As a lover of Caraval and The Night Circus, this book delivered a world with a similar vibe that draws you in. Instead of having magic be wondered at and accepted everywhere, they live in a world where magic is generally feared and hidden. The only safe place to openly display magic is at the Hotel Magnifique. While some have magic, what gives them most of their power is their magical objects. It was refreshing to have magic not be something that is inherently trusted and wanted. In a story like this, you expect someone to be misusing the system, which they deliver. But it is easy to see why one man would turn towards misusing magic to be with his sister when the MC is also trying to be with her sister and keep her safe. In the end, while the Hotel cannot be what it once was, it is for the best that it is turned into something different, something better. While it is a story in itself, it has the great potential to be the origin story of a series or duology.
The only thing I found lacking in the story for the most part is quite the imagery that transformed the worlds of Caraval and The Night Circus. However, given the length of the novel, it makes sense that it would need to omit so much of the visuals to make room for the story. I still ended up finishing the book after spending two days immersed into a new world I'm hesitant to leave behind.
The only thing I found lacking in the story for the most part is quite the imagery that transformed the worlds of Caraval and The Night Circus. However, given the length of the novel, it makes sense that it would need to omit so much of the visuals to make room for the story. I still ended up finishing the book after spending two days immersed into a new world I'm hesitant to leave behind.