Review posted at BookBrowse along with accompanying article: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/ref/pr283904

Beautifully written, excellent pacing, with a nice sense of suspense. Taylor does a great job of feeding the reader information at the right times, preventing us from scratching our heads trying to figure out what’s happening, but also guessing what will happen next. A rich, fully realized world, and a nice take on magic users.

Hotel Magnifique holds many dark secrets and unbreakable contracts. The premise was amazing! I was very excited at the beginning, however it dragged a little in the middle. It had tons of intrigue with all of the unique characters, though the main character angered me at times. She was terrible at sneaking around and coming up with good plans. Many times she got saved by the people around her. I do feel like I would love a book about so many of the other characters' backgrounds. It felt a little bit like a horror book which I loved. Every time a character would make a mistake, I dreaded what the consequence would be for them. Though the main character did seem immune to having to deal with her own consequences. For me, this was a 3.5/5.

If you are someone who would take a seemingly magical trip in a hotel for two weeks but then sign away any remembrance of it, this is definitely the one for you.

I received a digital copy of this book free from Penguin Young Readers Group and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Hotel Magnifique appears overnight and stays only one day. It sweeps those lucky enough to be its guests into a world of luxury and magic. Jani knows she will never be a guest, but when the hotel comes to her city, she sees an employment opportunity that can finally get her and her younger sister out of their boarding house in the city. But the hotel's magical contracts are more binding than Jani realizes, and once she enters the hotel, it's clear that something more sinister lurks behind its magical facade.

This story has been compared to The Night Circus and Caraval, and it definitely shares that sense of magic and whimsy with a lot of darkness underneath. I personally felt much more invested in the plot of Hotel Magnifique. It kept me hooked, and I had to keep turning the page to find out what secrets Jani would uncover next, and what would happen to her and her sister. I thought it was an enjoyable adventure about home, family, and the risks and rewards that come with wanting more for your life than the hand you've been dealt. The romance was cute, the magic was interesting, and the setting was immersive and fun.
Thank you Penguin Teen for an ARC of this book!

3.5, rounded up.

I see why this got so many Caraval comparisons. However, unlike Caraval, this book had likable characters, a plot that made sense, and the whimsical prose felt like it served a purpose. The descriptions of the hotel and the places it visited were appropriately lush and descriptive. There were some moments in this book that genuinely surprised me (in a good way).

I would've liked to see more character development in places, as some of the friendships especially seemed rushed. Jani and Bel weren't a terrible couple, but Bel would've saved them both a lot of trouble if he had just been honest with her about what was going on at the hotel earlier. Jani was a bit forgettable as a lead, but I liked that she was flawed and made mistakes (even though most of her mistakes negatively impacted those close to her more than they did herself, sometimes to the point of frustration.)

This wasn't a new favorite by any means, but I was engaged reading it and think it was a strong debut. Overall I enjoyed reading this book, and would look out for the author's other work in the future.

Title: Hotel Magnifique
By: Emily J. Taylor

Summary:
All her life, Jani has dreamed of Elsewhere. Just barely scraping by with her job at a tannery, she’s resigned to a dreary life in the port town of Durc, caring for her younger sister Zosa. That is, until the Hotel Magnifique comes to town.

The hotel is legendary not only for its whimsical enchantments, but also for its ability to travel—appearing in a different destination every morning. While Jani and Zosa can’t afford the exorbitant costs of a guest’s stay, they can interview to join the staff, and are soon whisked away on the greatest adventure of their lives. But once inside, Jani quickly discovers their contracts are unbreakable and that beneath the marvelous glamour, the hotel is hiding dangerous secrets.

With the vexingly handsome doorman Bel as her only ally, Jani embarks on a mission to unravel the mystery of the magic at the heart of the hotel and free Zosa—and the other staff—from the cruelty of the ruthless maître d’hôtel. To succeed, she’ll have to risk everything she loves, but failure would mean a fate far worse than never returning home.

Review:
Sadly this book wasn't for me. I had trouble connecting with the characters and found the pace to be too slow. I do however, believe my former students would really enjoy it.

