Celestial | Until the Clock Strikes Midnight
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Until the Clock Strikes Midnight
Alechia Dow
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The Good Place meets the Brandy version of Cinderella in Until the Clock Strikes Midnight, a cozy, romantic fantasy from award-winning author Alechia Dow.
Darling is the most talented—and unusual—Guardian to get a chance at winning the coveted once-in-a-generation Mortal Outcome Council mentorship. Getting the spot would mean having the opportunity to shape the future happiness of all mortal realms—if she succeeds at her first assignment, Lucy Addlesberg. Darling thinks it’ll be an easy razzle-dazzle job… until she actually meets Lucy. Her life is a complete mess, from her failing bookshop in her downtrodden village to her doomed flirtation with the princess of Lumina. But if there’s one thing Darling’s good at, it’s a makeover.
Calamity is the most talented—and arrogant—Misfortune of his class. It’s his job to save mortals from their own terrible decisions made in the pursuit of the mythical "Happily Ever After." When Calam is granted a shot at the Mortal Outcome Council mentorship, he thinks his dreams are finally coming true. But first, he must pass the test. It should be easy—Lucy Addlesberg has been unfortunate for years. All he has to do is continue her string of bad luck so she can finally come to terms with reality and settle for a safer, more logical path in life. Yet when he arrives, he finds that Lucy has a Guardian assigned to her too—a chipper overachiever who is as colorful as the magic pouring from her glittery wand.
To thwart each other, Darling and Calam insert themselves into Lucy’s life posing as a betrothed couple. As they try to guide her down what they each see as the best path for her, they start questioning their roles and ultimately what they truly want for themselves... and if those feelings of loathing they have for each other might actually be something more like love.
Also by Alechia Dow
Just a Pinch of Magic
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Posts about this title from Celestial
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 13
💭 what are you reading for Disability Pride Month?
💭 what are you reading for Disability Pride Month?
here are a handful of books I love with disabled characters!
📚 books mentioned: - Warm-Blooded by J Greene - Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow - The Hollow Half: A Memoir of Bodies and Borders by Sarah Aziza - Teen Titans: Starfire by Kami Garcia - The Night Parade by Jami Nakamura Lin
👗💄: - dress is from Fashion Brand Company, rented from Nuuly - eyeshadow is eyeshadow is Sickly Sweet Palette from Blend Bunny Cosmetics - eye shimmer is EUPHORIA X HALF MAGIC The Euphoria Eyeshadow Palette from Half Magic - mascara is B Structural from Haus Labs - lip combo is Lippie Pencil (Twisted) from Colourpop and Shine-On Milky Lip Oil Jelly (Pistachio) from Tower28
thank you to Ingram Sparks, DC Comics, and Mariner Books for the gifted copies!
#disabilitypridemonth #disabledbooks #disabledcreator #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @ingramsparkbooks @fiercereads @catapult @dccomics @marinerbooks @fashionbrandcompany @blendbunnycosmetics @halfmagicbeauty
5 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 30
your friend really, really needs to read these books …
your friend really, really needs to read these books …
📚 books mentioned: - Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes - Her Body and Other Parties: Stories by Carmen Maria Machado - Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine - Girls Who Play Dead by Joelle Wellington - Canon by Paige Lewis - You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom by Vincent Tirado - Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar - Open Throat by Henry Hoke - Singer Distance by Ethan Chatagnier - Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow - Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson - Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino - The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter - Fury by Shirley Marr
👗💄: - shirt is from Hill House Home - eyeshadow is The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite and In A Trance from Colourpop - eyeliner is Vegan Longwear Eyeliner (Ocean) from Pacifica Beauty - shimmer is a single (Enchanted) from Adriana Nichole Cosmetics - mascara is Clean Volume from Merit - lip combo is Suede Matte Lip Liner (Moonwalk) from NYX Cosmetics and Wonder Blading Top Gloss (Holographic) from Wonderskin
thank you to Bindery Books, Sourcebooks Landmark, Simon Teen, Viking Books, William Morrow, Tordotcom, and Tin House for the gifted copies!
