Alex Tur's Blog: Welcome to the Hotel
August 8, 2025
I MADE IT...
The fourth and final book in the Hotel on the Edge series is in stores now. Enjoy it!
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Everything by series - books, text and audio samples, links to authors' blogs, search in stores, etc. - hotelontheedge.com
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May 14, 2025
You Don’t Change the World — It Changes You
The Transformation of a Reluctant Hero in a Universe That Whispers
We often believe that to survive in a strange world, we must adapt. But what if survival isn’t enough? What if the real goal is to transform — not despite the chaos, but because of it?
The narrator of Hotel on the Edge doesn’t start out as a hero. He starts out skeptical, sarcastic, even slightly disconnected — a man with just enough charm to navigate the known world, and just enough cynicism to avoid digging deeper. But the edge he finds himself on is not just the edge of space or reality. It’s the edge of who he used to be.
At first, the strange dreams feel intrusive. The bizarre “coincidences” feel like glitches in a simulation. Warnings go unheeded. The phone gets shot. Twice. But over time, each wound — physical or emotional — leaves behind something more than a scar. It leaves insight.
Where others see anomalies, he begins to see patterns. Where others retreat, he experiments. Slowly, the absurd becomes the expected, the impossible becomes the probable. And then the most dangerous question of all arises: What if this is a gift disguised as trauma?
His journey isn’t about mastering powers or conquering enemies. It’s about noticing what the universe is whispering between the lines. It’s about realizing that not all miracles arrive with halos. Some come wrapped in static, in irony, or in dreams that refuse to be dismissed.
The phone becomes more than a device. The elevator more than a lift. Even “accidents” become opportunities — keys offered to those bold (or desperate) enough to try the lock.
And perhaps that’s the deeper message. You don’t always get to choose what happens to you. But you can choose whether to resist it, ignore it — or listen.
Fantasy at the Edge of Reality
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In most fantasy worlds, the rules are clear: heroes discover magical powers, join ancient orders, or embrace prophecies. But what happens when none of that is handed to you?
In Hotel on the Edge, fantasy doesn’t arrive with a user manual. There are no quests foretold, no swords in stones, no chosen ones—only people dropped into the unknown with nothing but scraps of memory and instinct.
Our characters don’t sprout wings or wield ancient magic. They make choices. They improvise. They fail. They think. And somehow, that’s what lets them survive.
If classical fantasy is about fulfilling destiny, Hotel on the Edge is about rewriting it.
Fantasy worlds are usually filled with characters we instinctively recognize — noble elves, ancient oracles, warriors with unwavering honor. But what happens when those beings collide with people from our own, fractured reality? Not just travelers from another world — but skeptics, pragmatists, professionals. People who don’t believe in fate unless it’s backed by hard data.
In Hotel on the Edge, this collision isn’t just background noise — it is the story.
At first glance, nothing could be more incompatible than a world-weary cynic and a warrior priestess raised on prophecy. They think differently, act differently, and often don’t even agree on what counts as real. But somehow, they talk. They adapt. They begin to see beyond appearance and learn to read intent.
The result? Not always harmony — but something more powerful: synergy.
It’s not about who’s stronger or wiser, but who’s willing to listen. The skeptical mind and the mythical instinct begin to compensate for each other's blind spots. And when survival depends on reading a world that defies all logic, those unexpected alliances are often what make the impossible possible.
Forgotten Past
HOW THE FORGOTTEN PAST HELPED THEM SURVIVE THE ABSURD
In the world of Hotel on the Edge , memory is a tricky thing. Some lose it. Others bury it. And a few wear it like armor. But in a reality where logic crumbles and rules dissolve, the past — especially the forgotten or suppressed parts — often becomes the one compass that still points somewhere.
Alex doesn’t remember everything. But what resurfaces — flashes of discipline, survival instincts, and a deeply embedded moral code — proves essential. His improvisation is not born from chaos but from experience he doesn't fully recall. That tension between who he was and who he’s becoming becomes his engine for adaptation.
Jane , with her military backbone and sense of humor sharpened like a blade, doesn’t talk much about her past. Yet every tactical decision, every moment of restraint or fire, is rooted in a life she once led. The absurdities of the Hotel don't disorient her — she's seen worse. Probably done worse.
