Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Publisher: Viking Children’s Books
Publication Date: March 31, 2026

Moby Dick in space, but with more whale chasing and less cetology history lessons.

Ishara Ming is the sole survivor of a spacefaring whaler destroyed by the Ballena, a legendary sentient spacecraft that haunts the darkness between stars. The fatal encounter left her with a metal-plated arm, a faulty memory chip, and a burning need for revenge.

To take on the Ballena, Ishara assembles a crew of capable misfits. Among them is Quinn—her trusted first mate, the girl with wildfire eyes, and the only person who always stands by her side, even when everyone else thinks Ishara is a delusional captain who hallucinated the Ballena.

That is, until Augustus, a ship mech armed with his own mysterious reasons for vengeance, convinces Ishara to let him join the crew. He brings the one thing Ishara’s never had before: a tracking method tailored for finding the Ballena. Pulled between Quinn’s and Augustus’s gravitational forces, the pressure to issue increasingly risky orders, and the feeling that her past is rapidly catching up with her future, Ishara has to decide what—or who—she is fighting for before she loses another ship.

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Praise for The Celestial Seas

“A dazzling re-imagining of Moby Dick but in the endless expanse of space, THE CELESTIAL SEAS is a sci-fi tour de force that keeps you in awe at its creativity. Between cosmic whalers and epic space battles, it’s a profound mediation on how questions of existence and belonging will forever haunt us as humans, whether we are sailing the seven seas or cruising among the stars one day.”
– Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 New-York-Times-bestselling author of Iron Widow

“Brilliantly inventive, The Celestial Seas launches us into a world like no other. If spacefaring whalers aren’t enough to keep readers turning the page, the beguiling cast of characters, romance, daring adventures, and perfectly executed twists absolutely will. What an unforgettable ride.”
– Angela Montoya, award-winning and critically acclaimed author of A Cruel Thirst

“A powerful, serenading debut, The Celestial Seas is a space opera hit. This queer sci-fi retelling of Moby Dick in space is an exhilarating adventure that’ll leave readers yearning to voyage into the depths of the stars. With a riveting and fun assemble cast, Chan’s Ishara stands out among them as a fierce heroine worthy of her retribution. Cinematic, subversive, and epic!”
– Sandra Proudman, author of Salvación

“With an endearing and rag-tag crew, T.A. Chan’s debut The Celestial Seas celebrates a coming-of-age story complete with found family and the all-too-real conflicts of living with survivor’s guilt in a delightful space-romp retelling of Moby Dick. Full of heart, an endearing queer love triangle, and whales in space, this story will appeal to fans of space epics and girls in STEM kicking butt and taking charge.”
– Cassandra Newbould, author of Climate of Chaos

“An action-packed, heartfelt adventure, THE CELESTIAL SEAS is a cosmic riptide of vengeance, grief, love, and hope that drags you in and refuses to let go. A glorious disaster of a captain, Ishara is reckless, scrappy, and utterly fearless. Her ragtag crew may not buy the myth she’s chasing, but they believe in the legend she’s becoming — and so will you. T.A. Chan is a bright new voice in character-driven sci-fi!” 
– J.S. Dewes, author of The Last Watch and Rubicon

“A heartwrenching tale of hope after loss, life beyond vengeance, and the neverending search for belonging. Dare to brave THE CELESTIAL SEAS, and let yourself be swept away by its tides—you won’t regret it” 
– Francesca Tacchi, author of Let the Mountain Be My Grave

“The Celestial Seas is a clever, heartfelt sci-fi retelling of Moby Dick, and an excellent story, period. Chan’s worldbuilding feels wonderfully fresh, with its realistic multiculturalism and richly described interstellar vessels (her background as an aerospace engineer truly shines here). This book is epic—brace yourself.”
–  Kemi Ashing-Giwa, author of The King Must Die and A Splinter in the Sky

“The Celestial Seas harpooned my heart from the first sentence and didn’t let me go until the hunt was over. Chan expertly crafts a high-stakes tale of revenge, complete with head-spinning space battles, inventive world-building, and a misfit crew that will go to the ends of the universe for their captain. A truly innovative Moby Dick retelling that captures the madness and drive of the original.”
– A.D. Sui, Nebula-winning author of The Dragonfly Gambit and The Iron Garden Sutra

“Wholly original, with sharp worldbuilding and smart futuristic tech, The Celestial Seas kept me guessing throughout a high-seas adventure in space while staying grounded in an emotionally resonant exploration on identity, found family, and what it means to belong when home is worlds away. Highly recommend!”
– Sierra Branham, author of Love Galaxy

“THE CELESTIAL SEAS is an action-packed thrill ride with stellar worldbuilding and a wonderfully flawed protagonist. This is YA Sci-Fi at its finest.”
– Jess Aragon, author of The Demon Star