I have really love the world the author of Where Dreams descend built. Really love the magical competion. A dangerous competion and a lot of the magicians gone missing. Who's gonna be next for darkness to come and get them.

Its the first book in a duology. Can't wait to read it. I have received an arc of this book from Netgalley and the publisher.

This is a story that is set in a magical world that strongly reminds me of Moulin Rouge which just so happens to be a favorite of mine. It is a story that follows a magical competition that has more going on behind the curtains than on the stage. There is mystery, intrigue, romance, and strong female characters. All of which I love in a book! It is also told in 4 acts with no intermissions (my attempt of a clever way to say it is paced fairly well). I will warn you that it does leave you on a cliffhanger, and I absolutely can't wait to read the next one!

As a librarian, I would highly recommend this for Junior High and High School libraries as well as anyone who loves magic and the lure of the circus with a touch of romance. It was an enjoyable read that I am sure many will love as much as I did!

*Huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy for review!*

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Victoria Aveyard.

This book is a ton of fun. I'd seen a lot of comparisons to a lot of works, from Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge to The Prestige and The Night Circus, and I can definitely see why those comparisons are made. But, as someone who loves those, this worked like a charm!

A magical competition, a snarky leading lady, and a forbidden city are all excellent pieces to hold my interest, and this book had it all. The pacing didn't always work perfectly for me -- I felt a bit of a lull in the middle -- but the magic and the mystery of Glorian buoyed these scenes enough that it wasn't a major problem. I did, however, feel as though the timeline of the story failed to hold together. The space between the tasks didn't feel at all even, to the point where large projects are begun and completed in the interim between tasks 2 and 3. This wouldn't have been an issue if it were laid out clearly, but we have no idea how long such things are meant to take, and none of the characters comment on this. It was bizarre. The narration would comment on it being "days later" and how the task loomed, but then it would continue to focus on other things, only to do the same in the next chapter. Repeat for about 20% of the book at least.

The magic system was interesting. I love the distinction of those born with magic vs those who acquired it, though I wish this was explored more. The rules to magic aren't very clearly defined, just enough that the story works and you don't feel left in the dark when Kallia pulls off a trick.

Aaros should have more time to shine in the next installment! One thing I felt was lacking was more time with all of the side characters. While we see them throughout, we don't get a significant look into them. While this makes sense -- Kallia is keeping everyone at arm's length due to her past -- it did leave me wanting more. Her best friends, and some of the characters she has the most fun interactions with early on in the book, get sidelined when the romance kicks in. It's clear that they are open with her, while she never reciprocates or truly evaluates that she should beyond initial thoughts about why she won't when she meets them. I hope this gets unpacked more in the next book.

Overall, an exciting book full of magic, adventure, and mystery. I'm not even annoyed at the (lack of) resolution, because the book was such a fun ride. It lived up to the comparisons I'd been expecting, while also carving out a niche of its own.

This book fell a little flat for me. I really wanted to connect more with the characters than I did, and I feel like the story overall was lacking something. With that being said, I’m definitely eager to read the sequel and am hopeful it gets better as it goes!

What initially drew me to this book was it being described at Moulin Rouge meets Phantom of the Opera and boy oh boy was I excited. Like two of my favorite broadway shows but in one package! Sign me up!

I really enjoyed the characters and how well rounded all of them were. They all had very personable qualities that made me enjoy then all the more. I also really admired the friendships that were built and carried on throughout the book. I am not the most into romance but this novel really sold the romance to me and made me root for them to stay together, which when it comes down to it, is probably the best you can ask for.

The magic of the world kind of got me. I was a little confused at times when magic was being used; about where it comes from and how it is controlled by the magic users.

Overall, I would recommend this book! It was quite good with world/society building and I really loved all of the characters and didn't intensely crave any of their deaths other than one but it's the given one of the story so. When August comes around, I definitely would suggest putting it on your to read list.

Where Dreams Descend is the story of an orphaned Showgirl, Kallia, who escapes the club where she performs in search of the enigmatic city of Glorian. The story explores her participation in a magicians contest - Spectaculore - in which she is the only female magician. This book has been described as a Phantom of the Opera/Moulin Rouge mash up (which I cannot comment on because I have not seen either!) as well as being compared to Caraval, and I can say that the vibe of this novel is definitely in the same vein as that game-orientated, magical story.

