3.5 star

When I first heard of Where Dreams Descend, I was ecstatic about it and imagine my joy when the publicist invited me to join the blog tour. The book has everything I can possibly want in a fantasy book and after reading it, I can say that this book has left me wanting for more but sadly, not entirely for positive reasons.

But let’s start with the good because regardless of its flaws, Where Dreams Descend has enough good stuff to offer. The plot is full of intrigued and mystery. The story surrounds powerful magicians with interesting magic. I was so keen to learn so much about the magic system. It is also set in a city that is filled with secrets, which added to the magicians and their magic make for a very atmospheric novel.

And of course, there’s the competition. It’s what really intrigued me the most. When Kallia, the main character, joined the competition, that’s when more characters are introduced including one of the other main characters, Demarco, a brooding young judge. Aside from meeting a bunch of characters, it was also interesting to see Kallia making her way throughout the competition. Though I admit that the purpose of the competition becomes vague as the story goes. At some point, I find it unbelievable in a way that makes me question why are they even doing it?

That brings me to the world-building. It’s a bit underwhelming. There are so many intriguing elements in the fictional world that the author has created. Sadly, most of them were left underdeveloped and again, vague. But I guess, the purple prose makes up for it. I love this kind of writing style and while reading, I couldn’t help but imagine the book as a live play. My eyes would’ve loved that.

As for the characters…They are so flawed and the author didn’t hide that to the readers. Kallia is strong-willed and resilient. She’s a fighter but also hides some fear. She’s also a Filipino, like me. Jack, on the other hand, is one of those characters I can’t figure out. He’s so mysterious. It wasn’t even clear to me his real purposes in life, especially regarding Kallia. Their relationship is so complicated and I'm not sure if I liked it. Demarco is the brooding type, and I like that. He enjoys solitude and I enjoyed him butting heads with Kallia. And his back story is sad. As for my favorite character, there’s none actually. I liked Aaros a bit. His relationship with Kallia is a wonderful surprise. But aside from him, most characters are underdeveloped.

I won’t comment on the romance aspect of this book because seriously it’s complicated. I’m not even sure if I liked anything about the romance.

Where Dreams Descend also tackles some current issues, such as sexism and it’s handled really well too. I love the fact that Kallia and the other women in the story know how to fight for their place. That aspect is really applaudable.

Overall, this book is a decent debut. Despite its flaws, I still enjoyed it and will definitely read the next book. Besides, that cliffhanger made me want for more.

DNF

I may come back to this at a later date, but as of right now I’m not enjoying reading this at all.

It’s like there’s no heart to the story. The writing is a bit dull and feels monotonous.

If you've had an itch for magical performances, fantastical circuses, and a bit of mystery - you've come to the right place!

Where Dreams Descend is a slow burn masterpiece that brings to life a forgotten city, filling it with magic and intrigue. I fell in love with the magic of this world and the beauty of the performances - I hung onto every detail, every wonderful moment. I loved how well this world was built and the prose is probably the biggest reason this book gets my love! The mystery also lends itself to the plot. I appreciate that this book isn't all just one big hullabaloo - the author gives events time to breathe, lets the dust settle, and then drops the other shoe when you least expect it. It's both terrifying and fantastic. Because of this, I've honestly been unable to get this book out of my head for weeks!

On top of the beauty of the magical world, I love Kallia. I appreciate how she just storms through these crowds of people who are ready to tear her apart and performs so amazingly that they're just struck with awe. She is a badass protagonist who refuses to take anyone's crap, and yet we grow to know her weaknesses and understand her fears. Yes, she can be immature at times, and she doesn't always ask the right questions, but I love her and the Conquering Circus crew for being amazing, powerful women who crash through the obstacles society puts in their way.

Where Dreams Descend is the first book in a duology. With all the mystery and secrets, it's clear that much of this book is setting up for its sequel. And that's fine. However, I wish there was a lot more communication between characters and more character development for Daron and Jack. There's so much left unsaid that it becomes frustrating at points, especially with Jack. As much as I loved the tension that's present with both of them and Kallia (for very different reasons), I feel like their characters could have been explored more, at least for the eyes of the reader. I predict, and pray, that the sequel will be more focused on Daron or Jack in order to round out the series, as this book was very much Kallia's book, with Daron as the side act.