#fantasybooks #horrorbooks #scifibooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @bindery_books @graywolfpress @sourcebooks @bookmarked @simonteen @vikingbooks @williammorrowbooks @entangledteen @tordotcompub @mcdbooks @tin_house @fiercereads @groveatlantic @fsgbooks @orbitbooks_us @hillhouse @glamlite @adriananicholecosmetics @merit @wonderskin @colourpopcosmetics @nyxcosmetics
15 books
let’s chat about my february books | reading wrap up!
it wasn’t my best reading month (I read less than I wanted to and I didn’t find many new faves), but the most important thing is that I was reading!
5 books
1
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 24
recommending you books i loved … using their one-star reviews
recommending you books i loved … using their one-star reviews written by some miserable people
📚 books mentioned: - The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez - Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow - Otherworldly by F.T. Lukens - The Deep by Rivers Solomon - The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
👗💄: - dress is from Free People (rented from Nuuly) - eyeshadow is The Spring Symphony Palette from Dandy Lion Cosmetics - eye shimmer is Glitterpuck (Princess Ghost) from Half Magic - eyeliner is Vegan Longwear Eyeliner (Minty) from Pacifica Beauty - mascara is Eye Enhancer Wrap from Covergirl - lip balm is Lip Buttercream (Cinnamon Sugar) from Pacifica Beauty - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Simon Teen and Fierce Reads for the gifted copies!
#onestarreviews #negativebookreviews #bookrecommendations #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @fiercereads @simonteen @delreybooks @sagapressbooks @freepeople @dandylionsco @pacificabeauty @covergirl @halfmagicbeauty
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one star reviews • reading one star book reviews • one star goodreads reviews of my favorite books • queer book recommendations • negative book reviews • fantasy books • diverse books • Del Rey • Saga Press
5 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 18
yippee for more fantasy book recs with disabled characters!!
yippee for more fantasy book recs with disabled characters!! part one has science fiction, too, but this round is focused on happier fantasies. :)
stay tuned for many more parts!!
📚 books mentioned: - Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko - The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth
👗💄: - earrings are from Art by Mesoma - eyeshadow is The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite and The Spring Symphony Palette from Dandy Lion Cosmetics - lip combo is Suede Matte Lip Liner (Moonwalk) from NYX Cosmetics and Lip Glaze Elixir (Midnight Lychee) from Sacheu Beauty - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Titan Books for the gifted copy!
#disabledbooks #fantasybooks #disabilityrepresentation #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @abramskids @titanbooks @fiercereads @artbymesoma @glamlite @dandylionsco @nyxcosmetics @sacheubeauty
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fantasy books • science fiction books • books with disabled characters • books by disabled authors • disability representation in literature • disabled fantasy characters • disabled sci fi charactres • diverse books • Amulet Books / Abrams Books • Fierce Reads • Fiewel and Friends
3 books
2
Posts about this book from across Bindery
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 13
💭 what are you reading for Disability Pride Month?
💭 what are you reading for Disability Pride Month?
here are a handful of books I love with disabled characters!
thank you to Ingram Sparks, DC Comics, and Mariner Books for the gifted copies!
5 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 30
your friend really, really needs to read these books …
your friend really, really needs to read these books …
thank you to Bindery Books, Sourcebooks Landmark, Simon Teen, Viking Books, William Morrow, Tordotcom, and Tin House for the gifted copies!
15 books
Fat Forward Books\ \ Samantha Puc\ \ • Jun 8
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Pride Recommendations 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Happy Pride from #FatForwardBooks! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ If you’re looking for fat & LGBTQIA+ books to add to your TBR this summer, we’ve got you covered—and if you’re looking for even MORE fat & LGBTQIA+ books, be sure to check out our 2025 recs in our highlights!
How many of these titles have you read? How many are new to you? Let us know in the comments! 💬
Follow Fat Forward Books for FREE on Bindery Books for news, interviews, reviews, and more. PLUS, vote for our monthly book club picks and participate in our community Discord server! Grab the Bindery app for iOS or Android, or visit us on the web at the 🔗 in bio.
#ReadFatBooks #PrideReads #ReadQueerAllYear @bindery_books
[IDs: Carousel includes 5 graphics. The first four are grids of book covers featuring fat & LGBTQIA+ representation—titles are listed in alt text. The fifth includes instructions for how to follow FFB on Bindery, also in the caption above.]
45 books
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Unabridged Bodies\ \ Katrina @flirtingwithfiction\ \ • Jun 5
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✨I LIKE MY BOOKS QUEER✨ allllll year round, but I love to have the extra excuses to show them off during Pride Month. So here’s the first (of a few) Pride Month stacks featuring some of the physical books I have at home.