4/5 stars, a magical and interesting story

Everyone who is saying that this gives Night Circus and Caraval vibes, they are absolutely correct. In my experience, I felt that this was more Caraval, because of the sisters and working with the hotel and etc. The premise of the story is that Jani has had a terrible life, longing to go elsewhere, taking care of her younger sister Zosa for her whole life. That is until the Hotel Magnifique arrives in town. The hotel is legendary for its magic and ability to travel across the world in a single night. The sisters have been whisked away when Zosa is chosen as one of the singers, and Jani is taken on as one of the maids. Jani soon discovers that there are dark secrets lying under the magic and ink of their contracts, and she must unravel the mystery before it is too late for them.

I think the premise sounded fun and I was so looking forward to this, I had a fun time reading it but there were definitely parts that threw me off a bit. One of those is that while the magic and most things within the hotel felt whimsical and wonderfully dark, there wasn't much worldbuilding. There were simply location names thrown at the reader that I definitely don't remember now, and I just wish there had been a bit more substance. I know this is about the hotel, but it didn't help that I had no idea about where it traveled. There were also times when I felt that the plot dragged its feet a little, I can really enjoy slow-paced stories but this just felt a little off from the plot that had been established.

Throughout this book, there were many characters introduced, and all of them had a different part to play in the hotel and the story. Jani was the main character of the story, but there was nothing very surprising about her. She felt sort of like a typical young adult heroine, which there is nothing wrong with, I just wish she had made different decisions sometimes. The plot twists that surround her story as well were also not surprising, I was able to guess them from very early on in the book. Her sister Zosa doesn't get much page time, but I really loved her. She was kind and courageous even when she wasn't able to help as much as she wanted to. Bel was the other main-ish character and I found him quite interesting as well. He didn't have the biggest plot twists either, but it was still fun to read him.

The romance was going to be something hard to weave into a story like this, and at least in my opinion doesn't always need to be present. However, the romance in this story was quite intriguing, I think it just came on a bit too fast. I didn't see that much chemistry between Bel and Jani, especially because they didn't spend much time together. I enjoyed the interactions we did see, I would've just liked it if they had a bit more interactions to really sell the romance.

I think the only other thing that sort of bothered me was the ending, I saw part of the twist coming but the rest was just like conjured out of thin air. Not in a good way. It just felt sort of disjointed from the story and while there was a solid ending for some characters, I just didn't love it overall. I don't think it was necessarily bad, just left me wishing for a little more surprise or change in the ending.

Overall, the negatives I have about this book didn't largely outweigh the positives. It was still a very unique and interesting story to follow, just felt a little bit mediocre at some parts. I do highly recommend it to fans of Caraval or The Night Circus, or anyone who loves traveling hotels and magic. This is one that took me a while but that might've just been the situation I was in at the time.

[TW: eye mutilation, death of a loved one, grief, bodily mutilation, blood and gore, loss of memory]

Sometimes, it really doesn’t take much to lure readers in. And publishers know that! For example, look at the number of times something was compared to “Six of Crows” in YA fiction over the last few years? Unfortunately for book marketers, that particular tactic has backfired for me and now I tend to avoid books that are marketed with this tag like they’re the plague. But I still have a weak spot for my beloved “The Night Circus,” as do a lot of readers I think. So, well played marketers, well played. Luckily for me (and good for them!), this book actually deserves the comparison. It might not be on the same level of quality as “The Night Circus,” but it’s a solid comparison, especially for a YA audience.

Jani has been working hard to achieve one goal and one goal only: to return her sister and herself to their homeland which they left on impulse after their mother died. So when a magical hotel known for its exclusive and fantastical experiences appears in town and places a “help wanted” ad, Jani sees this as a welcome opportunity to not only secure employment but see the world at the same time. You see, this hotel skips from location to location every night, exposing its guests to sights barely imagined. But when Jani and her sister secure themselves a position, Jani begins to suspect there may be a darker side lingering beneath the feats of incredible magic. Now, with her sister trapped in a magical bargain, Jani teams up with the strange doorman to attempt to free them both from powerful forces that may have been at work in the world for much longer than she ever could have imagined.

So, I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I’ve been starting to think recently that I may have outgrown YA fantasy, having more often than not found myself not enjoying these books as much as their adult counterparts. But along came this book to prove that, while there were still elements here that are representative of some of the problems I have with YA fantasy, I can still enjoy this subgenre pretty thoroughly!

I think it started out with Jani herself. And her sister, of course. I obviously have a weak spot for sisters stories, and while Zosa is off page for large chunks of this story, she’s never far from Jani’s mind. Indeed, it is reinforced throughout the book that it is Jani’s determined love for her sister that makes her willing to challenge dangers that others have not dared to face. That love is such a strong force that the villainous elements behind the hotel have worked against love itself for decades. It’s a lovely message, and Jani’s strength and determination, even in the face of almost impossible challenges, makes her a great main character.

I also really liked the idea of the Hotel Magnifique itself. There was an interesting twist here with regards to the typical “outlawed magic” trope that one sees so much of. Here, while magic is considered too dangerous to exist in society, the world has found this one outlet: a magical hotel that contains all of the wonder, and danger, within its walls, allowing people to experience magic without worrying about it in their day-to-day life. There was also a very interesting history built up around how the Hotel came to exist and the stories behind those who work within it.

I do think the writing began to fail the concept a bit with some of the descriptions of these fantastical wonders. I couldn’t quite picture how a number of these things looked or worked. Obviously, it’s magic, so I don’t need the physics to work or anything like that. But there were several instances where I actually couldn’t picture how these things looked or how the guests of the hotel were able to interact with them. It got so distracting that by a certain point in the book, I started skim reading some of these descriptive passages. They weren’t overly important and since I couldn’t really understand what I was supposed to be picturing, it was better to just focus on the plot portions.

The love story was also hit and miss. Objectively, there was actually a lot to like about this. It wasn’t instalove by any means, so huge props just on that fact alone. And then I liked how, even well into the book, Bel and Jani are very much their own characters with their own motivations and lines in the sand. Their burgeoning feelings for each other don’t magically overrun the years of previous lived experience they both have had. But for some reason, I also was never super invested in this romance. Looking back, I think I’m fine with that, though, especially considering how nice it was to see a romance that was not all-consuming of its participants.

I also really liked the magical mystery and threat. I was able to predict a number of aspects here, but the story definitely managed to shock and surprise me at times. There were a number of instances where the story was a lot more dark than was I expecting. Again, I think some of the descriptive failings watered down the final confrontation scene a bit. But I was still mostly pleased with how it played out.

I think this was a pretty solid entry in YA fantasy. Like I said, while it’s no “The Night Circus,” there are definitely similarities, and I think this will be a hit with a lot of YA fantasy fans.

Rating 8: A bit weak in its descriptive qualities, but an inspiring main character and compelling magical mystery make it well worth a read!

I loved the world of this book. The oranges, the magic, the ever-changing hotel. But the characters felt a little too similar to the characters in Caraval by Stephanie Garber, which made it just a little odd to read. I had a hard time connecting to Bel especially because he reminded me so much of Julian. Overall, I had a good time reading this book, but it wasn’t one I’d reach for again and again.

There were a lot of good things going for this book - I liked the main character, the setting was great and I liked the idea of the plot. However in the end it just didn't really work for me. While I loved the story of a girl seeking to uncover the dark secrets of the hotel and all the seediness, there was also a repetitive quality to the story. The other thing that bothered me was the lack of explanation about how the magic system worked. I found myself pausing in my reading to consider this instead of continuing to read. All in all this was an okay book.

The prologue pulled me right in! Two sisters are trying to get an interview for jobs at the Hotel Magnifique. Jani watches over her younger sister Zosa, since she's the only family she has left. Their mother died several years ago. Jani wants to go back to their homeland and they need money to travel there. Hotel Magnifique is stopping close by and Jani talks Zosa into interviewing for a job. Secrets surround the hotel and once they’re part of the workforce, they’re separated. Jani is desperate to find her sister and when she does, she’s horrified at how Zosa is being treated. Jani also digs for the truth about how the hotel is run and who’s in charge. Alistair is the lead magician but he’s hiding much and will do anything to protect what he’s gained. Danger builds and mysteries are cracked wide open as Jani tries to save her sister and eventually everyone that’s been used by Alistair for his greedy goals. Family and friends above all, 4 stars!

Our middle graders would enjoy this. Stopped at 7%, but if it continues as it has, they're likely to give it an easy four stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Books, Razorbill books, Emily J. Taylor, and Literaryboundbooks for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is by far one of my all time favorites. There was so much magic and whimsy in this book that just kept making me want more. I want to live in this hotel! I’m so excited not only that I got to read this book early but that I got a chance to read this book at all. This magical debut is so full of wonder and raw emotion and it’s just absolutely beautiful. There were several twists and turns in this book, A couple I suspected while most of them I did not. I absolutely loved Jani and Zosa, and of course Beatrice and Bel! The amazing thing about this book is you think you know everything about the magic but Emily just surprise you with something new that you’ve never seen before. I absolutely loved the magic and wonder of this book and will definitely be reading again soon!

4⭐️ This had similar vibes to Caraval & The Night Circus so I highly recommend reading these if you’re a fan of either! Between the magical setting, themes of sisterhood, swoony romance between co-workers & all the twists & revelations, this was the perfect read to get me out of my reading slump! It had me hooked immediately (especially when I met the cute bellboy 🤭) & Jani’s POV made me more invested & her constant love for her sister made it so relatable. The side characters & their stories were equally interesting. Overall, this was a fun read & it’s perfect if you’re looking for a standalone with magic & a side of mystery!

Hotel Magnifique is young adult fantasy along the lines of the Night Circus (one of my favorites) and the Caraval series. Jani moved her sister to Durc after her mother's death left them orphaned. She works at a tannery to provide a place for she and her sister Zosa while Zosa tries to make it as a singer. Jani fears they are stuck for life until Hotel Magnifique appears. Guests who are "chosen" experience a world of magic and delights previously unimagined as the hotel moves to exotic locations at the whim of the owner. Jani and Zosa can't afford to be guests, but with Zosa's voice they have a good chance of employment. Once the contract is signed, in blood of course, it is unbreakable and the girls soon learn that the glamour and exorbitance hides deadly secrets. Jani has to rely on the help of the handsome and mysterious Bel, the doorman who "moves" the hotel, to unravel the secrets and save her sister from the evil owner of the hotel. To do so she must be braver and smarter than she has ever needed to be. Emily J. Taylor has crafted a very detailed world peopled with fantastic magic and intriguing characters. Hotel Magnifique can move locations and each is more exotic and fantastic than the next. Young adult readers will love this book as will adults who enjoy fantasy and light romance. I appreciate the chance to read a ARC from Net Galley.

I did like this book very much, though admittedly I almost gave up reading it because the first part of it was VERY similar to “The Splendor” by Breeana Shields. It eventually branches off in a different direction so I am glad I stuck with it, but I almost didn’t because I had the nagging feeling that I had already read it. If you like magical mystery thrillers in atmospheric hotels, you’ll love this.

This is an amazing book! Hotel Magnifique is probably the first book in a long time that I could see myself reading over and over again. I love the world Emily J Taylor created and these characters are fantastic.

Hotel Magnifique follows Jani and her sister Zosa. Zosa gets a job at the fabled Hotel Magnifique, but Jani doesn’t. While trying to protect her sister from being taken, she talks her way into a job as a maid. The longer they stay at the Hotel the more things seem off to Jani. Soon she has to figure out what is going on and try to save her and her sister in the process.

If you love magical reads with slow burn romance, then this is your book. Bel is probably my favorite character, and I love how he interacts with Jani. I liked Janie, but at times she did get a little irritating. The magic system is so cool. It’s hard to put into words just how happy this book made me. It was truly an escape that I didn’t want to end. I’m not sure if this is a standalone or a series, but I’d love to have more from this world.