As a whole, Where Dreams Descend is a strong debut that builds up slowly, layering up drama, mystery, and magic for you to marvel at by the end. I'm desperate to get my hands on book two (even though book one isn't even out yet, ahh!!), and I'm excited to unlock whatever secrets Jack and Glorian hold!

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
GoodReads: 3.85/5

eARC obtained via Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kallia is a powerful magician, but despite that, her teacher Jack keeps her limited to showgirl performances in his private club and prevents her from leaving. When Kallia hears of a competition for magicians in the nearby city of Glorian, she runs away, knowing she can dominate the contest. But first she must prove herself to the sexist contest judges, other contestants, and the city mayor - and avoid whatever or whoever is making the other contestants disappear.

This premise was fascinating to me - a magical competition with a mystery and a dash of girl power on top. And each of these things was interesting in its own right within the book. Clearly, there is more to this contest than meets the eye, as there should be in a magic contest. Both the mayor and the show-runner are intriguingly sketchy, but really, the competition and its suspicious nature fade to the background fairly quickly.

The more dominant plots are the mystery of what is sabotaging contestants, and the way everyone is quick to shift blame on Kallia for being both a talented female magician and not ashamed to stand out for it. Kallia handles the blame well, and I love how tough she remains in the face of prejudice. She is clearly the only magician with any talent, and yet she continues to work hard and prove herself to demonstrate that she deserves to be here regardless of the men's spite.

The mystery, despite being such an important part of the plot, remains largely ignored both by Kallia and her contest mentor Demarco (who also ignores his own personal mystery which he is supposedly investigating). I found that disappointing, as it slows down the pace of the book for a while at the beginning. The hints that both Kallia and Demarco drop aren't quite enough to keep things moving. That being said, when the mystery and the pace pick up again the book becomes much more intriguing. I found myself speeding through the last quarter of the book, and I would be interested in seeing where the story goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC and to Wednesday Books for asking me to participate in the Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve picked up a book and felt an instant connection on the first page—yes, the very first page. Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles is that book.

There’s magic in the writing that Angeles produces, which is beyond appropriate because the book is about magic. It’s about showmanship, ambition, and finding the place where you belong and the life you deserve for yourself.

I enjoyed all the main characters and loved the individual drives they all had. Kallia, I identified with pretty much on sight. She’s the type of character full of sharp edges and compassion both that I gravitate to. She’s bold, chases what she wants, and does it with uncompromising flair as a showgirl turned magician. I want to say she’s also the first female POC character I’ve seen depicted like this who’s also a main character, not a side one.

She has a lot of separate forces working against her, including the world’s sexism against women performing as magicians. Unlike the last book I read, the portrayal of misogynistic views didn’t drive me totally crazy or feel immature. Basic, sure, but it was baked into the story from the beginning, making it feel organic and truly meaningful to the world and its characters. It wasn’t just a tack-on for the “yay! girl power!” feminist checkbox so many stories in YA want to mark off and then move on.

I also liked Daron Demarco, a judge of the magical competition who has already retired from being a magician after a tragic last act. He’s broody but with a goal, and I can appreciate that. His backstory is largely tied to his family, and I am interested to find out the full truth of what happened to his sister Eva and him by proxy.

That being said, it’s Jack, the master, who repeatedly stole the show—sorry, Kallia. From the second he was introduced, I knew I would be hooked on this story just for him. Everything else I liked was just a bonus. There’s so much I could talk about with him—his magic powers, his aesthetic, his existence, his obsession with Kallia—but it could wade into spoiler territory too fast. Just know that he’s my problematic fave, and I love him.

In fact, it’s because of Jack that I did not subscribe to the romance between Daron and Kallia at all. It made Act III drag a bit because I just didn’t feel any fire or real appeal between them. I was much more interested in Daron figuring out what had happened to his sister, which is sadly forgotten about once Kallia made his head turn. (He admits this to himself, though, and it’s this self-awareness that makes him a tolerable love interest, unlike Mal in the Grishaverse books and other of his ilk.)

What also didn’t help in their favor was how Jack usually made a follow-up appearance, and his interactions with Kallia sizzled in comparison to the lukewarm experience I had with any romantic overtures Kallia and Daron made to each other. Luckily, the romance isn’t intolerable because, as I said, neither Daron or Kallia are; I just know who I’m rooting for, and it’s the tall, formidable, dark-haired magician full of secrets, power, and desire. (I know it won’t happen, and that’s okay. Just the way it goes.) The more I learn about Jack, the more intrigued I get. I know my brand, and he is it!

