~ Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for this release and sending me an early copy in exchange for an honest review ~

DNF @ 74%

I'm so sad that I didn't love this one. I really, really wanted to. Since I heard the synopsis, I'd been dying to get my hands on a copy, and when I was approved for an ARC I was elated! And then, when it showed up in my OwlCrate in this gorgeous edition, I thought it was meant to be. Clearly, that was not the case.

This book didn't work for me for a lot of reasons, but it wasn't an entirely negative experience. While I realized that the positives weren't enough to get me to want to continue, they should still be recognized.

Pros
- Aaros is a KING and was legitimately the only character I liked and felt like could possibly be a real human being, which is funny considering he's a side character, but oh well
- one of the pros is the "prose" ha! but really, the writing in here when it came to description was solid (the dialogue on the other hand... we'll come back to that)
- the beginning setting of this book was so cool. I loved the greenhouse and the dance studio aspect, the mirrors breaking, and Jack in general. However, Kallia quickly leaves to a new location and set of events, which I found to be... lacking

Cons
- the dialogue. I feel kind of bad saying this, but the dialogue and the way in which characters interact in this book is so cringeworthy it really ruined any hopes of me enjoying most scenes. I could feel the author trying to appeal to a certain audience, and unfortunately I feel like that audience was Wattpad readers (no shade to Wattpad readers, but that's really not the vibe I'm trying to find in the books I read) [the one that literally made me decide to stop reading this book is when a judge suggestively asks what Daron and Kallia had been doing alone together and THIS is what happens in response: "Without a word, he neared Judge Bouquet, calmly and sure-footed, as though he were walking up to shake his hand. The judge barely had enough time to wipe his sneer off before Demarco's fist cracked against the old man's jaw, sending him to the floor." IM SORRY WHAT NOW? Is that not the most random Wattpad-y response you have ever seen?? Also, don't forget the scene just continues like that didn't just happen after that! So fun! So realistic and normal!]
- the pacing is so incredibly slow my god. The plot is very, very simple, which can work in some cases, but here... no. Nothing new started happening in the book until literally ¾ of the way through

And now, drumroll please............

The Worst Offense:
The Infuriating Repetition!

I cannot TELL you how many times I was told that Demarco (aka Daron- why does he have two names??) was struck by his past. Over half of this book is repetitive scenes used to get Demarco to have a negative reaction to magic because of the accident in the past. I got 74% of the way through this book and STILL have never been shown what that is. It's quite hard to literally care at all about his random magic aversion when it's shoved down our throats BUT ONLY THROUGH SHEER TELLING AND LITERALLY ZERO SHOWING. After like the fifth incident of this I no longer had any hope of ever being able to stand him.

The same kind of applies to Kallia sadly... but to a lesser extent. Of course being a female magician in this male dominated field is very hard and unfair and I genuinely like the idea of exploring that in this book. However, the way it was handled here... boy oh boy was it not what I was hoping for. Kallia takes it to an extent of assuming any and all males are constantly intimidated by and/or are attracted to her. There is not one moment where she doesn't think the world revolves around her. I truly do wish I could have resonated with her more, because I get the struggle she would feel in this world, but the way she handles it WOW I could not stand it.

Overall, I'm really disappointed with what happened here. If you want to read this story but without the insufferable nature that I personally found within it, definitely check out Caraval by Stephanie Garber.

I judge a book a lot on... the first chapter. The first chapter of "Where Dreams Descend" takes place in a magical nightclub. A chandelier comes down with a magical, sexy showgirl (the main character). I immediately thought of the opening with the chandelier in "The Phantom of the Opera." The entrance of the showgirl on the chandelier is reminiscent of Nicole Kidman in "Moulin Rouge"...and then I looked the book up again and realized.. oh, so that's what this is.THAT being said, if you like these two comparisons, you will love the introduction of "Where Dreams Descend."

I found the beginning of "Where Dreams Descend" to be slow. The main character, Kallia, is a magician that wants to be taken seriously but is stuck living with the Phantom, ahem, I mean Jack. He teaches her magic and tells her that the world outside the club is awful.

Kallia gets sick of being quarantined and leaves--- and then the book gets interesting. Although this is just the intro and doesn't give away spoilers (and I guess she isn't REALLY quarantined... that's just me pretending to be Kallia haha), it took me quite a bit of time to get through it. The world building was verbose and although it has a "magical" setting, it was also too much wordage at times.
As much as I loved parts of the book, I had a big problem with Jack (the teacher that is comparable to the "Phantom"). He is annoyingly mysterious and can't answer questions in a direct way. It may be that as an adult, I read his adult character and want him to act like an adult... and not a hormonal teenager.

