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*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book fire review, all opinions are my own*

I still don't really know how I feel about this story, I'm giving it 4 stars but it's low 4 stars.
The author's writing is nothing special.
I thought that the book has a lot going on, several plots and mysteries happening at the same time but the author chooses to focus and develop on things that I found uninteresting and even a little unnecessary.
For me, neither the main plot nor the secondary plots were what left me stuck in the story but the characters, I really liked all the characters in different ways.
I think this is one of those books that you read more for the characters than for the story itself.
Because of that, I decided to talk a little bit about what I thought of the main characters.

Jack- I feel like I shouldn't like him, but from the moment he showed up I fell in love with him and I admit that no matter what he did or said I felt that he was right and that his motivations were kind of good somehow.

Kallia- I started not liking her very much, at first she started out being very innocent, spoiled and annoying but she grew a lot during the story and I ended up liking her.

Aaros- He is just perfect, a character without defects that deserves the world and has to be protected at all costs.

Demarco- I also didn't like him at the beginning of the story but unlike Kallia he took longer to win me over but in the end, he even managed to.

The end of the book left me very happy and excited for the next one so I can’t wait!

What a ride this book was! Beautiful writing, incredible imagery, a captivating premise, enchanting characters, and plenty of magic and intrigue.

In a world of magic - some born, some learned - Kallia is a powerful magic-wielder working as a showgirl in a magical club. Jack is the host - or the master - of the club, and he keeps Kallia close. The chemistry between Kallia and Jack was sizzling, but we were left to wonder about the relationship and their history. The club and Jack himself swirled with mystery, magic, and manipulation; the first few chapters of the book were lush and set the tone nicely.

Kallia wants more from life than to repeat the same show every night in the master’s club. She wants to use her magic in a bigger, bolder way, and she wants to see what life is like beyond the gates that have become a prison for her. When she makes her escape to join a magic competition, her life changes in many ways and, for the first time ever, she’s free to do what she wants. There are obstacles to overcome, though: the competition is being judged by what’s essentially a good ol’ boys club - no girls allowed. Kallia constantly has to prove herself, even though she’s clearly the most talented magician any of them has ever seen. But she’s a girl - gasp! - so she must be fragile and weak, or intent on seduction because what else are girls good for? The only one who sees her as something more is Daron Demarco, a famous magician who left the magic scene two years ago after a tragic accident. There’s a lot of animosity between these two that slowly turns to an alliance, then friendship, then something more.

What kept me from fully loving this book was the fact I found it a bit hard to keep up at times. There was so much happening, so much mystery, so many secrets, and also so many characters. Other than Demarco, I couldn’t keep any of the judges straight, and I had trouble keeping the circus performers straight too. I also feel like there were too many questions left unanswered. I read that this is slated to be a duology, but it would have been nice to have a few more loose ends tied up, especially because I know I’ll have forgotten a lot of things by the time the second book comes out.

Where Dreams Descend is a strong start to what’s sure to be an incredible, memorable duology.

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the eARC of this book!

Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles is a tapestry of different ideas, woven together but not quite connected. Not yet, anyway.

Kallia is a magician and performer at Hellfire House, a secret club in the woods run by a mysterious master named Jack. She's a bird in a cage, treated well but ultimately a prisoner. When she decides to run away to Glorian, the neighboring town, to enter into a contest to find the best magician, she finds the town holds more secrets than even she does.

This is a world where women magicians are seen as less than the men. They're reduced to labor magic, not allowed to perform to audiences like the men are. Kallia aims to throw that antiquated way of thinking out of the window on her way to becoming the greatest magician that ever lived.

The story is a good one. Jack is a master memory manipulator, so it's hard to know what Kallia actually knows and what she doesn't. Demarco's story is also a mystery and I found myself guessing the entire time as to what his secrets could be. The entire town of Glorian is seeped in magic, yet no one seems to know it. No one knows anything at all about the town's history.

The story is a good one, but I feel like it was a few cards short of a full deck (pun intended). Yes, the town was a mystery, but the fact that we didn't get any answers about it at all made the book feel like it had holes. There were different families at one point, Jack knows something about it. That's basically all I got. I assume we'll find out the entire story in the next book, but learning more in this one I think would've made the experience feel a bit more whole.