Despite the fun I had with this book, it wasn’t perfect, though still moderately strong for a debut. I will say: for anyone who’s excited about the competition element of the book, don’t be. None of the other competitors besides Kallia actually matter, so it’s really less of a competition and more of Kallia learning to experiment with magic, spread her wings, and find her limits. You’ll likely want to give the other competitors and judges a wedgie and shove them in a locker. Together.

Basically, don’t expect this to be a Hunger Games situation or even a Night Circus situation. Kallia has no competitors—at least, not in this particular game. In fact, the summary pretty much gives you the short list of characters who truly matter to the story. To me, this is perfectly fine. Not every book should be like The Hunger Games or The Night Circus, no matter how easy it seems to compare them.

There’s a nail-biting mystery going on the whole time, however. Angeles is artful in building suspense and timing all the creative ways the characters become unbalanced. Every time you’re lulled into a false sense of security, something newly unnerving or alarming happens, with you and the characters left questioning their perceptions on reality. Given the type of illusion magic emphasized throughout the book, this was masterfully done.

As a result, the pacing overall was very enjoyable. With the exception of Act III, I felt that every time things seemed to slow down, something happened to speed things up or catch your full attention.

How compelling the mystery is made me all the more frustrated that I was yet to have any real answers by the book’s end. The vague and terrifying forces behind Glorian, the terror and secrets behind the mirrors, the disappearances, the bizarre rituals, the reason Jack left it all behind—I have no idea what any of it means or what’s going on. Obviously, all this and more will be answered in the next book, and I’m beyond eager to read it, but I can’t help but feel like Where Dreams Descend relied a little too much on a romance I didn’t believe in and a competition that had no real competitive element instead of this other incredible force happening behind the scenes. I just need more of it, and I’m impatient.

All I know for certain is that, until I can get my hands on the next book, I’m going to think twice before looking too long in the mirror and trusting the reflection I see there.

I had a lot of high hopes for this one. I got all of the moody, dark, and mysterious vibes that I was looking for, but unfortunately, I was more focused on how boring the plot was. I thought there was too much downtime and not enough action.

The characters were magical, mysterious, and sexy. I loved their dynamic and banter.

I also loved the setting. The competition theme is one of my favorite tropes in YA fantasy, but I thought this one lacked the intensity and desire to win.

Lastly, I don't remember and explanation of how the magic works, but I thought it was charming and traditional to magicians.

I'd recommend this one to fans of the Caraval series by Stephanie Garber!

I tried to start this book 2 times. I know it seems like I am having trouble with books this month, but honestly this one had a hard time grabbing my attention. Maybe if I was in a different head space I would find this book a little more of a read I could get on board with. So I am hoping to keep it on hold and re-read when I have more time to feel like I can experience it. The characters just weren't what I was expecting but that ending tho.

Kallia has been a showgirl at the Hellfire House for a long time. She also has lessons with the houses master Jack who teaches her new tricks with her magic. Kallia is ready for something new and when she goes to find it she also discovers some unsettling things.

I absolutely loved Kallia's character. She was headstrong and didn't care what others thought about her. There's a huge misogynistic vibe going on from a few of the older main characters that every time Kallia proved them wrong I was beaming. 

I can't really tell at this point whether Jack is really trying to protect Kallia or if he's just super possessive, so I'm not entirely sure how I feel about him yet.

There were a few things I didn't like about this book, but I really enjoyed reading it. I wish the writing had been more separated when switching between characters because sometimes it took me a minute to realize who I was reading about. Other than that, this story was different and I would love to read the next book when it comes out.

Thank you, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Now, let’s get to today’s topic: WHERE DREAMS DESCEND by Janella Angeles (out on 8/25/20). First I want to thank Wednesday Books for reaching out to me about this title and giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!


WHERE DREAMS DESCEND is a slowly woven tale, full of mystery. Our main act, Kallia, finds herself in an unhappy situation she wants to break out of. She craves for more in her life than getting by day by day as a showgirl, when there is so much more out there for a promising magician like her.

Unknowingly, she stumbles into something that seems even beyond her reach, making it hard for her to see what is real and what might just be an illusion. But luckily, she is not without allies on her way.

The circus folk of Spectaculore, the travelling circus that game to the hidden, mysterious city of Glorian, was one of my favourite parts of the book. Every character seemed colourful and fun – and I wish I had seen more of them.

