Since I haven't read the two books this one is being widely compared to, I was able to judge "Hotel Magnifique" without any pre-existing expectations. That said, this book definitely isn't bad, but I didn’t love it.
The best part of this book is the setting and the magic, and what I did get of that I really liked! The way the hotel works, and the danger that magical people pose. I wanted more of it, though. As is the setting felt underutilized. There were a few things I wasn’t a fan of, like the way the author consistently described each character that entered a scene by their skin color. I suppose it was done to make it clear to the reader that despite the story being set in a faux-historical France, non-white characters are treated equally. Which is a good thing, but there had to be a better way of doing this. As is, it comes off as awkward, repetitive, and a lazy way of being inclusive. I also wasn't a fan of the development of the romance. It's not really my thing, rooted in instalove and love/hate vibes, and throughout the book I was never sold on it. I'm sure other people were. It's fine, just turned out not to be for me. 2.5.
The best part of this book is the setting and the magic, and what I did get of that I really liked! The way the hotel works, and the danger that magical people pose. I wanted more of it, though. As is the setting felt underutilized. There were a few things I wasn’t a fan of, like the way the author consistently described each character that entered a scene by their skin color. I suppose it was done to make it clear to the reader that despite the story being set in a faux-historical France, non-white characters are treated equally. Which is a good thing, but there had to be a better way of doing this. As is, it comes off as awkward, repetitive, and a lazy way of being inclusive. I also wasn't a fan of the development of the romance. It's not really my thing, rooted in instalove and love/hate vibes, and throughout the book I was never sold on it. I'm sure other people were. It's fine, just turned out not to be for me. 2.5.