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lettigirl101's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Blood, and Classism
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
khakipantsofsex's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Gore
art_books_chemistry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I cannot say I enjoyed or didn't enjoy this book. It was very middle of the road for me, solid storyline but nothing especially special. I liked the concept a lot and maybe was expecting too much from a YA novel but I was disappointed we didn't dive into the artifacts more. I also thought that there could have been a lot more ingenious use of magic. I did like some of the clever things we saw, I liked the "games" but would have liked more of an explanation of the umbrellas at the very beginning. The depth of the evil was pretty well designed and clever though to some extent quite predictable.
I found the mild romance subplot to be borderline skeevy. I'm sure it isn't really but it was giving me 1000 year old vampire with 16 year old vibes. The text was clear about how the magically inclined didn't age the same and some of the ones in the hotel had no idea how long they had been there which made me imagine a mentally middle aged man with the face of 20 year old flirting with the female main character. Maybe that's just me or maybe it's my old person brain. I certainly didn't see a problem with it when reading Tamora Pierce's Wild Magic series and Numair is significantly older than Daine who is also 16 when they start falling in love. My adult hindsight makes a face but when I reread it, I think it's written in such a way as to make you forget that to some extent and their story is just so adorable. <sorry for the sidetrack lol>
So, I really don't recommend this book and I was disappointed in it as well. I think the concept just could have been fleshed out more and maybe made into a duology, the ending felt a bit rushed like everything the author wanted needed to get out on paper and then get wrapped up before she hit too many pages.
I found the mild romance subplot to be borderline skeevy. I'm sure it isn't really but it was giving me 1000 year old vampire with 16 year old vibes. The text was clear about how the magically inclined didn't age the same and some of the ones in the hotel had no idea how long they had been there which made me imagine a mentally middle aged man with the face of 20 year old flirting with the female main character. Maybe that's just me or maybe it's my old person brain. I certainly didn't see a problem with it when reading Tamora Pierce's Wild Magic series and Numair is significantly older than Daine who is also 16 when they start falling in love. My adult hindsight makes a face but when I reread it, I think it's written in such a way as to make you forget that to some extent and their story is just so adorable. <sorry for the sidetrack lol>
So, I really don't recommend this book and I was disappointed in it as well. I think the concept just could have been fleshed out more and maybe made into a duology, the ending felt a bit rushed like everything the author wanted needed to get out on paper and then get wrapped up before she hit too many pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Classism
monniebiloney's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Pros:
has a wonderful setting
I liked the horror elements, especially at the beginning of the book
The ending was satisfying
cons:
The ramance fell flat. They were trying to go for some kind of enemies to lovers like tension but Idk if I just hate Enemies to lovers, or this book make it real really boring.
The main character also felt very entitled to other people's lives which bothered me. Like you are NOT owed the secrets of your aquantenses, let alone your friends. The amount of times he got mad at Bel, who wasn't even her boyfriend yet, for not telling her stuff like, was kidn go anoying.
The fact the MC also was clumbsy, but only clbsy when the plot called for it was also quite anoying.
All in all, I was planning on rathong the book 3 stars, but I felt the ending was satisfying enough to bump it up to 3.75. If Bel and the Main character weren't a couple and instead they focused more time on Beatrice, I probably would have rather the book 4.75.
has a wonderful setting
I liked the horror elements, especially at the beginning of the book
The ending was satisfying
cons:
The ramance fell flat. They were trying to go for some kind of enemies to lovers like tension but Idk if I just hate Enemies to lovers, or this book make it real really boring.
The main character also felt very entitled to other people's lives which bothered me. Like you are NOT owed the secrets of your aquantenses, let alone your friends. The amount of times he got mad at Bel, who wasn't even her boyfriend yet, for not telling her stuff like, was kidn go anoying.
The fact the MC also was clumbsy, but only clbsy when the plot called for it was also quite anoying.