My second issue was with the ending. I understand that there is a book two- but this was a very intense cliffhanger and I feel that is unfair to the readers. As the reader, I have been with Kallia and company for the whole book and deserve a better ending. I know I will tune in for book two, but still- I don't appreciate cliffhangers that define the whole book.

I don't mean for my book review to be too critical- there were parts of the book that were fun to read. There is a beautiful circus and a beautiful (I mean this literally) cast of characters. I can see many people enjoying the sexy, <i>enchanting</i> quality of this book.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an interesting idea and started out well, but could have been better as far as how the story progressed and the interactions of the characters. The book would have done well with more world building and descriptions of places/times. It was a good idea, but the plot became a bit predictable as the novel went on.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC to review.
I feel like I’m on a reading rut after reading this book.
Boring over-done love triangle check.
Only one female character is “special” check
Other women are jealous of the “special magical heroine” check
Cliffhanger check
This book did not grab my attention at all. I happened to receive this book in my June Owlcrate box but I gave it away since I couldn’t stand it at all.

This book was truly amazing! The amount of longing and imagery the author was able to impart was truly astounding of a debut. The Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge vibes were unparalleled.

Thank you so much for the ability to read the ARC of "Where Dreams Descend"!!! I was excited for this book from the moment I heard about it! It is creatively written and will definitely satisfy fans of Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge, especially if you can identify the Easter eggs throughout the book!!! I really enjoyed the characters and their development throughout the book. I am looking forward to re-reading "Where Dreams Descend" when it officially comes out!!!

I was so looking forward to reading this book and was so happy when I was able to get an ARC, but this book fell so flat for me.
First off, the way it started was so confusing. You have no context, no idea what is going on or how it relates to anything. This theme continues throughout the books. You are given no idea how anything works or how it is connected to anything or what it means. You need context! You need the history of the town, you need I formation about why Demarco is in Gloria. You literally don’t get this until 88% of the book and it’s a hard slog without it.
This book had so much promise but delivered on absolutely none of it.

I was given a free eArc of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Can we talk about this book for just a minute? Where Dreams Descend has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I have been anxiously awaiting the release. This book is so beautifully written. The story is engaging, the characters are fully fleshed out and the world building.... the world building is so fantastic, I felt like I was transported right into the story. The plot was absolutely intriguing and it sucks you right in and you don't want to put the book down. Highly recommended!!! 5 stars!

Kallia has broken free from Jack and the life of performing at Hellfire House to enter a contest for the Conquering Circus. She almost doesn’t make it, being a female in a male-driven world and competition. Thankfully, Daron Demarco sees something in her. And thus begins the tale which is riddled with disasters from the very start.

When I requested this to review from St. Martin’s, I didn’t know this was a book 1, which was a bit disappointing when I got to the end with no resolution. I’m not a fan of cliffhangers, but I will be anxiously awaiting book 2 because I feel like we had just gotten into some very important things. Also, I’ve been chasing the high of The Night Circus since I read it last year, and it’s not quite. That isn’t to say anything negative about this book, I just don’t feel it’s a fair comparison.

I can’t quite tell if Jack is being a jerk because there’s something we don’t know that spells doom for Kallia, and we haven’t gotten to it because this story isn’t finished. Or if he is being a jerk because he is jealous that Kallia is spending time with someone else. I didn’t love his constant meddling, but if he’s doing it for reasons other than jealousy, then I can see reason. I will have to hold out judgment on him. I adore Aaros as her assistant and friend. I want to see more of him, and I want more in life for him. He understands her perfectly, and I see a lifelong friendship with those two. I love Demarco, and I want to see where things with him can go for Kallia. And I really liked the reporter, Lottie. She could have a book all her own, and I would read it the day it released.

This book is highly character-driven, but mostly with just the main characters, as the other magicians in the competition are just there. We were given Kallia’s performances, and that was it. And while they were magical, and we are supposed to *know* she is the best one here, it would have been fun to “watch” the other performers, even in their giant-flop-glory. I feel that sometimes we had too much fluff, things that seemed repetitive, and didn’t move the story forward. Then other times, we were at a place without really knowing how we got there. There wasn’t a balance.

I think there is promise in the series, and I think as new books are released, the writing will become fine-tuned, and readers will get more out of the series. This was a fun read, I liked that when she was on stage, Kallia was the badass she promised she was. It’s nice seeing a female take stage in this male-driven world where magic can make things happen, and I want more of it.

Having not read Various other books based around a similar theme (The Night Circus and Carnival) I was eager to start reading. This debut author manages to provided characters which draw you in and the detail and world building is captivating . A real page turner ...I am looking forward to seeing what this author produces next .

