Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Blog Tour & Review of Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles


Read for: Anticipated Release/ Requested Reviews/Blog Tour

Synopsis: "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."

My Review: I was really intrigued by the synopsis of this one and was excited to read it. Admittedly, while I did enjoy Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge movies, I am not one who has watched them repeatedly. While I think it is a pretty accurate description of this book, it is definitely its own thing. I really enjoyed the dark and mysterious atmosphere and vibe of the book. With that said though, the world building lacked a bit for me, things were left a little to mysterious for my liking. A lot of the questions I had about just the world itself were still left unanswered at the end of the book. This is the first book in a duology and I am hoping that things will become a bit more clear in the second book. It is also a very slow paced book, while there is a bit of action, most of it is over in a flash. I got the impression that while this book has a story arc, it still have the feel of simply setting the stage for the second book. With all the smoke and mirrors throughout the book, I was also very disconnected with the characters. I don't feel like I ever really got to know any of them, nor was I really routing for them. It was a solid debut book, but I am really hoping for a bit more development and growth in the second book.


My Rating: I am thinking that maybe I am missing something with this book. It was slow and tedious to get through but it feels like there is something more to it than what I read.  I was left with so many questions but I don't think all of it was intended.  I am really in the middle on this one and give it a rating of Two Paws and a Stump Wag.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.  The above is my honest review and opinion.



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.



Where Dreams Descend was just released today, so you can obtain your own copy in print or digital format now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, directly from Macmillan or request it at your local library or bookstore.

 

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