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Below the Grand Hotel
The Great Gatsby meets Hellraiser in this 1920s horror novel of glitz, glamor, and demons.
Mabel Rose Dixon will do anything to become a Ziegfeld girl—including picking the pockets of the wealthy NYC elite to fund her way to stardom. When she picks the wrong pocket, Mabel loses her soul to a hotel run by demons and tumbles into the world of The Grand Hotel, a place where any artist can make it big.
Mabel’s greatest wish to be famous is granted. Every night, she performs as the starring act to a crowded theater and finds she is never without patrons. But Mabel quickly learns that losing her soul to get everything she ever wanted comes at a much steeper cost than what she bargained for. She must steal her soul back before the Grand’s annual May’s Eve Ball or become a demon herself forever.
With stylish art deco design and beautiful illustrations by the author, this stunning debut novel by renowned New England artist Cat Scully is a crown jewel for the dark gothic horror lover’s collection. Welcome to The Grand Hotel. We hope you enjoy your stay.
Mabel Rose Dixon will do anything to become a Ziegfeld girl—including picking the pockets of the wealthy NYC elite to fund her way to stardom. When she picks the wrong pocket, Mabel loses her soul to a hotel run by demons and tumbles into the world of The Grand Hotel, a place where any artist can make it big.
Mabel’s greatest wish to be famous is granted. Every night, she performs as the starring act to a crowded theater and finds she is never without patrons. But Mabel quickly learns that losing her soul to get everything she ever wanted comes at a much steeper cost than what she bargained for. She must steal her soul back before the Grand’s annual May’s Eve Ball or become a demon herself forever.
With stylish art deco design and beautiful illustrations by the author, this stunning debut novel by renowned New England artist Cat Scully is a crown jewel for the dark gothic horror lover’s collection. Welcome to The Grand Hotel. We hope you enjoy your stay.
290 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2025
22 people are currently reading
4324 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
April 2, 2025
3.5/5 stars rounded down.
The tone in this book was more light-hearted than I expected it to be yet it was still packed with gore. It was a nice contrast.
I think relating this book to The Great Gatsby was a bit of a miss. I really didn't get those vibes from this book except for some of the hotel descriptions. But I wouldn't say to go into this expecting too much on that front.
I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the hotel and the storyline but for being such a short book, it started to feel like the story was dragging a bit. Between 60-80%, I started to feel the drag. That is ultimately what lowered my rating from 4 stars.
The characters are conflicting. While they aren't exactly good characters, morally, I still found myself liking them. I think they were pretty well-rounded given the shortness of this book. I didn't feel like they were lacking.
As I briefly stated, there is a decent amount of gore. Some pertaining to children. If you can't stomach any harm coming to children, then you might struggle here.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
TW: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
The tone in this book was more light-hearted than I expected it to be yet it was still packed with gore. It was a nice contrast.
I think relating this book to The Great Gatsby was a bit of a miss. I really didn't get those vibes from this book except for some of the hotel descriptions. But I wouldn't say to go into this expecting too much on that front.
I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the hotel and the storyline but for being such a short book, it started to feel like the story was dragging a bit. Between 60-80%, I started to feel the drag. That is ultimately what lowered my rating from 4 stars.
The characters are conflicting. While they aren't exactly good characters, morally, I still found myself liking them. I think they were pretty well-rounded given the shortness of this book. I didn't feel like they were lacking.
As I briefly stated, there is a decent amount of gore. Some pertaining to children. If you can't stomach any harm coming to children, then you might struggle here.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
TW: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
May 24, 2025
”Devils wear many faces. They don’t all have horns.”
American Horror Story meets Hellraiser with a dash of Hotel California. I think I would cry… what the hell, this made me cry tears of boredom.
I hate to say this because I was so stoked for this book. (Get yours pitchforks ready) Everyone was talking to me about this book because it combines my horror loves and brings forth the gore but I did not like this book. It started off bizarre as hell and then let me down. It’s not a good sign when you keep checking to see how many pages are left.
Now there were a few scenes that could have changed my mind about this book but those came few and far between. That’s an even worse sign. The hype should have clued me in as well but I didn’t listen. All I heard was AMS and blood. No girl needs to hear anything else. This just wasn’t as exciting as I had hoped.
American Horror Story meets Hellraiser with a dash of Hotel California. I think I would cry… what the hell, this made me cry tears of boredom.
I hate to say this because I was so stoked for this book. (Get yours pitchforks ready) Everyone was talking to me about this book because it combines my horror loves and brings forth the gore but I did not like this book. It started off bizarre as hell and then let me down. It’s not a good sign when you keep checking to see how many pages are left.
Now there were a few scenes that could have changed my mind about this book but those came few and far between. That’s an even worse sign. The hype should have clued me in as well but I didn’t listen. All I heard was AMS and blood. No girl needs to hear anything else. This just wasn’t as exciting as I had hoped.
May 5, 2025
Review in the May 2025 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2025/05... (link like on 5/6/25 at 7am central)
Three Words That Describe This Book: strong sense of place, demons, struggle of artists.
An excellent choice for Dark Fantasy readers who want to dip their toe into Horror.
The hotel is a character here. When I say strong sense of place I mean the time-- it is art deco, 1920 all the way. The way people talk even. But also, the entire book is set in The Grand Hotel. and it is not your ordinary hotel since it is run by demons, has unlimited and ever shifting floors, is filled with amusements of every kind, and began as the parents of the current owner-Frank- sold their souls to make it that way.
Mable Rose Dixon is the protagonist and narrator through this world. She is new but unwilling to accept her fate. She is a thief and a magician turned Ziegfeld girl wannabe. This is a plot driven book. The characters are interesting but bides Mabel, there art not enough pages to develop them fully. We get enough to care about them but the story is the star here. The entire things begins with a 30 day time limit as Mable needs to collect 100 souls for Frank the current owner in that time. But why he needs them exactly and her quest to escape before then takes up the bulk of the book.
There are satisfying twists and a very good ending- one that is HORROR not Dark Fantasy.
Mable is strong and independent throughout. She is tough but also readers see her fears and concerns.
Dark fantasy and Horror fans will like this. It is more sinter and has less romance than your average Dark Fantasy.
Reading for review in a future issue of Booklist
Three Words That Describe This Book: strong sense of place, demons, struggle of artists.
The hotel is a character here. When I say strong sense of place I mean the time-- it is art deco, 1920 all the way. The way people talk even. But also, the entire book is set in The Grand Hotel. and it is not your ordinary hotel since it is run by demons, has unlimited and ever shifting floors, is filled with amusements of every kind, and began as the parents of the current owner-Frank- sold their souls to make it that way.
Mable Rose Dixon is the protagonist and narrator through this world. She is new but unwilling to accept her fate. She is a thief and a magician turned Ziegfeld girl wannabe. This is a plot driven book. The characters are interesting but bides Mabel, there art not enough pages to develop them fully. We get enough to care about them but the story is the star here. The entire things begins with a 30 day time limit as Mable needs to collect 100 souls for Frank the current owner in that time. But why he needs them exactly and her quest to escape before then takes up the bulk of the book.
