This book was truly a wild ride and I don't know how I can even summarize it well. Billed as a horror novel, I don't think that's accurate. It is hugely atmospheric, however. There's a pervasive sense of dread, or creepiness, or a haunting feeling throughout it all, but I wouldn't say it's horror. I felt for large parts of the book I wasn't completely clear on what was going on, and what was reality and what was conjured in a dream-like state. I think that's part of the appeal, however. Even though I couldn't figure out things like the bones -- are they really washing bones? what is this? -- the hotel -- what is this a metaphor for? -- I couldn't put the book down. I'm sure there's some deeper symbolism in all of this, and my understanding only scratched the surface. The main character, Yewon, sort of drifts through life in a dream-like state, not super clear on her direction in life, and obviously dealing with some deep (generational?) trauma. I think that's ultimately what the book is about -- this shared trauma and unresolved history of the Korean war, but again, much of the symbolism maybe went over my head. All in all, though, I did enjoy it. It was like nothing I've ever read and it was compelling in it's creepiness and ambiguity.

A hypnotic and haunting debut that submerses you into the less obvious horrors of war- the struggle to live in a turbulent world knowing everything could disappear in an instant? How do you go on about your life with that fear? Or have children knowing that it's a part of their inheritance? The book's narrator Yewon wants answers to these questions. She's trapped in her hometown it's macabre traditions and her familial obligations while awake and in sleep is stuck in the titular 'invisible hotel'. She explores it's halls and encounters the living ghosts trapped in an unending nightmare that seeps more and more into her waking life. This is a lyrical psychological horror that I'm going to need to sit with for a while before I fully come to terms with it but it will definitely stay with me.

4.5/5

This book was absolutely haunting. Scary at time, definitely a bit creepy or eerie, but I think I would stay away from classifying it as “horror.” I kept waiting for the borrow elements to come out, and I am still waiting. I don’t think that’s at all a flaw of the book - I actually think veering into gothic horror would detract from it - just a flaw of the marketing or labeling.

This book deals with generational trauma in such a literal way, it’s impossible to overlook it. The constant refrain of the bones haunted me when I put the book down, and I’m still left thinking about them. This is a phenomenal debut book, and the writing is really wonderful given that fact.

The characters and setting were also very well executed, with our main character falling into her hotel nightmares/dreams with me barely realizing she had. I think I was lost a little on the exact details of that part, but I think that’s okay. I don’t have to understand the technicals perfectly to understand it.

Thanks to netgalley & Zando for the advanced copy!

I feel like I should be upfront that this book has been marketed as a ‘literary gothic horror’ but I feel it’s actually a literary fiction novel about generational trauma and war. There are absolutely horror adjacent themes, the atmosphere is quite chilling at times and there are eerier moments, and of course war in itself is horrifying, but to promote it as a horror novel feels slightly incorrect. I feel like this book, the way it’s currently being marketed, is going to appeal to an audience that are then not necessarily going to read the book that they're expecting… and to be honest that kind of happened with me, but I think once I got to a certain point in the story I was able to readjust my expectations and I did end up enjoying this!⁠
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It's a debut that I thought this was beautifully written. I didn't know much about the Korean War before going in, but I feel like it described the collective conscience of the war and how it has deeply marked and affected the people who experienced the brunt of it and how it continues to affect generations going forward, in a really interesting way that was disorientating to read but got also managed to get the message across well. ⁠
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I think if I had gone into this novel with the correct expectations of it, it could have been a new favourite, but that being said, I did like this. I thought it was a unique way to get across the brutal repercussions of long-term war on a countries people. If you’re someone who likes to read these kinds of stories, it’s one to add to your tbr!

A hauntingly beautiful read that navigates the complexities of generational trauma and the long lasting effects of war on humanity. A sombre, reflective telling that there are some traumas and some hurts that go so deep, we can never really escape them.

This book grew on me the more I read, I felt utterly consumed as I read page after page. If you have generational trauma within your own family, you will relate to this story. Ham does a really incredible job creating a truly haunting atmosphere. Despite not being traditionally “scary” per se, this was all consuming. Like a thick fog, you don’t know what’s ahead but you desperately want to find out all the while the feeling dread grows ever so slowly into your psyche.

This is really something special for a debut. I will be keeping my eyes on what this author may have in store for us in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book is absolutely a slow burn, but it is a wonderful breakdown and examination of inter-generational trauma. The characters are developed out perfectly, and there are so many poignant but creeping moments throughout this book that sink into your brain as you go through it. There's a focus on the ways that the characters manage their families and the literal piles of bones that futures can be built on that you can never really get rid of.

