Scan barcode
sashas_books's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A book with its heart in the right place and good intentions. Ultimately, it tries to do too much, but I still ended up enjoying it.
There is Abeona, a hotel-shaped oasis in an evil (of course it’s evil) Galactic Empire.
“Not for Abeona were the sharply curled edges of a gilt pedestal, the bone-bruising hardness of a veined marble floor, sallow gold and lace trim. … It looked like something somebody loved.”
Here are the guests and the employees with their backstories, and here are those who would rebel against the Empire. It starts off cozy. Come and follow Carl the manager (who is too nice to have this job, if you ask me); Uwade at the reception (good backstory); Dunk the sous-chef (“People sometimes asked Dunk what he’d be of he wasn’t a chef. … “Easy,” he’d say. “I’d be dead.”); Acad the grumpy linguistics professor; Ooly the math genius with bad social skills (such a cliché, but the author makes it work) etc etc etc. There is some Shakespeare and other poetry that made me smile in happy recognition. There are movie nights. The plot veers off into darker territory quite fast, though. Increased reading speed detected!
My problem was too many POV’s, all the characters hardly had space to breathe, so some were more well-written than others. I wasn’t impressed with the undercover agents’ chapters, for example. There were too many stories in one book, too many themes, some things were never resolved. We spent too little time on the big reveal and I had to suspend disbelief a couple of times. But there were brilliant scenes, passages, conversations, and a life-affirming ending.
3.7 encouraging stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-book!
crothe77's review against another edition
5.0
The review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley
The Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis is a cozy science fiction about a hotel that travels through space as the planets it floats between are gutted for their resources. There are a variety of POV characters with intertwining stories who all have different reasons for being in the hotel, including Carl, the hotel manager who snuck aboard as a kid, Uwade, a former pop star who washed out and is now a concierge, and Daphne, the assistant of a countess who gets left behind by mistake and then fired by the countess.
Besides Carl, each POV only gets one chapter, but we do get to see more of them in other character’s POV. Each character has their own connections to the empire and how capitalism is affecting their lives in ways that reflect our world, such as Azad, a professor who takes bribes from upper class students who don’t care about her field of study.
There is an overarching mystery in regards to the Lamplighter, who is critical of the empire, and his identity as well as the law that citizens of the empire are not allowed to entertain the idea that aliens exist.
I liked Uwade’s POV the most and would have liked more time with her, but I also appreciated how the different characters viewed each other and the world they live in.
I would recommend this to readers looking for a cozy-ish read, smaller stakes sci-fi, or fans of multi-POV stories
The Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis is a cozy science fiction about a hotel that travels through space as the planets it floats between are gutted for their resources. There are a variety of POV characters with intertwining stories who all have different reasons for being in the hotel, including Carl, the hotel manager who snuck aboard as a kid, Uwade, a former pop star who washed out and is now a concierge, and Daphne, the assistant of a countess who gets left behind by mistake and then fired by the countess.
Besides Carl, each POV only gets one chapter, but we do get to see more of them in other character’s POV. Each character has their own connections to the empire and how capitalism is affecting their lives in ways that reflect our world, such as Azad, a professor who takes bribes from upper class students who don’t care about her field of study.
There is an overarching mystery in regards to the Lamplighter, who is critical of the empire, and his identity as well as the law that citizens of the empire are not allowed to entertain the idea that aliens exist.
I liked Uwade’s POV the most and would have liked more time with her, but I also appreciated how the different characters viewed each other and the world they live in.
I would recommend this to readers looking for a cozy-ish read, smaller stakes sci-fi, or fans of multi-POV stories
thecaseofbooks's review
5.0
I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this.
Grace Curtis is a wonderful writer. In Floating Hotel and Frontier we find just the right amount of detail to create a rich and unusual setting while letting our imaginations take the reins. I really like this about their writing style. I find myself so immersed in these worlds because I seem to have been given the perfect details to bring them to life.
While this book is set on a hotel that travels through space, the story is very people focussed. We read chapters from a range of different characters with their own histories and motivations, all distinct. They are loosely connected via Carl the hotel manager. Curtis manages to say a lot in just a chapter editing her stories so well to give you exactly what you need to connect with the character.
There is an undercurrent of something more sinister that we see dappled throughout what almost feels like loosely linked short stories. Betrayal, theft, conspiracy, murder all appear throughout the course of this book.
I continue to be impressed with this author and will read anything written by them in the future.
Grace Curtis is a wonderful writer. In Floating Hotel and Frontier we find just the right amount of detail to create a rich and unusual setting while letting our imaginations take the reins. I really like this about their writing style. I find myself so immersed in these worlds because I seem to have been given the perfect details to bring them to life.
While this book is set on a hotel that travels through space, the story is very people focussed. We read chapters from a range of different characters with their own histories and motivations, all distinct. They are loosely connected via Carl the hotel manager. Curtis manages to say a lot in just a chapter editing her stories so well to give you exactly what you need to connect with the character.
There is an undercurrent of something more sinister that we see dappled throughout what almost feels like loosely linked short stories. Betrayal, theft, conspiracy, murder all appear throughout the course of this book.
I continue to be impressed with this author and will read anything written by them in the future.
clarabooksit's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Classism, Violence, Colonisation, Blood, Slavery, Genocide, Death, and War
Minor: Murder, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
kcogman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
googles's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jadehusdanhicks's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The idea of this book is something I fell in love with but it just felt lacking. It put me in a huge slump and was hard to follow at times.
