While not quite up to the extraordinary story exhibited in Station Eleven, The Glass Hotel still showcases the art of storytelling that Emily St. John Mandel has mastered. Dealing closely with the economic recession of 2008, the story weaves together the impact of a deceitful ponzu scheme as seen through the eyes of a number of characters. The book focuses mainly on a young woman named Vincent, who is intriguing to the reader and the other characters within the story alike.

I was truly captivated by the story and how it is laid out but I still felt a lack of connection that I got from Station Eleven and I ended up craving it. The majority of the characters The Glass Hotel focuses on are either not very likable or do not have enough depth to make a judgement in either direction. If I had been more emotionally invested in the story, I believe this could have easily been a 5 star read. Instead, I see it as an extremely well written tale with the bones of what could be a magnificent piece of literary fiction if some fat of the story was culled and more attention was paid to certain characters and circumstances that occur in the novel.

I am a fan of the author and will continue reading her work for even a taste of the magic of Station Eleven. While this book at times had a scent of its predecessor, I wish it had developed into more.