Once Upon A Song

by Nadine Bells

Welcome to the Hôtel de Neige. Let yourself be swept away by its grandeur and glamor, but beware…the cold may swallow you whole. When lonely waitress Ana lands a job as a singer at the prestigious Hôtel de Neige, she believes it to be the beginning of her fairytale. Yet she soon finds that in those eerie halls, the line between Cinderella story and Gothic nightmare blurs. Sinister dreams cause her to sleepwalk, a ballerina makes ominous threats, and a phantom in white haunts the hotel—and Ana. As Ana discovers that the hotel’s last singer lost his life under mysterious circumstances, she needs to decide if happily-ever-after is worth it. She knows she cannot trust her secretive colleagues or the charming but elusive hotel manager, Dimitri. All Ana ever wanted was to belong, but at the Hôtel de Neige, that may mean never leaving again…

Genres: Fantasy, Gothic

252 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 23, 2026

Reviews

[Samy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ana's lifelong dream of becoming a singer finally comes true after a lonely life as a waitress in New York City when she lands the job of lead singer at the prestigious Hôtel de Neige. Initially, it appears to be everything she ever wanted. However, after experiencing spine-chilling nightmares and facing a jealous colleague, it soon becomes clear that the hotel is not what it seems.

Once Upon a Song is a captivating mix between a frosty fairytale and a gothic horror novel. It is gripping, especially during the rising action. While the final plot twist was quite obvious to me, the novel features some interesting turns I didn't expect. Ana’s nightmares are particularly well-written and very spooky, creating a genuine sense of dread that accompanies the reader throughout the story. What bothered me most was the excessive secrecy among the characters, which occasionally became tiresome and slowed the narrative. I hadn’t anticipated a romance plot, but I found it to be well done.

To sum up, this novel offers a rich atmosphere and genuine thrills, making it perfect for those looking for a fantasy, wintery romance with a dark undercurrent.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and comments are my own.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall rating: 5/5 Stars
Once Upon a Song by Nadine Bells

This book completely swept me away. From the very first pages, Once Upon a Song pulls you into the haunting, icy glamour of the Hôtel de Neige, a setting that feels equal parts fairytale and Gothic nightmare. The atmosphere is stunning and immersive, and I was hooked immediately.

Ana is a protagonist you can’t help but root for. Her longing to belong, paired with her unsettling nightmares and eerie experiences within the hotel, creates a constant sense of tension. The hotel itself feels alive, and the cast of characters surrounding Ana adds both warmth and unease. Some offer her the found family she’s always wanted, while others, especially Hedwig, the hotel’s chilling prima ballerina, make it clear that danger lurks beneath the beauty.

There’s also a subtle romantic thread between Ana and Dimitri, the mysterious hotel manager. While I enjoyed their dynamic, the romance is very light and not the main focus of the story. This novel is far more about Ana’s self-discovery and her confrontation with the shadows of her past than it is about romantic payoff.

The pacing kept me turning pages, and the writing is beautiful and atmospheric throughout. If you’re looking for high spice, this isn’t the book for you (spice level: 2/5). But if you love moody settings, paranormal mystery, found family, and stories that linger with you long after you finish, I can’t recommend this one enough.

A haunting, magical, and unforgettable read.

I received and advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️ (one intimate scene from what I remember)
Content Warnings: small mentions of blood, death & violence (not too graphic)

At first glance, gorgeous cover and intriguing plot. Upon reading, this gave gothic fairytale in the best way possible!

I know it has a fantasy tag, but it definitely leans more into mystery than anything else. The descriptive details for every single setting, and throughout the entire book, were so immersive that I could easily see this being adapted into a movie! Like, I was constantly suspicious of everyone, and everything, because of how well the tone was set.

It starts off slowly but gradually picks up pace as more of the mystery is revealed (to the reader and Ana, our main character). There’s a lot of characters, but each one is so distinct in their personalities. Final note (hehe, get it?), I loved how all the puzzle pieces made sense at the end, and it didn’t feel like there were any missing or unexplained bits!

I can’t wait to see what else this author comes out with! Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc!! <3

[Lumie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC.

Plot 4.25/5
Characters 4/5
Ending 4/5
Interest 4.5/5

Overall 4/5

-This story was so magically beautiful but also so mysterious. It is short and simple but there are so many elements which makes it so great. I can feel a sort of Anastasia retelling which I really love. The mysterious hotel remained very eery and mysterious right up until the end which was much appreciated.

