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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




If you enjoyed this review, you can friend me here on Goodreads and follow my Bookstagram/Twitter @ashton_reads. Thanks for reading!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As an avid fan of The Night Circus and Phantom of the Opera — though I've never seen Moulin Rouge — I was overjoyed to get my hands on an ARC then even to be asked to join this blog tour! And despite this recipe for getting my hopes up too high, on the whole Where Dreams Descend does not disappoint.

One of my earliest, strongest impressions was that the prose flows elegantly, so atmospheric that I actually literally held my breath. There were whole pages I wanted to highlight. I was torn between slowly savoring each passage and racing to learn more about this fantastic narrative I'd been drawn into. The setting and cast come alive, if you'll pardon the cliche. 

The writing style is consistent throughout, which is objectively a good thing ... but at some point I picked the book back up and suddenly found myself impatient with all the descriptions, poking holes in the metaphors. (An inexplicable experience probably unique to me, so make of it what you will.)

And the characters? Exquisitely crafted. Though the star is undoubtedly Kallia, each of the main players has thoughtfully developed independent motives and a satisfying development arc; rather than supporting cast members, they are equally strong candidates to carry the story.

Since romance and hearts mentioned in the synopsis, I wanted to talk a little about the relationships — skip the rest of this paragraph if you want to avoid potential (vague) spoilers! The draw of the opening chapters, for me, came in no small part from the sizzling chemistry between Kallia and Jack; however, as the story progresses Kallia's interactions with others, including Demarco, feel a little flatter by comparison. But the friendships and platonic partnerships are pretty solid, which help balance everything out and which I really appreciate.

My main critique: I did feel that Where Dreams Descend might draw a bit too heavily from the comps mentioned earlier: multiple scenes and symbols are very close parallels or mirrors (and they're specific and/or iconic enough that I don't believe they're general tropes). For readers who love homage and allusion this will probably be a plus; for readers who prefer memorably unique stories, less so.

Still, Where Dreams Descend is very well-paced with multiple subplots and organic developments that don't rely on shock value. It's an engaging, well-told show of a book with many surprises in store.

I was originally drawn to Where Dreams Descend after hearing that it was inspired by Phantom of the Opera plus magic plus circuses. Sounds amazing, right?

Kallia is a magician who escapes an unhealthy performance situation to strike out on her own. She enters into a magic competition in a creepy town in the woods. She meets a few friends (circus friends are the coolest) and becomes entangled with one of the contest judges. Meanwhile, her previous master from the aforementioned toxic situation pops up to threaten/warn her about scary things to come. Also, mirrors, they are bad.

While I do see some Phantom inspiration on the pages, this story is unfortunately just not as engaging as I had hoped it would be. It's kind of weird. Stuff is happening all over the place yet at the same time I could put this book down and not pick it back up for long stretches of time. The tension fell oddly flat. It is hard to get invested in any of these characters and their relationships - there are a LOT of questions and *mystery* surrounding each person in this story, which usually works to create interest, but in this case I felt like I didn't get to know the characters whatsoever. They were mysterious to the point of underdeveloped strangers, which left me with zero attachment to any plot things that were happening. The world itself was a little shaky in terms of explanation of the magic systems and even basic geography. I will give this one the benefit of the doubt as it is the first in a series: the mystery surrounding each character will likely become clearer in future installments. Unfortunately, I'm so underwhelmed that I probably won't be picking up any of the books to come.

In the icy city of Glorian, a daring group of stage magicians compete to win a spot as the headliner for the Conquering Circus. But the longer the competition goes on, the more higher the stakes are, as one by one the competitors begin to disappear. In all of this, young Kallia, a flashy and strong-willed young magician must conquer both her own past and the judges’ misogyny, while the brooding Judge Demarco must overcome his own past pain to solve the mystery of the disappearances– and the riddle of Kallia’s past before both of them disappear in a flash of light and mirrors.

“Anticipation crackled beneath her skin at the sight of the shadowed attendees flooding the rows of the show hall. Goose bumps traveled across her flesh, but she quelled her shiver. She relished the pinch of fear as it sparked every nerve, shooting adrenaline into her body and a clarity emptying her mind of all thought, all worry.”

