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.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Thriller, Magic, Mystery

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 3, 2026

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Devin The Book Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Midnight on the Celestial was such a fun mix of spooky and magical. The creepy vibe of the ship was honestly my favorite part; the author nailed that eerie atmosphere, and the magic in this world has a really whimsical feel that kept things interesting. I definitely found myself flipping pages to see what would happen next.

I think the world has a ton of potential, especially if there ends up being more books, but some of the magic rules were a little confusing. I never totally understood why the scary stuff only happened in the hallways and why everyone was magically safe behind doors. It just felt like something that should’ve been explained a bit more.

I liked the characters overall, but a few of them didn’t feel fully fleshed out and came across a bit bland at times. Still, Roe’s story kept me hooked, and the mystery of the ship was strong enough to carry the plot.

Overall, it’s an entertaining read with great atmosphere and a world I’d love to see expanded. It just needed a little more clarity and depth in a few places.



Just received my Netgalley ARC copy. This book sounds so good, kind of like Caraval, maybe? Big thanks to Austin from St. Martin's for sending this my way!

[Michelle Kimber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an outstanding thriller/horror. I was rooting for the FMC. I felt the story was gripping and the spooky stuff was well written. I am somewhat new to the genre and I feel like this was an amazing foray into what makes the genre great.

[ava. · Rating 2 out of 5]

𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩: 75%

ˋ°•*⁀➷ 2 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 .˚🖤𓍢˖˚🌹𓍢˖˚🦋˚.

I went in with low expectations, but I guess they weren’t low enough. This feels a lot like powerless- underveloped characters, a lack of world building, and some plagiarism mixed in. I might be picky about fantasy books, maybe I just have too high of standards, but I honestly hated this. It wasn’t all bad, ofc, but I can’t bring myself to rate it over 2 stars.

» [haunted- Taylor Swift] «
0:00 ─〇───── 4:00
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 🌹

౨ৎ fantasy with some horror elements
౨ৎ slow paced and boring
౨ৎ a romance subplot


.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

ೃ⁀➷ 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯

Ages 13+

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 🦋

౨ৎ Language- I don’t really remember but there was some

౨ৎ Romance- I didn’t finish it, so idk for sure, but so far there was almost nothing, just fantasizing about kissing.

౨ৎ Violence- body horror (mainly just corpses rotting and stuff), death, blood

౨ৎ Other- drinking (I think), idk what else


.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 🖤

⤷ Roe- she was honestly quite underdeveloped, and annoying at times, but not as bad as some FMCs

⤷ Ivander- he was so bland and boring 😭 I’m sorry, but he literally had no personality. I honestly don’t have much to say about him


.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.


𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅 🗝️

The setting was okay, and I found some parts to be entertaining, but honestly, that’s it.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 🥀

ok get ready for a rant…

First of all, it was incredibly boring, so boring that I had to dnf it. I found myself forcing myself to read it, and I literally couldn’t read more than one chapter at a time because I kept losing focus and getting distracted from reading it. It felt like work to read, and it literally took me over 2 months to read.

The romance was also really not great. There was absolutely no chemistry, and I wasn’t invested in it at all. The banter wasn’t great, the pacing was off, everything just felt forced. It was marketed as enemies to lovers, but THEY WERE NEVER ENEMIES. Just two people who mildly disliked eachother 😭

also, there was barely any worldbuilding, aside from the way magic is dealt with in the world, and the concept isn’t that great to begin with- a girl works on a cruise ship so she doesn’t lose her magic. And yes, half the book was just her working on a cruise ship

I could tell the writing style was trying so hard to be poetic and beautiful, and the author really wanted to have “quoteable” lines, but it fell flat. Somehow, it still seems simplistic and immature. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by books like divine rivals and a study in drowning, but this wasn’t anything near a literary masterpiece.

Now, I don’t mind horror elements. But this book added them in in a way that didn’t feel unsettling or scary- just gross. I don’t need a page if descriptions of rotting corpses. I was literally disgusted reading some parts of it. And it’s not dark, it actually felt weirdly light considering the premise and plot, it’s just… I don’t even know what. Not to mention how some descriptions of injuries were very inaccurate.

now, moving on to the plot and pacing. The pacing of it just felt so off, I don’t know how to explain it but it did. And it was so random. Like a random monster appears when it never said there were monsters in that world, but it gives no further explanations and treats it like a normal thing???? come on 😭

