For fans of Caraval and The Night Circus, this decadent and darkly enchanting YA fantasy, set against the backdrop of a Belle Époque-inspired hotel, follows seventeen-year-old Jani as she uncovers the deeply disturbing secrets of the legendary Hotel Magnifique.
Seventeen-year-old orphan Jani dreams of leaving the cramped, filthy port town of Durc, but shes resigned to the reality of her life: working second shifts at a tannery to make ends meet and caring for her younger sister Zosa. That is, until the legendary Hotel Magnifiquethe magical hotel that appears in a new location each morningcomes to town.
While they cant afford the exorbitant cost of a guests stay, Jani and Zosa can interview for jobs in the hotel. And luck is on their sidewith just a stroke of ink on paper, and an intervention by the vexingly handsome bellhop, the two girls are hired and swept into a world of adventure and wonderment. But despite the allure, Jani quickly begins to realize that something isnt quite right. None of the staff seem to remember their homes, yet Janis memory is perfectly intact. Its clear that beneath the mysterious glamour, the hotel is hiding dangerous secrets.
Most dangerous of all is the maître dhôtel, a ruthless man who, Jani discovers, holds the hotel staff prisoner by the magical ink of the contracts they sign. But what Jani cant understand is why he wont let them leave. With Bel the bellhop as her guide and confidante, Jani embarks on a mission to uncover the secrets of the hotel and free Zosa and the other staff from the cruelty of the maître. To succeed, shell need to harness a power she never knew she had, but failure would mean a fate far worse than never returning home.
