UNTIL THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT

Two immortal beings compete to influence their human client’s fate and win an influential mentorship.

Darling Sparkleton is the first fairy to graduate from the Mortal Outcome Academy. Having overcome significant discrimination from celestials, Darling is excited to enact meaningful change and ready to bestow Happily Ever Afters on her mortal clients once she wins the Mortal Outcome Council mentorship. Fellow grad Calamity, a Misfortune who leads clients away from chaotic Unhappily Ever Afters toward stable Ordinary Ever Afters, is desperate to escape his hostile, neglectful father. When a clandestine mission earns him a chance at the mentorship, Calamity sees a way out. Darling and Calamity have seven midnights to influence their client, Lucy Addlesberg, the owner of a struggling bookshop. In a magical altercation, they immediately reveal their true selves to Lucy. Now they must pretend to be a couple and influence her choice through friendship rather than magic, all while their annoying—and annoyingly attractive—rival constantly derails their plans. Written in engaging prose, this enchanting cozy fantasy with adult crossover appeal has it all—creative worldbuilding, well-developed characters, and a sweet, swoonworthy romance. It balances whimsy with thoughtful, authentic bipolar disorder representation. The story, which captures the essence of Brandy’s Cinderella, features refreshingly realistic relationship development—no glass slippers here!—while honoring fairy tales’ world-changing magic and emphasizing a message of kindness and care. Darling and Lucy read Black, and Calamity is implied Black and Asian. Many characters are in queer relationships.

Unmissable.