Ok, I swear this is my last point: it was very unoriginal. While it wasn’t as bad as, say, powerless, it seemed to be heavily inspired by a few books I’ve read. And ofc, maybe the author hasn’t read them, but it seems too similar to be a coincidence. First of all, immortal consequences. The entire trying to be the best student (or in this case, cruise ship employee) to compete in a magical trial for something very important, and only one person gets selected for it however often and then the government being evil thing is literally the exact same! while reading it, I kept thinking, “I’ve read this plot somewhere before”, and then I remembered that, surprise, it’s the exact plot of immortal consequences! Also, I noticed some parts involving the magic were very similar to curious tides.

|🖤| post-read~

dnf at 76%
I tried so hard to like this, but everything just fell flat- the worldbuilding, the romance, the characters. The writing style wasn’t great, and I honestly can’t find much to like about it. Also, it took me 2 months to read, which is extremely unusual for me.
rtc



|🥀| pre-read~

I got another arc after a few months! I dont really have any expectations for this, or know much about it, but I’m hoping it’ll be good. I’ve been really loving fantasy lately, so this is perfect, and I can’t wait to see what it’s like

[Tiffany]

Super excited for this one. 💫

Thank you so much, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, for sending me this ARC.

What to expect:
🚢Standalone
🔱Magic System
🚢Mystery/Suspense
🔱Love
🚢Murder
🔱Secret family history

Pub Date: March 03, 2026

As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨

[Reya · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review - Thank you St. Martin's Press!
Rating: ⭐⭐.5 | Rounded up to 3 stars

I don't quite know how to feel about this book. Because of the ending, I'm assuming it's a standalone, and all I can really say is that it was satisfying but typical.

Don't take my entire word for this, as the book is getting published a year after I write this review, and it likely might have changed here and there.

The basic plot without any spoilers is: a girl mistakenly believes that a group of people/system is okay until she's banished or made an outcast from her community, and has to realize that the group of people/system is flawed and cruel, and then she fights back against it. She also falls in love with one of them. That's the book. It wasn't even made unique by the details, some of the plot is exactly what you would expect of a YA romantasy. There wasn't any new revelation or new insight that made her particularly unique. It just was.

I will admit I liked some of the depictions of the hospitality industry aboard the ship, and Ivander was sweet. You can't blame me for being unable to stop myself from drooling over boys who smirk constantly like their life depends on it. I know it's cliche, but I don't care.

It was a VERY weak enemies-to-lovers, as in they probably begin liking each other like a week after they meet. Even then, it was just Ivander thinking Roe was a spoiled brat who thought she was better than everyone else.

Like I said previously, satisfying but typical. You will not be that surprised by a single thing in this book. Not a character, nor a plot point.

The ending was also so cheesy that I might just start reading A Little Life just to get that taste out of my mouth😅.

The prose was decent, nothing special nothing bad.

Tropes:

✅Enemies to Lovers (very faintly)

✅Evil Family Member

✅Resurrection (Both figuratively and literally)

✅Found Family (sort of)

Spice Rating: 0/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️(Incredibly clean, there's mostly a bunch of kissing)

[Siara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

Really good world building! I thought the magic system was super original and Roe’s magic was so cool to read about. I got the vibe that this book was a standalone, but I’d love to read another in the same world by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital arc.

[Jefferz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magically captivating while simultaneously dark and harsh, Julia Alexandra’s debut novel Midnight on the Celestial is a well-paced and solid YA fantasy story that effortlessly walks the line between the fantasy and thriller genres. Prominently featured on both the book’s cover and in its blurb, the focal luxury cruise line enchanted with opulent and imaginative magic immediately catches attention but there’s a lot more to this story than what meets the eye. A dark fantasy thriller featuring a likable group of found family friends paired with a great plot and excellent age-appropriate character writing, Midnight on the Celestial is a great all-rounder book that tells a compelling standalone story with dazzling visuals.

The land of Tamarynth is overseen by the elected Council and system that regulates those with magical powers. Referred to as morphia, this substance possessed by certain individuals grants them a variety of powers, in Roe Damarcus’s case the power of resurrecting spirits from the afterlife. As the famed daughter of one of the councilmen and only member with magical powers, her powers are largely used for show at high society events. However following a failed trial to evaluate the control of her powers, she is faced with either forceful loss of her resurrection skill or a four-year stint working aboard the luxury cruise liner the Celestial. Full of magic, demanding guests, but also unspoken horrors and danger, Roe must not only prove herself worthy of a retrial over all the other staff members competing for the available spots, but also survive both the suppression by the Bosses on board as well as the cruise ship itself.

