ARC Review: Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles [Blog Tour]

Instantly captivating, Janella Angeles’ debut fantasy Where Dreams Descend (first in the Kingdom of Cards duology) draws the reader into a world of mystery, intrigue, lies, and a whole lot of magic.

Welcome to my review as part of Wednesday Books’ blog tour for Where Dreams Descend, a stunning debut YA fantasy hitting shelves on August 25th! I’ve been waiting for this book for over a year, and I’m so excited it’s almost out in the world! 😱

A review copy of the book was provided so that I could take part in the tour, but as always my opinions are my own.

[bctt tweet=”Instantly captivating, Janella Angeles’ debut fantasy Where Dreams Descend draws the reader into a world of mystery, intrigue, lies, and a whole lot of magic.” username=”kalventure”]

About Where Dreams Descend

Publisher: Wednesday Books  |  Release Date: August 25, 2020  |  Pages: 464
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy  |  Format: Paperback ARC  |  Source: Publisher

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.

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My Review ofWhere Dreams Descend

reading this beauty over the weekend while I went camping and unplugged! Such an immersive, beautiful story that sucked me in immediately!

Review coming this week as part of Wednesday Books’ blog tour!

✨ https://t.co/vkZuWSXqxH pic.twitter.com/Y9JadrKw2Y

— Kal @ Reader Voracious (@kalventure) August 16, 2020

✨ You can read an excerpt over at B&N Teen!

I’m not kidding when I say that I’ve been waiting for this book for over a year. I think Where Dreams Descend was one of my top five anticipated releases for 2020, and I’m happy to say that it did not disappoint! I was instantly drawn into the magical world Angeles wove, and devoured the book quickly. Pitched as Moulin Rouge meets Phantom of the Opera with a hint of The Night Circus – that’s a good description, but this is a story all its own unlike one I’ve read before.

“The Conquering Circus Presents…S P E C T A C U L O R E
Where the stage tells a story, and legends are born!“

Where Dreams Descend is told in acts like a play, and the book itself feels like a performance in a way that I can’t really describe. Beautiful and captivating, Angeles’ prose flows on the page and draws the reader into a magical world.

While I was most swept away by the plot and world, I absolutely adore Kallia. She’s inquisitive and ambitious, with a longing for adventure and belonging that I relate to. As she begins to experience the world and form relationships within it, my heart soared for her. The character relationships and rapport Kallia builds are truly special. Let it be known that Aaros is the best and I defy you to think otherwise.

“‘What you see in any reflection is a world unto itself, one you can believe in because what you see aligns with what you know surrounds you.'”

Trust and reality itself are at the fore throughout as Kallia and the reader are never really sure what is true. Reality blurs and so much is unknown by our main characters, and the way worldbuilding is revealed is like standing on shifting sand… constantly leading you to readjust your footing.

“‘But none of you make it to the top, and we all know why. You’re just a spectacle, something pretty to look at – nothing more.'”

But there is more than just a beautifully crafted fantasy story. Where Dreams Descend also looks at gender equality in a way that mirrors how women in the workforce are undervalued. Female magicians have few options and are expected to be in gendered roles, the life of performance being for men only. Kallia competing in the Spectaculore to claim the recognition deserved by her skill ruffles more than a few feathers.

“How wonderful it must’ve been, to come into this life with the searing blaze of choice. To practice and learn magic however you wished. To go wherever your feet could take you. It was only too easy to imagine how such a life might’ve changed her. To have had the glory of choice over the promise of power.”

My one complaint is I feel like I’m left with more questions than answers at the end of the book. I’m the kind of reader who is particularly invested in worldbuilding, and I felt like I was missing an “aha!” moment where something clicked into place. That being said, Where Dreams Descend is a book with immense re-readability. Now that I’ve gotten to the end, I wonder what other clues I would pick up on a second reading.

Overall, the setting and descriptions in this one set Where Dreams Descend apart in my mind. The prose wraps you up like a blanket and captivates you while reading, and I loved the fast pace that kept me hooked to the end… I can’t believe I have to wait a year to find out what happens!

Content warnings: loss of loved ones, patriarchy & sexism

ARC provided by the publisher for my honest review. Quotations are taken from an uncorrected proof and subject to change upon final publication.

Have you read Where Dreams Descend yet or is it on your TBR?

Let’s go on another adventure together!