“It’s not your typical family vacation when Olive, and her adopted siblings Darwin and Charlotte find themselves falling into other worlds as they explore Grandma Lupé’s strange hotel.”

Charlotte, Darwin and their newly adopted sister Olive are forced to spend their summer with their estranged Grandmother at her run down and very creepy hotel. Other than being bored out of their mind doing chores, young Charlotte isn’t taking well to her new family bonds and older sister Charlotte is dead set on figuring out why their father and grandmother’s relationship went sour. Thanks to inquisitive Charlotte, a simple dare of going into Mama Lupe’s locked office that she forbade anyone going into have them stumbling upon an incredible secret... the hotel has rooms that can transport folks to other realms, other worlds. Doing so activates a struggle across worlds older than any of the kids and unearths a family secret that is an adventure in the making.

Oh I love stories with blended families and seeing children of color in comics in nuanced and thoughtful representations is a treat. Terry Blas (Dead Weight, The Amazing World of Gumball) spins a narrative about siblings exploring not just new and exciting places like a world of magic users and also being inserted onto a pirate space ship of some kind but also exploring what family means to them and the growing pains that comes with it. I loved seeing the sprinkling of Spanish in the text bubbles throughout the book. Claudia Aguirre (Kim & Kim) is masterfully in her illustrating this tale everything from the character designs to the full paged spreads of wonderful settings from the interior of Mama Lupe’s locked office to sights from other places not near and very far away. There are layers to the eye candy with coloring that defines whole pages and moods and a lettering job that emphasizes the emotions of certain scenes.
“We’re stronger than an army, we’re family”

I wasn’t prepared for the unraveling of the plot of the family secret held by Mama Lupe that is a drama bomb as much as it is fantastic writing that emotionally made me so much more invested. There’s a cast of intriguing supporting characters of all shapes and sizes that don’t all extend to just humans that add to the richness of the story. I was so pleasantly surprised to learn that the definition of hero doesn’t just apply to boys or male figures, reconciliation is not easy but can be worked towards and fighting for your family means doing what can be thought as impossible: jumping into different worlds and stomping on your fears to what it possible.
With a satisfying, yet slightly rushed ending that wraps up a lot more plot threads then I expected,

With a satisfying, yet slightly rushed ending that wraps up a lot more plot threads then I expected, Hotel Dare is an all-new original graphic novel that delves into fantasy that is all ages appropriate and quite heartwarming. I’m glad that I took the chance and opened the door to this read that features a Mexican abuelita, space travel, weird creatures, and a diverse family that you’ll be rooting for. While Hotel Dare was a slow starter and took a minute for me to get immersed in, the plot twists helped give the book the emotionally depth that ties family and interdimensional travel together quite nicely with a bow.

Olive has two adopted siblings, Darwin and Charlotte. All together, they are sent to their abuela to help her with managing her old hotel. What they don't know, is that the building hides much more than old furniture and dust: it might be that Hotel Dare is actually a very magical place.

I am sorry to admit I didn't like this graphic novel very much: I was not into the story at all and, to be honest, I found it rather boring. I appreciate the desire to tell a story about love in an adoptive family in which the siblings have different ethnic backgrounds, but that wasn't enough to keep we wanting to go on. The character design was actually really good, and it was probably my favourite thing in the volume. As for the art, it was appealing for the eye, but unfortunately not that original (I couldn't find any unique features that distinguish it from other contemporary comics). Overall, it wasn't bad but also not quite good. I am sorry for the negative review, and I still appreciated the possibility to read this as an advanced copy.

Disclaimer: I have voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy from NetGalley, thank you!

I’ve seen Hotel Dare on a few Goodreads lists and one of the booktubers I watch talked about it in her video so when I see it available for request on NetGalley couldn’t believe my luck. I was super excited when I got accepted and got down to read as soon as I could.

Hotel Dare is a story about three adopted siblings, Olive, Darwin and Charlotte who go to spend their vacation in their grandma’s hotel in Mexico. Olive has a secret purpose in that - she wants to learn what happened in the past that made their father and grandma stop talking to each other. In the meantime, however, they discover that doors to the rooms in the hotel lead to different worlds.

I absolutely love the idea of Hotel Dare. It reminds me of the books I’ve read when I was a kid with buildings full of mysteries and magic. Different worlds give a possibility of many different settings, each of the creative, quirky and colorful. I would love to see some more of the space pirate world and the Land of the Dead.

The characters are lovely, every single one of them unique and fun. Olive is trying her best to be a responsible older sister and keep her family together. Darwin is a little quiet and anxious but he always wants to see the best in people. Charlotte is uncertain about her place in the family and very temperamental. Mama Lupe is absolutely badass. From other characters, I absolutely loved Brad, the beardless mage, and Benjamina, the captain of the space pirates. The relationships between the characters were heartwarming and wholesome with quirky banter.

I could go on about art style in this comic for ages. It’s so beautiful, vibrant and colorful. Each character is easily distinguishable from the others. The backgrounds are detailed and create a wonderful atmosphere. Just looking at the pages makes you want to be there with the characters and explore those fascinating new worlds.

