Huge thanks to Penguin Teen for this arc!

This book was marketed as perfect for fans of Caraval and the Night Circus, and since I love both those books I was super excited to read Hotel Magnifique.

I feel like the best way I can explain what I thought of this book is how my projected rating changed as I read it — started at a 3, dropped to a 2 for a while, went back up to 3, then 4, and once I finished I was torn between 3 and 4. After a bit of thought, I definitely think that it deserves 4 stars.

The beginning was a bit slow and kind of boring in my opinion, but since Taylor was still setting the stage for the rest of the book I didn't mind it all that much. Honestly, I didn't really start to get really invested until about 150 pages in when the plot really started to pick up the pace. However, I LOVED Jani's first impression of the hotel and how she described her surroundings. Overall, the detail put into the descriptions of the building and its magic was extremely well written and I felt like I was able to picture it perfectly.

Again, I wasn't too invested in the plot at first but by the time I finished, I completely changed my mind. I feel like it's an extremely difficult task to write a stand-alone fantasy novel due to all the world-building that's necessary, and oftentimes that can result in a rushed storyline and a lackluster ending. That was definitely not the case with Hotel Magnifique — I feel like the story flowed beautifully and I was extremely satisfied with the epilogue.

I will say that I didn't love the main character all that much; she was kind of forgettable to me. There was this part where she was talking about how much she didn't like the color pink and how she preferred "jewel tones," which just gave off the worst "I'm not like other girls" vibe. She was still kind of iconic though.

Overall, I think the book was marketed perfectly — it gave off a similar vibe to Caraval and the Night Circus while still being completely unique.



SEMI-SPOILER WARNING AHEAD:


I still don't completely understand the point of having guests forget their stay at the hotel. It seemed like an enormous amount of pressure was put on the staff to make sure the guests had the best possible time but...for what? I guess it was just to keep the staff in line, but still. It just didn't make sense to me to have such high stakes and drastic punishments for the staff to be perfect. I will say though — this is just the way I perceived things and maybe I missed out on some piece of information that gave reasoning to this. I didn't hate this concept; I was just kind of confused about it.

Hotel Magnifique was pitched as essentially being The Night Circus but in a hotel and I can definitely see those comparisons from the descriptions to the atmosphere of mystery and magic.
I was very intrigued by this book from the beginning through the introduction to the world and the characters. Many secrets unfolded as the book progressed and that kept me hooked. Some twists were predictable but others were definitely more shocking.
I felt like the pacing was a little off in some parts as certain sections fell into info-dumping. That being said, I did appreciate the detail of the world and all the different locations that were included in the travels. I’m not sure if the final version will have a map included but I think that would have been a great addition to have to orient the reader to the world a bit more.
I also really liked the large cast of characters and getting to meet them through Jani’s experiences. This book had an eclectic group of heroes, villains and some in between that made for an interesting plot with a lot of different storylines to follow.
This was a magical and adventurous read that made for a super successful debut!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I thoroughly enjoyed the magical hotel and uncovering the mystery of its origin. The element of family (sisters) struggle to hold on to each othrr alongside those who had lost their family gave it a unique purpose and meaning.

Jani and her younger sister Zosa have left their home after the death of their mother to find a new life in Durc. Jani works in a tannery to bring money home but she dreams of making a better life for her and her sister. When the opportunity arises to work at the Hotel Magnifique, a hotel steeped in magic that moves around from place to place nightly Jani sees her chance to make a change. What Jani doesn't know is that the hotel isn't what it seems and evil accompanies the magic she finds there. With the help of an influential bellhop can she save her sister and herself when she gets in too deep. I couldn't put this book down and can't wait to see where this story goes next. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this gem!! I am not sure if it is fantasy or magic realism, but I felt the story was a good pace, lots of action, and a really great story line

I have been craving the "next Night Circus" for years... while advertised as similar, it is not. I'm sorry, but I really did not care about the main character Jani -- I actually would have preferred a book about Bel instead. I just found Jani frustrating as she did everything she was told NOT to do... even rule breakers will occasionally follow the rules to meet their endgame. I also found some of the magical things hard to envision and the teacup of "not milk" disturbing, I could see this book being really good as it had some wonderful magical ideas and a world of possibilities, but I just feel like it isn't there yet.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The 2 comps for this book could not be any more perfect! Caraval meets Night Circus in this magical YA Fantasy. The setting, a magical, moving hotel, was so cool. It immediately brought back those feelings I had when reading Caraval, only this time the hotel is run by a man willing to do anything and hurt anyone to get what he wants. Not everything is as it seems.

Imagining all the rooms and enchantments was so fun. The romance between Jani and Bel is sweet and slow-building, and the characters are complex. Bel is bi, which was a lovely addition (not enough bi boys in YA literature!).

Overall, this was a quick, magical read! Just really recommend this one!

A magical journey about loss and love and the length one will go for family. Taylor has a wonderful way with her prose and brings the world to life with gorgeous details sure to entice readers.

Not everything is as it seems at Hotel Magnifique! Be prepared to be transported to a lush, dark world full of mystery and twists that you won't see coming.

