Review by bellebookcorner - The Listeners

bellebookcorner 's review for:

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater

2.0

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This book really threw me for a loop—I went in expecting a blend of historical fiction and magical realism, but the fantasy element was barely present. To me, it read as pure historical fiction, which wasn’t what I had anticipated.

June stepping into the role of general manager was one of the reasons I kept turning the pages. I loved learning more about her journey to that position and getting a deeper look at her bond with both the staff and the hotel itself—it added an interesting layer to the story.

The pacing was incredibly slow, mostly due to the extensive attention to detail—every place and action was described meticulously. While some might appreciate that level of immersion, I found myself skimming by the 30% mark because it started feeling tedious.

One element I really wanted to see explored more was the sweet water beneath the hotel—it was barely mentioned, and I think that could have added some much-needed intrigue. Despite all the descriptions, a lot of things still felt vague, and I finished the book feeling more confused than anything.

That said, it’s not a bad book—the premise had promise.

It just wasn’t quite my kind of read, and once I realized the magical realism was minimal, I struggled to stay engaged.

I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to the author and publisher!

Content Warnings