Spike carries his past quietly but visibly. The precision, the readiness, the way he moves and protects — that doesn’t come from training manuals. It comes from battles no one else in the group remembers. His silence is not absence — it’s full of stories he chose not to share.
Kat , the gentle soul of the group, hides behind quiet analysis and intuition. But her forgotten instincts — the things that surface in crisis — suggest someone who’s had to read the room, the people, the threat… before. The mystery of her past might be soft-spoken, but it may be the most profound.
Each of them arrived in the Hotel disoriented. But piece by piece, their forgotten pasts revealed just enough to help them survive — and sometimes, surprise even themselves. The world around them may be absurd, but the things that make them who they are… still work.
May 11, 2025
The Quiet Pulse Of The Storm
WHO IS KAT, REALLY?
Hotel on the Edge (website)
She didn’t ask for this. She wasn’t trained for this. But she stayed. And changed.
Kat is the kind of person you might underestimate — until the moment it’s too late. A fan of theme parties, quick to laugh, soft-spoken in a team of dominant personalities… at first, she seems like the comic relief. But when things spiral into danger, it’s often her quiet focus that finds the one way out.
Thrown into extraordinary circumstances, Kat retreats inward — not out of fear, but to survive. As the world around her becomes stranger and more hostile, her natural instincts kick in: she listens more, speaks less, but notices everything. Under constant pressure, she evolves into something the team didn’t even know they needed — a voice of clear logic in moments of emotional chaos.
Her talent for seeing patterns no one else notices, for reading situations with a detached but precise gaze, becomes critical. Especially when Jane acts too fast, or Alex bets too much.
But don’t be fooled — inside that “quiet girl” is a survivor who adapts fast. And though she rarely takes the spotlight, her transformation is one of the most dramatic. Some say it’s the quiet ones you need to watch. In Kat’s case — it’s absolutely true.
And maybe the most powerful moment of all? She never stops believing in her team. Even when they doubt themselves.
Hotel on the Edge (website)
She didn’t ask for this. She wasn’t trained for this. But she stayed. And changed.
Kat is the kind of person you might underestimate — until the moment it’s too late. A fan of theme parties, quick to laugh, soft-spoken in a team of dominant personalities… at first, she seems like the comic relief. But when things spiral into danger, it’s often her quiet focus that finds the one way out.
Thrown into extraordinary circumstances, Kat retreats inward — not out of fear, but to survive. As the world around her becomes stranger and more hostile, her natural instincts kick in: she listens more, speaks less, but notices everything. Under constant pressure, she evolves into something the team didn’t even know they needed — a voice of clear logic in moments of emotional chaos.
Her talent for seeing patterns no one else notices, for reading situations with a detached but precise gaze, becomes critical. Especially when Jane acts too fast, or Alex bets too much.
But don’t be fooled — inside that “quiet girl” is a survivor who adapts fast. And though she rarely takes the spotlight, her transformation is one of the most dramatic. Some say it’s the quiet ones you need to watch. In Kat’s case — it’s absolutely true.
And maybe the most powerful moment of all? She never stops believing in her team. Even when they doubt themselves.
Who is Spike?
THE VETERAN WITH A CODE — AND A HISTORY
Hotel on the Edge (website)
He doesn’t talk much about the past. But it’s written on his posture, in the way he enters a room, how he positions himself near the exits. Spike is a man who’s seen too much, but shows only what others need to see.
Former military, technically off-duty, emotionally never. Spike is the backbone of the team — not because he takes charge, but because his presence alone creates stability. When Jane storms, when Alex gambles, when Kat hesitates, Spike steadies the ground beneath them.
But he’s not just a soldier with a gun. He’s a strategist, a guardian, and perhaps the team’s only remaining moral compass. His code may be old-fashioned — honor, duty, sacrifice — but he lives by it without compromise. And it’s this very integrity that makes him dangerous to their enemies… and sometimes inconvenient to their allies.
His relationship with Alex is one of mutual respect, built on battlefield instincts and the rare understanding that not all leadership is loud. His moments of vulnerability are rare — but unforgettable. And when he breaks protocol, you know the line must’ve really been crossed.
Spike may not chase redemption. But he often becomes the reason others find it.
Hotel on the Edge (website)
He doesn’t talk much about the past. But it’s written on his posture, in the way he enters a room, how he positions himself near the exits. Spike is a man who’s seen too much, but shows only what others need to see.
Former military, technically off-duty, emotionally never. Spike is the backbone of the team — not because he takes charge, but because his presence alone creates stability. When Jane storms, when Alex gambles, when Kat hesitates, Spike steadies the ground beneath them.
But he’s not just a soldier with a gun. He’s a strategist, a guardian, and perhaps the team’s only remaining moral compass. His code may be old-fashioned — honor, duty, sacrifice — but he lives by it without compromise. And it’s this very integrity that makes him dangerous to their enemies… and sometimes inconvenient to their allies.
His relationship with Alex is one of mutual respect, built on battlefield instincts and the rare understanding that not all leadership is loud. His moments of vulnerability are rare — but unforgettable. And when he breaks protocol, you know the line must’ve really been crossed.
Spike may not chase redemption. But he often becomes the reason others find it.
May 10, 2025
Not all light is good, not all dark is evil
A LOOK AT MORAL AMBIGUITY IN THE HOTEL UNIVERSE
Hotel on the Edge (website)
In the world of Hotel on the Edge, clear lines between good and evil blur faster than the characters can draw them. Villains show unexpected humanity. Allies betray. “Heroes” cross lines they swore never to approach — and sometimes become stronger for it.
The Hotel itself offers no moral compass. It doesn’t judge. It watches. It adapts. It reflects the choices of those within it — even when those choices contradict every known rule of decency, justice, or logic. And maybe that's the point.
Here, your sworn enemy might be your last hope. A selfish act might be the only way to save a life. Sometimes mercy leads to disaster, while vengeance opens doors to understanding. The reader is never told what to believe. You’re just… shown.
Even the so-called curators disagree on which version of justice is the “right” one — as revealed in a quiet conversation by the pool, where orders are given… and questioned.
This isn’t moral relativism for its own sake. It’s a story where people — and systems — are put under extreme pressure, revealing who they are when no one’s watching. It's where the “good guys” sometimes cheat, and the “bad guys” offer redemption — or at least a version of it.
If you’re looking for a clean-cut battle of light vs. dark… you might want to keep walking.
But if you're drawn to the messy space in between — where trust is earned, loyalty is tested, and truth is a moving target — this might just be your next favorite universe.
Because in the Hotel, nothing is what it seems.
And sometimes, the shadows hold more honesty than the spotlight ever could.
Hotel on the Edge (website)
In the world of Hotel on the Edge, clear lines between good and evil blur faster than the characters can draw them. Villains show unexpected humanity. Allies betray. “Heroes” cross lines they swore never to approach — and sometimes become stronger for it.
The Hotel itself offers no moral compass. It doesn’t judge. It watches. It adapts. It reflects the choices of those within it — even when those choices contradict every known rule of decency, justice, or logic. And maybe that's the point.
Here, your sworn enemy might be your last hope. A selfish act might be the only way to save a life. Sometimes mercy leads to disaster, while vengeance opens doors to understanding. The reader is never told what to believe. You’re just… shown.
Even the so-called curators disagree on which version of justice is the “right” one — as revealed in a quiet conversation by the pool, where orders are given… and questioned.
This isn’t moral relativism for its own sake. It’s a story where people — and systems — are put under extreme pressure, revealing who they are when no one’s watching. It's where the “good guys” sometimes cheat, and the “bad guys” offer redemption — or at least a version of it.
If you’re looking for a clean-cut battle of light vs. dark… you might want to keep walking.
But if you're drawn to the messy space in between — where trust is earned, loyalty is tested, and truth is a moving target — this might just be your next favorite universe.
Because in the Hotel, nothing is what it seems.
And sometimes, the shadows hold more honesty than the spotlight ever could.
Who is Jane, just Jane?
Hotel on the Edge (website)
At first glance, Jane is exactly the kind of person you'd want by your side in a bar fight — or any fight, really. Ex-military, confident, quick-witted, and never without a sharp remark (or sharper blade), she walks into chaos like it’s a familiar room. But behind the jokes and reflexes, there’s something more.
Jane doesn’t just break stereotypes — she turns them into confetti. She’s not the token strong woman in a man’s world. She’s the one who sets the tone, challenges the mission, questions leadership (especially Alex’s), and redefines what it means to be part of a team.
