I embarked on this literary journey with no prior knowledge, eager to be whisked away into a world where being trapped in a place after the stroke of midnight holds more enchantment than transforming into a pumpkin. The combination of Alice in Wonderland and Haunted Mansion elements, sprinkled with Caraval and Starless Sea vibes, piqued my curiosity and filled me with excitement. However, as I delved deeper into the story, I discovered that the execution of this intriguing concept didn't quite live up to my expectations.

The magical world-building and descriptions of Houdini's realm lacked the enthusiasm and vibrancy I had hoped for. The third-person narrative coupled with the present tense writing style also felt somewhat disconnected from the overall execution. The story unfolds within a span of twelve hours, with a multitude of characters crowding the pages. While multiple perspectives could have been a valuable tool to engage with the diverse cast, including the less-than-likable protagonist, Anna, the absence of such perspectives left the characterization feeling underdeveloped.

As a devoted reader of fantasy books, I could have potentially enjoyed this novel more if the characters had been more fully fleshed out, allowing me to forge a deeper connection with their journeys. Additionally, the inclusion of multiple perspectives could have added layers of depth to the story. Regrettably, these elements were missing, leaving me with a sense of semi-satisfaction and flatness throughout.

With a heavy heart, I am compelled to assign this novel a three-star rating, as it fell short of my expectations and left me somewhat disappointed. However, I remain hopeful that my next encounter with the author's work will be more promising, offering an experience that resonates with me on a deeper level.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Delacorte Press for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this digital copy. My honest opinions are a reflection of my personal reading experience, and I appreciate the chance to engage with new works of literature.

this was a really good! I liked the characters, and they were super well-developed. the plot was super cool and fun to read, and the writing was also smooth and easy to understand
highly recommend

While I enjoyed the premise of "Midnight at the Houdini" I really struggled with the writing style. I am not a fan of reading stories told in third person typically, I think it's harder to form connections with the main characters. I want the inner dialogue and to experience an adventure through their eyes, to be shown rather than told.

I do think the author crafted a very intriguing story and it will likely find it's audience, it's just not for me.

Thank you Delilah S. Dawson, Net Galley and Random House Children's - Delacorte Press for providing an ARC of this book.

Thank you to Delacorte Press for the arc in exchange for review.

First lets address the elephant in the room, this concept of a magical hotel has been done better if not actually in the realm of YA vs what this was.

Midnight at the Houdini reads like a badly narrated upper middle grade novel., i went in expecting a rich magical world but what i got was a ripoff of other fantasy books that are more popular. This almost felt like the author read those books and ripped off the concept.

if the writing was not in third person and the characters were actually developed and written in YA like its being advertised as, then i might've enjoyed this more.

I received an E-ARC from Netgalley. This is my honest opinion about the book.

First I give it like 2.5/5. The writing style isn't for me and reads like a voice over in a movie. There is sometimes weird commentary that seems out of place about the character along with the present tense writing. I'm not sure the target audience it reads like lower ya but has "adult" (probably mid-20s) pop culture references that a 13-16 yr old probably wouldn't get unless their parents showed them. The plot itself is like the movie Haunted Mansion met Alice and Wonderland with a dash of Hotel Magnefique. It does not give caraval vibes (which I love). The main character is okay but kind of annoying. The live interest way of speaking is very odd but I guess goes with the book. It's a book that goes over 12 hours and goes through multiple POVs. It's not the best book the story line was alright and kind of got boring.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was an easy read and the plot was fun and interesting, I liked the characters and story.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.