I will be the first to admit that I picked up this book on the premise and cover alone, a fantasy thriller and mystery aboard a dangerous magic-filled cruise ship is an amazingly cool concept. Yet, as fascinating the Celestial ship is, this book has a lot more story and content to beyond its dreamy cruise line. While enchanted at first glance, Alexandra’s world has a lot of interesting framework and context surrounding the famed ship. While Roe’s family holds prestige and status thanks to her father’s position on the council and skills as an alchemist, the consequences for morphic users is dire when it comes to their mandatory trials that can result in the loss of their magic or sentence them to potential death upon the Celestial. Tamarynth’s society is one that thrives off the skills of select types of morphics (primarily menders and crafters) while others are feared for their power or potential abuse. As the reader follows Roe as she navigates her trial and service upon the Celestial, nothing in this book is as it appears. The Bosses she’s oppressed by, the stuffy family she is assigned to serve, the goal of a retrial and redemption in the eye of society, every narrative element of this book holds unexpected surprises behind a layer of rose-tinted magical whimsy.

Serving dual purpose as a high-end luxury vacation experience as well as a penal reformatory, the cruise is a fascinating concept. On-board the ship, indentured morphic users are subjected to an unfair and soul-crushing experience, subjected to the whims of both their wealthy clientele as well as the twistedly ruthless Bosses that run the cruise. Warned against venturing into the ship’s halls at night, staff are also at risk of death as the halls come alive with horrifying visuals, lethal traps, and psychological warfare induced on its inhabitants. The events and experiences on the Celestial initially seem contradictory, both shimmeringly magical while also brutal and threatening, but the end result works well. Additionally, the juxtaposition of the cruise’s opulent service sitting just above the disturbing system that facilitates it is creative and imaginative in the dastardliest ways. Violent and brutal at times, this is a YA book that skews on the older end of the reader demographics. The reformatory system, political agendas, and trajectory of the story also give the book an almost dystopian feel to it, though dystopia has never looked and felt more ethereal than in Midnight on the Celestial. The plot is polished and solid, very appropriately crafted for YA readership without dumbing down or dulling its more ambitious ideas.

While the story almost resembles a thriller at times, even a horror on occasion, the book is filled with wonderful fantasy visuals that balance out the darker elements of the narrative. From fancy enchanted cocktails, to shapeshifting staff and experiences, to dazzling interior decor, and finally aerial silk performances; yes, Ivander the main male character is not only handsome and muscled but is also a graceful silk dancer. In short, this book has no shortage of magic and beautiful visuals. Alexandra’s visuals are not only striking when in sparkly aesthetic moments, but also in darker scenes as well. Roe’s swirling and mysterious forms of resurrection, the graphic descriptions of the dead, deathly scenes on the Celestial including mild body horror are all handled and presented vibrantly. Another area that’s handled well is the descriptions and intimidation factor of the Bosses. When extracted from people with powers, the morphic substance is portrayed as a volatile, powerful, and mysterious material. The Bosses that run the Celestial who use and are drawn to the morphic substance are portrayed like addicted drug users, both behaviorally and physically (the visual descriptions are unsettling to great effect).

Another one of the book’s strengths is its character work. I really enjoyed Roe as a main character narrator who at the start of the book, feels a little trying, too confident and entitled with her pursuit of a retrial. But that’s completely by design given her sheltered upbringing and her abrupt fall from grace. Over the course of the book, her character grows not only more confident in herself and powers, but also in her understanding of others. I was particularly impressed with Alexandra’s character logic that feels age appropriate and embodies that specific teenage angst, drive, and sense of righteousness (aka, also relentless stubbornness). That YA touch also extends to the story’s themes of freedom and loss of choice, confronting one’s fears, and found family following the loss or conflict with one’s nuclear family. I thought Ivander was a nice foil to Roe’s personality, as both the charitable, mature, yet frustratingly put together protector of the ship’s friend group and elegant aerial performer. The other characters are quite varied in terms of personality and powers, particularly Roe’s assigned mistress Asralyn. Their fraught and strained stewardess-guest acquaintance is well written and dynamically shifts as Roe’s investigation into the ship’s history progresses. Despite being a story focused on Roe and to a lesser extent Ivander, you really start to care about the rest of the friend group by the end of the story and are rooting for them to survive. The characters’ challenges, backstories, and dreams are all effectively built on and brought full circle by the ending, the Celestial being the catalyst for change in unplanned and unexpected ways. It’s worth noting that although this book is sometimes tagged as a romance novel, the romance is very light and plays a supporting act to the main fantasy thriller/mystery storyline. Ivander adds a bit of abrasive eye candy turned mentor ally, but the romance is not the focus and shouldn’t be why one reads this book. In fact, romance shouldn’t be a listed genre for this book at all and is likely only there for marketing purposes.