Hotel Magnifique was one of my most anticipated reads for 2022 and it definitely lived up to my expectations. The world building is gradual as the story progresses so you don't get a big info dump at the beginning. The magic system felt unique and was woven really well into the story. Emily J. Taylor spared no small detail and I absolutely love when authors don't skirt around some of the more...gory details. :) I was easily immersed from the first few pages and as someone who's not big on high fantasy, I always appreciate an easier transition into the world that the author has created.

Jani was a bit hard for me to connect to though. As the character leading the story, I felt like she was just a bit lacking. Her insecurities seemed to get the best of her at times, but that does make for a more natural, realistic character which I can appreciate even if I don't necessarily vibe with them.
Now, Bel I absolutely adored...vexingly handsome doorman...what's not to love? I was happy with those little bits of romance added in.
The sisterly bond between Jani and Zosa was very sweet...I really appreciated their bond being more of the driving force behind the story. I definitely would've loved a few chapters from Zosa's point of view though as she ended up being my favorite character.

Overall, absolutely loved this dark, enchanting story and I highly recommend it if you love Caraval or The Splendor!


Big thank you to PenguinTeen for providing an ARC for me to read and honestly review!

For fans of The Night Circus and Caraval, we have this story which centers around the Hotel Magnifique. A hotel that disappears and reappears in different cities around the world and only those who receive an invitation can enter for a stay.

Full of magic and surprises, it's a story that will keep you reading late into the night.

This book blew me away. There were twists from start to finish, and while there could have been more character depth and world building, the fact that I felt like I was reading someone’s nightmare made up for that.

I adored this book! It was a magical ride. What a strong and independent main character! This book will definitely be on my classroom book shelf.

Hotel Magnifique reminded me of all the reasons I read fantasy. It’s the emotional creativity that is expressed through the wildest works of the imagination that leaves me gasping for more. It’s the longing for a world other than our own. And Emily J. Taylor’s debut captures that dreamy, elegant artistry effortlessly.
There is always something to be said for a good magic system in a fantasy book. Sure, this isn’t Brandon Sanderson’s level of “developed system”. But it is a refreshing, fun, and unique take on magic. I’m not going to go into detail because I think that’s a bit of a spoiler but let’s just say that even ordinary objects have the potential for extraordinary things.
The first half or so of this book is dedicated to building up the atmosphere of the hotel. For example, every suite has a different magical theme and quirks unique to that theme! If you adored the descriptions in both Caraval and The Night Circus, you’ll love Taylor’s writing style. A good romance would have been the icing on top of the extravagantly decorated, decadent cake. Unfortunately, the romance was just sort of meh to me. It just sort of predictably happened and it didn’t really strike me as memorable. Overall, though, this is a solid 4/5 stars and I would recommend for anyone who enjoys atmospheric fantasy! Thank you so much Penguin teen for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group/ Razorbill for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The cover and description of this book originally drew me in. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect but Hotel Magnifique was dark and magical. I did find the story a little conflicting between it feeling on the younger side of YA but then including very dark aspects such as body dismemberment and torture. I personally struggled a tiny bit in the beginning with connecting to the main character Jani. She took awhile to grow on me. Sometimes I would get frustrated with the self proclaimed “I’m not like other girls I’m stubborn and brave” but she would put others in danger because she was so stubborn. She did have good character growth by the end of the book. I did really enjoy the magic system in this book. It was intriguing and original. The descriptions were wonderful and the world building was fascinating. The hotel itself was my favorite part. Towards the end the story did pick up and get more action packed and I flew through the last 100 pages. The ending wrapped up nicely. Overall I found this to be a good debut book and I would recommend it. I am interested to see what the author comes up with next.

Hotel Magnifique follows Jani and her sister Zosa. Jani has dreamed of returning to her home town- when the mysterious Hotel Magnifique comes to town, she pursues jobs for her and her sister. Jobs at the hotel would help them earn money to return home while experiencing the magic of the hotel. However, nothing that Jani was told about the hotel is true. Jani and her sister are quickly separated, and Jani's only companion at the hotel becomes the mysterious doorman Bel.

This book is absolutely mesmerizing. I was so enchanted by Jani, Bel, and the Hotel Magnifique. I loved reading about Jani and Zosa's relationship, and I fell in love with Bel and Jani. They have such a fun banter and you can see that they truly care for one another. The romance is a nice addition to the book but does not distract from the overall plot of the story which I enjoyed. The plot is also super unique but familiar. I tried to guess what would happen next while reading but I was never able to figure it out, yet everything is intricately plotted and makes complete sense upon reveal.

I have no criticisms for this book, I think that it is an absolutely fantastic young adult fantasy standalone and an incredible debut. I can only say that I wish the book was longer as I selfishly love the world and wanted to stay in it as long as possible. I would definitely not say no to a sequel/companion novel/short story collection from the hotel guests.

Loved it! So compelling and wonderfully written. I've worked in a hotel so I know all the mischief staff can get into, so I really enjoyed this story.!