Where Dreams Descend is a fantasy novel by Janella Angeles that follows Kallia through a new amazing series called Kingdom of Cards. Magic is something that everyone that can uses does for their own personal gain and for the entertainment of those around them. Though in this world woman magician or someone with magical powers aren’t as liked as men. Kallia is the star who is liked by the master and the most liked by the audience. She is able to take all that she is learned and wow the people more than any of the others girls could do. Living and working in the casino that is owned by The Master makes Kallia’s life different than those on the outside. Jack (The Master) is able to control what she knows and make her fear the outside world. Kallia is able to find out about a contest that is taking place in the down next to where she lives but Jack doesn’t want her to leave the casino that he has built. When a big event happens that shakes her world and she decides that enough is enough. Kallia needs too goes out on her own to break the glass ceiling, and shows the men what she can do even if it’s her downfall.

Kallia and the Master seem to have a very interesting relationship that pushes through the entire novel and makes you feel like nothing will ever really be right in the end. Daron coming in seems to throw a wrench into the Masters plans even if Kallia running off wasn’t truly one of them either. Kallia as the main character truly puts a spin on the story because the reader knows just as much as Kallia does sometimes. The proud and going getting behavior that she has along with the patience for her craft truly shows what an amazing human Kallia truly is. The Master was always pulling her strings and that’s why the new Kallia that is pushed out of her shell is a true marvel to watch go through the novel.

I would recommend this amazing novel to anyone that loves a good mystery and love story. I swear you won’t know who to root for or who to trust through most of this novel so don’t trust anyone. Let the cover show you what this novel is really about because the cover really does a good job at that. I would give this a 5 out of 5 stars because of how beautifully it was written and how amazing this story was able to pull me out of the real world.

I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest reviewThis book is dreamy and wonderful and all good things. It's a heady mix of all the best things about Caraval and Phantom of the Opera and it shines just like its star, Kallia.

This book was really fun and entertaining. Where Dreams Descend follows Kallia as she learns to come into her magical gifts and fight for her right to be taken just as seriously as the male magicians around her. What’s not to love about a fun magical competition between magicians with an underlying feeling of dread from some unknown threat. I loved the character of Jack, so dark and interesting while still being complex. I also really loved Daron and I’m hoping to learn more about him and his past in the future books. And sweet bean Aaros and all the amazing ladies of the circus were wonderful to read. Kallia is a great main character and I loved how she was always ready to fight for herself and stand up for herself because she knows she’s powerful and can back up her claims. I think the strong center of this book was the value of friendship and learning to trust other people and not always needing to be alone to survive. I’m very much looking forward to continuing the series.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s a mix between Phantom of the Opera (but the Phantom isn’t at the Opera House he is, er, elsewhere), with a main character straight from Moulin Rouge with something to prove.

If you liked The Crown’s Game, Caraval, or The Night Circus, I feel like you’d love this book. There’s a magic system that doesn’t make complete sense, but you are strangely okay with it. There’s a competition with a bunch of stuck up boys wanting it to remain a boy’s club and our main character singing “anything you can do, I can do better” and walking the walk.

Honestly this book was something I didn’t know I needed. It had great characters, a slow burn romance, strong women and also there’s a lion. Always here for the lion.

My only complaint besides the confusion of the magic system was the other confusion I had with how a relationship formed between a magician and their assistant. It seemed really abrupt the loyalty they had for their magician. Through out the whole book I was just so confused on what the heck happened there. I love both of the characters tho!

Warning : CLIFFHANGER. I need book two!!!!

The highlight of this book for me was the writing style, which was gorgeous and descriptive. I loved the imagery and the repetition of color and other symbols, which were deftly integrated and given multiple significances. (I love symbolism and themes so much.)

I also loved the characters! Aaros was the best and most loyal assistant and cared so much for Kallia despite his history and how they were strangers at the beginning of the book. He always went out of his way to help her and always seemed to know what she needed, and Kallia appreciates him as he deserves. Kallia was such an interesting and distinctive personality - extroverted and confident and unashamed of herself. She constantly took me by surprise in a good way. It took me a while to care for Daron, but I eventually grew to care about him and his personality as well. I was actually rooting for his and Kallia's romance, which is unusual for me and testament to the writing and the characters.

However, I didn't understand the plot with the underlying Glorian magic, what the heck is going on with Jack (who is he? what does he know? how does he do what he does? why does he care? why is he even important anymore?), and the dark mirror things. I know this is more going to be the plot of the second book, but I felt like there wasn't enough clarity in the crumbs dropped for us. I'm sure the next installment will bring more clarity, though!

I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love fantasy fiction books a lot especially ones with mystery and magic and this fit the bill. I enjoyed the story and look forward to more from the author. I felt the book had strong characters and motivation behind their actions, however some sections of the book ran long and weren’t necessary for the overall plot to still flow . I loved the themes and the setting though and would love to read more of the characters. Overall I enjoyed the book a lot.