Kallia is the main protagonist, but two of the other prime characters are Jack, the mysterious, compelling master of the club where Kallia was raised, and Demarco, a retired magician drawn to Kallia throughout Spectaculore. It is clear that Jack is unwilling to let Kallia go, and that Demarco has secrets in his past that will be revealed. Of the two supporting characters, I was more drawn to Jack than Demarco, but both were strong components of the story. At times the motivations of the protagonists (and therefore the novel) were unclear, but this became clearer in the last few chapters of the book, which gave the duology more direction. One thing I will say I LOVED was the strong feminist plotline throughout Kallia's role in the competition, where she was the only woman in the line up of competitors.

What most intrigued me (and what will have me anticipating the next instalment) was the mystery surrounding the city of Glorian, and why its inhabitants know nothing of its past. I hope the city's secrets - and the reason why the magicians cannot leave the city - will be explored more in the second part of this duology. This element of the book was what most reminded me of Caraval; a mysterious city with intricate worldbuilding.

All in all, this is a captivating first instalment with a good set of core characters (I was less drawn to some of the side characters).. The world is inviting, the secrets have started to unravel , and I'm looking forward to seeing where Kallia ends up next. Thank you to Wednesday Books for this ARC!

DNF @ 30%

I DNF'd because I wasn't having enough fun to justify reading this over my other library books with time limits.

I do not by any means think it is a bad book. I will say, the first 40 ish pages are pretty confusing, and the change in scenery was also a little hard to follow. The author's style is clear and direct enough to follow, but also has a tendency to jump POV, scenery, or in and out of what can be described as "illusions" with very little warning. I found the book confusing and a little hard to follow in that sense.

The story focuses on Kallia, a magician looking to become a star despite being scrutinized by society for being a woman. Her keeper/boss/whatever else you want to call it, Jack. strongly urges against her ambition, but she soon finds herself competing against other magicians.

The tone of the story is pretty consistently set with a lonely and isolating feeling, focusing mostly on Kallia emotionally, though sometimes pivoting to other characters, including the ever mysterious and brooding Demarco, an ex magician with an eye for skill. Kallia is a wonderful main character who really stood out in that she's genuinely ambitious and fairly shrewd and cutthroat. She's not a bad person by any means, but she doesn't fit the YA protagonist mold in a traditional sense.

For people who love Moulin Rouge or The Night Circus, this could be an awesome series. I don't think its necessarily for me, but It wasn't bad by any means.

3.5/5 stars.

A mysterious forest, a forgotten city, a traveling circus, and a contest to find the newest and brightest magician. Kallia, a showgirl in a club outside of this city, can not resist the call of the contest in nearby Glorian. She sets her mind to becoming the first female magician on the stage. While most magicians have been trained at prestigious schools and have gone on to be magic laborers, Kallia's past is quite different. As she arrives in Glorian and is chosen to become a part of the contest, her past and the mystery of the town of Glorian reeks havoc on the contestants.

As a huge young adult fantasy fan, this was a nice switch from typical "magic" books. In this book, some magicians are forms of entertainment while others are simply laborers. I chose to give it a lower rating simply because it was, a times, quite long winded. The mystery of the book was super slow to be exposed, the main character gained friends almost instantly, and the romantic interest had little build up. Despite theses few flaws, the book was still an enjoyable read.

FIRST OFF. This review would have been MUCH higher if not for two things. 1) Half of the book is filler. I am not joking. Half of it is filler. There was so many unnecessary scenes that just slowed down the flow of the book it was driving me mad. I stayed at 30% because the second the "plot" started and the main character arrived in town, it felt like LITERALLY NOTHING HAPPENED FOR 100 PAGES.

2) THIS BOOK IS SO CONFUSING. I don't mean, oh wow, this is really complex and might be hard to grasp. No, I mean like it was not explained well and the twists and turns don't make sense at all and you're just sitting there going "huh"??? Now, maybe I'm dumb. But after talking to my friend who also finished the book and they don't know what happened either, I'm gonna go with bad writing on this one.

Was the plot super cool and interesting? Hell yeah! Were the characters complex and engaging? Absolutely! Did that cover up the bad writing? No. And it's unfortunate because the writing itself is beautiful. She went for a mystical, mysterious feel and she succeeded, but her ability to explain concepts and plot points clearly was lacking. And for that, I had to knock it down to 2 stars.

Now, granted, I read the ARC, so the finished copy may have fixed a lot of these issues and might be clearer. And you should definitely give this book a try! I loved the concept, just not the execution.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

My Rating 4.5 Stars

Wow. I honestly can't remember the last time a YA book had me feeling so completely transported to a magical world. Let me tell you, when a book is marketed as a blend of Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge, the expectations are high right off the bat. Fortunately, this gorgeous book was lush with magic, romance, and high-tension, dark intrigue. While there were no major plot twists that had me gasping in surprise, I found myself metaphorically on the edge of my seat (come on, we are in quarantine so you all know I read this one in bed). Not even Henry Cavill could have torn my eyes from my kindle once I delved into this story. 

