(Actual: ⭐3.5 stars, rounded down) I went into this book blind (something I don't particularly prefer or like doing, tbh haha), and yet I was [mostly] pleasantly surprised with this one! I found the plot to be very ambitious (especially given that this is classified as YA), and I enjoy magical realism as a genre, but admittedly this one was a bit slow to start. It wasn't until about a third or so of the way in that things really started to pick up, but once it did it was great from a storytelling perspective. That said, I think it's worth noting that the writing here at times though read a bit more middle grade/juvenile than it did YA, the latter of which can definitely gear itself toward more mature audiences, so that was something I was a bit disappointed about. I still think the book succeeded in telling its story and properly creating an atmospheric experience so, despite some of my above gripes, I still had fun and would rec this book out to others!

I really did enjoy this book, I think I was just looking for that something extra to keep me super invested. Good read, just needed that extra oomph.

I quickly devoured this book and loved every minute of it! Reminiscent of The Shining, but way less scary and way more magical, I loved the twists and turns throughout the story. Anna is a lot like me, so I related very closely to her. Max is so sweet, and Phoebe is the villain you love to hate. I love how the hotel had a mind of it's own, changing and showing people different spaces based on what the hotel wanted or the person needed at the time. Anna was so persistent, refusing to give up and determined to find a way out. The ending was everything I could hope for. Overall this was such a wonderful story and I loved it!

After experiencing a disaster of a princess party at the age of 10, Anna likes plans, structure, and always knowing her next steps. She vowed to never be caught unaware ever again, so when she is blindsided by the betrayal of her sister Emily after Emily's wedding, Anna flees into the stormy night raging over Las Vegas. The storm forces Anna to take shelter in the one place that opposes everything she set herself out to be, the Houdini.

When I picked up this book, I literally could not put it down. A girl finds her way to a magical hotel that has it's own set of rules. She meets a boy named Max who has lived there his whole life waiting for his best friend. Anna is enchanted by things she can't even imagine or explain as she tries to find a dry set of clothes, her father and possibly something to eat. While exploring the hotel, Anna begins to learn Houdini's secrets: when the clock strikes midnight, she will be trapped there forever. What she winds up finding is a tragedy and crime let go too long without justice and it's up to her to save not only herself, but everyone else in the Houdini.

I would rate this 4 out of 5 stars for a couple reasons.

In the book, we're introduced to around 5-10 characters that are relevant throughout the entire book. However the character development into the majority of the characters felt roughly 2 dimensional. Villains were villains and good guys were pretty much good guys. The only exception is Anna's father who at the beginning felt like he wanted nothing to do with her. Showing off wealth and power to a bunch of businessmen with little regard to his family's interests and needs. The only cataclyst for change was the storm and suddenly he is hyper-focused on Anna's safety and that thread continues as he enters the hotel. In real life would a father be suddenly hyper focused on his daughters safety out in the middle of a storm? Oh absolutely. Did I expect it as he sits with his pompous business partners smoking cigars sipping champagne? Not in a million years. This was such a hard pivot for me and made it difficult to believe that he actually cared about his daughter. Would I have believed this in real life? Yes. Did I believe it when I was reading the book? Absolutely not.

Max and Anna's interactions were breathtaking, even in such a sad situation. Max was kind, sweet, and caring to Anna. And even though they had only met a few hours prior, it felt so natural as you go through the story. Not only that but I loved how Houdini has almost like a mind of it's own. Which makes me think back to A court of Silver Flames and Cauldron knows how much Nesta came to like that house. It felt enchanting and magical, like you were stepping into another world within the walls of Houdini. Anna, like Nesta, came to gradually get used to Houdini and I think that's the beautiful thing about this book. It takes place in one whole day but everything is so gradual with a ton of detail. Dawson's world-building is similar to that of Sarah J Maas. The only key difference I would say is that this book would be better suited to middle grade coming into Young Adult books.

Captivating until the end when all of the mysteries are revealed. This book is perfect for fans of Adalyn Grace, Sarah J Maas, and Rachel Gillig.