**Review will be published August 24th!**

WONDERFUL DEBUT.

You hear this has some The Night Circus aspects and you’re immediately drawn in. I am definitely in agreement. The magician, circus, and romance aspects were soooo good. Soooo good that I can’t wait for book two. There’s a lot here to unfold!

One of my favorite pieces is that I still haven’t decided who’s on what side. The ambiguity of characters and story leave much open to interpretation (in a good way). While plenty is revealed and you’re not left hanging, I love how much isn’t revealed.

Since I’m always a fan of romance in books, I am setting sail of Kallia and Demarco’s ship. I absolutely LOVED how this relationship moved. It’s one of the textbook slow-burns that are my faaaavorite. It was believable and they have true chemistry between them. I really can’t wait to see where they move on next.

Kallia is an amazing heroine. Goodness, I thought she was spectacular. Kallia was brave and bold, confident in her abilities and was striving to better her life. She was also flawed, and got herself wrapped up in tough situations. The conflict made her seem real and truly like someone you can root for her, and root for her I did!

This book reminded me why I love reading young adult fantasy. I would love to see a map to further expound on the world, but I thought the overall development was good. The magic system was interesting and all of the mystery kept me on my toes. The atmosphere and creepy vibes were some of favorite aspects.

Overall audience notes:

Young adult fantasy
Language: very little light
Romance: kisses / make-outs
Violence: physical, magic, elements

I have to go with 4-4.5 stars. I can’t decide which so let’s just stick with that. Where Dreams Descend was described as “a combination of Moulin Rouge and Phantom of the Opera,” and with a description like that who wouldn’t want to read it?

The book started a bit slow for me, it just took me a few chapters to find that groove. But there is a moment that I won’t share (hello, spoilers) that turned the book around for me. The magic system was a bit confusing but I didn’t mind a system I don’t fully understand yet. I assume more will be explained down the line.

The characters were a fun bunch. Kallia, a powerful mc who doesn’t take crap from anybody especially the male characters. I found it refreshing to see a female be assertive, it was without a doubt my favorite trait about her.

Slow burn + a love triangle and you got yourself the romance aspect of the book. I love a good slow burn and I dislike love triangles but this one worked. Even if it is obvious who will end up with who at the end. And if it doesn’t go in that direction, I will cry and update this review.

I was warned by a friend that the book did end on a cliffhanger and boy were they right. Is it possible to ask that book 2 gets published immediately? Because I NEED ANSWERS.

Read this book, it is magical and amazing.

Thank you to Netgalley, Janella Angeles and St.Martin's Press for this arc!

There was solid world building and the story has a wonderful premise and starts with young woman desperate to escape her current situation and experience life on her own for the first time in her life, much to the frustration of her current mentor. This is where the story starts to get confusing, our "villain" Jack, has questionable past, hides everything behind illusion and I was not sure if he was supposed to have a romantic interest in the main character or not. Too many little hints leading nowhere make it hard to understand "the master" and determine if he is actually looking out for Kallia or not - leading us to believe, hopefully, we will receive answers in book two.

Kallia, our heroine, at times comes across as spoiled and very unclear about her life, of course she was manipulated her whole life by the sire and Jack but there is no other major history provided, how did she get to Hellfire House in the first place, I wasn't clear on the answer. There is also no clear reason provided as to why using her magic leaves her so weak.

The magical competition and other magicians don't really stick out and the middle of the book drags along as they wait in between each "show performance." So of course, bring in a circus of traveling women, and I'm all for girl power, but how do they advance the plot other than as a tool for Kallia to make her performances all the more exciting.

Our hero, Daron Demarco, from a powerful magical family, is torn and broken, his past haunting him and his magic as he searches for his last "assistant." Demarco is also a judge in the competition she is competing in and this means they really shouldn't be exploring anything as it would mean "favoritism," but of course they can't resist each other. Demarco goes back and forth in his opinions on Kallia, and she on him, which is ultimately couched in her need to protect him from Jack. In the end, their romance doesn't quite ring true because it goes from "hate" to "love" almost over night with each of them keeping secrets from each other and afraid to share, which Demarco does, but Kallia still holds back.

The last quarter of the book is where the real action takes place and where interest is developed. However, the reader is left with too many questions in the end, leaving matters unclear which wasn't necessary based on the rest of the cliffhanger. Oh, yes, there is a HUGE cliffhanger, which we could see coming because she left so many unanswered questions throughout the whole book to be answered in another book.

So I liked it, but I also have issues. I don't know if I will read the sequel.

Geeez! Talk about a cliffhanger. I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book, but it was really something else. I loved the strong female characters, the mystery, and the writing style was fun and easy to read.

Overall, I really liked this and I need the next one as soon as possible, please.