There are satisfying twists and a very good ending- one that is HORROR not Dark Fantasy.
Mable is strong and independent throughout. She is tough but also readers see her fears and concerns.
Dark fantasy and Horror fans will like this. It is more sinter and has less romance than your average Dark Fantasy.
Scully re-creates the world of a decadent hotel in 1920s NYC- the glitz, the glamour yes, but also the hardship of those on the outside. It id also a book about artists- how they toil and often never get the glory they want or even deserve- but the book encourages all creative who will read it to keep going.
Readalikes: The publisher says The Great Gatsby meets Clive Barker and I think that is fairly accurate, but I think more recent titles that show the appeal of this story are Roses and Rot by Kat Howard meets Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton just set in the 1920s.
And these two book share no plot points in common but the story of a strong young woman confronting Demons and making hard choices reminded me of Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger by K.C. Grifant (which I have read and reviewed)
A deep cut for people who liked the hotel as a character- try Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser
Three Words That Describe This Book: strong sense of place, demons, struggle of artists.
An excellent choice for Dark Fantasy readers who want to dip their toe into Horror.
The hotel is a character here. When I say strong sense of place I mean the time-- it is art deco, 1920 all the way. The way people talk even. But also, the entire book is set in The Grand Hotel. and it is not your ordinary hotel since it is run by demons, has unlimited and ever shifting floors, is filled with amusements of every kind, and began as the parents of the current owner-Frank- sold their souls to make it that way.
Mable Rose Dixon is the protagonist and narrator through this world. She is new but unwilling to accept her fate. She is a thief and a magician turned Ziegfeld girl wannabe. This is a plot driven book. The characters are interesting but bides Mabel, there art not enough pages to develop them fully. We get enough to care about them but the story is the star here. The entire things begins with a 30 day time limit as Mable needs to collect 100 souls for Frank the current owner in that time. But why he needs them exactly and her quest to escape before then takes up the bulk of the book.
There are satisfying twists and a very good ending- one that is HORROR not Dark Fantasy.
Mable is strong and independent throughout. She is tough but also readers see her fears and concerns.
Dark fantasy and Horror fans will like this. It is more sinter and has less romance than your average Dark Fantasy.
Reading for review in a future issue of Booklist
Three Words That Describe This Book: strong sense of place, demons, struggle of artists.
The hotel is a character here. When I say strong sense of place I mean the time-- it is art deco, 1920 all the way. The way people talk even. But also, the entire book is set in The Grand Hotel. and it is not your ordinary hotel since it is run by demons, has unlimited and ever shifting floors, is filled with amusements of every kind, and began as the parents of the current owner-Frank- sold their souls to make it that way.
Mable Rose Dixon is the protagonist and narrator through this world. She is new but unwilling to accept her fate. She is a thief and a magician turned Ziegfeld girl wannabe. This is a plot driven book. The characters are interesting but bides Mabel, there art not enough pages to develop them fully. We get enough to care about them but the story is the star here. The entire things begins with a 30 day time limit as Mable needs to collect 100 souls for Frank the current owner in that time. But why he needs them exactly and her quest to escape before then takes up the bulk of the book.
There are satisfying twists and a very good ending- one that is HORROR not Dark Fantasy.
Mable is strong and independent throughout. She is tough but also readers see her fears and concerns.
Dark fantasy and Horror fans will like this. It is more sinter and has less romance than your average Dark Fantasy.
Scully re-creates the world of a decadent hotel in 1920s NYC- the glitz, the glamour yes, but also the hardship of those on the outside. It id also a book about artists- how they toil and often never get the glory they want or even deserve- but the book encourages all creative who will read it to keep going.
Readalikes: The publisher says The Great Gatsby meets Clive Barker and I think that is fairly accurate, but I think more recent titles that show the appeal of this story are Roses and Rot by Kat Howard meets Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton just set in the 1920s.
And these two book share no plot points in common but the story of a strong young woman confronting Demons and making hard choices reminded me of Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger by K.C. Grifant (which I have read and reviewed)
A deep cut for people who liked the hotel as a character- try Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser
November 14, 2024
Mabel is drawn into the glitzy, dangerous world of the Grand Hotel which offers up her most precious dreams in exchange for her soul. What follows is a descent into hell itself filled opulence amd gore. I'm not sure I've read anything quite like this book. I didn't see any of the twists coming. The world building was fascinating in an almost locked door scenario in a prison that feels expensive and neverending. Horrifying, delightful, and even insightful at times with its discourse on art and fame. I had a great time reading this. Thank you to Netgalley and Clash Books for the ARC.
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October 30, 2024I usually don't rate books I've copyedited, but I must say I love this book. Somewhere within the almost 40 hours spent editing, it went from a cool project I was working on to a book I genuinely love—an editorial emotional entanglement I have never experienced until now. I can't wait to have this book on my shelf.
Read
November 7, 2025I’ve really tried, but I just couldn’t get into this one. I’m setting it aside for now, but I’m hoping to give it another shot when I’m in the right mood/headspace (or when the timing feels better, since it might seem like one I might appreciate more later on). ❌
May 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Thief and struggling artist Mable has big New York dreams she wants to make come true. And while stealing isn’t ideal it helps with some financial stability. However when she sets her sights on a wealthy couple as her next victims of theft she soon finds herself face to face with demons and trapped within an infamous hotel. With the odds more than stacked against her Mabel is determined to find a way out of the horror filled maze that is the Grand Hotel. With her soul hanging in the balance will Mabel find her freedom or be trapped in the hotels halls forever.
Penned as a Great Gatsby meets Hellraiser style read I was immediately intrigued and excited to dive into this 1920’s set gothic book with its demons and suspense. I’ll start off but saying the setting for me was definitely the books highest point as it really was atmospheric and oozed creeping dread. I also couldn’t help but keep picturing AHS hotel when things were being described. However while I did enjoy the overall vibe and different descriptions the hotel held within it also did end up throwing off the pacing of the narrative in my opinion making it slightly muddled with almost too much. Mable as far as a character was just okay to me and while I did appreciate the way the author unravels her backstory I just had a difficult time feeling truly connected to her. And while their are some twists that I actually didn’t see coming in this book I do think comparing it to the absolute horror that Hellraiser unleashes is a bit too loose as this book for me didn’t evoke nearly as much fear as that film does. All in all this 1920’s flapper era demon filled suspense read was just okay for me and fell just a tad short of my expectations.
Below the Grand Hotel comes out May 6th, 2025.
Thank you NetGalley and CLASH books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thief and struggling artist Mable has big New York dreams she wants to make come true. And while stealing isn’t ideal it helps with some financial stability. However when she sets her sights on a wealthy couple as her next victims of theft she soon finds herself face to face with demons and trapped within an infamous hotel. With the odds more than stacked against her Mabel is determined to find a way out of the horror filled maze that is the Grand Hotel. With her soul hanging in the balance will Mabel find her freedom or be trapped in the hotels halls forever.
Penned as a Great Gatsby meets Hellraiser style read I was immediately intrigued and excited to dive into this 1920’s set gothic book with its demons and suspense. I’ll start off but saying the setting for me was definitely the books highest point as it really was atmospheric and oozed creeping dread. I also couldn’t help but keep picturing AHS hotel when things were being described. However while I did enjoy the overall vibe and different descriptions the hotel held within it also did end up throwing off the pacing of the narrative in my opinion making it slightly muddled with almost too much. Mable as far as a character was just okay to me and while I did appreciate the way the author unravels her backstory I just had a difficult time feeling truly connected to her. And while their are some twists that I actually didn’t see coming in this book I do think comparing it to the absolute horror that Hellraiser unleashes is a bit too loose as this book for me didn’t evoke nearly as much fear as that film does. All in all this 1920’s flapper era demon filled suspense read was just okay for me and fell just a tad short of my expectations.
Below the Grand Hotel comes out May 6th, 2025.
Thank you NetGalley and CLASH books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 21, 2024
This book was a perfectly fine, gruesome horror story filled with demons, blood lust, glitz and glam, and adventure. The Grand Hotel was very reminiscent of the hotel season of AHS. While I did get some of the Gatsby vibes, it really didn’t feel Gatsby to me except for the 20s type of elements thrown in. I thought the overall plot was interesting, but it slowly started to drag as we got closer to the end. For a short book, it should’ve flown by with the task that Mabel and Will had to free all the lost souls. There were some elements of the story that kind of came out of left field and it took me out of the story quite a bit. The characters also felt a little one dimensional and I couldn’t bring myself to root for them in the end. It was mostly an enjoyable read, but wasn’t a favorite of mine.
Thank you NetGalley and Clash books for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Clash books for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 6, 2025
Below the Grand Hotel by Cat Scully
3.5 ⭐️
First of all, thank you Netgalley and Clashbooks for the opportunity of reading this book prior to the release in return for a review. This is still a honest review that is solely my opinion.
This book was literally everything it promised to be and I would definitely agree with the Netgalley description which describes this as a combination of Great Gatsby and Hellraiser.
This book has horror, demons, but also glamour and culture. The vibes that this books are just 👌🏼
Mabel is a struggling artist in 1920 New York who wishes to become one of the Zieglergirls. However, due to the struggles she experiences she steals to keep her self floating. Until… she steals from the wrong people. She follows this wealthy looking couple into the grand hotel, but they end up being demons. And desperation and a deal with a demon is not a good combination.
This premise was so unique and immediately sucked me in. Unfortunately, it sometimes went a bit fast and I got lost in everything that was going on. And the ending definitely gave me whiplash the plottwists were plottwisting in this one!
Overall, a very enjoyable read if you love gothic horror, mixed into a glamorous great gatsby style hotel and a touch of romance.
Below the Grand Hotel by Cat Scully will be released May 6th 2025.
3.5 ⭐️
First of all, thank you Netgalley and Clashbooks for the opportunity of reading this book prior to the release in return for a review. This is still a honest review that is solely my opinion.
This book was literally everything it promised to be and I would definitely agree with the Netgalley description which describes this as a combination of Great Gatsby and Hellraiser.
This book has horror, demons, but also glamour and culture. The vibes that this books are just 👌🏼
Mabel is a struggling artist in 1920 New York who wishes to become one of the Zieglergirls. However, due to the struggles she experiences she steals to keep her self floating. Until… she steals from the wrong people. She follows this wealthy looking couple into the grand hotel, but they end up being demons. And desperation and a deal with a demon is not a good combination.
This premise was so unique and immediately sucked me in. Unfortunately, it sometimes went a bit fast and I got lost in everything that was going on. And the ending definitely gave me whiplash the plottwists were plottwisting in this one!
Overall, a very enjoyable read if you love gothic horror, mixed into a glamorous great gatsby style hotel and a touch of romance.
Below the Grand Hotel by Cat Scully will be released May 6th 2025.
March 10, 2025
I wouldn't even mention "Hellraiser" in connection with this book. Although "Below the Grand Hotel," is marketed as horror, it's more dark fantasy than anything (unless you count the mere mention of demons in the plot as horror). The main character could have been a lost princess who's forgotten her origins, or an ambitious peasant girl with delusions of grandeur. The hotel could have easily been replaced by Bluebeard's castle, and so on and so forth. However, as a fairy tale/urban horror mashup, it works! Plotholes and inconsistencies aside (and in the first 100 pages, they're quite rampant), "Below the Grand Hotel" is not a bad book per se. It has a solid story; but that's all: dialogue is unnatural, most times the voices cannot be differentiated, and the pacing is atrocious - incredibly sluggish, even for a slow burn I had to force myself to finish the book. The ending was satisfying, but obviously planned ahead by the author, so that many turns of the story are solely there to force the plot forward, towards the planned ahead ending. This might have worked better if marketed as a YA book, without any mention of horrific elements.
August 10, 2025
I loved the idea and the messaging behind this story, but it fell a bit flat for me.
I vlogged while reading this one if you want to hear more thoughts: https://youtu.be/pgMIlWYH8tM
I vlogged while reading this one if you want to hear more thoughts: https://youtu.be/pgMIlWYH8tM
February 28, 2025
unholy trinity of poor pacing, sloppy editing, and never trusting the reader to think for themselves
Read
October 28, 2024Calling quits on this one, I'm afraid.
June 19, 2025
The ideal atmospheric reading choice here would have been to save this for a trip to New York, but as I don’t have one planned, I went ahead and read Cat Scully’s debut novel, Below the Grand Hotel, this past week–mostly in Salem, which I guess is acceptable because all horror novels are thematically appropriate for Salem. But this is a very New York sort of novel anyway, because it’s about the art scene and fancy hotels in New York in the 1920s, and nowhere is ever as 1920s as New York.
The comp titles for this book were The Great Gatsby and Hellraiser, which aren’t wrong, per se, but for me the other work it reminded me of the most was probably Libba Bray’s The Diviners series. This is praise; I thoroughly enjoyed the Diviners series even though I was losing interest in YA by the time the last book came out.
Our protagonist in Below the Grand Hotel is Mabel Rose Dixon, a young woman from Georgia who, as so many artists have before and since, came to New York to seek her fortune in the performing arts. Mabel has recently been rejected as a Ziegfield Follies girl, not due to lack of talent but due to lack of the things Mr. Ziegfield really wants in his Follies, which is an extremely specific physical look and compliance with his sexually exploitative management style. Mabel is therefore–well, not forced, but certainly incentivized–to put her stage magician skills to unorthodox use as a pickpocket in order to fund her ability to keep body and soul together while she works to break into the industry. Unfortunately, Mabel goes after the wrong bit of jewelry, and body and soul thus become forcibly separated in a nasty deal with some demons within the Grand Hotel, a labyrinthine pocket universe that draws in desperate people and never lets them back out.
The book is part video-game-like mystery as Mabel navigates both the physical hotel and the web of secrets and lies that she is now entangled in, trying to figure out a way to not only escape the hotel herself but to free a shifting arrangement of other people’s souls as well. It’s also part meditation on the challenges and paradoxes of trying to be an artist and make art in an industry where not only is the art a commodity, but celebrity culture means that the artists become commodities themselves as well–and those commodities are subject to the rapid pace of both the whims of fashion and technological change. Scully really digs into what would make selling your soul to demons to perform in a murder hotel you can never leave appealing, which is, essentially, the alternative it provides to trying to scrape together a living in the supposedly non-demonic art world. Also there’s a lot of gore; every time Mabel gets to take a bath and change her clothes it’s like two pages before she’s covered head to toe in viscera again. It was a lot of fun.
Originally posted at But you can never leave.
The comp titles for this book were The Great Gatsby and Hellraiser, which aren’t wrong, per se, but for me the other work it reminded me of the most was probably Libba Bray’s The Diviners series. This is praise; I thoroughly enjoyed the Diviners series even though I was losing interest in YA by the time the last book came out.
Our protagonist in Below the Grand Hotel is Mabel Rose Dixon, a young woman from Georgia who, as so many artists have before and since, came to New York to seek her fortune in the performing arts. Mabel has recently been rejected as a Ziegfield Follies girl, not due to lack of talent but due to lack of the things Mr. Ziegfield really wants in his Follies, which is an extremely specific physical look and compliance with his sexually exploitative management style. Mabel is therefore–well, not forced, but certainly incentivized–to put her stage magician skills to unorthodox use as a pickpocket in order to fund her ability to keep body and soul together while she works to break into the industry. Unfortunately, Mabel goes after the wrong bit of jewelry, and body and soul thus become forcibly separated in a nasty deal with some demons within the Grand Hotel, a labyrinthine pocket universe that draws in desperate people and never lets them back out.
The book is part video-game-like mystery as Mabel navigates both the physical hotel and the web of secrets and lies that she is now entangled in, trying to figure out a way to not only escape the hotel herself but to free a shifting arrangement of other people’s souls as well. It’s also part meditation on the challenges and paradoxes of trying to be an artist and make art in an industry where not only is the art a commodity, but celebrity culture means that the artists become commodities themselves as well–and those commodities are subject to the rapid pace of both the whims of fashion and technological change. Scully really digs into what would make selling your soul to demons to perform in a murder hotel you can never leave appealing, which is, essentially, the alternative it provides to trying to scrape together a living in the supposedly non-demonic art world. Also there’s a lot of gore; every time Mabel gets to take a bath and change her clothes it’s like two pages before she’s covered head to toe in viscera again. It was a lot of fun.
Originally posted at But you can never leave.
April 23, 2025
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
A blend of 1920s style and demonic horror, Below the Grand Hotel is a labyrinthine story of a young woman coming into her own.
This book has a lot of things it reminds me of. A bit of Hades and Persephone, a little bit of Orpheus, a lot of Labyrinth … it’s an underworld story in a way, but in a unique setting. The hotel is Art Deco glam that grows stranger and stranger as the story progresses. The descriptions, particularly of the hotel, were easy to picture, and some of the imagery was really cool.
The horror aspect of the book comes from the demons, as they are intent on feasting on humans and taking souls. As such, there is a lot of gore and violence in the book, though the book leans so heavily on the fantasy side that it’s not really scary or even disturbing. Then again, I read some pretty dark stuff at times, so do note the book has a lot of blood.
Mabel is more understandable than likable, at least at first. You get her motives and goals, but she also starts off as a weird blend of naive and over-confident. Once she begins to drop the act she puts on - she is expected, as a woman of the time, to be both virginal and a temptress, for example - she grows as a character. She definitely takes matters into her own hands and drives the narrative, and I loved the 1920s slang peppered here and there. The main gist of the book is a story about a woman rejecting the narrative she is forced into and making her own path under her terms. She changes her goal once she realizes it’s not what she really wants, and while her end result wasn’t exactly surprising to me, her growth was well done.
The other characters aren’t as fleshed out, but they are fun to watch. Had we gotten to know them more, I think the story would have been too serious. While it’s not a romp by any means, the book has a sort of detached vibe that keeps the horror aspects from being too horrific.
The plot is good - it starts off quickly and the twists at the end were a lot of fun - but I will say between around 50 - 70% I wasn’t as engaged. I’m not sure why, but the momentum sort of dropped off a little bit, so that I found myself struggling at times to get back to it and stay focused. The climax did bring it back in, though!
While the descriptions are strong, the writing is a bit heavy-handed. There’s a lot of overwriting with the author telling us stuff that should have been implied, or lines that we didn’t really need to get a point across. I wonder if this is because the author’s other work is for younger readers, who often need themes spelled out a little more overtly. It wasn’t super egregious, but I did notice a few spots here and there where I was like, “yeah, I know, you don’t need to tell me.”
Yet, overall, a solid horror fantasy that has a really cool setting, a tough main character, and some fun twists.
A blend of 1920s style and demonic horror, Below the Grand Hotel is a labyrinthine story of a young woman coming into her own.
This book has a lot of things it reminds me of. A bit of Hades and Persephone, a little bit of Orpheus, a lot of Labyrinth … it’s an underworld story in a way, but in a unique setting. The hotel is Art Deco glam that grows stranger and stranger as the story progresses. The descriptions, particularly of the hotel, were easy to picture, and some of the imagery was really cool.
The horror aspect of the book comes from the demons, as they are intent on feasting on humans and taking souls. As such, there is a lot of gore and violence in the book, though the book leans so heavily on the fantasy side that it’s not really scary or even disturbing. Then again, I read some pretty dark stuff at times, so do note the book has a lot of blood.
Mabel is more understandable than likable, at least at first. You get her motives and goals, but she also starts off as a weird blend of naive and over-confident. Once she begins to drop the act she puts on - she is expected, as a woman of the time, to be both virginal and a temptress, for example - she grows as a character. She definitely takes matters into her own hands and drives the narrative, and I loved the 1920s slang peppered here and there. The main gist of the book is a story about a woman rejecting the narrative she is forced into and making her own path under her terms. She changes her goal once she realizes it’s not what she really wants, and while her end result wasn’t exactly surprising to me, her growth was well done.
The other characters aren’t as fleshed out, but they are fun to watch. Had we gotten to know them more, I think the story would have been too serious. While it’s not a romp by any means, the book has a sort of detached vibe that keeps the horror aspects from being too horrific.
The plot is good - it starts off quickly and the twists at the end were a lot of fun - but I will say between around 50 - 70% I wasn’t as engaged. I’m not sure why, but the momentum sort of dropped off a little bit, so that I found myself struggling at times to get back to it and stay focused. The climax did bring it back in, though!
While the descriptions are strong, the writing is a bit heavy-handed. There’s a lot of overwriting with the author telling us stuff that should have been implied, or lines that we didn’t really need to get a point across. I wonder if this is because the author’s other work is for younger readers, who often need themes spelled out a little more overtly. It wasn’t super egregious, but I did notice a few spots here and there where I was like, “yeah, I know, you don’t need to tell me.”
Yet, overall, a solid horror fantasy that has a really cool setting, a tough main character, and some fun twists.
May 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Clash Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This was my first Scully novel, and I was intrigued from the beginning. The hotel itself is a character and the shining star of the book in my opinion. I liked the progression of the novel from start to finish but I couldn't get a grip on Mabel herself. Sometimes her decisions felt very strange and I didn't really understand where some of the decisions were coming from. The action/demon scenes really stood out in this one, and I could picture the demons perfectly. A great mix of old NYC/ 20s vibes and horror. The novel is pretty short, but the longer chapters stretched it to feel longer, and it was pretty well paced. Exploring the hotel in all of its expansiveness was fantastic, and the side characters really held the novel together. I would definitely read more by Scully in the future.
June 19, 2025
2.5/ 5
The Grand Hotel really came to life (and yes, that is a pun) with lush descriptions and a gothic atmosphere, which I really liked.
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by the rest. Around the 20% mark I noticed the many repetitions in Mabel's internal monologue, which got really annoying around 40%, at which point I just tried to read over them. Despite that, I felt that the great reveal of the Big Bad Guy was pretty obvious, and I didn't enjoy the (seemingly meandering) journey to get there. At the end, the payoff wasn't there for me, though I did like the close-out picture, which hints at Mabel's future adventures ...
I hate to give this a low rating but I'm sure this story has its readership out there; it just isn't me.
The Grand Hotel really came to life (and yes, that is a pun) with lush descriptions and a gothic atmosphere, which I really liked.
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by the rest. Around the 20% mark I noticed the many repetitions in Mabel's internal monologue, which got really annoying around 40%, at which point I just tried to read over them. Despite that, I felt that the great reveal of the Big Bad Guy was pretty obvious, and I didn't enjoy the (seemingly meandering) journey to get there. At the end, the payoff wasn't there for me, though I did like the close-out picture, which hints at Mabel's future adventures ...
I hate to give this a low rating but I'm sure this story has its readership out there; it just isn't me.
August 29, 2025
The story hit so many sweet spots for me—the Roaring Twenties setting; the smart, strong, flawed but empathetic heroine; the demonic supernatural horror. I could have gladly stood it being twice as long to give the other characters more room to develop and the breakneck plot time to breathe. But I’ll take what Ms. Scully has given me and be grateful—a fun, scary thrill ride of a book.
September 25, 2024
Loved this like great gatsby if it took place in hell. Mabel will do anything to become a Ziegfeld girl what she doesn’t realize is she’s about to sell her soul to save her life and become a headliner at the hotel from hell. So now it’s a race against time to try and steal her soul back Witty and well written the book was one hell of a ride 5⭐️
February 24, 2025
I loved Below the Grand Hotel. It's not the sort of story I might normally choose but the plot summary was really exciting. I like horror and this was a very stylish Gothic romp set in New York City. The spiky protagonist Mabel Rose Dixon immediately put in mind another Mabel, that played by Selena Gomez. Cat Scully has devised a frightening and foreboding, subtle and complete world in this hotel basement. Of course people mention Fitzgerald but I also think of the Eagles: can Mabel ever hope to leave?
March 23, 2025
Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for a review.
I liked this, I should have loved it. The story was well written and I enjoyed the concepts. The 1920s glitz was well done and i like the references in the story to the realities of the time. Horror in everyday settings is my jam and this fell short and I'm not sure why. I hope the author continues to experiment with this because there is some real potential here.
I liked this, I should have loved it. The story was well written and I enjoyed the concepts. The 1920s glitz was well done and i like the references in the story to the realities of the time. Horror in everyday settings is my jam and this fell short and I'm not sure why. I hope the author continues to experiment with this because there is some real potential here.
May 12, 2025
2 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC.
What a book to waste time on. I'm not going to give it 1 star because I really think it had potential, if the writer cared to actually edit her novel.
Mabel wishes only to be a Ziegfeld girl, which I'm assuming is a showgirl in the 20s because the novel throws us right into the plot with little exposition. Normally, that's a good thing, I'm a fan of showing, not telling. But with this, we have no motive for Mabel, or any other thought than "GET IN THIS HOTEL AND DANCE, BABY."
Before I dive in to why I didn't like this book, I'm going to say, I really enjoyed Mabel as a character most of the time. She was sassy and had a good head on her shoulders, even when she was making insane choices.
Now, the writing.
Even without using the word "delectable" twice, the writing is so clunky and repetitive, even in that small exchange.
I'm begging an editor to look at this book.
This comes LITERALLY right after a scene where Mabel asks the all-knowing hotel if it can ask Lucky for permission to stop by and talk. Literally, Lucky was expecting you, Mabel. That's how she knew.
That's all I'm going to share for now. I am DNFing at chapter 9.
What a book to waste time on. I'm not going to give it 1 star because I really think it had potential, if the writer cared to actually edit her novel.
Mabel wishes only to be a Ziegfeld girl, which I'm assuming is a showgirl in the 20s because the novel throws us right into the plot with little exposition. Normally, that's a good thing, I'm a fan of showing, not telling. But with this, we have no motive for Mabel, or any other thought than "GET IN THIS HOTEL AND DANCE, BABY."
Before I dive in to why I didn't like this book, I'm going to say, I really enjoyed Mabel as a character most of the time. She was sassy and had a good head on her shoulders, even when she was making insane choices.
Now, the writing.
"I would take his generous offer if I were you," Evelyn said. She and Martin exchanged a knowing grin. "If you refuse, you will make the most delectable feast."
"Refuse him, and we will make a meal of your flesh," Martin said. His second mouth in the pit of his stomach salivated. Drool splattered on the carpet between his legs. "Then your soul, piece by piece."
"Not so fast, Martin. Her will is so delectable. we should savor the taste of her soul."
Even without using the word "delectable" twice, the writing is so clunky and repetitive, even in that small exchange.
"You can't be serious," Evelyn said. "You're not giving her so precious a responsibility, are you?"
"I don't know the first thing about feeding a diamond souls," Mabel chimed in despite her disbelief at agreeing with Evelyn for once. "How am I supposed to find a hundred people willing to be fed to a diamond."
I'm begging an editor to look at this book.
"Mabel? Is that you?" Lucky said from the other side of the curtained divider.
"Yes. How did you know?"
This comes LITERALLY right after a scene where Mabel asks the all-knowing hotel if it can ask Lucky for permission to stop by and talk. Literally, Lucky was expecting you, Mabel. That's how she knew.
That's all I'm going to share for now. I am DNFing at chapter 9.
June 12, 2025
I don’t understand how this whole thing worked. How was the hotel killing hundreds of people every night and no one noticed. How did no one realize that anyone who went into the hotel disappeared. It’s too many people for me to wave it away as “oh it’s magic.”
Also you can’t compare something to Clive Barker and then not have any sex in it. That’s just wrong.
I find it ironic as hell that the editor of this book left a review when the editing was so horrible. Really bad. For one, your curiosity is “piqued” not “peaked,” and the writing was so repetitive it was distracting. The whole chase through the hotel?? It was the same thing over and over, just with different scenery.
The sudden switch to Frank wasn’t surprising, per se, but it was…boring. I already didn’t really care about the thing with Will, and then suddenly Will doesn’t matter and I’m supposed to care about Frank? Unearned. All of it. The plot needed to take place over a much longer period of time that gave the reader a chance to care about the characters. Girl’s there 2 days and is immediately breaking into the super secret office and busting open the un-bustable box and doing the impossible thing and it’s kinda eye-roll because we don’t know her well enough to care.
Also you can’t compare something to Clive Barker and then not have any sex in it. That’s just wrong.
I find it ironic as hell that the editor of this book left a review when the editing was so horrible. Really bad. For one, your curiosity is “piqued” not “peaked,” and the writing was so repetitive it was distracting. The whole chase through the hotel?? It was the same thing over and over, just with different scenery.
The sudden switch to Frank wasn’t surprising, per se, but it was…boring. I already didn’t really care about the thing with Will, and then suddenly Will doesn’t matter and I’m supposed to care about Frank? Unearned. All of it. The plot needed to take place over a much longer period of time that gave the reader a chance to care about the characters. Girl’s there 2 days and is immediately breaking into the super secret office and busting open the un-bustable box and doing the impossible thing and it’s kinda eye-roll because we don’t know her well enough to care.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2025
I started off really liking this book. Demons, suspense, humans losing their souls and being forced to work at the hotel (not really a spoiler don't worry).
But then the story just kept changing. Plot and character inconsistencies, severe pacing problems, and world building that just kept building and throwing off the story. By the end, it all just seemed way too messy and needed some serious editing.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad. I did enjoy some parts enough to give this 3⭐️.
As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
But then the story just kept changing. Plot and character inconsistencies, severe pacing problems, and world building that just kept building and throwing off the story. By the end, it all just seemed way too messy and needed some serious editing.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad. I did enjoy some parts enough to give this 3⭐️.
As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2025
Below the Grand Hotel takes the idea of the Overlook Hotel in its 1920s prime, infuses it with big-city life, and populates with it with the denizens of hell. Scully spins a terrific tale of the desire/cost of fame in the heyday of when stardom was new and exciting, and drops it all into an almost House-of-Leaves-esque panorama of architectural intrigue. Tight pacing, intriguing characters, and eerily accurate comps (Great Gatsby x Hellraiser) without sacrificing originality.
July 12, 2025
4.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and CLASH Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is definitely underrated, and is not getting as much love as it deserves. The Great Gatsby was one of the few books I enjoyed having to read in high school, so I came into this one with relatively high expectations. While there were definitely a lot of similarities to the original regarding the themes and some of the main characters, I really loved the fresh approach the author took to the classic by making it horror.
First of all, I enjoyed the parallels of the main characters to The Great Gatsby. In this version, it's essentially written from Daisy's POV. Let's be honest, Daisy was not written well at all, and she was just a woman who was there to support the man. She was incredibly self-absorbed and had that "beautiful little fool" kind of mentality, which I hated. Mabel was such an upgrade to that kind of mentality. She had her flaws, which might make some think of her as "unlikable." However, the struggles she dealt with in the creative industry and the abuse she suffered along the way made her grow as a character into someone with more redeeming qualities. Will made me think of Nick, but he was essentially a bit more of a side character like Daisy was in the original. One could also argue that Will was like Daisy, representing the gender norms that we are expected to fit into. Only, because Will is a male, he is supposed to be strong and a provider for his family (hence the boxing career and trying to provide a life for his sister). Frank West was clearly the Jay Gatsby character, but instead of just having fancy house parties, he has inherited a hotel.
Second of all, I loved how atmospheric this story was. I felt like I was at the hotel. I felt like I was on stage with Mabel when she was performing and collecting souls. It really kind of brought me back to how I felt when I read The Great Gatsby for the first time - I was just immersed in that time period. The gore that was added in with the collection of souls was just another layer that made it feel bleaker and more terrifying.
The disillusionment of the "American Dream," which is much less obtainable now than it ever was, was probably one of the biggest themes that really resonated with me when I originally read The Great Gatsby. It's also the biggest theme in this novel as well. Instead of throwing lavish parties (which still happen in this story), artists are lured to the Grand Hotel with the promise of becoming famous if they literally sell their souls. Much like our generation, we were promised that if we went to college and then worked hard for decades at one job, we would be paid well with tons of benefits. We have sold our souls to capitalism, but because we aren't rich we just work till we die without much payoff.
There is also the exploration of the different class systems. Mabel and Will (and his sister) were poor and trying to work their way up in the world, but if they failed at the tasks they were given when they sold their souls, they still amounted to nothing other than torment for eternity, because they were bound to the hotel. I think the book had a good explanation of all the different "levels" of jobs that demons can work, based on their merits.
I also appreciated the discussion of things that have been happening for years in the film/creative industry - how women get taken advantage of (sexual favors for promotions, etc), and if you don't comply with those in power, you get blacklisted and are unable to succeed. It's a predatory system, and always has been. Sad, but brutally honest.
I did wish there was a bit more done with the magician part of Mabel's story, since that was her true dream. But then again, this is a bleak look at what that means today (and even back in the 1920s as technology changed and the arts shifted from live shows to movies). We all have dreams that aren't necessarily able to pan out the way we wish they would.
Truly, I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was great, I never felt bored. There were several twists, and they weren't thrown in at the end like a lot of novels do these days. Everything felt very calculated, and the twists happened when they did for specific reasons, and not just for shock factors.
If you loved The Great Gatsby and also like the American Horror Story series (and demons), this would be a perfect kind of historical horror novel for you to read! I hope more people can come to appreciate this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and CLASH Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is definitely underrated, and is not getting as much love as it deserves. The Great Gatsby was one of the few books I enjoyed having to read in high school, so I came into this one with relatively high expectations. While there were definitely a lot of similarities to the original regarding the themes and some of the main characters, I really loved the fresh approach the author took to the classic by making it horror.
First of all, I enjoyed the parallels of the main characters to The Great Gatsby. In this version, it's essentially written from Daisy's POV. Let's be honest, Daisy was not written well at all, and she was just a woman who was there to support the man. She was incredibly self-absorbed and had that "beautiful little fool" kind of mentality, which I hated. Mabel was such an upgrade to that kind of mentality. She had her flaws, which might make some think of her as "unlikable." However, the struggles she dealt with in the creative industry and the abuse she suffered along the way made her grow as a character into someone with more redeeming qualities. Will made me think of Nick, but he was essentially a bit more of a side character like Daisy was in the original. One could also argue that Will was like Daisy, representing the gender norms that we are expected to fit into. Only, because Will is a male, he is supposed to be strong and a provider for his family (hence the boxing career and trying to provide a life for his sister). Frank West was clearly the Jay Gatsby character, but instead of just having fancy house parties, he has inherited a hotel.
Second of all, I loved how atmospheric this story was. I felt like I was at the hotel. I felt like I was on stage with Mabel when she was performing and collecting souls. It really kind of brought me back to how I felt when I read The Great Gatsby for the first time - I was just immersed in that time period. The gore that was added in with the collection of souls was just another layer that made it feel bleaker and more terrifying.
