Jessica Miller, The Hotel Witch, Text Publishing. March 2023, 272 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781922790101
Apprentice hotel witch and part-time daydreamer Sibyl whiles away the time drawing spell patterns that keep the Grand Mirror Hotel running – boring! That’s because the official Hotel Witch, Sibyl’s grandmother, has forbidden her from tackling complex magic without more practice (and concentration!).
When a mysterious guest arrives, strange things happen. Shadows start disappearing, starting with the grandfather clock in the hotel lobby, and Sibyl’s grandmother gets stuck in last Tuesday on the thirteenth floor, home of the most potent magic. Sibyl finally gets her hands on The Book of Advanced and Dangerous Magic, but does it have the spell she needs … and will she be able to concentrate long enough to find out? Or will her shadow be stolen first?
Readers age 8+ will thoroughly enjoy this clever magical mystery with great worldbuilding and an intriguing cast of characters: an attention-challenged protagonist, a talking cat, a Queen-in-Exile and a shadow-stealing Shadowmancer, to name just a few.
A fun, whimsical tale about love, family, determination, and the power of imagination.
Reviewed by Maura Pierlot
