If there was ever a time I had to remember to breathe, it was while I was reading this incredible final act to the world of Glorian. Filled with magic and suspense, Janella Angeles once again dazzles audiences with the tantalising allure of illusions and mirror worlds that have deadly consequences. Much like its inspiration, the second act of this story feels like it’s filled with a little romantic tension, an increasing feeling of madness, and a thrilling amount of daring stunts.
Before we jump into this review, steer away now if you haven’t read Where Dreams Descend because there might be spoilers.
Now, if you HAVE read Where Dreams Descend, you know that the magical competition that Kallia entered has had DISASTROUS consequences. Daron Demarco has fallen from grace and become front page news, but all that matters to him is what happened to the young woman he fell for. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to get her back, even embarking on a journey that could end with his own life on the line. Kallia, on the other hand, has never been more lost. With an untrustworthy Jack by her side, she’s got to navigate a world that shows both illusions and memories, but distinguishing which is the truth is the real puzzle. She’ll have to go head to head with this world’s game master who has the power to destroy the world she left behind, and the boy her heart won’t let her forget.
Every aspect of this story is engaging and I cannot even begin to express how much I loved this story. It’s set up really well, and it genuinely feels like I’m sitting in the front row, and the curtain is rising on the intermission of a show. Tensions are already high and steadily climbing. Kallia is lost and stuck with the one person she can’t trust. She’s a young woman made of anger and rage, with a mulish desire to teach those who have wronged her a lesson. At the same time, she’s suffered a loss that she’s having to deal with at the same time. Jack, of course, continues to be a frustrating enigma…but now we get to see a slightly different and more desperate version of someone that wants to protect as well as keep secrets. Meanwhile, Daron is suffering from anxiety, but also fear. Each and every one of these characters seems to be ripped apart just enough to make them desperate. That bleeds into the reader.
Angeles seems to captivate not only the emotions of these characters, but the magic of this world into something that could be tangible if we closed our eyes long enough. I want to say that it’s fast paced, but I was honestly driven by my own desire to see what was going to happen next. Not only that, but there’s a very gorgeous romantic tension that I think readers will be writing fan-fiction about for years to come. I loved reading every minute of it. Every stare, kiss, and touch will send every fan of this story into a mess of delighted squeals.
There are very few books that I’ve ever hesitated to finish because I didn’t want them to end. When Night Breaks was definitely one of them. Everything about this book called to me, and I genuinely cannot wait to see more come from Angeles. She writes very engaging characters that stick with you, with strong heroines that know what they want. What I love even more is that these characters are flawed, hurt, or growing in some positive way. It’s not about wallowing for an entire book, but about learning to manage and cope with hard emotions and situations and becoming someone even greater.
The characters are all well developed, and we get to explore the world beyond the mirror. So many questions that I had in the first book were answered, and the ending was both satisfying and like dark chocolate, a little bittersweet at the end. I think readers will enjoy it as much as I did. This is a duology that should be on everyone’s radar.
When Night Breaks is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
Will you be picking up When Night Breaks? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
The competition has come to a disastrous end, and Daron Demarco’s fall from grace is now front page news. But little matters to him beyond Kallia, the contestant he fell for who is now lost to this world and in the hands of a dangerous magician. Daron is willing to do whatever it takes to find her. Even if it means embarking on a dark and treacherous journey, risking more than just his life, with no promise of return.
After awaking in darkness, Kallia has never felt more lost. Especially with Jack by her side, the magician with who has the answers but cannot be trusted. Together, they must navigate a dazzling world where mirrors show memories and illusions shadow every corner, one ruled by a powerful game master who could all too easily destroy the world she left behind — and the boy she can’t seem to forget. With time running out, Kallia must embrace her role in a darker destiny, or lose everyone she loves, forever.