Kallia is such a wonderfully unique YA female lead, in my opinion. She is fierce, competitive and confident without coming off braggadocios or obnoxious. Despite the fact that there are little to no female performance magicians in her world, she holds her head high while men constantly comment on her appearance, attitude and talent. 

The romance was a slow burn that I enjoyed, even though it went in a direction that I didn't expect from the start. While there is a hint of a love triangle, I believe that it is clear who Kallia will end up with, and I wholeheartedly approve. Normally, my disdain for love triangles is clear (except in TID), but this one was slight and added to the plot. There was no Bella/Jacob/Edward longing tension, thank goodness. 

Where Dreams Descend absolutely ended on a cliffhanger, so prepare yourself for that. Even though I am already itching to get my hands on the sequel, I'm so glad that I had a chance to read this early and absolutely recommend it for fans of Caraval by Stephanie Garber. My small half-point deduction in rating was only due to the fact that the author dumped me as a reader into the novel at the very beginning with little to no explanation, leading to a confusing start.

What a thrilling ride this has been! I originally grabbed this book since it has theatrical elements to it. And I loved that it was told in three acts, much like a play. But the intrigue that went along with this novel was spectacular!

There are essentially two plots going on at all times throughout this novel First and foremost: Kallia trying to rise to the top of the magician's ladder and step out from the cage she was in. Then, the underlying plot: what has been causing the mysterious disappearances and brutal torment of magicians?

This story was woven so well that you were never quite sure what was going to happen. Never sure who to root for or to hate. Each chapter giving just enough of a taste to keep going.

Each act upped the stakes and the ending was worth a standing ovation. The intrigue, the heartbreak, the mystery! I need the next book now!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for my eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Where Dreams Descend follows Kallia, a young magician who lives in the cursed woods outside of a city called Glorian. Kallia is the star of Hellfire house, a place run by a mysterious figure named Jack who has made it his personal mission to teach Kallia all about magic and how to wield it. But when a competition for magicians comes to Glorian Kallia can't resist it's call. Nothing can stand in her way but the judges, including an illusive Daron Demarco, but her power is impossible to ignore. What dangers await Kallia and the town of Glorian when this competition ensues?

I give this story an enthusiastic 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Caraval and stories like it. The heroine is a delight to follow, which is so rare in young adult. She doesn't fall in line, even with her love interests and always demands the spotlight. She knows what she wants and doesn't waver from it, another refreshing prose for a young adult heroine. The gentlemen in her company are their own characters, not just there for a romantic plot. They have so many secrets and mysteries to uncover while we get to know them. The only thing I wish there was more of was Jack. He was such an interesting character who woo'd me in the beginning and had me glued to the book, but he was underutilized after the first quarter of the book.

Overall this was a great read, and I know I will be looking forward to the sequel. Four glowing stars for Kallia and her band of magical friends!

Ok, I really want to be nice, but to be honest I’m not sure how this thing is even being published at its current state.

It is being marked as a sort of Phantom of the Opera meets Moulin Rouge. I was genuinely excited to get an ARC of this book because I thought from the summary that it had such potential to be a great read!

The first problem with this fantasy novel is that it lacks world building. For a book that is nearly 500 pages, you’d expect the author to go into the “whys” and “how’s” of the world, but there is literally none of it. The story suffers from so much “show, don’t tell” syndrome. There is so much as the reader you have to accept to not have answers too, which is especially frustrating when you want the world your exploring to make sense.

Like:

Why is there a random speakeasy type house in the woods? Why is there a random city broken into four segments? Why should we care about a random magic competition when it isn’t clear what winning the competition gets you. Why do people want to be magicians? Why should I care?


The plot is underdeveloped, the characters are underdeveloped, the action is lackluster, and the pacing of the book leaves a lot to be desired.

**I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review**

Kallia is a showgirl/magician performing nightly but she dreams of more. To command her own stage and be the star. But how can you do that in a world where female magicians are laughed at and not taken seriously at all. Enter Spectaculore, a magic competition where Kallie fights for her to win. Where she fights to be seen.

Where Dreams Descend was a magical fantasy tale full of darkness and tension that kept me on wanting more with a slowly revealing mystery. I'll admit I was full of questions when I started and full of even more when I finished but I ended it dying for the next one!

