I loved the world and the magic in this novel! The characters and the plot were fantastic. My only criticism is that I would have liked a little more detail at the end to understand the lore of Glorian. Highly recommend!

Where Dreams Descend started off really strong with the lush, decadent writing style and compelling characters but slowly went downhill as the story progressed, unfortunately.

I found the plot to be slow paced and, to be quite frank, boring. Most of this book felt like exposition, like it was setting up for something grand and spectacular. It was almost like this book was the first half of a larger epic novel, actually. I would say the action doesn't really take off until page 300, but by then I was too bored out of my mind to care. When things started to get really good and exciting the book just ended, which annoyed me.

I loved the writing and the characters, but ultimately this book just flopped plotwise. The author kept me as a reader in the dark too long for my tastes. I would have liked this story better if we had more information before the final 80 pages of the book.

In short, too much set up for the next book and not enough interesting plot points for my tastes.

To be honest it has been a long time since a book frustrated me this much. The main way I can sum up my feelings to this mash of magic and nonsense is that it's a waste of potential. The magical tournament is boring, the story framing the contenst is chaotic and confusing, characters’ actions/motivations make no sense. I love the idea behind it but trying to be Moulin Rouge x Phantom and failing is a bad look.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book.. I was so excited to dive into it.. However, Sadly I did not love the book.. I mean Mystery, Magic, Love and New Friendships how could you not love this book? I just felt like the book was lacking something and it just ended and kind of left you feeling lost.. Recommend? Yes if you are looking for something that is easy to follow and fast paced.. ~Happy Reading~

I wanted to love this book as soon as I heard it was Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge combo but unfortunately it was a miss for me. The book was just meh. Didn’t pack of a punch. Not sure if I would continue the series.

Leaving reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.

I had several problems with this book, but overall it was pretty good for a debut novel. The author was influenced by Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge, but she made the motifs her own, very original. I don’t usually like circus themed books but this one had beautiful imagery and magic acts (without animals which was great), so I enjoyed imagining the setting.

Problems I had with the book:
The first third of the book moved at a slow clip so it was a bit hard to push through that. Kallia was too cocky and rude- I know she’s supposed to be a feminist fighting for a spot in a men-only competition, but there’s confidence and them there’s rudeness. I really enjoyed her friendship with Aaros but found the inception to be completely unbelievable- he’s trying to steal from her and bam! they instantly become besties? No. Then there’s the magic system. There are two types of magic users- born and acquired (for people who actually have magic). But it’s never explained where the magic comes from or how it can be acquired/ cost/ process. The town is remote/ forgotten, but it’s never explained why (though I admit this explanation is probably being left for book 2). The character descriptions are so bland (many don’t even have names) even for main characters, we don’t know what they look like besides that Kallia has brown skin, long dark hair and likes to wear red, that it’s very hard to imagine the characters, I couldn’t really develop my internal “movie” I normally get from reading a book. Kallia is in a huge sought after competition but we never see any of the other competitors’ acts, we just have to take it at face value that Kallia is the best, there’s no comparison. Jack is my favorite character (I don’t know why I mostly go for the dark and brooding, lol) but we don’t really get any background info on him, or how he ended up with Kallia (or her background for that matter). And lastly, Kallia is a major jerk (for lack of a better word) to Demarco time and time again, but he still likes her? Highly unlikely.

I was so looking forward to this book but ended up DNFing it at 38%. I just couldn't get into the world or bring myself to care about the characters. It wasn't that it was boring or badly written, I just felt like something was missing. I think if there was more world building and a bit more explanation of the world and rules of magic, I may have stuck it out. The plot itself was interesting, there just wasn't enough for me to want to keep reading to find out what happens next

This book hands down has such strong world building that captured me from page 1. I thought the world so compelling and as theater major and lovers of musicals this world screamed Moulin Rouge and Phantom of the Opera. I loved the setting of this book and also the focused on a magic competition. I also liked the various POV that this book was broken down into and how these POV were so different but def. helped expand that world in various ways. I really loved the magic system and world building was the stand out. I think the pacing of this book could have been a bit tighter at points and I felt like the ending was rushed and the middle was not as tight. But I have become super invested in the characters and the world and am so excited for book 2!. If you like books like the night circus or Evermore.. This book might be right up your alley!

