Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me read an ARC of this book.
I will fully own up to the fact that I requested this book based off the cover. Yes...I judged a book by its cover. I went into this knowing very little except that it had Night Circus vibes. That made me skeptical. Those are some tough shoes to fill. Where Dreams Descend did an admiral job at it. There is a love triangle and magic and a broody atmosphere. The writing was lovely and almost poetic at times. The only down side is that the narrative was a little meandering...like the author KNEW her writing was pretty and wanted to show it off (and it was pretty, but it shouldn't sacrifice the pacing.) I will buy this book when it comes out, but it might be some time before I reread it.

*Spoiler free*

Knowing almost nothing about the Phantom Of The Opera or Moulin Rouge expect for the love or brief glimpses I’ve seen online, I was of course very much interested in a book inspired by both of them. It sounded like something decked in red, with mystery, and a lot of secrets. It was something I was curious about reading and I wanted to find out more.

This is another book where I want to do it justice with my review, but all my words feel clumsy in comparison. I don’t know what to say that can encompass the true brilliance of this book. I don’t know what I can say that can describe the depths of the love I have for it. I am going to try my best, because this book is seriously something amazing.

It’s lush. I know that word is used to describe so many fantasy books, but it fits so well here. This story is wrapped in red silk and performed on a glittering stage. It’s filled with mystery and teeming with secrets. The characters shine through and the world is something to behold.

Seriously, this book is filled to the brim with secrets and they way they are hidden and scattered throughout the book is truly something amazing. They leave you wanting. There’s something behind the curtain, but you only get little peaks here and there. There’s something darker waiting around the corner. But information is giving sparingly, but in a way that doesn’t feel frustrating. There is always something interesting going on and there is always something attention grabbing, so I didn’t feel like I was missing something. I just knew something lurked beneath and it created something really amazing. Even at the end, ugh, I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I loved how it ended. It ended in a way that was really, really fantastic and just really, really well done.

I also loved the characters. Even the irritating ones were really well done. Kallia is so sure of herself. I loved her confidence how she knew she could anything she wanted to. I loved her bright dresses and red lipsticks. I didn’t think I would end up loving Daron as much as I did, but he really grew on me. He’s sweet and a little reserved. Aaros was adorable, seriously he was great. Canary, Juno, and Ira were also great characters. Jack was dark. He reminds me of spiced licorice if that makes sense? Even though I’ve never had spiced licorice and I don’t even know if that’s a thing.

I knew this would be a romantic book. It’s right there in the description, but I wasn’t expecting to surprise me as much as it did. I went for awhile thinking I wouldn’t like where it went, but it really grew on me and a lot more than I thought it would. It was subtle and it grew, and it was just really well done.

The world was also really interesting. It felt very vast, but it doesn’t take place in a lot of that vastness. There’s a lot of lore behind everything and it’s explained very sparingly, but in a way that creates mystery and made me want to know more, but not in a way that left me wanting for more information in a bad way. Plus, Glorian, the city where most of the book takes place is really, really cool and something is definitely going on there.

The magic and performances was also another great part of this book. I love competitions in books and this one definitely delivered. I don’t quite know what to say about it without spoiling, but it was done in a unique way and it had a really awesome feel to it.

This book was truly amazing. It’s fantastically written, the characters are full of fire, there are so many secrets, and it’s full of magic. It’s truly incredible. The end left me breathless and I’m so looking forward to the next book and seeing what new secrets are in store. Seriously, this book is all kinds of incredible and I loved it so much.

Title: Where Dreams Descend
Author: Janella Angeles
Pub. Date: August 25, 2020
Rating: 4.5

This will be a spoiler free review. Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

So, I wasn’t entirely sure how I was going to feel reading this book. I’d heard some mixed reviews, and my friend didn’t love it as much as she expected. With that being said, I was a tad hesitant, but kept an open mind. I’m a huge Moulin Rouge fan so this book appealed to that part of me. It also felt a little Phantom-esque and I’m also a sucker for that. And the whole time I was reading the book, I couldn’t figure out what other thing I was being reminded of. Well, I think I figured it out. Escaping from Houdini. I don’t know why it took me hours to realize that, that book is what I was thinking of, but it was.

So, really, if you’re a fan of any of those stories, settings, plots, then you’re probably not going to be disappointed.

I’m only disappointed that I have to now WAIT for book 2, and Where Dreams Descend doesn’t even come out until August. Why is the world so cruel?