I thought the plot was great. A girl on the run, a magic competition, a CIRCUS!! An angsty tension filled romance! The multiple points of view were a nice touch. They really allowed you to get inside the mind of each of the three main characters and see all of their shades of grey. It also featured a side character that left me smiling every scene he was in. The world needs more characters like Aaros.

I would like to see a little more robust world building in the next installment. I feel like it could have been fleshed out a little more. For purely selfish reasons, I would like to see more magic, more whimsy, a little more romance and definitely more Aaros!

Overall I really enjoyed the book and I can't wait to carry on with the series! 4/5

The Quick Cut: A group of magicians compete for a spot as the next headliner when unexpected danger comes.

A Real Review:
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you've ever been interested in magic, you know how enticing the presentation can be. The feats magicians pull off feel surreal, almost impossible. Well, what if you had a chance of a lifetime through a magical competition? This is the case for Kallia, Jack, and Demarco.

In a city covered in ice, three magicians take the opportunity to compete for the headliner spot in the Conquering Circus. Unfortunately, all goes haywire when unknown terror comes. Will they make it through or will their lives come at risk instead?

Can I just say how gorgeous that cover is?!?! The red and black is a wonderful combination, especially for highlighting the dark mystery surrounding this title. The environment is enrapturing and the world building is the best part of the novel. It is powerful and highly detailed.

That being said, the characters leave something to be desired. The story has an underlying feminism tone that although I understand it's presence, comes off as aggressive. A significant portion of this comes through the character Kallia, a powerful female magician. She is so overpowered that it takes a lot of the fun out of the writing and even worse, her behavior makes her a witch. It's a character I believe you're meant to like, but I ended up hating.

The other characters in this book failed to leave a lasting impression on me (and I really wanted them to). I wanted to connect to the story, but without characters to bond to... uphill battle. If the same attention was paid to character development as world building, this would be a different story.

A heavy paged story that delivers a strong world with vacant characters.

My rating: 3 out of 5

This book is total catnip for me - mysterious pasts, a magical competition, and a circus of badass women. Kallia runs away from the House that’s been the only home she’s known and Jack, its seductive magician master to enter a competition for magicians. As the only woman, Kallia’s unfairly scored by the judges and mocked by the other contestants. Her only possible ally is the reserved Demarco with the hidden, tragic past.

With a blend of The Night Circus, Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge, this is a lush dream of a book. Highly recommend.. One bit of caution - the book ends on a cliffhanger so hangery that I actually cursed aloud. I want the next book NOW!

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the DRC.

Where Dreams Descend is the first book in Janella Angeles’ Kingdom of Cards series. This is not a light, easy read. It is a deep and immersive story that pulls you into a secretive and frighteningly fantastical world. This is the kind of novel that leaves you with a book hangover, and you're glad for it. Long after the story ends, you find yourself thinking about Kallia and Jack, mirrors, Damon and his loss, the city and its secrets, and the patriarchy that needs to be turned on its head.

Kallia is an ambitious and fiercely independent magician who refuses to adhere to the patriarchal demands of society. She knows her talent outshines the men, and entering a competition in the mysterious town of Glorian, a place she has always felt drawn to, proves the best way to reach her goals. I love Kallia’s confidence and her feminist attitude. She flees from the constraints of living and working for a man and works to be free. Free from the constraints of society, and free from the rules of men.

“A cage…Not a home. A gilded place of false friends and stolen time. Any lingering fondness felt fabricated, syrupy-sweet taste she tried ridding from her tongue, for none of it had been real.” Kallia has to face her past and Jack, her enigmatic and controlling master/friend/more? Jack is the owner of Hellfire House where Kallia lived and headlined. Think Moulin Rouge with magic!! Total Perfection! Except, though Kallia was pampered, she could not leave. “How wonderful it must’ve been, to come into this life with the searing blaze of choice…It was only too easy to imagine how such a life might’ve changed her. To have had the power of choice over the glory of power.”

The relationship between Jack and Kallia is complex and confusing. A cross between toxic and sexy, controlling and oppressive, I couldn’t decide for the majority of the book if Jack was a sexy protector or a scary stalker, and I loved it. I’m curious to learn more about their relationship and Jack’s story in future books.

The story starts off slow, though the magical elements captivate from the start and compel you to read more. The setting is also enticing. It’s magical, mysterious, and deadly, which contrasts with the joviality and frivolity usually associated with the circus and magic competitions. Angeles’ style creates vivid and visceral descriptions of the town, the people, and the magic, which made for an exciting, immersive, and heart-pounding read.