This is a young adult stack— all of these feature younger queer characters trying to make their way through the world & find their place. All of these are great reads!
-According to Plan by @bycrandall -This is How We Roll edited by @rosieethor -Radio Silence by Alice Osman -Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by @alechiadow
I’m also showing off my new @punchkinsofficial pride book cause look at how cute they are!
💬TELL ME: do you own any queer books? If the answer is no— that’s okay! The library is free! And this is the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. All of these books are a great place to start! ⬇️⬇️⬇️ . . . . . . #bookstagram #bookstack #lgbtq #pride #bookrecs queerbooks. Yalit. Yafiction. Queeryouth. Youngadultfiction. Pridebookstack. pridestack. Pridebooks. Asexualrep. bisexualrep. Queerrep.
4 books
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Chanterelle Solace\ \ Sabie\ \ • Jun 5
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12 Cozy Fantasy books about Belonging & Finding your place in the world 🤎
What are some of your favourite books that centre found family and finding your place in a community?
While this is a theme that you can find in so many different type of genres/sub-genres, I feel that Cozy Fantasy is the perfect place to explore themes of being othered, not fitting in and finding a place where you do!
A quote that I love from one of the books in here (The Moonsingers by Robyn J Pritzker) that focuses on this theme says: “In fact, what she most wanted, and could never before articulate, was to find the place where she made sense and help others do the same.” and I think every single book in here helps you see how the MCs find their place in their own community and feel accepted🥺🤎
Here’s to the people who accept us just the way we are and become a part of our community just as much as we are a part of theirs 🤎🤎
12 books
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Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Mar 14
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\ \ To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose \ \ I waited two years for the second book in the Nampeshiweisit series and To Ride a Rising Storm did not disappoint!\ \ Anequs, Theod, and their dragons are reconnecting with their communities on Masquapaug during their summer break after a taxing first year at Kuiper’s Academy. Their hopes for some relaxing time with family & space to define their relationship are dashed when the Anglish begin encroaching more and more on the island.\ \ I love that we got a chance to get to know Anequs, her family, and her culture more in this book. Through Theod, we get to unpack European conditioning and think about what love and family could look like outside of those standards. Although I continued to enjoy the ways that Anequs pushes back against the status quo, I like that Liberty keep her grounded by explaining the ways that bucking the system in such a way can cause harm, too.\ \ We also get a bit more of a peak into Liberty’s world, which I’d hoped would be fleshed out more. Although we learn more about her concerns and community, I would like to see a lot more of them integrated into the storyline of the third book. The Black community in New England (IRL) were no strangers to the struggles of the Indigenous tribes around them, so it would be cool to read that in the Nampeshiweisit series, too. Do they have dragon-culture? Are there other creatures they are bonded with? I hope we find out!\ \ Pacing-wise, I think this book picks up a bit sooner than the first one with Anglish political conflict pushing the plot forward. It was really thrilling to see the way it all comes to a point and the plot definitely left me excited to get into book 3.\ \ I think this series is on par with my love of N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth Trilogy and The Greenbone Saga by Fonda Lee.\ \ Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow \ \ Read the full review here: https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/4uuLHyJmLqIWL060tu5F/\\ \ The People's Library by Veronica G. Henry \ \ This book had me on a rollercoaster of emotions! Veronica G. Henry blends speculative fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery in The People’s Library.\ \ Our main character is a Black woman librarian named Echo London. At the start, she’s the head of a public library in near-future Cleveland until her boss informs her that it will no longer receive funding from the cit but she’s a top contender for the position of curator at the brand-new People’s Library. A place where patrons can check out a virtual historical figure/thinker and learn directly from them. To many, this seems like a pretty cool place to learn, but Echo is skeptical. With no other viable options, that she could see, Echo takes the job and begins to see its appeal. That is, until mysterious woman attacks her on behalf of the anti-tech rebellion. This rouses her suspicions and sends the librarian on a journey of dark discoveries.