Midnight on the Celestial by Alexandra, Julia

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.

Author: Julia Alexandra
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Published: 03/03/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.18lbs
Size: 9.58h x 6.40w x 1.21d
ISBN: 9781250380104
Age Range: 13-18

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2026
Booklist 01/01/2026
School Library Journal 01/30/2026 pg. 1
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 01/01/2026

About the Author
JULIA ALEXANDRA lives in Orlando, Florida with her best friend, who also happens to be her twin sister. Julia can be found writing 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 fantasy orchestral music.