MIDNIGHT ON THE CELESTIAL

In this debut, a costly mistake lands a girl with powerful magic aboard a deadly cruise ship.

Eighteen-year-old Rosaline “Roe” Damarcus is the daughter of the Lord of Damarcus Estate; her father is also a member of the High Council. But even with her family’s high status and her being a rare resurrector—someone who can use Morphia to summon spirits—she still must pass a trial to prove she’s capable of controlling her magic—or face dire consequences. When the unthinkable happens and she fails dramatically, Roe has two options: have her Morphia extracted or join the staff of the cruise ship the Celestial to try to earn a retrial. The Celestial is a demanding, unforgiving place, one that Roe’s family is directly responsible for creating. As she develops growing feelings for Ivander Harpyrian, the aerial performer assigned to show her the ropes, she also begins wondering just how well she ever knew her father and what he’s really done. On board the ship, Roe encounters a world where her family name doesn’t protect her—even when she’s framed for murder—but she also meets Alana Reyes, a new friend with deep compassion for her struggles, and enjoys a sweet, slow-burn romance with Ivander. Colorful, concrete worldbuilding accompanies the fast, evenly paced action, making this a brisk read even through the introduction of heavier subjects. Roe reads as white, and secondary cast members have a variety of skin tones.

A theatrical stand-alone escape.