I don’t have very strong feelings on this book. The premise, Phantom of the Opera meets Moulin Rouge, initially enticed me and made me very excited to pick the book up, however once I started reading I only felt meh about it all. While the descriptions of settings and sights were beautiful, I felt they were very far removed and didn’t build much atmosphere. Plotwise, I also felt this book plateaued early, and it never felt like the stakes were raised much, unfortunately. I still haven’t decided if I will read the next book in the series.

I loved Where Dreams Descend, and I am eagerly awaiting the second book! Having beautiful covers doesn't hurt either! This one was well thought out, had a fantastic and magical world that I was entranced with, and the characters made the story fun and unique!

I could not get through this one. I kept putting it down did not end up finishing it. I think the premise was cool and while I might have loved this kind of book a few years ago, It's just not for me.

Magical and fun. The characters were for the most part well developed. I loved the setting and while I was confused sometimes I feel they was intentional. I cannot wait for the next book

Janelle is a debut author to watch. She delivered such a good history and honest characters. It's wonderful!

when I first heard about this book I was intrigued and excited to read it. The concept and storyline was right up my alley so getting the approval for the book review was great. When I first started to get into the book I have to admit the first two chapters really captured my attention but then it dragged and got a bit slow. The chapters were packed with details that to me were dragging down the story itself. However, I kept with the book and I am glad I did. The first book of this duology was a fascinating read. The story features a show magician Kallia who works at an secret club performing tricks for the guests there as she is trained and guided by her Boss and mentor, Jack. However, despite everything she is given, Kallia searches and yearns for something more. One night she finds her 'something more' when she realizes there is a contest for magicians to perform at Glorian. Despite Jack's comments that she will find nothing in the city of her and it will be a terrible mistake, Kallia escapes to carve her own path.

Kallia when she enters the city of Glorian befriends a pickpocket who becomes her assistant for the magician's competition in Glorian. Kallia tricks the judges to make them believe her assistant is the true magician and then reveals it is her. Given the mayor of the city and the judges want to have more attention drawn to their city, they agree to let her perform and compete. even though women are typically allowed to perform.

During the events of the competition, Kallia runs into quite a few interesting characters including one that later becomes a love interest for her despite her unwillingness to befriend or care for him. The other noticeable side characters are the Conquering Circus, who to be honest with you I found almost more intriguing than the main characters! Of course not all is as it seems in Glorian and Jack's warnings hold true when magicians in the competition start to disappear and everyone in Glorian becomes trapped in the city.

The book spins to a crashing cliffhanger that results in Jack's return to Glorian, an unforeseen revelation, and so much more that leaves the reader hanging. I guess you will just have to read Where Dreams Descend for yourself to find out what happens..

When I heard that Where Dreams Descend was being pitched as a gothic circus fantasy romance, I was intrigued. Then I saw the cover and I swear I gasped. The cover blurb from Claire Legrand says it's perfect for fans of Caraval and The Night Circus and while that is absolutely true, I got some pretty strong Phantom of the Opera vibes as well.

Kallia has grown into young adulthood at The Hellfire Club, performing and learning under the tutelage of Jack, The Master. Their relationship is clearly unhealthy, but there's something darkly seductive about it. If you consider Jack and The Phantom, they're both possessive, physically menacing and determined to teach the heroine to be the best at her art. But when Kallia escapes to the nearby city through the woods to enter a competition for magicians, she realizes that Jack may not be the biggest evil in her life.

The magic system is a little confusing at first, but eventually I just went with it. There are elements reminiscent of the tarot-esque system in Caraval, but with four suits representing the four families who founded the city. We never see those families and the city seems to have no collective history or memories. Angeles plays with the idea of memory in a few different ways, but it's rather spoilery to get into.