Ambitiously crafted and very well plotted, if I had to critique anything in this book, it would be that the start of the story isn’t quite as exciting compared to Roe’s time on the Celestial and that early chapters slightly suffer from mild info-dumping. Understandably, the book is well aware that the magical ship is the big draw for the book and wants to get Roe on to it ASAP, but the scope of the story requires a good amount of world-building and narrative purpose to be established prior to Roe’s service. While it’s far from being poorly handled, the morphic and council politics of Tamarynth are breezed through a bit too quickly and densely to fully stick, which becomes a mild concern once the story gets into its final act. Roe’s extended family members aren’t quite given enough time and familiarity for some of their later emotional beats to hit quite as hard as they could, though again, it’s understandable as YA books need to be snappy to satisfy younger readers with shorter attention spans. The same could be said about the prose which is generally simplistic and merely serviceable, but is appropriate for a YA read. Even milder nitpicks are that the alchemy power is sort of used as a catch-all a bit too often as a convenient plot mechanism and the evening horrors on the Celestial don’t really have much rhyme or reasonable explanation apart from being a poorly understood phenomenon. However, these points do not actively hinder the story nor are they very noticeable for more casual readers.

Featuring a creative and engaging story with characters relatably written and age-appropriate, Midnight on the Celestial is a very solid and well-rounded YA fantasy novel. Balancing its macabre elements with magical visuals and splendor, the ship and its surrounding narrative are perfectly set up for its appealing characters to move around in. Applying elements of thriller, mystery, psychological horror genres complimenting a dark fantasy story, the book has something for everyone. While some adult fantasy readers may find the characters or story to be a little juvenile, the book’s plot twists and world-building complexity will likely catch them pleasantly by surprise. And if all else fails, the magical Celestial cruise ship is the stuff of childhood fantasy dreams, the crucial element the book certainly delivers on!

This review is based on a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy provided by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press via Netgalley.

*For more reviews, book lists and reading updates, check out my blog TheBookGrind!

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew I wasn’t really into this book when it took me 2 days to read it.I don't feel like this book had anything particularly new to say. Overall, this book might be liked by many readers but it wasn't for me.

[Alex (The Scribe Owl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars!

Julia Alexandra's Midnight on the Celestial delivered on all the magical, spooky YA fun that I was looking forward to! The worldbuilding was fleshed out, the characters were compelling, and the plot was moved with excellent pace. It also had some differentiating elements to help it stand out from the rest of the YA crowd, particularly its unique world.

The author did a fantastic job building a nuanced society for this beautiful fantasy novel to take place in. While the magic system is compelling, my favorite part by far was the complex system of politics Alexandra developed to give her created world nuance while also allowing the reader to draw insights into our own. That is my favorite part about Midnight on the Celestial: while it works perfectly well as a good YA fantasy, it can also be read much deeper as a critique of our own society, particularly the penal system and criminal justice.

The only critique that I have is that I wanted more! The world Alexandra created was so excellent, I'm disappointed to leave it so soon. Moreover, there seemed to be a lot of room for a sequel but it doesn't look like it's getting one? There seemed to be some loose ends that I would love to see gathered in a companion novel.

[Victoria (Victoriabooklover) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected when I picked it up but this one was very enjoyable, thank you Wednesday!

[Gina Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Beautifully captivating from the start! Midnight on the Celestial immediately drew me in with its stunning cover, but the story inside is just as magical. This original fantasy tale features a unique magic system, thrilling twists, and world building that feels like stepping through a door into another realm. Though listed as YA fantasy, it has something for everyone, friendships that shine, a touch of romance, a murder mystery, high stakes action, and even the artistic beauty of aerial acrobatics seamlessly woven into the narrative. The descriptive writing made the setting vivid and immersive, and I could easily picture this as a movie or TV show. I loved everything about this story and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastical escape. Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Thank you to @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#SMPEarlyReaders #FantasyBooks #YAFantasy #BookRecommendation #BookReview #BookTok #Bookstagram #MustRead #ARCReview #FantasyReads #Bookish

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm being generous with 2 stars. I'll say I'm rounding up.

