4 1/2 stars.

FTC disclosure: I received and advance reader copy from Penguin Random House through the First to Read program.

I was very pleasantly surprised by The Paragon Hotel. I expected a good read, but this far exceeded my expectations. I’m a fan of historical fiction, but this was something quite new. The plot was incredibly imaginative, bringing a whole new approach to telling a story about the 1920s.

Lyndsay Faye’s characters are well-written, complex individuals. Alice is witty and strong, an unexpected feminine character given the time setting of the novel. The interactions between Alice and the other characters increased in interest for me given Alice’s tendency to employ “Nobody” and become someone entirely new in the blink of an eye. Truly, Faye created multiple protagonists in the development of Alice. Her supporting characters are (for the most part) just as thoroughly developed.

The writing is quite smart, Faye is obviously well educated in addition to being a talented writer. The descriptions are thick with clever metaphor and simile. Her sentences flow well and there is minimal awkwardness in her style. She creates realistic conversations between characters of different backgrounds, ages, and education levels. My only complaint is that she overused the word “quelque”, a fairly minor flaw in the grand scheme of things.

The book as a whole read easy and I quite enjoyed the back and forth chapter transition between “then” and “now”. Faye employed this technique very well and it helps to add to the suspense of the plot. The infusion of historical detail made the subject matter even more interesting. However, while she utilized factual events in the creation of her novel, this is not merely a retelling. This book carries a heavily creative story full of intrigue. There are twists and turns I didn’t expect and the story held my interest from start to finish.

The Paragon Hotel was highly worth the read and rates highly among the books I’ve read this year.