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A review by hannaws
Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor
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