This book is absolutely stunning! A young girl and her sister get caught up in the mystery and glamour of a magical hotel that moves each night at midnight—but something sinister lurks just beneath the gilded surface...

The magic of the hotel is exquisite, whimsical and beautiful, but also malicious and terrible. It completely drew me in. And the cute flirting between Jani and Bel was my favorite part!

I wanted to love this book so badly. There's a lot to love--a wonderful premise (I'm a huge fan of Caraval, the Night Circus, and fancy hotels, so I was stoked to pick this up), a sister relationship, a fascinating magic system, a captivating mystery, some unexpectedly gross body horror. But I've had a hard time getting through it; parts are more derivative than I'd hoped for, and the story is slow to kick off. However, the most jarring thing for me, is Taylor's fixation with characterizing every single character, no matter how small or in passing, with overly-lyrical, often fetishistic-feeling descriptions of their skin color. Every single one. They're all "an amber-skinned woman" or "a tawny-skinned man" or "a woman with luminous pale skin." We're talking like a dozen on a single page. I love the attempt at creating a diverse fantasy world, rather than the default white that plagues the genre, but it's jarring, and often uncomfortable to read. I'm trying so hard to finish, but it keeps taking me out.

Posted on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4196165012?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book, and I love it so much! I'm always a fan of stories that whisk the reader away to magical locations, and HOTEL MAGNIFIQUE doesn't disappoint. It's full of magic and wonder and romance and difficult choices, and it fit so nicely into the NIGHT CIRCUS-shaped hole in my heart.

HOTEL MAGNIFIQUE tells the story of Jani, a young girl who is trying to save up enough money to bring her and her sister Zosa, home. She ends up taking a job at the Hotel Magnifique, but the hotel hides dangerous secrets. From the very beginning, it's clear that Hotel Magnifique is not what it seems, but I love the way the secrets come out over the course of the story, so that everything is tied together in the end. I honestly couldn't predict how things would work out, but I really love the resolution and the ending.

As an older sister myself, I empathized a lot with Jani and the way she tried to make decisions for both herself and her sister, while realizing that she also needed to let her sister make her own decisions. Sibling dynamics are definitely explored here, between Jani and Zosa, but also between a couple of spoiler-y examples that I won't name. I loved how her relationship with her sister and her relationship with her love interest developed over the course of the book, and I loved Jani's character development in general. The magic system is wonderful, the descriptions were wonderful. I really loved this book.

I’m submitting this review to Netgalley, but an abridged version to Goodreads, because I feel like it could impact people reading it down the road. There’s a couple of things I think the author should consider changing that I specified here, though if it doesn’t I’ll upload my full version to Goodreads after the pub day.

My first impression after reading blurbs and the synopsis was that Hotel Magnifique was essentially The Night Circus, but make it ~hotel~. And for the first third or so it was pretty much exactly that. Two sisters, Jani and Zosa, are trying to escape their difficult lives in the town of Durc, and finally get the opportunity to when the famous, magical Hotel Magnifique makes an appearance. They each take jobs in the hotel, which is as bizarre as it is enchanting, and can hardly believe they could be so lucky.

I’d read The Night Circus years ago and while I enjoyed it I wasn’t super interested in reading a re-hash of it. As a result the beginning of this story was kind of boring for me. Eventually, though, the book took a darker turn, with everything that glittered before starting to look a little more nefarious under a different light. For the next two-thirds of the novel the author relished prying off the story’s shiny paneling to reveal the rot hiding beneath. And at first I really loved this too, but after a while even that started to take on a repetitive quality.

I don’t want to get too into the specifics of what went on, but for the most part we followed Jani and her attempts to uncover secrets of the hotel and its employees. I liked a lot of pieces of the story, but some of how it was fitted together didn’t quite make a complete whole for me. The magic veered into vague and there wasn’t much in the way of explanations on how it all worked—it felt like a lot of hand-waving ~magic~ instead of a tangible system. The story just wasn’t as dazzling or dreamy as I think it wishes it was.

Another thing I noticed in the way that characters were written, literally every single one had their skin color described in detail. Like immediately, the first thing the author does is say the exact skin tone of every person encountered, even characters we see in passing. Sometimes the only thing we’re told about a person is the precise shade of their skin, and it just came off really weird. I’m assuming the intent to show that the hotel and world around it was diverse, but it was also mentioned multiple times that “every body shape and skin color imaginable” was present, so it felt like more of a fixation by the author than necessary details. A search on my kindle shows 121 instances of the word “skin”, with the majority being used in this way. I don’t know, I’ve never encountered something like this while reading, but it was distracting enough where I felt like I had to make note of it.

I kind of wish I had more to say on my experience with Hotel Magnifique. The ending wrapped up a little quickly, given how long it took us to get to the interesting parts in the beginning. But other than that, I’ve got nothing else! It didn’t leave as much of an impression as I was hoping it would, especially since there was plenty of good material to work with. For a fantasy that’s a bit off the beaten path it does its job, though I doubt I’ll be excitedly recommending it come Spring 2022.