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cmdufresne's review
3.0
How do you rate a book that has no conclusion?
I love books with a lot of mystery, but you have to eventually pull back the curtain. Enjoyed the world, and the characters, the plot kept building and building, twists and questions emerging...and then nothing was answered. This is less book 1 of a series and more part 1 of a 2 part book. Enjoyed it enough to read the second, but definitely hoping there will be some kind of resolution.
I love books with a lot of mystery, but you have to eventually pull back the curtain. Enjoyed the world, and the characters, the plot kept building and building, twists and questions emerging...and then nothing was answered. This is less book 1 of a series and more part 1 of a 2 part book. Enjoyed it enough to read the second, but definitely hoping there will be some kind of resolution.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
4.0
4.5/5
I really really liked this book. I loved the main character and the world. There were some moments that confused me and that were hard to follow. I am so excited for the second book to come out and to see what happens next.
REREAD 6/9/22
4.5/5
Loved it as much as I did when I first read it, just had to reread it before apparently rereading the sequel that I forgot I had read.
I really really liked this book. I loved the main character and the world. There were some moments that confused me and that were hard to follow. I am so excited for the second book to come out and to see what happens next.
REREAD 6/9/22
4.5/5
Loved it as much as I did when I first read it, just had to reread it before apparently rereading the sequel that I forgot I had read.
gweste's review
4.0
Okay so I really liked this book but I didn’t read it super closely. When they were explaining the lore of the place I was getting confused and I’m honestly still not sure what the hell happens with the mirrors. Overall however I liked the characters but I didn’t love the overall premise - if you look at the story arc it’s an exposition, escape, competition, and then multiple things happen and go wrong, and then there’s a big cliff hanger. I liked a lot of it but I didn’t feel like the stakes were high enough. The books main driving force was Kallia and Demarco’s love, in my opinion. While I liked the mystery and the way the chapters perspectives moved around - I don’t know. Something isn’t sitting right with me.
annamickreads's review
I'm going to return to this at a later date when my concentration is better!! I love the concept (anything "Moulin Rouge" and Night-Circus-esque is up my alley) but I do not have the bandwidth right now
lrose02's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book is interesting. It doesn’t delve too much into the lore behind people being able to wield magic. The author uses the misogyny of the world as an interesting hurdle. It fuels the main characters ambition and makes the reader want to cheer her on. It definitely made me frustration at a lot of side characters. The main antagonist is one that I can see as being described as morally grey. To me, he’s very similar to the Darkling from Shadow and Bone. Both are manipulative and gaslighting. I don’t root for Jack and Kallia at all. Her and Demarco is a nice, complex slow burn. Both are broken in ways that add layers to their relationship. Aaros is an amazing side character and I love his relationship with Kallia. Lottie is also interesting and seems complex. There’s a lot of layers to the characters which I hope get explored in the sequel. I also love the author’s use of mirrors as a weapon and a threat.
lielos99's review
5.0
I got an arc of this at Yallfest and I WAS SO THRILLED!
At this point I don’t even remember when I saw Where Dreams Descend being announced and the summary put out, but to say it caught my attention was an understatement.
I’ve been waiting. And waiting. And waiting. (I filled out multiple forms to try and get on the list, but never got one until Yallfest) and I was so giddy when i finally was holding a copy in my hands because this book. Is. Magic.
Even the cover has glitter dripping off, a teaser of what is to come.
From the first sentence it kept me turning the pages. The magic, the mystery, and the fantasy as a whole were so well done, and the writing so beautiful. I loved Kallia and Jack and Demarco, and especially Arros (I hope we learn more about him in the next book) and there is still so much I don't know. I’m still reeling with all my emotions and the ending (and being left with so many questions, but the ending was pulled off so well). And now every time I see an elegant chandelier I half expect to see Hellfire House and Kallia lowering from above.
If you love fantasy, mystery, circuses, magic, then this book will dazzle you.
At this point I don’t even remember when I saw Where Dreams Descend being announced and the summary put out, but to say it caught my attention was an understatement.
I’ve been waiting. And waiting. And waiting. (I filled out multiple forms to try and get on the list, but never got one until Yallfest) and I was so giddy when i finally was holding a copy in my hands because this book. Is. Magic.
Even the cover has glitter dripping off, a teaser of what is to come.
From the first sentence it kept me turning the pages. The magic, the mystery, and the fantasy as a whole were so well done, and the writing so beautiful. I loved Kallia and Jack and Demarco, and especially Arros (I hope we learn more about him in the next book) and there is still so much I don't know. I’m still reeling with all my emotions and the ending (and being left with so many questions, but the ending was pulled off so well). And now every time I see an elegant chandelier I half expect to see Hellfire House and Kallia lowering from above.
If you love fantasy, mystery, circuses, magic, then this book will dazzle you.
pbraue13's review
3.0
I received an arc of this book due to the publishing program I was participating in and was so excited. It was ....ok. The descriptions and settings were beautiful, otherwise rather mediocre in my opinion. I'm not sure if I will continue the series...that's all I have to say.
laura_cs's review
5.0
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"Not all magic is good magic. Few people can use it, even fewer are born to it."
A desperate, dying city. A chance to achieve greatness. A competition of a lifetime. A showgirl who aspires for more. A magician without power. A shadowy master of illusions.
Spectaculore.
Kallia has spent her entire life at Hellfire House, and is the star of the show, descending from a golden chandelier to dazzle the audience with her magic. But she desires to be a true stage magician, and runs away to take part in a cut-throat competition to fulfill her dreams. However, nothing is as it seems and her past keeps haunting her--literally. What sinister secrets lie beneath the stage where dreams descend?
A dazzling debut from Angeles, "Where Dreams Descend" is a magical, twisting, burning, binding tale where "Caraval" meets "Moulin Rouge" to create a spellbinding work of genius.
"Not all magic is good magic. Few people can use it, even fewer are born to it."
A desperate, dying city. A chance to achieve greatness. A competition of a lifetime. A showgirl who aspires for more. A magician without power. A shadowy master of illusions.
Spectaculore.
Kallia has spent her entire life at Hellfire House, and is the star of the show, descending from a golden chandelier to dazzle the audience with her magic. But she desires to be a true stage magician, and runs away to take part in a cut-throat competition to fulfill her dreams. However, nothing is as it seems and her past keeps haunting her--literally. What sinister secrets lie beneath the stage where dreams descend?
A dazzling debut from Angeles, "Where Dreams Descend" is a magical, twisting, burning, binding tale where "Caraval" meets "Moulin Rouge" to create a spellbinding work of genius.