Kallia was fine as a character. She wasn't the only woman in the book, but she felt like it. She's a very 'I'm going to stomp in here and take charge' character, while basically being a ball of insecurity on the inside. She dominated, certainly. I liked Demarco as a character, although I will admit he felt a little flat at times. I appreciated that he had an interesting backstory as well, since we didn't get much of Kallia's origin story throughout (again, I assume that'll come in the second book).

All this said, the writing was top notch. Angeles prose is beautiful, and while some of the language is a little flowery, I'll admit I've never had an issue with pretty words. I think this could definitely be a favorite for a lot of people!

Where Dreams Descend is the first book in the Kingdom of Cards duology.

We are introduced to Kallia and Jack at the Hellfire House, a place run by Jack, no one really knows who he is or what it is he does, but Kallia is the star of the show there. Jack has offered to teach Kallia about magic and how to properly wield it. Jack hears the patrons whisper about this magical competition in the nearby city of Gloian. Little does he know that KIllia also know about this competition and wants to join in.

Jack has warned Kallia many times about leaving the house and going to Glorian, but Kallia ignores the warnings and heads for the competition

Once in Gloriana, Killia finds out things are not as easy as she thought they would be. Being the only female magician to enter does not have the favor in her odds. She doesn't let that stop her, that just makes her more determined to win the competition.

There are a few other characters that make an impact on Kallia, none more than the Daring Demarco who happened to be the youngest of the judges. He has some secrets of his own and to why he's in Gloriana and why he chooses to not use is magic.

When events take place during the competition that turn dangerous and unexplainable it's clear that there is something else going on but no one is quite sure what it is or why.

I did enjoy how the author made the city dark and grey, and the contrast of Kalllia and her outfits both on and off the stage. Kallia seems to be that beacon in a storm, you just couldn't take your eye’s off of her and I think she wanted to make sure that Kaillia stood out like she did.

There is a small bit of romance in the book, but it's not a focal point.

I didn't know what to expect going into this book. I did enjoy this book, and look forward to the second one when it's out

What a beautiful world created by the author. It's full of vivid imagery, beautiful prose and what incredible atmosphere. You are pulled in to this and let out only once the book ends.
If I had to liken to a movie it would be 'The Phantom of the Opera' meets 'Moulin Rouge' in the best possible way. So you can just imagine the world and the book's cover is absolutely gorgeous giving an inkling of what's to come when you enter it.

The story revolves around 3 central characters. They are superb characters and they have a kind of love triangle.
The female protagonist, Kallia is incredible, strong and ferocious. I loved her.

Without giving too much of the story I just want to reiterate that the magical world in this book is everything that one would want. It’ mysterious, exotic, intricate, intriguing, riveting, complex, and literally just magical.

This is an intricately crafted story full of magic and a strong, independent woman and the world is set now for the next book in the series and I can't wait for it to release so that I can immerse myself back in that world.

Where Dreams Descend sounds like decadent, delicious, swooniness - the mash-up of Moulin Rouge and Phantom of the Opera! The theatrical magical competition! The faux-19th century costume drama fantasy! - and I wanted it to be exactly as splendid as it sounded. Unfortunately, it fell flat and left me just kind of shrugging. I’m truly torn about how to review it, because I can see many people loving it, and I get why - I might even recommend it to a few - but it didn’t work for me at all.

The third comp thrown into that Moulin Rouge/Phantom mash is Erin Morgenstern, and maybe I should have been warned off by that. Just like with Morgenstern’s books, concerning which I seem to be one of the few detractors, the vague pseudo-symbols throughout Where Dreams Descend (playing cards, masks, mirrors) don’t really feel grounded in anything more substantial than the dark smoke that swirls menacingly throughout the story. It’s all set dressing, but there’s no structure under the decorations.

The same is true of the magic. I don’t mind fantasy worlds without clearly delineated magical systems and rules - in fact, I often prefer magic that feels, you know, magical, a bit chaotic, a bit otherworldly. But the magic in the world of Soltair just feels, like all the playing card suits and masks, like so much smoke and mirrors. (Very literal smoke and mirrors.) It’s a performer’s prop, but there’s just no substance to it. There’s nothing behind or under any of it. The distinctions between born and acquired, performance and labor, or male and female magic seem vague and inconsistent, and left me with more frustrated questions than a sense of wonder. Similarly, I felt lost for too long when searching for the underlying skeleton of the story, of the world, of what the characters know but I don’t yet, of what they don’t know but others do - and it felt like more slowly paced froth. The hidden city thread is underdeveloped and doesn’t really settle into an interesting mystery until too late into the book. The sinister nightclub in the middle of a dangerous, nightmare forest (that somehow rich gentlemen cross every night because the nightclub aesthetic doesn’t really work outside of a city) feels pasted on to get the Moulin Rouge element in there. The darkly evocative circus feels like an unnecessary attempt to get the circus aesthetic in along with the cabaret vibe. And the magical competition, which is the basis of so much of the plot, feels totally meaningless. We’re constantly told how high the stakes are for this, but I could never tell *why* - what is actually the prize? What is the contestants’ level and prowess? If Glorian is this half-forgotten, obscured city, is this contest a two-bit show or an actual big deal to anyone but Kallia? Why is she so obsessed, first with Glorian and then with the contest, and what is she actually going to gain, or thinks she’ll gain, from this? I don’t need all the answers, especially in a book so set for a sequel, but I want some, not just a lot of atmosphere and assumptions. (And far too many details that I could tell were significant here only because they’re significant in Phantom of the Opera. I see you, Don Juan Triumphant scene.)

Kallia is a perfectly fine protagonist in herself, but her motivations feel messy. There’s not enough tension in her relationship with Jack, because he just seems so obviously terrible to her right from the start - if it’s an attempt to create a Phantom/Christine relationship, it lacks the part where Christine thinks of him as a teacher, a guide, her one friend... he seems too much like a bad guy, basically, right off the bat, not just to the reader but to Kallia in her attempts to escape. Yet she still talks and thinks about him as though we’ve witnessed that earlier dynamic.

Demarco, as the third leg in this love triangle, mostly comes across as kind of an ineffectual sad sack, who spends much of the book brooding over cryptic problems and quests and eking out information to the reader (and Kallia, to be fair) in irritatingly small doses. Again, there simply isn’t enough real, earned chemistry between him and Kallia for this love triangle to work. Lastly, the larger side characters, like Aaros, Lottie, and Erasmus Rayne, are workable archetypes, but don’t really rise above this level.

There’s a lot of fun potential in the elements that make up this world and story, but they feel like the ingredients of a cake that haven’t been assembled or baked. The writing style likewise doesn’t gel for me; turns of phrase and metaphors meant to sound elegant just felt awkward. I may be in the minority here, since even other negative reviews have praised the lush voice, but I stumbled over too many mixed metaphors. It’s a story that favors style over substance, portent over plot. But if I’m being honest, I can imagine a lot of readers who would enjoy just that (see above re: Erin Morgenstern), so perhaps it’s just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance review copy, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

I wish I could have gotten into this book. Everything about it sounded so amazing. Maybe I can pick it back up another time.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

The Star: Kallia
The Master: Jack
The Magician: Demarco

All three have their own goals in the competition to find a new star for the Conquering Circus. Kallia: to win. Jack: to protect. Demarco: to solve. But as the events unfold, each finds that things are not quite as they seem.

The story started slow for me, but quickly grabbed my interest within a few chapters. I wanted to know more and was intrigued by the mystery. Aside from early on, there were no major twists. Frankly, the story could have done with a little more information. Details, while plentiful, rarely provided useful information.

Kallia, for me, was a bit frustrating. Many of her traits seemed out-of-place for the situations. I can give some leeway for her upbringing, but I felt this could have been more balanced. I actually found myself wanting to know more about the male characters: Jack, Demarco, and Aaros. They just shined brighter for me, which is a shame considering I love a good heroine.

Overall, I really liked the vibe and story. As others note, it reminded me of Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge. Despite wonderful descriptions, the lack of detail regarding main story points was off-putting. I am eager for the next book if only to fill in some of the missing gaps!

What can I say about Where Dreams Descend? This book! I went back and forth between disliking the story and not being able to put it down.

Kallia, a powerful magician and showgirl, is one of the magicians - and the only female magician - who are facing off in an elimination-style game show of magical feats. As the competition heats up, the stakes get higher for the magicians, as an unknown danger is striking them down.

The descriptions in the book were lush, beautiful, the world building thorough and rich. However, the descriptive language is also what hurt this book sometimes, in my opinion. Sometimes the slow moving, long-windedness of scenes made me zone out while reading.

However, once there was action happening, I found myself sucked into the pages and the world around me stopped. I’d be pulled out of my reading and have to shake myself out of the world of Glorian and Spectaculore.

WARNING! SPOILERS FROM HERE ON!
While this is described as a Phantom of the Opera retelling with more magic, I had a little bit of a difficult time seeing the connections. I do see, however, Jack as the Phantom of the Opera, who is trapped in Hellfire House. He is watching over and protecting Kallia. However, Phantom is more of a father figure to Christine that Jack is to Kallia.

I also wanted to know more about the different Houses in Glorian - or at least, have it repeated one more time. Especially as the ending starts shedding more light about each of the characters.

While this book definitely left me snoozing pretty often, it also wrapped up, leaving me with more questions than answers. Like, who really is Jack? Is Demarco something more than he claims to be? And where is Eva? Did Kallia save Glorian? I NEED TO KNOW! This is a duology, so hopefully Angeles can wrap up all of the loose ends in the next book.

This is definitely a book where I wish I had a physical copy, so I could reference previous pages and annotate important bits to go back to. It’s not as easy to flip through the ebook trying to find a specific passage later on, especially if I didn’t highlight it or note it in the first place, not realizing it was going to be important 300 pages later. 🤪

That said, the story itself was dark, yet fun, with no major twists or turns that allowed the reader to just sit back and enjoy the magical world and the story unfolding. This was a lovely debut from Janella Angeles.

Where Dreams Descend pulled me in from the very first page. It reminded me a bit of The Night Circus or Caraval, with a dash of The Phantom of the Opera and I think that anyone who enjoyed those would highly enjoy this. The atmosphere that Janella Angeles created was absolutely magical. I loved the chemistry between the main characters at the beginning and kind of wished that that had continued more throughout the whole book. Straight from the start I was pulled into the story and was questioning what was happening and wanting to know what would happen next. The only critique I have is that it began to feel a bit slow, or drawn out, toward the middle of the book. It felt like it was done mostly to set up for a sequel and I wish it had kept the pace from the beginning all the way through instead. I think it would have packed a bit more of a punch that way while still allowing a nice set up for the next book. Overall, Where Dreams Descend is a really solid debut and I look forward to reading, not only the rest of the series, but more by Janella Angeles in general. (Also, the cover is stunning!)

*Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the ARC.*

I was so excited about this book. I've seen some rave reviews for it and the synopsis sounded very promising. It started off strong with a dark, mysterious, and sexy vibe that drew me in right away. The tension created between Kallia and Jack was palpable, and the storyline got off to a fantastic and riveting start. Unfortunately, it lost me soon after that. The mysteriousness pervaded every aspect of the plot, to the point where I wasn't even sure what the plot was anymore. There were no boundaries created to establish the world or the way the magic worked, and while some really fabulous ideas were introduced and it maintained its atmosphere, it felt like there were too many things brought up that were not cohesive and didn't move the plot forward at all. The competition was a really cool concept, but I never understood what the point of it was or what one was supposed to gain from winning it. The great stuff that was established in the beginning seemed to be completely forgotten, and Jack never got more fleshed out than when we originally met him. I liked Kallia's budding relationship with the judge, Demarco, and I felt their chemistry, but its effect got lost in trying to find where the plot was and what I was supposed to be focusing on. The more I read, the more convoluted the plot seemed to get. I am, apparently, in the minority with my feelings about this book, because most people seem to love it. There were some aspects that I really enjoyed and I see the potential for it being an amazing story, but it was missing too much clarity for me to fully get on board.

This sounded super promising: magicians fighting to headline a circus, described as a mix of Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge.

However (and I’m definitely in the minority here, given the amount of rave reviews I’ve read), I found it really difficult to even get through the first few chapters—I kept feeling my interest waning, and had to reread sections. Part of this was due to a shallow sense of worldbuilding and character motivation, but also the writing itself. It was just so overwritten at time, sometimes to the point of obscurity.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t for me.

Books about magicians are always calling to me. I find them to be a fun mix of fantasy and real-world, and it just draws me right in. Where Dreams Descend introduces the reader to a world where nothing is as it seems, and the dreams of one young magician have the opportunity to be the downfall of an entire town.

This book has brought out a whole lot of feelings in me. I found myself struggling to get into the book at the beginning but unable to put the book down by the end.

Janella Angeles has a beautiful way of writing. I felt that her descriptions brought buildings and clothing and features to life. I could envision the sparkling, dazzling performances, the way the buildings look, old and decrepit, or newly transformed and shiny. I think that this is a definite strength for her, and ultimately I think it is what kept me reading.

At first, I was really intrigued by the world in the story. When a reader picks up any new book, they have to learn about the way the world is built in the book. It’s up to the author to build that world so that the reader gets drawn in, almost like they are a part of the world. I think this was a huge miss for the author, unfortunately. After reading all 464 pages of this book, I’m still extremely confused about what is happening in this world. I did find out about 3/4 of the way into the book that this is a series, so I’m sure we’ll find out so much more in book 2. However, I really needed a bit more information in this book.

Let’s talk about mirrors for a minute. They are extremely important in this story for multiple characters. They are talked about, thought about, covered up, broken, and avoided. Mirrors are all over this story, but I’m still unclear on why in the world they are so important. I haven’t figured out what magic they truly hold, but I hope book 2 gives me some insight!

Every location and character in the book seems to have a secret and a history. I felt that the author just missed giving us ENOUGH information to understand a little.

The characters were pretty amazing for me. I, again, feel that there should have been a bit more information about some of them, just so that I could somewhat understand, but there were still some pretty awesome characters. I absolutely adored the main character Kallia. She is sassy and so full of herself on the outside, but clearly has some internal struggles to deal with. She is an easy character to like, and I think many readers will adore her. Her relationship with Demarco, a judge in the competition is pretty wonderful. I loved the descriptions of their interactions. One other character I adored was Kallia’s assistant in the competition. He was caring and intuitive about what Kallia needed throughout the story. I hope he is in the second book because I still want to learn more about him!

Overall, I liked this book but struggled with understanding what exactly was happening in this world. The beginning was hard for me to get into because I had so many questions and not enough answers. By the middle of the book, I was attached to the characters and wanted to keep reading so I could see what happened in their story.

To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Where Dreams Descend to readers that enjoy mysterious happenings in a magical world! I want to make sure that I’m not deterring people from reading this book. If you enjoy fantasy worlds with beautiful, exciting elements, you may enjoy this book!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

My full review of this book will post to my blog on 8/25/20.

A good mashup of moulin rouge and phantom of the opera. Beautiful writing It was great seeing a brown female lead in a predominantly white space in SFF. Where dreams descend has deceits angst , love and heartbreak. Everything you love about the comps. I hope people will give this a try and that it finds it audience.

"May the best magician win."

Where Dreams Descend is an atmospheric and well written debut novel by Filipina-American author Janella Angeles. Plus the cover is to die for! This story combines fantasy, magic, competition, suspense, romance, and touches of mystery, horror and feminism. I was completely engrossed by the world, main character Kallia, and fun side kick Aaros. Jack makes for a great creepy nemesis (or is he?), and the book has a stunning, cliffhanger of an ending. I hope Angeles has been writing during the pandemic because I'm already extremely eager to read the next book.

Disclaimer: The quoted text is from an uncorrected proof of this book that I received from Wednesday Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Where Dreams Descend is full of magic!
I really enjoyed reading this book and I practically devoured it. It is well-written , fast-paced and the action starts from the beginning.
It's a fun and at the same time dark story with some mysterious characters. We follow Kallia, a powerful showgirl who doesn't stop at anything and wants to prove she is the best no matter the cost.
We also see the story through the Judge/ Magician Demarco, who became my favourite. He is mysterious at the beginning with a dark past that reveals as the story goes on.
And there is the more mysterious and enigmatic Jack, the Master of the Hellfire House, who remains a mystery.

Finally, the ending of the book left me wanting more and I cannot wait for the next one.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, and I did not finish reading it.

Even though it was engaging and mysterious, I found the lack of detail, depth and unlikeable characters to be this books downfall. I didn't dislike the characters but felt nothing for them and felt their relationships were shallow.

When I started reading this book I didn’t enjoy it that much because the beginning was too long, too slow, and it’s a little bit confusing for me. There were so many new names yet the story was only set in one small town in the middle of a cursed forest. I think that’s quite fascinating. There was not much to say about the world-building but the twists and turns amazed me. It was so much more grandeur and complex than I could ever imagine.