I loved this book. I loved the atmosphere, the characters, the slow build plot. I binge read this book in like 5 hours because I couldn’t put it down.

The atmosphere of this book has the chaotic energy of Moulin Rouge, with the dark mystery of Phantom. It’s like this perfect blend of wonder and magic that has the story coming to life on the page. You’re sucked in, and suddenly you are there, at Spectaculore. The whole magician competition element is what reminded me of Escaping from Houdini – and the fact that both have mystery elements. There’s the whole dark undertone of it all, and anytime mirrors come into play…I’ve seen enough horror movies with mirrors trapping people and souls, that I just have a bad feeling, but I’m here for it, because I really want to know what happens next.

As for the characters, I think I’m honestly partial to Jack. He’s intriguing and while we basically know next to nothing about him, he seems to really care about Kallia. I don’t know, but I’m totally here for their dynamic, as imbalanced as it appears. I’m super curious to see what gets revealed. I have suspicions that I refuse to voice, but really want to know if I’m right. I really loved his moments, and how restrained and detached he comes across. I’m really thinking that’s a mask, and not who he truly is, but I guess I’m going to have to wait and see.

Kallia feels like Rapunzel, and I’m here for it. A total badass, not willing to take shit, but still a little naïve as to how the world works. Kallia is her own person, she defies the norms, and everything she does, it’s to prove to herself she can. If someone says she can’t do something, since in this world – women are kind of considered like second class citizens, to be seen and not heard – she defies them and does whatever they said she can’t do, loudly. She’s amazing and her balance between strong and vulnerable is so good. Honestly her whole emotional range makes you feel everything. Especially at the end where things start happening at a lightning pace.

I also loved her bonds with people – primarily Aaros. Their dynamic is so good, so enjoyable. For being pretty naïve, she had him pegged right off, and their friendship was so perfect. I don’t know if I can express enough how good it was, without spoilers, but he was just there for her, and cared, and I loved how he calls her “boss”. She entered into his life, and he just went with it. I can't wait for the second book, so I can have more of him. Besides Jack, he's my favorite character. 

Oh, Demarcos. I’m always down for a rivals to lovers, which is kind of what their relationship was, tumultuous. I didn’t expect the twist at the end, and I’m really curious to see how that all gets explained. I feel like there’s still a lot we don’t know about him, but I have a theory. I just don’t know how it ties into everything else going on. I didn’t hate Demarcos and I really liked how cute he and Kallia are when they’re together, but I don’t know. I think I’m solidly Team Jack, so he doesn’t stand a chance.

I enjoyed the slow buildup of the plot. Glorian is this mysterious place, surrounded by a mysterious wood. There almost seems to be this glazed, willful ignorance to the past, the history of the city. Clearly something happened, but what? So many moving game pieces, but what’s the game? I was never bored reading this book. All the questions, all the unknowns, Kallia trying to navigate what is essentially, a boy’s club, while running from her past…I found myself pleasantly confused in the best way possible. I kept reading because I wanted to know. I needed to know. Then you get to the end, those last couple scenes and so much is happening, some questions are answered, but a bunch of new ones need to be asked. The Epilogue hooks you and really makes you hate that book 2 isn’t already out, because again, I have questions and I want answers!

I think this is one of those books, that as it sits with you, the more you realize how great it is. I’m sitting here writing this review and just thinking about the book. I mean, obviously, but I’m running through scenes in my head, thinking of potential outcomes, potential answers. All while sitting here, utterly in love with this book. I’m definitely going to preorder and will be doing that sometime today. I also have a really strong urge to watch Moulin Rouge, but I would kill to have a show/movie adaptation of this book.

If you’ve been on the fence about this book, get off it, and get to reading…or pre-ordering so you can read it the second it comes out in August. You’re not going to want to miss this book. Where Dreams Descend comes out August 25, 2020 so make sure it’s on your TBRs!