I really enjoyed what this story could have been. The actual story, plot, world was very interesting. However, this book was just terrible to read.

Conversations and world building went right up to the last page in a way that was frustrating. It is very uncomfortable to have 2 characters that exist in the same world having discussions explaining their culture and world building. They both know it, why would they be discussing it and explaining it? The inner thoughts suffered the same issue. Having this book in 1st person was a choice, and not a great one.

As I was reading the book, I was complaining about it on a livestream chat. I was being incredibly vague about my complaints, and the host guessed correctly the most ridiculous things. They guessed the person I was complaining about would be working for the villain, and they guessed magic and drugs. At no point did this book surprise me.

What is the FMC's name? No clue. I know her last name, but only because she was being super strange about her dad. This is also a failing of 1st person pov.

This book has also made me double check my shelves for publishers. It seems as though Wednesday books is buying "on trend" books. They have several romantasy books on my shelves, and I'm unsure if they actually hold up. It is following a trend, not setting one, and not standing out along the way. Divine Rivals (mixed reviews following the second book) and Heartless Hunter (I don't hear much about the second book) are published under Wednesday Books. This might be a "me thing" to notice this part.

The magic. I actually like the magic here. This is what got it that 1 full star. This is the ONLY part of the book I like. Edit out everything except the magic. I enjoy the strict rules to the magic. I like how the magic functions. The trial can go, but I'll accept it. The ship magic is cool. The guards and magic is cool. The nighttime part, I like it. The way the character struggles / uses magic, yes, fun, good job. Magic alone however can't save this book.

My margin notes consisted of
"why"
"stop explaining it to me"
"you're being weird"
"why are you saying this"
"eww"
"stop it"

[Danali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!! Roe was a great main character, with both a light and a dark side. The world was pretty unique aboard the boat (loved all the details the author added). The chapters were short enough that you could read a little at a time or binge it in one/two sittings. Hopefully a sequel comes but it didn’t leave off in a major cliffhanger (which I’m thankful for).

[Melanie L · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I won this ARC through a Goodreads Giveaway. I really enjoyed the story - the magic, the ship, the friendships, and the betrayals. I could picture it all! I think (hope!) there will be a sequel!

[vanshikha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐

Thank you to Julia Alexandra for having me in the Inaugural Sailing STREET Team and Austin Adams from Wednesday Books for this digital review copy!

𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 is about Roe Damarcus, who after failing her realm's trial to keep her magic, flees to the mysterious and luxurious magic cruise ship where staff members — who also happen to be prisoners on the ship — have to compete for votes from guest to earn a retrial. When the true dangers surface at night when the Celestial transforms the halls into nightmares that kills its staff at night, Roe questions the ship and the system of trial. She must use whatever power she has to uncover the truth and change the system before she becomes the next victim of the Celestial . . .

I can never talk enough about this book! It is my most anticipated young adult release for 2026 and it did not disappoint! I could not believe that this was a debut novel because of how well it was written.

This novel was written as a strong standalone but has done space for more tales in this world. Julia Alexandra writing style is whimsically descriptive, with rich prose and plotlines interwoven into this tale. There is so much subtle foreshadowing from the very first page. The lush and dangerous backdrop was lyrical and whimsically written and the author does not sway away from dangers of the world in the descriptions.

The twists were foreshadowed so subtly that I did not realise that they would lead upto the outcome presented. There a re a few red herrings that played a pivotal role until the truth was uncovered — which honestly blew my mind on how brilliantly that was written without rousing any doubts.

Despite being a young adult book, I really loved how the author did not sway away from the dangers created by the flawed and inequality in the government. The flawed system of the world played such a pivotal role in this book that it shaped the book. The injustice, rage, inequality and horrors of this world weren't sugarcoated at all.

The magic system is very unique. There are different types of morphics — who are essentially magic-wielders. Their magic system is based on consequences for magic used, which can range from physical to mental torture and pain.

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading — even from the very first chapter. The haunting and dark backdrop along with the claustrophobic and consequential environment created the perfect atmosphere for the thriller and horror setting.

𝐑𝐨𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬 had me fall for her the second she chose herself, her power over comfort and silence. Even when people saw her only as a privileged and spoiled girl, she did not give up on herself. She's strong willed, with a mind that is willing to do anything to get justice for herself and all those who were imprisoned. Even when her gift is treated and used for performances, she doesn't loose her compassion and hope, the strength to fight for the staff members. She's punished for daring to exist and speak out — which was something that made me respect her character because she did not give up even when she would physically and mentally tortured, even when her mind was riddled with nightmares.

