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A review by nataliealane
Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor
3.0
3.5 stars
What I liked:
-The Magic system is a cool concept, with the magicians, or suminaires, able to bond with and use certain magical “artefacts” based on their ability and heart’s desire. In a way, the artefact they choose, which helps channel their magic, is a reflection of the person.
-I loved the sisterhood aspect! Family themes are some of my favorite to see in books, and Jani’s min motivation is keeping her sister safe. She experiences a lot of guilty and regret. While her decisions aren’t usually the best, they are driven by love. I wish I could have seen more interactions between Jani and Zosa, but for spoiler-y reasons, they remain separated for much of the book.
-The setting of course! I wouldn’t say I was entranced by it as The Night Circus (one of its comp titles) but it was a fun aspect for sure.
-I couldn’t draw strong parallels to any fairytale or fable in particular, but it gave me similar vibes to some kind of fairytale retelling!
-I don’t know it this is a standalone or not, but it wraps up in a way that is both satisfying but also leaves room for the story to continue.
-I couldn’t put it own once I started!
What I didn’t like:
-Although I liked the Magic system, I have a lot of questions about it. The info we do get about it is often info-dumped.
-The villain had soooo much potential! One character even stated a great reason for them turning evil that would have added depth to their development. However, the ultimate goal ended up just being the stereotypical immortality and youth/power.
-Bel was an interesting character, but I wasn’t sold on the romance.
Read if you like:
-YA
-magical settings
-mystery
-found The Night Circus too slow
-sisterhood/family/home themes
-not everything is what it seems
-banter
This book may not be for you if you dislike:
-miscommunication/secrecy in romance
- the MC not listening to anything (and constantly getting in trouble…I wonder why?)
-simplistic villains
Final notes: The book was marketed for fans of The Night Circus and Caraval. I can see similarities between The Night Circus and the actual set up of the Hotel, along with a certain aspect of the Magic, but plot wise and vibe wise I feel like it might be more in line with Caraval? However, I haven’t read that series; I’m mainly going off of what I’ve heard. Don’t go into it expecting The Night Circus, though.
Tea pairing: Jazzing from @shopcallmesweetea I can just imagine fruit and white chocolate custard yard being served with some ridiculously beautiful, luxurious topping/display at the Hotel, plus the butterfly pea flower changes the tea from blue to purple with citrus, so you end up with a bit of a magical tea? (And it matches the book cover!)
What I liked:
-The Magic system is a cool concept, with the magicians, or suminaires, able to bond with and use certain magical “artefacts” based on their ability and heart’s desire. In a way, the artefact they choose, which helps channel their magic, is a reflection of the person.
-I loved the sisterhood aspect! Family themes are some of my favorite to see in books, and Jani’s min motivation is keeping her sister safe. She experiences a lot of guilty and regret. While her decisions aren’t usually the best, they are driven by love. I wish I could have seen more interactions between Jani and Zosa, but for spoiler-y reasons, they remain separated for much of the book.
-The setting of course! I wouldn’t say I was entranced by it as The Night Circus (one of its comp titles) but it was a fun aspect for sure.
-I couldn’t draw strong parallels to any fairytale or fable in particular, but it gave me similar vibes to some kind of fairytale retelling!
-I don’t know it this is a standalone or not, but it wraps up in a way that is both satisfying but also leaves room for the story to continue.
-I couldn’t put it own once I started!
What I didn’t like:
-Although I liked the Magic system, I have a lot of questions about it. The info we do get about it is often info-dumped.
-The villain had soooo much potential! One character even stated a great reason for them turning evil that would have added depth to their development. However, the ultimate goal ended up just being the stereotypical immortality and youth/power.
-Bel was an interesting character, but I wasn’t sold on the romance.
Read if you like:
-YA
-magical settings
-mystery
-found The Night Circus too slow
-sisterhood/family/home themes
-not everything is what it seems
-banter
This book may not be for you if you dislike:
-miscommunication/secrecy in romance
- the MC not listening to anything (and constantly getting in trouble…I wonder why?)
-simplistic villains
Final notes: The book was marketed for fans of The Night Circus and Caraval. I can see similarities between The Night Circus and the actual set up of the Hotel, along with a certain aspect of the Magic, but plot wise and vibe wise I feel like it might be more in line with Caraval? However, I haven’t read that series; I’m mainly going off of what I’ve heard. Don’t go into it expecting The Night Circus, though.
Tea pairing: Jazzing from @shopcallmesweetea I can just imagine fruit and white chocolate custard yard being served with some ridiculously beautiful, luxurious topping/display at the Hotel, plus the butterfly pea flower changes the tea from blue to purple with citrus, so you end up with a bit of a magical tea? (And it matches the book cover!)