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A review by yaravoss
The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
(Book club read)
As someone who was in hospitality for many years, I really enjoyed the observations about customer service, hotel work, luxury and class in this. My favorite passages were those about how staff works together and makes a place run, the satisfying knowlegde that you’re part of this huge enterprise and you’re helping to make it run smoothly; I know that feeling and found that Stiefvater captured it well. The Avallon itself was a rich and vivid setting, really quite beautiful & its GM stole my heart within just a few pages.
As someone who was in hospitality for many years, I really enjoyed the observations about customer service, hotel work, luxury and class in this. My favorite passages were those about how staff works together and makes a place run, the satisfying knowlegde that you’re part of this huge enterprise and you’re helping to make it run smoothly; I know that feeling and found that Stiefvater captured it well. The Avallon itself was a rich and vivid setting, really quite beautiful & its GM stole my heart within just a few pages.
However, although I found the first two parts of this to be very pleasantly paced, the second two had some issues. I felt that Stiefvater completely loses momentum about halfway through the book and just doesn’t find it again until the last 30 pages (which, to be fair, were good!)
I found the writing over the top here and there when Stiefvater’s YA fantasy background shows through (I’m aware this is very much a matter of taste). There’s too many line breaks for my preference and a few clumsy metaphors that could have been cut - but I’m picky, and overall, I did find the tone of this enjoyable.