One of the things I loved about this book was how strong of a character Kallia was. She was headstrong and determined to prove that she was the best. That she was just as good, and better, than the men in the competition. And it showed. Everything she did made a statement. As the men in the competition acquired their magic, it was obvious that they couldn't compete with natural born magic. I also loved that she was super human. Sometimes, I feel like authors can make their main characters too rigid. They don't show emotion very well, they're not scared of anything, they don't care for others or have a hard time showing emotions. They are all or nothing. Kallia, I feel was the opposite. She had a complex range of emotions and actions that made her more 'human' and it was so easy to relate. Because humans are complex. Why shouldn't the characters in the books we read be complex as well? And Angeles NAILED it.
I also really loved the secondary characters that we got to meet in this book. The Conquering Circus troupe, Aaros, and Demarco were amazing support/secondary characters and they were also given so much time and some development in this book. They truly loved and were behind Kallia in every way. Truly, they were friends. The greatest. I did like that Demarco, as one of the more main characters, we were given some more info into how he got to be in the position he was and some of his thought processes. I'm really looking forward to reading the second book and getting more of all these characters.
The magic system and how it kind of led into the history of the town was WONDERFUL. I loved the backstory and info we were given on the four families that owned the town and that that history was woven into how the two was separated and created. It was fun to see that there were a few things foreshadowed if you paid close enough attention. The magic system was really interesting with the categories broken down into acquired or born. That was held a greater value than another. Also, the split between the gender roles playing into respect on the magician's stage was super relevant. (And again, I'm glad for such a strong character in Kallia to break down those barriers and fight for the respect she deserved with such a great support system behind her).
I am absolutely STUNNED with this book. It was so incredibly well-written. It grabs your attention from the first page and I was hooked. I tried to not post spoilers, but I do have to mention that there is a cliff-hanger that I'm still not over. I am eagerly anticipating book two. Angeles, in this book has written about magic and has written magic. This is absolutely one debut you don't want to miss.

This book reads like a fever dream of a plot that I've read before but can't quite remember the details of. I'm serious. I spent most of the book with a massive sense of deja vu that I could never quite get over. That's not to say it's not good. It's a solid story and is infinitely imaginative in how it plays with magic, misdirection, and mystery.
Kallia, Jack, Demarco, and the rest of the characters take the reader along on an unsolvable (yet greatly enjoyable) riddle that's a mystery wrapped up in an enigma. Nobody except Jack seems to have any idea about what's happening or the truth behind the strange phenomena that take place in the city of Glorian, and it all adds up to magically exciting plot twists and developments.
High marks for Angeles for creating a truly imaginative and complex tale.

Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the early read!

Janella Angeles enchants with her Phantom of the Opera-inspired fantasy debut Where Dreams Descend. Hellfire House is known for two things, it’s enigmatic master, Jack, and it’s beguiling showgirl, Kallia, who casts a spell nightly on her audience. But despite Kallia’s stardom, she feels stifled at Hellfire House. She wants more than applause, she wants esteem and freedom. When Kallia discover Jack has been keeping secrets from her, she runs away to the mysterious town of Glorian, where a competition for magicians is being held. Kallia knows that women are discouraged from pursuing the spotlight, but she is determined to prove that she has no equal when it comes to magic. Kallia immediately butts head with Demarco, the youngest judge who has his own reasons for coming to Glorian. When competitors begin vanishing, it becomes clear that there is a dark force in this town determined to upend the competition and no one knows who will be left standing in the end.

Kallia was born with magical abilities, has spent her life at Hellfire House under the patronage of Jack’s father before his death, then taken under Jack’s wing. Though she has spent years mastering magic, she has always felt caged. Jack’s enigmatic warnings of the outside world have discouraged her from striking out on her own. Glorian is not prepared for a magician like Kallia. She is unapologetically ambitious, not just scoffing at the rules that would prevent a woman from competing, but actively stomping on tradition at every turn. There is no challenge she is not up for, not person she is too afraid to stand up to, but this often results in a recklessness that she has not yet learned to tame. Vulnerablity does not come easy to her and neither does trust. In the course of the novel, Kallia slowly learns that forming connections is not just a liability, but that making a name for herself means little when she has no one to share it with.

Kallia relationship with Jack has always been fraught with tension. He has been the only one who has been able to challenge her magically, but so much of who he is is hidden away. There is an undeniable pull between them, but as Kallia learns, she doesn’t know if she could ever trust him. I really enjoyed Kallia’s relationship with Demarco. They both get under each other’s skin from the very beginning of their acquaintance. Demarco was once a renown magician but left the stage after a personal tragedy he likes to keep tight-lipped about. I loved the chapters from his POV and feel like we learned far more about him and his motivations compared to Jack. Like Kallia, he does not easily trust, but he can’t deny that there is something about Kallia’s unshakable confidence that draws him to her. Slowly Kallia and Demarco grow closer, but both have pasts that ultimately threaten to tear them apart.

There are so many colors and sights in Where Dreams Descend. Angeles transports readers to various settings which really capture the dark and enchanting elements of the novel. Hellfire House is mysterious and shadowy. A place of intrigue but also confining. The Conquering Circus has made its way to Glorian with its lively performers and often dangerous acts. Glorian itself feels like a shadow of what it once was. Its historical houses speak of a glorious past, perhaps waiting for someone to reclaim it. Fans of Phantom of the Opera will appreciate the various references from the chandelier and mirror imagery to the namesakes and lines from the musical.

Where Dreams Descend excels at creating an intriguing world with seductive characters and an ending that will leave readers demanding its sequel.

Where Dreams Descend is the first book in the Kingdom of Cards series by Janella Angeles. Where Dreams Descend is a young adult fantasy book that is filled with atmospheric magic, twists and turns, a dangerous and dark world and plenty of secrets. I really enjoyed this book, though it did have a bit of a slow start for me. As I continued reading, this was a book that built and built like a great performance with a spectacular crescendo. Overall, I enjoyed Where Dreams Descend and I am excited to continue on with this series.

In Where Dreams Descend, we meet our main character Kallia who is the star of her clubs performances. But Kallia dreams of getting out and becoming a real star. She wants to enter a magic performance competition in the city to grab a coveted spot in the Conquering Circus. The city and vibe of the book had a bit of New Ryenes, from Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody. The dark seedy underbelly of a city filled with secrets and sin. It lent itself well to the overall atmosphere of Where Dreams Descend. 

When I first started this book it was hard for me to grasp just what was going on. The writing felt jarring to me, but it kind of all fell into place as I went on and I grew to love the world that Janella Angeles had created. It is full of magic and secrets, plus the idea of a magical circus is super appealing to me. I could vividly imagine the performances and acts. There is a romance in Where Dreams Descend and I am hoping to see more of that in the next book. I can't wait to see how this duology is going to wrap up. This was an exciting and gripping read. It just kept getting better and better as it went on. If you love a dark atmospheric setting in a book filled with magic, then the Kingdom of Cards series is going to be a good book for you to check out!

A competition for magicians becomes a rather dangerous spectacle as sleeping magic escapes its cage in Janella Angeles's Where Dreams Descend (Kingdom of Cards #1).
A skilled magician, Kallia has been training her talents with Jack, the feared and enigmatic master of a club where Kallia spends her evenings dancing and performing as a showgirl, the socially acceptable display of her abilities, while customers gamble and lose their memories to Jack. Since arriving as an orphaned child she's not left the premises, but her desire to visit the nearby town of Glorian grows stronger as days pass after she learns of a magic competition to become the headliner for the Conquering Circus, which would allow her to prove herself. Finally escaping the cage of home she'd been kept in, Kallia joins the competition as the only female after demonstrating a showstopping spectacle, with assistance from rather neutral comments from Demarco, the young, famous judge with a dark past, but little does she know that with each passing act, something in Glorian is waking up, causing untold harm, and dredging up long-kept secrets.
The world is intriguing with an atmosphere infused with magic and a lingering, lurking darkness that is captivating, if a bit murky. The main characters, while not abundantly novel in the personalities they present, are developed relatively well and exhibit distinctive traits and behaviors. There's tension built between various characters, which is palpable as the main three charismatic characters interact, but it does feel a tad immature when contrasted with the otherwise strong-willed nature they're presented to possess. The story is entertaining and demonstrates good potential on a larger scale as this narrative gradually develops out the mysterious events occurring, with the pacing accelerating noticeably in the latter portion; the first in a duology, this ends in a way that continues to hint toward the fascinating elements that were concealed for a majority of this installment while striving to hook and keep readers eagerly anticipating what will unfold next.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of this blog tour.

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.