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4/5 books
I received an e-arc from Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review
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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
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Where Dreams Descend is the first book in the Kingdom of Cards duology.
We are introduced to Kallia and Jack at the Hellfire House, a place run by Jack, no one really knows who he is or what it is he does, but Kallia is the star of the show there. Jack has offered to teach Kallia about magic and how to properly wield it. Jack hears the patrons whisper about this magical competition in the nearby city of Gloian. Little does he know that KIllia also know about this competition and wants to join in.
Jack has warned Kallia many times about leaving the house and going to Glorian, but Kallia ignores the warnings and heads for the competition
Once in Gloriana, Killia finds out things are not as easy as she thought they would be. Being the only female magician to enter does not have the favor in her odds. She doesn’t let that stop her, that just makes her more determined to win the competition.
There are a few other characters that make an impact on Kallia, none more than the Daring Demarco who happened to be the youngest of the judges. He has some secrets of his own and to why he’s in Gloriana and why he chooses to not use is magic.
When events take place during the competition that turn dangerous and unexplainable it’s clear that there is something else going on but no one is quite sure what it is or why.
I did enjoy how the author made the city dark and grey, and the contrast of Kalllia and her outfits both on and off the stage. Kallia seems to be that beacon in a storm, you just couldn’t take your eye’s off of her and I think she wanted to make sure that Kaillia stood out like she did.
There is a small bit of romance in the book, but it’s not a focal point.
I didn’t know what to expect going into this book. I did enjoy this book, and look forward to the second one when it’s out.
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Author bio:

JANELLA ANGELES is a Filipino-American author who got her start in writing through consuming glorious amounts of fanfiction at a young age—which eventually led to penning a few of her own, and later on, creating original stories from her imagination. A lifelong lover of books, she’s lucky enough to be working in the business of publishing them on top of writing them. She currently resides in Massachusetts, where she’s most likely to be found listening to musicals on repeat and daydreaming too much for her own good. Where Dreams Descend is her first book.
Buy Link: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/where-dreams-descend/
Social Links: Twitter: @Janella_Angeles // Instagram: @Janella_Angeles
I’m glad you like it! I myself have been debating picking this up at some point because it sounds amazing and that cover is beautiful!
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