This book in particular has such a laser focus on the things that we don't think about that often with war, particularly the Korean war. With the recent adaptation of the West to South Korea and the approach of the internet to North Korea, it can be easy to forget the reality of what people have dealt with and are still dealing with in both countries.

The thing that makes this book a five star for me is absolutely the voice in it. I haven't been able to get it out of my head, and I found it such a haunting way to approach the subject matter. It really is written with such maturity and sensitivity that it's remarkable. A very rare five star from me!

I just finished this book this morning from a NetGalley copy and it was such a great book. It grabbed me on page one and really did not let me go. I was drawn to the story and the characters. The story was so emotional history. I hope you give it a go. The only thing I will say is it is described as a literary horror book and I don’t feel it was horror. There were scenes of horror it in but it was a drama with history as well.

The Invisible Hotel is Yeji Ham’s literary debut. It is a quiet novel about trauma and war with haunting images of women washing bones in their bathtubs and recurring dreams of an elusive hotel inhabited by people with an unspeakable past.

It’s one of those books where everything seems completely normal until it's not. The character’s pain is scattered in the bindings without their knowledge. They are carrying the trauma their ancestors left behind from the Korean War and the fleeting feeling of safety that comes from living so close to a demilitarized zone.

I really want the right people to find this book. I initially picked it up because it’s described as a horror gothic book and although there are elements of horror, this book is really about collective and generational trauma.

The plot of the novel revolves around a woman living in a small town who keeps having dreams about a hotel with many doors. Her brother is serving his time in the military and is currently stationed at the border between South and North Korea. Her mom spends her days washing the bones of deceased family members.

This is definitely one of those books where I'll pick up something new upon a reread as the initial read can be a bit disorienting. Can’t wait to see what else Yeji Ham has in store for us in the future.

Fans of gothic literature should run for The Invisible Hotel. This was truly scary and dark and I haven't slept well since finishing it lol.

"The Invisible Hotel" by Yeji Y. Ham is an unusual novel about generational trauma and the effect of the conflict between North and South Korea on the people who live on the peninsula. I don't really know into which genre this novel should be placed; I don't really think it fits the bill of gothic horror as it is advertised. It is definitely an intellectual novel and certainly not a light, easy read. It is much more character-driven than plot-driven. It is a slow burn and I didn't really see where the story was going until the end. The author is definitely a talented writer and her descriptive writing created a tense atmosphere. I can appreciate a beautifully written book; however, it was not the book for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

This book is incredible. I'm a fan of the books by Zando I've read before, and this just clinches that feeling. This book has a gorgeous cover, and it is a wonderful blend of literary writing and horror -- spooky, atmospheric, and haunting. I can't wait to read what Ham writes next.

The Invisible Hotel did what many novels attempt which is to make me feel what the protagonist was feeling through description, not by telling me she (and I) felt that way. I know as much (which is to say very little) about the war(s) in Korea as an average American, but Yeji Ham is able to explain enough without making it feel like a textbook to provide context for the events. The Invisible Hotel is by turns horrific, surreal, sad, but not without humor and romance. I can hardly believe this is a debut work!
Thanks to #NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review. #TheInvisibleHotel

i really liked this and the strangeness of it all, but calling it “literary horror in the gothic tradition” does it a huge disservice.

this has horror elements such as dreams and people who haunt the main character, who are so eerily described but that’s about it. this is much more literary fiction on generational trauma, identity and war.

i don’t know much about the south korean and north korean war, nor about korean culture and identity, but i felt this book described it so vividly you get a very close idea of the trauma that’s endured by its people. the story feels haunting in its depiction of the older generation, how they’re marked by the war, and that it shapes their every action and inaction. there’s also a clear gap between that generation and the younger one. one which the main character is a part of. she is also haunted by her ancestors trauma, but in a completely different way.

there’s honestly a lot to unpack with this book and so much to think about. i honestly wished i had buddy read it with someone so i could talk about it!

but tl;dr don’t go into this thinking it’s horror or gothic horror. you’ll be disappointed and the story doesn’t deserve that. if you’re intrigued by trauma, family relations, dealing with grief and finding your own place in a horrible world. then you’ll find this book is the perfect companion.

// thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read the arc through netgalley!

