Celestial | The Unmapping

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The Unmapping

Denise S. Robbins

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4 a.m., New York City. A silent disaster.

There is no flash of light, no crumbling, no quaking. Each person in New York wakes up on an unfamiliar block when the buildings all switch locations overnight. The power grid has snapped, thousands of residents are missing, and the Empire State Building is on Coney Island—for now. The next night, it happens again.

Esme Green and Arjun Varma work for the City of New York’s Emergency Management team and are tasked with disaster response for the Unmapping. As Esme tries to wade through the bureaucratic nightmare of an endlessly shuffling city, she’s distracted by the ongoing search for her missing fiancé. Meanwhile, Arjun focuses on the ground-level rescue of disoriented New Yorkers, hoping to become the hero the city needs.

While scientists scramble to find a solution—or at least a means to cope—and mysterious “red cloak” cults crop up in the disaster’s wake, New York begins to reckon with a new reality no one recognizes. For Esme and Arjun, the fight to hold the city together will mean tackling questions about themselves that they were too afraid to ask—and facing answers they never expected.

With themes of climate change, political unrest, and life in a state of emergency, The Unmapping is a timely and captivating debut.

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Posts about this title from Celestial

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 16 2025

what’s your favorite sci fi sub genre? science fiction books for lifeeee!!

📚 books mentioned: - The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente - Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah - An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon - The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei - This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone - The Unmapping by Denise S. Robbins - Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir - Kindred by Octavia Butler - The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark - The Seep by Chana Porter - Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki - The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson - The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart - Sunrise: Radiant Stories by Erika Kobayashi

thank you to Pantheon, Flatiron, Bindery, and Astra House for the gifted copies!

#scifibooks #sciencefictionbooks #scifibookrecs #sciencefictionbookrecs #bestsciencefiction #FlatironPartner #binderybooks #celestial #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram #nycbookstagram @tordotcompub @pantheonbooks @akashicbooks @flatiron_books @sagapressbooks @bindery_books @torbooks @beaconpress @titanbooks @delreybooks @ballantinebooks @astrahousebooks

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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 13 2025

Bindery Summer 2025 Launch Panels

Hey Celestial subscribers! Here's the video of the WONDERFUL panels from the Bindery Spring Launch event in NYC. Lauren Puckett-Pope moderates!

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 27 2025

SO PRETTY! which one are you most excited to read first??

(don’t forget to enter through my Celestial page for the chance to win a copy of The Unmapping!!)

📚 books mentioned: - Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove - Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil - Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase - The Unmapping by Denise S. Robbins

#binderybooks #binderypublishing #fantasybooks #scifibooks #literaryfiction #celestial #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @bindery_books

4 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 27 2025

GIVEAWAY!! Win an exclusive hardcover special edition of The Unmapping!

Keep reading to find out how to win.

1 book

Posts about this book from across Bindery

Stardust Books\ \ Joy\ \ • May 20

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[Yay! Our "Ally Book Club" has picked " The Unmapping" by Denise S. Robbins for Junes book! I am so excited to read this. I have been eyeing it for awhile.\ \ If anyone wants to join this book club please let me know! \ \

Ally Book Club Pick for June

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Mareas\ \ Marines\ \ • Nov 16 2025

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happy birthday, mareas 🎂

a love letter and a giveaway

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chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Nov 4 2025

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october wrap up--yes no maybe

As always—remember to check TW if needed 🫶🏻 #booktok #bookreviews #yesnomaybe #readingwrapup #romancebooktok

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Mareas\ \ Marines\ \ • Oct 24 2025

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Mareas\ \ Marines\ \ • Oct 6 2025

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Thanks, Taylor (I Guess): Sleep Token, Grief, and the Artist’s Bargain

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Mareas\ \ Marines\ \ • Sep 17 2025

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The Unmapping: Annotated First Chapter

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The Bibliothecary\ \ Samantha\ \ • Sep 13 2025

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what I read this summer

In which I discuss my recent reads...

Plant-Based Bride video on Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg9gTCZ6OgY

♡ Join THE BIBLIOTHECARY: https://bibliothecarybooks.binderybooks.com/ ►► Seekers of The Bibliothecary get perks that allow more interaction with my channel and get at least 4 monthly exclusives such as videos about books, witchcraft, and other hobbies, a year long interactive reading challenge, readalongs, and more

★ Reading spreadsheet I use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twhrdlRfnRs&t=626s ► End screen song: Magic Forest - Kevin MacLeod

★ FREELANCE EDITING SERVICES: https://tinyurl.com/editing-services -- I'm currently accepting clients for developmental editing and manuscript evaluation. I'm interested in working with adult fantasy and scifi, especially Hades and Persephone retellings, stories involving polyamory, and mental health rep. I offer free editing samples of your first 1,000 words to make sure we are a good fit.

