MIDNIGHT ON THE CELESTIAL, by Julia Alexandra, Wednesday Books, March 3, 2026, Hardcover, $21 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
A girl must work on a luxury cruise ship in order to earn a chance to keep her magic in Midnight on the Celestial, by Julia Alexandra.
Roe Damarcus has never been afraid of the dead. Her power to summon spirits has awed the guests of her esteemed family’s galas for as long as she can remember. Her future is certain, and her gift will be another shining jewel in the Damarcus legacy.
But when she fails her realm’s trial to keep her magic and is deemed too dangerous for society, she faces a harrowing choice: give up her gift or serve a punishment sentence aboard the Celestial, a luxurious magical cruise ship where staff members compete for guest votes to earn a coveted retrial.
As a concierge, Roe juggles the demands of affluent guests, cruel bosses, and the suspicion that an infuriatingly handsome silks performer, Ivander, is determined to keep her from a retrial.
But the true dangers surface after her shift ends when the Celestial transforms into halls of nightmares that kill staff members after dark. Faced with the reality of serving aboard, Roe begins to question the ship, trials, and the system that put her there. But the moment Roe sinks into the ship’s dark history, she’s wrongly framed for a guest’s murder. Vowing to conjure her own second chance, Roe will use whatever power she has to uncover the secrets of the ship, her family, and their entwined bloody past… before she becomes the Celestial’s next victim. —Synopsis provided by Wednesday Books
Midnight on the Celestial is fully immersive fantasy novel that holds attention from beginning to end.
At the heart of the story is Roe Damarcus, one of the lucky magic holders that lives in high circles. But when Roe fails her magic trial, she ends up in servitude. Roe has a lot to learn, and she adapts quickly, making friends along the way.
Complex magical systems can make or break a book, and in Midnight at the Celestial, author Julia Alexandra exceeds expectations. Not only does she craft a magical system that is compelling, but one that makes sense within the world she created. And this magical world comes to light organically, taking readers along for the ride.
While Roe and her supporting characters are all strong, it was the Celestial that really captured my attention. The way the ship functions like its own world and the enhanced magic that takes place there is compelling.
Midnight at the Celestial does feel dark. Death, torture, horror and gore are all present, though not overly graphic. It’s a great option for fans of upper YA fantasy.
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