The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater Published by Viking on 06/03/25
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Romance
Format: ARC
Pages: 400
Source: NetGalley
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Maggie Stiefvater’s “The Listeners” is a breathtaking exploration of morality and transformation, set against the backdrop of the Avallon—a luxury sanctuary nestled in the misty, untamed hills of West Virginia during World War II’s most precarious moment.
Table of Contents
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About The Listeners
Maggie Stiefvater’s “The Listeners” is a breathtaking exploration of morality and transformation, set against the backdrop of the Avallon—a luxury sanctuary nestled in the misty, untamed hills of West Virginia during World War II’s most precarious moment.
June “Hoss” Hudson transcends the role of hotel manager; she is an atmospheric alchemist. Under Mr. Francis Gilfoyle’s careful mentorship, she has transformed the Avallon from a cold architectural structure into a living, breathing entity. Here, corridors pulse with intentionality, and rooms whisper unwritten narratives. The hotel’s mystical sweetwater acts as both guardian and provocateur—granting guests’ most intimate desires while simultaneously threatening to dissolve the meticulously constructed walls of reality.
When government diplomats breach her carefully curated world, June finds an unexpected ally in Tucker Rye Minnick—a man banished to surveillance, carrying the weight of a complicated past. Together, they must dance along the razor’s edge between duty and desire, navigating the hotel’s mercurial, almost sentient magic.
Tropes in The Listeners
🩵 Historical Romance
🩵 WWII
🩵 Magical Realism
🩵 Class Divide
🩵 Outsiders
🩵 Underdogs
🩵 Forced Proximity
🩵 Shifting Alliances
🩵 Disability Rep
My Review
When I first began Maggie Stiefvater’s “The Listeners”, I was tempted to add it to my DNF pile. The writing was intricate in a way that overwhelmed me—narrative threads more tangled than elegant, weaving a complexity that initially resisted easy comprehension. Yet something ineffable kept pulling me back.
My perseverance was a quiet rebellion, and it paid off magnificently.
The relationship between June Hudson and Tucker Rye emerged as the novel’s beating heart—a dynamic that transformed what could have been a disorienting reading experience into a captivating journey. Their progression from adversaries to lovers unfolded with a delicate precision that Stiefvater masterfully constructs. Each page revealed layers of tension, each interaction a careful negotiation of boundaries, desires, and hidden depths.
To fellow readers who might struggle with the initial pages: hold steady. This novel rewards those willing to surrender to its unique rhythm. What begins as a potentially challenging read blossoms into something remarkable—a narrative that whispers its secrets to those patient enough to listen.
Final Thoughts
“The Listeners” is more than a historical romance or a wartime narrative. It’s a meditation on transformation—of spaces, of characters, of unexpected connections. The Avallon hotel becomes a character itself, breathing with secrets and possibilities.
June and Tucker’s relationship mirrors the novel’s core philosophy: beauty often lies in the spaces between—between duty and desire, between what is seen and unseen. Their journey challenges traditional narrative expectations, offering a nuanced exploration of connection in a world teetering on the edge of massive change.
For readers who appreciate atmospheric storytelling that demands your full attention, “The Listeners” offers a rich, immersive experience. It’s a reminder that some narratives must be slowly savored, not quickly consumed—that true understanding comes to those willing to listen deeply.
Recommendation: Surrender to the story’s unique rhythm. Let the sweetwater guide you.
Free Printable
As a special thank you for reading, I am sharing a free printable of the bookmarks I created for this series. Please feel free to drop me a note if you have any questions or issues. Happy Reading!