I really enjoyed Hotel Magnifique by Emily J Taylor. The cover is enchanting and it is one of those books that I could see my pupils gravitating towards. Although it did remind me of Caraval in many ways, I loved the fact that this time, the MC is actually part of the staff and the way her sister and herself are treated adds an interesting layer to the story that I feel could bring a lot to a discussion with pupils during book club. Hotel Magnifique is magical at first yes, but not everything that shines is made of gold, and there is a sense of dread throughout that keeps you wanting to keep reading more. I could see this book working at KS4 or KS5 for our SFF book club.

Hotel Magnifique 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.

The story follows Jani, who likes adventures, and loves her little sister more than anything, sometimes even envying her talent, but supports her no matter what. After gaining employment by Hotel Magnifique, Jani, out of necessity, begins to uncover the secrets of the hotel and the influence it has on its employees and guests. However, while doing so, she often acts on impulse and without a second thought, which most often gets her into more trouble and precarious situations than necessary.
And while the mystery was enjoyable, and the dark parts kept me on the edge and made me turn page after page, the supposed romantic part of Janis' story couldn't hold my interest, partly because I was simply annoyed by her cluelessness.

-[...]There never seemed to be an end to the secrets in this hotel, no matter how much I learned.[...]-

The book's title, cover, and promise of a magical travel hotel intrigued me. And although the blurb and some reviews compare Hotel Magnifique to The Night Circus, I would say that it is set in a world much more rooted in fantasy and its own lore than the magical realism found in The Night Circus. In my opinion, it compares better with stories like Caraval.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read, and as I mentioned before, I would recommend it to those who want to read about an interesting and fantastical magical world that gets a little dark and has a light sprinkling of romance.

-[...]In a softer voice he added, “You might feel lonely, but I promise you’re not alone.” [...]-

I was so excited to read Hotel Magnifique when I first saw videos about the book on TikTok. I adored the world and loved how it took place in a hotel. The magic that was within the world was great as well. The characters were interesting and loved the interactions between them all. Definitely going to be reading more from Emily J Taylor.

I usually do not pay attention to books when the descriptions liken them to something else. If I had, I might not have chosen to pick it up! Unlike a majority of the readers whose reviews and gushing I have had the privilege to read, I am not a fan of The Night Circus. Something was lacking in it for me, and even a reread did not fix that. I am mentioning it all here because this book is what I imagined when I had first seen the reviews of the former.
This is a book about siblings over everything else. Magic comes a close second. The world which we visit is not favourable to magicians. There is only one place where it is still practised freely and known to everyone. That is the Hotel Magnifique. When it comes around, it sends invites to people and puts up advertisements for a workforce. It is only when one sibling is chosen without the other that things start to change.
What I admired most about the characters was that none of them was altruistically good. There was a tinge of selfishness to every good deed or supportive help. This also led me to guess the twist towards the end, the only reason it was not a complete five star read for me. It was a more obvious direction to take the narrative, and I was hoping for something more.
The story is about discovering, resolving past secrets, and tracing a new direction for the lead protagonists to move. The love story (or the almost love story, to be more precise) is in the background but does feature in how the story turns at times.
The adventure aspect also intrigued me, and I almost got a whiff of the Magic Faraway tree without the happy parts.
I would recommend this to readers of the fantasy genre who like a single book which does not extend to a series. It has a very satisfying conclusion, and I would read another book by the author if I had the chance.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Richly detailed and gorgeously evocative, Hotel Magnifique is a delight for all the senses.

The fantasy world of the Hotel is decadent and glorious, catering for every whim. It's an environment where glamour meets magic and the end result is a brilliantly imaginative melting pot of luxury and enchantments.

Jani is the main character, a dogged young woman determined to make a better life for her sister and herself. She is devoted to Zosa, her younger sister, to the extent that she is blinded to the dangers around the siblings. When they enter the Hotel, Jani quickly realises that all is not as it first seems.

Jani's developing relationship with Bel, her enigmatic new colleague, is beautifully written with just the right balance of attraction and intrigue. And Bel certainly is an intriguing character - again, all is not as it seems!

This was a really enjoyable read and I flew through the story. Despite the majority of the book being set within the Hotel, the story didn't feel too confined or restricted by the location. There is a large cast of supporting characters - both friends and foes - and this helps to add another dimension to the central plotline.

My only criticism is that Zosa isn't a very well developed character. Once the sisters are ensconced in the world of the Hotel Zosa quickly fades away into the background. I feel that an opportunity to develop their relationship further was missed because it's almost as if she just becomes a plot point rather than a character in her own right. Luckily, Jani makes up for Zosa's lack of personality as she is such a strong, well-defined character.

Hotel Magnifique was a real treat of a debut novel; I can't wait to read more from this author in the future!

DNF at 11%

When I stumbled across the premise for Hotel Magnifique, I thought finally. Finally I've found a YA fantasy book that doesn't blend into the same magical kingdom with missing sibling plotline, but...no. I've seen the protagonist of this book in so many other young adult books, and I'm honestly fed up with the whole "I've got a younger sister, and will do anything to protect her" thing that seems to be in so many books. And this isn't mentioned a few times (which would be more than understandable!), it's the whole personality of these characters. I could foresee a meeting of two characters turning into our classic *insta-love* thing that the young adult genre is full of, I knew I would not be able to stand 300+ pages of clunky dialogue and writing I was not getting along with. You could argue that because I only got 10% into the book that I didn't get a full picture of it, but if quite a few of my problems with the books are to do with the craft of the book itself (clunky dialogue, writing style), then I think it's justified. I have so many books to read these days, and so little time, that perhaps I should be DNFing books more. And reading YA less, because I think I am preferring the complexity of adult novels far more these days.

There are not enough words to describe how much I loved this book!

The Hotel Magnifique is a mysterious and magical hotel that shows up one day every ten years all over the world. Everyone from different society classes are fascinated and enamoured by the hotels legendary and whimsical enchantments. The only way to become a guest is to be fortunate enough to win an invitation or to seek employment. Both are required to sign a contract, but never has it been said with such caution….be to read the terms and conditions before signing!

Although the hotel may appear enchanting and magical it’s important to walk the hallways with caution. Behind the curtains you might find power hungry magicians and dangerous secrets. The Hotel Magnifique gave me Caraval and The Night Circus vibes, but shaken up with dark and sinister elements, which was utterly gripping. However, it’s not all doom and gloom…the story holds a sweet romance and a strong sisterly bond.

Emily J. Taylor has created a world that is decadent and intriguing. This blended with a diverse set of characters and a few dark twists in the plot created an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read. I would highly recommend this book!

Rating: 5/5 Stars! ⭐️

Content warnings include: violence, murder, enslavement, drugging, and loss of loved ones.

Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for the eARCof this book.

An interesting new release that is drawing comparisons to Caraval and The Night Circus - neither of which I have read, for context. This is a whimsical fantasy adventure about a magical hotel that changes location every evening. My first thought is that this is only narrowly a YA - were it not for the romantic arc and slightly graphic violence I would put this firmly in the MG category.

The weaknesses - the ‘whimsicality’ of the hotel itself veers on saccharine. It is very Hot Topic Alice in Wonderland - oversaturated with the comically twee. The scene in the giant teacup is the most egregious of these. That could mostly be written off as personal taste, though. The greater issue is the lack of satisfying visual world building - there were too many rooms, described in not quite enough detail; the places the hotel travels to (surely a huge draw???) lacking character; and then there were the characters. The oddest thing about this whole book is that almost exclusively, the only physical descriptor you are given for a character is the colour of their skin. Delighted, obviously, to see a diverse ensemble - but that’s as far as it goes , there’s almost no discussion of culture or diversity beyond this. Occasionally you might also get a hair colour. The characters left almost no visual impression at all. I couldn’t tell you what any of the main characters were supposed to look like.


The strengths - I really liked the romantic arc of this book. It’s a solid medium/slow-burner with an interesting and charismatic romantic interest. I enjoyed the dynamic between Bel and Jani - it had a bit of the Howl and Sophie about it! I also thought aspects of the magic system were unique - I liked the idea that magic actually COULD be a threat. Aspects of it felt a little poached from His Dark Materials and the Grishaverse, but I feel like with a sequel or two this world could really come into its own.


Overall, I think this is a world with a lot of promise, but it doesn’t totally stick the landing! I can definitely think of some kids at my school who would enjoy.

While it was dark, intriguing with enchanting magical setting that will immerse you in the story, the main character really frustrates me. As something that could make or break the story, unfortunately in this instance it break the story for me. While it didn’t work for me, it could still be a new favorite of others if you’re looking for something magical and intriguing to read.

(Thank you to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

I loved this book!!! It was so magical but also mysterious and the world made for a fantastic setting. The hotel was enchanting but held so many secrets that I loved learning about. The magic and magic system was really interesting and I loved all the different powers all the characters had.

I really liked the main character, Jani. She was stubborn and didn't always think before she acted but I liked how real she was as well as the love she has for her sister. I wish her sister could have had a bigger presence in the book as she was great too. The romance was cute and not too in your face, it was gradual and felt real which I loved.

The plot was great and had a lot of twists, though at some points the writing did make it a little hard to understand what exactly was happening. There would be times when the writing was beautiful and made me feel as though I was in the hotel experiencing all the magic but at other points, it felt quite rushed and slightly confusing.

That being said, I really did love this book. It was a fast-paced read filled with magic and great characters whilst also having a mysterious plot.

This is like Nevermoor but for YA, mixed with heavy doses of Caravel and Night Circus, but I also get undertones of Charles Perrault's Cinderella (whether intentional or not)

The hotel comes alive off the pages by Taylor's enchanting and rich descriptions, using renaissance influences. The plot dabbles with magic, romance, and mystery to create such a compelling read. I do feel like I have read the plot before and so the originality of the premise is lacking, but still is a solid read and great debut for the author.

The romance between Jani and Bel was good and slowly-paced, with plenty of banter and tension.Jani herself is a strong and courageous MC that would do anything for her sister.

A fun read full of wonder and intrigue. A recommended journey for those who like magical hotels, tense romance, sibling-love, and a mystery or two.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

loved this book! it was a bit slow and my attention span isn't that great so i was confused at times. but overall it's a solid read and i cannot wait to read more books by emily j. taylor!!!

DNF 49%

This isn't a bad book. Not exactly. But honestly while reading, I kept getting a feeling of deja vu. And that's never good. The story is just so unoriginal and the plot devices and just so cliché. It was wrong to compare this to Caraval and The Night Circus, both of which are praised for their undeniable uniqueness. I couldn't connect to the characters, and I can't bring myself to care about anything happening. I really hate DNFing ARCs but I just couldn't continue with this.

Jani and her sister are living a hand-to-mouth existence when news of the legendary Hotel Magnifique coming to town breaks. Its appearance seems to be the answer to all their prayers and they both apply to work there. But the Hotel Magnifique carries many secrets and it's not quite the wondrous place of legend that it was thought to be. In fact, there are sinister elements at play and Jani finds herself questioning everything.

This has been compared to the lovely Caravel series by Stephanie Garber and I can see similarities. The hotel appears in a new location every day. People stay in the hotel but remember nothing when they return home. The employees, on the other hand, forget their past while working there. It's got a wondrous sense of magic and I can see the appeal.

I enjoyed the book for the most part but I did find the first half much stronger than the second. I found myself rapidly reading the first half and then it got bogged down by too many details and too much story. I think it might have been better to pare it down to a simpler story. But again I did enjoy it for the most part.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Pushkin Press for giving me an advanced reader copy. I have provided this review voluntarily.

The Hotel Magnifique is a legendary magical place that only appears in a location once every 10 years. Jani and her sister are orphans trying to survive after leaving there hometown for a better life which unfortunately didn't happen so when the hotel appears in their town they both try to secure jobs. Bel is the hotels magnifique in charge of moving the hotel each night and strikes up a friendship with Jani (though they argue more than anything). The plot was OK I did enjoy reading this book and personally believe it to be on the younger side, I would recommend to teens. The only thing that did dissapoint me was it was all wrapped up very quickly in the last 10% and felt rushed.

Within its gilded and gorgeous surface, Hotel Magnifique hides many a secret. The wealthy elite live a life of luxury and pleasure, with every whim catered to. But this world runs on the sweat and sacrifice of the many. A story of sisterhood and sacrifice, of love and loss, of power, and of the lengths that the greedy will go to to hold onto that power. For everyone who loved Stephanie Garber's Caraval series, or for fans of Roshani Chokshi's Gilded Wolves.

I loved the descriptions of the magical shows in the hotel! and the suites!
I requested this book because it felt similar to Hotel Del Luna and I loved that show!
This ofcourse was different to that but the whole story was good enough to keep me hooked. The story got better when it took a darker turn, when the main character, Jani, finds out that there is more to the hotel than just simply serving the rich guests. I liked all the characters in the book, usually something that is quite difficult to find. My favourites were obviously Jani and Bel.
I also loved the sibling dynamic, how Jani would do anything to protect her sister, Zosa, from harm. I love it when characters go out of their way to protect/help the people they love.
Definitely recommend if you want a magical world, beautiful descriptions and a dash of romance.

Synopsis: If The Night Circus was set in a hotel...

I was intrigued by this book at first: magic hotel, two week dream vacation only for a select few, orphan sisters, sounds fantastic. And it was at first...then it just kept giving me more of the same and I got bored...and still nothing happened. Then things happened but all in all the ending and wrap up were way too fast for the amount of time we took to get there.

All in all not a bad book, just middle of the road for me.

Ok, so this was not for me. I was hoping for something similar to the Night Circus but YA and although it starts like that, it's not how it carries on. In fact I think it's a little bit muddled about what it's trying to do - the closest i can get is Dystopian YA Magic.. And that's still not quite right. The heroine is hard to like, the magic is hard to understand and it all gets a bit brutal. I see some people comparing it to Caravel (which I still haven't read) so maybe it will work for fans of that, but it's hard to tell without having read that. Never mind.

I was interested by this book's plot from the moment I read it, also there was so much hype behind it.
In the end it didn't disappoint, I really loved Taylor's writing style and I've found the novel pretty unique.
would recommend!