Thank you to Delilah S. Dawson, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I love a good story about magical hotels and this one was a good, not great story. I love the premise and the atmosphere but there was just something missing for me. However, if you loved the Caraval series, you will enjoy this story. I won't hesitate to recommend it.

“Midnight at the Houdini” by Delilah S. Dawson

Anna, a girl who has always adhered to her meticulously planned life. However, her world takes an unexpected turn when she becomes stranded at the Houdini's hotel during a thunderstorm. As she attempts to locate her father and escape by midnight, Anna finds herself grappling with uncertainty and the enchantment that seems to permeate the Houdini.

Her reality now topsy-turvy, Anna crosses paths with Max, a lifelong resident of the Houdini who is well-acquainted with magic but yearns for the world beyond. Together, they embark on a journey to uncover the mysteries and magic that entwine the Houdini. However, lurking in the shadows are nefarious individuals who may stand in their way.

I enjoyed the book and found it to be whimsical and sweet. Reminds me of "Alice in Wonderland," but with a hotel setting. This book is particularly well-suited for teenagers who enjoy fantastical adventures. While the story picks up with its magic, I did find that it started somewhat slowly. However, once the enchantment began to unfold, I was glued.

In summary, "Midnight at the Houdini" is a fantastic and enjoyable read, earning a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It combines the magic of its setting with a sense of whimsy and adventure that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

A girl discovers a surreal hotel where no one ever leaves. When the clock strikes midnight she’ll be trapped there forever unless she’s able to break free from magic that in turn breaks all her rules. Perfect for fans of Caraval and The Starless Sea!

Midnight at the Houdini was a cute and clever little book. I enjoyed it from start to finish. The writing really allowed you to picture the Houdini so clearly. Anna is a tenacious young lady who has to learn patience and that relying on others isn't always a weakness. Her relationship with Max flows perfectly all the way to the finish. It's just a delightful fantasy that you must read.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhousekids for allowing me to review this book.

Happy Thursday y’all! Today’s my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours tour for Midnight at the Houdini. This book was so fun- I’m so glad I was on the blog tour for it!

Midnight at the Houdini 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:

A girl discovers a surreal hotel where no one ever leaves. When the clock strikes midnight she’ll be trapped there forever unless she’s able to break free from magic that in turn breaks all her rules. Perfect for fans of Caraval and The Starless Sea!

The night is perfect and glorious and sparkling, too beautiful to be real. Like magic.

Anna may have grown up in glitzy Las Vegas, but she’s determined that no one will ever call her shallow. While her older sister Emily is the star of the family, Anna is the diligent stage manager, making sure that both their lives go perfectly to plan. But when Emily reveals a startling betrayal, Anna flees in the middle of a raging storm and takes shelter in a boutique establishment she’s never seen before: The Houdini.

Inside, Anna discovers a magic hotel . . . and a magical boy. Earnest, curious Max has lived his entire life inside the Houdini. Over the course of one surreal evening, he becomes Anna’s guide to the curious building. For the first time in her life, Anna is center stage, in a place that anticipates her every desire, with a boy who only has eyes for her.

But that’s because the Houdini has no other guests. No one ever enters the Houdini . . . and no one ever leaves. When the clock strikes midnight, Anna will be trapped in the Houdini forever. If Anna’s ever going to find out who she is on her own in the real world, she’ll first have to make an impossible escape. But will she be able to do it if it means leaving Max behind?

There were so many great things about this book! I really liked how the setting took over- the Houdini was such a magical casino. Something I’ve learned about myself in all of my reading years is that books about magic and casinos are some of my favorites, so this had all of the elements to be right up there and it was super close. The whole concept of checking into the Houdini and then becoming a ghost at midnight because you haven’t been able to check out and then being stuck there indefinitely was super cool. I liked Max and Anna as main characters- they were really sweet and unjaded. I don’t know enough 16 year old’s to say if they felt young, but as someone who’s definitely older than them, they felt really young, but I think they were great for the target demographic. There were a lot of parts of this book that I could picture that reminded me of Spirited Away, which in my mind is a great parallel for this book. I felt a lot for Phoebe and for Arielle. I thought Tony and Sebastian were the worst. The ending felt the tiniest bit rushed, mainly because the rest of the book was so good and well paced that everything coming together so quickly and nicely felt a little out of place, but I did like elements of how it ended and overall, I really enjoyed Midnight at the Houdini. Make sure y’all go out and grab it today! Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

To all the magic living readers, check this book out.

