Name: Horror Hotel
ISBN: 9780593483480

Victoria Fulton

Faith McClaren

This addictive YA horror about a group of teen ghost hunters who spend the night in a haunted LA hotel is The Blair Witch Project for the TikTok generation. When the YouTube-famous Ghost Gang--Chrissy, Chase, Emma, and Kiki--visit a haunted LA hotel notorious for tragedy to secretly film after dark, they expect it to be just like their previous paranormal huntings. Spooky enough to attract subscribers--and ultimately harmless. But when they stumble upon something unexpected in the former room of a gruesome serial killer, they quickly realize that they're in over their heads. Sometimes, it's the dead who need our help--and the living we should fear. Underlined is a line of totally addictive romance, thriller, and horror paperback original titles coming to you fast and furious each month. Enjoy everything you want to read the way you want to read it.

Horror Hotel

This was good despite Chase pissing me off in the first half. I really liked how the victims helped in the end & getting to see their (the main characters) lives after the fact was nice knowing they still achieved the 1 mill they were after even if it was Chase that wanted it A LOT more than anyone else in the group

Ciara Janae ۵

It wasn't bad, definitely entertaining and scary sometimes and was a quick fun read.

The twist at the end was good but not shocking. The ending was well but I wish there was more detail about Eileen and Steve, but I guess sometimes we don't know everything. I love that this book was dedicated to Elisa Lam. I hope she found rest or will find it one day.

The only thing that bothered me really much was that it was a bit too much gen-z. Sometimes when books are TOO modern it makes me cringe but that's just a me problem.

AND IRONICALLY A STORY ABOUT A HOTEL THAT DOESN'T HAVE A 13TH FLOOR IS MY 13TH READ THIS YEAR.

Yalin Tsikun

It wasn't bad, definitely entertaining and scary sometimes and was a quick fun read.

The twist at the end was good but not shocking. The ending was well but I wish there was more detail about Eileen and Steve, but I guess sometimes we don't know everything. I love that this book was dedicated to Elisa Lam. I hope she found rest or will find it one day.

The only thing that bothered me really much was that it was a bit too much gen-z. Sometimes when books are TOO modern it makes me cringe but that's just a me problem.

AND IRONICALLY A STORY ABOUT A HOTEL THAT DOESN'T HAVE A 13TH FLOOR IS MY 13TH READ THIS YEAR.

A fun, easy and captivating read. I really enjoyed this book.

Cari J

Hoo boy. I was so disappointed by this. I have had this on hold from the library for nearly a year. It sounded so good! But it fell flatter than a Pepsi left out for more than an hour. 

The beginning started off really interesting! The dynamic of the group was well established, the premise was set up well, and I was invested very quickly. Granted one of my biggest icks--songs and lyrics were littered abundantly, but hey, if it isn't impacting the story too much, I'll roll with it.

Now I'm going to tear into this book a little bit. Spoilers for those who may read this.

-Chrissy's powers seem so conflicting? She seems to know things one second and then the next she's limited? I liked her as a character, but her lack of consistency in terms of characterization was frustrating.

-Chase: The fact he had no problem filming a dead body was giving Logan Paul. I'm glad other characters called him out, but this part was definitely icky.

-The hotel was confusing, insofar as at first, it seemed like nobody was really there, only for an entire floor of people to show up when it was convenient to the plot? When there was no indication (footsteps, music, etc) that there were others beyond the Ghost Gang and Bram, as well as the more permanent residents

-Emma acting like she created ghost gear. Sure, it's homemade, but homegirl did not invent EMF readers. We can have characters that are good with tech without being inventors. 

-Kiki is sweet and deserves the world, but what was with the third act religious trauma????? It came out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly. Religious trauma is a real thing, and it was handled poorly here.

-I was not a fan of Eileen Warren's story, namely the blog posts scattered throughout--the actual ghost investigation stops very quickly, so there's no answers to be found. Which was partially the point, but it would've been more effective to have the stalker's comments separating chapters instead, to remind the reader that, hey there's a grade A creep going after Chrissy. It's also a bit insensitive to blatantly rip off Elisa Lam's story, but make it gruesome and "Eileen was really a psychic." I have no problem with taking inspiration, but for the book to not only be dedicated to Elisa Lam but also blatantly use her story is in very, very poor taste.