From the cityfolk, I instantly fell in love with the thief Aaros and the grumpy seamstress Ira. They both added a subtle dynamic to the story and characters Kallia could rely on.

Now, enter Demarco. Oh boi. Kallia clashed with him for sure, put it was sort of a push-and-pull like with magnets. Sadly, both (but especially Kallia at this point) felt a bit inconsistent in character around each other. But both acknowledged that about themselves so I assume it was on purpose.

My issue with WHERE DREAMS DESCEND sadly was the pacing. It felt a bit off to me at some points. Action was only in certain spots, filling approximately 2-3 pages at a time before slowing down considerably again. I do not mind a slow pace at all, but I went in expecting it a bit faster paced.
Janella Angeles focused a lot on the narration itself, on building the relationships between her characters and building and keeping up the air of mystery instead of driving the plot with non-stop action in my opinion. That caused a lot of things to happen in the last 20% of the book, with the conclusion happening a little too fast compared to the rest of the novel.

Nonetheless, I very much enjoyed WHERE DREAMS DESCEND! Personally I am not the biggest fan of circus or carnivalesque themes, as they have proven to be more of a miss for me. But this one pleasantly surprised me in that aspect!

A solid 78 / 100 (4 / 5) in my eyes!
If you enjoy circus themed books or fantasy with a mystery aspect, this book might be right up your alley.

Where Dreams Descend is a circus-esque book. Kallia feels like she lives inside a cage and craves to see the world more. She finds a flier for a competition for magicians in a place called Glorian. Kallia feels she must go and leave her cage behind. Kallia makes a distraction so she must leave her teacher Jack and her world behind. She goes to Glorian and enters the competition and is the only woman to enter. Women magicians tend to go missing. As the competition goes on, people start to disappear as well.
This book starts out so slow and I thought of dnfing it multiple times. It does pick up a little during the halfway mark, however I spent most of the book wanting to be just done with this book. I’ve enjoyed it a bit. Also, I found it a bit confusing at times-especially with the changing of point of views. I enjoyed Demarco and Kallia as characters. The ending with who the villain was not really explained. I really wish there were more things explained, but that could maybe be done in the sequel. I just found this okay. I may or may not read the sequel.

I tried so hard to dive into this book. I tried to love it like I wanted to because it's a circus theme and I'm a sucker for those. It promised something similar to Night Circus, but better than that [don't get me started!] So I was here for it.

Except, I couldn't get into it.

Initially, the first 50 pages lost me, I was confused as to what was going on with Kallia, our MC, and even had to re-read a few portions to grasp it. On I went, stumbling over a sudden change of point of view, which had me re-reading more portions. This was a trend for the book, and every time I had to re-read something it pulled me out of the story.

The idea was great; the characters were all right, but ultimately... It was just an OK read for me.

Magic, mystery, elaborate shows, a pinch of romance, and an edge of luring darkness make this into an exciting read, which doesn't let go even at the last page.

Kallia is the showgirl at an unique gambling club beyond a mysterious forest. She was found abandoned in the forest and taken in by the owner years ago. Now, the owner's son, Jack, resides over the club and is known as The Master, not only for his position, but his talent in magic is unprecedented. And he's been teaching Kallia, who also has an extraordinary affinity for magic, for years. Despite Kallia's luxurious life, she never is allowed to go beyond the club's outer walls. Night after night, she sits on the roof of the greenhouse and stares at the town on the other side of the dangerous forest, wishing she could find a way to escape her golden cage.

And that's where the story starts. Even at almost 450 pages, this book is packed with plot...one that doesn't nearly end even by the end of the book. Kallia is a character to love. She might be trapped, but she has a personality as sharp as her wit. Her desire to flee is more than understandable, and her attitude when she leaves her cage is so strong, it's hard to decide whether she'll be to love or hate. But her heart is true gold and it shines through at every twist and turn. Her attitude is an armor she desperately needs in this very deadly game.

Kallia is up against many things. Obviously, she has no clue about her past, but interestingly enough, this isn't really something that concerns her or even takes much of this book. She's concentrated on her future and escape. Jack, the Master she runs from, is more than a force to be dealt with, not only because his power far surpasses everyone else. He's dark, is a secret in every shape and form, and yet, he dances on a strange edge of whether he is truly to hate (who could blame Kallia for that?) or maybe not. It's a rich tension, which doesn't even come close to being resolved by the end of this first book.