I'm in two minds about this book, so I've waited a day before even reviewing it in the hopes my thoughts would get clearer.
Honestly, it took me almost a month to read a size of book that I could usually get through in a weekend. It's not that it's a 'bad' book; it just felt like nothing happened between the first 10% and the last 10% so I never felt the urge to pick the story back up and keep reading. With that much narrative space, I expected fleshed-out secondary characters & world-building, and a magic system that was explained - with none of these, when magicians went missing I felt nothing for them; not even a sense of concern for the remaining characters. The stakes became not high enough because I didn't understand the rules of the magic system nor any potential dangers.
Now that my disappointments are out of the way, the fun bit! I loved the character of Kallia. I do wish she was fleshed out more (why does she seem more powerful than any other magician except Jack? Is it because she's female or from a powerful family or we haven't seen enough magic from others, or is that just how magic works in this world? Where did she come from/who were her parents that abandoned her in the woods, and why?) but I adore how strong she is. It's so, so nice to get a strong female character that isn't the 'bad guy', doesn't look down or trample on other females, and doesn't come across as a horrible person. And for all my complaints about world-building not fleshed out, I did enjoy what bits of Glorian we discovered as well, and the descriptive writing. The character of Jack was also done well, but I won't expand on that point because of spoilers.
All-in-all, knowing that it was written as part one of a duology, I think Where Dreams Descend was created very much as an introductory book; but with this in mind & the amount of padding that was needed, I do wonder if we'll find out after reading book two, that the entire story could have been just one book.
This all being said, I believe this book will find a strong fanbase as it's got all the ingredients for it; it just didn't tick enough boxes for me personally.

The first thing that drew me into this story was the rich magical world. Kallia performs in a club, descending from above the stage masked and sitting on a crystal chandelier as depicted on the book’s cover. She controls the entire space—lights, music and atmosphere with her magic, drawing every eye.

But Kallia seeks a bigger stage and freedom from Jack who she has reason to mistrust.

Running to the icy, almost forgotten city of Glorian, she seeks to prove she’s the best magician to headline the Conquering Circus even though here, men perform stage magic and women do menial labor magic. Kallia’s drive to prove that she’s the magician to beat in this competition was the second thing that drew me into the story.

The third thing that drew me in was the mystery. Why are the competitors disappearing, who will be the next to go, and what will Kallia need to sacrifice to end the danger?

Where Dreams Descend is great for readers who love Caraval.

This review is on Goodreads now and will be posted to The Winged Pen, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Indiebound on August 25th.

I wanted to love this book based on its premise and its comp titles, but ultimately it fell short due to vague plot set up and slow pacing. The writing itself is structurally nice and I will read a future book by this author. However, I found the set up to Where Dreams Descend to be vague and confusing, and the action doesn't pick up until about the last third of the book.

3.5/ 5 first off let me say I very much enjoyed the moulin rouge atmosphere in this book. I loved the portion of the book where Kallia was is hellfire house. To me it seemed like a lot more went on there and it was more exciting to read. Once kallia got to Glorian the book really slowed down and it was harder to push through. Yes there was a romance. However, I just wasn’t fully invested in it. In the end we still don’t really know what’s going on. Confusion leads to more confusion and there are really no answers. I still enjoyed the atmosphere and the characters Jack and Kallia and will read the second book to see what happens! The cliffhanger is real...

Where Dreams Descend is a mix of Phantom of the Opera, The Night Circus, and Caraval. And I was here for it. I love anything magic/circus related and this had all the things I loved.

To begin, the most notable (and probably most dividing) aspect of this book is the writing style. This writing style very much reminded me of The Night Circus. It was lyrical and flowery and worked for this book. Sometimes this style of writing doesn't work depending on the book content, but in this case it did. However, because this writing style is more lyrical and flowery, there will be people who can't stand to read a book like this. This isn't a writing style that will vibe with everyone. But I loved it. I ended up highlighting multiple passages because I loved the imagery. It felt extremely real and I felt like I could be right in the novel with the characters. The only problem I had was the drastic changes between characters. Many times we would be following Kallia and then all of sudden we were following Demarco or Jack with no context or indication of the change. It felt very abrupt. Maybe this was the point, but it was jarring and interrupted the flow of the book and the writing style. I would have appreciated if there were line breaks to help us adjust to the changes in characters (since I read this as an eARC, these changes may happen for the final version).

The other thing I really loved were the characters. Kallia was the perfect balance of strong, sassy, and confident and vulnerable, scared, and insecure. I loved her wit and confidence, but I also loved the parts where we got to see her scared and vulnerable. It made her as a character feel real. I also loved that she had friendships with both males and females that were platonic. It felt realistic. I also really appreciated the slow burn of the romance. It felt organic and authentic. There was always the spark between the love interests, but it wasn't insta-love. They took their time getting to know each other and they took their time for the romance to blossom. If I am honest, I actually would have been okay if the romance had blossomed in the sequel because I was loving the tension and dynamics between the two before they became a couple.