Though it’s been thirty-four years since The Phantom of the Opera premiered in London’s West End, and nineteen years since Baz Luhrman’s film Moulin Rouge! came out, both shows have gone on to have more than a little influence over certain areas of popular culture, with many creators attempting to recapture the allure of the mysterious phantom mentor, or the glitz and glamour of the Parisian night club. In her debut YA fantasy novel, Janella Angeles seeks to capture the mystery and magic her inspirations, but largely misses the mark, relying on YA clichés to do the heavy lifting in the narrative and building a world that wants to be grandiose and rich, but ends up feeling only as deep as the theater sets Angeles was inspired by.

The heroine, Kallia, is yet another in a long list of Strong Female Heroines who leads with her snark and a devil-may-care attitude, hiding her mysterious past with a smile or a snide remark to anyone who looks at her wrong. The brooding boy on the other side of the story, Daron Demarco, also has a mysterious past, though he hides his problems with glares and by spending hours at a time ruminating over his past mistakes and losses. If these ruminations happened only once or twice, they wouldn’t weigh the story down as much as they do, but it feels as though Demarco does little but brood, except for the times he shows concern for Kallia– who consistently responds by making snide remarks.

Angeles’s writing roots in the fanfiction world are on display throughout. While fanfic has grown up in the past decade and many authors either started out writing on such platforms as Archive of Our Own or, in many cases, still write fanfic, there is a particular prose style that afflicts much fanfiction: overwriting. No one simply smiles. Their lips turn up at the corners in an expression that doesn’t reach their eyes, which brim with mystery and a hint of malice. This purple prose is often mistaken for lyricism, but it hinders more than it helps, causing the story to stagger under its own weight. A cleaner prose style would emphasize the story’s stronger elements. Luhrman’s Moulin Rouge! may be a bright and busy film, but a closer look reveals that its story and visuals are surprisingly tight and efficient. The same is true for the state production of The Phantom of the Opera. Perhaps in the second Kingdom of Cards book, Angeles will take that closer look at her muses and take a cue from the efficiency of the storytelling of her inspirations.

Where Dreams Descend is a story that wants to be so much. It wants glitter and glamor and all the drama of the stage, but while it seeks to build a kingdom of cards, its endless brooding and overwrought prose make of it a house of cards that’s only just strong enough to avoid collapsing in on itself.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a free eBook in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.
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Kallia is an orphan and star of the show in a forest club run by a man named Jack. Jack would do anything to protect Kallia, but he's also kept important things from her, and Kallia is ready for more than the small world of the club. She strikes out on her own adventure in a nearby city, one where dangerous magic lurks. Yet, that's precisely why Kallia wants to be there, to experience a different life and to participate in the magical Spectaculore competition. Judging the competition is fallen magician Demarco, who Kallia wants to know better. Yet, secrets lie in his past, and as the competition continues and Kallia seeks to prove herself, magicians go missing. Is Kallia next? Will she win the competition? What secrets haunt the shadows of this magical world?

This is a fun first duology debut novel by Janella Angeles that exudes familiarity and mystery. The characters are all strong in their own way, the mystery is engaging, and there are side characters that add even more to the story. I do feel like the pace was sometimes slower than it should have been, and I would have liked a bit more background on some of the characters, though I expect that in the next novel of the duology the buildup and mysteries might resolve themselves. Overall, this is a promising debut that mixes danger and mystery in interesting ways while building to a crescendo that promises to finish its cliffhanger note in the next installment. This story might warm most the hearts of those who enjoy other magical circus titles, or who enjoy mystery, magic, danger, and romance swirled together like a Neapolitan ice cream sundae.

3.5 ⭐

There’s no doubt that 'Where Dreams Descend' is inspired by both Moulin Rouge and The Phantom of the Opera, but this book stands on its own two feet.

With most debuts, I find that it’s always hard to get acquainted with the world the author is trying to build for the reader. 'Where Dreams Descend' was no different. Although the book begins with a lot of dark intrigue, the story didn’t grab my full attention until I was about a quarter into the book, and that’s where it began to bloom.

Jack is the mysterious owner of a club that is hidden deep in the woods where people flock to drown their sorrows in drink and catch a glimpse of Jack’s star showgirl, Kallia. On the surface, Jack seems content with the life he lives, but for Kallia, it’s a different story. Kallia dreams of using her magic for more than just her showgirl shows at the club. With absolutely nothing left to lose Kallia decides to leave Jack and the club behind for the magical city, Glorian.

Kallia and Jack’s relationship is intense and complicated. It’s hard to get a clear read on who (or what) Jack exactly is. Even after finishing the book, I’ll admit that I still have no real clue what his true purpose will be in this series. I both love and hate this.

As for Kallia, she is an absolute gem. Her character is intimidating at first but I love everything she stands for. She’s confident and isn’t afraid to let others know that she knows she’s the best magician. She doesn’t let obstacles get in the way of her big dreams.

Once she’s in Glorian, the story picks up its pace and becomes more interesting. Glorian is a dead town in the middle of nowhere, but readers will find out that it holds a lot of secrets. Kallia is there for one reason only, and that is to enter the grand magician’s show, Spectaculore.

More characters are introduced as Kallia begins to navigate her way through the competition. They’re diverse and fun in their own way and I enjoyed all of them! The most important amongst them is the brooding young judge, Demarco, who immediately butts heads with Kallia.

The two of them are the center of this series. Where Kallia is a burst of bright colors, Demarco is simple. He likes his solitude after once being a magician and now has no dreams of ever stepping onto the stage again.

As Spectaculore takes over the town of Glorian there are mysterious things happening within the competition. The mystery and intrigue throughout the story was a happy surprise! It added more depth to both the characters and the world.

I had high expectations for this book. I’ve followed Janella Angeles for a while and I’ve been patiently waiting for her debut. I’m so happy that 'Where Dreams Descend' delivered and more. Angeles’ writing is descriptive and captivating. I felt like I was right inside of this world with each word.

I applaud her for tackling current issues set within a fantasy story, too. Kallia and the other women characters are constantly being told they belong in the background, but none of them stand for that. They are all fighting for their rightful place on the stage.

Overall, 'Where Dreams Descend' is a dazzling debut and perfectly sets up the sequel (there is a major cliff-hanger so beware). The only downfall to the story is how I wish the magic was explained a bit more instead of having readers guess how the entire magic system works.

If you’re a fan of fantasy stories or mysteries then this book is for you! Janella Angeles seamlessly weaves both of these genres together to tell a fantastic story.

Magic, politics, and secrets are the key aspects of Where Dreams Descend. The novel has a solid and unique story, though some of the writing could have been better.

Kallia is the star of a club tucked away in a cursed woods. Kallia dreams of more of the nearby city and what fame she might find there. The club's master won't let her go but she sneaks away to enter a contest for magicians. When she gets to the city she sees how different the rest of the world is and finds this world a hard world for female magicians. But more sinister magic lurks here and Kallia must fight more than sexism as the competition become more and more dangerous.

The story is intriguing and would be a good story for those who love Amanda Foody's The Shadow Game series. There were echoes of themes and stories, though each has their unique stories. Dreams pull you in just as much even though about half the writing isn't on par with the series.

Looking at Dreams on its own, I hate to write bad things about it. Janella Angeles creates an interesting world and magic system is interesting and while not all questions about it were answered, it was different enough from the books to treat something unique while mixing in sociology-political aspects into it.
But there are two major flaws. The first issue drags down the story. The main characters keep secrets and there are pages and pages of “no I can't tell you”. The first o the might be a plot point but recycled and reused over and over gets boring and drags the pacing. The other issue is the ending.

This is the first book in the Kingdom of Cards duology. Angeles falls into the cliché cliff hanger ending to force you to read the next book. This brings us to the second issue with the book: it doesn't stand on its own with a completed story. Readers aren't left with any answers. Typically, series will answer questions and then leave some for the next book subtly pushing you to want to read the next book. Dreams end like the typical book in a series having not truly explained the world and what is actually going on at all.

Do I want to read the sequel? Yes. I care too much about the charters at this point to give up just because I feel forced into the next novel. I want more of the world and want to know what is actually going on. In that regard, the ending success pushing you to the next novel. I just wish it had been more subtle with a true ending for this novel. I also hope, that in the second novel, the writer will waste less time repeating the same ominous warnings and receptive talk about secrets without yielding any answers. That would greatly improve my experience as a reader.

Where Dreams Descend is an inciting story with some writing flaws that drag it down. I give it 3.5 stars.

I had high hopes for this book because let’s face it…who couldn’t use a little bit of magic in their lives right now? While the premise was intriguing and the blurb drew me in, I found the whole book overall kind of confusing. Set in a magical world, it was never quite clear to me if it is total fantasy or a side location to the real world. People were “normal” but also magical, there were strange connections between the characters, and there was a whole lot of drama. It wasn’t plot drama per se, but personal drama and angst. But I never got a good grip on the characters to understand why they were so emotional with each other. I’m all for fantasy and magic stories, but this one, unfortunately, did not do it for me. Other readers may have a different experience and come out with a completely different perspective, so I would still say if fantasy is your thing, give it a try. This review was written based on a digital ARC of the book.