Then, there's another magician, a young judge in the magical contest Kallia later finds herself in. He's got all the makings to be her romantic interest, but has secrets and problems of his own. This one holds a huge shocker at the end and had me wondering if there will be romance in this direction after all. (But it's hard to believe there isn't, either!) Again, it's tension pure.

That's only the beginning of a very colorful stage of many characters, big and small. Each one dances their own tune, and each leaves an impression. There's so much going on and so much mystery that it makes a spectacular show. After all, that's what these characters are mostly about—amazing an audience with illusions coated beyond truth and lies. And the delicious darkness which lurks in the shadows guarantees that this show has only begun.

Yep, I can't wait to get my hands on book two when it finally comes out.

I received an ARC from Netgalley, that doesn’t affect my opinion of the book, all my thoughts are my own and honest.

In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus

In a world where magic is both celebrated and feared, a city off the map decides to host a competition for a group of magicians to save their city, only to find there’s danger striking behind the scenes.

Where Dreams Descend follows Kallia, a competitor, who is out to prove she’s the best, Demarco a judge, who has a dark past and Jack the mysterious Master.

Every0ne in this book had their secrets, they were all hiding from different things that made you want to keep reading to find out what they were.

Kallia is a very good protagonistic to follow. I think she could definitely teach us to be true to ourselves and not let anyone tell us what to do. She is strong, stubborn and didn’t let the world around her stop her from being the best. She also had this vulnerable side to her that showed us she was human and did have flaws. She goes out on a journey and finds a few things she wasn’t looking for.

Demarco was fun to follow, he started out very broody but you watched him start to loosen up and start to live again. Something happened in his past that changed him and even after all this time, he is still having trouble coping with that happened.

We didn’t follow Jack too much, but I looked forward to seeing his perspective. He had a lot of secrets, but you could see he did care for Kallia and wanted to help her.

I loved watching the slow burn romance throughout this book, I felt like it was very well done and they suited each other. They accepted each other for all their flaws.

It was beautifully written, very lyrical and just pretty. But that made it a slow book to get into and throughout the middle, but I felt like it was worth it. The atmosphere was well done and I really enjoyed watching the secrets unfold around the characters.

Overall it was a 4 star. I really enjoyed the book and need the sequel because of that cliffhanger. Wow I didn’t see it coming. I would love to hear more from Jack’s POV in the next book, but we will see.

Thank you to NetGalley, Janella Angeles and the publishers for approving me a copy.

This book, where do I begin? It is wonderful! It's like Phantom of the Opera meets Moulin Rouge (in loose terms) meets Night Circus and Caraval. It's dark, dangerous, and deliciously seductive. Filled with magic, secrets and twists at every bend. It took me a few chapters to really get into the book, I was confused at first and I was not exactly sure where we were going with it. But once it took hold of me that was it, I could not put this book down! I am already anticipating the second installment of this just to find out what happens next. I NEED to know.

Kallia is someone to look up to for sure, she is bold, brilliant, powerful, strong and she fights so hard. I find that I am torn between Jack and Demarco. Jack is dark, powerful and clearly dangerous. Demarco is a gentleman but a mystery. Where Jack is darkness, Demarco is light. Both are incredibly addicting.

With so many questions leaving me anxiously awaiting book 2, all I can say for sure is that I may not be looking into any mirrors for awhile.

Magical competitions and circus are two of my favourite things to see in a fantasy novel. So I had to get my hands on a copy of Where Dreams Descend and I’m happy to say this doesn’t disappoint.

Where Dreams Descend is a debt fantasy that follows female magician, Kallia, as she enters a competition where the winner will be the new headlining act of the Conquering Circus. She dreams of being more than just a showgirl. Kallia needs to win or risks losing her newfound freedom. She has escaped from outlaw club, the Hellfire House, and teacher Jack.

This narrative is told in multiple perspectives by Kallia, Jack and Demarco. However, most of the story is told about Kallia’s perspective, which makes sense as Kallia is the main focus.

I was pleasantly surprised at the feminist undertones. Kallia is the only female in the competition. She is constantly faced with ridicule. The judges and the other competitors belittle her performances and are quick to blame her when magicians start going missing. Despite this, Kallia faces every challenge head-on and does not let it bother her. I’m in awe of her strength and hoe she never backed away from her goal.

I adore the friendship between Kallia and her assistant Aaros. It’s refreshing to see a platonic relationship between a male and female character in young adult fiction. It’s the kind of friendship where do you don’t need to explain yourself and the other person will be there for you no questions asked.