The other characters I really liked were the women in the Conquering Circus and Kallia's assistant. They honestly stole the show. They were fun, quirky, and incredibly interesting. I hope in future books we get to see more of them because they didn't have a big enough part in the book. I loved the idea of this all female circus doing these amazing performances after dark, and while we got a little glimpse into it, I wanted more. I also loved that we had a male assistant instead of female. He was goofy and caring and the perfect friend to Kallia. I wanted to dig a little deeper into his past to really understand him as a person, but on the surface, he was quite enjoyable.

The other aspect I really loved about this book was the plot. There was this big mystery throughout the book which underlay the competition Kallia was participating in. The two intertwined to make this a very interesting story to follow. However, at times I felt like I wanted to know more about the competition in conjunction with the mystery. I wanted more details on how the competition worked as well as the magic system. At times, it felt like it was a brushed over in favor of the eerie, mystery subplot instead.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The things I loved about it outweighed the things I didn't like. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel to dive back into this world and see what happens next.

Angeles' debut brings the magical carnival atmosphere to life with descriptive writing and mystique. The strength of her writing is in the detail. I could easily visualize Kallia's performances and the world around her. Kallia is a strong character and I loved her interactions with the rest of the cast. There's romance, friendship, and plenty of adversaries. I flew through the mystery and spectacle of the story but found the conclusion a little lacking. It is set up well for a sequel, but by the end of the story I still have just as many questions about the world and magic and how it all works. I'm hoping the next books will cover all the detail missed in the first book though and am looking forward to continuing the series.

I received this copy from NetGalley for review.

3.75 Stars
I seriously considered DNF-ing this up until about 25% or so but I try to reserve that for books I'm hating rather than ones that just weren't catching my attention so I'm glad I persevered since the book did improve.

There was some beautiful writing in this book but it did have a tendency to be over-the-top and too flowery. I was expecting something else entirely when it came to the competition and that took some time to get past. ". . .a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus" led me to believe that is was going to be a magician vs magician competition, Essen Tasch style from A Gathering of Shadows, unfortunately that was not the case. The competition was whoever gave the best performance on stage which would have been an alright alternative had the magic not been so one-sided and one of the other competitors was actually capable of being competition.

I'd have liked more world-building as there was very little and a better understanding of the magic system. There is also, brace yourselves, a love triangle but it actually didn't bum me out. Overall, I consider this to be a successful debut and a lot of the things I didn't care for can be rectified in a sequel.

Thanks so much to the Publisher and Netgalley for an E-ARC of this book!

Absolutely loved everything about this. The magic, the angst, even (surprisingly) the romance! Demarco just tugged at my heart strings.

This book managed to take a trope I normally despise - love triangles (shudders)- and made it pleasantly interesting. Im curious about the secrecy and intrigue surrounding Jack, and this book left me wanting more.

The characters were well fleshed out and I found myself in love with all of them - especially Aaros, ugh he was soo funny! I absolutely adored him.

Loved this book and I'm definitely getting a physical copy - look at that stunning cover!- and looking forward to book two!

*thanks Netgalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review*

Just finished reading WHERE DREAMS DESCEND by Janella Angeles.

Fantasy books are one of my go to genres, and reading the synopsis described as similar to The Night Circus I was intrigued. But this one took me forever to get through.

In the lost city of Glorian, magicians are convening for a magical competition. The prize is to become the star act of the touring Conquering Circus. Kallia, our main character, is the first female magician allowed entry into this type of competition. But as Kallia slowly starts to steal the show, the other male contestants and judges become upset. As contestants start disappearing or worse, Kallia suspects that there are other dark forces at play in this lost city. Who also don't want her to perform.

For the mentor round of the competition, Kallia is paired up with the Daring Demarco, and things finally take a turn and the book gets interesting at about the 75% mark, if you are willing to stick it out.

Characters are extremely underdeveloped, story changes POV without warning, and the magical system and competition was not well explained. We also never learn enough of the backstories in any situation for the current story to make sense. This one was a flop for me, and sorry if my review is terrible...I am still a bit confused.

I feel so bad because I really, really thought this book would become one of my favorites.

But I can't deal with the pace. It's so slow! I DNFd at 56%

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure this is a book that might appeal to other people. Like I've seen on the reviews, many have enjoyed it a lot. The characters are great, they are mysterious, they hold secrets and they have the potential to develop. But I've read almost half of the book and I don't know where it's going. There's still nothing about what is wrong with the city, or what Jack has to do with any of it. I understand that the mystery is what's supposed to drive me to read the book until it is revealed. But I don't like being so blind to what's going on, it's not as interesting then. Maybe others won't be stopped by this and would actually like the challenge but I just don't like it.

