The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater is a hauntingly beautiful blend of historical fiction and magical realism, set against the quietly tense backdrop of 1942 West Virginia. The story unfolds in The Avallon Hotel, a grand, luxurious retreat known for its elegance—and now, its unlikely new role as a holding space for Axis diplomats, their staff and families.. At the centre of it all is June, the fiercely capable General Manager, who’s worked her way up from orphaned girl to beloved pillar of the hotel and its staff. They call her Hoss, which I googled and it's a term of respect for someone strong and capable (usually for a man) so that gives the reader and idea of what the hotel staff think of June.

June isn’t just running the hotel—she’s tied to it, and to the sweetwater, a mineral spring with mysterious properties that only she seems to understand. When The Avallon is quietly transformed into a wartime holding facility, the tension among guests and staff runs deep. Japanese, German, and Italian delegates dine under the same roof as Americans whose loved ones are on the front lines. And amid this uneasy truce, June must keep the hotel running with poise and diplomacy.

Enter Agent Tucker Minnick—an FBI agent stationed at The Avallon to keep a watchful eye on proceedings. He’s quiet, composed, and straightforward, with an air of confidence that makes him easy to trust. He’s not complicated—except for one deeply personal piece of his past that connects him to the land and the sweetwater. He and June, although initially wary of each other, are slowly drawn together. What develops between them is a tender, slow-burn connection rooted in attraction, shared values, and growing affection.

Interspersed throughout are chapters told from the perspective of Hannelore, the young daughter of one of the German diplomats. Hannelore is neurodivergent, though the book never labels her—and doesn’t need to. Her perspective is written with a gentle sensitivity that feels authentic and grounded. Her character adds a quiet but powerful emotional depth, especially as the story hints at the danger she would face if returned to Nazi Germany, where those who were seen as different were often treated cruelly. Hannelore feels real—vulnerable, perceptive, and deeply affecting.

Stiefvater’s prose is lyrical and immersive, weaving together the quiet mystery of the sweet water with the fraught emotional landscape of wartime America. While the story doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of the era—class, xenophobia, nationalism, loss—it’s also infused with warmth, hope, and a sense of found family. The secondary characters bring colour and texture, and The Avallon Hotel itself feels like a character—rich in history, secrets, and magic, something to be feared and respected.

This is my first Maggie Stiefvater novel, and her first foray into adult fiction—and it’s an enchanting, poignant success. The Listeners is a story of love, loyalty, and healing in the face of uncertainty. I was fully swept away. Five stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC—opinions are entirely my own.

The Listeners is historical fiction, set in a luxury hotel in the US in 1942. America has just been fully drawn into WWII following the attack on Pearl Harbour, and the Avallon Hotel has been recruited by the FBI to host Axis diplomats, journalists and their families at a time of huge uncertainty.

It is mysterious and atmospheric, with a steady foundation of unease throughout. When I picked this up it was tagged as Fantasy, which honestly I think is a bit of a stretch. There is just a hint of magical realism, a somewhat open, but also hidden, secret at the heart of the hotel. It impacts the setting and the atmosphere, certainly, but it doesn't actually have that much impact on the story. If you removed that element there wouldn't be all that much change to the plot, but there would be to the feel of the novel. This is not the book if you're looking for a fantasy novel, but is for enjoyers of historical fiction, particularly if you'd enjoy an enigmatic, almost mythological quality to the story.

I am a huge fan of Maggie Stiefvater and have been since her Wolves of Mercy Falls days. I have followed her writing with delight over the years (The Scorpio Races is one of my all time favourite books) and I was really excited to learn that she was publishing her first adult novel.

This book did not disappoint. Stiefvater is the queen of atmosphere and this book is just teeming with it. The Listeners is historical fiction with a side of magical realism. Set in 1942, the five star Avalon Hotel has been requisitioned by the US government to host Axis power diplomats in the wake of Pearl Harbour. The book follows hotel boss June as she wrestles with the dilemma between maintaining the hotel’s reputation of providing a personalised five star service to all guests against the fact that the “guests” are essentially prisoners, some of whom may be spies and nazis.

Running through this dilemma is the silent threat of the sweet water turning - the hotel is a spa hotel, with a spring running through the grounds, and the staff are all very respectful/afraid of the water. The fate of the hotel is intrinsically linked to the health of the sweet water and it reacts to whatever is happening around it. Anger, sadness and frustration can cause the sweet water to “turn” which could lead to the distruction of the hotel. June is the only person who knows how to placate or negotiate with the water. This is woven very finely throughout the novel and while it’s clear that the locals believe the water to be alive, it could easily been seen by incomers as a bit of local mythology. The fantasy element is very subtle and you can decide yourself whether there are actual magical events taking place.

This book has the same feel to me as All the Crooked Saints and The Scorpio Races and I really loved it. Anyone who enjoys Stiefvater’s beautiful, haunting writing will appreciate this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for approving me for this ARC. I read Maggie Stiefvater’s first series, The Wolves of Mercy Cycle, about 15 years ago when it was first released. I wasn’t a Twilight fan but I did remember enjoying this. I did try reading The Raven Boys a year or so ago but struggled to get into it. I remember coming across this book on Waterstones and liking the premise before realising who the author was, and was really happy to see it come up as an ARC for request and then to be accepted.

The Listeners is wildly different to her previous books. It reads like historical fiction with just a hint of fantasy, so I put it firmly in the magical realism category. This is set during 1942 during WW2, after the bombing of Pearl Harbour, and the book, I find, is more a study of human beings and social class from the viewpoint of June Hudson, the hotel’s general manager. The novel is set at the Avallon Hotel, a luxury hotel, that is overtaken by enemy diplomats and the waters that run through the hotel (similar to a hot springs hotel) through its taps and bathhouses have a power that is referred to by June and the staff throughout and everyone treads carefully with how they treat the water.

I found it a fascinating insight into the human psyche through June’s observations of the guests throughout her time there. If you are expecting Stiefvater’s typical paranormal romance, this is not it, but I loved it. This was a refreshing different novel in this fantasy genre. Fairyloot is releasing a special edition of this book and the cover reminds me of Titanic.

The book did start to lose its way a little in the middle and there wasn’t much plot left to it. I was also a little confused by the romance because whilst it was slow burn, I didn’t quite get where the attraction came from. Other points, it took me ages to work out June’s age (she’s 35) so it was a little difficult to picture her and I still don’t understand why she’s called Hoss.

Overall, it felt like a coming of age story in many ways even though the protagonist is older. I loved the start but felt it started to drag halfway through. It is a historical novel with a dash of magic (and I mean a little). Is it worth reading? Yes, but come to it expecting the unexpected, not your typical fantasy.

I rate this 3.5 stars, rounded up.

4.5⭐

It's been a little while since I have read a Maggie Stiefvater book so I had forgotten just how beautiful and immersive the story and writing could be. While based around a certain period of time in history, it was a interesting and gripping read.I will admit it did take me a little while to get into this but once I did I couldn't put The Listeners down.

The way she can write so many different characters in a way that makes them feel so human and less stereotyped just proves the magic she has in her writing and storytelling. While this was a completely different book than I am use to, it was a really good book to take me out of my comfort zone and I'm so happy I decided to give it a chance.

At first I wasn’t sure what to think about this book. But as I got more into the story, I started to enjoy it even though I wished for a more fulfilling epilogue but I understand why the author left as it is. I did find the layout of the chapters slightly confusing at the beginning as it is told from different POV’s but also in almost a third person format. While I did enjoy it, I won’t be going out and buying a physical copy

I couldn't wait to start reading The Listerners and it didn't disappoint. I love the author's writing style and the atmosphere she created throughout this story was excellent. I loved June's character and there were some magical elements woven into the story. It is historical but the writing is flawless. It was a pleasure to read this hauntingly beautiful story set during World War II.

I was very excited to read Maggie Stiefvaters first Adult novel after enjoying multiple of her YA works and I was right to be so.
This book, although not something I'd have perhaps picked up without the authors name attached genuinely blew me away with the characters, imagery and plot it holds such a depth which really allows you to sink your teeth into the story. This story is set in the Avallon, a magical hotel ran by Jane Hudson which is set in WW2 making the book a historical fiction book, but laced with magical tones and intricate lore.
It's intriguing to read a book that is littered and stuffed with deeply researched historical facts yet also weaved with magic and characters that make you feel so immersed within the story itself. This story holds so much imagery and allows a world to be created in your minds eye whilst reading.
I initially had a worry that, when we began meeting multiple characters that I'd get bored if reading about a certain one for a significant amount of time but the characters are written in such a way that their stories are all able to be utterly intrigued with.
The ending was slightly predictable the more you continued the book, however I think it suits the book well in this case.
I also would note that even if you've never read historical fiction before that this book makes understanding any specific references/historical knowledge relatively easy to understand. As someone myself who doesn't have a lot of knowledge on history I didn't feel excluded from the story which again was one of my initial worries picking up this book.
I would recommend this book purely based on how impressed I was with the characters and their intricacies, and the settings which make this story so pleasant to fall into.
4.5 stars

The Avallon Hotel, situated in the Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia is a luxurious hotel and spa catering to the very wealthy, that is until the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour. The hotel general manager, June Hudson, is ordered to empty the hotel of guests and prepare to accept Axis diplomats and other high profile aliens whilst an exchange is arranged for Allied diplomats. Three FBI agents are sent to oversee the detainees. The writing is very poetic and beautifully descriptive with this slow paced read definitely more character driven than plot driven. The factual background to the treatment of the detainees, action that I had previously been unaware of, makes for fascinating reading.

Briefly, most of the new guests in the hotel are German, Italian and Japanese but this story concentrates more on the German guests. As well as the FBI investigating the hotel guests there are a number of other threads; including those around room 411 in the hotel, the hotel owners the Gilfoyle family and the four spa rooms.

I really enjoyed the historical element of the story and all the wonderful characters involved in the story, alongside main characters June and FBI agent Tucker Minnow I really connected with Hannelore. I did struggle a bit with the magical realism around the sweetwater and to me the plot was a little unclear at times. All in all I did like it and would read this author again but I didn’t love it. I think I’m in the minority here so I may well revisit it later. An unusual and interesting read based on true events during WWII in USA.

3.5⭐️

I loved the historical details of this novel - set in 1942, shortly after Pearl Harbour when the American authorities need to decide what to do with German and Japanese (and allies) diplomats and staff, all of whom are now considered enemy elements. They negotiate to swap them for American staff in Germany, Italy and Japan and in order to do that they round these people up and lodge them in hotels prior to departure across the Atlantic.
The Avallon hotel is fictional setting for a group of these diplomats. It is a place of high luxury where every curtesy is extended to the guests even if they are German. But the hotel has a secret - it is located above the streams of 'sweetwater' - and keeping the water on side is done at a cost to the general manager, Hoss. This background gives the hotel a mysterious and rather ominous feeling - something I would actually have liked to have seen more of in the book.
There is a large cast of characters, of whom June (Hoss) is the main character. Some these people don't get much of a story and little characterisation and possibly play second fiddle to the hotel itself which is almost a character in its own right. June finds herself drawn into the hunt for secrets among the diplomats at the hotel as FBI Agent Tucker Minnick and his men eavesdrop on everyone.
As the story develops both June and Tucker struggle with who they are and where their loyalties lie.
This is an unusual blend of historical fiction and magical realism and whilst I enjoyed it, I didn't feel it quite achieved either category completely. The pacing was a bit slow at times, but ultimately the interest in the hotel kept me reading to the end.
With thanks to Netgalley and Headline for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

A fabulous read. Although the hotel and story was a work of fiction, it was based on a lot of what really happened at that time. Highly recommended story, following the lives of foreign aliens put up in American hotels during World War II. I was so happy to receive an advance reader copy and leave this review willingly.

I was super excited to see Stiefvater doing an adult book, and while I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction (this is set in 1942), the setup of the manager of a luxury hotel with magical water having to deal with hosting Axis power diplomats (including Nazis) was instantly intriguing to me.

Content warnings include: racism, Nazis, ableism, autistic child character has a meltdown, suicide attempt; Mentions of: euthanasia, genocide, sterilization.

Stiefvater's writing, as usual, is one of the big plus points here. It's just a delight to read. A bit more mature, a bit less whimsical than her other books, but there is still plenty of magic and wittiness and just a lot of fun to read.

The plot was very vibes based, despite being very grounded around the hotel being more or less forced to host the Axis Power/Nazi (and other) diplomats and their staff. Despite there being plenty of tension due to the delicate nature of the politics, there were lighthearted and merry moments, often facilitated through the (seemingly) effortless luxury and ease of the hotel and the highly skilled employees. That was one of my favourite parts of the book, to read about the hard work the hotel employees, and June, the hotel manager, in particular, put in to make the luxury feel effortless while tayloring each guest's experienced to their liking, without them even noticing.

But the shadow of the war happening was ever present as well - there is plenty of classism, racism, xenophobia and ableism going on, not to mention the horrors or war and poverty.

While June is the main protagonist, there are occasional chapters told from the POV of an FBI agent who has a past, and of a non-verbal autistic child, the daughter of a German diplomat. Hannelore's POV was fascinating in particular. It is heavily implied that June is autistic as well. (I personally read it as autism at least, it is not labelled as such on-page.)

Another part of the plot is the sweetwater, the magical water that flows through the region where the hotel is located. I'll be honest and say I expected a bit more from it. What exactly is up with the water is never really said, and while I enjoy a good mystery, and not every answer needs to be spelled out... I wanted more from it. Overall it played a pretty minor role and honestly could have very easily been excluded without any big changes. The few details that we got were cool, just... not quite enough for me. If there is a change between the final version and the review copy I read, I hope it's the involvement of the sweetwater.

There is a romance subplot that is not super present in the book, but kinda picks up towards the end. Picks up so much, in fact, that I was almost confused by the strength of the characters' feelings at the end? I don't think more romance would have been needed, I even think that could have distracted from the rest, but I personally was a bit blindsided by how the two characters ended up.

Another thing that stumped me a bit was the involvement/importance of 411. I don't want to say much about it as I do not want to give anything away, but at the same time, I'm not sure what there is to give away because I did not see how it mattered at all? It must have gone completely over my head, and if someone wants to fill me in I'd appreciate it!

Overall this was a great read, super intriguing, with fun characters and a bittersweet and sometimes chilling undertone.

Maggie Stiefvater is one of my all time favourite authors - I feel like I need to start off my review by saying that because I may be a tad biased - but every time someone asks me why she's one of my favourites, all I need to do is just point to any of her titles and say 'read this and you will be transported to a dazzling alternate reality.' Stiefvater never fails to impress, even when I've come to know her as a strong voice in the YA genre - her debut to adult fiction still maintains that whimsical charm. To be honest, when I read the synopsis I didn't think this story was going to be for me, but I wanted to give it a try for Maggie - I'm glad I did! While I did feel that some of the historical references would go over the average reader's head (mine included), most of the time it didn't matter. The reader is still able to be thoroughly absorbed in this story, one that seems to ring a little too true in today's world. Stiefvater can always breathe a bit of magic into every story she weaves and this is no exception - a unique glimpse into the human condition that contains themes that will resonate with today's readers, plus of course a splash of the powerful mountain sweetwater. I'd recommend this story to fans of historical fiction, but not just any fans, ones who can handle a dash of intrigue and whimsy as well.

I was asked to review this book by NetGalley

1942 - West Virginia, the hotel is Avallon a luxury hotel with a spa, which is being run by manager June, but things change when the family agree a secret pact to allow Nazi to stay. there is a juggling act to please these Nazi and mindful men and women are off to fight a war the Nazi started

FBI agent has an ear to the walls but he s harbouring a secret too.

There is a juggle between running the hotel and the danger of the occupants. and the safety of June also.

Interesting storyline as normally we would expect a story from London but this story has a different slant and really interesting

Recommended read due for publication June 3rd 2025.

This book has a little bit of everything Maggie Stiefvater likes to write. It has niche historical facts, a vaguely indiscernible but certainly interesting nature based magic system, and a group of weirdos stuck together trying to sort out a problem. I’m also a keen lover of historical fiction, especially involving WWII and *especially* when it has a touch of speculative elements. This is quite a slow moving book to start but as the pieces start to fall, they really fall. I loved June so much - her complicated relationship to the Avallon and the sweetwater, her care for her staff and dogged determination to do the right thing. The Listeners shows us was Maggie does best - creates characters you can root for. And I’m going to love it everytime!

Maggie Stiefvater’s The Listeners is a mesmerizing blend of historical fiction and eerie magic, set against the backdrop of WWII. The prose is lush and immersive, effortlessly transporting readers to the misty mountains of West Virginia and the opulent halls of the Avallon Hotel. Hauntingly beautiful, with a spellbinding mystery—I couldn’t put it down!

Maggie has done it again.

I love love loveeeee everything Maggie writes and this new book in the adult space is beautiful.

Its full of the mundane and characters that are all soooo different living in this hotel but that under lying magic is always there. Just under the surface like the sweet water.

I loved June and and the swapping of POV, honestly I was worried going into this as its a historical fantasy and I am not used to that genre. But man I loved it, shes smashed this one out of the park. I cant wait to meet her in June!!!!

3.5/5 ⭐️
The thing with Maggie’s work is you’re gonna have beautiful writing, a location that basically a character of itself, and plot that sorta nonexistent and you gotta squint.

I really struggle to get into this book, it could mostly been me because I’m not huge on historical fiction especially WWII, however, I do really like Maggie’s writing style. I was definitely captivated the most in June POV, the hotel in general as well as the magical realism with it all specifically the sweetwater.

I want to try again via audiobook once it’s released as I find myself enjoying more odd, slower writing via audio. However, if you enjoy a slower book, historical fiction, with magical realism. The Listener would be a great fit for you.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW!
I really struggled with this book, and I’m so sad that I did. It took me so long to get through and to be honest I think most of that was probably a me issue, not necessarily a story problem.
This is Maggie Steivater’s debut adult book but I think it read more like a YA book. I think if I was in a reading mood then I could have got through it a lot quicker.
I’d say this book is odd. I love The Scorpio Races by this author, and enjoyed The Raven Boys books too, those could also be described as odd I guess. I think I just didn’t gel with this story despite the summary sounding really interesting to me.
If you enjoy this author’s other books then you might enjoy this too? I’d say it is probably worth a try.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Maggie Stiefvater’s YA books, so I was looking forward to picking up her first adult novel. The Listeners is an intriguing mix of historical fiction with some magical realism running beneath the surface. I love the idea of a mountain hotel where the water is almost a living entity in and of itself, picking up on the moods of the staff and guests, and influencing it in turn. It’s June’s, the general manager, job to keep the water happy, which often comes at a cost to herself.

She faces her biggest challenge yet when the government commandeers the hotel during WWII in order to hold Axis diplomats while an exchange is arranged for Allied diplomats overseas. Even as the FBI hunts for secrets among them, June is forced to balance the need to maintain the Avallon’s reputation for luxury and elegance with her own moral qualms about having to serve enemies of the state.

June is a compelling main character, a woman in charge at a time when that would have been very unusual. But it is clear to see why the staff respect and care for her so. The supporting cast of characters is great as well — with such a big hotel, there are lots of interesting personalities for us to meet. June’s story is tangled with that of FBI agent Tucker Minnow’s, their romance developing as we finally come to learn more about Tucker’s backstory. I do have to say that the romance between the two seemed to come completely out of left field. I didn’t sense any tension or interest between the characters in the first part of the story, and then suddenly they were keen on each other. It would have been nice to see that aspect of the story built up a little more.

This is definitely a slower paced novel, with a focus on character rather than plot, and a dreamy, atmospheric writing style. Some things still feel unresolved at the end of the novel, and it did feel like the writing was rather vague in parts - for example, I’m still not entirely clear on what the deal is with 411. Perhaps I missed it, but I think some of the reveals in the story were potentially so subtle they could easily be missed. The plot, when it was there, was also a little meandering, and it wasn’t always clear where things were going.

I do feel like the magical element of the sweet water could have been played up a little more, as could have the relations between all of the delegations within the hotel. The story focuses mainly on the Germans, which is perhaps understandable, but the Japanese and Italian characters are relegated to the background - potentially more could have been brought out here. I also understand that June’s job is to run a luxury hotel for anyone, no matter the terrible things they do outside its walls, but it feels like the atrocities many of these diplomats’ countries have performed is sort of glossed over. June does have a few moments of conflicting emotion, but I personally think they could have been stronger and more present. Sometimes it feels like the acts of the war have been somewhat forgotten, and we end up with a relatively lighthearted story in places.

The story does have a really interesting premise, and if you are looking for a unique book set in WWII which is not directly focused on the fighting itself, definitely check this one out.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC!