Title: Midnight on the CelestialAuthor: Julia Alexander
Pages: 352
Publication Date: March 3, 2026
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Synopsis:
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.
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Midnight on the Celestial immediately caught my attention with its premise, and I ended up really enjoying it. In it, Roe Damarcus loses control of her resurrection magic during a crucial trial and is sent to work aboard the Celestial, a glamorous cruise ship that turns deadly after dark. While competing for a chance to win back her magic, she uncovers the ship’s secrets, the truth about her family, and a danger that follows her long after her shift is over.
Roe is a great protagonist. I liked her determination and the way she tries to stay true to who she is, even when everything around her feels stacked against her. Her resurrection magic is intriguing, and I loved how it shapes her identity as well as the mystery surrounding the ship. And watching her go from the privileged daughter of a Council member to someone who has to face insurmountable obstacles in a completely different and dangerous situation was intriguing.
Ivander was great, too. He’s been on the ship for some time, and there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye. He’s so charming, and I liked how we learn more about him as Roe does. His presence seems to ground her when everything on the ship feels out of control and chaotic. Their romance is lovely, and I love how it slowly builds over the course of the story. The secondary characters were another highlight. They add so much warmth, fun, and heart to the story and often contrast the heaviness around them. I love the found family vibes and the little group Roe becomes part of. I think they help Roe figure out who she is, what she believes, and they help her face some harsh realities about her family.
The Celestial itself was one of my favorite elements in the story. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with a ship quite like this. It’s glamorous and filled with fun and entertaining magic during the day, and then it turns into something genuinely frightening at night. The contrast between day and night is striking and a bit terrifying, and it defines the tone and atmosphere throughout the book.
Overall, this was a really entertaining YA fantasy with a unique setting, a lovely romance, and characters I wanted to root for. Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Doubt is a weed. It adapts to my excuses and grows as he waters the roots I’m desperate to rip from the ground.
- found family
- forced proximity
- magical cruise ship
Julia Alexandra lives in Orlando, Florida with her best friend, who also happens to be her twin sister. Julia works as a pre-licensed therapist while writing fantasy stories with magic, danger, and chaotic found families. She is passionate about mental health and is grateful to have writing on her own mental health journey. Julia writes for those who find magical worlds a comforting escape from their own. She enjoys reading, collecting too many stuffed animals, and writing to orchestral music.
I’ll be ordering this book for my library! The teens (who read fantasy) should enjoy it!
I think they will!!