Celestial | Womb City
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Womb City
Tlotlo Tsamaase
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This genre-bending Africanfuturist horror novel blends The Handmaid’s Tale with Get Out in an adrenaline-packed, cyberpunk body-hopping ghost story exploring motherhood, memory, and a woman’s right to her own body.
Nelah seems to have it all: fame, wealth, and a long-awaited daughter growing in a government lab. But, trapped in a loveless marriage to a policeman who uses a microchip to monitor her every move, Nelah’s perfect life is precarious. After a drug-fueled evening culminates in an eerie car accident, Nelah commits a desperate crime and buries the body, daring to hope that she can keep one last secret.
The truth claws its way into Nelah’s life from the grave. As the ghost of her victim viciously hunts down the people Nelah holds dear, she is thrust into a race against the clock: in order to save any of her remaining loved ones, Nelah must unravel the political conspiracy her victim was on the verge of exposing—or risk losing everyone.
Set in a cruel futuristic surveillance state where bodies are a government-issued resource, this harrowing story is a twisty, nail-biting commentary on power, monstrosity, and bodily autonomy. In sickeningly evocative prose, Womb City interrogates how patriarchy pits women against each other as unwitting collaborators in their own oppression.
In this devastatingly timely debut novel, acclaimed short fiction writer Tlotlo Tsamaase brings a searing intelligence and Botswana’s cultural sensibility to the question: just how far must a woman go to bring the whole system crashing down?
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Posts about this title from Celestial
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 15
what’s your favorite episode of Black Mirror?
💭 what’s your favorite episode of Black Mirror?
here are some dystopian, science fiction style stories that feel like they could be adapted into Black Mirror episodes at any moment!
📚 books mentioned: - These Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yiming Ma - Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase
👗💄: - dress is from Farm Rio, rented from Nuuly - earrings are from Art by Mesoma - eyeshadow is The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite and Ellis Atlantis Palette from Blend Bunny Cosmetics - eyeliner is Vegan Longwear Eyeliner (Minty) from Pacifica Beauty - lip combo is Lassi Lips Staining Lip Liner (Chellam) and Lass Lips Staining Lip Oil (Sweet) from Kulfi 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 Mariner Books for the gifted copy!
#blackmirror #scifibooks #dystopianbooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @marinerbooks @erewhonbooks @farmrio @blendbunnycosmetics @glamlite @kulfi.beauty
3 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 15
have you read any cyberpunk books?
💭 have you read any cyberpunk books?
here are some science fiction recs that lean into cyberpunk themes & vibes!
📚 books mentioned: - The Obake Code by Makana Yamamoto - All Systems Red by Martha Wells - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase
👗💄: - dress is from CeliaB, rented from Nuuly - eyeshadow is In A Trance Palette from Colourpop - eyeshadow shimmer is a single (Electric Butterfly) from Half Magic - eyeliner is Vegan Longwear Eyeliner (Ocean & Lilac) from Pacifica Beauty - mascara is Lash Extensions XL from Milani Cosmetics - lip combo is Suede Matte Lip Liner (Moonwalk) from NYX Cosmetics and Gloss Up Sheer Finish Lip Gloss (Quiet Luxury) from The Lip Bar - (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 Harper Voyager for the gifted copy!
#cyberpunk #cyberpunkbooks #scifibooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @harpervoyagerus @harpercollins @tordotcompub @kensingtonbooks @erewhonbooks @celiabdesigner @colourpopcosmetics @pacificabeauty @milanicosmetics @halfmagicbeauty @nyxcosmetics @thelipbar
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cyberpunk books • cyberpunk science fictions • sci fi book recs • science fiction books • unique books • diverse books • Tordotcom • Erewhon Books
3 books
2
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 27
💀 let’s talk about books with a unique spin on death
💀 let’s talk about books with a unique spin on death & death rituals!
📚 books mentioned: - On the Wings of la Noche by Vanessa L. Torres - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase - Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
👗💄: - dress is from Hutch, rented from Nuuly - eyeshadow is Under the Sea Eyeshadow Palette from Colourpop and The Spring Symphony Palette from Dandy Lion Cosmetics - mascara is B-Structural from Haus Labs - lip combo is Lippie Pencil (Seduction) from Colourpop and Lip 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 Get Underlined for the gifted copy!
#fantasybooks #horrorbooks #scifibooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @getunderlined @erewhonbooks @torbooks @hutch_design @dandylionsco @colourpopcosmetics @sacheubeauty
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books about death • necromancer books • the locked tomb series • death ritual books • books about dying • horror book recommendations • dark fantasy books • science fantasy books • unique books • diverse books • Erewhon Books • Tor Books
3 books
2
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Sep 13 2025
recommending books using their opening lines!!
recommending books using their opening lines!!
📚 books mentioned: - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase - The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei - The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs - Heavyweight by Solomon J. Brager - Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa - The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez - Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah - When Among Crows by Veronica Roth - The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero
👗💄: - sweat set is from @comfrt - (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 Flatiron Books, Heartdrum, William Borrow, Berkley, Tor Books, and Peachtree Teen for the gifted copies!
