline rush of a story that doesn't compromise on sincerity. Whether she is exploring first love, queer identity, female friendship, or self-forgiveness, Fagan leaves everything on the page and delivers a novel that demands to be deeply felt by its readers.\ \ What I read this week: \ \ Immortal Dark (Finished)\ \ We all know I’m forever in my vampire era–especially after seeing Nosferatu–and this is one of the most unique vampire books I’ve ever read. Immortal Dark marries dark academia with Ethiopian-inspired vampire lore. The characters, the magic system, and Uxlay University are so well thought-out and complex. Plus, this Romantasy is true enemies-to-lovers in a way that felt substantial, but didn’t cross a line too far into bully romance.\ \ PS: I would say this one is definitely upper YA/new adult with some content that may be a bit too much for younger teens.\ \ The Sirens (Finished)\ \ I adore Emilia Hart. Her debut novel, Weyward was one of my favorite debuts of the last few years, and this one was just as wonderful. A family mystery, siren lore, women protecting women, and history all wrapped into one. I just finished this one today and haven't collected my thoughts yet, so more to come!\ \ Fagin the Thief (52%)\ \ Similar to Emilia Hart, Allison Epstein is one of my favorite authors of the last few years. If you haven't read any of her books, I suggest starting with A Tip for the Hangman, which absolutely destroyed me emotioanlly in the same way Song of Achilles did. I'm about 52% through this one and am ready to be hurt again.\ \ Elatsoe (22%)\ \ I just started this one today! It's our mostly fantasy book club pick for January (join here if you w ant), which is great, because it's a backlist pick that's been on my TBR for years. I had no idea this one had so much magic in it! I thought it was just Elatsoe, but there's vampires, fae, and all kinds of other creatures. I can't wait to get further in.\ \ What I bought/shelved \ \ This week was all about mermaids, sirens, and selkies. I posted this thread and go so many recs that I spun up an entire list of books. You can check the full list out in this post , but here are some that I was particulary drawn to:\ \
Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods (Totally forgot she had a mermaid book coming out!)\
In the Veins of the Drowning by Kalie Cassidy\
Called to the Deep by Desiree M. Niccoli\ \ This is a non-mermaid book, but here's another one I shelved the other day\ \
Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson\ \ Other musings: \ \ In none book news, my husband and I started playing It Takes Two on xb0x and it's so fun!! We have been absolutely cackling over this one and our many failed attempts (i.e. deaths) at some of the puzzles and challenges. If you like couch co-op games, this is one of the best ones I've played in years!\ \ Join the Discord! It will be fun, I promise!\ \ Become a paid subscriber! I will appreciate you endlessly.](https://notsowellread.binderybooks.com/item/cBjVMNNcYDIzV9FQ3MrM/)

Weekly Wrap Up – 1.06-1.12

11 books

Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Jan 10 2025

Mermaids, sirens, and selkies

Current literary obsession: mermaids, sirens, and selkies.

Not sure why, but I’ve recently become obsessed with stories about women and the sea. I’ve read a few books on these topics in the past, but have been really enjoying diving into some of the newer ones that have come out over the past few years. I’m about 60% of the way through Emilia Hart’s newest (out 4.1.25) and it’s definitely scratching that itch. I cannot put it down.

Have you read any books about these myths? What were your favorites?

10 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

Chanterelle Solace\ \ Sabie\ \ • May 23 2025

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Here is a list of 54 Fantasy books that are coming out this February 2025 alone!!

Here is a list of 54 Fantasy books that are coming out this February 2025 alone!! (Crazy!)

This year has a crazy amount of fantasy books coming out and this month is no difference! Are there any of these you are looking forward to? Have I missed any release from this month? Let me know and it will go in the quarterly release at the end of March!

Here is a list of all the books with the authors tagged if found:

🍄‍🟫 Fantasy: The Forgotten Earth - Feb 05, 2025 @forestsandfantasy The moonlight healers – Feb 11, 2025 @elizabethbeckerbooks Forged in blood – Feb 18, 2025 @k.l.wildes The Dark Mirror – Feb 25, 2025 @say_shannon The scorpion and the night blossom – Feb 27, 2025 @ameliewenzhao

🍄‍🟫Cottagecore Fantasy: Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales – feb 11, 2025 @heather_fawcett The Forest King’s Daughter – feb 11, 2025 @elly_blake Wooing the Witch Queen – Feb 20, 2025 @stephanieburgisinwales A Circle of Uncommon Witches – feb 25, 2025 @paigecrutcherwrites The amber owl – feb 25, 2025 @julietmarillier The antlered king – feb 27, 2025 @theivyandtheoak

🍄‍🟫Epic Fantasy: The Forgotten Flame – feb 01, 2025 @talesbyrea Grave empire – feb 04, 2025 @richardswanauthor Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf: A League of Legends: Arcane Novel - feb 18, 2025 @clclarkwrites Dance of Shadows — Feb 25, 2025 @thekingbeyondthewall Woman of Wolves - Feb 25, 2025 @jessmcfarlaneauthor Gatebound — feb 28, 2025 @danieltjackson_illborn

🍄‍🟫 Gothic Fantasy: Voice like a Hyacinth – feb 01, 2025 @lesbrarycard The Crimson Road – feb 11, 2025 @agslatt Unhallowed halls – feb 18, 2025 @liliwilkinsonauthor The Otherwhere post – feb 25, 2025 @emilycanwrite

🍄‍🟫 Cozy Fantasy: Where shadows bloom – feb 11, 2025 @catbake I got abducted by an aliens and now I’m trapped in a rom-com - feb 18, 2025 @kimberlylemming Greenteeth - Feb 25, 2025 @mollyoneillwrites Fated Winds and Promising Seas — Feb 25, 2025 (already out in the UK, US release) @wordsofrablack

🏷️🏷️• #februaryfantasyreads #fantasybooks2025 #newbooks

3 books

Chanterelle Solace\ \ Sabie\ \ • May 23 2025

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Happy February Friends!🥰Let’s reflect on the last month

Happy February Friends!🥰

Let’s reflect on the last month: What have you done this January? What were your favourite moments?🤎

I find that January usually goes very slow and a lot tends to happen in it. This past month, I’ve made sure to hibernate and to plan, which is what @theslowcozy and I always say nowdays while we embrace our slow, cozy living lifestyle🍂🍄‍🟫

This month has been an adventure of reading, gaming, being obsessed with my small trinkets and starting a bullet journal or BuJo! I also spent some time recovering post my wisdom teeth extraction on both sides, preparing for an interview that I’ve got coming in a few days (eeek) and slowly readjusting back to normal routine🥺🤎

#cottagecorewitchy #amberacademia #honeyacademia #amberandhoneyacademia #monthlywrapup Cottagecore Witch Cottagecore Sabie Amber Academia Honey Academia Amber and Honey Academia Cozy Gothic Fantasy Books Cozy Games

7 books

Arcane Nights Press\ \ Cassidy\ \ • Feb 21 2025

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New Book Releases February 18th

Small but a good new release day! #booktok #fantasybooks #newbooktuesday #newbooks #bookrecs #cassidy_reads

5 books

Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Jan 12 2025

Weekly Wrap Up – 1.06-1.12

11 books

Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Jan 10 2025

Mermaids, sirens, and selkies

Current literary obsession: mermaids, sirens, and selkies.