Skip to main content

Member Reviews

Dnf 30%. I wanted to get into this as I’d heard good things about this author but I found it way too slow and found that the different parts didn’t come together well for me.

Was this review helpful?

I genuinely don't know what to say. The blurb was interesting, the writing is alright, but what is actually happening in the book. I couldn't tell. The romance, the history, secluded hotel, love all of these but for some reason in this book they didn't really work for me.

Was this review helpful?

DNF at 24%

I'm new to the author, but I requested this book because I'd heard good things early this year on Goodreads. Unfortunately, this book was all over the place, and I found the writing to be jarring.

There are vague descriptions of water that can heal everything, and an FBI agent who is suspicious of this. We have two main POVs of the agent and June Hudson, the general manager of the Avallon, who has given her life to making the hotel what it is. Neither of them interested me.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, perhaps this might be for you.

Thanks to Netgalley & Headline for the e-copy.

Was this review helpful?

Based on true events, this is a really interesting facet of America’s entrance to WWII. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Government had to work out what to do with all the foreign diplomats in the country that now needed to be expelled – Germans, Italians and Japanese. While negotiating with the Axis powers to send them home in exchange for Americans now stuck in these Axis countries, the Government arranged for them to be held in hotels until they could be sent home.

Maggie Stiefvater has created a story around a fictional luxury hotel, the Avalon, that was told it had to oust its current guests and take in three hundred diplomats and Nazi sympathisers. Situated high in the Appalachian mountains, the Avalon offered unrivalled luxury where guests’ every whim and heart’s desire was filled. June Hudson, the General Manager of the Avalon is at first shocked that she has to turn out all their guests, many who have been coming every year to take the healing waters of the hot springs that the hotel was renowned for. However, she must adapt to looking after the diplomats as well as the FBI, sent to spy on them, a job that becomes even more difficult as rationing starts to lead to shortages of goods and her staff dwindles as men are recruited or drafted for the war.

I really enjoyed the concept of this historical fiction, imagining the difficulties of hosting this group of people from different countries, some Nazi sympathisers, and others trying to find a way to stay in America. It’s not long before people become bored and fractious with waiting and divide into factions. Woven into the story is a touch of magical realism as the water feeding the hot spring reacts to the mood and feelings of the hotel occupants. Somehow June is able to sooth the waters (although how this happened wasn’t well explained.) Overall, I enjoyed the prose, the descriptions of the setting and the hotel and some intriguing characters. I can see the novel making a great movie with the right actors.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great premise although it didn't quite gel for me. The different elements felt a bit disparate and the set-up seemed overly complicated. I really liked some of the cameos though, especially 411, and found the historical note at the end really interesting.

Was this review helpful?

An unusual book but most enjoyable about a hotel in the Alps which is 'invaded' by Nazis during the war. There is a slight magical element which adds a slightly different twist to the story but the story itself unfolds nicely and recognises issues during the war. I would probably read another by this author as I did enjoy the different take on a story.

Was this review helpful?

An interesting read focusing on a less well explored aspect of WW2 history - the arrests of politically important figures within and associated with the Nazi regime. Although I found it to be enjoyable overall, I wish the mystical aspect surrounding the water was better explored and explained. I also found it difficult to become fully immersed in the story and found myself skim-reading at times.

Was this review helpful?

Even though it was richly written and had a vivid atmosphere, the pacing was too achingly slow and the plot itself failed to interest me. I felt removed from the characters, so there wasn’t anything to get me invested in the story. Even the magical realism didn’t get me intrigued. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

I was a fan of Stiefvater's YA books when I was a teenager, so I was intrigued by her first venture into adult fantasy. I would recommend this for people who enjoyed ALL THE CROOKED SAINTS rather than fans of Shiver.

I preface the next bit of complaining with the fact that I enjoyed this book. I had a few days off and sped through it in that time, not inclined to put it down. That said, there were moments it was insufferable. Stiefvater's tendency towards atmosphere over substance was at its most intense in THE LISTENERS. It is a story about two - maybe three - people that nonetheless played at having an ensemble cast, which meant that the asides for exposition were never ending. It's something Stiefvater does well, the delivery of context and flashbacks as a story within a story, a few paragraphs explaining a character's past as a way to illustrate their feelings in the present, or to introduce a would-be ensemble member. A valuable tool, used in moderation. There was no moderation here. It made this a book that prioritised a sense of time and place over plot, that wallowed in character moments for the sake of character moments, rather than treating characters as vehicles for the narrative (I can't believe I'm complaining that a book is TOO character-focused for my taste. I didn't know that was possible). Also, it just got repetitive. We get it, June is a wild mountain woman with a barely controlled mountain accent, yadda yadda.

There are things I always enjoy about Stiefvater's writing, her prose the chief among them, but after a while this wallowing soured me on the pretty turns of phrase, because it felt like language for the sake of language - candy and dessert, a treat in moderation, but lacking the satisfaction of a filling meal. So why have I still rated it four stars? Like I said, I enjoyed it. Though it's distracting at times, the prose really is gorgeous. It had a gothic vibe that's up my street. I loved the romantic tensions, and how that plot line got tied up. The climax in general was nailbiting. I look forward to seeing what the author writes in the adult space in the future.

Was this review helpful?

I rated this 4.75 stars but rounded up to 5.

This was a historical fiction/romance with a magical element. It was a bit out of my usual genre but a fantastic read. The book follows a woman who is the GM for a luxury hotel in West Virginia in the late 1930s and early 1940s. As WWII begins the US and other countries are faced with the question of what to do with the diplomats. Based on real historical events, the story follows an FBI agent who is sent to bring a group of diplomats to take over hotel which is known for luxury and its healing sweet water.

The characters are quirky, interesting and filled with contradictions. The emotions are poignant and real without being overwrought. And just when I think I’ve read everything there is to know about WWII I discover some new challenging aspect.

The book is so well researched and beautifully written that it’s a real pleasure to read it. You feel easily invested in many of the characters and really care what will happen to them. You feel mixed feelings and moral dilemmas as well as the pain of loss. And the air of mystery about the hotel and “what’s in the water” lingers in the most delicious way.

This is a fantastic read especially for those who enjoy historical fiction if any kind. Thank you to Net Galley for giving me an ARC of this book to read in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This was a great magical read. Loved the writing style.

Was this review helpful?

I was pretty excited to dive into this. I've heard only the most amazing things about Stiefvater (and I'm probably the only person on this planet left that hasn't red her ya series) and the premise of "The Listeners" was intriguing. Historical fiction mixed with some magical realism written by an author famous for her gorgeous writing style? Count me in!

And there really is nothing to complain about when it comes to the writing style. It's probably the one thing I really enjoyed about this novel, because sadly, on the whole it didn't give me what I was looking for. The descriptions are sumptious, the details are stunning, Stiefvater definitely knows how to make a setting come to life. I could truly see the Avallon in my mind.
Unfortunately, I wasn't drawn in by the characters nor the plot, which only happens rare and in between truly. There is just not much going on, the stakes felt incredibly low for a story about WW2, and the intriguing premise that focused on an aspect of WW2 history I never really thought about couldn't hold up my interest on its own. While June is, conceptually, a great protagonist I simply never warmed up to her. The writing felt detached, the emotions didn't manage to leave the page. None of the other characters were in any way more interesting than the role they were playing in the story, I couldn't grasp most of their personalities. The romance (which I honestly didn't expect at all nor did I need it) felt completely unnecessary and weirdly shoehorned in. In a way it felt almost like a disservice to June as a character. The love interest, who's one of the pov characters (though mostly the book is written from June's perspective) is also just very dull despite his interesting backstory.
Nothing truly happens despite a lot of things being set up in the text. Emotions are written about, yet often not felt nor do they really have any consequence. We learn of people hating to serve the Nazi diplomats because the Nazis are responsible for the death of a loved one, yet it's barely more than one conversation that leads nowhere in the end. I was expecting a lot more emotional turmoil based on the premise.
The most exciting part happened in the last few pages of the novel, and I enjoyed that one. It also involves the only side characters I really did care about. But it was just too little too late for me - I was, most of all, just bored throughout my reading and thought about dnf-ing when I hit the 50% mark- The subject matter is just too interesting to dnf, at least for me.

So yeah, read it if you're interested in the history, don't expect too much magical realism but enjoy the beautifully described setting, and be prepared for a weirdly paced glimpse into American diplomacy during WW2 and the effect it had on the people that were involuntarily pushed to be part of it.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoy Maggie's writing and unique storytelling! If you like historical fiction, magical realism, mystery and eerie world building, you will probably enjoy this!

Was this review helpful?

I'm a little torn on this one; while the writing feels accomplished and the storyline is one that appeals to me, there was something I didn't quite connect with. This author is well loved for their teen-fantasy stories, and I believe this is their transition into adult writing, and it kinda feels like it. Not the writing itself, that's beautiful, but the reach of the novel. I FEELS like she's trying to write for adults, and it seems a little forced. Like she was trying to remind herself as she went along... I do think with more adult novels under her belt this could be an author I come back to, so I eagerly wait to see what story she offers us next.

Was this review helpful?

This is set in a West Virginia hotel that's been commandeered to hold Axis diplomats in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. It covers the staff as they try to deal with providing luxurious accommodation to people who are part of the enemy, but in particular the hotel's manager June and FBI agent Tucker. For me this was a case of the blurb being better than the book itself. The pacing of this was too slow for me, and the magical realism elements didn't ever seem to come to fruition the way that I was expecting them too.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Headline for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: war, references to suicide, racism, Nazis, ableism, mental illness

January 1942, West Virginia. A month since the attack on Pearl Harbor. High in the depths of the Appalachian Mountains a hotel named The Avallon sits containing incredible opulence and healing hot springs infused with magic. June Hudson is the General Manager and works hard to make sure that every guest who visits goes away with a sense of unrivalled luxury and extravagance. It all seems a little too perfect, but June knows the price that the magical waters demand for it. Soon enough June’s carefully fabricated life at the Avallon is thrown into uproar- the hotel is commandeered by the government to host 300 people, from Nazi sympathisers to diplomats from other countries and their families, until they can be removed from the USA. June tries to face the challenge head on, but when the FBI descends on the hotel as guards to keep an eye and ear on their prisoners, she is forced into a complicated alliance with Tucker Minnick, one of the FBI agents. He has his own history with the Avallon and returning there is his worst nightmare, especially as the magical water calls endlessly to him. Brought together and fighting a growing attraction, June and Tucker have to decide if the price of luxury- and safety- is even worth it. In the middle of this is Hannelore, the daughter of a German diplomat who loves to sing in numbers but never speaks, seeing everything and hiding a secret of her own.

The first adult novel from the incredible Maggie Stiefvater, who wrote one of my all time favourite series, ‘The Listeners’ is one of the most unique takes on historical fiction I’ve ever read. Set against the backdrop of real events, it immerses you rapidly in the world of the Avallon, their close knit staff (many who, like June, have nowhere else to go) and the lives of the owners, the wealthy Gilfoyle family. When everything is thrown into chaos I loved how June tries to stay cool and collected, even as every system she’s ever built is taken from her. The sense of tension and distrust from this book is palpable, you can feel it even before the diplomats arrive and it grows once the FBI set up shop with their listening devices. The language in this book is really different from ‘The Raven Cycle’- it feels like reading a 1940s novel which is incredible with its detail; this works so well and the lyricism and slight unreality of Maggie Stiefvater’s words are still really prominent. June and Tucker are deeply complicated and similar characters, hiding so many secrets and presenting the world with fake faces. The way that the Avallon affects them, and the connection they share with the magical waters, was one of my favourite parts. I really enjoyed the fact that we never fully know why the Avallon is the way it is and that the entire story is a slow burn. This is one of those books that needs to be appreciated and unwrapped piece by piece, just like the mysteries inside the hotel and the characters (particularly Hannelore and the guest in Room 411). I was also delighted by the inclusion of the dachshunds and I wish we’d seen more of them!

Was this review helpful?

Honestly I loved The Raven Cycle so I was excited to see her publishing an adult novel. The description wasn't what I expected but I decided to go into it with an open mind, even though I don't tend to love this type of plot. Unfortunately I found it agonisingly slow. There's an interesting set of dynamics under the surface, Maggie Stiefvater has always been fantastic at establishing characters. This will work well for some people, it is a really rich set of viewpoints we end up in. I was most interested when we were with June though, I kind of wish we could've lived there. When the focus changed, I found my interest waning a little. The Avallon will make for an interesting place for people who enjoy a wartime story.

Was this review helpful?

Great read and more fantasy than I was expecting as I'm not a huge lover but I still managed to enjoy this one.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book so much, I flew through it! Maggie Stiefvater's writing is so easy to read, and so well-thought out. Her character building is phenomenal, and that sense of mystery and eeriness that she creates is impeccable. This book, on the surface, isn't something I would normally be drawn to. I tend to avoid WW novels, and this does fall into that category, though sort of tangentially. However, coupled with Stiefvater's writing, I couldn't resist. Teetering on the edge of horror with this one, while making some particularly poignant statements on belonging and immigration and otherness, The Listeners is the book we need right now.

Was this review helpful?

This is Stiefvater’s first adult offering, apparently. I found it a highly atmospheric read, with the magic bubbling underneath the gritty everyday grind of delivering a wholly luxurious environment to pampered, spoilt people. But June Hudon, local girl made good, does more than that. It’s her mission to delight and please the guests at the Avallon – because if she doesn’t, the consequences are dire.

The stresses caused by the influx of guests who are forced to stay somewhere they didn’t choose and don’t want to be are well depicted. But the stakes are even higher. There is also a team of FBI agents whose job it is to listen in on conversations between the diplomats – even though those doing the eavesdropping don’t understand what is being said. This miserable task isn’t handed out to Hoover’s favourite FBI agents. So although Tucker Minnick has faithfully served for ten years – his job is on the line if he doesn’t deliver what the high-ups are looking for.

We see the situation get ever more difficult through the eyes of June and Tucker, as one tries to keep the hotel going against the odds and the other is trying to uncover secrets that will aid the war effort. And another hapless soul, whose story this is, has the job of negotiating for a swap of diplomats – German and Japanese personnel held at the Avallon, for US diplomats held in Europe and Asia. This fascinating read, with large parts based on fact, held me right to the end. Very highly recommended for those who enjoy learning about forgotten corners of history with a light dusting of magic. While I obtained an arc of The Listeners from the author via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

Was this review helpful?