Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis is not the kind of novel I’d usually read. It’s not a Romance, and not a Space Opera (although it does contain trace elements of both.) Actually, this book was described to me as the sci-fi equivalent of a “Cozy Mystery.” Since I was in the mood for a break from my usual go-to’s, I decided to give this outlier a try.
The mystery plays out on a spaceship called the Grand Abeona Hotel, a galactic cruise ship that’s seen better days. Once the epitome of top-of-the line luxury, its retro-glam vibe has fallen out of fashion, its staff has shrunk to a skeleton crew, and its furniture is starting to sag. But patrons and workers alike love the hotel’s analogue tech and congenial manager, Carl, to pieces. While guests enjoy cocktails, cuisine, and a view of the stars, the staff spend their free time heckling bad movies, gossiping in the staff room, and exploring the creepy sealed-off wing of the hotel with flashlights.
But as you follow the characters through their vacation antics and workaday chores, you start to realize that there’s a lot more going on in this hotel than meets the eye. Little mysteries pop up everywhere–who is sending sonnets through the hotel’s analogue messaging system? Why is the government forcing a bunch of cynical academics to switch out their usual conference plans for a code-cracking competition? And who in the heck is actually flying the ship?
As you read on, the little mysteries become tributaries leading into larger-scale intrigue. Murder. A jewel heist. Imperial spies.
Both a group of rebels and a bureau of imperial detectives have traced the mysterious Lamplighter, distributor of anti-imperial news and info leaks, to the Abeona. Will the seditionist writer reveal themselves before it’s too late? Or will the entire staff be interrogated and tortured until someone cracks?
One of the big stylistic choices that set this book apart from my usual reads was that each chapter in Floating Hotel follows a different character. I’m used to single and dual POV romances, and the occasional space opera following a few recurring characters. But the author of Floating Hotel allows you to see through the eyes of each character only once, with the exception of the lovable manager, Carl, who gets two chapters.
I have to admit, this made it a little harder for me to connect with the story emotionally at times, but the cool thing about this tactic is that it enables the author to turn each chapter into a story in itself. There’s the tense homecoming of a prodigal son, the excitement of a jewel heist, the fragile budding of a romance between two staff members. Each chapter has its own self-contained story arc, but also reveals a clue that contributes to the overall mystery.
And it’s also where the real fun of the book comes in.
The highlight of this read is the enjoyment of getting to know each character through their personal POV chapter. Each steff member and guest has a unique, quirky personality and a mysterious backstory that’s led them to the hotel. Carl is a space-faring Ted Lasso. Professor Azad’s cynical commentary made me laugh out loud. And the dynamic between all of them made for fun banter and cozy gossip.
This book isn’t a romance, but there is one chapter with a very mild f/f romance plot ending in a kiss. For me, it wasn’t a highlight.
I think the dynamic between the characters as a group is what will actually appeal more to readers like me, who normally go for space opera romance. We have a special place in our hearts reserved for found-family spaceship crews, and Floating Hotel slots right in like a puzzle piece falling into place in a mystery plot.
If you only care to experience a story through the eyes of once main character, if you want spicy romance, or if fast-paced action is a must-have for you, this is not your book. But if you’re looking for something a little different, I highly recommend Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis. For me, this book was a pleasant and cozy vacation from my usual action-packed romance reads.
