Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Hotel Magnifique

Lovable characters: "It's complicated" because, while some of the side characters are arguably lovable, the MC is intolerable. She spends the entire novel jumping to conclusions, acting impulsively, and excusing her own behavior by claiming that her stubbornness is a virtue, even when it puts her and her sister in greater danger. She's rude, self-centered, and extremely difficult to sympathize with or root for.

Diverse characters: "It's complicated" because the author has a weird obsession with showing off how many colors she can list for skin tones. Every single unnamed side character is described by some inane set of words like "the copper-skinned boy," "mocha" "olive" "porcelain" etc. etc.. It essentially feels like she is just filling the room with as many "diverse" looking characters as possible without having to put in the work to incorporate an actual sense of diversity into the story.

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brokentoes's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Perfect blend of “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Spirited Away”

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monniebiloney's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Pros:
has a wonderful setting
I liked the horror elements, especially at the beginning of the book
The ending was satisfying

cons:
The ramance fell flat. They were trying to go for some kind of enemies to lovers like tension but Idk if I just hate Enemies to lovers, or this book make it real really boring.

The main character also felt very entitled to other people's lives which bothered me. Like you are NOT owed the secrets of your aquantenses, let alone your friends. The amount of times he got mad at Bel, who wasn't even her boyfriend yet, for not telling her stuff like, was kidn go anoying.

The fact the MC also was clumbsy, but only clbsy when the plot called for it was also quite anoying.

All in all, I was planning on rathong the book 3 stars, but I felt the ending was satisfying enough to bump it up to 3.75. If Bel and the Main character weren't a couple and instead they focused more time on Beatrice, I probably would have rather the book 4.75.

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harmonique's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

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marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

In a historical, French-inspired country, headstrong Jani and younger sister Zosa move to the city in search of opportunity following the death of their beloved mother, but it is only when the fabled, exclusive Hotel Magnifique comes to town that things begin to change for them. A magical building that departs for a new destination each midnight, the hotel hires the sisters on as staff, but what was supposed to be a safe place for experiencing magic turns out to be a house of horrors. Jani must race against time to protect her sister, but not without the help of Bel, the mysterious doorman with whom she has burning chemistry and passionate arguments. Hotel Magnifique is a luscious magic carpet ride full of twists that will take your breath away!

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