I've had such a hard time lately properly switching off and getting fully immersed in a book, and that struggle only gets worse with fantasy. As a fantasy author myself, it's almost impossible not to read with a critical eye and to just enjoy a story. So the fact that Midnight on the Celestial (MOTC) managed to sweep me away the way it did feels kind of miraculous. For the first time in ages, I found myself not just reading but living inside a book.

I lost myself completely in this magical, stunningly original world. It's the little details that make it so special—the dazzling, otherworldly food and entertainment aboard the Celestial cruise ship, the little quirks and traits that make each character feel like a real person. Everything felt so alive. Honestly the best kind of book is one that makes you wish you'd written it, and I found myself marvelling at just how wildly creative MOTC is!

There's no way I could list everything I loved without turning this review into a multi-page essay. But if I had to choose one standout element, it would be the relationships. Not just the romance (although I'm thoroughly obsessed with Roe and Ivander), but the friendships, the rivalries, the found family, even the complicated dynamics between staff and guests aboard the Celestial. Every relationship felt layered and real. I can't say much without spoiling things, but just know that your feelings about certain characters will absolutely shift as you go—sometimes more than once!

Also, I have to gush over the love interest, Ivander! He's the perfect combo of two beloved characters—Kaz Brekker and Nikolai Lantsov from Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse. If that means anything to you: don't walk, RUN!

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!

Midnight on the Celestial is the kind of debut that doesn’t just promise an author to watch—it demands it. Julia Alexandra sweeps readers into a glittering, treacherous dreamscape aboard the Celestial, a luxury cruise ship for the magical elite that conceals a far darker truth. By day, the ship dazzles with performances and illusions; by night, its corridors transform into lethal nightmares that hunt the very staff who keep the spectacle alive.

Our anchor through this kaleidoscopic danger is Roe Damarcus, a young woman who refuses to accept the hand she’s been dealt after failing her realm’s trial. Fleeing disgrace, she joins the Celestial’s ranks, only to discover that its promise of redemption is a rigged game—and the stakes are survival itself. Roe’s voice is sharp, determined, and endlessly compelling; she’s not perfect, but that’s what makes her victories feel earned. Watching her shift from self-preservation to systemic defiance is one of the novel’s great pleasures.

Alexandra’s prose is sumptuous without being overwrought, lacing whimsy into horror so deftly that the transitions feel like a sleight of hand. The worldbuilding is immediately immersive—lush, claustrophobic, and brimming with quiet menace. The magic system stands out for its brutal cost: every spell exacts a consequence, from searing pain to psychological unraveling. That built-in tension infuses every scene with risk.

The supporting cast is no afterthought. Ivander, the silk aerialist whose charm hides a streak of self-sacrifice, emerges as a magnetic foil and eventual ally to Roe. Their romance simmers slowly, growing from wary distance to mutual trust, making every moment of connection feel hard-won. Around them, the found family dynamic blossoms in subtle beats of loyalty, banter, and shared grief, with Roe’s friendship with Alana in particular adding warmth to the novel’s darker turns.

Alexandra doesn’t shy from social commentary, threading a critique of systemic injustice and power imbalance into the very fabric of the plot. The inequality isn’t window dressing—it shapes every choice the characters make, every danger they face. This undercurrent keeps the novel grounded, even as its setting teeters between dream and nightmare.

As a standalone, Midnight on the Celestial satisfies completely, but its world begs for more stories. From the first whispered hints of danger to the final, breath-stealing revelations, it’s a story that refuses to let go.

For readers who like:
-Lush, atmospheric YA fantasy
-Slow-burn romance
-Social commentary

Final Verdict
An intoxicating mix of danger, beauty, and defiance, Midnight on the Celestial is a triumphant debut—one that lingers like the echo of a song you’re not ready to stop hearing.