3.5, rounded up. This is a gorgeous book with lush descriptions and gothic themes and sensibilities, filled with magic and nefarious schemes. I adored Kallia, the showgirl-turned-magician, and the way she constantly surprises the dubious men in the town with her power. I also think Angeles does an excellent job fleshing out (some of) her side characters; I especially loved the mischievous Aaros and his friendship with Kallia--in fact, I could have used more of him and the cantankerous seamstress (whose name escapes me...).

Conversely, the love interests (Jack and Daron) had confusing motives, and their personality traits seemed a bit inconsistent. The pacing was also somewhat inconsistent, moving along slowly and then releasing several important plot points at once in such a way that I had to go back and reread parts.

Nonetheless, I am excited to read the sequel (or, at least, I hope there's a sequel; that was one heck of a cliffhanger...)

What do you get when you throw together a talented orphan with a mysterious past, a master magician who tells more fictions than truths, a renowned performer who walked away from the stage, and a competition that could change it all? What you get is a darkly beautiful and terrifically theatrical adventure that will keep you wondering why you bought that reading chair because you’re only using about four inches of the seat.

This book is magic.

No, seriously. This book is absolute magic.

I was spell bound from the opening scenes and enraptured through to the very last page. Packed full with larger-than-life characters and set in an imaginative world of magic and mysteries I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Beyond the lyrical prose and evocative descriptions that had me dreaming in Bob Mackie meets Cirque du Soleil, I was completely mesmerized by the world that Angeles created. There’s structure, there’s nuance, and there’s a sense of collective memory that unifies the disparate POVs into a cohesive and enchanting read. To top it all off, the magic system presented is not only deliciously original – but the use of it comes at a heavy price. The ways in which this plays out are complex and varied, and the ambiguity surrounding as to what’s the price of power as opposed to a bigger trick at play will have you guessing right up to the cliff-hanger of an ending.

I adored the cunning and caustic Kallia, and simply can’t wait to see more come book number two. She’s witty, she’s sharp, and she’s not afraid to chase what she wants no matter the cost or the societal norms standing in her way. If you’re looking for a damsel in distress this is not your book. However, if your looking for determined female protagonist who is a balanced blend between drive and femininity, as well as power and vulnerability, then this might just be the one for you.

Unabashedly powerful and unflinchingly feminist this was the fantasy read I needed to cap off the summer. It’s fun, it’s dark, and it’s crafted so infuriatingly well that it gives almost nothing way.

I love coming across new fantasy, especially fantasy that is so luscious and so different from everything else hitting the shelves that you can’t help but get wrapped up in the story in the most delectable way. Where Dreams Descend is that book. It’s sumptuous, rich, and exquisitely magical.

The perfect blend between enchantment, imagination, and thrilling mystery, this stunning debut will keep you tearing through the pages from first to last. If you’re in the mood for haunting beauty, marvellous magicians, and a distinct theatricality that will take your breath away, then I can’t recommend Where Dreams Descends highly enough. It’s spectacular!

I really like books about competitions, such as the wonderful Caraval, by Stephanie Garber. Where Dreams Descend, by Janella Angeles, has a similar world of magic and danger, but with more female empowerment. This was a book filled with wonderful world-building, characters, and an exciting story. I loved it.

What I Liked:

World-Building:

I loved the magical, kind of Victorian, feel to this world. Some people are magicians. But men are allowed to become stage magicians (and become rich and famous), while women can only use magic for practical purposes such as helping in factories and other laborious tasks. Women who perform magic are considered wanton, and indecent.

Kallia is able to be a performing magician in a nightclub. But she must wear a mask, and she is never known as herself. She longs for recognition, and a career on stage as a headliner.

There are also cursed, mysterious cities, haunted woods, magical satchels, and a circus of female performers. This creates a mood of decadence, contrasting with prim manners and rigid rules.

Characters:

I loved Kallia. She is fierce and determined, and (mostly) doesn't care what people think of her. She is a provocateur. But I mostly loved that she really just wanted to have the ability to make her own choices.

Jack is The Master. He is the owner of the club who tightly controls Kallia's life. While he, at times, seems to care for Kallia, his mind games are a kind of domestic abuse. Kallia is both afraid of Jack, and drawn to him.

DeMarco is the magician she meets during the magical competition. He is hiding a secret, so even though he is wildly attracted to Kallia, he doesn't want to get too close to her. He can't risk her uncovering his skeletons. I loved how jaded he was about fame, and how one could tell he ached for Kallia.


Side Characters:

I also really liked the many supporting characters, especially Aaros (Kallia's assistant) and Canary (the unofficial leader of the Circus). Both of these characters are underappreciated by most. Aaros, the handsome thief, is also fiercely loyal to Kallia. Without asking, he is not only her assistant, but also her bodyguard, and confidant. Canary is a natural-born leader and instantly sees in Kallia that she is a fellow performer. Once Kallia has earned Canary's respect, you can tell they will form a life-long friendship.

Story:

This is a story about magic, performers, and the limits we put on ourselves (or others). Kallia has had so many limits on her freedoms that she can hardly know if she can trust her own judgement. While not explicitly saying so, her relationship with Jack is abusive. She has to learn that her ambitions and instincts are legitimate. For DeMarco, he needs to end the overwhelming guilt he feels about the possible demise of his assistant, and also learn to trust himself and his judgement.


This is also a story about a magical competition, and who doesn't like that! The players, aside from Kallia, are all men. They feel threatened by Kallia and do their upmost to push her out of the competition. It is so satisfying to read how Kallia puts them in their places.

What I Was Mixed About:

Ending:

While I understood that a cliff-hanger was inevitable, I didn't feel that there was enough resolution with this ending. Many questions that I thought would be answered were not. Was Jack the bad guy, or not? If not, who was the real puppet-master? What was Demarco's actual role? Several questions were asked right at the end, but (frustratingly) there were zero answers. I wish at least a few plot points would have been resolved.

I really think I read a different book than everyone else because ... this was not it. 3

I think maybe I just don't like books involving circuses because all 3 that I've ever read, I hated them so ... circus plots ... it is time for us to never see each other again ...

But anyways, this is about a fire magician Kallia, who wants to be apart of this circus so bad. She basically is held captive at a little school I think, and her master, Jack is a douche and won't let her leave. She escapes of course and then makes it to the Circus and it's really not what she expected, she meets this mysterious dude with a shady past who she really falls for. While Kallia is learning the way's of the Circus, Jack keeps haunting her, he has creepy dark magic and won't leave her alone. And that's basically all that happens for about 500 pages.

I for one, didn't like the romance and the plot and I even forgot the MC's name like 5 times because her name would pop on the page and I was like ... uhm whom tf is this? In real life, love the circus but in books, we just don't click. SO yeah, if you're a Night Circus Girlie, you'll definitely love this but this is where my dream to love Circus Themed Books, ends.

3.5

There was a lot to love in this book, but also some issues I can’t look past. Overall it was a solid debut. I can definitely see why it’s going to be featured in book boxes, with its circus vibes, captivating plot, intriguing love interests, and magic that is sometimes beautiful and sometimes dark.

One of the positives I had was the writing. I read some reviews that complained that the writing was at times too long winded and flowery, but I thought it fit the vibe well. The author certainly has talent.

The plot was also really interesting. The story held my attention for the most part through the entire book. I really enjoy the “competition” trope. This book is also being marketed as a cross between Moulin Rouge and Phantom of the Opera. I love both of those, so I was particularly excited about that.

The vibe in generally is another thing I loved. The dark circus was really interesting. And the dark and twisty-ness of the story was great.

Those are really my big three pros. There were a lot of things, though, that did not make this a great read for me. I usually judge my reads (fantasy in particular) on five categories: writing, plot, characters, world-building, and magic. The writing was solid, in my opinion, but the other categories fell short of perfect.

The plot, while interesting, was a little too mysterious. All the characters (plus the town) had mysterious backstories, on top of the “phantom-esque” mystery of bad things happening to the show. And like nothing was answered by the end of the book. I was left with even more questions. A lot of this book felt like setup for the sequel. I felt like at least a couple things could have been cleared up just a teensy bit before the end, but nope. We’re left with a major cliffhanger.

Also on the topic of plot, the Moulin Rouge and Phantom references, at times, felt a little heavy handed. Like I said, I love both of them, but still. It was a little much for me. Like the magic show was called “Spectaculore.” And there were A LOT of references to specific lyrics from the shows (phantom especially, that I noticed).

As for characters, the three main characters were fairly interesting and well-thought out. Kallia, the main character, is a showgirl (think Satine with a little bit of Christine). She’s flawed and ambitious and great, for the most part. Biggest downside to her is that she is this strong woman and amazing magician that no other woman can compare to. I don’t know, it was just kind of weird. Jack, her teacher/captor/whatever the hell their relationship is, was also really intriguing as an antagonist of sorts, just without enough information to really love him. And Demarco, a judge for the show and her love interest, was mysterious and interesting, generally likable. The biggest flaws that I saw with them is like I mentioned with Jack. There just wasn’t quite enough there.

With the side characters, too. It was honestly super frustrating. The story focuses on Kallia, Demarco, and Jack and all the side characters are just kind of there? Aaros felt like he could be really important and what screentime he got, I really enjoyed. Everyone else faded into the shadows except when it was convenient. Also, for this being a competition story, I know absolutely nothing about Kallia’s other competitors. Like I barely remember any of their names. They did not play a part whatsoever. The other judges were sometimes like Andre and Firmin from phantom, but the rest of the cast basically played zero part. Even with just a large cast, I wouldn’t have expected the focus to solely be on three people.

The world-building. Okay. So this was actually really disappointing. At the beginning, we get hints at this being a really interesting and complicated world. And then we see none of that as the story continues. I won’t name everything of course, but there was just a severe lack of history and culture and just everything a world really needs. Beyond just hints at it. It seems wonderful, but I wouldn’t actually know because it’s not there.

Same for the magic. Just severely under-developed. Magic seemed to be used for flashy displays and scary moments. There was at least some sort of cost (Kallia would be exhausted after using it), but other than that, there really weren’t rules or anything concrete about it. It felt like a convenient tool.

Overall, I still did enjoy this, don’t get me wrong. And I think a lot of people will love it (like Caravel—another circus-y book that people loved and I thought fell flat of expectations and was underdeveloped), but it’s just not a favorite of mine. Still a solid debut, though, and I am excited to see where the author goes from here. I’ll still read the sequel to, if only to have all the damn questions answered.

There's definitely a lot that's interesting, but I just don't feel like there's enough. I would've liked a little more exploration of the world and magic system. I don't feel like we got a lot about the culture beyond the sexism. I found myself wondering if it was supposed to be akin to our modern society, or is it fashioned off of Victorian England like most fantasy? What's the setting like? How is magic passed down, how is it 'acquired'? None of these questions really seem to be answered, nor does any of the other major plot points regarding Jack, Kallia, the mirrors, and it was slightly frustrating. It didn't really help that the focus of the book, the performance and action sequences, don't really feel like they translate well onto the page; they were a bit bland, difficult to follow, and not exactly relaying a magical feel. The story just feels wholly incomplete. With a slight improvement to pacing and a little more offered about the world, it still wouldn't be my favorite thing since I don't really find the characters or romance compelling, but it would've been a little more enjoyable.

“There were some problems too unsolvable for magic. Or maybe that’s what they wanted everyone to think, to keep them asking such questions in the first place? Well it certainly can explain how a city with a way in suddenly has no way out”. This quote accurately pulls up a small tidbit of what happens in Where Dreams Descend. A magical city that houses magic but is impossible to find, but suddenly is when a magical competition for magicians (mostly male) is announced. A contract that must be signed that can not be voided. A lovely female magician who sweeps the stage but is shunned because a female can not perform magic. This tale has many twists and turns and they are all hidden in this city. Our female magician has a past that is intertwined with a mysterious character named Jack. She forms a romantic relationship with her mentor who also has a mysterious past that are teased out right at the very moments before the final performance of the competition. The ending is a show stopper and will leave you breathless trying to find the rest of the story that is not their. Open the pages of where A Dreams Descend if you dare especially if you liked The Crowns Game and Caraval series.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book!

Unfortunately, I didn't love it. For much of the book, I kept wondering, "where is this going?" and that question was really never answered, since it ended on a complete cliffhanger. I really hate it when a book doesn't have a relatively self-contained story of its own. I don't mind if it's setting up for a sequel and there are certain details that aren't resolved, but in this case, the main plot wasn't even resolved at all, and there were more questions than answers by the end of the book. I also don't love all-powerful characters, as Kallia seems to be. She is able to do all sorts of magic with a snap of her fingers, and while she does get fatigued from it sometimes, there seems to be really no limit to her power and no parameters that it follows. Of course, it's hard to figure out a magic system in a book where none of the questions are answered, so perhaps there are some limitations to her power that will become apparent in the next book. However, there wasn't enough her to make me want to read another book in the series, since the characters were not particularly interesting and I felt like they all fell into some very basic tropes. I would not recommend this book.