I love that the magic system is based on the magic and magicians that we see in our world. It’s a natural exaggeration. I adore the showmanship and the performance elements which plays into the Moulin Rouge vibe.

I’m intrigued by the history of Glorian. There are four founding families — The Alastors, The Fravardis, The Vierras and The Ranzas — each is represented by the symbol from the card suites. Also, none of the townspeople can recall what happened to them. The creepy, cursed town has a Hotel California feel. Once you get in, enjoy your stay because you sure not leaving anytime soon.

I found the story slow to start as it does take a little bit to get into the swing of the magical competition. Also, I wished that it played more into the overall moody and gothic tone.

The mystery of Glorian had me guessing until the very end. I cannot wait for the sequel because wow that ending! I have so many questions and we have to wait a year to find out what happens! Perfect for fans of circus in books and those who loved Caraval.

Today is my review day for the Where Dreams Descend blog tour, hosted by Wednesday Books!!! This book was really interesting, though I think it had the potential to be better and more consistent than it was.

Goodreads blurb:
In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.

As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.

The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost

The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told

The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide

Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards fantasy duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.

As I said before, I really did enjoy this book!! It kept me on my toes, itching to find out the truth behind the shadows and mysterious happenings in Glorian, the city hidden by the Dire Woods and the place Kallia longs to see. I was so intrigued by the juxtaposition between what’s real and what’s not, especially with the interesting and unique magic system the world offers - in that way, it reminded me a lot of Caraval. There were so many moments where I had crazy cold chills because a spot just spooked me and I wanted to know what was going on just as much as Kallia!

Unfortunately, most of those things didn’t go as far as I wanted them to.

In the beginning, I quickly fell in love with Kallia’s character and her drive to get out of her gilded cage and prove herself. That was my favorite aspect of the novel, I think; the message of female power, and Kallia’s complex character: feisty and feminine. I also enjoyed the romance; it is sweet and angsty at the same time, and there is a uniqueness to it that I liked. I honestly think it would have served a better purpose as more of a side plot - I know that’s crazy, I never say that about the romance - but I really think the point of the novel is Kallia winning the competition and solving the mysteries surrounding the city. The romance covers that, I think, and confuses the plot too much. I can’t believe I just said that about romance… but anyways.

The main issue for me was the lack of answered questions. If you don’t like a book ending with a lot of loose ends (but actually kind of not a cliffhanger??) then I suggest waiting to read both books in the series. No spoilers here, I promise, but across the span of the novel, I’m pretty sure there are no questions answered, no mysteries solved - honestly, there are more questions and mysteries by the end of the book than in the beginning! The story doesn’t really go anywhere, and I think it should have gone somewhere before we’re left waiting for the second book.

In the same way, the world has so much potential. When I started the book, I was so ready to discover this mysterious world and dive into its cool magic system… except we don’t really get much of either. Even the city the book takes place in - Glorian, a place chock-full of mysteries to uncover - is barely delved into, which expands on my previous point that there are many questions posed and left unanswered. And the magic system has the potential to be so layered and unique and interesting, but it lacks the development and deeper explanations it deserves! Plus, those spooky moments I mentioned earlier?? I wish more than anything else in this review that those moments occurred across the whole book!! There was a tone inconsistency from the magical elements to the spooky shadows that really shouldn’t have been there - I wanted the spookiness to be a little more solid as the book built to some sort of climax (which it kind of didn’t, but we already addressed that ;)

Soooo basically, there are so many aspects of the book that, if executed differently, would have boosted Where Dreams Descend to the top spots on YA charts!! However, it wasn’t completely a let-down, I promise! I enjoyed the romance and the story as a whole, the crew of characters is fun, the writing style is really pretty, and I have a new favorite side-character (p.s. The award goes to Aaros! 😍). Now, I’m looking forward to the second one, where I’ll (hopefully) get some of my burning questions answered! :))

Big thank you again to Wednesday Books for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!! All opinions in this review are my own!




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Where Dreams Descend is the book of the season! Magical and show-stopping, it promises not to be the next Caraval or The Night Circus, but instead a lush original fantasy all of its own. Once I started reading and getting to know Kallia, Jack, and Demarco, I was hooked. Unfortunately, the ending was a let-down for me and I am more confused than ever. I have such mixed feelings about this book, so I’m sorry that this review will be all over the place!

