Thank you to Penguin Teen Influencers for sharing this e-arc with me. The following review reflects my honest reading experience.

So I thought that Hotel Magnifique was just ok. I think my biggest issue was that I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. Also the pacing just seemed off and the ending felt too easy.

I liked the concept of the hotel and the magic system was cool. This book felt a great idea that wasn’t executed very well.

The cover is stunning though!

“I’d convinced myself that this was where I belonged because I’d wanted so badly to belong *somewhere*, to feel safe again.”

⭐⭐⭐💫

Disclaimer: I received both a physical copy and e-ARC from Razorbill, NetGalley, and Turn the Page Tours. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content warnings: body gore, death, torture, violence, blood

Hotel Magnifique follows Jani, an orphan who is determined to get herself and her sister jobs working for the renowned and enigmatic Hotel Magnifique, a traveling hotel run by magicians. Securing two jobs seemed like the most difficult part, but what about the many dangerous secrets she begins to unravel upon arrival?

I knew almost nothing about this book going in other than that it had a stunning cover and involved magic, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover how intrigued I was almost immediately! The atmosphere of the hotel was vivid, but I found myself enjoying the glimpses into the hotel's stops even more. Truly, the atmosphere may be my second favorite aspect of this book, and I found myself easily wanting to read more for the first 75%.

This book reminded me of Caraval with the magical traveling event/location with dark secrets, and there are things I liked better and less about it in comparison. The romance in Hotel Magnifique felt like a much more tantalizingly slow burn in my opinion. I also thoroughly enjoyed the sense of urgency. I struggled a bit with the final 25-30% as the body gore had gotten to be a bit too much for me (I was at an eye appointment while reading this, so it was extra nauseating haha! #ifykyk) and I felt a little lost with some of the artéfact lore.

My absolute favorite part of this book was how relatable Jani's journey of chasing desperately to return to a place that, in the end, is just a place. As a military spouse who moved too much as a kid, this resonated with me so much I almost cried.

I would absolutely read another book by Emily J. Taylor in the future, and would recommend this fans of Caraval, possibly The Night Circus (from aesthetics I've seen as I have not read it yet oops), and whimsical YA fantasies with a dark twist!

Finally, a YA fantasy that is enchanting, magical, immersive - and has a DARK side. This story has everything you could want from a truly magical setting, the power of sisterhood, romance, and ALL the twists and turns.

We follow Jani as she tried to uncover exactly what is going on at Hotel Magnifique because clearly something dark and sinister lurks in the corners. Her love for her sister felt so real and made her character relatable, while the storyline also left us with all the feels for the side characters and their stories.

The revelations did hit a little quick at the end and I felt that it could have been drawn out to make it feel more real, more smooth, but overall, this book was fun!

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Hotel Magnifique

Author: Emily J. Taylor

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Bisexual love interest, Lesbian side character

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, magic, disappearing places that reappear somewhere else

Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Genre: YA Fantasy

Age Relevance: 14+ (death, parental death, grief, violence, gore, language, romance)

Explanation of Above: The book mentions the main character’s mother’s death and the grief of it is mentioned here and there throughout the book. There is violence in the form of physical blows and knives shown in the book, as well as blood gore and death. There are only a handful of curse words in the book and there is some romance in the book.

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 391

Synopsis: 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: I really liked this read! It felt so much like Caraval, but with a Spirited Away feel to it. I loved the concept and I thought the magic was super interesting. The book had a great moral to it about “grass is greener” and it’ll definitely be a reread of mine. I also loved the character development and world building.

The only issue I had with the book is that the book was a little slow in the beginning, but it quickly sped up and the action was non-stop after that!

Verdict: It was amazing!

Hotel Magnifique is a richly imagined and spellbinding tale that features a mysterious and magical hotel that only caters to those of extreme wealth (or luck) and changes locations every morning. Sisters Jani and Zosa quickly learn that something sinister is at play once they are within the hotel’s employ…

I was thoroughly enchanted by the mystery of the hotel and the magic taking place for the majority of this book. I really enjoyed peeling back the layers and learning the “smoke behind the mirrors”.

As far as characters go, it’s hard not to love Jani since she only wants what’s best for her younger sister Zosa even at the expense of her own happiness. I also enjoyed Jani’s interactions with Bel.

I did find that there were some pacing issues in the middle, but they didn’t detract too much.

If you’re looking for a magical story to get swept up in full of secrets and betrayal then this one is for you!

Jani has always dreamt of taking her little sister Zosa away from their dreary port city to a life full of opportunity and adventure, and there's only one way to do it: Through the doors of the Hotel Magnifique, the magical, traveling hotel that takes guests around the world and entertains them with one-of-a-kind enhancements along the way. Jani and Zosa don't have the money to travel as guests, but the hotel just so happens to be hiring when it comes to town.

Of course, the fanciful adventure that's occupied Jani's dreams isn't quite what it seems, and she soon realizes that she's signed herself and her sister up for a lifetime of magical manipulation and twisted servitude. Can she get them out of it with the help of Bel, the charming doorman who's bound to the hotel in equally dark ways?

Hotel Magnifique explores the horrific underbelly of manufacturing whimsy and wonder, and it does so with incredible world building. It's so rich and imaginative that it's easy to see it all in your mind's eye. Unfortunately, the story is so caught up in the descriptions and setup that it doesn't feel like the characters really have much personality until about halfway through the novel when the conflict starts to pick up.

Once the real issues fueling the terror of the hotel are revealed in the back half, the story really picks up and Jani's personality really shine through. She and Bel do have solid chemistry, but I appreciate that their relationship is not the central point upon which the story rotates. It's more about sisterhood, friendship, and the strange vulnerability of all relationships. As things get dicey at the hotel (and I found the twists deliciously dark,) Jani risks it all because caring about other people matters, and I really enjoyed that messaging.

I wanted to like Hotel Magnifique more than I actually did, but it's still an entertaining read. For me, the novel tells a charming story overall, but struggles to find the balance between all the big pieces (world, characters, plot, etc.)

I loved the Hotel Magnifique, the main characters Jani and Bel had fantastic banter and I loved seeing Jani’s relationship with her little sister, and her need to protect her was amazing. This plot had so many twists and turns that it kept me on my toes and made me want to keep reading, I even missed some of my book club because I was reading this book. It was so highly addictive and I cannot wait for more from this author, the ending was perfect. I loved this standalone novel and would recommend this for fans of magic, mystical and unique reads.

I loved this book! It definitely lived up to the hype and I can see why it's compared to Stephanie Garber's Caraval series. They are quite similar in magic and multiple things and the stories have the same feel to them.
This story is about a girl and her younger sister who get involved in experiencing and discovering the secrets of the Hotel Magnifique, which is a well-known place that's full of magic and travels, is always moving from place to place. Magic is only safe inside the walls of this hotel and not outside of it.
The characters are interesting, the bellhop is handsome and the romance between Jani and Bel - the bellhop is swoon-worthy, conflicted, and tortured. The close sister relationship between Jani and Zosa is one of a kind and there are dark secrets in the dazzling hotel to be uncovered. There are also a couple of reveals and one big one at the end that changes everything. It's a very engaging read that kept me going and wanting to know everything so I read it all in one sitting.
This book cover is everything too - it's gorgeous and reflects the story well. If you loved the Caraval series by Stephanie Garber or Night Circus or The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern or love magic and intrigue then make sure to pick this one up.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group/Razorbill for letting me read and review this engaging read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy publication day to Hotel Magnifique and thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book! The magic system was unique and intriguing and it the writing was so vivid that I felt like I was right at Hotel Magnifique with our characters. Speaking of the characters, I loved them. Jani was unapologetically headstrong and I really enjoyed her character development throughout the book. I do wish we got to see more of Jani and Zosa’s life prior to them entering the hotel, because sometimes I felt like I was missing parts of their history that would have helped me better understand their motivations. There was a romantic subplot that I absolutely loved and I appreciated that it never overshadowed the plot. This book reads as a stand-alone but I do hope we get to read more books set within Hotel Magnifique as I think the ending could have been a nice set up for some sequels

A mysterious hotel, a sister who can sing and one who doesn't have as much to offer, but wants to take care of her sister. What will be in store for them at this mystical hotel?

This book was magical, it reeled me in from the first page. The magic and intrigue of Hotel Magnifique was well written. I wanted to know more about suminaires, the hotel, the artéfacts. Jani was a fun main character. So determined and devoted to her sister. It was a delightful, fast read for me, I devoured it within a day. Definitely recommending to those who love a bit of magic and an interesting world. Plus, that cover is absolutely gorgeous! All of the colors compliment each other quite well!

“Normally, magic was rare, dangerous, and to be avoided at all costs. But, somehow, inside that hotel, it was the opposite, and tomorrow we might finally have a chance to experience it ourselves.”

#HotelMagnifique is a sure bet for school libraries. Readers who enjoy creepy mystery fantasy mashups, the taunting possibility of romance, and characters growing into their power with each new crisis will be captivated by the hotel’s wonders; breathless as they read to uncover sinister, selfish plots and worried about Jani’s hope for escape. Thanks @emilycanwrite The danger and secrets driving the plot combined with cinematic visuals made this a fun read sure to be popular with students.

A mysterious traveling hotel full of magical enchantments presents guests with a once in a lifetime opportunity for those who can afford its wonders. For Jani and her sister it presents the opportunity to possibly see the world and earn enough money to return to their childhood home. But something sinister lurks among the enchantments. The longer Jani stays, the more tightly the hotel’s secrets bind her. Jani is driven by the need to protect her sister at all costs, including a dangerous contract with LOTS of fine print. Everyone is hiding secrets. The trick for Jani is to discover which secrets will help her sister and which destroy them both.

Thanks #netgalley for the opportunity to preview this title.

Jani is as loyal as they come. Her devotion to her sister is present throughout the whole book, which I really enjoyed, because sometimes with YA the main character gets...distracted. Not the case here. From the first moment Jani and Zosa waltzed onto the page you could picture their sisterly bond. But once the sisters enter the hotel, Jani starts to discover that not everything is as magical as she expected. She only wants to save her sister, but what she uncovers is a whole lot more than she bargained for.

Out of all the characters, Bel was probably my favorite. I kept rooting for him, even though he made some questionable choices. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters though, even the despicable ones. They all played a part in the grand scheme of things, so no one was unnecessary.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed the story. However, the beginning was pretty slow. The world-building was nice, but I felt like there were some things I didn't really need that could have been cut and the story would have been just fine. I think the most disappointing thing for me was the magic system. It didn't feel as defined as I hoped. I felt like anything was possible, no one had limits, which means they are near impossible to take down. Until, close to the end, we got a snippet of an explanation on the magic and how everything came to be.

Ok when I tell you this gave me Caraval vibes, with that extra touch of magic, and intriegue. It’s like Caraval but also nothing like it, a wonderful masterpiece on it’s own!
I fell in love with the writing, I fell in love with the characters, and I am definitely rereading soon!

Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor is an extremely atmospheric and magical book. I had been really looking forward to reading it based on the synopsis and it definitely lived up to my high hopes. Excellent world building, a believable magic system, relatable characters with realistic backstories, and an enchanted but mysterious hotel all make this book well worth the read. I was entranced from page one all the way until the very end.

Disclaimer: The quoted text is from an advanced reader copy provided by Razorbill (an imprint of Penguin Random House) in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐️

I have mixed feelings about this book. I think because I love Caraval so much, and since this was compared to that I thought it would be pretty similar. The biggest difference for me was the writing. The writing in this book was great, I always wanted to keep reading, but the plot kept changing so much. More than half way through the book the whole story kind of changed. The magic system were a little lacking. There was not really an explanation of the magic, so kind of just get thrown into it. Overall this was a exciting book!!

I was so surprised by how quickly I devoured this book! But who can resist a magical hotel that travels every night to a different city, holds powerful magic, and has a mysterious past that our protagonist is about to uncover. If you're looking for something fun, magical, and reads a lot like Caraval, then I will highly suggest this one. Thanks to Penguin Teen for the gifted book.

This was such a fun book and after slogging through March, I very much welcomed an entertaining book to get me back in my mood. It helped a lot! Filled with magical worlds, beings, beautiful sights to behold, I was definitely enamored by the story from the beginning.

It follows Jani and her sister as they enter Hotel Magnifique, a unique hotel with a high-class guest list and the only place in this entire world where you can practice magic and be a suminaire without hurting someone. So people love coming to this hotel for the entertainment and traveling for two weeks to different cities every single night. The only caveat is that you forget the entire experience when you leave. Very strange.

That isn't the only strange part of this hotel and as you travel with Jani into the hotel and beyond, you realize there is way more going on than what you expected.

The writing for this one was good, easy going and not ever serious. It's definitely the vibe you want when you're reading for entertainment. I loved the descriptions of the different suites, the entertainment, and even the back kitchens where Jani worked. I will have to say that this book was overall fun to read and if you're a fan of YA fantasy, then you'll definitely love this one.

There was a lot of mystery behind this book as well because from the moment Jani steps foot into the hotel, things seem a little bit off. In fact, it reminded me a lot of Spirited Away and that scene when Chihiro meets Yubaba for the first time and she's asked to sign a contract that owns her name. Yeah, it gets dark like that in this book. And I welcomed the darker portions of this story. I was honestly concerned that it would be all fun and games like Caraval, but I appreciated the level this book went and the twisty turns it made.

While it was a predictable story, I still had a lot of fun watching it all unfold. It's beautifully brilliant, utterly cruel at times, and such a great way to spend some time with a book.

I think the only issue I had is that the world building was a bit unclear. I found myself trying to understand how the artefacts work alongside the magic, but it really wasn't too big of a deal. You get the idea of it through context and I've come to term not to expect too much from YA fantasy when it comes to world building. Just hold on and enjoy the ride.

Hotel Magnifique is a thrilling YA fantasy about a traveling hotel and its strange inhabitants.

Jani and Zosa are alone in the world. After their mother died, they moved from their hometown to a port town, Durc. Jani works at a tannery and supports her younger sister Zosa, who is a wonderfully talented singer. When the Hotel Magnifique comes to town, Jani and Zosa audition to join their staff. Jani hopes Zosa can sing at the hotel, which travels to a new location every midnight through magic. Magic is deemed as dangerous in their world, but the Hotel Magnifique maitre promises that his hotel has enchantments which keep the magic safe within its walls. It employs magicians to perform dazzling displays every day and night, and one special magician who can move the hotel to a new location every night at midnight. The guests pay huge amounts of money to travel with the hotel for two weeks, knowing at the end that they'll forget everything they experienced.

When the girls enter the hotel, they are quickly separated and given their own rooms, something they've never experienced before. Jani's work isn't exciting, but she is thrilled that Zosa gets to sing each night and is willing to sacrifice to give her sister this chance. But when Jani starts to pay attention to her surroundings and coworkers, she sees things that trouble her greatly. It seems they may be trapped in a life they would have never agreed to, and the maitre d'hotel and some of the senior staff relish in punishing staff who step out of line. Furthermore, she can no longer see Zosa, and is desperate to save them both from this nightmare. Only Bel, who helped Jani get her job, seems to be on her side and willing to help her as she tries to free Zosa from the enchantments that bind her to the hotel. As Bel and Jani fall in love, he has to decide how far he'll go to support her in her quest.

This is a both a romance and a fantasy thriller, full of magic and betrayal. Thanks to Netgalley for this advance copy!

Lovely book and a great story. I almost did not finish at first but that is completely on me. I loved Caraval so I knew I had to give this another chance and I am glad I did.

I enjoyed the whimsy and the ambivalence of the magic but the main character was not easy to like. For someone who wants to only work for the hotel long enough to save then live a comfortable life, she keeps making a lot of impulsive and risky decisions. It helped build the world and magic but made her a character I couldn't root for. Though the atmosphere was great and the 2nd/last third was the best part.

Ugghhhh this had so much potential. A magical hotel that travels around to different areas? A mistrust of magic and a dark side to the hotel? Night Circus vibes? All for this to be a pretty disappointing read.

We follow Jani and her sister Zosa who are orphaned and in a new city. The Hotel Magnifique shows up in the their city one day and Jani is desperate for them to get a job at the Hotel. When Zosa is hired to work as a performer in the Hotel Jani fights to receive a contract as well. But the way the Hotel appears to the outside world may not be the truth.

Once again: SO. MUCH. POTENTIAL.
Let me start with the plot. There are way more plot lines in this book than is necessary. The plot is constantly changing for no good reason. And you'd think that a lot of plot changes means that it would be fast paced. But it's not. The big, main catalyst for the story doesn't happen until about 60% of the way through the book. And once the plot starts to pick up in the end, it's wrapped up and over so quickly that it felt like whiplash.

The characters also had a lot of potential but truly fell flat. Jani is boring, bland, and a little stupid. Spending the entire story with her was a little infuriating at times. Bel, a suminaire (magic holder) at the hotel, doesn't seem to have any consistent personality traits. And Zosa, the reason why the entire book is happening, is almost nonexistent in the story even though she is Jani's number one motivation. Jani's love for her sister is also about her only personality trait.

While the magic system in of itself is an incredibly cool concept, the execution was lackluster and left me wanting. The general idea is that suminaires have the ability perform magic, and they typically use an artéfact, some magical object, to channel their powers. That's essentially the entire explanation. How suminaires use their artéfacts? I couldn't tell you. There is no true explanation of the magic system even though it is a fantasy novel and the magic system should be the biggest focus. I want to know how these objects are used because from the best that I could tell you just hold them and something happens?

I had so much hope for this book but it sadly let me down. A lot.