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bookswithlydscl 's review for:
Floating Hotel
by Grace Curtis
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5*
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton/Hodderscape for a digital review copy of "Floating Hotel" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Described as Grand Budapest Hotel in space and perfect for fans of Becky Chambers I knew I had to read Floating Hotel as soon as I started seeing it 'floating' around social media (sorry) and I'm so glad I did as I loved and enjoyed this book thoroughly.
Told through a series of character focused vignettes, this book gives us an insight into the lives and loves of the staff and guests aboard the majestic Grand Abeona Hotel, the luxurious, though ageing floating hotel of the title.
There is a background mystery running throughout that comes to the fore at the end of the book, but for the majority of the story this is a gentle, comparably cosy scifi with a lovable band of misfits and rogues who have come together in a found family unit which is one of my favourite tropes in fiction.
The pacing and narrative style may not work for everyone but it's something I enjoyed and which clicked for me and I found Grace Curtis's writing style to be beautifully flowing. I wanted to read on as I got to know the characters and became more aware of the background storyline but I also liked that each chapter was essentially self contained by focusing on an individual character so I could dip in an out. By about 65% in however I couldn't stop reading as the switch was made to the tenser, more high paced mystery plot.
The sudden turn to the mystery plot so late in the book however was also a bit of a shock to the system and did feel a little truncated, especially the ending which was truly an abrupt ending. Basically, I'm greedy and wanted more detail and development for that side of the story and I wanted more about our characters after everything unfolds so I was left feeling a little dissatisfied - can you tell that I just wanted more! There is an open ending feeling though to the closing of the book with lots of potential for more stories about these characters and their futures so I'm not so secretly hoping that we may get a book two in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton/Hodderscape for a digital review copy of "Floating Hotel" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Described as Grand Budapest Hotel in space and perfect for fans of Becky Chambers I knew I had to read Floating Hotel as soon as I started seeing it 'floating' around social media (sorry) and I'm so glad I did as I loved and enjoyed this book thoroughly.
Told through a series of character focused vignettes, this book gives us an insight into the lives and loves of the staff and guests aboard the majestic Grand Abeona Hotel, the luxurious, though ageing floating hotel of the title.
There is a background mystery running throughout that comes to the fore at the end of the book, but for the majority of the story this is a gentle, comparably cosy scifi with a lovable band of misfits and rogues who have come together in a found family unit which is one of my favourite tropes in fiction.
The pacing and narrative style may not work for everyone but it's something I enjoyed and which clicked for me and I found Grace Curtis's writing style to be beautifully flowing. I wanted to read on as I got to know the characters and became more aware of the background storyline but I also liked that each chapter was essentially self contained by focusing on an individual character so I could dip in an out. By about 65% in however I couldn't stop reading as the switch was made to the tenser, more high paced mystery plot.
The sudden turn to the mystery plot so late in the book however was also a bit of a shock to the system and did feel a little truncated, especially the ending which was truly an abrupt ending. Basically, I'm greedy and wanted more detail and development for that side of the story and I wanted more about our characters after everything unfolds so I was left feeling a little dissatisfied - can you tell that I just wanted more! There is an open ending feeling though to the closing of the book with lots of potential for more stories about these characters and their futures so I'm not so secretly hoping that we may get a book two in the future!