\ \ As a Black librarian, I vacillated between despair, suspicion, annoyance, and sadness as I read The People’s Library. In Echo’s world, AI is embedded in just about everything, which is a big fear of mine as I know how detrimental that will likely be. While I related a lot with her natural curiosity, I kept thinking that my girl was not being skeptical enough!! I was writing comments to her in my book like she could read it somehow. Despite my feelings, I found that this book was clever and engrossing. I felt like I could not put it down because I needed to know what would happen next! \ \ If you’re interested in discussions of the future of AI, utopias, privacy, surveillance, knowledge preservation, and what it means to be alive, this is a fantastic book to read.\ \ * Note: I chatted with the author about her book on IG Live thanks to Sistah SciFi, so if you want to hear more of our thoughts on it, you can head over to their social media or watch our panel discussion on Saturday, April 25th, 2026.\ \ The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar \ \ The audiobook of The River Has Roots is incredible! The story is entrancing but the music elevates the experience and gave me the feeling of being transported into it. \ \ It’s about two sisters with an unbreakable bond and powerful magic they were gifted by the ancient trees that they care for. This includes a queer main character and a suitor who refuses to take, “no” for an answer.\ \ I love that their magic system is literary and musical. It’s beautifully unique! I hope y’all listen to it when you get the chance.\ \ I Accidentally Hired a Shadow Walker( Accidents Happen #3) by Jessica Cage \ \ I love that each of the books in the Accidents Happen series has a Black woman main character who is a badass at her job and is guaranteed to be pampered by her loved ones.\ \ Jericha Brown owns her own security firm and is dedicated to all of its inner workings. When a lead agent leaves the firm, taking some of her other employees with him just as she's landed her dream contract, she's put in a precarious situation. All Jericha can think of to save her ass is reaching out to the backstabbing ex-bestie who stole her ideas in college for a temporary partnership. Turns out, Miss Klepto up and sold her company to an annoyingly gorgeous man named Raymond Statton. What Jericha doesn't know is that this man is a Shadow Walker.\ \ This is a super entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of spice, hilarious banter, and found family. The book is a bit too long for my liking but it's worth it.\ \ If you haven't already, get your hands on the Accidents Happen series so you can kick your feet and cackle to your heart's content!](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/vxsGypY2I7dYLYL0wL20/)
5 books
let’s chat about my february books | reading wrap up!
it wasn’t my best reading month (I read less than I wanted to and I didn’t find many new faves), but the most important thing is that I was reading!
5 books
1
chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Mar 5
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January & February Disability Release Round Ups!
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 24
recommending you books i loved … using their one-star reviews
recommending you books i loved … using their one-star reviews written by some miserable people
thank you to Simon Teen and Fierce Reads for the gifted copies!
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5 books
Bri's Book Nook\ \ Bri Le Fae\ \ • Feb 23
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Here is a list of books that I hope to read for this week! Let's see if the reading gods favor me!!! 🙏🏾
What are you reading? 👀📚
3 books
1
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 18
yippee for more fantasy book recs with disabled characters!!
yippee for more fantasy book recs with disabled characters!! part one has science fiction, too, but this round is focused on happier fantasies. :)
stay tuned for many more parts!!
📚 books mentioned: - Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko - The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth
thank you to Titan Books for the gifted copy!
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3 books
2
Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Feb 12
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\ \ Until the Clock Strikes Midnight was the perfect cozy book to read for some much-needed escapism. \ \ Darling is a talented fairy who yearns to help humans find their happily ever after as a Guardian. She gets a chance to win a Mortal Outcome Council mentorship, but it turns out that she has competition.\ \ Calamity aka Calam is a talented Misfortune, an immortal who saves humans from unhappily ever after by guiding them into contentedness. This mentorship is his ticket to getting away from his father who has never been a loving presence in his life. Darling and Calam must choose to compete or collaborate in order to help Lucy, a young bookshop owner, turn away from her projected unhappily ever after.