A review by girlonbooks
Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0



๐Ÿ”ฎ๐Ÿ”ฎ๐Ÿ”ฎ๐Ÿ”ฎ (four stars, as rated in gloomy-doomy crystal balls)


Kallia, a talented and powerful showgirl, has lived her entire life in an illusion. Her patron, Jack, known by many as only "The Magician," has trapped her in a specter where, night after night, she enchants audiences from the stage with her beauty and skill. Outsmarting him one evening, Kallia escapes to the city of Glorian, and immediately auditions for a place in the competition of magicians. All she has ever wanted is to be recognized in her own rite for her magic and when she is paired with a young and renowned judge named Demarco - a man with a mysterious past of his own - that Kallia's magic ascends to brand new levels. Both enthralled and terrified by skills she does not fully understand, Kallia realizes that the world of magic and dreams could cost her more than she'd ever imagined. Though that may be the least of her worries when Jack suddenly re-appears...

"Not all magic is good magic."


Janella Angeles, you evil genius. My, oh my, oh my. I was not expecting this book. First, talk about some serious Phantom of the Opera vibes but with a bit of Moulin Rouge and The Night Circus built in. Basically, queue up the organ music, I am here for all of it. Also, when was the last time you read a book of that sort with multiple WOC at the helm? Hell to the yesssss for that kind of legitimate representation.

I realized about halfway through this book that the end was going to be unsatisfying. This is likely the reason for a less than 4 star (๐Ÿ”ฎ) average GR rating as well. This book keeps on laying groundwork for โ€œThe Last Actโ€ (aka book two) right up until the climax. Usually that really bugs me but for some reason it worked here. I also feel that depending on how well the next book wraps things up, I could be persuaded to bump my rating to a five...

โœจ Rep in this book: WOC protagonist, queer supporting characters

โœจ Content warnings for this book: psychological manipulation and control, sexism, missing persons

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