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**TL;DR**: A surprisingly warm and cozy story that follows a crew and the occupants of a floating hotel - including spies and torturers. I loved this.

Frontier was one of my favorite books of last year and Grace Curtis has stuck to her style and brought us another winner in Floating Hotel. This one centers in a floating hotel, a cruise ship of the stars and the drama that unfolds there.

The book is cozy and warm - that’s the best way I can describe it. We get chapters from nearly every crew member and some of those riding, and they give us pieces of the history of the ship, themselves, and what is happening on this possibly last flight. There is an empire at large that the crew and the ship’s occupants are all members of, which is illustrated through the course of the novel to great success I felt.

I ended this loving the characters and the story. I wish we’d had just a touch more in the ending, but the way it was framed and executed worked fantastically. For a book that follows spies and torturers among it’s more cozy elements the book really took me by surprise.

I recommend Frontier and now I’ll add Floating Hotel to that list. Grace Curtis is working her way to a favorite author. This was a delight.

5 out of 5 Friends From Beyond

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with advance reader copy!

The premise of this book really excited me, because it somehow reminded me of Before The Coffee Gets Cold and Dallergut (a place that can make you heal from your pain and regrets), and I was right! This book gave me the same hopeful feeling!

I can't explain it very well, but there is something very moving about this idea, that somewhere across the galaxy, there is a place that will accept you even with all your past mistakes and regrets. A place that allows you to find your family.

I think the only downside of this book is that each chapter is told by a different character, so you won't know what happens after about... 30% of the book, once you get past that phase, everything makes sense.

Oh ! To take a ride on the Floating Hotel! Sign me up!

I absolutely love this book. It's a perfect concept - a hotel that moves from planet to planet (and system to system) kitted out with fantastic food and restaurants and great service. The Grand Abeona Hotel is a dream

I also love how Curtis has styled this sci fi novel - in each chapter we meet a citizen, normally a staff member of the hotel and learn their back story. Abeona seems to be a safe house of sorts, a place for many who lost their home, cut ties with family or are on the run. The stories are varied, exciting and beautiful. This book could have served as a series of short stories tied together by the hotel. Curtis takes the book to the next level by tying everything up with a mystery thriller. Who is leaving notes, and better yet who are they for? Who is the political radical the Lamplighter? Join general manager Carl and all of the denizens of the Abeoa to find out!
#Daw #floatinghotel #gracecurtis

A fun, unique space story. I didn’t realize going into it that it would be quite so cozy. I was thinking *hoping* for more along the lines of skyward but this is not that.

There’s a lot going on and a lot of characters. A floating luxury hotel in space requires a lot of moving parts as one would imagine. That being said, all the different backstories of workers on board made the story read quite clunky. I didn’t feel like I got to know them or even really care about them. I think for me, that’s why I had the lack of connection to the story itself. Then there’s the other part of the story, the mystery side. It was like the author took the cozy side from the left and the rough side from the right and just smacked them together to force them to work.

Love the plot, the idea of it, just not the execution.

Well, that was a fun stand alone. And it felt fresh and original too. Decaying once grand space cruise ship, still very nice, traveling around a corrupt and messed up human empire dealing with all the little plots and schemes brought on board. Solid read for any science fiction fan I think if you’re in the mood for a fairly light, aside from someone being tortured and such not… read.

Very cosy and I love seeing that in the science fiction genre. Definitely a good read on a rainy day or when you are feeling a bit low, it's lovely and makes you feel warm inside.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved the concept for this book. I loved the characters, I loved the setting, and I loved the story. (You can probably sense a "but" coming.) BUT, I think this book tried to do too much all at once. For a novel that was just over 300 pages, this was an ambitious story to attempt to tell, and unfortunately I just think it fell flat. There was a LOT going on in this book (sometimes too much, which was another issue I had with it) and because of how much was going on, there was just no way to get to a satisfying conclusion to every plot point within the allotted pages. Personally I think this novel would have fared much better as a series. It would have given the author more time to develop the characters, introduce us to the setting, and set up the various conflicts-- rather than piling everything on us at once. I really, really wanted to love this book, but I think it just tried to be too much all at once and the writing just wasn't strong enough to hold up the bones of the story. I still enjoyed it, don't get me wrong, but I think this book could have been so much more had the story (and setting and characters) been given room to breathe.

As we embark on our journey through the Grand Aboena Hotel, we get to see sort of a slice of life from many of the staff members and a few of the guests who call the hotel home. As we encounter each new person we get a glimpse of their past, their secrets, and how they feel about being in the Grand Abeona. There is an overarching mystery that we are trying to figure out as we are introduced to all these characters, I found myself trying to piece together all the bits of information we get to solve it. And I was completely wrong on really what it was the mystery was supposed to be, and who it ended up being about.. So I guess I was mildly confused through a lot of the story, but it didn't make me enjoy the story any less. I had some stand-out favorite scenes and one or two favorite characters, and I loved the cozy vibe that the hotel gave off.
I would check out other books by Grace Curtis in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up because I like the concept.