-The killer is obvious, and I don't say this often, but a literal caricature. Also the fact he's a college kid?? flirting with a 17 year old?? and kissing a 17 year old??? Jail. Jail immediately. 

-Who was the gang talking to in room 1413?? it said it wasn't Anna, but it wasn't the serial killer, so who was it? Why did we get no answers? They talk about the YouTube video after it's posted, but we never get details or explanations. I think this book suffers from trying to shove too many genres into too small and simple of a space. It would've been a better horror/supernatural thriller or mystery/thriller. Combining them made it much too messy and convoluted.

Holly

Hoo boy. I was so disappointed by this. I have had this on hold from the library for nearly a year. It sounded so good! But it fell flatter than a Pepsi left out for more than an hour. 

The beginning started off really interesting! The dynamic of the group was well established, the premise was set up well, and I was invested very quickly. Granted one of my biggest icks--songs and lyrics were littered abundantly, but hey, if it isn't impacting the story too much, I'll roll with it.

Now I'm going to tear into this book a little bit. Spoilers for those who may read this.

-Chrissy's powers seem so conflicting? She seems to know things one second and then the next she's limited? I liked her as a character, but her lack of consistency in terms of characterization was frustrating.

-Chase: The fact he had no problem filming a dead body was giving Logan Paul. I'm glad other characters called him out, but this part was definitely icky.

-The hotel was confusing, insofar as at first, it seemed like nobody was really there, only for an entire floor of people to show up when it was convenient to the plot? When there was no indication (footsteps, music, etc) that there were others beyond the Ghost Gang and Bram, as well as the more permanent residents

-Emma acting like she created ghost gear. Sure, it's homemade, but homegirl did not invent EMF readers. We can have characters that are good with tech without being inventors. 

-Kiki is sweet and deserves the world, but what was with the third act religious trauma????? It came out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly. Religious trauma is a real thing, and it was handled poorly here.

-I was not a fan of Eileen Warren's story, namely the blog posts scattered throughout--the actual ghost investigation stops very quickly, so there's no answers to be found. Which was partially the point, but it would've been more effective to have the stalker's comments separating chapters instead, to remind the reader that, hey there's a grade A creep going after Chrissy. It's also a bit insensitive to blatantly rip off Elisa Lam's story, but make it gruesome and "Eileen was really a psychic." I have no problem with taking inspiration, but for the book to not only be dedicated to Elisa Lam but also blatantly use her story is in very, very poor taste.

-The killer is obvious, and I don't say this often, but a literal caricature. Also the fact he's a college kid?? flirting with a 17 year old?? and kissing a 17 year old??? Jail. Jail immediately. 

-Who was the gang talking to in room 1413?? it said it wasn't Anna, but it wasn't the serial killer, so who was it? Why did we get no answers? They talk about the YouTube video after it's posted, but we never get details or explanations. I think this book suffers from trying to shove too many genres into too small and simple of a space. It would've been a better horror/supernatural thriller or mystery/thriller. Combining them made it much too messy and convoluted.



Tegan Bell

Death of Elisa Lam meets the Bates hotel meets the Shining. But YA with a YouTube psychic plot. Super fun read, and a great idea, but fairly predictable. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I read it again? Probably not, but I would recommend it and would pick up another by either or both authors.

篠田美月

Short version: 
1) Bad writing.
2) The true crime aspect. Yes, there's a murderer. It is not only painfully obvious but it also doesn't do much to throw anyone off. It's not a crime to have the Bad Guy™ be rather obvious, but I always appreciate it more if somewhere down a line I get to doubt it for, like, a second at least. 
3) The supernatural aspect. Ghosts exist. That's pretty much it. 

