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kaneebli's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Xenophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Xenophobia, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and War
yvo_about_books's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Finished reading: March 13th 2024
"Every job in hospitality is the hardest job in hospitality. If you're not physically exhausted at the end of the day, you're emotionally wrung-out, or braindead from making too many decisions."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and DAW in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
It might come as a bit of a surprise to see Floating Hotel popping up on It's All About Books, because it's not exactly my usual genre... But there was just something about this cozy sci-fi slash space opera title that had me fully intrigued. The fact that it takes place on a huge space hotel probably has something to do with it considering my own background in hospitality... And I guess I saw the fact that it was going to be published on my birthday as a sign. I'm glad I did decide pick it up, because I ended up having an excellent time with this quirky story!
There is something unique about Floating Hotel, and therefore it might not be for everyone. This story doesn't seem to have a properly structured plot during most of the story nor does it follow one or two main characters; instead, Floating Hotel jumps between the different characters on board of the Grand Abeona and each chapter seems to be introducing someone new. There are also mysterious messages from a certain Lamplighter in between... This all might seem a bit tedious, but somehow it actually works.
While the POVs are different, there is always a common denominator in the form of the hotel itself, and the setting somehow binds everything together. The lives of the characters themselves intersect as well, and especially in the second half certain connections will become clearer. What at first glance simply seems like a collection of character backgrounds and random events, soon becomes a lot more layered as certain events take place and you start making connections and uncovering secrets. The structure of this story was very cleverly done and while the beginning was on the slower side, as soon as you start suspecting something strange is going on on board things become a whole lot more intriguing.
There is no doubt that Floating Hotel is mostly character-driven, and there are a lot of different characters in play at that. It is still quite easy to keep them apart though, especially since a lot of them appear in the other POVs as well. Things can be said about there being too many stereotypes and I don't think it's believable that most of them seem to love their job in hospitality (trust me when I say it's no picnic!), but I personally enjoyed spending time with this group of quirky characters. And despite the fact that Floating Hotel is set in the far future and in space, it is very much a cozy read indeed and the science fiction part isn't too overpowering at all.
All in all Floating Hotel turned out to be an unique and quirky cozy sci-fi story featuring a bunch of misfits and a space hotel where there is more going on than meets the eye. Initially it feels a bit disjointed with the constant switching to a different character, but everything does come together in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
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: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
ruthhelizabeth's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
I received an e-arc of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
Floating Hotel is the story of a glamorous high tech hotel which has had many decades to settle into her bones and become home to a host of muddled and messy folks.
In each chapter you hear a little more of the story of a staff member or visitor of the hotel, learning a snapshot of their life. The world in which it is set is effortlessly queer which is always glorious to read. The hotel has become a meeting place and a comfort for wonderful connections to take place.
I really enjoyed this book. I found many of the characters to be refreshingly original and quirky and I was intrigued to learn more about them and about the fate of the Abeona, the ship.
I found the marketing a little inaccurate to my experience. I was really hoping for cosy, but a number of the scenes were too far from that description for the book to be warm and easy to read throughout. Nonetheless I am very glad I read it, and I think I am likely to read Grace Curtis' previous book in my near future.
Floating Hotel is the story of a glamorous high tech hotel which has had many decades to settle into her bones and become home to a host of muddled and messy folks.
In each chapter you hear a little more of the story of a staff member or visitor of the hotel, learning a snapshot of their life. The world in which it is set is effortlessly queer which is always glorious to read. The hotel has become a meeting place and a comfort for wonderful connections to take place.
I really enjoyed this book. I found many of the characters to be refreshingly original and quirky and I was intrigued to learn more about them and about the fate of the Abeona, the ship.
I found the marketing a little inaccurate to my experience. I was really hoping for cosy, but a number of the scenes were too far from that description for the book to be warm and easy to read throughout. Nonetheless I am very glad I read it, and I think I am likely to read Grace Curtis' previous book in my near future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia, and War
CW for blackmail