I was drawn into this by the idea of a space hotel, essentially a cruise ship, and the style of loosely connected short stories. It was a quick read, and something easy to read in short bursts, if need be, as each chapter is a vignette of one of the crew or guests of the hotel. All the stories interconnect to form a cohesive, overarching plot. Though this is described as "cozy," I wouldn't term it so - it's cozy for about the first hundred pages, but then it goes down some dark paths, as some dark events happen and some characters have very tragic backstories.

There are a lot of styles represented here - cozy found family, (possible) murder mystery, code-breaking, spy thriller, rebellion against an Empire, and more I'm sure I'm forgetting. In trying to tackle so many tones and styles at once, the stories don't always quite work together, and certainly some characters' stories are more interesting than others, thus the 3.5 score instead of 4. However, on the whole I liked the unique format, as I enjoy it when authors break out of the traditional style. Plus, if you're not drawn into a particular characters' story, you know the next one will be along in 20 pages or so. Somewhere I saw this compared to Becky Chambers' style, and though I think Chambers' stories are a little more cohesive with better developed characters, I can see that comparison. It also reminded me a bit of Mary Robinette Kowal's The Spare Man. If you liked either of those authors, I'd definitely give this a try. I'll keep my eye out for more from this author in the future.

Let me start off by saying: I don't think this will work for everyone, but I devoured it. As a fan of slice-of-life anime and manga, like Restaurant to Another World, or cozy sci-fi like Becky Chambers, this fits those cozy vibes I love. I could 100% see this as an animated series, and I will never know peace until it is adapted.

While each chapter focuses on a different character, either the staff of the floating hotel or guests who visit, there is an overarching thread that is found in each of these snippets of people's lives, and once it starts getting revealed, it is so addicting to follow. I could see people being bored in the beginning or confused by the structure, but I think both the slower start and the unique style are worth it in the end. I was worried the ending wasn't going to hold up, but I found it satisfying. Highly recommend!!

The author uses many different POVs and their varying narratives in a remarkable way. Rather than getting bogged down by too much happened, it served to build the levels of the story.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall Review

This book has the vibe of Legend and Lattes but set in space. Told in a multiple POV, we get to learn about the staff, guests, and crew of the Abeona hotel, a floating spaceship. Though the Abeona has seen better days, it become the center of political intrigue and danger when spies, professors, and soldiers descend upon it.

This story was very cozy and easy to read, with you caring about each character as you go. I loved that each character has a rich inner life that we get access to, and it shows the different sides of the Abeona ecosystem. If you want a light read that has a great plot, I recommend this book.

Actual Rating: 3.5

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book.

‘Cosy’ books within a variety of genres seem to be growing massively in popularity lately and sci-fi is a genre that I’m constantly meaning to check out (my experience with it so far, book wise anyway, is in the form of dystopian novels which I adore) so when I was offered an ARC of ‘Floating Hotel’ I leapt at the chance to check it out. Not only did it tick those ‘cosy’ and ‘sci-fi’ boxes but its blurb promised numerous areas of ‘intrigue’ and it featured a setting that brought ’Passengers’ to mind too. For a first dive into two different genres it was a pretty enjoyable experience.

One of my favourite aspects of ’Floating Hotel’ is one that admittedly may divide opinion; the rather unique way in which the story unfolded. Instead of switching between a couple of perspectives, sticking to one or opting for a third person narrative this book features the majority of its perspectives only once, giving it’s chosen characters one section where the reader gets to discover the past that led them to the Abeona and the events that trouble them in the present. This was wonderfully well done and managed to share these backstories in an engaging manner whilst keeping up intrigue in the present goings on abroad the ship. Scattered between these segments were an intriguing number of ‘Lamplighter dispatches’ which were surprisingly delightful and eye opening to read. It was an interesting approach to a story and I’d certainly be excited to check out more novels written in a similar manner.

The setting also intrigued me and was delightful to explore. Given the novel’s narrative approach and the story’s focus it wasn’t explored as thoroughly as I’m used to (as an avid fantasy reader) but it’s level of exploration felt fitting for the story that was told. The ‘intrigues’ were interesting to unravel too and the central mystery left me pleasantly surprised, for the most part, with how it tied up. The answers aren’t written out in black and white entirely upon the page but in a way that suited the story. Honestly my only issue with the ending is the fact that someone overlooked something fairly obvious to me which is frustrating. Yet as a whole I was satisfied with how everything was tied up.

Early on ’Floating Hotel’ felt as if it was going to be a solid, four star read to me. Yet over time I have to confess that my enjoyment level had a tendency to falter. I was never bored but I wasn’t quite as invested in the story as I could have been. Yes the various mysteries intrigued me, yes I enjoyed exploring the setting and learning everybody’s backstory but I also found a lot of the characters rather unlikeable too. Not all of them but more than I’d have expected. Everyone had interesting stories to unravel and I loved discovering them but quite a few people had such spiky personalities and it frustrated me after a while. Did so many people have to be rude to others consistently?

Similarly I didn’t really feel much of a spark within the romances that were hinted at. This isn’t major, as romance certainly wasn’t the focus of the book, but it’s worth mentioning. Especially as some of the interactions felt somewhat awkward to me. Although I did find some of the parallels between dangers and industries within our own world eye opening.

Altogether I recommend ’Floating Hotel’ and think that it will prove to be a refreshingly different reading experience for many. It’s an interesting approach to a sci-fi mystery with lots of different levels of intrigue. It has lots of fascinating secrets to uncover and is set within a world that I’d happily explore in more depth. Truthfully if a couple more of the characters had felt more likable then this easily would have been a four star read for me.

I am such an absolute sucker for any kind of found family and the galactic island of misfit toys that is “Floating Hotel” left me hoping that everyone has a Carl in their lives. This whacky space mystery was so much more than a who dun it, it was acceptance, second chances, and endless kindness. The end was perfect but left me a little melancholy, that’s all I’ll say.

A hotel spaceship with a crew of misfits who come together to form a family of sorts. An emperor who attempts to quash any discussion or acknowledgement of alien species, even in fiction. A secret subversive newsletter which appears to be coming from the hotel. This book is a lovely cozy mystery set in space. I enjoyed the characters, the concept, and the atmosphere of the book. I enjoyed hearing the story develop from the perspective of the other characters. I can imagine this as a great audio book with multiple actors. Overall, a fun, fast, engaging read. The kind of place that might spawn lots of fan fiction, and I would want to read all of that too. I'll be recommending this to my sci-fi readers for a light mystery and a breath of fresh air.

I was undecided about this book as I was reading it. The pacing is slow, and each chapter is from a new character's perspective. It took me half-way through to appreciate the structure and the story that was being weaved. After that point, I couldn't put it down. Curtis builds a complex narrative and cozy sci-fi mystery akin to Becky Chamber's Wayfarers series.

The titular space hotel is home to a staff made up of people who needed to find a home or an escape or both. The owner, Carl, is the everyman who is there to protect them from the Galactic Empire, which looms as a threat throughout the novel. My biggest issue with the book was that there are a lot of characters to keep track of and shifting character POVs left me with a few plot holes. However, I may have missed a few details myself.

Thank you, DAW, for providing me with an advanced reader's copy.

I truly hate when I decided to DNF a netgalley ARC, but this book is not for me and not as I expected it to be. I DNF it at 50% so I think it's enough for me to give my opinion about this book.

Actually the book confused me a lot, I think it's because the writing style of the author that made this book's structure different from most books. Instead of making one whole story with a clear plot and each chapters continuous with one another, this book has chapters that feels like just adding one story to another because it tells different characters and doesn't have story continuity from one chapter to another. Sure there are some of the characters that take my interest, but for me it's not enough to enjoy a book just by one or two characters without a clear plot/story.

At first, I thought I just need to keep reading the book so I will get the plot, but no. Even after reaching half of the book I still didn't get where the plot gonna go and I decided to DNF it. It is so sad because this book isn't for me bcs I really want to love this book when I read the blurb and received the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, DAW, and Grace Curtis for the ARC in exchange of my honest review!

Unfortunately I did DNF this book. I just wasn’t as interested as I thought I would be. This is out of the normal zone of my reading and I wanted to give it a try. Though it’s not for me, I’m sure many others will enjoy it. The author does very well with imagery and word choices, so it is well written. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to try this book out.

This was so low key and chill while also having a couple of mysteries to keep me on my toes and wondering what is going on but I enjoyed meeting each of the characters and having multiple povs and just being there while these extraordinary beings live their life on a literal spaceship hotel.

Had to give it it's props.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis.
Publication date 19 march 2024.

This is a cozy scifi/mystery novel.

The Grand Abeona Hotel is a resort on a spaceship moving from planet to planet like a cruise. Each chapter is presented from the perspective of a different character and the story is revealed through their points of view. Staff, administrators and customers, there are a lot of them! I felt like I was watching a show about the daily lives of hotel staff. It was very interesting and at one point I almost forgot that I was reading a mystery. It was addictive.

A mystery that unfolds very slowly from the beginning and is quickly resolved towards the end. Too quickly. I wanted more. I wanted to spend more time with the staff. I wanted to know more about the world of the Empire. I wanted to know more about this ship which was mysterious in itself. I wanted another episode of the show.

It was a captivating story, I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for the eARC.