I feel like with more focus on the writing style this would’ve been really engaging as it was such a unique plot and very found family with all the hotels staff but as I said it simply fell short for me personally
I feel like with more focus on the writing style this would’ve been really engaging as it was such a unique plot and very found family with all the hotels staff but as I said it simply fell short for me personally
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Death, Confinement, Grief, Alcohol, Body horror, Blood, Murder, and Medical content
steinmetzka's review against another edition
4.0
Huge thank you to DAW Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! This was an easy 4-stars to give! The book blurb for this story was really captivating and I was really excited for this read from the get-go. The structure of this book was interesting and a nice change of pace from my previous reads. Almost every chapter is narrated by a different character while still feeling fluid and, especially towards the end of the book, very interconnected. Many of the chapters left me on a bit of a cliff-hanger in a particular character's story, however, those moments were often picked up by intertwining another character and their respective chapter. It was a refreshing stylistic choice. It was easy to fall in love with all of the characters and the unique world that they existed in. It felt incredibly realistic and like a potential future outcome for our current world state.
While there are certainly "cozy" aspects to this story, especially in regards to the conversations had between characters and much of their own internal development, I loved that it had more edge to it. There was plenty of mystery, political/environmental disruption, and even with some thrill - this really helped keep me engaged in the story line, especially as an avid thriller/horror reader. It didn't feel quite so cozy by the end and I'm thankful for that outcome.
After finishing this book, I felt like I could have read whole, individual books written by many of these characters - not necessarily a bad thing, I just felt like I would have been happy with more from many of them. My biggest qualm with the book was that the ending felt a little rushed. I feel like I needed more closure - or, better yet, a full sequel. While some of the excitement felt "let go of" in the ending, I think there could still be a lot of promise for a continuation of what happens with The Lamplighter and with Andromeda.
Bonus points for the inclusivity in this book! The inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters and disabilities were beautifully interwoven and oh-so natural! It never felt like the author was "trying hard" to show they were creating inclusive characters and there was never a big show around their introductions or presence in the story. Loved!
I was also so pleased with the prevalence of climate issues in this book. We learn that the reason people are even in this galaxy is because Earth was stripped of its resources and became uninhabitable. The Empire carries on the same practice for many of the planets in their new home galaxy, and this particularly impacts vulnerable, lower-income, and working-class populations (aka not the elite and wealthy). This felt very well-delivered and poignant!
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and look forward to seeing more from the author, Grace Curtis!
While there are certainly "cozy" aspects to this story, especially in regards to the conversations had between characters and much of their own internal development, I loved that it had more edge to it. There was plenty of mystery, political/environmental disruption, and even with some thrill - this really helped keep me engaged in the story line, especially as an avid thriller/horror reader. It didn't feel quite so cozy by the end and I'm thankful for that outcome.
After finishing this book, I felt like I could have read whole, individual books written by many of these characters - not necessarily a bad thing, I just felt like I would have been happy with more from many of them. My biggest qualm with the book was that the ending felt a little rushed. I feel like I needed more closure - or, better yet, a full sequel. While some of the excitement felt "let go of" in the ending, I think there could still be a lot of promise for a continuation of what happens with The Lamplighter and with Andromeda.
Bonus points for the inclusivity in this book! The inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters and disabilities were beautifully interwoven and oh-so natural! It never felt like the author was "trying hard" to show they were creating inclusive characters and there was never a big show around their introductions or presence in the story. Loved!
I was also so pleased with the prevalence of climate issues in this book. We learn that the reason people are even in this galaxy is because Earth was stripped of its resources and became uninhabitable. The Empire carries on the same practice for many of the planets in their new home galaxy, and this particularly impacts vulnerable, lower-income, and working-class populations (aka not the elite and wealthy). This felt very well-delivered and poignant!
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and look forward to seeing more from the author, Grace Curtis!
tapping_pages's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
For a while, I thought I was going to have to DNF this book. Not because of the writing, or the characters, but it just took a really long time to get to the plot. In hindsight, now I have finished the book, I can see that this was more of a story about the people aboard the hotel and getting to know them, rather than any overarching story. There is a plot, there is a mystery unravelling, but it takes a little while and fizzes along in the background.
The strength of this book is truly the characters. They're fully fleshed out, with backstories and personalities that feel vibrant and real. Through them we get to know the history of the universe Grace Curtis has built, and that is truly wonderful world building. The world was fascinating, and that was what kept me engaged and kept me coming back to read it.
Overall, an enjoyable book, and I think I'd love it more a second time knowing what I was getting into.
The strength of this book is truly the characters. They're fully fleshed out, with backstories and personalities that feel vibrant and real. Through them we get to know the history of the universe Grace Curtis has built, and that is truly wonderful world building. The world was fascinating, and that was what kept me engaged and kept me coming back to read it.
Overall, an enjoyable book, and I think I'd love it more a second time knowing what I was getting into.
book_hound_ross's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Welcome to the Grand Abeona Hotel, the finest luxury spaceship hotel the galaxy has to offer. As the Abeona coasts through space serving grand food, gorgeous views, and relaxing experiences, the staff work in a flurry to keep the whole thing from falling apart. Meanwhile, there is a mystery wrapped up in the heart of the Abeona that threatens the livelihoods of everyone on board. Curtis threads her narrative neatly through a wide cast of characters as if they are each a bead on a string, tying the ends of the story together neatly with Carl, the longtime manager (and one-time stowaway) who holds the ship together. Floating Hotel really captures both the brain-curdling frustration and giddy camaraderie that comes from working in hospitality, and as we step from character to character we learn about their previous lives and current relationships while catching glimpses of the capitalist hellscape they inhabit. In some way or another, they’re all seeking connection and a place to belong, no matter how transitory that place may ultimately be.