--- title: "Review: Where Dreams Descend, by Janella Angeles" description: Review of Where Dreams Descend, a young adult fantasy from Janella Angeles with magicians and strong romantic elements. image: https://www.loveinpanels.com/hubfs/where-dreams-descend.jpg --- [![LoveinPanelswhite.png](https://www.loveinpanels.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LoveinPanelswhite.png?width=640&height=225&name=LoveinPanelswhite.png "LoveinPanelswhite.png")](http://loveinpanels.com/) Search ![Where Dreams Descend Cover](https://www.loveinpanels.com/hs-fs/hubfs/where-dreams-descend.jpg?height=500&name=where-dreams-descend.jpg) **Title**: [Where Dreams Descend](https://www.loveinpanels.com/books?id=38750247654) **Author**: - [Janella Angeles](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?author=Janella+Angeles) **Heat**: PG-12 **Genre(s)**: [Romance](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?genres=Romance) [Historical](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?genres=Historical) [Fantasy](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?genres=Fantasy) [Young Adult](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?genres=Young+Adult) **Tropes**: [Enemies to Lovers](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?tropes=Enemies+to+Lovers) [Ward/Guardian](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?tropes=Ward%2FGuardian) [Forced Proximity](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?tropes=Forced+Proximity) **Tags**: [circus](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?tags=circus) [magic](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?tags=magic) [magician](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?tags=magician) [competition](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?tags=competition) [gothic](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?tags=gothic) [secrets](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?tags=secrets) [love triangle](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?tags=love%20triangle) [f-m](https://www.loveinpanels.com/booksearch?tags=f-m) **Where to Buy or Read**: If you'd like to pick up a copy of this book, please consider using one of these links to support the site:**  [Amazon](https://amzn.to/3k0XFmx)  ◊  [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/116/9781250204356)  ◊  [Kobo](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=2J8ZNsFdbgk&mid=37217&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kobo.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Febook%2Fwhere-dreams-descend)** **Synopsis from the Creator**: 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. # [Review: Where Dreams Descend, by Janella Angeles](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/where-dreams-descend) [fa icon="calendar"] Dec 14, 2020 2:16:15 PM / by [Suzanne](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/author/suzanne) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) When I heard that *Where Dreams Descend* was being pitched as a gothic circus fantasy romance, I was intrigued. Then I saw the cover and I swear I gasped. The cover blurb from Claire Legrand says it's perfect for fans of *Caraval* and *The Night Circus* and while that is absolutely true, I got some pretty strong *Phantom of the Opera* vibes as well. Kallia has grown into young adulthood at The Hellfire Club, performing and learning under the tutelage of Jack, The Master. Their relationship is clearly unhealthy, but there's something darkly seductive about it. If you consider Jack and The Phantom, they're both possessive, physically menacing and determined to teach the heroine to be the best at her art. But when Kallia escapes to the nearby city through the woods to enter a competition for magicians, she realizes that Jack may not be the biggest evil in her life. The magic system is a little confusing at first, but eventually I just went with it. There are elements reminiscent of the tarot-esque system in *Caraval,* but with four suits representing the four families who founded the city. We never see those families and the city seems to have no collective history or memories. Angeles plays with the idea of memory in a few different ways, but it's rather spoilery to get into. I really enjoyed the romance in *Where Dreams Descend*, and this is where the second parallel to *The Phantom of the Opera* comes in. In opposition to the dark/obsessive romance with Jack is the sweeter, seemingly healthier relationship Kallia develops with Demarco. I loved them together. Here we come to the third similarity: the threat of imminent doom. As the competition continues, people go missing, show up in a magical coma, or worse. The stakes get higher, threats appear from every side and a bigger, unknowable danger lurks in every mirror. *Where Dreams Descend* had me totally hooked. The audiobook is narrated by three different narrators and I thought they did a great job capturing the different POV characters and building the suspenseful atmosphere. My biggest complaint is that I got to that cliffhanger ending and wanted the sequel immediately... and I have to wait another 8 months. If you're a fan of *Caraval*, *The Night Circus*, circus or magician stories, or *The Phantom of the Opera*, I think this is worth a read. *** If you'd like to pick up a copy of this book, please consider using one of these links to support the site:**  [Amazon](https://amzn.to/3k0XFmx)  ◊ [Apple Books](https://books.apple.com/us/book/where-dreams-descend/id1484358328?mt=11&app=itunes&at=1010lHNt)  ◊  [Barnes & Noble](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8814288/type/dlg/https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/where-dreams-descend-janella-angeles/1132911590?ean=9781250204356)  ◊  [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/116/9781250204356)  ◊  [Kobo](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=2J8ZNsFdbgk&mid=37217&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kobo.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Febook%2Fwhere-dreams-descend)** *** **Content Warnings**: people are disappeared, removal of eyes/blinding during assault, magical coma, misogyny, forced removal of memories, abusive/controlling relationship *I received a digital copy of this book for review but purchased and read my own audio copy.* Topics: [review](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/topic/review) ![right.png](https://www.loveinpanels.com/hs-fs/hubfs/right.png?width=640&name=right.png "right.png") ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Support Love in Panels [![Buy an eBook From Kobo Today](https://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=2J8ZNsFdbgk&bids=551651.109&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=0)](https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=2J8ZNsFdbgk&offerid=551651.109&subid=0&type=4) [- Recent - Popular - Categories ### Lists by Topic - [review (401)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/review) - [new releases (83)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/new-releases) - [best bets (52)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/best-bets) - [interview (34)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/interview) - [guest post (27)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/guest-post) - [cover reveal (17)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/cover-reveal) - [excerpt (14)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/excerpt) - [bingo (6)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/bingo) - [announcement (5)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/announcement) ](http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-8814288-11820649) ### Posts by Topic - [review (401)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/review) - [new releases (83)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/new-releases) - [best bets (52)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/best-bets) - [interview (34)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/interview) - [guest post (27)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/guest-post) - [cover reveal (17)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/cover-reveal) - [excerpt (14)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/excerpt) - [bingo (6)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/bingo) - [announcement (5)](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/tag/announcement) [see all](https://www.loveinpanels.com/prose/where-dreams-descend#) ### Recent Posts #### About Us Love in Panels is two blogs, each with their own searchable database. 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