Review--Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor

 

For fans of Caraval and The Night Circus, this decadent and darkly enchanting YA fantasy, set against the backdrop of a Belle Époque-inspired hotel, follows seventeen-year-old Jani as she uncovers the deeply disturbing secrets of the legendary Hotel Magnifique.

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.

I finally picked up Emily J. Taylor's Hotel Magnifique as it's one that has been calling to me since it released! It was a magical tale filled with mystery and intrigue and another great sisterly bond. The Caraval vibes were strong with this one! While I wasn't as swept away and held captivated by the story, it was still an enticing read that kept me turning the pages trying to uncover its mysteries!

Jani has always wanted to visit Hotel Magnifique, the magical hotel that travels throughout the world visiting new places everyday. Getting an invitation is nearly impossible, for only invited guests are allowed inside but then Jani sees that the hotel is hiring and she sees this as her way in along with her sister who has a gift for singing.

When they both secure their jobs inside the famed hotel, they are awestruck by all the magic and wonders that they see. The hotel owner, Alastair is a man of mystery himself. But soon the shine begins to fade a little when the sisters are separated, Jani to work as a maid, and her sister, Zosa, is to be a singer and is sequestered with the performers. However, Jani begins to learn that not all is well with this hotel and its supposed magic.

Guiding her along this mystery trip, is Bel, a bellhop at the hotel who is keeping his own secrets as well. This is truly a place where you can trust no one. And of course, these two butt heads quite a bit and you just know that animosity is going to turn into something more soon enough, and sure enough we see that in a nice slow development!

I will also admit, that I was reading this during times of chaos on occasion so when I would come back to the story I felt like I was already forgetting previous details. Again, this is a me issue, I really must stop inviting chaos into my life. Lol. So there were many times where I felt like I wasn't sure of what all was happening, but within time I'd jump back on track. Of course the ending left me with a few puzzling questions, but I think those were meant to be left unanswered.

All in all, this was a mesmerizing and mysterious read! It's captivating story was touching and gripping! I truly did enjoy its intense Caraval vibes with the sisterly bond and the need to save the other. The added touch of romance was a blessing as well! You can't ever go wrong with that! It was a fun and engaging read, I just wish my surroundings were better when I was reading it.

Overall Rating 3.5/5 stars