Thursday, January 19, 2023

Hotel Magnifique

Hotel Magnifique 
By Emily J. Taylor 
Razorbill, 2022. 391 pages. Young Adult Fantasy

Seventeen-year-old Jani and her little sister Zosa secure jobs at a glamorous magical hotel, but when Jani realizes that their staff contracts are unbreakable, she 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. 

This story is super fascinating and was hard to put down. The world was well crafted, and the way the magic was used and how the characters interacted with the world was clearly well thought out and integrated seamlessly. Certain parts of this book reminded me both of CARAVAL (see below) with its magic and traveling attraction, and the Korean drama Hotel del Luna with the magical hotel that will change and adapt to accommodate its guests, providing the most magical and wonderful experience magic can produce. And yet, there’s a darker side that must be uncovered and explored to progress the story to a satisfying conclusion. Overall, a wonderful book that I can easily recommend. 

If you liked Hotel Magnifique, you might also like: 

By Stephanie Garber 
Flatiron Books, 2017. 407 pages. Young Adult Fantasy

Believing that she will never be allowed to participate in the annual Caraval performance when her ruthless father arranges her marriage, Scarlett receives the invitation she has always dreamed of before her sister, Tella, is kidnapped by the show's mastermind organizer. 

By J. Elle 
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021. 360 pages. Young Adult Fantasy

Taken away from her Houston neighborhood by the father she never knew in the aftermath of her mother’s murder, a Black teen arrives on a hidden island of magic, where she discovers her half-god identity and responsibility in helping protect the mortal and immortal worlds. 

ACS

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