Admittedly I did struggle with the first few chapters, before I understood how magic works, and Kallia’s role as a female show magician, but after that the pages flew by! Fast-paced and exciting, Where Dreams Descend will surely delight readers. Part of the allure is the magic, but there’s also a mystery plot surrounding the missing magicians that I would have loved to focus on more. We’re given teases of a greater danger that Kallia might face, and how it ties into Demarco’s backstory, but never enough information to put the whole puzzle together.

I LOVED learning about Kallia and her relationship with her power, especially because she faces challenges at every turn as a female show magician. I wish we’d gotten more of her incredible magic and performance in the story. The competition scenes were some of my favorites, as well as the ones she and Demarco shared, and I think that added emphasis could have helped heighten the magical atmosphere. Angeles is clearly a talented writer.

The plot, on the other hand… oof. I can’t mention too much without adding spoilers, but I have to say I’m very disappointed by the entire thing. The ending especially was so out of the blue, and I am so confused as to what happened. I would love if someone would explain to me how exactly we got here—quite frankly I was expecting a LOT more resolution to the Spectaculore competition given that it was a large focus of the rest of the novel.

The reason I’m only giving 3/5 stars is while I loved the descriptions and the magic, I feel like the story is holding back. Pacing could have been better, more character development and understanding of their histories is needed, and the plot needs to pick a direction before I could really sink in and enjoy the book. I’m hoping I can try the sequel next year and find out what happens, as sometimes that added context helps me enjoy a first book better.

I was not impressed by this book. The characters seemed very unrealistic and very confused in their own thinking. I was very confused by the dynamic of Jack and Kallia. It seems like Jack and Kallia are both playing a game with each other emotionally and it just didn't sit in my stomach right.

The magic in the book was nice but it didnt seem to have many limits when it comes to Jack and Kallia. I would have liked to see more weaknesses as well as humbleness through struggle.

Kallia is a female magician, stronger than most others, in a world where stage magicians are only accepted if they are male. She learned everything she knows from Jack, the master of Hellfire House, a club near the city of Glorian. She is the headliner of the club, but she longs to be on stage as a true magician, not a show girl. So she escapes to Glorian to enter a magic competition being held - but not before she finds out Jack has been lying to her all along. Now in Glorian, she is faced with opposition like never before, and she must remember that not everything is as it appears, especially when looking into mirrors...

I had a hard time reviewing this book, because the beginning and middle of the book were very different than the end. Throughout the book, I had no trouble putting it down. I just wasn't fully drawn into the plot and the cast. BUT the ending was crazy insane and completely changed my mind on the entire book. Kallia is a great character, and her assistant Aaros made me laugh through the whole book. But Demarco wasn't exactly what I would look for in a love interest, BUT I have high hopes for him in the second book! There was a lot of Kallia having to be strong against male opposition, due to all the misogyny in the book.

The world Angeles has built is super interested. You don't know much about the world outside of Glorian or the Hellfire House, but it's all very intriguing and mysterious which makes for a good read. I would've liked some more explanation into the magic system, I didn't leave the book feeling like I truly understood how it all worked. BUT the descriptions and writing of the magic and the circus and the competition was glorious and so well done.

As you can see, this is a bit of a mixed review. I'm very much invested in reading the sequel when it eventually comes out, because I just MUST know what happens to everyone after that ending. Prepare yourselves for a decently large cliffhanger!

**Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

This might be the best book I’ve read all year. I feel like I keep saying that, but honestly, there have been so many great books this year! WHERE DREAMS DESCEND is definitely near if not at the top of my list.

I loved Kallia. She’s a take no prisoners, driven, smart, savvy lady who never gives up. I loved her relationship with Aaros, the thief she takes under her wing to be her magician’s assistant in the competition. And of course, I loved DeMarco, too. (Fun fact– DeMarco was my great-grandmother’s name.)

This story hit so many perfect notes for me. The moral dilemmas. The mysterious dangers lurking throughout the competition and some characters’ pasts. The forbidden romance. The angsty magicians. The strong sisterhood of performers coming together to support one another.

The beginning started out a little bit slow for me, but once the competition began, I was completely hooked. I couldn’t wait to read every page, and I dreaded reaching the final chapter, too, because then it would be over.

WHERE DREAMS DESCEND is one of those books I’m going to want to read again like next week just to savor it all over again. I feel like I can’t even say enough how much I loved it. Seriously, if you can only buy one more book this year, pick this one!

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.