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A review by thenovelmaura
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? Yes
4.0
This book was our May pick for the Violent Queens Book Club, because we wanted to read a book by an AAPI author. I've been wanting to read this one for a while now and I'm glad we only have to wait until October for the sequel. Like many first books in a duology, you're left with more questions than answers and I need to know what happens next! I wrote my own description for this one because I wasn't loving the official version, so here it goes:
Raised in a secluded club called Hellfire House, Kallia is a powerful magician who wants to make her mark on the world. While plenty of men make their living as successful stage magicians, female performers tend to disappear or fade into obscurity. So when Kallia hears about a competition to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, she sets out for the mysterious city of Glorian, determined to put on a show-stopping performance. Little does she know that she'll have to contend with sexist judges, her controlling ex-mentor, and a cursed city that seems to be causing the accidents and disappearances that are befalling her competitors.
I'll start by saying that I love an arrogant main character as long as they have the skill to back up the attitude. And Kallia earned every haughty sneer and challenge she threw out! She was almost always the most powerful person in the room and she knew it, so it was frustrating to see how the odds were stacked against her. Her assistant was another standout character and I had to smile every time Aaros graced us with his presence.
The world-building was solid; this book takes place in a very isolated setting so I'd like to see more of Soltair in the sequel. I got a good sense of a few key locations, but the rest of the land isn't discussed in detail. I also took issue with the pacing at the end of the book and thought the last hundred pages could have been condensed down to keep things as action-packed as the first few Acts. But again, the grande finale was suitably dramatic and I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the sequel! Don't miss this one if you're looking for magic, a foreboding atmosphere, and a slow-burn romance.
Raised in a secluded club called Hellfire House, Kallia is a powerful magician who wants to make her mark on the world. While plenty of men make their living as successful stage magicians, female performers tend to disappear or fade into obscurity. So when Kallia hears about a competition to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, she sets out for the mysterious city of Glorian, determined to put on a show-stopping performance. Little does she know that she'll have to contend with sexist judges, her controlling ex-mentor, and a cursed city that seems to be causing the accidents and disappearances that are befalling her competitors.
I'll start by saying that I love an arrogant main character as long as they have the skill to back up the attitude. And Kallia earned every haughty sneer and challenge she threw out! She was almost always the most powerful person in the room and she knew it, so it was frustrating to see how the odds were stacked against her. Her assistant was another standout character and I had to smile every time Aaros graced us with his presence.
The world-building was solid; this book takes place in a very isolated setting so I'd like to see more of Soltair in the sequel. I got a good sense of a few key locations, but the rest of the land isn't discussed in detail. I also took issue with the pacing at the end of the book and thought the last hundred pages could have been condensed down to keep things as action-packed as the first few Acts. But again, the grande finale was suitably dramatic and I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the sequel! Don't miss this one if you're looking for magic, a foreboding atmosphere, and a slow-burn romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship