e-ARC Review: Where Dreams Descend

Review: Where Dreams Descend

Title: Where Dreams Descend

Author: Janella Angeles

To Be Published: 2 June 2020

Pages: 432

Format: e-ARC from Netgalley, Kindle edition

Rating: 4.5/5 stars (rounded up on Goodreads to 5/5)

Synopsis (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

Review:

I received an e-ARC of this book from Netgalley

WOW!

2020 is starting off strong with a fantastic book from a debut author. Full of mystery, suspense, magic, and great dialogue, Where Dreams Descend is what has been missing from YA for quite some time – an original plot, complex characters, and motives that felt meaningful and kept me on my toes as a reader.

There’s a lot going on in this book. Kallia’s complicated existence with Jack -who is nothing short of a mystery, the treatment of female magicians, a city that is possibly cursed, a magician trying to reconcile his past, and a competition that leads to magicians going missing.

Despite so much happening at once, Angeles is a magician in her own right, by keeping the plot moving smoothly. Both new and experienced YA readers of all ages will enjoy the suspense of this book and will note the subtle influences of Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge that give an already incredible book a little extra dose of magic.

Magic and chaos are juggled in the most beautiful, fascinating way that are complicated by wonderful prose. With the turn of every page, readers will feel tension (both romantic and stressful), the pull of magic, and something sinister lurking within the pages – ready to steal the show and possibly more.

Where Dreams Descend is a beautiful debut that I highly encourage everyone pick up and read. It’s the right mix of ominous and fun with characters that are brimming with development and growth, and there is plenty of symbolism to dissect and ponder over until the sequel! Do not miss this book!