Where Dreams Descend: A Novel

Janella Angeles

Aug 2020 · Kingdom of Cards Book 1 · Sold by Wednesday Books

About this ebook

"Vibrant imagery, jaw-dropping set pieces, sizzling romantic tension, and unstoppable heroine Kallia bring this ambitious debut novel to spectacular life. Fans of Caraval and The Night Circus will be delighted!" - Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn

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.

"[A] spellbinding melody of a book, and the true magic is how Angeles puts all the best parts of an enrapturing theatrical performance onto paper and ink. From the gripping twists in the first pages all the way to the final, heartbreaking crescendo, Where Dreams Descend will surge you to your feet in a standing ovation.” – Sara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of the Snow Like Ashes trilogy

Ratings and reviews

"Not all magic is good magic. Few people can use it, even fewer are born to it. Since the closing of Zarose Gate, our world has toyed with the magic that poured into the air generations ago, turning the insignificant into the extraordinary. The human into the divine. But even within the divine lies ugliness." I've said it before, for those of you who follow me.. I don't read a lot of books that call magic wielders magicians. Somehow, though they're no different than wizards or sorcerers, the simple change of term conjures something different in my mind.. those of stage performers pulling rabbits out of hats or playing card tricks.. basic illusions that rely on sleight of hand, misdirection, and so forth. All that aside, I still try not to be too influenced by my own internal prejudices. If a story sounds interesting, I try to give it a chance even if something about it normally keeps me away.. and 'Where Dreams Descend'.. the first book in the Kingdom of Cards series by Janella Angeles.. is absolutely one of those titles. Not only are the magic wielders called magicians, the story is sort of rooted around a circus and that's also something that just doesn't normally draw my attention. As a child, as much as anyone else.. I was fascinated with the Big Top and all the 'magic' within.. as an adult, not so much. "Some mirrors are like windows designed to be more convincing than others. You should always approach them with care. Always think before trusting your reflection." The Conquering Circus is in town.. a traveling act accompanying a sort of reckless ringmaster who deals in magic and sensationalism. In a city that has been veritably locked away from prying eyes for years, the mayor has invited a competition called Spectaculor in an attempt to draw business and tourists.. thereby infusing money into their economy. A select group of magicians will pass the auditions and get into the running to become the next headliner for the circus, but there are biases at play from the start. It seems, a woman's place in the magic world is in service, while men are meant to perform for crowds of admirers. Unfortunately, Kallia is unconvinced. Powerful in her own right and with little left to lose, she'll do anything to win.. even ignoring the threats and disappearances that stack up around her. On the run from her mentor and mastor, the keeper of the club she's lived and worked in for longer than she can recall, the mystery of him is beginning to unfold when she meets Demarco, the brooding, withdrawn young judge who has left the business far ahead of retiring age for reasons unknown.. and his past is slowly coming to light. "..opportunity was the last thing on Daron's mind when he reassessed the Alastor Place--more a cemetery of dreams than the stage to make them come alive." I really went into this story without a lot of expectation. To be fair, I was a little concerned it wouldn't live up to the hype the masses were pouring onto it, but it's a beautifully engaging story told in methodically paced measures. The imagery is dreamlike at times and those dreams aren't always pleasant, but they're constantly swirling, drawing the reader deeper into the tale. Angeles is an eloquent wordsmith the likes of which I experience rarely. In fact, I can think of only a handful I've read amongst current authors in the last year and most of them are indie writers, still trying to reach the greater audience. Interestingly, though the story is about a circus and magicians, the cover put me in mind of Phantom of the Opera.. and I do feel like there are parallels here. There's the young gifted star, the master behind the proverbial curtains, and those around her that seem to further inspire her hunger for freedom. In addition to them, the competition between the field of magicians is intense. The game is dangerous to begin with, heightened by those predispositions, and infusing by what appears to be a powerful, malevolent force. Though Jack is arguably a villain- (Complete review at Betwixt The Sheets.)

About the author

JANELLA ANGELES is a Filipino-American bestselling 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.