Hotel Magnifique

I often heard my sister before I saw her, and tonight was no exception. Zosa s supple voice spilled through the open window of Bézier Residence, sounding so like our mother s ­at least until she began a raunchier ditty comparing a man s more delicate anatomy to a certain fruit.

I crept inside, unnoticed in the crowd of boarders. Two of the younger girls pretended to dance with invisible partners, but every other eye was fixed on my sister, the most talented girl in the room.

A special kind of girl rented rooms at Bézier Residence. Almost all worked jobs fitting of their foul mouths: second shifts as house grunts, factory workers, grease cooks, or any number of ill-­paying positions in the vieux quais ­the old docks of Durc. I worked at Tannerie Fréllac, where women huddled over crusted alum pots and wells of dye. But Zosa was different.

Happy birthday, I shouted when her song ended.

Jani! She bounded over. Her huge brown eyes shone against a pale, olive-­skinned face that was far too thin.

Did you eat supper? I d left her something, but with all the other girls around, food had a tendency to disappear.

She groaned. Yes. You don t have to ask me every night.

Of course I do. I m your big sister. It s my life s greatest duty. Zosa scrunched her nose and I flicked it. Fishing in my sack, I pulled out the newspaper that had cost me half a day s wage and pressed it into her palms. Your present, madame. Here, birthdays weren t dusted with confectioners sugar; they were hard-­won and more dear than gold.

A newspaper?

A jobs section. I flipped open the paper with a sly grin.

Inside were advertisements for jobs in fancy dress shops, patisseries, and perfumeries, positions that would never belong to a thirteen-­year-­old who didn t look a day over ten. Luckily, they weren t what I had in mind.

Skipping past them, I pointed to a listing that had appeared in papers

Emily J. Taylor

An Instant New York Times Bestseller
An Instant Indie Bestseller
An Amazon Best Young Adult Book of 2022
A Kirkus Best Book of 2022
A Goodreads Choice Award Nominee

  A wondrous read for anyone searching for a bit of magic. Kirkus Reviews, starred review

  Clear and creative worldbuilding, exquisite set pieces, and emotionally complex, intersectionally diverse characters complement the twist-riddled plot of Taylor s spellbinding debut. The stakes mount in tandem with Jani and Bel s romantic tension, captivating readers and catapulting the tale to a spectacular, cathartic close. Publisher's Weekly, starred review

"This impressive debut novel is set in a fictional, magical version of France. The level of detail is engrossing, and the sinister touches of the hotel's secrets will keep readers hooked." Booklist

"Taylor has built an enchanting world.  Even those who are not drawn to fantasy will enjoy this fast-paced, magical adventure." SLJ

In Hotel Magnifique, Emily J. Taylor creates a world both dazzling and dark. Readers won t want to turn the final page. Laura Sebastian, New York Times bestselling author of the Ash Princess trilogy

Hotel Magnifique opened the door to a sumptuous and glittering world of magic and mysteries and left me enchanted. Perfect for fans of Caraval and The Night Circus. Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows and Small Favors

Like the hotel contained in its pages, Hotel Magnifique will sweep you away to an enchanting world filled with mystery and spectacle. Katy Rose Pool, author of The Age of Darkness series

Dazzling, enchanting, and expertly crafted, with the perfect amount of gritty secrets that kept me flying through the pages. Emily J. Taylor is my new auto-buy author. The debut was impossible to put down and had me positively spellbound from start to finish.