Hello, everyone! Today I’m reviewing The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater, a historical fantasy novel set during World War 2. I’m a huge fan of Stiefvater’s The Raven Cycle. So, I have been looking forward to seeing what she does with her adult debut. What did I think? Read on to find out!

#1 New York Times bestselling novelist Maggie Stiefvater dazzles in this mesmerizing portrait of an irresistible heroine, an unlikely romance, and a hotel—and a world—in peril.

January 1942. The Avallon Hotel & Spa has always offered elegant luxury in the wilds of West Virginia, its mountain sweetwater washing away all of high society’s troubles.

Local girl-turned-general manager June Porter Hudson has guided the Avallon skillfully through the first pangs of war. The Gilfoyles, the hotel’s aristocratic owners, have trained her well. But when the family heir makes a secret deal with the State Department to fill the hotel with captured Axis diplomats, June must persuade her staff—many of whom have sons and husbands heading to the front lines—to offer luxury to Nazis. With a smile.

Meanwhile FBI Agent Tucker Minnick, whose coal tattoo hints at an Appalachian past, presses his ears to the hotel’s walls, listening for the diplomats’ secrets. He has one of his own, which is how he knows that June’s balancing act can have dangerous consequences: the sweetwater beneath the hotel can threaten as well as heal.

June has never met a guest she couldn’t delight, but the diplomats are different. Without firing a single shot, they have brought the war directly to her. As clashing loyalties crack the Avallon’s polished veneer, June must calculate the true cost of luxury.

***Thank you to Viking for providing an advanced copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

The writing in The Listeners felt very reminiscent of The Raven Cycle. So, obviously, I was completely enamored with it from the very start. Stiefvater just has the ability to make a setting come to life in such a unique way. She managed to make the Avallon feel like a character all its own that I was invested in getting to know. My only qualm with the world-building was the sweetwater. It was an interesting concept, but I never got a good sense of how it worked, its origin, or really any of the particulars behind its use. It’s also important to note that readers shouldn’t go into this story expecting a ton of magic. The sweetwater is the only magic it’s got.

I found the time period of The Listeners to be so fascinating. I never knew that foreign diplomats during World War 2 were detained at luxury hotels until they were repatriated to their home countries. The story did a really good job of showing how difficult it would be to serve people on the other side of the war who were likely complicit in killing your own drafted loved ones. It was also interesting how the characters utilized luxury to keep tensions from boiling over while also making it a mask for subterfuge.

The story in The Listeners also focused heavily on class struggle. The staff of the hotel, as well as main characters June and Tucker, all come from humble backgrounds. Imagery weaved through the story really highlighted how the lie of luxury survives based entirely on the backs of the lower classes. Without the tireless work and sacrifices of those that lack wealth, the fun, beauty, and extravagance of the upper class would cease to exist. The story also illustrated that June could never really be one of them, no matter how hard she worked to preserve the facade in which the rich lived day to day.

The plot of The Listeners did take quite a while to take off because of the heavy focus on establishing the characters and setting. I enjoyed it because of my interest in the historical events taking place and the beauty of the writing. However, the slow pace likely won’t appeal to everyone. I did struggle a bit with connecting to the characters at first, as well, but they each came into their own by the end. So, if you’re not in the mood for a slow story with characters who gradually gain depth, maybe put this one off for another time.

All in all, The Listeners was a great adult debut for Stiefvater. The writing was beautiful and brought the historical setting to life brilliantly. I never knew I needed a story about a hotel during World War 2, but apparently, I did. lol. The pace was probably a bit too languid at times, and I’d have loved to get more history and info on the magical element. However, the plot, characters, and themes really did end up working well by the end. Therefore, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

There you have it! My thoughts on The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater. Have you read this book or any of Stiefvater’s YA books? Let me know your thoughts on them in the comments! As always, happy reading!