\ \ My short (spoiler free) review \ \ There are so many things I loved about this story! Lucy was a sweetheart and her struggles with her mental illness (bipolar disorder) felt very relatable. Despite that, she seeks joy through connection and recognizes that lasting change requires stability in the community in order to positively affect the people within it. I also loved her chemistry with Calam and his willingness to open up.\ \ This story is a testament to radical empathy! I really enjoyed this story and hope more people pick it up.\ \ My full review (spoilers included) \ \ As with other books I've read by Alechia Dow, the world-building and organic conversations make it easy to melt into Until the Clock Strikes Midnight.\ \ Despite the escapism, there were many painful moments throughout this book that made me feel seen. Darling is an outsider, or feels like one, in every space she occupies. Her community in Whimsia can't understand why she'd want to leave and become a guardian alongside celestials. Celestials think fairies like Darling are unhinged, frivolous, and not to be taken seriously. She's been told that she's "too much" and that paired with other negative self-talk drags her down from time to time, but she refuses to stop sparkling. Now, unknowingly set up to fail by the celestials, Darling is tasked with saving Lucy from an unhappily ever after in the Kingdom of Lumina, a place unknown to her. They all thought she would crumble but she built foundations, instead.\ \
She's been told that she's "too much" and that paired with other negative self-talk drags her down from time to time, but she refuses to stop sparkling.\ \ I'm not a fairy, but I have struggled with similar issues all my life. Growing up, I revealed my true giggly, loving, and intensely nerdy self to folks and realized that many people judged me for that. I closed myself off when I went to college in a new state, but my severe anxiety and moderate depression convinced me that everything I said or did was "too much" or embarrassing and the people around me were just being nice to me because they felt sorry for me. I recognized Darling's spiraling thoughts as my own and, as I read, the compassion I felt for Darling started to hit me. She deserved compassion and love and so do I.\ \ A part of me wants to follow my dreams, dress is bright colors, and break out in song every time the urge hits me while another part of me doesn't want "to be perceived."\ \ Calam also felt relatable to the part of me that craves the comfort I feel from organization, control, and predictability. A part of me wants to follow my dreams, dress is bright colors, and break out in song every time the urge hits me while another part of me doesn't want "to be perceived." That part of me argues for having a stable job, not rocking the boat too much, and accepting my circumstances. Like Calam comes to realize throughout the book, some things are worth taking a risk for and boat-rocking is sometimes needed in order to make real and lasting change.\ \ It seems like a lot of people are under the assumption that teen/young adult books aren't valuable to adults in the same way that novels and non-fiction aimed for our demographic is. Obviously, I strongly disagree. Until the Clock Strikes Midnight, and many other books like it, give us the opportunity to heal our inner child and find comfort in an increasingly hostile world. I felt a warm appreciation for my body, my hair, and style thanks to Dow's descriptions of Darling and her confidence. Reading about people loving on us, can be life-saving.\ \ Until the Clock Strikes Midnight, and many other books like it, give us the opportunity to heal our inner child and find comfort in an increasingly hostile world.\ \ The ways that Darling positively affected everyone around her and emphasized the importance of hope for the community in Lumina was inspiring. She tried her hardest to find connections between everyone and still knew that making life worth living required an even playing field with supports in place.\ \ Yes, this is a Fantasy book inspired by Fairytales, but it is also book for inspiring radical empathy, organizing, love, and so much more. It's queer normative and inclusive. It's sweet and thoughtful.\ \ I hope you'll pick it up at your local library or bookstore.\ \ If you'd like me to get a monetary benefit from your purchase, click here: https://bookshop.org/lists/books-that-make-me-feel-loved](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/4uuLHyJmLqIWL060tu5F/)
Book Review: Until The Clock Strikes Midnight
1 book
Chanterelle Solace\ \ Sabie\ \ • Feb 8
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[Poll:\ \ Do you enjoy Cozy as a sub-genre?\ \
“I’m well aware that I’m … too much. You think you’re annoyed—imagine how I feel. I have to live with me and all my flaws every day.”\ \ \ \ GENRE: Cozy YA Romantasy\ \ RATING: 5/5 (would give it more if I could)\ \ FORMAT: eBook Arc\ \ Overall Impression: WHAT A BOOK!!!! Seriously, what a book ahhhh because guys this was a beautiful, whimsical Cozy YA Romantasy that discusses SO many important topics (Bipolar Rep and Mental health, Inequalities...etc.) while having so much whimsy! It is done so well and what I look for in Cozy Fantasy/Romantasy books\ \ Review:\ \ Guys, WHAT A BOOK OH MY GOD, like I repeat: WHAT A BOOK!\ \ Okay, let’s get into it: I love Cozy Fantasy and Cozy Romantasy and this is literally what I look for in both (sub)genre. Until the Clock Strikes Midnight is a book that focuses on whimsical, lovely and magical moments filled with Glitter Magic while diving into topics like Inequalities, Mental Health (there’s a bipolar rep), negative spirals and so much more. The way the topics are handled is done with so much care and I teared up twice, which rarely ever happens with any form of media\ \ This book is a beautiful journey that follows two POV (Darling and Calamity), who compete to change the destiny of our bookseller (Lucy). There are a few types of Endings in here: Happily Ever After, Ordinary Ever After and Unhappily Ever After and Celestials/Misfortunes (plus one Fairy, Darling) help guide Humans to achieve one of them essentially! This leads to a lot of discussion regarding whether humans deserve a chance at happiness and that not all of them start out on the same footing. I loved the way we get to explore this theme in the book, how it leads to so many important discussions between Darling and Calamity and how it connects back to the magical system in the book itself.\ \ And the dynamic between Darling and Calam? AHHH, I loved their interactions! I think they are more of what we call “expected” to be enemies/rivals turned into lovers. I really enjoyed their interactions, how they both grow and learn about each other in different ways as well. Also, the fact that Darling’s name is, well, Darling just gives us so many cute opportunities throughout the book with cute nicknames AHH\ \ And Darling being a rep for Bipolar? My god, this topic/theme/rep broke my heart and healed me in so many ways. Darling has always grown up feeling like she was too much, that she was too glittery, colourful...etc. and we get to see a few negative spirals and her doubting herself and her place in the world. As someone who heavily relates to this, the quote I picked in the beginning of the review just shows how heavily we live with the things people tell us and we watch how Darling has to slowly realise that she isn’t too much and that it’s okay to feel like she is sometimes because of what she has been told.\ \ I cannot wait to read more of the author’s backlog and any future books! I’ll be yelling about this book everywhere possible essentially as it is now a top favourite/top cozy fantasy book in my list. Thank you to the Author, Publisher, Colored Pages Book Tour and Netgalley for the Arc copy!](https://cozysabie.binderybooks.com/item/tlGYJedPxsyy3ViN5BLf/)
A New Top Read: Cozy YA Fantasy with so much whimsy and beautiful Mental Health Representation
1 book
5
Fat Forward Books\ \ Samantha Puc\ \ • Jan 14
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2026 Books by Fat Authors & About Fat Experiences
59 books
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Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Jan 3
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\ \ I don't know about y'all, but I've been screenshotting new releases every time I see them on Instagram! Between those and the books I've seen popping up on Netgalley, I was able to figure out which new books I'm excited to check out this year. Here's what I've got my eyes on:\ \ The Starseekers by Nicole Glover \ \ According to the publisher, this is "a stand-alone historical fantasy set in the world of The Conductors, in which the space race of the mid-20th century will be determined by magic...if not murder." This makes sense since the magic system is directly tied to the constellations. The cover and description also connect the story to _Hidden Figures_byMargot Lee Shetterly, which was a fascinating book to me. I'm currently finishing up The Undertakers (Murder and Magic #2)!\ \ Muñeca by Cynthia Gómez \ \ The cover of this novel caught my eye right away! The description says this is "a vivid, surreal Gothic about a queer, Latine, working class witch who sets out to rescue a bespelled heiress and loses control of her powers and her heart in the process." I've been loving Latine Gothic novels, thanks to authors like Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Isabel Cañas. Hopefully, this one will be another gripping read.\ \ Goldenborn by Ama Ofosua Lieb \ \ The cover of this book says, "Love, lies, and legacy–all tangled in a trickster's web," which makes me excited because it makes me think of Anansi, the West African trickster of lore. So I was pleased when I read the description, "When 17-year-old Akoma Addo stumbles into a world of ancient gods and modern magic, she’ll have to choose between saving her father… or staying true to everything she’s ever believed." I love that! Also, this novel takes place in San Francisco’s AfricaTown, which I've haven't read about before.\ \ Score by Kennedy Ryan \ \ Let's be real, Kennedy Ryan is an autobuy author for me. I love the Skyland Series and Reel was amazing. I'm pumped to read another book in the world of Reel! After I read the blurb below, I was completely sold. We've got a second-chance romance between a world-class musician and an award-winning screenwriter as they are forced to reconnect over an epic Harlem Renaissance biopic. swoon\ \ Bound by Fury by Noelle Monét \ \ This cover is gorgeous and one thing I'm loving in BIPOC fiction lately is the emphasis on ancestral magic and southern folklore! Read this description: " Legendborn meets The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in this captivating contemporary fantasy debut about a teen whose newly awakened magical abilities send her searching for answers at an elite boarding school that has a mysterious connection to her family’s history." HELLO!?! That sounds amazing.\ \ Before We Burn (Born from the Ashes, #1) by Ophelia Reign \ \ I saw some exciting promos on the author's IG and decided to add this mysterious book to my list. Before We Burn follows ex-assassin Marzana, who teaches young vamps how to control their hunger, power, and rage, until her academy is raided by humans and her pupils are taken. Intriguing!\ \ To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose \ \ This pick was inevitable! I read To Shape a Dragon's Breath twice and loved it, so I've been waiting for news of book 2 for a while. Anequs has passed her first year at Kuiper’s Academy with flying colors and is ready for a break back on Masquapaug with her dragon Kasaqua and close friend Theod. Unfortunately, her notoriety brings an Anglish presence pressing to control her people. As if Anequs would let them have the chance! If you have a hard time with language in Fantasy books or even just want to make sure you have the pronunciation correct, I highly recommend the audiobooks for this series.\ \ Heir of Prophecy by Analeigh Sbrana \ \ I loved Sbrana's Lore of the Wilds duology so it's no surprise that I wanted this book as soon as I saw it on her IG. The cover is amazing and the description has me floored. Audra, the female MC, is kidnapped by Fae to be trained as a soldier by the Priestesses at their cult-like school. They are looking for the Heir of Prophecy but Audra isn't going to just accept her fate as their prisoner while they search.\ \ The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest \ \ A fake summer fling?! Fake dating romances give me life and I don't care who knows it. I loved the Greene sister series, so I think this will be right up my alley.\ \ Blood Rising (Volume 2 of The Blood Saga) by Markus Redmond \ \ Blood Slaves was one of the best books I read in 2025 and the ending was the perfect set-up for book 2. I can't wait to read it!\ \ Honey by Imani Thompson \ \ I feel like this book is gonna be a bit cathartic for many WOC in academia. Our MC is bored with her PhD program, work, and the crappy men in her life. Then, she accidentally kills one of them, a problematic professor, and feels a little more alive. She's been researching, writing, and teaching about feminism and racial solidarity for a while, but now it feels extremely useful. Of course, her stint of righteous murders can't continue forever...\ \ The Jellyfish Problem by Tessa Yang\ \ "A marine biologist makes the discovery of a lifetime when called to rescue the inhabitants of a small Maine island being menaced by a giant, glowing jellyfish in this richly imagined, wholly original debut." That sounds hella whimsical and like it might be weirdly scary which is intriguing!\ \ Until The Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow \ \ Listennnnnnn, I enjoy Alechia Dows books but the promos for this one have me locked in. " The Good Place meets the Brandy version of Cinderella in Until the Clock Strikes Midnight, a cozy, romantic fantasy from award-winning author Alechia Dow." Yes, please! \ \ Aicha by Soraya Bouazzaoui \ \ I was scrolling on IG minding everyone's business when I saw this queenly book cover and internally gasped. They say not to judge a book by it's cover so here's the description: "Aicha is the story of Morocco's warrior goddess, her strange magic, fierce rebellion, and devastating romance."\ \ The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura \ \ I've loved Jo Segura's first two books, Raiders of the Lost Heart and Temple of Swoon, so I know The Lust Crusade will give me that wonderful mix of archaeology, romance, and intrigue. On top of that, the female MC is a librarian (like me)!\ \ Burn Down Master's House by Clay Cane \ \ Since the plantation fire last year, I've felt inspired more and more by stories of resistance on those plots of Hell on Earth. I think this novel will be perfect for that. "Sparked by individual acts of resistance among those enslaved across the American South, their seemingly disparate rebellions fuel a singular inferno of justice, connecting them in ways quiet at times, explosive at others." I love that it follows multiple people seeking justice!\ \ Fire Sword and Sea by Vanessa Riley \ \ This novel is a new take on the "life of the legendary seventeenth-century pirate Jacquotte Delehaye." You might remember that I read The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron last year, which was very entertaining, so I'm looking forward to reading another about this fascinating figure.\ \ The Art of Loving You (The Forever Falling Series) by Natasha Bishop \ \ A beautiful cover and some of my fave Romance tropes: friends to lovers, he falls first, second-chance romance, Black joy, forced proximity, right person, wrong time. I'm in!\ \ Witch Queen Rising by Savannah Stephens \ \ Look at that baddie on the cover! This novel is about an outcast witch in New Orleans named Seraphine Barreau who can "feed on magic and make it her own." After her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, Barreau becomes the ruler of the same people who misunderstood her. I love stories like this!\ \ Devil of the Deep by Falencia Jean-Francois\ \ "Lu watched the love of his life walk the plank and sink into the inky-black depths of the sea. Nnenna was dead . . . or so he thought." Ooop! We've got another Black pirate adventure on our hands and I'm so down. In Devil of the Deep, a pirate, a fleet officer, and a mermaid who "must choose their loyalties, find their courage, and race to protect the island from false gods and forces of evil--or risk unleashing an ancient curse that could destroy them all."\ \ The Missed Connection by Tia Williams \ \ This Romance is about a boss casting agent named Sasha, who, despite her typical thorniness around men, believes she might have found her soulmate on a flight to Paris. They miss their chance to exchange contact info but Sasha isn't going to give up that easily. As she enlists her work friend to help her search, Sasha realizes that she accidentally sent the email to the entire company and now they are also on the lookout. This sounds hilarious and wholesome!\ \ Charmed and Dangerous by Shelly Page\ \ "A teen mystic will do anything to solve a series of love-related magical mishaps plaguing her high school, including fake dating her boss's daughter, in this charming sapphic romance." Sounds adorable!!!\ \ The Case of Elmwood Ranch by Deanna Grey \ \ Romance and a haunted house? I'll take that!"A legacy paranormal investigator, loner horse rancher, and a haunted house."\ \ The Bridge Back To You by Riss M. Neilson\ \ "Exes discover they’ve both inherited the restaurant they love..." Tis' the year for second-chance romance, it seems! I'm looking forward to this one because I love a good foodie Romance, especially with a deep emotional connection.\ \ Death Card by Jasmine Smith \ \ The cover drew me in but this description made me wanna pre-order it: "A dark contemporary fantasy featuring witchcraft, tarot, death, and a bit of romance that's perfect for fans of Immortal Dark and Cinderella Is Dead."\ \ The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa \ \ Mia Sosa is an autobuy author for me because she always knows how to mix the perfect amount of hilariousness with tender and sexy romance. I know The Starter Ex won't let me down because the description has me hooked already. Vanessa Cordero had a side gig where she'd date your crush and annoy/scare the hell out them so they'd see how much of a catch you really are. Now, Vanessa's sister is asking her to do the same to Jason Torres, a "certified commitment-phobe" she has her eye on. The problem is, Jason actually wants a temporary ridiculous girlfriend so his mom will stop trying to get him to the altar. Uh oh!\ \ The Other Moctezuma Girls by Sofia Robleda\ \ "In sixteenth-century Mexico, a fearless young woman strives to uncover the secrets her mother kept as the last Aztec empress in a sweeping historical epic by the author of Daughter of Fire." Sounds like a fascinating novel!\ \ _The Rhythm of Raine at Dawn (Perfect Muse, # 1)_by Aricka Alexander \ \ This looks like a cute sapphic romance. Raine Williams, a choreographer, posts a video to R&B artist Dawn Anderson's newest hit and it goes viral. So viral that the musician herself reaches out. Then, she realizes that Dawn isn't only interested in her choreo...\ \ Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi\ \ "Cleopatra tells her own story in this evocative and sensuous historical epic from the bestselling and award-winning author of Faebound and The Final Strife." As someone who used to be obsessed with Ancient Egypt, I think this will be a really cool take on the story of Cleopatra VII.\ \ The Re-Do List by Denise Williams \ \ I feel like this book will be a great palette-cleanser after reading Fantasy or Horror."Willow experienced all her big firsts with her high school sweetheart. Now, reeling from their very public breakup, she wants to get a re-do on those important moments. While dog-sitting for her brother during his deployment, she has a chance to start over and spending time with his best friend gives her the confidence to start checking items off her “Re-Do list.”\ \ As you can see, I'm really hype about Fantasy, Historical, Romance, and Horror this year. I only realized after compiling this post that I don't have many men on the list and that was totally unintentional! If you know of any books by men of color and/or queer men you think I'd enjoy based on this list, please share! Did any of these books catch your eye? What are you excited to read this year?](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/OAiJvLeytAiBRF2D8MAp/)
30 New Books I'm Excited About In 2026
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