The Hotel Balzaar

The Hotel Balzaar, a wise and magical follow-up to The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo, takes readers back into the enchanting world of Norendy, where tales unfurl in the most unexpected of places, and every moment is a story waiting to be told.

At the heart of this novella is young Marta, who spends her days at the enigmatic Hotel Balzaar while her mother works tirelessly as a cleaner. Marta's mother, who starts her day before sunrise, advises her daughter to explore the hotel quietly, likening her to a little mouse mirroring the hushed elegance of their surroundings. Consequently, Marta navigates the vast hallways and hidden nooks of the opulent hotel, engaging in whispered conversations with the friendly bellman, admiring the mesmerising painting of an angel’s wing above the grand fireplace, and observing a playful cat that chases a mouse around the face of an ornate grandfather clock. Amidst these small adventures, Marta's heart is heavy with longing for her father, a soldier who has mysteriously gone missing.

The plot thickens when a mysterious and intriguing countess arrives at the hotel, accompanied by her exotic parrot. This enigmatic figure promises a collection of seven mesmerising stories, each to be revealed in its own time and sequence. As each story is recounted, Marta finds herself increasingly captivated, pondering whether these narratives might hold the key to understanding her father's disappearance. Intrigued by the countess’s tales, Marta’s journey transforms into one of hope and discovery.

This second book in a trio of novellas is masterfully penned by Kate DiCamillo, who weaves themes of yearning, belief, and the search for light in moments of darkness throughout the narrative. The text is beautifully complemented by Júlia Sardà’s elegant line art, which enhances the magical quality of the story, bringing every character and setting vibrantly to life. The Hotel Balzaar is a tale that juggles the tender balance of reality and fantasy, inviting readers of all ages to join Marta in her quest for truth and tranquillity.