𝐈𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 is the silk aerialist and charmer who could have left the cruise even before his first year but chose to give up his chances so his friends with less chances could make out alive with their magic. He's sarcastic and witty, with a lot of smirks and compassion with a soft heart that not everyone sees. He's initially cold towards Roe but slowly warms up as he sees through her cracks that she's not some spoiled rich girl with privileges that could effect their chances.

Their romance was slow burn, with distant coldness to allies to lovers. Ivander was gentle and perfect for Roe. The found family has to be one of my favourite aspects of this book. Their little group was perfect and their characters were fleshed out. I loved the friendship between Roe and Alana so much.

The commentary and irony in this book cannot go unnoticed. I loved how this was perfectly subtle yet mainstreaming across the entire book.

Overall, if you enjoy a dark romantic fantasy tale with silks and secrets, with commentary and a found family, 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 is the perfect read!

[Talia Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a rare, but wonderful moment when I’m just scrolling the books and I find a book that fits my mood perfectly. That was this book for me. Luckily, NetGalley gave me a free ARC so I could read this book right now when I wanted it. And honestly, I enjoyed it a lot. In all honesty, this book doesn’t bring a whole lot of new to the world of YA fantasy, but sometimes I don’t want new, I want fun. And this was fun.

The things I liked the most:
-a magical cruise ship setting. Honestly this was really cool and probably my favorite thing about this book. Plus it’s a scary magical cruise ship which is somehow even better
-the magic system. It was pretty good actually and not exactly the same as every book I read.
-Roe’s magic. The resurrection magic was pretty cool and I liked the way it was used (except at the end when she suddenly knew all this new stuff…)

Roe was a little annoying at times, but mostly she was fine. I wanted Ivander to be more interesting than he was, but at least he was nice. I do love a nice love interest with zero brooding involved. All the other characters kind of just blurred into random side character number four and such, but somehow it didn’t bother me.

This book is perfect for when you want an easy, classic YA fantasy with a cool setting to escape into.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC.

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 3.5 (3.75?!) stars, but Goodreads still doesn't give us that option... But nonetheless!

This book was so darkly fantastical, and it painted such visceral images in my mind! Think of Caraval but on a cruise ship and add creepy, horrific elements, and you will have the vibes for this book. I loved the magic system and the uniqueness of the main character. Her own character development was also compelling, as we watch her find her courage, conviction, and identity, and it was easy to root for her.

The side characters were delightful, and I loved the little family they created. Their relationships were very sweet, and for me, it was a favorite element of this book. The one between Roe and her ship family was especially compelling, and I loved watching that dynamic evolve. The romantic arc definitely took a back burner for me, but I didn't really miss it too much. I felt more drawn toward the plot itself and the friendships as opposed to the budding romance that was taking place in the background.

The ending definitely wraps up quite quickly, but I honestly love a good standalone and found it refreshing to have the narrative come to a satisfying (even if a bit on the nose) ending. It felt very complete, and I love that.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Emmy Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listen… I have mixed thoughts about this book. There was nothing wrong with it, per se, but I found that I was forcing myself to keep going and finish the next page or the next chapter.

I think the biggest drawback for me was the characters. I just didn’t have any attachment to them, and didn’t really care if things worked out for them or not. This might have been because the book was pretty plot-driven, and I tend to lean towards character-driven books.

Another thing that lost me was the frequent time skips. I don’t mind one or two, but when pretty much every chapter starts with a time skip, it starts to get old.

QUICK-FIRE LIST OF THINGS I DID LIKE:
-the magic system!
-roe/ivander’s relationship
-the final few scenes in the jail

I just want to be clear that this is NOT a bad book! For me, I think I was still on my Raven Boys high, which kinda made everything else seem worse in comparison.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This YA fantasy takes place in a world of magic, a select few in this world have powers such as resurrection, illusions, enhancement, alchemy and more. Unfortunately these powers are hard to control so when a person with powers comes of age they undergo a trial. If they can control their power they can stay in society, if they can’t control their powers they are forced to choose between having their powers stripped, prison or servitude to the rich on a luxury ship called Celestial. When Roe fails her trial her family name can’t save her and she flees to the magically terrifying ship to save her magic and uncovers a conspiracy that hits closer to home than she could have ever dreamed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 2⭐️.