My top reasons to read this ~

° Dark, mysterious and adventurous story

° a magical hotel with new things at every turn

° the cover of the book is gorgeous

° the romance was sweet as a subplot and this will work wonders as Halloween red

Our protagonist, Anna, is kind and intelligent and a brave person. Max, is of curious nature as he hasn't seen anything other than the hotel, this magical hotel and presence of Anna there gives him delight and makes him smile.

The two of them have to figure out together how to escape the clutches of the hotel or of one doing all this. This brings to us a rollercoaster ride filled with a touch of fear.

This was a thought provoking, creepy story with so much depth. The writing is good, though most of action happens in later half of the book and I liked it.

I loved the mystery and the magic of the Houdini. The fact that there was no escape and the hotel had a mind of its own made it an interesting character in itself. I also liked how it didn’t just follow the 2 main perspectives but added in moments from the other people involved in the nights events. The one thing I definitely think ended sort of lack luster was the romance and the ending. The romance didn’t really seem necessary to the story at all and the end kind of just ended. While I enjoyed the story and finished it in only a few hours there were parts that could have been tweaked and made the story that much better.

Let me start by saying I wanted to love this, I really really wanted to love this, the premise had me so excited, a magical hotel with links to Wonderland, I was so excited to read this one.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it, I don't know if it was the pacing or world they were in, but I just couldn't seem to get invested in this one.

While I didn't love it I think some people might, It has magic, a hint of romance, family drama, and an ending that tied things up nicely, perhaps too nicely but I'm used to cliffhangers at this point so a book that ends seems a little off to me.

Thank you To NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Random House Children's for providing a copy of this E-Book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I started loving this book right from the first chapter, where Anna was a ten-year-old girl stunned by a magician's magic yet kept telling herself it was just a trick. On the other side of the world, Max, a ten-year-old boy, grows up believing only in magic.

This book's unique plot grabbed my attention right from the beginning. Now a teenager, Anna got stuck in a hotel, Houdini, which was functioning by magic. Anna's character seemed so natural that it made the story more alive.

Max and Anna's interactions were so beautiful, even in such a tragic situation. Max was so sweet and cared for Anna so much. It might seem unusual, considering they had met only a few hours earlier, but it felt entirely natural as I read their story.

I love the fact that Houdini has a mind of its own. It played songs for communicating and opened secret doors to help Max and Anna. I loved how gradually Anna got used to Houdini. That's the best thing about this book; everything was so gradual even though the whole timeline of the book is one day.

This book kept me captivated right until the end with all its mysteries. It gives The Night Circus vibes. So, whoever loves The Night Circus should definitely try this one. The climax was so satisfying, and I wish this book never ended.

Midnight at the Houdini is a perfect magical realism YA urban fantasy with many mysteries (both in the hotel and the plot). It's impossible not to love it to the fullest.

A big thansk to NetGalley and Random House for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Went into this, thinking it would be giving Hotel Magnifique and Caraval Vibes, but was sadly disappointed.

Midnight at the Houdini by Delilah S. Dawson is a YA fantasy novel that follows Anna, who has always been the background character to her life. But on her sister's wedding night, Anna learns that her sister is moving away, abandoning her—and all their shared dreams. Devastated, Anna leaves the reception in the middle of a raging storm, taking shelter in a hotel she’s never seen before: the Houdini. The Houdini is a hotel unlike any other, with sumptuous velvet couches, marble tiled floors, secret restaurants, winding passageways, and an undercurrent of magic in the air. And when Anna meets Max, who has lived his entire life inside its walls, she’s captivated. For the first time in her life, Anna is center stage, in a place that anticipates her every desire, with a boy who only has eyes for her. But there’s a terrifying secret hidden in the Houdini. When the clock strikes midnight, Anna will be trapped there forever unless she can find a way to break free from its dreamlike magic. But will she be able to do it if it means leaving Max behind?.

I feel like this book had plenty of potential, but the writing style was really holding it back. I did however, like the magic system Dawson put in place. It created plenty of unique situations I haven't seen in other portal magic books. I thought this book had a really cool concept, just really bad execution.

A deliciously atmospheric tale of two teens racing to escape an elegant and magical old hotel by the stroke of midnight.

Midnight at the Houdini is a new young adult fantasy with an elegant and magical old hotel that has a mind and will of its own, wrapped around a unique, double coming-of-age story. Two young protagonists, both hampered by restricted childhoods, work together to escape a diabolically magic hotel before midnight, and they are trapped there forever.

Anna Alonso is the daughter of a busy and emotionally unavailable Las Vegas hotelier. With her older sister (and best friend) marrying and moving away, she feels her perfectly planned-out future is about to implode. An early humiliation at the hands of new classmates at a birthday party had caused her to lock her true self away from the public, and she only breaks free when she becomes locked inside the Houdini.

Max had grown up on old books and black-and-white films. Magically prevented from leaving the Houdini, his only companions since birth were his mother, the mean janitor who kept to himself in the basement, and the ghosts of guests from the hotel’s 100-year-long past. Innocent from lack of exposure to the outside world, he still has the feelings and urges of any normal teenage boy. However, as his role models for how to behave are mostly from the gentile past, he is a complete gentleman around Anna even as his romantic feelings grow.

The story is intriguing and unique from page one, with an exciting storm catapulting Anna, her father, and his business partners into seeking shelter in one of their lesser hotel properties – the Houdini. The author creates an eerie, atmospheric setting inside the hotel with vivid descriptions and the complete absence of hotel staff. I was kept off-balance as weird and unusual features popped up at every turn. Max’s mother lends the story a creepy level of evil, only outdone by Colin, the vengeful janitor. However, major plot twists turn the story and readers’ understanding of characters completely upside down. This book is an absolute page-turner!

I recommend MIDNIGHT AT THE HOUDINI to readers of young adult fantasy stories. This would be suitable for older middle-grade readers as well.

4.25 stars

This is what I want from a magical hotel story! The Houdini is magnificent and you never know what you'll get, there's a revenge plot, a race against time, and a budding romance to make this into a great read that I couldn't get enough of.

I loved the hotel and all it's magical pieces. Growing up in a place with secret passageways and a dessert room featuring anything you could want sounds pretty appealing (other than the being trapped part, but you can't have everything.) The story was constantly coming up with fun, new things and my interest was held as soon as Anna walked in the lobby door.

I thought this was pretty well paced and packed with magic and excitement. There were some parts where it felt like Anna and Max were running in circles and not getting anywhere, but for the most part I had a terrific time reading this.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the copy.

With a magical hotel frozen in time and guests who can never check out, I couldn't wait to start the novel. After taking shelter at the Houdini, Anna meets a magical boy who looks at her like she is the most important person in a room and quickly learns she must leave by midnight or be stuck in the hotel forever.

The romance is sweet and believable even if it's love at first sight. It feeds into the magic of the hotel. The pace, while consistent, stretched the book to feel longer than it was. As someone who prefers faster paced novels, I can't decide if it's a bad thing or not because it contributes effectively to Anna's extremely long day at the Houdini. Ultimately, discovering the mysteries and the magic of the hotel was worthwhile.

Midnight at the Houdini is for readers who believe in magic and want to be transported in time. Patience, however, is required. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

Midnight at the Houdini is an atmospheric and mysterious YA urban fantasy with magical realism that revolves around Anna who has to take shelter from the storm in one of her father’s hotels, The Houdini, but nothing in the hotel is of the modern world and everything works by magic. When she meets Max who was born in the Houdini and has been stuck there ever since she discovers no one can ever leave Houdini and any guest that arrives turns into a ghost on the next midnight. And so Anna’s impossible race to escape begins. But can she outsmart Max’s mother, Phoebe, who is in control of the Houdini?

1. Amazing concept
I loved the concept of the magical hotel that has a mind and whims of its own, and a magical clock ticking making the characters race against time that keeps readers on the edge and the plot interesting.

As Anna explores The Houdini and tries to find answers to questions it raises more questions, making the mystery and the plot that looks obvious and simple in the climax more complicated.

2. Retelling of Tempest
I didn’t know until I read in reviews that Midnight at the Houdini is a retelling of Tempest. After reading the summary of the Tempest I could see many similarities here- The creation of the storm that leads Anna, her father and his friends in Houdini; Houdini’s magic and its connection to Phoebe; Phoebe’s revenge and the reason behind it… and many other small things.

3. Setting of Houdini
Houdini is a character in itself and it is the best part of the book. The inside of the hotels feels much bigger than the actual hotel size in the real world. I love the magical theme in the hotel and its ambiance of the historical era from hotel lobbies to paintings, rooms, wardrobes, elevators, music, and even the accent of the people alive in the hotel.

There are hundreds of rooms, circuitous lobbies, trap doors, and secret labyrinthine passages that make the plot adventurous and also give a claustrophobic feel. I was excited to see what next room Anna would find and where the trapdoor or the passage would take her.

It was amazing how Houdini could magic food and clothes and play music appropriate to the situation showing its playful nature. The way it helped Anna and Max show it’s kind and loving nature to good people but very scary for those who hurt it and people under its protection.

I loved Houdini’s story as well, how it came to existence gives answers to many questions like- where the magic comes from, why no one can escape, why it is helping Anna, and how Anna and anyone else can escape to the real world.

There are many book reference – Harry Potter, Narnia, Alice in The Wonderland, The Circus- and part of the setting is compared with books

4. Interesting theme and layers
The main theme of the story is revenge and forgiveness. There is layers of mother’s love, secrets, greed, deceptions, and betrayal. I like the message in the book about how people are prisoners of their own emotions and they can be free of them by letting them go by forgiving and moving on in life.

5. Dark, and whimsical atmosphere with light Romance
Houdini’s dark passages and whimsical magic make it creepy and atmospheric. Moast of the characters in this are creepy and sinister. Colin, the janitor who wants to hurt Anna, Phoebe who is determined to keep Anna and Max apart, and Anna’s father David’s friends- Sebastian and Toni- are plotting against him. The past of Houdini and Phoebe is dark and touching.

However, the romantic angle keeps the plot light enough to make it perfect for Young adults and even middle-grade readers. Both Anna and Max are different from each other in many aspects and they know each other for only a few hours and yet they feel the connection between them. It was interesting how both want different things- Anna wants to escape Houdini and Max wants to stay with Anna- but with the same end purpose, they both don’t want Anna to turn into a ghost. It adds tension to their relationship and distraction from their goals.

Why 4 Stars –

Characters are two-dimensional. They are either good or bad, there is no in-between. Both Anna and Max stay good throughout the book while Phoebe, Colin, and Sebastian and Toni, stay bad. As for Daniel I don’t think he changed, he sure is business-minded and has no time for family in the beginning but it never said he was the bad person like his friends. We see his caring side only once he enters the Houdini but he doesn’t act on it except saying, “I need to find my daughter”.

I don’t think Anna really understands the real reason why Emily chose the house far from their family home or the part about growing independently her father said in the beginning. Sometimes it was frustrating to read Anna’s frustration over not having control and logic in the Houdini.

Max was cute and adorable there is no question but I feel he kept insisting Anna not to find a way out too often for my liking rather than helping her find a way out and what help he did was in defeated manner like it’s-useless-and-he-knows-she-won’t-find-escape-but-he-would-do-anything-to-be-with-her. He wasn’t selfish by nature but in this instance, he sure looked selfish and clingy which I didn’t like.

Writing is simple. Third-person multiple perspectives was good here showing what each character is thinking and going through but sometimes it didn’t feel like perspectives aligned with the timeline seamlessly. We have a proper clock ticking for Anna but not for David and his friends which makes it a bit hazy how much time they spent where.

Overall, Midnight at the Houdini is enjoyable, atmospheric, and adventurous YA urban fantasy with magical realism.

“Remember it’s only magic”


Magic, wonder, secrets and some interesting characters await for you in the Houdini Hotel. Located in Vegas, this old hotel is not quite what it seems for no one can leave after midnight.

Anna finds herself trapped in a hotel with winding halls, doors that lead to strange places and an elevator that doesn’t quite work. She stumbles across Max, a boys she doesn’t understand, but who is utterly in love with her.

But will Anna be able to escape and does she even want to?

“She wants to be with Max, wants him to keep looking at her like she’s the rainbow he’s been searching for all his life”.

Amongst the strangeness of this magical hotel, a friendship blossoms between Anna and Max, as he shows her all the wonders of the hotel. But how will she choose between Max and her own world….

A magical hotel with secrets and maybe a little sinister? Yes please.
This was an enjoyable, fast paced read and I loved the hints of Alice in Wonderland (which is my favorite). If you’re in need of quick, magical read then definitely give this one a try!

We’re swirled away with magic and wonder in this gloriously twisted tale. While I think the second half of the book muddled a bit of my thoughts with how much was pushed I do think it’s a fun and magical YA fantasy that’ll appeal to anyone just entering the range. PLUS if you’re looking for a more grownup version of the kids Alice in Wonderland this might scratch that itch!

This story follows Anna Alonso who always has everything planned out in her life, including her own family. After her sister gets married, and Anna learns her sister is moving away ruining all of Anna's plans, she heads home with her father and his friends when a tornado hits and they get into accident that only Anna can get out of the car and get help at the Houdini where they happened to crash. Anna enters the lobby and the inside is nothing like the outside and not anything she expected, plus there seems to be no one there until she meets a boy who tells her if she doesn't leave by the next midnight, she will be stuck in the Houdini forever.

This book is written in a way that reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, The Night Circus, and The Starless Sea. It's quirky and almost all over the place, but I'm pretty sure that is the point. It's magical and makes you want to wander around this magical hotel that has new rooms you can keep discovering.

Anna was not my favorite, however, she grew on me as the story progressed. She definitely has a Type A personality, which drives me nuts, but I admire her tenacity, logical mind, stubbornness, and sense of love and loyalty. It was interesting to see her learn about magic when she has such a logical mind. it's just so hard for her to accept it, and then to be around this boy who just seems to have stars in his eyes whenever he looks at her, and yet she is wary of him since she's been hurt before by people, and has a hard time trusting. Seeing her grow was lovely to see.

Then there is Max. Poor Max. He is like this golden retriever learning about a world he's never been to, and learning about how lonely he has been. It breaks your heart to read about him and you just want to be there to help him and hug him.

The romance is definitely instalove, although in Max's case, maybe not so much. I liked it and also wasn't a huge fan of it. It was very cute, and sweet, just not my favorite.

A couple things that had me give this 4 stars: There was one scene in here that I was confused with Anna because one time the boy grabs her hand to have her follow him, and she tells him he can't just do that, just touch her like that. And then literally a couple pages over within her inner monologue, she is saying how much she wants him to touch her. She was contradictory like that, and with a subject like that, you're either okay with it or not, and I guess I did not understand that small incident. Maybe not a big deal to some, but I just thought this was a bit confusing.

Then the history of the hotel. This was not well explained at. all. There is a moment where you get an idea of how it came about, but there is no detail. I wish the history was more fleshed out and I got more information about how this hotel truly started and why. I would explain more about what I mean, but it would severely spoil the story. I will just say, I would have liked to learn more about the history of the hotel and the origin of its magic.

Overall, if you love The Night Circus or Alice in Wonderland, I think you would enjoy the magic and wonder of this book! I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.