Keep in mind, the magic depicted in the book isn’t just magic. It’s…well… magical. At’s like a fantastic and entrancing mix of music, dancing, circus-like performances, and magic. Fireballs whirling through the air, spectral images created in thin air, birds sweeping through a room only to disappear into ash – these are only a few of the fascinating yet scary magical acts that occur in the novel. The fact that the story takes place mostly in a town with a secret and dangerous past adds to the spectacular and suspenseful story.

As the competition in Glorian progresses and Kallie proves to be the strongest competitor, people begin disappearing. This is a town with secrets filled with people with even more secrets, and that makes for an intriguing story. As I read, I wanted to know more about the town and the people in it, from the sarcastic tailor to the amazingly talented women from the circus that Kallia befriends. I wanted to know why people were disappearing or injured and how it related to Glorian’s past, Kallie, and the mysterious judge, and retired magician, Daron.

Daron, attractive yet unapproachable, has secrets of his own, and as Kallia breaks through his walls, the reader learns precisely why he doesn’t practice magic. Daron is a fascinating character from old magic, and I enjoyed the slow-burning romance that developed between Kallia and Daron. They are alike in many ways, from their aversion to mirrors to their dreams of freedom.

And then there is Aaros, Kallia’s assistant and one of my favorite characters! He is a loyal and supportive friend to Kallia, and his witty banter with her and with Daron is charming. He brings a levity to the story that I love while still standing out as a strong and memorable character. Oh, and did I mention he’s a thief?

This story is an absolute delight to read. It has exceptional (and magical world-building, unique and often morally ambiguous characters, vivid imagery, a suspenseful and unique plot, and an ending that I didn't expect. The feminist themes are the cherry on top of this wickedly entertaining cake!

Thanks so much to Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I really fell in love with this book. Like the romance, it was a slow burn. I struggled in the beginning as it started out a little slow. This made me a little nervous, but after 100 pages or so, I was hooked. The opening excerpt was perfect in identifying the theme of gender equality that would weave in throughout the book. I loved the magic and the mystery and of course those Phantom of the Opera vibes! I really enjoyed it.
Thank you for allowing me to read this lovely book.

Fantasy lovers, rejoice! Janella Angeles delivers a captivating tale where the blood spills red, the morality runs grey, and the magic always has a silver lining.

Where Dreams Descend is a knockout of a read and a standout for the 2020 lineup. It does the unthinkable from the get go - it takes a fairly recognizable YA trope with magical magicians spinning on its head. The execution is done REALLY WELL. This story is GROUNDED. It has roots in a world that is wholly immersive and unique enough to stand apart from the rest. Let's face it, if a story.

There is a darkness coiled up in the tone of this book that I simply adored. The author did not pull any punches when it came to depicting the world. Though glitzy and beautiful,. I appreciated the grit and the honesty of the setting and the tense atmosphere it created.

It was an addictive page turner that I nearly finished in one sitting. In addition, Where Dreams Descend showcased fantastic character development I wasn’t expecting, and let’s not forget the author's phenomenal writing style that made it easier to immerse myself on these characters journey through this spellbinding show. Needless to say just about everything about this novel was superb and I would highly recommend everyone to add this to your TBR. You'll have no regrets,, just saying.

Janella Angeles delivered the best new series starter of 2020!

Hands down, this is my favorite beginning to a series this year and I am beyond happy with the whole novel.

Where Dreams Descend is a book like no other that I have encountered. It is dark and broody, while still having light moments. There is so much going on in this enchanting story that it makes it hard to pick a spot to begin. We get magic, love (romantic and family style), mystery, death, female empowerment, male empowerment, outcasts finding a spot and more. I mean...I’m trying to wrap my mind around it.

The Star is naive, but cunning and that is an interesting combination. Her discoveries of the world outside of her cage are larger than life. The inner growth of the character is beautiful to watch. Her personality was annoying at times, but I think that almost made her a bit more relatable. We aren’t all perfect.

The Master is mysterious and I don’t really know what I think of him yet. Do I believe him? Do I think he had good intentions for The Star? Do I think he is evil or good? Angeles wrote him so perfectly that I teeter totter between loving him and hating him. This writing makes you understand why Kallia feels the way she does. The Master is dangerous and safe all rolled into one and I NEED more.

The Magician is as mysterious as The Master and yet much more opaque. Readers can’t help but feel his sorrows. I feel like we have barely scratched the surface with the information we will learn about him. There are only about 83746 more questions I have regarding everything about Demarco.

Every single step of this world building is thought out and flows well. The descriptions are good without overdoing it. You can feel the cold and despair as well as the joy and life, without it being detail overload.

I believe Janella Angeles delivered a brilliant opener and I for one can not wait to see where this goes.

I highly HIGHLY recommend this book to others.


-Stone.