➝ DISCLAIMER: This video is not sponsored. All opinions are my own.

WHERE TO FIND ME ► BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thoughtsontomes.bsky.social ► Storygraph (alternative to goodreads): https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/thoughtsontomes ► Instagram: @thoughtsontomes ► Tiktok: @thoughtsontomes_

MORE THAN BOOKS? ★ Check out The Bibliothecary! I used to discuss witchcraft and other topics on my other channel but that content has all moved to The Bibliothecary: https://bibliothecarybooks.binderybooks.com/

REVIEW/BUSINESS INQUIRES ➝ Email: thoughtsontomes@gmail.com ➝ Review Policy: https://thoughtsontomes.tumblr.com/reviewpolicy -- due to the volume of email requests I get, I do not accept review requests from indie or self-published authors at this time

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Cozy Quill\ \ Meg\ \ • Sep 5 2025

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is bindery working? my publishing experience and lessons learned

This video from our friend Marines is a fantastic break down of how the publishing side of Bindery works! It's definitely worth a listen if you're interested in the publishing process at Bindery and want more info on what we're up to behind the scenes.

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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 16 2025

what’s your favorite sci fi sub genre? science fiction books for lifeeee!!

thank you to Pantheon, Flatiron, Bindery, and Astra House for the gifted copies!

13 books

The Inky Phoenix\ \ Kathryn Budig\ \ • Aug 6 2025

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All of our Bindery Books Babies thus far ...

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Boneyard Picnic\ \ Natalie Meagan\ \ • Jul 10 2025

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\ \ Join for free or login](https://boneyardpicnic.binderybooks.com/item/sqGNMmsB4RHDXRtmRL9H/)

Books, Cats, Tea | A Chill, Chaotic Vlog

Enjoy this fun little vlog of me making tea and showing off the special editions of the Bindery spring releases!

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Fantasy & Frens\ \ Zoranne\ \ • Jul 8 2025

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Support Independent Bookstores, Not Billionaires

Enjoy free shipping AND 15% off all Bindery titles from 7/8-7-11 using code LOVEBOOKSELLERS!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jun 26 2025

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NEW YORK CITY BOOK HAUL | 💖 Zoran Mamdani for NYC mayor 💖

all the books I grabbed while in NYC for the Bindery Spring Launch!

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Tattooed Bibliophiles\ \ Zee\ \ • Jun 20 2025

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Why Science Fiction Is the Most Important Genre (Yes, I’m Biased. No, I Won’t Be Taking Questions.)

Sci-Fi is the most important genre (I said what I said) #scifibooktok #scifiauthor #scifibooks

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Peppered Ink\ \ Mary\ \ • Jun 17 2025

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Two weeks ago, I went on an adventure to little ol' NYC

Incredible new books AND a marvelous party? 🥂

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Cozy Quill\ \ Meg\ \ • Jun 17 2025

