This was such an easy going read that I flew through. As someone who reads a lot of Adult fantasy, it was a bit of a shock to my senses to read a whole book in a day. It was fun and recommended for someone wanting an interesting magical story in their life.
Full review to come on YouTube.

I'm so impressed with the world-building in this book--there are points at which it gets a little fuzzy, but overall Taylor has a strong sense of her characters and the system of magic in which she is working. The writing is enchanting, and there's an element of mystery as Jani tries to figure out the secrets of the hotel; there are enough surprises and red herrings to keep things interesting.

I've heard the themes and plotting are similar to Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Stephanie Garber's Caraval (both of which, I'm ashamed to admit, I still need to read), so if you enjoyed that I would pick this one up.

This was such an amazing read which is about two sisters who begin to work in Hotel Magnifique only to find out there are many secrets and costs to their lives. I really enjoyed the story and concept of this book. Taylor is such an incredible writer and can write an amazing book filled with adventure, mystery, and magic. I really enjoyed the world building and the magical hotel that readers will wish was real. The author was very descriptive with the info so it was very easy to imagine all the scenes in your head. The pacing was fast with twists and turns at every corner. So much happened in this book that it's hard to bring to words.

This book is written from Jani's pov and I enjoyed her character. She tried to uncover the hotel's secrets along with getting her sister out. I do have to say that her character development wasn't the best. It was more like she was Nancy Drew in the story just trying to find the mystery but not growing in the process. There were many side characters involved who have their own secrets that need to be revealed. There was also romance which is co-workers trope I can say wasn't completely the best I read but it was okay. I did love much this book focused on the sister's bond.

The ending was very fast and I wish it slowed down a bit but overall it was great. With writing this review, I noticed how similar this book was to Caraval from the world building, characters (sisters), magic and romance. It's a great book for those who have been in a Caraval slump and needs something similar. I did have some minor problems but this was still a great read. I totally recommend this book to Caraval and The Night Circus.

When seventeen year old Jani and her younger sister Zosa see an opportunity to work at the mysterious Hotel Magnifique, they don't hesitate to jump for the chance. The Hotel is a bastion of magic, the only place where it is truly safe, and it jumps from location to location at the stroke of midnight. Inside, wondrous things are said to happen, but guests do not remember any of the hotel's secrets when they depart. When Jani and Zosa arrive, however, they soon realize that dangerous things may lurk beneath the gilded veneer of the hotel's reputation. With the help of Bel, a handsome doorman who loves to argue with her, can Jani get to the bottom of the hotel's secrets before it is too late?

Easily one of the best things about this book is its world building. The descriptions of the hotel's magic are lush and evocative, and Taylor is stunningly creative in bringing this world to life. In some ways, it reminds me of The Gilded Wolves, which also dazzled with descriptions of a hotel brought to life by magic. The sisterly bond between Jani and Zosa is what ties this book together, and Jani's pure, all-encompassing love for her sister proves a very believable grounding for her motivations. I couldn't connect to the plot of this story as much as the worldbuilding, since it took a little while to build up to the main narrative arc, but I really appreciated how the prologue connected to the ending. Those full circle moments show forethought in the writing.

I would recommend this book to fans of young adult fantasy who want to explore a magical new world! Thank you so much to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

Thanks to PenguinTeen for giving me a free digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Am I disappointed that I didn't like this as much as I had hoped? Yes. With comp titles like Caraval and The Night Circus I definitely had high hopes and I think that's what ultimately made me disappointed. I really have to stop hyping up books in my mind, LOL. I definitely think the comp titles are fitting and I would even say this book gave me HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE vibes (not the book because I've never read it but definitely the movie).

Quite frankly if it wasn't for the latter 50% of the book I would give this 2 stars instead of 2.5. At times I simply felt...lost. I didn't feel a connection to the main character, Jani, and I think that's because we don't know much about her upfront. I'm the type of reader who really likes to be engrossed with a character's background information mildly upfront and that didn't happen here. We get a lot of "telling" and not a lot of "showing." The love Jani feels for her sister, Zosa, also got lost as well. They're together for the first couple of chapters and then separated for all but the last two or three chapters, which caused a real disconnect for me in terms of understanding their sibling relationship. I think I might just be growing tired of stories where the older sister resents her younger sister just because she's, i.e., talented or prettier than the older sister could ever be.

Despite the characters I did find the entire idea of the Hotel Magnifique rather enchanting though if you keep reading it gets darker and more sinister as we discover and learn more about the major players in this game. I would have been okay if Jani didn't have a love interest in this story; I would have been fine if Bel were simply the catalyst for Jani and Zosa getting into Hotel Magnifique and that's it.

The reveal about Jani was unexpected for me, and I think that's mainly because who she is is incredibly subtle throughout the book, not a lot of hints, and is literally the last thing I would have expected from Jani. I hope that doesn't sound too harsh but really. However, who she is and what she can do is fascinating and it becomes even more so when Jani is determined to save her sister and the hotel itself.

Oddly enough one thing that irked me about the writing is how specific the author was in describing characters that don't even matter, just nameless guests or people that pass by. Do I have to know the hair color, features, and skin color of every person in this book? No. It almost felt like Taylor was throwing it in for the sake of saying the guests at the Hotel were varied and diverse. I don't expect detailed descriptions of characters if they don't play a major role. Regardless the writing wasn't anything to write home about.

I'm sad I didn't love this as much as I wanted to, but I can definitely see fans of CARAVAL and THE NIGHT CIRCUS falling in love with it. That simply just wasn't me.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book! It was one of my most anticipated reads for the year and I had a lot of fun reading it! It was magical and mysterious and full of surprises. I also thought the characters were great but could’ve used a bit more detail. I would’ve loved to have gotten to know a few of side characters a bit better before the climax of the book. I will say that the second half of the book is definitely significantly better than the first, in my opinion. Still a good read, but the second half is what pushed it to get a 4 stars. Would recommend!

This was just a purely magical read that I adored. It takes a minute for the story to jump off, but once it does, it completely transports you to this incandescent world of magic and flourish.

When Jani’s younger sister, Zosa gets an invite to the enchanted Hotel Magnifique to be employed as a singer, Jani is desperate to go with her to keep her safe. And as she secures herself her own invitation from the handsome and mysterious Bel, she and her sister embark with the traveling hotel.

There is so much wonder and intrigue surrounding this entrancing hotel, it’s guests, workers and it’s rooms and the sisters quickly get caught up in it all.

But there is something dark at play here inside the hotel. Not everyone is who they claim to be. And it quickly becomes clear that real danger is on the horizon for these sisters.

While trying to protect Zosa from peril, she interacts with so many interesting people. Her moments with Bel are some of my favorites though. Their romance was really beautiful, but not completely without its own hinderances.

I would really love more in this beautiful and magical world. I couldn’t put this down.

DNF at 50%. This one felt really repetitive and I found the constant descriptions of skin color to be really uncomfortable. I also felt like the magic felt very vague and I prefer my fantasy to be more in depth. The hotel was a good setting but I just don't feel that enthralled to continue on with it.

I reviewed this book as part of an article with The Honey POP. Overall I really enjoyed the setting, the mysterious plot, the magic system, and the characters!

The second I heard this book compared to The Night Circus and Caraval but at a magical hotel that shows up in different locations, it became one of my most anticipated books of the year.

I think it’s necessary to clarify that these comparisons are appropriate, however, it is more to do with the conceit than the writing. Whereas TNC and Caraval have a very lyrical quality the writing in this felt much more straightforward and less flowery. I personally love a heaping dose of purple prose but the first-person narrative does give us a glimpse of our heroine's interior mind as she continues to be horrified with every new revelation of the true going’s on of the Hotel.

The premise of this book is so cool and to a great extent, it did deliver. The descriptions of the magical rooms and candy coating of the hotel do a lot to shield the reader and Jani from the insidious nature of the hotel and its mysterious owner, Alistair. Once the main plot of the book kicks off (a little more than half way through) I thought it was really well executed. However, something didn't work for me and I'm still trying to decide what it is. The pacing felt slightly off, but I think I just didn't connect to the characters. The drive of the main character is to protect and save her sister and sibling relationships are a theme in the book which was lovely. However, other than a passing reference to the character's love of geography I'm still not really sure how well I know Jani. I felt the same with Bel who I wanted to root for desperately, but never quite got there. The book also ended rather suddenly and I actually thought it was a mistake and kept trying to flip pages in my ebook.

Overall, I think this is a debut with a ton of potential. If you loved The Night Circus or Caraval I think it is worth picking up as long as you know what you are in for.

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for letting me read an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Hotel Magnifique travels each night to a new destination. Everyone dreams of being chosen to enter and experience its glory. However, after a visitor's stay is over their memory of their experience vanishes. Jani hopes to make her way back to her hometown, Aligney. She left home for the town of Durc to bring new experiences for her younger sister, Zosa. Zosa is a talented singer, with gifts beyond that of Jani. When the Hotel Magnifique comes to town, Jani can't help but desire a job inside to help bring her back home. When she enters, she has no clue about the mystery, cunning, and magical elements she will face. In order to stop the evil Maitre, Jani has to put her trust in Bel, the Magnifique, and free the staff from their eternal prisons.

I am a huge fan of Caraval, and Hotel Magnifique brought me into a world very similar. The magic system was so intriguing and the characters were entirely relatable. I found myself in Jani and followed her story with intensity. She struggles between self-interest and the greater good. Although her dreams of going home mean everything to her, she always decides to help everyone in need. I loved her relationship with Bel and was happy to see their ending. The book also had several side characters I was rooting for as well. The story was so exciting and full of twists and turns, that I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to see what is in store for these characters and am excited for the next journey of the Hotel Magnifique.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for providing an arc copy of this book.

This book kept surprising me the whole time. I defiantly think the pacing was a little off, but all the twists and turns kept me coming back for more. The two main characters were really the only ones that were heavily developed, and I definitely wish I could have read more about some of the side characters. The vibes and atmosphere were absolutely fantastical, and at times, it was like I was really in this magical hotel. This book defiantly has the same feel as books like Caraval, but make no mistake, this book is all its own.

The pacing was very slow at the start, and then, all of a sudden, the last 25% was packed with so much world-building and plot development that I had a hard time keeping things straight. The plot had so many twists and turns that sometimes it was hardtop think straight, but I believe it lent itself well to this magical world that the main character knows nothing about. It was fun and exciting, and I definitely didn’t see many twists coming.

The main character Jani has a nice arc, and you are learning about this world as she is. At times I was definitely frustrated with her actions, and I felt her character was repeating some of the same plot points repeatedly. I think our other main character Bel added to the mystery of the whole book, and it was fun seeing him and Jani argue back and forth. The author created a sense of mystery around all the side characters yet didn’t dive into them as much as I hoped, given that the bits of information we learn about them adds a nice extra layer to the story.

Overall I had a fun time reading this book, and I love books that make me lost in the world. I also love books that take me through a crazy maze, and I never know where I will end up in the story.

thank you so much to netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

2.5 ★

how.. disappointing

i was originally so excited for this book and i remember screaming when i got an arc. i mean, hello- a mix of 'caraval' and 'the night circus'??? two of my favorite books of all time??

i think maybe my expectations were too high. i sort of trudged through this book, skimming my way through the last part because i was all too eager for this to end.

some quick thoughts:

- i didn't like the characters. they were one-dimensional, had no personality, and were just way too forgettable.
- i wanted more magic? idk i feel like the whole whimsical atmosphere wasn't built up to its full potential.
- the romance was horrible. i hated bel. he was fine at first but the whole act of continuously lying to her as some lame excuse to "protect" her got old real fast. he also just gave me the ick.
- the complex sisterly dynamic started off well, but then was completely abandoned when her sister left the picture for like 80% of the book.
- it was just boring . the villains weren't that intimidating, the plot wasn't all that intriguing, i got bored of her whole "mission", and the plot twists were so painfully predictable. the whole plot just feels kind of awkward and left me feeling so unsatisfied.
- it was also really repetitive. which was prob why it got boring
- i did like some of the side characters, especially a few of them that had really interesting backstories
- the writing was fine ig; it flowed pretty smoothly and was easy to understand.


overall, just not one of the better books i've read this year. i'd say keep your expectations reasonable and you might find yourself enjoying this more than i did.

I found the book to just be fine. Not revolutionary really. Decent enough charecters but the plot just feels like we have seen it before. I was expecting more and honestly wish i didn't waste my time. I didn't post a review for this publicly because i dont like giving such bland reviews like this, but i did post about it on my tiktok.

Hotel Magnifique is recommended for fans of Caraval and The Night Circus. I am one of the biggest fans of the former, and one of the biggest haters of the latter, and since I really enjoyed this book I can tell you that it has practically nothing from The Night Circus.

PLOT: Jani lives with her little sister in Durc, an unattractive-looking port town. She dreams of traveling the world, and the opportunity to do so presents itself when Hotel Magnifique appears in town: although magic is not well seen as it is often dangerous, this hotel has the distinction of being managed by a suminaire (a magician who everyone calls maitre) and of being the only place in the world where magic can be practiced and admired without any danger. The Hotel travels the world at the speed of light, changing locations almost every day at midnight sharp. There are three ways to get into the hotel: buy a ticket for a two-week stay (which Jani can’t possibly afford, given the sky-high prices), stand outside the hotel hoping that one of the tickets the maitre gives away at each stop happens to be yours, or join the hotel staff, and that’s exactly what Jani plans to do. She and her sister Zosa show up for interviews, but only Zosa – with her enchanting voice – is taken to work at the hotel. Jani has no intention of letting her sister go alone though, and when a guy named Bel arrives to pick up Zosa just before midnight to take her to the hotel, Jani convinces – or rather, forces – him to get her to sign a contract to work at the hotel as well. Their entrance into that magical place will mark the beginning of an incredible adventure for Jani, made of wonderful magic, but also bloody secrets.

SETTING: Hotel Magnifique is, as its name implies, a magnificent setting for a story: at every page, enchanted windows are discovered, suites with unlikely names and staircases leading who knows where appear out of nowhere, drinks in the colors of the rainbow are drunk, and unforgettable feats of magic are witnessed. This is perhaps the only point of connection with The Night Circus, as the hotel – as well as the circus – appears out of nowhere, unannounced, and offers guests an unparalleled experience. While I really enjoyed this setting, I sometimes found the description of what Jani was seeing inside the hotel a bit confusing, and I often had trouble accurately imagining the things she was describing.

WRITING STYLE: as I just mentioned, I found Taylor’s style to be a bit confusing at times, which didn’t allow her to do justice to the beautiful setting she envisioned. However, I still found her writing to be enjoyable and engaging to the point.

CHARACTERS: the story is told from Jani’s point of view, and is written in the first person, which I prefer. Jani is a tough, determined girl, willing to do anything to achieve her goals, but often also impulsive, clumsy, a tornado impossible to stop. I found her pleasant and realistic as a protagonist, and I liked seeing her navigate her way around the hotel: in particular, I liked seeing her figure out every problem, because Jani is a bottomless pit of ideas, and at times it seems almost possible to see the gears of her brain turning wildly. Never once has she given up during her “stay” at the hotel, not even when faced with chilling discoveries. Hers is a journey to discover the deepest secrets of the hotel, but also to discover herself. Bel is the suminaire who accompanies Jani in her adventures inside the hotel: he’s handsome, with dark eyes and dark hair, just the way I like it! Bel won me over right away with his mysterious yet slightly irreverent manner. I loved his interactions with Jani from the very first moment, and I loved seeing their relationship evolve and change with each page I turned. The only thing that left me a little bitter is that Taylor doesn’t tell us much about Bel’s past – I wish she had explored him more as a character because I think he had some really incredible potential. Honorable mention to Beatrice, a truly lovable side character. Unfortunately, I have to admit that the other side characters – especially the other suminaires of the hotel – were not developed properly, and fell a bit flat until the end: I was particularly disappointed with the maitre because I never felt the aura of power and mystery that should have technically accompanied him.

GENERAL ENJOYMENT: Hotel Magnifique is one of those books that, once you pick it up, you can’t put down until you’ve turned the last page. Despite the flaws, it’s an engaging read that leaves you wanting to keep going at each end of the chapter to keep digging into the secrets that the hotel holds. I devoured it in a couple of days, and of course, I ordered myself a physical copy!

In short, Hotel Magnifique is the perfect book for Caraval fans. The two stories have many elements in common: a protagonist who would do anything for her younger sister, who finds herself having to save her from something mysterious, an equally mysterious boy who accompanies her on her adventure, a magical location where all that glitters is not gold. Although Caraval remains vastly superior, Hotel Magnifique is still a worthy read for those who want to relive some of the magic that Garber gave us with her first trilogy. It’s a book that delivers what it promises! Too bad about all those details that could have been explored more – if instead of 400 pages it had at least 600, it would have been a whole different story!

Special thanks to Turn the Page Tours for a copy of this book!

When I was first read the blurb for this book, somehow I confused it as a middle grade. However, this is a YA novel full of magic, suspense, mystery, and small yet-satisfying plot twists.

This book is about a magical hotel that never stays in one place and moves every night. When the hotel arrives in Durc, Jani is both fascinated and determined to get a spot as a worker for the hotel along with her sister Zosa whom she has taken care of since her mother's passing. We follow Jani through many twists and turns until she ends up an employee at the hotel in a not-so-usual way. We follow Jani as she is exposed to magic, immortal magicians, changing rooms, and soon she realizes the hotel isn't the 'perfect and enchanting place as everyone knows it to be.

What an enjoyable and easy read! I loved the descriptions of the hotel, its inner workings, and how Jani navigates the many troubles she finds herself in. This writing style is lyrical and gives you a vivid picture of your surroundings, the emotions, and the feelings of all the characters. We get a good healthy mix of information and intrigue without being jarring.

The plot was done very well, but I felt the pacing was a bit off in that it seemed repetitive at some points. I felt the author was trying just a little too hard to make sure we read those critical plot points. Being standalone, this wrapped up quickly yet did an excellent job of wrapping up the storyline in a very satisfying way.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and one I recommend to those who enjoy a bit of mystery in a magical setting with some historical elements.

Be ready to enter a hotel full of magic, intrigue, and a mystery to be solved!

Jani is all alone except for her little sister Zosa, and she dreams of the day they can escape the poor life they’re living and return home to their small island. When the chance comes for Zosa to show off her singing skills at the enchanted Hotel Magnifique, Jani thinks it’s the answers to their problems, but she’s far from wrong. First she isn’t excepted on for a job, so she tries with her every ounce to come aboard because she can’t leave her little sister behind. Enter Bel, the mysterious bellhop who helps her in every way. But once aboard the traveling hotel, Jani realized there’s something more sinister afoot and she’ll stop at north to save herself and her sister.. and maybe even the sweet Bel who’s caught her attention.

This book was spectacular. I love anything to do with circuses or magic and this had it all. The visions that the author has created has me craving a stay at the hotel myself. The book not only follows our main character, but has some side characters that come into play. Hellas has to be one I absolutely gravitated towards; the bad boy with so many unanswered questions to him. And Bel was the perfect adaptation to add romance into the story. You can’t help but feel for him and his loss of who he is.
The world is also well built. You have this society where magic is the only place where people who have it can be safe, inside the hotel, and how they anchor the magic is also unique. And of course I you have the villains that make the story even more adventurous.

I really love how the author came up with the ideas for everything in this book, and if you love books with magic, romance, and a found family, than this book is a must!!!

I had requested this arc on a whim because it sounded fun and it delivered.
I absolutely loved following Jani as our main character as she unraveled the secrets of this mysterious hotel and it’s strange owner.
There really wasn’t anything in this story I didn’t like. The pacing was fine and I never really found myself with any in answered questions. I was happy to see it was a standalone story too! No cliffhangers here!
The only thing, at least for me but I do read pretty fast so that could have been it, is that I feel the climax happened very quickly in only a few pages? But I guess it was the climax and there was enough build up to it.
Overall, if it sounds good to you I encourage you to read it. The Story was so fun and magical!
Thank you so much Netgalley and Emily J. Taylor for the chance to read this early!

"Pack a bag for Elsewhere and prepare to depart by midnight."

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Summary
Hotel Magnifique is revered as the only place in the world that is safe for magic users. Filled with dazzle and wonderment, the hotel moves locations every midnight. Guests clamor for an invitation, but after their stay, guests don't remember anything. Jani is just trying to make a life for her and her sister after their mother passed away, and she has always dreamed of better things. When the hotel comes to town, she knows they could never afford a stay. And so, her and her sister find employment and enter the mysterious and magical hotel. Once there, Jani begins to see the cracks under the shiny veneer and realizes everything may not be as it seems. With only a handsome doorman named Bel as an ally, she sets up to try and free her sister and the staff from the ruthless maître d'hôtel.

Review
I absolutely love magical hotel stories that are just a bit twisted. Hotel Magnifique completely delivered on that front!

I was absolutely enchanted by the descriptions of the hotel and the magic at play. I really felt like the author made the hotel setting come alive, and set the stage really well for the story to play out. The magic system was also really interesting, with the hotel being the only safe place for magic users (the reason for that being a bit twisted). The development around the lore and history of magic was also quite interesting and made sense for the hotel to become what it was.

At its core, this is a story about Jani's love for her sister. After their mother's death, Jani becomes the guardian for her younger sister and is her sole provider. She agonizes over whether or not she has made the right decisions for her sister. After entering the hotel, the sisters are separated by separate jobs, and as Jani discovers the twisted secrets of the hotel, she knows she must do whatever it takes to save her sister.

I thought the plot was fast paced, and there were reveals at every corner about how the hotel operated. I loved seeing the glittery hotel get more twisted and more dangerous. One thing I will say, is that the villain of this story did read a bit flat, but nonetheless it was still an engaging and really fun read!

Book Review:
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First, I want to thank Penguin Teen for giving me the opportunity to review this Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor. In the description of this book, they say Hotel Magnifique is for fans of Caraval and the Night Circus and I think they hit the nail on the head with those comparisons.

This story is set against the backdrop of a Belle Époque-inspired hotel where magic exists safely in a society where outside of the hotel walls, magic is feared. We follow Jani, a seventeen year old girl who has always been enthralled by the idea of Elsewhere. She is resigned to stay in her current life, barely making it, and wants to help her younger sister, Zosa, chase her dreams of being in the spotlight as a singer. So when the magically hotel, Hotel Magnifique, comes to town, Jani decides it's now or never to try and get out of their current situation. Jani and Zosa go to interview for jobs in the hotel, excited about the potential to make more money while the hotel travels the world, magically appearing in new cities overnight. However, when Zosa is offered a job as a singer and Jani is turned away, Jani must find a different way to get inside the hotel and stay with her sister. In her efforts to do so, she comes across a mysterious worker, Bell. With Bell as her only ally, Jani begins to uncover that the contracts to work inside the hotel are unbreakable and underneath all of the mystical and magic are dark and dangerous secrets. Jani then embarks on adventure of trying to uncover the secrets of the hotel, which she soon discovers may risk everything she loves in the process.

I definitely found this book to be very similar to Caraval and Night Circus in the way it makes you feel and how it reads. It's full of adventure, romance, and mystery and all of those things keep you turning the pages until the very end. Mark your calendars for this one, it comes out on April 5th, 2022!