Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles

"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."

Magical casinos and card games, whisky glasses, and old fashioned, luxury hotels. Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles describes an aesthetic that matches its sparkling, red and black cover. The book’s vintage film ambiance is complete with showgirls, gray weather, and lots of mystery.

Described as “ a combination of Moulin Rouge and Phantom Of The Opera,” Where Dreams Descend follows Kallia, a bold and determined showgirl magician at the Hellfire House. She can conjure fire with the snap of her fingers and is one, ambitious performer. But all Kallia really wants is freedom and success. She doesn’t know much about how she even ended up at Hellfire House or why the House’s former master, Sire, took her in. After Sire dies, his son Jack becomes the master and helps Kallia hone her magic and warns her about the world around them. Then, Kallia escapes after discovering Jack had been creating illusions to trick her into staying at the House.

Through the dark woods, Kallia escapes to Glorian, the mysterious city where she’s dreamed of competing in “Spectaculore.” Nobody knows Glorian’s past, but the entirety of Soltare knows its rumors. Here, Kallia is hoping to make her big break.

"Make no mistake, I know I don't have to prove a single thing to them. What matters most is what I prove to myself. Giving up would be an insult to everything I know I'm capable of. And I've already come this far."

In Glorian, there’s lots of egotistical men in top hats, striving to be the next greatest magician. Afterall, only men can compete, but their magic is pitiful. The one thing they can do is fear Kallia, a woman who’s more powerful than all the other men combined. To point out, feminism is a major theme in this story. From the protagonist Kallia’s fierce characteristics to the judgement she receives from her male peers. The few rooting for her are the one’s making money off her and her close friends, Aaros and Daron, who respect her.

"He didn't have to know to be her friend. He was just there to be there, and for that he'd become her truest friend."

Something I want to point out: mystery. There’s a lot of mystery in this book and, since this isn’t a standalone novel, most of the questions in Where Dreams Descend are unanswered. Therefore, there is a major cliffhanger. For starters, the brooding, youngest judge of Spectaculore is Daron. In the past, he used to be a great performing magician who gave up magic after a tragic accident left his partner missing. Daron comes to Glorian searching for his partner and becomes entangled in the mysteries surrounding the city. The city of Glorian comes alive once Kallia arrives and Jack reveals it’s after her. What is inside Glorian that makes dangerous accidents occur and take down magicians in orderly fashion?

This has happened before and Jack has tried preventing it. Although his actions are unethical by toying with Kallia’s mind, are they for the greater good? Why are odd things happening because Kallia visits Glorian? These are some of the questions that the sequel will have to reveal.

As for romance, the relationship between Kallia and Daron is wonderfully done. Their romance slowly developes throughout the story, building to a climax in a sort of “will they, won’t they” manner. Because both characters are well-rounded, it makes you cheer for the couple. Kallia and daron’s contrasting identities are nicely fleshed out. Plus, the romance is filled with tension until they finally realize they have feelings for each other. Along the way, Daron teaches Kallia that magic isn’t who you are; you are more than your magic.

Overall, the characters are at the forefront. Bold personalities stand out against the gray, gloomy backdrop of Glorian. Also, we don’t know much about the world outside of Glorian. Although, the most we know about Glorian itself is that it holds many secrets and is haunted by something. Also, let's not forget that mirrors are an important aspect in this story. Mirrors are very powerful and magical objects that are dangerous for magicians. They play a major role.

As for the writing, it literally sets the stage with an impressively compelling voice: excellent word choice that isn’t riddled with description, but contains details that grabs you, pulling readers into this magical world. Towards the final quarter, I do feel the pacing could’ve been faster. There’s a lot of foreshadowing that doesn’t come to fruition in the first book, keeping a lot of discovery on hold for the next book. However, I wanted the latter half to reveal something, because the dialogue began to circle itself. Except for that, Where Dreams Descend contains thrilling storytelling that’s written with intention and intrigue.