All in all, I was planning on rathong the book 3 stars, but I felt the ending was satisfying enough to bump it up to 3.75. If Bel and the Main character weren't a couple and instead they focused more time on Beatrice, I probably would have rather the book 4.75.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
hannaws's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
"A little indecent, don't you think?"
"Shush," he said. "It's nearly midnight."
I wanted to love this book so much! The beautiful cover and synopsis made me get my hands on this as soon as I could. But I guess I should have had my concerns since I didn't really love The Night Circus nor Caraval (pls don't hate me).
The book definitely had it's moments from time to time! There were good parts that at the end of the book which made me stay up half the night and ending up with a migraine at work the next day. But that's pretty much all of it.
The hotel is one magnificent thing, for sure. And the whole world building in this book. I mean, you kind of have to be good at that if the hotel stays only for 24 hours in one place and then teleports, or whatever, to somewhere else. I really liked that and the whole idea of a magical hotel with it's quirks.
But the characters. Jani reminds me of my 5 year old daughter who thinks the whole world circles around her and everyone will do exactly what she wants and exactly when she wants. Never once did she stop to think of any consequences of her actions. Never once did she think that maybe someone said no to her with a very good reason behind that. Maybe it is common for teens at 17, I only have any idea with kids under age of 10.
Zosa was not much of a character after the beginning. Bel, well. Can't really say much about him. He just kind of exists in the story.
Alastair on the other hand did have a surprising back story but his storyline went kind of fast and bland too.
There is some romance in this book but for me it didn't deliver at all. Which kind of goes with the whole story. The beginning is good, with the girls living pretty much from hand to mouth and dreaming of a better life. Making sure they get employed at the magnificent hotel. But from there this whole inseparable loving sisters part gets left behind. Yes, there are moments of that, but not as much as you would think to be.
And it all seems to roll on the same circle over and over again until the end of the book where another good part arrives. The middle part is pretty much about Jani jumping into stupid things without thinking.
All in all this book has a great atmosphere for sure. Though the story fells very bland. If it had all been written the same as the start and the end, I think it would have been very different kind of a book.
"Shush," he said. "It's nearly midnight."
I wanted to love this book so much! The beautiful cover and synopsis made me get my hands on this as soon as I could. But I guess I should have had my concerns since I didn't really love The Night Circus nor Caraval (pls don't hate me).
The book definitely had it's moments from time to time! There were good parts that at the end of the book which made me stay up half the night and ending up with a migraine at work the next day. But that's pretty much all of it.
The hotel is one magnificent thing, for sure. And the whole world building in this book. I mean, you kind of have to be good at that if the hotel stays only for 24 hours in one place and then teleports, or whatever, to somewhere else. I really liked that and the whole idea of a magical hotel with it's quirks.
But the characters. Jani reminds me of my 5 year old daughter who thinks the whole world circles around her and everyone will do exactly what she wants and exactly when she wants. Never once did she stop to think of any consequences of her actions. Never once did she think that maybe someone said no to her with a very good reason behind that. Maybe it is common for teens at 17, I only have any idea with kids under age of 10.
Zosa was not much of a character after the beginning. Bel, well. Can't really say much about him. He just kind of exists in the story.
Alastair on the other hand did have a surprising back story but his storyline went kind of fast and bland too.
There is some romance in this book but for me it didn't deliver at all. Which kind of goes with the whole story. The beginning is good, with the girls living pretty much from hand to mouth and dreaming of a better life. Making sure they get employed at the magnificent hotel. But from there this whole inseparable loving sisters part gets left behind. Yes, there are moments of that, but not as much as you would think to be.
And it all seems to roll on the same circle over and over again until the end of the book where another good part arrives. The middle part is pretty much about Jani jumping into stupid things without thinking.
All in all this book has a great atmosphere for sure. Though the story fells very bland. If it had all been written the same as the start and the end, I think it would have been very different kind of a book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Torture
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Death of parent
karapillar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one reminded me of Caraval and I’m not mad about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
From the beginning, I was definitely digging the vibes of this dark YA fantasy. I haven't read Caraval, but from my understanding, it fits those overall vibes. A Hotel that travels around, showing up in different places with magical vibes. The first third was fascinating and I loved the way the world was developing.