I really enjoyed the romance in Where Dreams Descend, and this is where the second parallel to The Phantom of the Opera comes in. In opposition to the dark/obsessive romance with Jack is the sweeter, seemingly healthier relationship Kallia develops with Demarco. I loved them together.

Here we come to the third similarity: the threat of imminent doom. As the competition continues, people go missing, show up in a magical coma, or worse. The stakes get higher, threats appear from every side and a bigger, unknowable danger lurks in every mirror.

Where Dreams Descend had me totally hooked. The audiobook is narrated by three different narrators and I thought they did a great job capturing the different POV characters and building the suspenseful atmosphere.

My biggest complaint is that I got to that cliffhanger ending and wanted the sequel immediately... and I have to wait another 8 months. If you're a fan of Caraval, The Night Circus, circus or magician stories, or The Phantom of the Opera, I think this is worth a read.

***

Content Warnings: people are disappeared, removal of eyes/blinding during assault, magical coma, misogyny, forced removal of memories, abusive/controlling relationship

I received a digital copy of this book for review but purchased and read my own audio copy.

This book is perfect for fans of The Night Circus and Caravel. It has a mysterious vibe that continues through the whole story and leaves readers wanting to know more. The book is over all dark and brooding, which I really liked. I'm excited to see how the next one turns out and how the story will continue.

The book was very lyrical and beautifully wrote; however, I had a really hard time getting into this novel. It took me an extended time to finish as I just did not want to pick it up. However, I think a majority of people will like this novel - just was not for me.

I really thought this book sounded like a good one. A magical competition with a circus setting? Yes, please. However, it just really fell flat. Even though things were happening, performers disappearing or being injured, angsty drama between characters, I felt disjointed. I never really cared about any of the characters or their futures. This book left me with wanting so much more. I might pick up the next book but it's a big might.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for my audio copy.

Like a dream played at the crack of dawn where a hopeful sunrise is awaited but the night still lingers, Where Dreams Descend is a beautiful quilt sprawled in a cold winter, hiding thorns in the softness, and jerking one awake from their dream of freedom to find walls standing tall around them.

Reigning through a confident, magically overpowered, and an extremely talented woman—Kallia—who believes herself to be more than a mesmerizing dancer, and longingly looks at the city across a forest she has been warned to stay away from, this tale instantly makes one hopeful. And bestriding two men: an enigmatic keeper of the club where Kallia is a showgirl—Jack—and a brooding magician who is judging the competitive magical contest Kallia participates in to prove herself—Demarco—this tale makes one anxiously anticipate the complexity connecting these three characters.

Jack's lies coated in hypnotizing truths and Demarco's dark past are key propellers in this risk of illusions, mirrors, fame, and fire. Mingled with Kallia's strong headed persona determined to win the coveted spot among other young magicians, but often pulled back by the naivety of remembering her former home's long lost comfort, occasionally estranged by the perfidy of someone close, and forced to raise emotional barriers in the name of surviving against anything dangerous—but mostly heartbreak—Where Dreams Descend delivers allure and power through skillful writing and stunning imagery.

Equally thriving on a romantic tension filled with quick glances, unwarranted support, and yearning around an air of mystery, this debut strongly wraps instances and sequences as sharp as a shard of broken mirror in a delightful tenderness that only magic can perpetuate, and even shines through a themes of rebelling against a controlled environment, smashing sexism, and proving the true affinity in oneself.

An absolute favorite.

I definitely enjoyed this book but felt as though it was holding itself back.
Through reading this book, it almost seemed like the author was torn between a teen novel and a young adult - afraid of how far to push that line. I definitely think it would have benefited from additional world-building and a heavier lean into the dark broodiness of the theme.
I'm looking forward to the next one but hope that Janella delves even deeper into her characters and the beautiful world that she has started.