#bookrecsfromfirstlines #bookfirstlines #firstlines #fantasybooks #horrorbooks #scifibooks #BerkleyPartner #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram @erewhonbooks @flatiron_books @harpercollins @williammorrowbooks @berkleypub @torbooks @marinerbooks @peachtreeteen
9 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 16 2025
i would, unfortunately, gruesomely perish in these worlds. but i would have fun first (sometimes).
i would, unfortunately, gruesomely perish in these worlds. but i would have fun first (sometimes).
📚 books mentioned: - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase - These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa - Killer on the Road by Stephen Graham Jones - Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me by Jamison Shea
thank you to Get Underlined and Saga Press for the gifted copies!
#fantasybooks #fantasybookrecs #horrorbooks #horrorbookrecs #bookishopinions #GetUnderlinedPartner #SagaSays #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram #nycbookstagram @erewhonbooks @getunderlined @sagapressbooks @clarionbooks @fiercereads @harpercollins
4 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 2 2025
choose your (book) crisis!!
because a character never seems to have an easy, happy time in a book that i pick up.
📚 books mentioned: - Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant - The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim - Killer on the Road/The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones - The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase - I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me by Jamison Shea - A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan - Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
Thank you to Simon Teen, Saga Press, and William Morrow for the gifted copies!
#chooseyourcrisis #chooseyourbookcrisis #chooseyourcharacter #fantasybooks #horrorbooks #scifibooks #bookrecs #bookrecommendations #SagaSaysCrew #sagapressbooks #SagaSays #SimonTeenInfluencer #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram #nycbookstagram @simonteen @erewhonbooks @sagapressbooks @flatiron_books @delreybooks @kensingtonbooks @fiercereads @henryholtbooks @williammorrowbooks
10 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 26 2025
book recs that give me black mirror vibes!!
book recs that give me black mirror vibes!!
📚 books mentioned: - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase - The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardo - Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo
thank you to Atria and Tor for the gifted copies!
#blackmirror #blackmirrorbooks #scifibooks #scifibookrecs #sciencefiction #horrorbooks #atriapartner #torpartner #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @erewhonbooks @atriabooks @tordotcompub
3 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 26 2025
continue to read with intention (and delight and whimsy and all that good stuff) by joining the Celestial book club!! we have amazing picks, i promise!
📚 books mentioned: - Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase - Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei
#bookclub #bookcommunity #pacificislander #pacificislanderbooks #celestial #binderybooks #diversebookclub #fantasybooks #fantasybookclub #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @clarionbooks @theshelfstuff @harpercollins @bindery_books
5 books
1
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 18 2025
bookish brand trip?!? | shelves and the city los angeles 2025 vlog!
Shelves and the City (the sequel) was just as special as the first. and truly much more exciting for me because I got to hop across coasts!
disclosure things: Shelves and the City a bookish brand trip (centered around BookTok, but most of us are on Bookstagram and BookTube as well) created by HarperCollins, specifically Avon Books, Harper Voyager, William Morrow, and Epic Reads. Our flights, meals, hotel, and group activities were paid for. We were not required to post or do anything in exchange (though of course we all are, haha) - this was a gifted appreciation trip.
📍Locations and things mentioned: - Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons hotel - Reparations Club - https://rep.club/ - Erewhon lol - Fox Studios - LouLou Santa Monica - Playland Arcade on the Santa Monica Pier
☆ featured links ☆ 💫 join me on bindery (celestial - exclusive content, discord, book club, and more): https://celestial.binderybooks.com/ 👗 $30 off of your first nuuly rental (nuuly doesn't sponsor me in any way - this is just a referral link - but boy am i open to it): https://share.nuuly.com/steph4962
↓ find me in more places ↓ 🎵 tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starrysteph 📸 insta: https://www.instagram.com/starry.steph 📚 storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/starrysteph 🦋 bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/starrysteph.bsky.social 📖 goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/147956803-steph-starrysteph 💌 email: starrystephbooks@gmail.com more (news articles, discount codes, etc.): https://beacons.ai/starrysteph
☆ resources ☆ 🇵🇸 learn more about the history of Palestine: https://decolonizepalestine.com/ 🇨🇩 learn more about what's happening in the DRC: https://friendsofthecongo.org/ 🇸🇩 Sudan Solidarity Collective: https://sudansolidarity.com/
los angeles book tour | booktok booktube bookstagram | brand trip vlog | harpercollins | shelves and the city | reparations club | bookfluencer trip | book influencer brand trip | beverly wilshire four seasons hotel | erewhon | fox studios lot | lou lou santa monica | playland arcade on the santa monica pier
4 books
2
Posts about this book from across Bindery
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 15
what’s your favorite episode of Black Mirror?
💭 what’s your favorite episode of Black Mirror?
here are some dystopian, science fiction style stories that feel like they could be adapted into Black Mirror episodes at any moment!
📚 books mentioned: - These Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yiming Ma - Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase
thank you to Mariner Books for the gifted copy!
