Floating Hotel

By: Grace Curtis

Narrated by: Braden Wright

This cozy debut science fiction novel tells a story of misfits, rebels, found family—and a mystery that spans the stars

Welcome to the Grand Abeona Hotel: home of the finest food, the sweetest service, and the very best views the galaxy has to offer. All year round it moves from planet to planet, system to system, pampering guests across the furthest reaches of the milky way. The last word in sub-orbital luxury—and an absolute magnet for intrigue. Intrigues such as: Why are there love poems in the lobby inbox? How many Imperial spies are currently on board? What is the true purpose of the Problem Solver’s conference? And perhaps most pertinently—who is driving the ship?

Each guest has a secret, every member of staff a universe unto themselves. At the center of these interweaving lives and interlocking mysteries stands Carl, one time stowaway, longtime manager, devoted caretaker to the hotel. It’s the love of his life and the only place he’s ever called home. But as forces beyond Carl’s comprehension converge on the Abeona, he has to face one final question: when is it time to let go?

©2024 Grace Curtis. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Braden Wright confidently narrates this charming space adventure.… Wright undertakes the huge task of giving unique voices to a diverse cast of characters as each one gets a moment to reflect on the circumstances that brought them to the ship. Wright's undeniable verve will have listeners laughing, crying, and eagerly following the exploits of the Grand Abeona and its quirky crew.” —AudioFile Magazine

"Clever prose and lush descriptions . . . Curtis has a knack for keeping things intimate and understated, peeling back the layers of the novel’s scrappy found family. Centering optimism in the face of an increasingly dark universe, this feel-good saga lingers long after it’s finished." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Melancholic and nostalgic, Floating Hotel is an ode to circumstantial companions that left this reviewer pondering old friends who now live miles away, off in their own stories." —Ralph Harris, BookPage

A Fun Story

At first I didnt see how all the different character vignettes were going to come together as a story, but once they did, it made for an entertaining, cozy tapestry of people who made the spaceship hotel their home.

Great narration, surprisingly deep story

What starts out as “cozy sci-fi” turns into a surprisingly deep, gritty, noir sci-fi thriller with lots of flashbacks letting us get to know the varied characters and their galactic-empire-spanning back stories. The narrator is perfect, a dash of a Jeff Goldblum-style edge to his voice - not outright similar, but just enough to give his performance an extra bit of sparkle.

fantastic cast

The cast for The Floating Hotel really drew me in. I loved seeing how the individuals that make up the staff weave together and apart to tell the story. I was constantly hooked on their backstories and how everyone ended up there that I didn't realize the mystery we were unwrapping until several chapters in! Truly a fantastic listening experience.

A great little sci-fi mystery

A charming slow burn sci-fi mystery that's written as a series of delightful low-stakes character vignettes, each chapter presents the perspective of a different staff member working onboard a giant spaceship hotel. The blurb describes the book as "cozy," and while there's truth in that, it does sell the worldbuilding a little bit short because the wider universe is decidedly dystopian. The grim tyranny that exists outside the confines of the ship is important in setting up The Grand Abeona Hotel as a refuge for misfits, outcasts, and rebels who've found family and safety onboard. Highly recommended!

Beautiful characters

I love you light sci-fi story with multiple intriguing, characters that into twine with each other on a floating hotel and space! Love them all!

An Incredible Blend of Sweetness & Pain

I was looking for something along the lines of Becky Chambers and was pleased to find Floating Hotel. It is a delightful (and at times painful) collage of different people experiencing pain and strain under an oppressive regime. If you enjoy stories about a variety of human connectiveness, then this is for you.

Cozy scifi mystery

Wonderful cozy scifi with a mystery twist. My second book from Ms Curtis, This was a great companion as I drove 5 hrs to pickup my granddaughters.

plot????

We meet different characters AKA crew members every chapter. So you barely get to know any of them or how they're connected or what the plot is.. Just very poorly written and executed.. We also barely get any insight into how the hotel operates and looks.. very disappointed

I stopped listening

I would love to be on a space cruise. This didn't feel like that. Mostly just people talking about nothing for long periods. I'll never find out who the lamplighter is and I think I'm okay with that.