In conclusion, Hotel Dare is a wonderful read with a cast of diverse characters and beautiful graphics. It’s a story about finding one’s place in the world and how family doesn’t end with blood. I’m sure many teenage readers would see themselves in the characters but it’s also a great read for older graphic novel enthusiasts. I personally will keep an eye for the next volumes if there ever will be any.

4/5

This is such a fun read. It's perfect for middle grade and kids who don't always enjoy reading.

The story is easy to follow and captivating enough to keep you reading. As a Spanish student, I enjoyed that there was some relatively simple Spanish included in the comic.
I liked the art style and the colors used, and the fact that family was most important, whether that's family you find along your journey, or the family you've born into.

The first thing I noticed upon starting this graphic novel was the artwork worthy of an animated television series. The characters, backgrounds, colors, all vividly come to life on the page - even more so once you are start reading, and realize how inclusive the book is. Race, family, adoption, the LGBTQ+ community, spirituality, ageism, all and more are touched upon in this story of three siblings made a family via adoption - Olive, Darwin, and Charlotte - who are all sent to live for the summer with their estranged grandma who owns and runs the Hotel Dare (and could use their help in cleaning and fixing it up). But chores grow old fast, and one day youngest sister Charlotte gets inquisitive, leading her siblings into a private office while Grandma's out ... a move that leads to each kid, as he or she is cleaning a room that morning, to discover a portal into different worlds where Charlotte finds new purpose, Olive helps a fledgling wizard, and Darwin meets a blob-like friend. But when Charlotte - always the loner, though her outward toughness hides a much softer center - decides to stay behind permanently in her world, Olive and Darwin can only keep things secret from Grandma for so long before learning that the three worlds they've all visited are now on a collision course with each other - and that Grandma has some long-held secrets, herself, that may threaten them all. Hotel Dare is inventive and colorful storytelling (am totally in love with the sassy grandma, who I think deserves her own TV series) that builds to a very busy final battle between good guys and bad - "busy" also being the one negative I could hold against the book. Hotel Dare is very heavy on action, characters and even dialogue that, at times, makes for some convoluted storytelling; a lot of ideas and storylines and people/creatures fill these pages, which works on one level because the characters are well-written and well-drawn, though on another level may make you double back a page or two at times, to remind yourself or where you are and whose story you are on. And though that may occasionally make it feel like a novel's worth of story packed into a graphic novel's page count, Hotel Dare remains a boisterous, exciting tale of family - whether a family by blood or love or circumstance - and how strong those family ties can be. 3.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Thrilling story about family, loyalty, and interdimensional travel. I loved all of the characters and can't wait to learn more about them. The ways the different worlds worked with the individual family members that encountered them was really smart. The plot kept me guessing.

'Hotel Dare' by Terry Blas with art by Claudia Aquirre is a graphic novel about the importance of family, even if that family is from other worlds.

Darwin, Charlotte and Olive find themselves spending a vacation at Grandma Lupe's hotel. Vacation here means cleaning the rooms. Along the way, they learn some strange secrets about the hotel. The rooms are portals to other dimensions with wizards and spaceships and carnivorous puffballs. They also find out that Grandma Lupe knows about this. They set out to help solve the biggest mystery.

The story is just ok. It's a mystery door type story. I had a hard time feeling much for these characters. I didn't think the art was that great. I don't know why kid's books always get the short end on art. Also, one of the characters states she is queer, although I don't know why since that really goes nowhere in the story, and is basically stated in passing. I state it in case that is something you don't want in your kid's books.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from KaBOOM! and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

This graphic novel was a lot of fun! Secret portals that lead to other worlds, magic, and most importantly -- coming together as a family!

Thank you BOOM! and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Okay pretty sure at this point I will always LOVE anyhing Terry Blas creates and this is no exception. Come for the adventure, stay for the illustrations.

This graphic novel was so fun, it was full of space pirates, bearded wizards, space portals, an evil queen, other world adventures and even a unicorn! It took a little while to figure out the story and the direction it was going in but once that was clear I found it really enjoyable. I loved the characters, Mama Lupé in paticular was one fierce Grandmother! One thing I really liked was the importance on family, both biological and chosen. The illustrations were amazing too! Would definitely recommend.

Wow, first thank you for the chance giving me this Arc. Second, I have never found any book that just hooked me in as much as this. It’s just a package deal. It has LGBTQPIA + representation and poc characters. It was lighthearted but also had deeper meaning behind the story. I loved every character , the art style, and more. I also loved how it focused on the meaning on family above all else. I could definitely reread this over and over again!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this comic!

Rating: 4.5 stars

I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this graphic novel! The art and colours were stunning, the characters well rounded and the storyline completely engrossing.

It was wacky and, at times, bizarre but I couldn't help but love it! The relationships in the book were so important, with a strong theme on chosen family. The worlds the characters travelled to were very imaginative and unique!

Overall, I would 100% recommend this to anyone who likes diverse characters, gripping plot and gorgeous art.

The comic "Hotel dare" is in a different category than the ones I’m used to read, however, I liked the different aspects, both for its history, development of the characters, setting and the graphic quality of the drawings.
The authors Terry Blas and Claudia Aguirre present three parallel stories, around fantasy, alternate worlds and magical portals (based on the Aztec mythology). It is a fun and reflective reading, focused on the value of family. I enjoyed the story and illustrations, it is an addictive comic that catches you from the beginning; I would love to read a second part.

Thanks to Netgalley for sending me a digital version of the "Hotel Dare" comic.

This one was nice. Focus on both the fantasy world and the true meaning of family. It teaches a life lesson and brings out an amazing world to young readers.

I got the eARC from the publisher through Netgalley. All of the comments are mine and what I feel about the book.
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Hotel dare is a comic book about a diverse family. It was started by Darwin, Olive, and Charlotte's summer holiday in Hotel Dare owned by their very own grandmother Mama Lupe. Their first task was to help their grandma to clean the hotel. Mama Lupe had warned them to keep out of her office, but them with their curiosity went in to her office and did things that fascinated them, Olive with her organising skill, Darwin with his imagination, and Charlotte with her mechanical skill. Accidentally, they were sucked in to different portals with different worlds behind. Starting from that, their family history was unfolded one by one.
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The plot is well organised and interesting, sometimes the story puts me on the edge of my seat. Also, this book makes me wanting more. To know what will happen next as soon as possible. The characters are well developed, we can see their growth throughout the story. The places in the books are whole new worlds with unique characteristics.
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All in all, it is a good book for all ages, especially for middle graders. It taught you so many things about life and family. Thank you for writing this book, Terry!

Hotel Dare is exactly the sort of story I would have gobbled up when I was in grade school. As regular readers have no doubt heard far too many times by now, I’m always on the lookout for younger reader-friendly titles that I could share with my stepdaughter, and I found that here. Hotel Dare features three kids who are grappling with who they are, and how aspects of their identity (queerness, anxiety, adopted family dynamics) inter-relate with each other. This serves to enrich the wonderful plot, set in a run-down hotel that also happens to have portals to other universes. The story is fast-paced, exciting, and fun, while never losing the wonderful character dynamics and the gorgeous art. Hotel Dare is wonderfully fun, and I highly recommend it to fans of fantasy and young adult adventure.

This graphic novel is far more beautiful than I thought it would ever be. The story follows three siblings as they spend time with their grandmother at the hotel that she owns. The grandmother doesn't have a relationship with her son and one of the siblings was newly adopted, which put into play some deep reflections and insights on family. Throughout the book, the family encounters different worlds and works together. This is a strong "found family" graphic novel with a diverse cast, beautiful prose, and lush illustrations. A must have!

Hotel Dare is beautifully illustrated and full color, but its story left me wanting. It felt like it tried to do too much in too few pages: there's a hotel, portals leading to three different universes, magic, aliens, legendary armor, a quest to find a missing family member, adoption, etc, and I never connected to the characters like I had hoped.

Portals! Space pirates! Wizards! Woohoo!

After my initial read I gave this graphic novel 4 stars. I enjoyed it more when I reread it yesterday and got even more out of the story during today’s third read. It has mystery, adventure and heart, plus there’s a badass granny!

Charlotte is the newest member of the Dare family. She goes with Darwin, who has a female rat called Donut, and Olive, who identifies as queer and loves organising, to Mamá Lupe’s hotel in Mexico for the summer.

Mamá Lupe has warned them to stay out of her office but these are three kids spending their summer cleaning rooms in a hotel; naturally the allure of the forbidden is too interesting to ignore. Soon they learn that this isn’t an ordinary hotel and Mamá Lupe is not your typical granny.

There are hidden worlds to explore and between them, these adopted siblings meet wizards, space pirates and cuddlemuffins. I adored Sunny the Cuddlemuffin! Along the way Charlotte learns about belonging and family, and what home really means.

I loved how Claudia Aguirre brought Terry Blas’ story to life, with plenty of detail and vibrant colours. The Land of the Dead was always going to be my favourite portal destination but I enjoyed them all. I did Google some Spanish to figure out some small sections of dialogue but I would have still known what was happening if I hadn’t.

I could easily keep rereading this story and I would happily visit other portals with these kids if there was a sequel. Thank you so much to NetGalley and KaBOOM!, an imprint of BOOM! Studios, for granting my wish to read this graphic novel.

This is a comic about family and forgiveness with lots of action. It is middle grade friendly and features three children and focus on one who was recently adopted and feels like she does not belong. Helping their grandmother clean an old hotel, they accidently open a portal to other worlds and adventure ensues and they try to help find their grandfather. The characters are well drawn and quirky but are all very superficial and due to the length of the comic, emotions and decisions occur very quickly, making them feel less significant. Still, great art and a fun plot and would recommend this to any middle school or older reader interested in a quick read.