This was such an interesting read. It was a unique story that had so many elements to it that I haven't seen in books before. It felt very harrowing and even unnerving at times, with the threat of anything happening with North Korea. The relationships between the family members and war was a fascinating dynamic. However, it felt like some aspects were left unexplored and I wished we had gotten more.
At times it felt like it was building up to so much, only to fall flat and there be no real climax.

Overall this was an interesting and creepy read. I'm interested to see what else the author puts out in the future. I just wish I had gotten more from it.

"The Invisible Hotel" evokes a sense of unease without relying on traditional horror elements. Rather than plunging into outright horror, the story weaves a tapestry that lingers in the mind. The hazy narrative and historical motifs, particularly related to war, create a mysterious atmosphere for the readers. The author's ability to maintain a steady pace throughout the story further ensures a smooth and engaging reading experience.

Very interesting book how this girl named Y e w o n has dreams about this hotel through the keys. It's interesting how this is present time. But eventually they refer back to nineteen fifty three when korea was divided. She has a very boring life and her friend went to seoul. They referr They talked about a bathtub because there's bones in there and her mother always says washing them. And She's very frustrated with her life. She works in a convenience store and then she meets this person who wants. Her to drive. To a prison where her brother is. She was from north korea and her family was separated in nineteen fifty. She had a lot of loss this woman. And she really didn't like to talk about it , but y e w o n wanted to know more. She was worried about her brother because he wa In the military right near the North Korea Border. Her sister had marriage but she lost her baby. He was going through a very difficult time as well. In this town where they lived , there was an old man who walked around without the windows are doors and they thought he was nuts. She loses her father who traveled a lot and she could not get over his death. Things became interesting when she moved to Seoul. To be with your friend Named m I a. I like when they go to the museum where things talk about the war. She was working there for her friend who took the day off. It was really interesting that I learned a lot of stuff about what really happened when soul was occupied by the north koreans and how the americans came in and basically kicked them out. The hotel place is really important part because she is worried. Something's gonna happen to her brother. There was the Real hotel in Seoul. People lost their lives there and hospital. I think this is a really interesting poet. However, that was tied together and there's some good points How to tell the story of people who have been dis place. The book has a very happy ending

I'm not entirely sure what I think about this one.... It's definitely outside the realm of my usual horror reads, a blend of horror and literary fiction that was really refreshing. I found the main character engaging, and I wanted to know where the book was leading as I read.

But I found it extremely opaque too. I don't expect my hand to be held as I read, regardless of genre, but the metaphors here were really hard to work with; I didn't find myself frustrated, so much as puzzled as I tried to piece their meaning together.

I also think that it would be hard to read & enjoy this novel without a firm background on Korean history over the past century. If I hadn't had that knowledge to puzzle through the horror and literary elements, I would have been hopelessly confused and frustrated, and likely would have dnf'ed. (So if the concept of the book intrigues you but you don't know anything about Korean history, do a little bit of background reading & then come back to the novel.)

While I have no strong emotions for this book, the writing is very solid, and you can tell that it's a well-crafted book.

I will start by saying that I just don't think I'm the intended audience for this book. It was beautifully written, and the ending felt like a great pay-off. However, I had a really hard time connecting with the book overall. I was curious to find out what was happening, but I wasn't excited to read it.

The Invisible Hotel primarily takes place in the quiet, superstitious village of Dalbit. While the residents are friendly, something isn't quite right there. Much of the book focuses on building the atmosphere around Dalbit and its inhabitants. Unfortunately, I needed a bit more forward movement from the plot mixed in with this.

If you enjoy slow, atmospheric books with one ultimate payoff saved for the end, this is a fantastic pick. As I mentioned, the writing is beautiful, and it all comes together really well.

Seeing the effects of war on an entire culture through the eyes of Yewon was really an experience for me. I thought I knew something about this war from so long ago. Yet, I was fascinated by the parts of it that I had never considered. This book with stay with me for a long time.

This book is sort of hard to explain. Ultimately it's about living in South Korea in the years after the Korean War. It talks about how they are all impacted even now, even people that did not experience it first hand. I thought this was really well done, actually. From the older generations to the young adults that are impacted by military service (directly or indirectly), it shows many varied perspectives. This book does a lot in a small space. I would not classify this as horror, but there are definitely some unusual, otherworldly elements to this. It's very interesting. If you are familiar with this sort of genre of Asian (specifically Korean) literature, I would definitely recommend it. It would not, however, be my first choice for an introduction to this.