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Poll:\ \ Which spring Bindery book was your favorite to curl up with?\ \ You're here! I'm so happy to see you and spend some time with you and share all the fun behind the scenes moments of the Bindery Spring Launch Party! 🎉\ \ \ \ I apologize that it's been a bit since an update. In the weeks since I have been back, we've been walking through the loss of a close family member. All of our hearts are still healing, but I'm finally home and deeply appreciate all the love sent our way. \ \ Now, let's recap, shall we? \ \ \ \ Arriving in NYC was so exciting, knowing in just a few hours I would be reunited with some of my favorite Bindery and online friends. The real fun began as we met up at a local brewery for a little welcome party and pre-celebration. \ \ \ \ Being surrounded by the Bindery team and all these incredible tastemakers always gets me teary. I'm just so proud of these humans. There's SO MUCH WORK that goes into the publishing process, and to know we're all gathering to celebrate all the hearts and radical shifts in the industry feels both overwhelming and fulfilling. This little hang was sweet and got us all amped for the night to come!\ \ \ \ The next morning Marines (@mynameismarines), Natalia (@nataliahernandezauthor), and Rachel (@readswithrachel), and I grabbed breakfast and headed out for a day at the natural history museum! \ \ \ \ If you haven't been in NYC, I couldn't suggest it enough! We were all giddy, running around like 7 year-olds having the time of our lives in each exhibit. Honestly, it brought out the best in all of us and was such a lovely little spot of joy in our day. It also gave us more opportunities to celebrate Marines and the launch of The Unmapping that day.\ \ Next up: It was party time!\ \ \ \ We headed down to P+T Knitwear where everything was decked out in Bindery trim and trappings! As always, I was so anxious walking into a big crowd. However, this time I was immediately greeted by our own Sara (@sarasbookishmacarons)! She surprised me with custom Cozy Quill macarons including our dear mascot, Quilliam. The best part? Some of these macarons were made out of my Cliche tea! What a gift Sara is to our community and to all the authors she baked for that day. It was a joy having her with us. \ \ \ \ We all gathered to listen to the Spring authors and tastemakers share their experience working with Bindery, as well as writing and launching these stories. \ \ \ \ If you're not familiar with the Spring launches, they include:\ \ BLACK SALT QUEEN by Samantha Bansil, Published by Violetear Books\ \ \ \ CRUELER MERCIES by Maren Chase, Published by Fantasy & Frens\ \ \ \ THE UNMAPPING by Denise S. Robbins, Published by Mareas\ \ \ \ OF MONSTERS & MAINFRAMES by Barbara Truelove, Published by Ezeekat Press\ \ \ \ I've almost finished every book on this list and can honestly and enthusiastically say they're incredible. They're all so unique, each a fresh breath of air into their genre. I highly recommend working your way through the Bindery titles this year because, truly, they each bring something new and exciting to the page. Longer form video reviews coming soon! 😉\ \ The party continued and I loved getting to spend time with the people working so tirelessly behind the scenes to make these dreams come true. \ \ Matt Kaye is the co-founder and CEO of Bindery. His vision for this work is really what led me to my big "yes" and he's such a beautiful encourager to the tastemakers. \ \ \ \ Meghan Harvey (right) is the co-founder and president of Bindery. She's such a gift, as well, steadily guiding all our ships and giving us big breaths as we take on this new venture. And we all know Charlotte Strick (left), our creative director here at Bindery! She's the genius behind our stunning cover designs, as well as a HUGE support system as we begin the publishing process.\ \ \ \ And finally, a crowd favorite: CJ Alberts, marketing director extraordinaire. Basically every book box, big creative promotion idea, or party planning falls into her hands. She's always readily available with the most creative ideas and pitches, helping us showcase our authors with heart and impact. We adore her!\ \ \ \ This party truly feels like a family reunion each year. So many relationships have been built through this opportunity, from authors to content creators. \ \ \ \ It was such a lovely night of celebrating these authors and all the work that went into these launches. As always, I was just really grateful to be in the room where it happened. \ \ But the fun didn't end there...\ \ The next day was also filled with joy! It started with a little jaunt around Central Park with best friends. \ \ \ \ Then Lizzy (@bumblebeezus) and I met up with some other friends for a private tour of Harper Collins! What a DREAM!\ \ \ \ They showed us around the local office and at the end brought us to a table FILLED with books! As they handed out tote bags, it hit me...we got to fill them up with any and all books on that table. SO GENEROUS!\ \ \ \ It was such a special afternoon, day, week, ahhhh! Every time I am around the Bindery crew I'm reminded how rare and special this group is. It feels very precious and I'm just deeply grateful to be a part of all of it. Congratulations to all four of the amazing authors releasing this month, as well as the tastemakers! It was a joy celebrating you!\ \ Now, I can't believe I get to say this — it's time to start planning OUR release! Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston Munden is launching in just a few months, can you believe it? Pre-orders are still open and yes, it's on Netgalley for those of you looking to give an early review. It helps so much with the promotion process, so thank you to everyone already investing in this cozy story. We're so grateful! \ \ Alright my friend, I'm off to dream about the dress I'll wear for the event in October! Any suggestions? Should I keep it cozy fantasy or go full glam? Help!\ \ Join for free or login

A Cozy Look Back at the Spring Bindery Book Launch 🚀

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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 13 2025

\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/XcCOQjVrZyjlOJTliVtk/)

Bindery Summer 2025 Launch Panels

Hey Celestial subscribers! Here's the video of the WONDERFUL panels from the Bindery Spring Launch event in NYC. Lauren Puckett-Pope moderates!

Fantasy & Frens\ \ Zoranne\ \ • Jun 13 2025

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Bindery Summer 2025 Launch Panels Recording!

Shoutout to Jaysen for recording both panels and giving me permission to share with Frens!

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Fat Forward Books\ \ Samantha Puc\ \ • Jun 13 2025

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🎉📚 GIVEAWAY: The Unmapping Bindery Exclusive Edition Hardcover!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jun 12 2025

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BINDERY SPRING LAUNCH PANEL RECORDING!! So you can watch as if you were there yourself!

Jaysen was so wonderful and got both panels from the event last week recorded so here they are for your enjoyment!