-I have to admit that the characters sometimes irritated me. We knew that the hotel was mysterious and there were lots of secrets at play in the story, but I feel like the characters often showed that they were hiding something from Ana. Other than that, they were fine. I liked the relationship with Dimitri although I still don’t understand why no one likes him.

-I would have liked a more bittersweet ending for this book instead of the miracle happily ever after. I am satisfied with how things go and the plot twists were great, despite being sort of predictable. If the ending were a bit longer I feel like it could have been more emotional and impactful for me.

[Kristie Kieffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Upon a Song is a gorgeous blend of music, emotion, and fairytale charm that sweeps you away from the very first chapter. Nadine Bells crafts a story that feels both timeless and refreshingly modern, filled with lyrical writing and characters who feel like they step right off the page.

The musical elements are woven into the narrative so naturally that the entire book seems to hum with its own melody. Every scene feels vivid and immersive, from the quiet, intimate moments to the emotionally charged crescendos. The romance is tender and compelling, unfolding with the perfect balance of tension, vulnerability, and slow-burn sweetness.

What truly stands out is the heart of the story. Themes of healing, courage, self-discovery, and the transformative power of art give the book a depth that lingers long after you finish. It’s uplifting without shying away from real emotion, and magical without losing its authenticity.

If you love whimsical storytelling, stunning prose, and characters you can’t help but root for, Once Upon a Song is an absolute gem.

[Asyanil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely pulled me in with its rich atmosphere, blending horror elements with a magical and fantastical world. The writing and descriptions were vivid and immersive, making the story easy to visualize and hard to put down.

I especially appreciated the thoughtful diversity, both LGBTQ+ and racial, which felt natural and meaningful within the worldbuilding. As a Turkish reader, seeing a character of Turkish origin included was a pleasant and rare surprise in this genre. The characters particularly, Hedwig, Dimitri and Erica were compelling and memorable, and the thematic use of names added a subtle but effective layer to the story.

Overall, this was an engaging and accessible read, even as a non-native English speaker, and I would gladly read more stories set in this world.

[Sidrah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly very let down by this! I picked this up based on the synopsis but it totally fell flat for me. It took me a while to get through this because I just kept losing interest. The characters did not feel fully flushed out, their interactions with each other felt awkward. The dialogue was very basic or cliché. The romance was extremely rushed and forced in this, and there were definitely some loose ends in the plot. Also very slow paced at the start, and then everything was revealed in the last 5% of the book with an extremely abrupt ending. Overall, just did not work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill& Crow Publishing House for and ARC copy in exchange for my honest review

[Katie Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read is so magical, I demolished it in about 4 hours. You’re immediately engulfed into the mystery after just a few pages. I really enjoyed how immersed I felt as the fantasy elements don’t become glaringly obviously until a good way into the book. I enjoyed the twists and turns it took, I didn’t predict any of them until a few moments before! The plot and some of the characters could have benefited from another hundred or two pages of writing, and I felt the romance was a little cliche; but still enjoyable. Fantastic debut novel! Thank you for the eARC! I’ll be following the authors journey warmly :)

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect read as the weather gets chillier.

This setting absolutely gripped me and I don't think I've read a debut this good in a while. I genuinely wish this would've been longer, as it feels like there's so much more to explore in all the characters, the hotel and the past of it all.

Absolutely adored this, and it makes me excited for winter to come, and I'm sad I had to leave Hôtel de Niege so quickly.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

So proud of my girlfriend for pouring her heart and soul into this wonderful book. I got to be the very first person to read this story and I've seen it evolve over 5+ years. The final version is a dark, thrilling, romantic fairytale I couldn't put down. (Okay, she actually read it to me out loud and I wouldn't let her stop until she'd fall asleep. Same thing, basically.)

[Nefertiti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book with nice world building centered around the hotel. The plot twist towards the end did make it seem like the story would not be resolved in just one book but quickly did in a tasteful way. A quick, enjoyable, light read.

[Nadine Bells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book so much, but then again, I'm a little bit biased.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very interesting. In the beginning, it was a slow pace but I ended up enjoying when the story picked up the pace. Thanks to Netgalley for letting read this as an ARC.

[Gabriella Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow paced initially but really picked up at the end, another unique one, good story and characters. An easy read 💙

[Alessia Doni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read this in a couple of days and I loved it . I like the fairytale writing , the winter atmospheres and the mysterious vibes throughout all the book . But I don’t know ,maybe I wanted more depth in the others characters, I would to have a little more pages and less speed ups moments because after I’ve passed the first half of the book it seemed that everything moved really faster making the end feel rushed. But in the end I like it!