My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
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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REVIEW
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
The Star, the Master, and the Magician aka Kallia, Jack and Demarco. What can I say about these characters and this mysterious world where magic comes at a price and there are far worse creatures lurking behind mirrors?
Where Dreams Descend is a fantasy set in a world where cities are both scary and magical and at the same time exists a forest that also tries to devour one of them. Into the forest Jack lives, having a private club rife with gambling and magic. With Kallia as his 'angel'.
When Kallia discovers treachery, she escapes and embarks to the city searching for a way to make her luck. A traveling circus and a Magician competition are the ways to do so.
Too bad women aren't allowed to be Magicians.
What I liked were the rife descriptions Janella Angeles gave to her world. I could feel the cold, the dread and the sparkle all at the same time with the characters that struggled to discover the mysteries behind the falling city.
But at the same time, I felt a little annoyed with Kallia. She was too cocky for me and sometimes she could have easily consulted with her new friends and find a solution to her problems. Demarco, who surely felt like a "Raoul" for me (from the Phantom of the Opera) also held more secrets and he could also be more developed. Thankfully the last pages of the book gave me a glimpse of the strong character he can grow to be.
I both loved and hated Jack. He is mysterious and definitely scary but in a way that reminded me both a stalker and a guardian. Since there was lots of worldbuilding here and not much revelations I'll anxiously wait to see what will happen in the second book since it ended in such a cliffhanger.
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