Thoughts and Themes: The cover of this book kept calling to me so I finally had to read it. I got an advanced copy of this book on NetGalley and then I finished it on audiobook. I’m so glad that I decided to read this one because of how much I enjoyed so many parts of this. People compared it to The Night Circus and Caravel but I haven’t read those two so I wouldn’t know. If it is in fact similar to those then I have to get my hands on those books now too.

I tend to stay away from fantasy books because they take me a while to understand and get invested. In this book, though that was quite different, I was invested right from the first few pages, and because the magic system is slowly revealed I was able to keep up with the story and not get lost. There were little bits of explanation throughout the story which is what helped move the story along as it didn’t feel like there were moments where I was getting information without the story moving forward.

I loved when things unravel and you find out so much information closer to the end of the book as I didn’t see any of those things coming. I really enjoyed the world-building in this book and how we slowly find out more about the magic as our main character learns.

Characters: There are several characters that you get introduced to through their interactions with our main character, Jani. You get to meet several Summinaires who are staying at the hotel, her sister, and some others in towns that they visit.

There was so much that I really enjoyed about the characters and their relationships with Jani. I really liked how we learn more about each of the characters throughout the story and how we get their background slowly. I felt so bad for so many of the characters even the ones that you barely get to know. I even felt bad for some of the characters who are distant from Jani or who kept getting her into trouble.

I really enjoyed the relationship that develops between Jani and Bel. I loved how these two seem to hate each other from the minute that they meet. I loved that Bel has his reasons for trying to keep his distance from Jani and we only learn his reasons later in the story. I liked how their relationship is a slow burn and how their relationship isn’t the main point in the book.

Writing Style: This story is written in the first person from the perspective of Jani. I really enjoyed that everything was from her perspective as we learned things along with her. I also enjoyed this because we don’t know what is happening with the other main characters because she doesn’t know what happened to them. I liked only being able to see things as they happened in front of Jani especially when it came to her learning more about herself. I liked all of those things being a mystery to you as the reader because you could guess things. For me, I wasn’t sure of anything and I didn’t put many of the pieces together and was shocked when Jani learned things.

Wow. Wow I loved this book so much. I did not want to put it down and despite all the danger, I wanted to jump in the book myself. This is such a perfectly, interestingly designed world with new surprises and magic on every page. I could read about the different rooms and magical objects endlessly, even the dark and dangerous parts.
I absolutely loved Jani. Her strength, determination, and wits made her the fantastic character to force her way into the world and fight with everything she has, not only for her sister and herself, but for the people who she has barely known. Her daring allows her to slip around and discover secrets and slowly put together a devastating story around the Hotel Magnifique and I had so much fun following her. I also loved her sister and her sass and strength. Bel was another favorite even though he sometimes felt so closed off, he also felt like someone who could give so much, but is keeping everything together by a string. The dynamic between him and Jani was electric. The rest of the characters were so vivid and unique, they practically jumped off the page.
I don't want to spoil anything, but I was so very shocked by some of the reveals and adored how everything came together. This book kept me on my toes and I loved every second, I am actually sad that it's all over.

After reading the blurb and the first half of the book, this most definitely gave me Caraval vibes with a location change to a hotel.

The first half had me fully invested. I love books that have any magical settings, and this book delivered. However, I slowly started to lose interest as the book went on. It stated to feel a bit repetitive.

In this story we follow two sisters who visit the magical, legendary ✨Hotel Magnifique. ✨This hotel has the ability to travel and it’s in their town, so of course they want to visit. Both sisters are excited to be apart of the experience until one sister start to realize some shady things going down. It all hits the fan from there and some secrets are uncovered

We get love, mystery, fantasy, and all the good vibes.

Hotel Magnifique gets 5 stars for the aesthetic, but it didn’t captivate me in the way that I hoped.

The ending felt rushed, the middle was slow, but I liked it overall.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the advance copy of this book. All thoughts in this review are my own and have not been influenced in any way.