I just finished reading Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor (2022). *****. So many of the books I’ve read lately have disappointed me in one way or another, so this one was a real breath of fresh air. I guess technically it’s a YA fantasy – the narrator/protagonist is 17 years old – but it could be enjoyed by any fantasy fan as long as they don’t expect something epic. It’s a very confined setting, but one with an expansive variety within. You never know what or who to expect next in this hotel, from the orange trees growing out of the lobby floor, to the ever-changing floor plan, to the enchanted windows, to the secret of the deep freeze in the kitchen. And nobody is quite who they seem to be, including the heroine. Of course the “paradise” of the hotel isn’t perfect, and secrets need to be uncovered to cure what ails it. There’s suspense, enchantment, tragedy, and a budding romance. And a satisfying conclusion without the need for a sequel, though I wouldn’t say no to reading one.