While I wanted to like this book and felt very engaged with the first 40% of the book it just felt so unoriginal and predictable that the last 60% was a struggle to get through. There is nothing new in this book that can’t be found in almost every other recent YA book about a young woman with powers. I’m more surprised by the fact that managed to finish this book than by anything that happened in it.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got to 61% and I had to DNF. I really enjoyed about the first 50% of the book. The plot was great, the magic was unique, I loved Roe. She's a great, strong character who is willing to fight for what she wants. I like the new characters that become her friends on the ship. And the ship itself is awesome. I loved how it came alive, and there was a good amount of gore. I was so hyped!

Where it fell of for me was the pacing. I felt like we got a lot of info dumping that didn't add to the plot. And it became repetitive. Something was stated, in the exact same manner, in two consecutive paragraphs. This happened a few times, and it just became too much.

I really tried to push through to find out what happens at the end. But I just found that I didn't care enough.

**Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for providing this ebook. All opinions are my own.**

[Lyra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Society is divided by people born with magic and those born without. While magic in this world can be whimsical, like those who can imbue the warmth of the sun or the chill and twinkle of frost into delicious sweets, or maybe even shift clothing to shimmer with rubies and amethyst. There are also those who can summon the dead, like our main character, Roe Damarcus. And whether it is beautiful or frightening is up for debate.

While the premise sounded really intriguing, I’m afraid it failed to stick the landing and struggled to keep me engaged throughout. That said, it was very enchanting at times and if you love whimsical descriptions of stars and colors, you might have a fun time with this one! The romance was cute but nothing particularly new or exciting. And when we got towards the end, things were resolved rather quickly and conveniently.

Overall I’d give this book a 2.5! As always, a big thank you to Netgalley for the arc!! ✨

[angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in advance.

I love it when an author delivers exactly what they promise. The summary of this book was very intriguing, naturally I had great expectations. I’m pleased to say they were succeeded.

After failing her trial to keep her magic, Roe is given two choices: either give up her magic or serve a punishment sentence aboard the infamous ship The Celestial in order to get the chance to earn a retrial. Simple, right? Roe will succeed and shortly be on her merry way home. Unless, there’s more to this mysterious ship.

From the very beginning I was immersed into this world. The world-building and magic system were of my favourite things; the characters I grew very fond of as well. I was able to sympathise with many of them, especially the MCs. The book was very well paced, I did not find any dull moments, I wanted to keep on reading.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable read. I would definitely read a sequel, as I think there were some things that could’ve been further developed. The ending did not feel rushed, but again, there are some things I would’ve liked to see more of. But nevertheless, I so enjoyed this book!

[⋆˚✿ ˖°kylie°˖ ✿˚⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an arc of this book and let me say, this book was amazing! For it being a ya fantasy, it was definitely unique compared to the normal: fantasy land with oppressive ruler and a fmc who will defeat all and fall in love with the prince. Midnight on the Celestial was such a well written book that makes me miss the world and the characters already.

The plot was compelling as well as the setting. The magic system of the morphics are well built but not too overly complex. I also enjoyed the cruise ship setting with the mysterious and ominous warning of: Don't go into the hallways at night.

All the characters were unique and everything about them just made them comforting to be around. I personally loved, Ivander, and the rivals to lovers subplot that came with it. I was immediately sucked into the book with the summoning start and stayed involved until the very last sentence. I honestly hope this book becomes famous and we get tons of fanart just so I can see these characters again! I felt such an honor and privilege of getting to read this book before everyone else and I will definitely be telling people to buy this book when it comes out!

[Sandrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. As soon as you start reading, you are transported into this world where magic (Morphia) exists. However you need to pass a trial to keep it. When Roe takes her trial, she fails. She decides to board the Celestial, a magical boat for wealthy customers, to have a chance of earning, through her service, a retrial and keep her Morphia. As the story progresses, Roe and her new friends on the Celestial begin to realize that the things they were told about this magical ship are false.

I thought that the world building was extensive. The story is fast paced and it really captivated me. This book is YA, but the writing didn’t feel like it. I really liked the aspect of found family. This book had quite a lot of political intrigues, the romance was more of a subplot.
I did not expect the ending. The story was wrapped up pretty well, but I would still love to explore more of this world and its characters ! I definitely recommend reading this book !

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.