The rest because for some reason I feel passionate about it? IDK I usually can't be bothered to write anything but here I go. 
Oh boy, this was bad and I don't even know where to start. Maybe with my biggest problem: that it's tacky. Yup, I said it. I read books that were much worse but at least for all their cliches they were someone's idea. Not very original, sure, but an idea nevertheless. "Horror Hotel" isn't just a cliche: it's also a ripped off story of someone who was ACTUALLY ALIVE and happened to die in unfortunate circumstances in a hotel. Reading it was painful because I could see actual scenes ripped from that Netflix documentary about Cecil Hotel, shoved into a book. Oh yeah, I am calling you out on Linda. Come on now. Worst offender? The blog posts of "Elizabeth Warren" (aka fictional version of Elisa Lam) being so awfully rewritten real posts. Like, seriously, you had a girl die in a hotel and you couldn't come up with anything other than LITERALLY copy and paste all the details (including that "elevator game" bullshit that was used as a throwaway comment)? Couldn't you just, idk, throw that part out and make up some other case to justify the gang going to this particular hotel? Have some respect. 

Then again our protagonists (spoiler alert for something that doesn't happen!) at the very least don't solve Elizabeth/Eliza's murder. So, a... win?

"Horror hotel" was written by two adult women and didn't read like it; yeah I don't need all my YAs to have some outstandish vocabulary or long descriptions filled paragraphs, but something above "I did something. Other person looked at me. We talked." level of writing would be nice. Maybe if the story was, super good, it would be less noticable. But alas, by far the longest description in the entire book was probably of what Protag 1 thought of Protag 2's lips, because, sure. (Did I call them that so it's not a spoiler or because they all have basically the same character with maybe one trait each? Who knows.)

The good? It was quick and easy and I just challenged myself to reading a book a week. Def helped to knock it outta the park.

This addictive YA horror about a group of teen ghost hunters who spend the night in a haunted LA hotel is The Blair Witch Project for the TikTok generation. Enjoy your stay... When the YouTube-famous Ghost Gang—Chrissy, Chase, Emma, and Kiki—visit a haunted LA hotel notorious for tragedy to secretly film after dark, they expect it to be just like their previous paranormal huntings. Spooky enough to attract subscribers—and ultimately harmless. But when they stumble upon something unexpected in the former room of a gruesome serial killer, they quickly realize that they’re in over their heads. Sometimes, it’s the dead who need our help—and the living we should fear. "Fast-paced and freaky."—Kendare Blake, #1 NYT bestselling author of All These Bodies

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Horror Hotel

Author: Victoria Fulton & Faith McClaren

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Sapphic Aro MC, Half Filipino MC, F/F Romance

Recommended For...: young adult readers, paranormal, ghosts, ghost hunting, thriller, mystery

Publication Date: February 1, 2022

Genre: YA Paranormal

Recommended Age: 15+ (Death, Language, Harassment, Stalking, Parental death, Murder, Animal gore, Animal death, Gore, Violence)

Explanation of CWs: This is a YA paranormal book involving ghosts, so there is a lot of death, violence, and gore and there is murder in the book actively committed. There is some slight cursing and parental death mentioned a couple of times. There is animal gore and animal death mentioned once each in the book and the animals were goats. There is also harassment and stalking in the book.

Publisher: Underlined

Pages: 224

Synopsis: When the YouTube-famous Ghost Gang—Chrissy, Chase, Emma, and Kiki—visit a haunted LA hotel notorious for tragedy to secretly film after dark, they expect it to be just like their previous paranormal huntings. Spooky enough to attract subscribers—and ultimately harmless.

But when they stumble upon something unexpected in the former room of a gruesome serial killer, they quickly realize that they’re in over their heads.

Sometimes, it’s the dead who need our help—and the living we should fear.

Underlined is a line of totally addictive romance, thriller, and horror paperback original titles coming to you fast and furious each month. Enjoy everything you want to read the way you want to read it.

Review: This book was so amazing! I absolutely loved the book and all of the Cecil Hotel vibes in it. I really like books like these where people go to investigate hauntings because it’s something I’m interested in doing one day. The book had a well done story and characters. The world building and atmosphere was top-tier. The book gave me the sense of someone watching me constantly and I was incredibly creeped out at one particular point in the book. This book has quickly become one of my favorites.

The only issue I really had was that the multiple POVs were a bit confusing because some of the characters didn’t really have a distinct voice, but it was still a well done book.

Verdict: I absolutely love this book! Highly recommend!


Horror Hotel

Reviews

Highlights