The disillusionment of the "American Dream," which is much less obtainable now than it ever was, was probably one of the biggest themes that really resonated with me when I originally read The Great Gatsby. It's also the biggest theme in this novel as well. Instead of throwing lavish parties (which still happen in this story), artists are lured to the Grand Hotel with the promise of becoming famous if they literally sell their souls. Much like our generation, we were promised that if we went to college and then worked hard for decades at one job, we would be paid well with tons of benefits. We have sold our souls to capitalism, but because we aren't rich we just work till we die without much payoff.
There is also the exploration of the different class systems. Mabel and Will (and his sister) were poor and trying to work their way up in the world, but if they failed at the tasks they were given when they sold their souls, they still amounted to nothing other than torment for eternity, because they were bound to the hotel. I think the book had a good explanation of all the different "levels" of jobs that demons can work, based on their merits.
I also appreciated the discussion of things that have been happening for years in the film/creative industry - how women get taken advantage of (sexual favors for promotions, etc), and if you don't comply with those in power, you get blacklisted and are unable to succeed. It's a predatory system, and always has been. Sad, but brutally honest.
I did wish there was a bit more done with the magician part of Mabel's story, since that was her true dream. But then again, this is a bleak look at what that means today (and even back in the 1920s as technology changed and the arts shifted from live shows to movies). We all have dreams that aren't necessarily able to pan out the way we wish they would.
Truly, I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was great, I never felt bored. There were several twists, and they weren't thrown in at the end like a lot of novels do these days. Everything felt very calculated, and the twists happened when they did for specific reasons, and not just for shock factors.
If you loved The Great Gatsby and also like the American Horror Story series (and demons), this would be a perfect kind of historical horror novel for you to read! I hope more people can come to appreciate this one!
March 10, 2025
3.75 Stars
In "Below the Grand Hotel," by Cat Scully, Clash Books delivers a tale that shimmers with Jazz Age glamour while flirting with the supernatural underbelly of 1920s New York. This novel serves up an intriguing cocktail of ambition, desperation, and demonic dealings—though like many a Prohibition-era concoction, not all the ingredients blend as smoothly as one might hope.
The premise is deliciously enticing: Mabel, a struggling artist with dreams of becoming a Ziegfeld girl, turns to theft to keep herself afloat. Her fatal mistake? Picking the pockets of a wealthy-looking couple who turn out to be demons. What follows is a Faustian bargain that propels our protagonist into a whirlwind adventure that's equal parts glitter and gore.
The novel succeeds brilliantly in its atmosphere. The juxtaposition of high society glamour against occult horror creates a startling and effective backdrop that pulls readers in like a siren's call. As promised in the marketing materials, it does indeed feel like "The Great Gatsby" had an unholy tryst with "Hellraiser"—though the resulting offspring leans more toward dark fantasy than true horror. Demons appear, yes, but they're more plot devices than sources of genuine terror.
The pacing occasionally stumbles, with some sequences moving so quickly that readers might find themselves disoriented amidst the narrative chaos. Where the novel truly falters, however, is in its editing—or rather, the conspicuous lack thereof. The text is peppered with errors that should have been caught: "slight of hand" instead of "sleight of hand," "peaked" interest rather than "piqued." These aren't merely nitpicks; they're evidence that Clash Books failed to provide the editorial guidance that could have elevated this promising work to its full potential. (Hopefully, these errors will be fixed before publication.)
Despite these flaws, "Below the Grand Hotel" remains an enjoyable read that shares DNA with works like "Mexican Gothic"—a slow-burn tale that gradually ensnares readers in its supernatural web. For fans of gothic horror who don't mind a few rough edges, Mabel's demonic dealings offer a compelling journey through a version of the Roaring Twenties where the monsters aren't just metaphorical.
The novel may not fully deliver on all its promises, but like its protagonist, it has enough charm and moxie to make you forgive its transgressions—mostly.
Note: I received a NetGalley review copy of this book prior to its publication for review at WomenInHorror[dot]com
In "Below the Grand Hotel," by Cat Scully, Clash Books delivers a tale that shimmers with Jazz Age glamour while flirting with the supernatural underbelly of 1920s New York. This novel serves up an intriguing cocktail of ambition, desperation, and demonic dealings—though like many a Prohibition-era concoction, not all the ingredients blend as smoothly as one might hope.
The premise is deliciously enticing: Mabel, a struggling artist with dreams of becoming a Ziegfeld girl, turns to theft to keep herself afloat. Her fatal mistake? Picking the pockets of a wealthy-looking couple who turn out to be demons. What follows is a Faustian bargain that propels our protagonist into a whirlwind adventure that's equal parts glitter and gore.
The novel succeeds brilliantly in its atmosphere. The juxtaposition of high society glamour against occult horror creates a startling and effective backdrop that pulls readers in like a siren's call. As promised in the marketing materials, it does indeed feel like "The Great Gatsby" had an unholy tryst with "Hellraiser"—though the resulting offspring leans more toward dark fantasy than true horror. Demons appear, yes, but they're more plot devices than sources of genuine terror.
The pacing occasionally stumbles, with some sequences moving so quickly that readers might find themselves disoriented amidst the narrative chaos. Where the novel truly falters, however, is in its editing—or rather, the conspicuous lack thereof. The text is peppered with errors that should have been caught: "slight of hand" instead of "sleight of hand," "peaked" interest rather than "piqued." These aren't merely nitpicks; they're evidence that Clash Books failed to provide the editorial guidance that could have elevated this promising work to its full potential. (Hopefully, these errors will be fixed before publication.)
Despite these flaws, "Below the Grand Hotel" remains an enjoyable read that shares DNA with works like "Mexican Gothic"—a slow-burn tale that gradually ensnares readers in its supernatural web. For fans of gothic horror who don't mind a few rough edges, Mabel's demonic dealings offer a compelling journey through a version of the Roaring Twenties where the monsters aren't just metaphorical.
The novel may not fully deliver on all its promises, but like its protagonist, it has enough charm and moxie to make you forgive its transgressions—mostly.
Note: I received a NetGalley review copy of this book prior to its publication for review at WomenInHorror[dot]com
May 9, 2025
While the beginning chapters are captivating and the scene setting and premise made me hope for a great book, by the end of it, I was skipping paragraphs and pages, just wanting to be done with it.
I got a strong YA feeling from the style and quality of writing. The language is repetitive, and the story twists were far from logical at times. "I have the Persephony pin now, I can turn them back into humans!" You had it the whole time - what stopped you from using it before? "Oh no, the all-knowing, all-seeing demon knows about our plan to overthrow him!" That was literally explained in the very beginning - how is that even a consideration or surprise at this point?
I get the desire to adapt the language to the era, but once everyone starts "having kittens" all the time, it gets a little too much. I feel like the author looked up "10 common phrases of the 1920s" and had a sticky note above her desk to remind her to use them at least once on every couple of pages.
We get a romantic build-up with Will for pages upon pages, only to jump into Mabel and Frank's story right after. Frank is a good guy, all of a sudden, and wants to "save everyone?" Except we are kind of supposed to forget that when all the souls are freed, he and Raymond kill everyone who is trying to escape the hotel.