The synopsis made me believe this book will have similar vibes to other books who has the same concept but after reading it, I’d say it’s totally different. Where Dreams Descend it’s darker than I expected. It kicked off as a magic competition but as the story goes it started to show the secrets and the mystery someone trying to keep hidden behind all the glory and lights. I was shocked when I first realized that this isn’t a regular fantasy circusesque/carnivalesque novel. This book deals with topic such as loss and grief, painful past and memories, how one trying to escape from a golden cage and one’s master.

Everything felt real because the story is beautifully written. It was lyrical and lush, I couldn’t help but being swept away by all the emotions. When the magic show started, I could feel the excitement from the audience and the amazing performances blinded me. But when the show’s over and the shadows came to play, the words transported me into the mysterious city when no one, not even the mayor remembered the history of it. I could never guess what would happen next! Each chapter piqued my curiosity and only increased my expectation for the climax.

The characters were unique and interesting. I loved Kallia’s determination and courage. Her story is empowering. What I liked most is her emotional journey. Started from the beginning when she was struggling to run away from her past until she grew into a strong young woman. Aaron, my man! If I must pick a favorite character, I’d choose him. He was so kind and funny and a very supportive friend. As a side character, I guess he already has enough spotlight but I want to know more about him! Canary was the coolest of them all. She was caring and loving to her family (The Conquering Circus!) but she’d gut you if you so much as try to insult her fam.

Two other characters I want to mention are Jack and Demarco. Jack kinda reminded me of Jacks from Caraval series. But IMO, Jack’s past is more complicated and deeply guarded. By the time I finished this book, I still have so many questions about him! As for Demarco, or Daron, I don’t really have much to say about him. He quite enchanted me when he first showed up until in the middle of the story. But nearing the climax, I just lost most of my interest in his character. He was great and all that but I guess I expected too much of him.

I also loved the bond between Kallia and the women of The Conquering Circus! Their interaction was always warm and joyful, you can really tell how much they cared for each other. As for the romance, I’m not really a fan but the couple sure have some sweet moments that made me want them to just be happy together.

Oh, did I mention how I was totally blown away by the plot twists? Yes? Okay, good, because I still can’t believe all the things that happened in this book. I didn’t think I’d get such an extraordinary adventure full of magic and secrets but I’m glad I picked it up! Aahh, I’m THIS close to want to tell you everything, spill all the juicy and delicious details but this is a spoiler-free review. Believe me when I say the struggle to stay silent is real.

Overall, I really enjoyed Where Dreams Descend. It was a captivating and magical read yet also suspenseful and mystical. When I finished it, I suddenly very aware of mirrors and my reflection. It’s a bit spooky with all the illusion but I survived, phew. Seriously, this book is something else! If you like YA fantasy and currently looking for a new release that is both darkly alluring and exciting, I really recommend this book to be added to your TBR.

Everything about this book sounded awesome and atmospheric. I couldn’t wait to read it, but unfortunately, I was disappointed.

As much as I enjoyed The Night Circus, I feel like anything else I read that tries to kind of pull in the same elements is a massive disappointment to me. I disliked Caraval and I think Where Dreams Descend suffers from the same problems as Caraval. It was confusing and vague sometimes just to be confusing and vague. The air of mystery and magic was sometimes just a smoke screen for nothing else interesting. The side characters were cardboard and the entire premise seems like a set up just to put character A in the path of character B instead of really a thing that made sense to happen.

I really wanted to love this.

It seems like a lot of people did enjoy this and felt that it was really well done, though, so maybe it’s just me or my expectations.

Not too long ago, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern dug deep into my soul as a reader. Upon finishing that book, I was looking for read-alikes that would continue to dig just as deep. Caraval provided a fix, but I was still looking for more. When I came across a Facebook post about Where Dreams Descend, I latched onto the cover image and immediately sought out a copy of the book. Ms. Angeles' work is dark, broody, and yes, a little bit sexy. I came away from the final pages wanting to scream that we were left on a cliffhanger (though I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel!) and wanting to know more about Kallia and Demarco and their blossoming relationship. Ms. Angeles painted a vibrant picture of a visceral, mysterious new world that I couldn't get enough of and simply didn't want to leave! While I can't purchase this title from my library, as I teach in an elementary school, I've already recommended it to my district's high school librarian in hopes that she would purchase it. As she's also a fan of The Night Circus and Caraval, I believe that she will. I can't wait to see this story shared with as many new readers as possible.