The Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis was a book I read on a whim while looking for some cozy fantasy and sci-fi and while it was definitely light hearted and had some similar vibes to cozier genre books it stood out by still having serious plotlines, danger and stakes. Which was refreshing, I like cozy series but conflict is what makes a story and you really need something to captivate you which Floating Hotel managed quite well with interweaving storylines that include spies, murder, political upheaval, theft and a “problem solvers” science convention hiding a massive secret.
Floating Hotel takes place primarily in the titular Grand Abeona Hotel, a luxury space hotel that came out of nowhere flying the galaxies and providing a getaway to the richest almost like a luxury cruise through the universe. Back in the day the Hotel appeared out of nowhere with cutting edge technology rivalling even the greatest militaries but these days Carl the hotel manager and one time stowaway is fighting to keep it afloat, with dwindling demand due to unrest in the empire he has to balance the service with protecting his staff, many of which are also former stowaways and misfits who have been taken in and given a life for themselves. Carl wants nothing more to preserve this life but as the empire’s spies and secrets slowly invade the suites his ability to manage is put to the test.
The book is an amalgamation of stories following the lives of the staff and passengers as they intertwine into multiple overlapping conspiracies.Some of my favourite being Mr. Kipple the Hotel Administrator with a bad temper but a heart of gold who tries to balance the finances of Carl’s decisions and Professor Mara Azad a member of the “Problem Solvers” convention who has faked her way to the top of her field for the sake of what those above her wanted to see published and now finally has a chance to prove to herself and those around her that she was always the real deal. And last but not least Mr. and Mrs. Appleseed a couple who seem to be asking just a few too many questions.
If anyone picked up our previous book of the month Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers and enjoyed it, this book fits a lot closer in vibes to some of Becky Chambers other novels like Long Way to A Small Angry Planet or A Closed and Common Orbit. It’s got slightly higher stakes than Monk and Robot and a bit more of a political mystery angle to it while having slightly less of a character study going on but it is still heavily character driven and focused.
