Will Staehle

Warren the 13th has lived in his family’s hotel his entire life. Run by his lazy uncle, the building has fallen into disrepair and hasn’t seen a visitor in five years. Apart from trying to keep the place together, Warren is also busy thwarting his new aunt from her obsessive search for a legendary family heirloom, the All-Seeing Eye. One day after cleaning up after her destructive behaviour, a stranger wrapped in bandages checks in. From that moment on his life will never be the same show more again.

The gothic art style is reminiscent of Edward Gorey and the illustrations not only helped set the mood but were also essential in the telling of the story. Every chapter has a title page with gorgeous typography and artwork that hint at what’s to come next. There’s also a secret message hidden throughout the book that spells out where Warren’s going next. This fit in with the mystery in the book as well as the graphical info in the illustrations.

This story is filled with a variety of quirky characters that lean towards the fantastical. There’s a witch who’s missing her voice, a pirate who only comes ashore every ten years or so, a creature who speaks in whistles and more. With each though we only get a taste of their background along with an illustration, leaving the readers wanting more. Part of the reason is the pace of the story. It moves so quickly that readers don’t spend much time with anyone apart from Warren. There could easily have been another hundred pages added onto the book to flesh out people and places.

Clearly this is only the beginning of Warren’s story as the ending was left open with several plot threads unresolved. It will be interesting to see where he goes next. show less

What a terrific experience! This is far more than a story, much more! When I began reading this book, it reminded me of an optimistic Cinderella story featuring Warren the 13th. Only his father, prior owner in a long lineage of the hotel's owners passed away. Since Warren was too young to manage the hotel, which had no guests for three years, his uncle took over and let the place run down. The uncle recently wed a twitchy woman named Anaconda, who doesn't like kids. She forced Warren to move show more to a cramped room in the attic. He is also the jack-of-all-trades. I felt awful for him; but he seems pretty happy and proud to do what he can for the hotel. Aunt Anaconda is the equivalent of an angry stepmother. She also has another agenda. She is on the hunt for a very powerful talisman, known as the all-seeing-eye. Word gets out, and the hotel is bombarded with guests who also want the treasure. Little do they know that it is the hotel, itself, that is the real treasure.

What I loved about this book is the cast of weird and creepy characters. They are just scary enough. However, it is the fantastic illustrations that breathe life into the book! They show some of the weirdest, great for kids, stuff and characters! Warren is loveable, 12 years old, and has an incredible work ethic for such a young age. The hotel guests keep you glued to the pages, and leaves you wanting more. They say it is the journey, not the destination. The same holds true for this book. I did not want it to end. Thankfully, it is the first in a series that is going to be a hit for middle schoolers and adults alike. I am ready for the journey to continue on. I can't wait to read about the next adventure!

Thank you to the publisher, Quirk Books and NetGalley for giving me a free copy of this book to read and give an honest review. show less

Warren lives in a hotel that his family has run for generations. After the death of his parents, Warren's lazy Uncle Rupert and mean-spirited Aunt Anaconda take over the hotel and under their neglectful eyes the hotel soon loses all business. But when a mysterious guest suddenly arrives, Warren finds himself in the middle of a battle for control over the hotel against his Aunt, who is searching for a powerful magical item that would grant her ownership over the hotel, despite Warren being show more the heir.

I initially received this as an e-book through NetGalley. Sadly, I couldn't view it properly on my Nook or Kindle and had to read it on my computer. Even then, I think there was something wrong with my file, because most of the illustrations seemed to be corrupted. Either that, or because it was an ARC, they didn't put the finishing touches on. But the colors looked warped, some of the images were pixelated, and a few looked normal. It really affected my experience, because half the magic of this book comes from Staehle's fantastic artwork!

Luckily, Quirk sent me a copy (this still doesn't affect my opions of the book) and boy, the finished product really makes a difference. So I gave the book a re-read. My initial thoughts on the story itself are much the same:

This is a semi-gothic, middle grade fantasy adventure with an atypical main character. Little Warren’s odd looks are refreshingly different, and his positive attitude, pride in his family hotel and the hard work he puts into maintaining it send a great message to young readers.

The adults in the book are fairly standard however – the lazy, clueless Uncle, the abusive, two-faced aunt, and two kindly hotel workers who care for Warren whenever they aren’t cowering away from his aunt. As an adult reader, I think the characters could use a bit more depth, but for younger readers they make fine players in Warren’s story.

The plot of the book moves very fast. I think there were a few too many elements crammed into just over 200 pages and it left some of the larger twists feeling less impactful. Different plot points were over and done with before you really get to explore or absorb them. At times, I found myself feeling a little lost or overwhelmed. I think the plot could use a bit more focus, or the book a slightly larger page count. But there are magical and even semi-steampunk elements that I enjoyed and Warren’s character really piloted the book.

There’s going to be a sequel and I’m definitely interested. Between the plot and the images, the book has a very Tim Burton meets Lemony Snicket feel that I loved. I think this is an excellent choice for younger readers who aren’t quite ready for a lengthier chapter book, or for eager listeners who will appreciate the unique art style.

Now, let me focus on that art style. In short - wow! Seriously, having a physical copy of this book makes all the difference. I can finally appreciate all the images and typography and special touches included in this book, and they all helped pull me into the story. I love the foil on the cover, I love Warren's creepy little silhouette, I love the full page illustrations at the start of each chapter and bold typography that's inserted into the regular text. (deep breath) I love the two-column type, I love the simplistic yet bold black, red and white color scheme, I love Warren's gap-toothed smile, and the puzzles they've slipped into the story. It's certainly one of the most beautiful and enticing middle-grade books I own.

If you like bold graphics and typography, the images alone will probably be enough to get you to check out this book. show less

The Warren Hotel has seen better days. After twelve generations of Warrens taking care of it, Warren the 13th is eager to assume the responsibility as caretaker. Although he already serves as the hotel's long bellhop, waiter, groundskeeper, and all-around gofer, Warren the 13th is too young to take over. After all, he is only twelve.

So when his uncle's new wife, Annaconda, tears up the hotel by searching for something, Warren the 13th sets out to put things back together. Unfortunately, Aunt show more Annaconda won't give up. She's determined to find the mythical and legendary All-Seeing Eye and have it all for herself. When Aunt Annaconda brings in reinforcements in the form of her two witch sisters and an evil little apprentice, things really start to heat up. Suddenly the once very empty hotel is full of people searching for the All-Seeing Eye. It's up to Warren the 13th and his new friends to find the eye before the others. Can they discover the hotel's secrets before Aunt Annaconda, her witch sisters, and the other guests destroy it? Pick up this engaging book to find out.

The Bottom Line: This quick read for middle grade readers is wonderfully Gothic in style. The book includes fun puzzles and gorgeous illustrations. The book uses a Victorian style layout with two columns combined with the limited color palette of red, black, and white. It has an almost Steampunk feel to it. Warren the 13th is a sweet young boy who posses a sparkling optimism and good work ethic. This charming tale of friendship and family with eccentric characters will appeal to kids who enjoy something a little different. Enthusiastically recommended for kids in grades 5 - 9. Fans of Edward Gorey may also want to check this out. I'm looking forward to the next installment; I hope it includes more puzzles and cleverness. show less