Her loyalty is fierce, but earned. Her trauma? Hidden in plain sight. Her sense of humor? It might save your life — or drive you mad. She builds walls, tests limits, and keeps everyone just close enough.
Just Jane. And maybe that’s the most dangerous part.
So… who is Jane, really?
And more importantly — how much of Jane is in you?
May 9, 2025
When the Curators Look Away
LIFE IN THE HOTEL BETWEEN THE BATTLES
Hotel on the Edge (website)
It’s tempting to imagine heroes as restless warriors who never take off their gear. But what happens when the guns cool down, the portals are quiet, and the only explosion is laughter from the kitchen?
The team at the Hotel lives in a place that defies rules — spatial, temporal, and social. So when there’s a rare pause in the chaos, something just as important kicks in: the mess of being human. Spontaneous dinners, debates about coffee strength, sleepovers with unpredictable roommates (voluntarily or not), and, yes, epic duels for bathroom time.
These moments don’t break the story — they ground it. They remind us that strength isn’t just forged in battle but also in sarcastic remarks, shared silence, and choosing who gets the last cookie.
But don’t mistake calm for safety. In a place where even the fridge has a personality and the elevator gives unsolicited dating advice, peace is just another setting… usually followed by an unexpected twist.
Because in the Hotel on the Edge, even downtime has consequences.
Hotel on the Edge (website)
It’s tempting to imagine heroes as restless warriors who never take off their gear. But what happens when the guns cool down, the portals are quiet, and the only explosion is laughter from the kitchen?
The team at the Hotel lives in a place that defies rules — spatial, temporal, and social. So when there’s a rare pause in the chaos, something just as important kicks in: the mess of being human. Spontaneous dinners, debates about coffee strength, sleepovers with unpredictable roommates (voluntarily or not), and, yes, epic duels for bathroom time.
These moments don’t break the story — they ground it. They remind us that strength isn’t just forged in battle but also in sarcastic remarks, shared silence, and choosing who gets the last cookie.
But don’t mistake calm for safety. In a place where even the fridge has a personality and the elevator gives unsolicited dating advice, peace is just another setting… usually followed by an unexpected twist.
Because in the Hotel on the Edge, even downtime has consequences.
Supernatural Tech
THE UNCANNY SOUL OF IOT IN “HOTEL ON THE EDGE"
Hotel on the Edge (website)
We live in a world increasingly defined by “smart” devices — but what if the tech wasn't just smart… it had a soul?
In Hotel on the Edge, elevators hold grudges, doors flirt, and refrigerators make moral judgments. These aren't just gadgets — they’re sentient beings (or at least convincingly so). Whether they are avatars of unseen forces, extensions of the Hotel’s will, or echoes of the minds once human, no one knows for sure. Not even the Hotel’s guests.
Alex, armed with an IT background and a stubborn rational mind, tries to decode their behavior logically — a strategy the Hotel occasionally indulges, like a teacher humoring a clever student. Others in the team give up sooner and simply talk to these systems like people. And, surprisingly, it works.
The truth may never be explained — at least not in human terms. But what’s clear is this: the Hotel and its devices aren’t just tools. They’re characters. They form bonds, take sides, and evolve alongside the team. Together, they become part of the struggle — and perhaps, the only chance of survival.
So, next time your microwave blinks unexpectedly… maybe it’s trying to warn you.
Hotel on the Edge (website)
We live in a world increasingly defined by “smart” devices — but what if the tech wasn't just smart… it had a soul?
In Hotel on the Edge, elevators hold grudges, doors flirt, and refrigerators make moral judgments. These aren't just gadgets — they’re sentient beings (or at least convincingly so). Whether they are avatars of unseen forces, extensions of the Hotel’s will, or echoes of the minds once human, no one knows for sure. Not even the Hotel’s guests.
Alex, armed with an IT background and a stubborn rational mind, tries to decode their behavior logically — a strategy the Hotel occasionally indulges, like a teacher humoring a clever student. Others in the team give up sooner and simply talk to these systems like people. And, surprisingly, it works.
The truth may never be explained — at least not in human terms. But what’s clear is this: the Hotel and its devices aren’t just tools. They’re characters. They form bonds, take sides, and evolve alongside the team. Together, they become part of the struggle — and perhaps, the only chance of survival.
So, next time your microwave blinks unexpectedly… maybe it’s trying to warn you.