Spectaculore has arrived in the City of Glorian - where the best magicians compete in a contest to be crowned the best of the best and join the Conquering Circus.

Meet Kallia. A female magician who spends night after night performing parlour tricks as a showgirl, but decides its time to break free and make a life for herself.

Meet Jack. A secretive but powerful magician who’s desperate to keep Kallia locked away from the outside world.

Meet Daron Demarco. One of the judge’s of Spectaculore who’s trying to find answers after a personal tragedy.

Ughhh this book. This book. I’ve not read any book recently that has left me in such turmoil the way this has. I’ve been of two hearts about how I feel. Plus the cliffhanger is excruciating. On the whole I liked Where Dreams Descend, but there were some things I didn’t like too.

The book unfolds primarily through Kallia and Daron’s perspectives, with the occasional one from Jack. I found the first quarter a little slow, but after that I felt the book flowed well and built up good foundations for the characters.

The crowning jewel of Where Dreams Descend is the characters and their interactions. Kallia is one of the most likeable YA heroines I’ve read in a while. She has got serious backbone, is unapologetically herself and is adamant she’ll never be a damsel in distress. I also loved her friendship with Aaros as his character was really funny. And Jack’s character was full of menace and mystery; I didn’t know whether to be intrigued or terrified when he popped up.

Sadly, whilst I liked him, I felt the main purpose of Daron’s character was to support Kallia. In fact, I’d say that’s what a lot of the characters did - they contributed to Kallia’s story rather than telling their own. This left me feeling a little meh because I went in thinking there’d be more going on in this instalment due to the synopsis and different POVs. Even more so when it was made clear from the beginning Daron had an intriguing backstory, which wasn’t really focused on until nearer the end of the book, but I’m assuming that’ll be something exciting for the sequel.

I liked Kallia and Daron’s romance as their chemistry was sizzling from the get go. I’m looking forward to seeing where things are going to go from here - if it’ll last or if it’ll only get better.

My favourite thing was the clear theme of feminism in Where Dreams Descend. Due to the fact female magicians are treated differently to male magicians, feminist undertones build and build throughout through Kallia as she pushes back boldly against misogynistic attitudes. I really enjoyed this, because it felt empowering to read. I also appreciated how journalist Lottie de la Rose is described by men as the “poison of the press”, when she’s been calling out men for their disregard of female magicians importance and safety. It was great to see the efforts for female equality interwoven so effectively. Just read this quote and see what I mean:

“If you can’t stay small in the box they’ve built around you, they will make you feel small until you fit right back in it.”

The weaker parts of the book were its world building and magic system. The world building left much to be desired; I wasn’t left daydreaming about being whisked away to see Spectaculore and I couldn’t effortlessly envision the City of Glorian or Alastor Place. Not only did I feel like the world building wasn’t developed enough, I got the impression it’s as if the reader was meant to already know what the world and magic was like without it being illustrated in the actual book. All in all, the setting and magic wasn’t fully explored enough for me.

The majority of the questions Where Dreams Descend raises (some pretty early on, like Jack’s motives) haven’t clearly been answered. So naturally, I was left feeling somewhat confused and disheartened that, even for a first in a series, the reader didn’t get much if any answers by its end. It’s no secret to keep an audience interested you’ve got to give them something... which Angeles in fact did, in the form of one heck of a cliffhanger.

My gosh the cliffhanger. The cliffhanger! I won’t be forgetting that anyyyy time soon. I’m really, really looking forward to the sequel. When I finished the book, I honestly felt aggrieved that I didn’t have the sequel at hand to continue the story. THAT’s how gloriously torturous the ending is! It has guaranteed I won’t be missing the sequel.

I’d say my rating is somewhere around 3.5 stars, so I’ll round it up to be fair. Where Dreams Descent is a decent debut that has set the stage for what I hope will be an enthralling sequel that answers all of the leftover questions and ultimately blows readers away.


Thank you kindly to Wednesday books for granting my wish and giving me an e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Where Dreams Descend is the Caraval for a class of people who want a lot more magic and a little more mystery. Reminiscent of my favorite Disney Channel movie, Now You See It, the book drew me in from its initial lines. From there, we're exposed to a magical cast of characters all seeking the ultimate prize: to be the headliner of the Conquering Circus. When magic is involved, we know very little can go right and the characters learn this from themselves as the circus (and the game) have a more ominous underside than anyone could have expected.