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Ezeekat Press\ \ Jaysen\ \ • Jun 9 2025

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Bindery Spring 2025 Launch Event Panels

These are the two panels featured at the Bindery Launch event on June 3, 2025. First up is the speculative and sci-fi panel. Second is the Fantasy panel.

4 books

Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Jun 6 2025

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Bindery Spring 2025 Launch Party

Obsessed with you all. Let’s get together again soon, okay?

Congrats again to @chasethemaren, @barbarartruelove, @sam_bansil, and @denisesrobbins. And thanks to @bindery_books for the invite and for hosting such a wonderful week of events!

#bookevent #indiepublishing #smallpress #bookishevents #booklaunchparty #binderybooks #booktoker #bookstagrammer

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jun 4 2025

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\ \ 06.04.2025 journal entry #24 \ \ Hello loves! It’s been awhile and I apologize for the break in content—it’s been a busy month for me and things only keep getting busier!\ \ I’m currently on day 2 of my trip to New York for the launch of the Spring Bindery Books!! They’re all currently out now and after hearing each of the tastemakers talk about the books and after meeting and hanging out with the authors, I am THAT much more excited to read them. If you're interested in grabbing the exclusive editions for 25% off then you can use the code BINDERYINSIDER to grab them here: https://binderybooks.com/books/bindery/\\ \ The event itself was just so lovely and I filmed some clips here and there which I will definitely share soon. There was a wonderful panel discussion moderated by the lovely Lauren Puckett-Pope from Elle followed by some fun aura readings and tarot card readings (though I was too busy chatting to get mine done, saddd) to represent the future of publishing that Bindery hopes to embody. I met so many people for the first time in-person but also got to see so many of the Bindery tastemakers again which was so nice because I do feel like it’s much easier to connect to people in person sometimes for me. I was definitely overstimulated by the end of the night and after the B&N meet up today but overall had such a great time that I cannot complain.\ \ Here’s some photos as a sneak peek!\ \ \ \ ME AND DEENA!! REUNITED <3\ \ \ \ I’m in New York for a few more days this week—filming content with Deena (the author of Dust Settles North), meeting with publishers, and catching up with some friends in the city. I’ll also be attending the book launch for TEN INCARNATIONS OF REBELLION by Vaishnavi Patel on Friday at The Strand Bookstore which I am SO hyped for—many of you know she’s the author of one of my favourite books ever, KAIKEYI. \ \ Like last fall after the first Bindery book launch, I’m just feeling super grateful for the space that I have here and the community and support you’ve all given me. I never would’ve imagined that any of this would be possible and it’s all thanks to you. So THANK YOU again from the bottom of my heart. \ \ I’ve also extended the deadline to upgrade to the STAR tier to get the Dust Settles North goodies mailed to you so please do so by Monday, June 9th and I will start packing those to send to you later that day.\ \ More behind-the-scenes to come soon!! Love you all and hope you’re excited as I am for all the things to come! \ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/z8hZnuvmKTtDwniPrGt5/)

06.04.2025 journal entry #24 BINDERY SPRING LAUNCH (OPEN FOR DISCOUNT CODE INSIDE)

open for photos and fun from the launch event in New York!!

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Skies Press\ \ Emma\ \ • Jun 4 2025

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Subscriber Exclusive DISCOUNT CODE for the Bindery Spring releases!

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Skies Press\ \ Emma\ \ • Jun 4 2025

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The Bindery Spring releases are OUT NOW!!!

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Enchanted Echoes\ \ Deirdre\ \ • May 28 2025

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What I Read This Week

2 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 27 2025

SO PRETTY! which one are you most excited to read first??

(don’t forget to enter through my Celestial page for the chance to win a copy of The Unmapping!!)

#binderybooks #binderypublishing #fantasybooks #scifibooks #literaryfiction #celestial #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @bindery_books

4 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 27 2025

\ \ Join for free or login](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/hNiFLynFCpPOSJ2Xv2jk/)

GIVEAWAY!! Win an exclusive hardcover special edition of The Unmapping!

Keep reading to find out how to win.

1 book

Peppered Ink\ \ Mary\ \ • May 25 2025

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Remember how I said I wasn't a book club person...? 📚

In fairness, I'm still not...

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Trash Panda’s Universe\ \ Trash Panda Leon\ \ • May 22 2025

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Special Edition Book Haul

I’m too tired to edit out the camel 🐪 toe sooooo enjoy fellow trash pandas. Thank you @Bindery @HarperCollins and @Satisfiction for my amazing special editions. Can’t wait to read all these lovely books. #bindery #theunmapping #blacksaltqueen #hisfaceisthesun #mayadivineawaken #celestialbodies #cruelermercies #ofmonstersandmainframes #shieldofsparrows #whenthetidesheldthemoon #thepoppywar #lordoftherings

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