Mabel's logic is strange - she is willing to do anything not to kill people, then she happily kills to deliver 100 souls. She is afraid to lose her humanity, then happily stays a demon. The whole Ziegfield thing is very inconsistent - why not just keep it to the desire to become a magician and use the fact that she can do tricks for the plot? Also, we are just supposed to believe that she a absolutely amazing at everything she does -sure, some of it is the Canary Diamond she wears that enhances her talents, but still.
The book needs some good old editing.
Thank you, NetGalley and Clash Books, for providing an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
I got a strong YA feeling from the style and quality of writing. The language is repetitive, and the story twists were far from logical at times. "I have the Persephony pin now, I can turn them back into humans!" You had it the whole time - what stopped you from using it before? "Oh no, the all-knowing, all-seeing demon knows about our plan to overthrow him!" That was literally explained in the very beginning - how is that even a consideration or surprise at this point?
I get the desire to adapt the language to the era, but once everyone starts "having kittens" all the time, it gets a little too much. I feel like the author looked up "10 common phrases of the 1920s" and had a sticky note above her desk to remind her to use them at least once on every couple of pages.
We get a romantic build-up with Will for pages upon pages, only to jump into Mabel and Frank's story right after. Frank is a good guy, all of a sudden, and wants to "save everyone?" Except we are kind of supposed to forget that when all the souls are freed, he and Raymond kill everyone who is trying to escape the hotel.
Mabel's logic is strange - she is willing to do anything not to kill people, then she happily kills to deliver 100 souls. She is afraid to lose her humanity, then happily stays a demon. The whole Ziegfield thing is very inconsistent - why not just keep it to the desire to become a magician and use the fact that she can do tricks for the plot? Also, we are just supposed to believe that she a absolutely amazing at everything she does -sure, some of it is the Canary Diamond she wears that enhances her talents, but still.
The book needs some good old editing.
Thank you, NetGalley and Clash Books, for providing an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2025
Short Summary:
Set in 1920s New York, this horror-fantasy novel follows Mabel Rose Dixon, a performer with big dreams of becoming a Ziegfeld girl. To make ends meet she steals from the rich, but one presumably simple theft pulls her into The Grand Hotel—a lavish, demon-run hotel where she loses her soul. Trapped in splendor and horror, Mabel must try to take back her soul before the Grand’s annual May’s Eve Ball, or risk becoming a demon herself.
Thoughts:
Period pieces are not my favorite to read but I was drawn to this book out of curiosit especially after reading the blurb. The vintage glamour of 1920s Manhattan collides with twisted horror in striking scenes—marbled ballrooms, feathered costumes, and the secret horrors underneath. It’s luxurious, creepy and richly visual. I enjoyed the contrast between the beautiful and the terrible—dancing demons, rich performances, and blood-stained glamour. It was unsettling but captivating. The “soul stolen by demons in exchange for riches/fame” trope is a familiar one, but the hotel setting, its maze of rooms and levels, make the story unique. There was a bit of a disconnect for me in relating to Mabel, she was a little annoying at times with her impulsiveness, but that may have been intentional. The first half has strong world building and creepiness, but then the story kind of splits into multiple threads later on, which was frustrating but I still pushed through to the end.
I enjoyed this glitzy, blood-lusty ride through fame, sacrifice, and what it costs to chase a dream. If you are craving horror wrapped in roaring-20s glam, this book is for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and Clash books for the free digital copy!
Set in 1920s New York, this horror-fantasy novel follows Mabel Rose Dixon, a performer with big dreams of becoming a Ziegfeld girl. To make ends meet she steals from the rich, but one presumably simple theft pulls her into The Grand Hotel—a lavish, demon-run hotel where she loses her soul. Trapped in splendor and horror, Mabel must try to take back her soul before the Grand’s annual May’s Eve Ball, or risk becoming a demon herself.
Thoughts:
Period pieces are not my favorite to read but I was drawn to this book out of curiosit especially after reading the blurb. The vintage glamour of 1920s Manhattan collides with twisted horror in striking scenes—marbled ballrooms, feathered costumes, and the secret horrors underneath. It’s luxurious, creepy and richly visual. I enjoyed the contrast between the beautiful and the terrible—dancing demons, rich performances, and blood-stained glamour. It was unsettling but captivating. The “soul stolen by demons in exchange for riches/fame” trope is a familiar one, but the hotel setting, its maze of rooms and levels, make the story unique. There was a bit of a disconnect for me in relating to Mabel, she was a little annoying at times with her impulsiveness, but that may have been intentional. The first half has strong world building and creepiness, but then the story kind of splits into multiple threads later on, which was frustrating but I still pushed through to the end.
I enjoyed this glitzy, blood-lusty ride through fame, sacrifice, and what it costs to chase a dream. If you are craving horror wrapped in roaring-20s glam, this book is for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and Clash books for the free digital copy!
May 6, 2025
ARC
I'd like to thank CLASH Books and Edelweiss for the opportunity to give Cat Scully's "Below the Grand Hotel" a read for an honest review.
Like the description that the novel puts out, this truly is a blend between "Hellraiser" and "The Great Gatsby", capturing the decadence of the 20's while crafting a gore-filled story. This is such a unique concept, but is one that I think many readers are going to gravitate towards.
Scully does a good job at painting detailed scenes, transporting you into this hellish world that they have created. With that, I did find that the novel tended to drag along, as if there was filler needed to get this to become a novel, rather than a novella. The establishing details really helped set the story, but it felt like it took forever to get to the meat, which is what we were really here for. There are plenty of twists and turns that are going to keep readers on their toes, but I found it to be a bit tiresome after so many left-turns within the story. That doesn't mean that this novel is boring, since it is far from it, but I think it could have been paired down just a little to really streamline the story.
I genuinely did enjoy reading this, and thought that the concept really was worth the effort put into getting to the end. I would have loved a bit more closure in the end, but there's always room for a sequel, which I wouldn't be against whatsoever. "Below the Grand Hotel" is a bit of a tiring read, but one that I think people really are going to gravitate towards.
I'd like to thank CLASH Books and Edelweiss for the opportunity to give Cat Scully's "Below the Grand Hotel" a read for an honest review.
Like the description that the novel puts out, this truly is a blend between "Hellraiser" and "The Great Gatsby", capturing the decadence of the 20's while crafting a gore-filled story. This is such a unique concept, but is one that I think many readers are going to gravitate towards.
Scully does a good job at painting detailed scenes, transporting you into this hellish world that they have created. With that, I did find that the novel tended to drag along, as if there was filler needed to get this to become a novel, rather than a novella. The establishing details really helped set the story, but it felt like it took forever to get to the meat, which is what we were really here for. There are plenty of twists and turns that are going to keep readers on their toes, but I found it to be a bit tiresome after so many left-turns within the story. That doesn't mean that this novel is boring, since it is far from it, but I think it could have been paired down just a little to really streamline the story.
I genuinely did enjoy reading this, and thought that the concept really was worth the effort put into getting to the end. I would have loved a bit more closure in the end, but there's always room for a sequel, which I wouldn't be against whatsoever. "Below the Grand Hotel" is a bit of a tiring read, but one that I think people really are going to gravitate towards.
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