This book is hefty. It isn't a simple breeze through and fast read until you reach the end kind of novel. Angeles has woven in an intricate layer of depth and deception, built on by the magic in place and the characters she's developed. It begins to breath a life of its own, slowly adding intrigue upon layer of intrigue until the reader is woven into the plot as deeply as the characters are. With each new twist, we're stuck struggling to breath. to understand just how far into the void the deception goes. And when the book reaches its conclusion, we're left unfulfilled and seeking a sequel that is still far in the future.

But truthfully, we just want a happy ending and for a love triangle to maybe explore the possibilities of everyone living together happily and forever.

"Magician or not, we've always lived in a series of boys' clubs we're not allowed to enter...We're told we're simply lucky to be in the room, as long as we stay quiet. Make even a little murmur, and it's like we've disturbed the order of life itself."

A good book is something you realise after you are done reading it. But the the first hint of the book being good was it's cover.
What I realised after reading it was that initially it seems to be a cross between Caraval and Ace of Shades, quite a popular opinion I have seen. The magic and mystery in the story definitely backed the expectations I had from it.

The most interesting part of the story is usually its characters, here we have Kallia who is sassy, free spirited with a 'don't give a damn' attitude. She is head strong and a realistically believable protagonist. The gender equality and feminism doesn't seem preachy or in your face.

I would recommend this book to everyone with a taste for mystery and magic, and for everybody who likes fantasy reads.

This was so much fun, it was like a mix of Caraval and Ace of Spades, two series which I really enjoyed. We have a dark, mysterious, atmospheric world full of magic and secrets, some vibrant main characters, and a very well done love triangle. The ending really left off on a cliffhanger and I am anxiously awaiting the sequel.

So you're telling me...I have to wait a year to find out how it ends?!?!?!? Greattttt, just greatttt.

Well, this was everything I didn't know I wanted. Rather than being influenced by Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge, aka two of my favourite musicals, it seemed to be more of a mashup of Caraval and Ace of Shades. It had all of the mysterious and magical vibes that those two series are famous for.

I liked the romance, but wasn't necessarily blown away by it either. Rather, I liked the respect and rapport they had with each other. It felt very authentic, so I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship will develop (especially when taking that ENDING into consideration!!! #mindblown).

But mainly, I just liked Kallia as a character. She was so spunky and didn't have a care in the world about what others thought of her. She knew what she wanted and was ambitious enough to chase after it, even when all the odds were decidedly stacked against her.

The quote that stuck with me the most was: "Magician or not, we've always lived in a series of boys' clubs we're not allowed to enter...We're told we're simply lucky to be in the room, as long as we stay quiet. Make even a little murmur, and it's like we've disturbed the order of life itself."

Not only was this a beautifully-crafted fantasy, but it was also an important discussion of gender equality and feminism. Despite being as good as, or even better, than their male colleagues in the work force, women still have to fight twice as hard to even be heard, much less receive equal recognition for our successes. I really liked that timely issues such as this, as women still work as hard as they have in the past to "break the glass ceiling" today, was included in the novel.

I highly recommend picking up this novel when it releases. I'm already counting down the days until its sequel is available for me to get my hands on! ;)

To say this book disappointed me would be an understatement. It did not live up to the hype that surrounded it. By chapter 22 I was already just wishing it was over. I couldn’t get behind any of the characters and the protagonist..... oh Kallia, how I wish I could like you. The two love interests Jack and Daron were just no. Jack was toxic and kept messing with her memories while Daron was so boring. Also the friendships didn’t make sense? She develops a super tight bond with a thief after one interaction. If this book reminded me of something it would be the first Book in the Throne of Glass series in which there’s a magical competition and the two love interests. I hate love triangles and kallia girl... you are here for a competition you don’t need to be focusing on guys! I also didn’t understand the point of her being so cocky and entering into a competition she knew she’d win just to shove it to some old dudes. Suffice to say I just did not mix with this book. There was barely a plot and by the end nothing is really explained. The magic and world building wasn’t that great either. I was so excited to read a book with POCs and magic, but this did not hit the spot for me.

Love this book! It has such a magical, lush atmosphere that brings to mind Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge. Jack is such a great character. I loved his dynamic with the fiery and passionate Kallia. The magic competition was really well done too. Though the book started out a bit slow, it definitely picked up. This is a must read!