[Samantha Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

MIDNIGHT ON THE CELESTIAL
By Julia Alexandra
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Resurrection magic, enchanted prison cruise ships, and aerial dancing make for a unique and fresh fantasy. Lady Roe Damarcus is a privileged character who is forced to question everything she’s been taught when she fails her magic trial and accepts a spot on the Celestial. It’s part luxury cruise ship for the wealthy and part prison for magic (morphia) holders who are forced to work there as penance for failing their trials. She thought that they deserved to be punished, only to learn the workers are just normal teens like her who have magic. The only way off the Celestial is by a retrial, but to get a second chance, you have to be one of three magical prisoners to get enough votes out of thousands. The romantic storyline, as well as the friendships made between the workers, were some of my favorite parts of the book. The conclusion was exciting with a few twists. The last chapter was more summary than story. This novel is a dark romantasy with a sweet romance that is sure to sail away with many fans.

[J.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight on the Celestial was an absolute joy to read!! A magic system with a cost for each specialty, an amazing found family, and plot twists galore, you won't want to put this novel down!!

I loved how action-forward the story was and of course the blooming romance between Roe and Ivander! (Beautiful names!!) A MMC who does aerial silks too!! If you're wondering, yes, it does lead to electrically-charged scenes between Roe and Ivander... I won't say more! You have to read it now : )

I also appreciated how a multitude of thoughtful themes are explored throughout the book including workplace abuse, minority rights etc. which gives an additional layer of depth to the novel. There are also many plot twists in the second half of the book, one of them I guessed but many were very surprising!! The mysteries kept me hooked the entire time!

Thank you to Julia Alexandra, Wednesday Books and St. Martin's Press for this ARC copy, I feel very grateful to have read this stunning debut ahead of its release!!

[Jenna DeVillier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting debut that shows how far some people will go for power and control--and the dangers of keeping power contained. Roe Demarcus is a Resurrector, able to bring back the dead temporarily to speak to their loved ones. But when she fails her trial to keep her magic, she is sent to the Celestial, a magical cruise ship where those who fail their trials must work to keep guests entertained--and the ship fed with magic.

This cover is one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen, and the story kept me turning the pages to see what would happen to Roe and her friends! I love magic, especially magic in confined spaces like the Celestial. Julia Alexandra weaves a twisty, thought-provoking fantasy that you won't want to miss! On shelves 3/3/26.

[Julia Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical cruise ship? Sign me up!!

I absolutely loved this book. The magic system of those who can use different kinds of Morphia was so intriguing to me, as well as the trials each person has to pass in order to be able to keep their Morphia. The whole magic system is set up perfectly to tackle the theme “is magic evil or are people evil”. The author’s eerie writing style perfectly complimented the main characters Morphia-resurrection.

I loved the entire cast of characters and how different kinds of Morphia were all represented through Roe’s friends. Ivander(obviously) is also a favorite😁

I did not see the plot twist coming and loved how it upped the already high stakes! So many secrets!

10/10 recommend this book!

[Julia Pika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an interesting book! I can't really say it's like other YA books--it's pretty unique on its own. It's a murder mystery, fantasy, class war, romance, etc...there's something for everyone in this book!

Weirdly enough, I feel like this book could've worked as a duology. I wanted more time on the ship and it didn't feel long enough for me. I feel like the only one on the ship the protagonist hung out with was Ivander and the other people were pretty one-note and didn't stand out. Still, it's more of a plot-driven book than a character-driven one so it's okay, but I would've liked more from the other characters.

Very entertaining, will be recommending this to my teens when it comes out.

[Book Kandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun plot this was! I picked this up expecting a whimsical YA adventure on a magical cruise ship. Parts of it absolutely delivered; other parts left me feeling a bit confused.

What worked for me:
The magic system is genuinely clever, particularly on the ship with towel animals that scuttle around carrying special deliveries and a storybook lagoon onboard. I loved every second the story leaned into that playground. The setting feels fresh and most importantly, the found-family vibe is earned.

What didn’t work for me:
For YA Fantasy, this book felt weirdly un-whimsical for most of the story. The time on the ship starts like a candy-colored dream, then pivots hard into haunted-hallway horror. I’m not opposed to PG-13 scares, but the tone whiplash left me dizzy, and the horror elements feel like they wandered in from a Paranormal Romantasy that forgot to bring the spice.

Final thoughts:
The bones of something brilliant are here: a dazzling magic cruise ship, a crew you’ll want to adopt, and a magic system I’ll be thinking about weeks later. But for me personally, the execution needed either full-throttle whimsy or full-throttle horror with adult heat—not this awkward straddle that forgets who it’s written for. I’d still recommend it to readers who like their YA with a side of magic and (mild) goosebumps!
Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!