Grateful to NetGalley, Wednesday Books and Julia Alexandra for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

I just have to say Midnight on the Celestial had me hooked from the first glimpse. There is this wild tension right away.the magic, the failure, the choice Roe faces between losing her gift or getting stuck working on a magical cruise ship just feels so high stakes. And then the ship itself turns into something straight out of a nightmare at night, and suddenly it is not just a job it is survival.

What really got me though was Roe. She feels real.your heart is rooting for her even while everything around her is falling apart. The romance with Ivander has that spark you want but it does not steal the show. It stands beside all the other relationships.the friendships and rivalries and those found family bonds that make you care about people who are not even traditional heroes.

The world building is vivid without being overwhelming. Food and performances that feel almost alive. And the mystery twists kept catching me off guard in the best way. It drips with eerie charm but never forgets that at its core it is Roe trying to hold onto who she is while this ship tries to swallow her whole.

I am already thinking about how this story will stay with me long after. If you like your fantasy eerie and character driven, you really should keep this one on your radar.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Rosaline "Roe" Damarcus has never been afraid of the dead.
Her power to summon lost loved ones has always delighted guests at her family's galas.
Her future seems set in stone, to gleam alongside the rest of the Damarcus legacy...
That is until the day of her trial, and she fails it spectacularly.
She is deemed a danger to society, as are all the other Morphics who fail their trial.
She is given the choice... to give up her Morphia, give up her powers to summon back the dead...
Or serve a punishment aboard the Celestial.
But the grand ship that she remembers vacationing on as a small child may not be as grand as her memory recalls...Roe assumes her role as a concierge to the Stallard family... where she quickly learns that she must not only make a good impression on the family that she is a concierge for, but that she also must fulfill the demands of the cruel and ghastly bosses.
Her mentor infuriates her, a silk dancer named Ivander who seems to have the adoration of all the guests...
There is only one rule that is firm for guests, and cautious for staff such as her.
Do not leave your room after midnight.
For the ship is not so much the paradise that it appears to be in the day...and soon Roe finds herself wrapped in dark history, wrapped in accusations of killing a guest... and facing the worst truth of them all... her family's dark secrets.
There is so much I could say about this, as Midnight on the Celestial stole my heart more and more the more I read it... and then I fell deep for the story in the pages, and I finished this in a little under two days. For a debut novel, Julia will absolutely blow you away with mystique, fantastical, twisty, and wonderfully original world. From dazzlingly different worlds of the rich and the less fortunate beneath them, to the enchantingly delicious food, inventions, and the entertainment on the Celestial... I almost felt like I too were living in this world, instead of merely reading words off of a page. If I were to go on with how much I loved this novel, my review would be far too long to keep most people's attentions... but I especially adored how unique the magic system that Julia has created is, and also how the characters feel so alive... and so relatable at the same time.

Most importantly, thank you to Julia Alexandra, for allowing me to sail on the Celestial early. Thank you for taking me on a magical journey that stole my breath away that I never would've expected and yet fell deeply in love with. Thank you for your beautiful writing... and I look forward to reading the next part of this series.

Completely enchanting!!

this blew me away, it has everything I love + enemies to lovers, dark, fantasy, suspense and secrets

Prepare to be enchanted and terrified by Julia Alexander's debut enemies-to-lovers horror-fantasy, Midnight on the Celestial, set on a nightmarish ocean liner. Thank you for this arc I really approve it and loved this Enemies to lovers

this was so unique! I think I loved everything about this. it evoked the same sense of wonder as Caraval but the gore reminded me more of Phantasma. I also personally liked that this was more plot forward than romance focused. I was so swept up with the magic and whimsy and darkness of the plot - I'm really happy we got to focus on that! as an aerialist I loved Ivandar, though at times the descriptions of the silks scenes lost me, but that's probably a me thing! Ro had a fantastic character arc and I loved her power set. I got worried near the end this wouldn't wrap up but it ended up being a satisfying standalone, though I could see more stories in this universe unfolding. this was downright magical!

thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!