#blackmirror #scifibooks #dystopianbooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @marinerbooks @erewhonbooks @farmrio @blendbunnycosmetics @glamlite @kulfi.beauty
3 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 15
have you read any cyberpunk books?
💭 have you read any cyberpunk books?
here are some science fiction recs that lean into cyberpunk themes & vibes!
📚 books mentioned: - The Obake Code by Makana Yamamoto - All Systems Red by Martha Wells - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase
thank you to Harper Voyager for the gifted copy!
.
cyberpunk books • cyberpunk science fictions • sci fi book recs • science fiction books • unique books • diverse books • Tordotcom • Erewhon Books
3 books
2
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 27
💀 let’s talk about books with a unique spin on death
💀 let’s talk about books with a unique spin on death & death rituals!
📚 books mentioned: - On the Wings of la Noche by Vanessa L. Torres - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase - Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
thank you to Get Underlined for the gifted copy!
.
3 books
2
The Skyy Life\ \ Erika\ \ • Jan 24
Join for free
Did you know you can request a book recommendation from me?? 👀
Did you know you can request a book recommendation from me on @bindery_books? It’s such a cute little feature and I already love it!
Shout out to my book bestie @shelf_love_booklover 💖✨ I hope you enjoy reading this recs! Let me know which one you will add to your library!! 🫶🏾 Enjoy!
Want a book rec? Head over to my Bindery (check my bio for direct 🔗) ☺️
#bookrecs #bookrecommendations #addtotbr #bookbestie
3 books
2
The Skyy Life\ \ Erika\ \ • Oct 23 2025
Join for free
These books quite literally have stayed on my mind since I have read them. OBSESSED!!!
These books quite literally have stayed on my mind since I have read them.
I love reading (& re-reading) these books, can’t stop talking about them, and will forever recommend them!
✨Books Mentioned ✨
Before I Let Go — Kennedy Ryan All I’ve Wanted, All I’ve Needed — A.E. Valdez An Ember in the Ashes — Sabaa Tahir When No One Is Watching — Alyssa Cole Womb City — Tlotlo Tsamaase Our Vicious Oaths — N.E. Davenport Oathbound — Tracy Deonn
Shoutout to @breana_reads who I seen do this trend! 💖
And if you see this post you should do one too!!
#bookrecs #favoritebooks #addtotbr
7 books
The Skyy Life\ \ Erika\ \ • Oct 10 2025
Join for free
The creator adult book fair was a DREAM!
The creator adult book fair was a DREAM! I was able to yell & yap (yap & yell) about my favorite books, authors, series, my favorite graphic novel, meet book besties IRL+ make new ones, debut @charmmeetcute, be on the panel for the first time EVERRRR 🥹
Special thanks to @fullcirclebookstore for hosting and letting me be apart of such an impactful and magical day!
So grateful to be on the panel with genuine and inspirational creators — @seekingdystopia @thesmallestbookclub — and author Gwenna (momma cusses) with @the_boozy_baking_bibliophile as the perfect moderator/influencer as well.
So happy to have been able to do this with new found book besties and influencers who are definitely changing the game. I am glad we got to do this together — @thewindedbibliophile @jadedubya @_novelreadswithbree @overbooked_okc @bookishfangirlco @bubblegumbookshelf @reading.with.hotchocolate @preshreadsss
#bookfair #bookishcommunity #blackbookstagram #bookrecs #booktok #bookstagram #booktuber #arcreader #diversebooks #diversereads #kindlecharms #bookishlove #bookworm #bookevent #okcbookstagrammer #books
23 books
1
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Sep 13 2025
recommending books using their opening lines!!
recommending books using their opening lines!!
👗💄: - sweat set is from @comfrt - (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 Flatiron Books, Heartdrum, William Borrow, Berkley, Tor Books, and Peachtree Teen for the gifted copies!
9 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 16 2025
i would, unfortunately, gruesomely perish in these worlds. but i would have fun first (sometimes).
thank you to Get Underlined and Saga Press for the gifted copies!
4 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 2 2025
choose your (book) crisis!!
because a character never seems to have an easy, happy time in a book that i pick up.
Thank you to Simon Teen, Saga Press, and William Morrow for the gifted copies!
10 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 26 2025
book recs that give me black mirror vibes!!
book recs that give me black mirror vibes!!
📚 books mentioned: - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase - The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardo - Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo
thank you to Atria and Tor for the gifted copies!
3 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 26 2025
continue to read with intention (and delight and whimsy and all that good stuff) by joining the Celestial book club!! we have amazing picks, i promise!
5 books
1
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 18 2025
bookish brand trip?!? | shelves and the city los angeles 2025 vlog!
Shelves and the City (the sequel) was just as special as the first. and truly much more exciting for me because I got to hop across coasts!
4 books
2
Arcane Nights Press\ \ Cassidy\ \ • Dec 26 2024
Join for free
New Books Released December 24th
Heavenly Tyrant is finally out! #booktok #newbooktuesday #newbooks #ironwidow #fantasybooks #yabooks #cassidy_reads
5 books
3