I didn't like the second half as much as the first, as it felt like it dragged a bit in places. I think the overall pacing could have been done a bit better, and the plot took some interesting turns I wasn't necessarily expecting. These did add to the overall dark and forboding nature of the book, though!
All in all, I enjoyed this book for the most part, I just wish the pacing was a bit more even.
I didn't like the second half as much as the first, as it felt like it dragged a bit in places. I think the overall pacing could have been done a bit better, and the plot took some interesting turns I wasn't necessarily expecting. These did add to the overall dark and forboding nature of the book, though!
All in all, I enjoyed this book for the most part, I just wish the pacing was a bit more even.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Torture
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
eve_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ The atmosphere of this book was it's strongest aspect. The descriptions of the magical hotel rooms were serving HEAVY Night Circus vibes.
⁕ The text could have gone through another round of editing. There were a couple of grammatical errors and VERY some repetitive descriptions of all the characters' skin?! Like, the author dedicated SEVERAL lines per page at times to break from the plot to point out every single character's complexion (even if they were no name/background characters and had NO impact on the story whatsoever). It was so weird.
⁕ The magic system was cobbled together at best. I would have forgiven this, if it were not for the fact that the largest conflict in the story was dependent on how the energy of magic is used/stolen, etc.
⁕ The main romance came out of nowhere with hardly any build up and it enraged me.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
⁕ The atmosphere of this book was it's strongest aspect. The descriptions of the magical hotel rooms were serving HEAVY Night Circus vibes.
⁕ The text could have gone through another round of editing. There were a couple of grammatical errors and VERY some repetitive descriptions of all the characters' skin?! Like, the author dedicated SEVERAL lines per page at times to break from the plot to point out every single character's complexion (even if they were no name/background characters and had NO impact on the story whatsoever). It was so weird.
⁕ The magic system was cobbled together at best. I would have forgiven this, if it were not for the fact that the largest conflict in the story was dependent on how the energy of magic is used/stolen, etc.
⁕ The main romance came out of nowhere with hardly any build up and it enraged me.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment
stephbakerbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The premise for this one was really intriguing—a mysterious magical hotel that only appears in one place for twenty-four hours before moving somewhere new? Yes please, I would like to book a reservation! Unfortunately, the premise was the best part of this, as both the plot and characters are pretty formulaic and forgettable.
It's written in first person POV, and I think the main character's name is only said like five times—I kept forgetting her name! She also has that not-like-the-other-girls personality without actually having a personality beyond being sassy and stumbling into convenient-for-the-plot situations. Her sister is also a flat character and barely present in the story. There's insta-love of course, but thankfully the love story wasn't the main focus of the book. The love interest has a little bit more complexity, and some of the other side characters had potential to me, but all the action seems to just be in service to the plot rather than the characters.
The plot was okay, though predictable and a little nonsensical at parts. Overall, the book entertained me and I did enjoy the setting and the magic system; I think I would've liked more world building and character development, but those are my personal preferences. If you like a quick magical read and YA tropes, you'll probably enjoy this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for my ebook!
It's written in first person POV, and I think the main character's name is only said like five times—I kept forgetting her name! She also has that not-like-the-other-girls personality without actually having a personality beyond being sassy and stumbling into convenient-for-the-plot situations. Her sister is also a flat character and barely present in the story. There's insta-love of course, but thankfully the love story wasn't the main focus of the book. The love interest has a little bit more complexity, and some of the other side characters had potential to me, but all the action seems to just be in service to the plot rather than the characters.
The plot was okay, though predictable and a little nonsensical at parts. Overall, the book entertained me and I did enjoy the setting and the magic system; I think I would've liked more world building and character development, but those are my personal preferences. If you like a quick magical read and YA tropes, you'll probably enjoy this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for my ebook!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Torture
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail