Hotel Magnifique may seem, on the surface, a story about luxurious fantasy, but at its heart it’s a story about sisterhood and sacrifice. As someone who loves any sister story, you know that I was so excited for Hotel Magnifique. It’s one that is full of traveling, magic, and sinister vibes. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
All her life, Jani has dreamed of Elsewhere. Just barely scraping by with her job at a tannery, she’s resigned to a dreary life in the port town of Durc, caring for her younger sister Zosa. That is, until the Hotel Magnifique comes to town.
The hotel 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. But once inside, Jani quickly discovers their contracts are unbreakable and that beneath the marvelous glamour, the hotel is hiding dangerous secrets.
With the vexingly handsome doorman Bel as her only ally, Jani 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. To succeed, she’ll have to risk everything she loves, but failure would mean a fate far worse than never returning home.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: torture
Hotel Magnifique begins as an escape. As two sisters who see the Hotel as a way to experience adventure, to find their ways eventually back home. And Jani will do anything to stay with her sister. From the beginning, it’s clear that Hotel Magnifique is a story about sisterhood. About what she will do to keep them together – us against the world. So when they enter the Hotel, Jani discovers that something sinister is wrong. That even as she’s exposed to a new world of magic, there’s something off about it.
That while the magic is fascinating and whimsical, there’s also a danger to it. To the atmosphere in the hotel where there’s a wealth of magic, but also rules. The punishments that make it seem more like a nightmare of complacency and consequences. But in their wildest dreams, will Jani be able to stick with Zosa? Hotel Magnifique turns into a story about sacrifice. About fighting the odds and uncovering secrets for the ones we love.
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If you love heroines who are determined to find answers, you have to read Hotel Magnifique. Jani at the beginning has her sister, but she has to learn that she will need more than that for them to escape. So while Hotel Magnifique is definitely about sisterhood, it’s also about Jani’s character development. For her to confront her own loneliness and questions about home – her eternal search. For her to figure out that home might not be what she thought. Hotel Magnifique delivers action, a precious sister relationship, and a dash of romance. Find Hotel Magnifique on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.