When Night Breaks

Kingdom of Cards #2

by Janella Angeles

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Magic, Retellings

464 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 5, 2021

About the author

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. She is represented by Thao Le of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. WHERE DREAMS DESCEND, Book 1 in her debut fantasy Kingdom of Cards duology, will be out June 2, 2020 from Wednesday Books.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a good sequel and apt conclusion to the duology, but sadly i didnt enjoy it as much as ‘where dreams descend.’

this picks up right where the first book leaves off. the reader is introduced to a darker, yet somewhat familiar, world with new characters and the mysterious secrets of old ones. theres a lot of new content to enjoy and i think readers who were super invested in what happened to kallia, jack, daron, and eva will find this installment engaging.

however, its missing the two major components that made me fall in love with the series in the first place. first, the connection between daron and kallia. they are separated this entire sequel up until the 75% mark. i loved their tension and romance in the first book and didnt quite enjoy them on their own as much as i did when they are together. and second, the magical competition. i loved the atmosphere it created in ‘where dreams descend.’ and while this sequel obviously has magic, it doesnt take center stage in the same way it did in the first book.

again, im happy with this conclusion and find it suits the overall story, but i didnt personally love it as much as the storys beginning.

thank you st. martins press/wednesday books for the ARC!

↠ 3 stars

[Lia Carstairs]

YAYY I GOT AN ARC. excited to see how this endss

Thank you Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

_____

Sept.9, 2020:
The—THE COVER

The—THE SYNOPSIS

Me—


Feb.12, 2020:
Another book that ends in a cliffhanger................
AND it comes out 2021!!!!
I don't think I'm going to survive this.....

[Grace A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kallia entered a world of mirrors filled with exceptional magicians drunk on revelry, cruelty, and illusions. The longer you are in the mirror world, the more reality slips away replaced by irresistible pleasantries created by the ever present illusions of the Lord and dealer of the mirror world, Roth.
Roth believed Kallia was the way out of the false world he’s been trapped in and will stop at nothing to break free. Roth breaking free, is bad news not only in the mirror world but to the true world. That was of little concern to him though. He will have his way no matter the cost. It is up to Kallia, Jack, Daron, Eva and her crew to find a way and face the impossible magician, who has sold his soul to the devils.
It was an interesting read and probably a reflection of the fame associated with today’s show business. I enjoyed it. 3 stars.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers at St. Martin’s press for allowing me to read an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

"Using magic is the pull, but forcing it on others is the push so push first. "

After that jaw dropping cliffhanger in Where Dreams Descend, couldn't wait to read this book. Not only to be captivated once again by the magical, beautiful and intriguing world Janella created, but also to find out what happened when Kallia got sucked into that mirror--and how Demarco was going to find her!

I felt like the book started out a bit slow and the plot twist surrounding one of the characters was a bit predictable but this book did not disappoint in any way. New characters with some plot twists, old characters you thought you hated but realized you may not hate them so much, beautiful reunions, sacrifices, higher stakes, all mixed together to create a captivating and satisfying conclusion.

This I truly one of my favorite series and I am excited to read more of this author's work in the future!

Full review to come closer to the publication date.

4/5 ✰’s

[rish · Rating 2 out of 5]

★½☆☆☆ // 1.5 s t a r s
My Book Blog — Apollo Approved

Thank you St. Martin's Press for sending me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

Review
You know. I didn't have the highest hopes for this because after the first book ended all I could think was that it would've made a brilliant standalone, and could've even been one of those "cycle-type books" where it ends on a cliffhanger that leaves you reeling but also leaves you guessing in the best way and subconsciously, you don't want a sequel because you're actually happy with how it ended on a shocking note. (*cough* The Burning God *cough* If We Were Villains *cough*) That's just my take, but I'm sure many do and will feel the same.

(I just feel the need to drop in and say it honestly makes me sad sometimes when I really only have negative things to say about books, especially after reading the Acknowledgments and understanding how difficult the book was the write for the author…It makes me sad, but also I have to be honest, I guess?)

Okay, let's do good first. I liked that Jacks was in this more than the first. I like that he got to see his character develop almost in a way that wasn't possible in the first. I liked feeling like Kallia was justified in her "like" of him and that it wasn't bordering on Stockholm Syndrome like it did in the first.

I loved Vain and Ruthless and Malice. They were the trio that was missing in the first book, for real. (I do think the author mixed up Ruthless and Malice a few times though, hopefully that's fixed in the first edition since I guess this is less edited because it's an ARC.)

Also, can't deny that I loved the magic of the world. It's not original by any means, but it was written quite well and the world itself was nice too. (I'm upset I can't think of a single thing else to say about liking it uGH.)

The repetitiveness straight up killed me. I swear, everything that happened seemed like it happened at least twice. Every show felt the same, the duels kept happening, the random conversations and moments were no different than past ones. Especially when you consider the first book, the plot in this literally seemed like a Walmart version of the first; which is so sad because the first felt really interesting at times, but this was just: no.

Along with repetition, I truly just felt the book was confusing. To me at least, I thought that no message was actually portrayed, no event that happened actually seemed like it happened? And there were time-skips of sorts where things would just kind of abruptly end and I'd be like um and…? Nothing really made sense, and everything felt rushed even though the book felt incredibly long and slow.

Another thing I disliked was the questions. Where Dreams Descend admittedly ended with a lot, but all in all it had so much intrigue that it didn't matter. When Night Breaks literally just answered all those questions that were left unanswered in Where Dreams Descend, but where was the oomph! It was just plain old sitting and q and a…It reminded me in a way of The Crown of Gilded Bones which if we know me, we all know I truly despise and wish i could get that part of my life back.

The romance was also so iffy. In the first book I already didn't love Kallia and Demarco's relationship and honestly felt like the chemistry that could've been possible wasn't there at all. It really just felt like a convenient thing, but I was hoping When Night Breaks would fix that issue and just make me ship them like crazy; and yet, it did the exact opposite.

❝ Everything he taught her, to keep him out of her head. Using magic is the pull, but forcing it on others is the push so push first. ❞

Hence, I truly can't make myself recommend this book to anyone…But if you don't mind starting and never finished series, then definitely consider reading Where Dreams Descend and maybe ignore the last few chapters.

Read...If You Liked...
• Ace of Shades
• Incendiary

[h o l l i s · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reading experience could easily be swept under the slumpy and miserable rug -- so, as always, take this with a grain of salt -- but equally I know a really good engaging book, which I fully expected this to be, could've pulled me out of that. And instead..

This is a long book. And it felt like a long book because it didn't feel like anything was happening; there's so much uncertainty in light of how book one ended and we get even more things teased and tantalized and held just out of reach for so much of this book that by the time things actually started being explained, or started to happen, I just didn't care. And this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year because I had enjoyed book one so much. Was that the fluke? Apparently I was in a slump during that read, too, but I persevered and managed to enjoy it nonetheless. Therefore, should any of this current disappointment be blamed on yet another slump? Who knows. What even is enjoyment.

What made so much of this harder to bear, too, was Kallia, our main protagonist, was just so.. unlikeable? Insufferable? I did not remember her to be this way at all in book one. And yes, her circumstances have changed, but.. yikes. I couldn't even lose myself in her, or any, character when the plot was bogging me down. Overall this just didn't win for me and I'm bummed.

That said, if you enjoyed book one, the magic, the competition, the romance, you'll get most of that again in this follow up, but in a different way. I hope, if you are likewise holding your breath for this instalment, it works better for you than it did for me.

** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

---

This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.

[Aarushi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am… very conflicted about this book.

Did I love the ending? Probably not. But it’s so beautifully written and the world building is stunning, among others. It was hard, at times, to get through some of the plot, but I did overall have a good time reading it, despite it taking me forever to read.

I am a Jack simp, though 😩 that man deserves everything, my favorite character hands down.

Firstly, keep in mind that my memory is very spotty because I read the first book around August of 2020. I have read something like nearly 100 books since then 😃 so at my discretion i probably should have reread the first book to get a fresher on… well, everything.

(for reference i remembered nearly nothing about the first book before reading this, and i sort of want to reread the entire duology to get a better idea of how i like it).

When Night Breaks follows Kallia and Demarco again as we follow their story. Demarco is now a disgraced magician, who pretty much everyone hates now (because they think he’s responsible for the events of the ballroom). On the other hand, Demarco’s just trying to save Kallia from the same fate his sister endured by looking for her day and night, to no avail.

Kallia doesn’t know where she is. Armed with one of her greatest enemies, possible ally, Jack, she has to traverse a new world without being murdered and/or ruining her own world. It’s looking pretty grim for her and Demarco, and if they want to save themselves and the world, they must find their way back to each other, before it’s too late.

characters -

Kallia- I LOVE Kallia. I love how bold and confident she is, but kind and caring. She plays her part very well, both in the book and as a main character: i may not have agreed with her decisions at times but i find her an excellently-written protagonist.

Demarco>/b>- it’s not that I don’t like Demarco, it’s just that i found him a little annoying at times. I did understand where he came from in his reasoning, but his character (something i somewhat remember) was reduced to all about Kallia. I wanted more of his own personality, more of the intriguing character we saw in Where Dreams Descend.

Jack- 🙌🙌 I LOVE JACK SO MUCH. I love all three main characters very much, but there’s something about this man. He deserved so much better. I was disappointed with how there was so much buildup for his character, especially with Kallia, just for that ending. I saw it coming but that’s one of the reasons i wished the ending was different.

Vain- Can I be honest? I hated Vain a lot. I liked her as Vain but her revelation felt not that great.

(SPOILER: I think the author should have left Eva missing, and not bring her back. Her scenes with Demarco were cute, yes, but leaving Eva missing would have left some mystery and interest, especially with Demarco’s background)

plot-

This is where my biggest problem probably was.

See, I can’t remember much about the first book’s plot 🥴 but I remember it being interesting and not boring. I found the first half of this book to be so boring.

The first half was really what made me take the most time in reading. It was hard to get through because everything felt repetitive. It wasn’t interesting and could have been way shorter, in my opinion.

But in the second half, I found the plot to be quite amazing, frankly. From Demarco and Kallia reuniting to the climax, I was entertained. Truly, in the first half, the only part I had a real problem with was Demarco’s POV because I found Kallia’s POV to be really exciting to read. Demarco’s POV felt really bland in comparison, mostly because it was made all about finding Kallia and not really anything else, but once his setting changed in the second half, I found it just as nice to read about.

I found the ending to be a little rushed, though, in its finale, and I wish it would have been a little better. I didn’t like how it ended for a couple characters and how it ended for the world, but it wasn’t too horrible that i boycott the entire book for it. I just wished for something grander, I suppose, after all the grandeur of the duology.

Overall, I think the second half made up for the first half, which is why I’m giving it such a high rating. The plot twists were predictable, but also unpredictable, in a way? The author put a nice spin on the story that was actually pretty different from the first book.

writing-

The writing in this book and duology is stunning. Beautiful to read, some of my favorite writing out there. It makes the story and world so much more magical than it already is. Angeles really has a way with words; while the book in the beginning was more lengthy than i think it should have been, the writing was so pretty to read.

Overall, the descriptions were one of the things that made this book even better and one of the defining features. I am so very impressed with this author for the duology, especially since it’s her first series! Angeles needs much more hype everywhere, in my opinion, and deserves it ten hold for the stories she has written here.

world-building-

Another one of my favorites! The world-building is wonderfully done! This world is if you mixed Caraval and Kingdom of the Wicked; the dark beauty of Kingdom of the Wicked with the carnival-like magic of Caraval. But this series has something of its own, in the world-building department.

It’s so magical to read about. Yes, I will admit that most of the world building I had forgotten, and it did take some time for me to figure out the logistics of how it works, but the world is just as beautiful in this book as it was in the first book. The writing makes it even better.

I actually think I preferred this book’s world building more than the first book’s because the underworld and the alternate world thing was very cool, like with Alastor’s club-type setting and like with Jack.

The world, magic, and setting are one of highlights of this book and series, for me, and is one of the more compelling elements in this book.

overall-

(one more thing: i think the chemistry between kallia and jack was way better than with kallia and demarco in this one. it was the opposite in the first book, but i like the parallels and i’m always in for a good love triangle 😌 the romance is amazing in this book, in my opinion. it’s everything i want from a romance)

There were definitely things I didn’t love about this book, but I think the good trumps the bad by quite a lot. The positives outweigh the negatives, in any case.

Again, super impressed with most of this book besides a few minor things, and I think everyone should give this series and author a try. It’s very well written, especially with the characters and world-building, among others, and is a very underrated series. If you enjoy YA fantasy, then you should read this book!

I’m overall very happy with this sequel. I cannot say if i liked this book more or if i liked the first book more, but rest assured: this duology has become one of my all time favorites! READ THIS SERIES.

5 stars!

[Lindsay (pawsomereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
This sequel felt very different from its predecessor but I still enjoyed it! One thing I loved about Where Dreams Descend was the competition aspect and, while this book didn’t have that as a plot point, it still felt fast-paced and took on a bit more of an adventurous plot.
As with the first book, there was really great and immersive world building that took was included. The reader gets introduced to a whole new world that was really interesting and captivating.
Along with this new world came new characters like Vain and Herald who I really enjoyed. The supporting characters were so great and I think one of the high points of this book was Jack’s character arc. He might be one of my favorite characters now and I never would’ve guessed that after Where Dreams Descend.
I enjoyed the alternating POV between Kallia and Daron and it was definitely helpful to see the juxtaposition between the worlds they were separated between. I wish that Kallia and Daron weren’t separated for so much of the book. Obviously that was going to be a big point of conflict and drama after the ending of the first book but the romance and their relationship was something that really pulled me into the series so I wish this book had featured that more.
Overall this was a really satisfying duology and although I enjoyed the first book more, I had a fun time reading this fantastical and magical book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Night Breaks is an intense and immersive conclusion to the Kingdom of Card duology! The story picks up where Where Dreams Descend left off with Kallia and Jack in a world beyond the mirror they fell through. An alternate version of Glorian, Kallia and Jack face stakes that, if possible, are even higher than the first book. In the meantime, Demarco remains in Glorian frantically searching for any clues to Kallia’s whereabouts as Kallia tries to survive in her new surroundings and find a way home.

The story is captivating and immersive and so vivid. I love the author’s writing style and how quickly the story pulls you in. This is a unique world of magic, wonder, and danger, and the shows, the magic, and the fanfare are dazzling, vividly described, and easy to imagine. Everything is larger than life and glamorous and heightened, but nothing is as it seems. This concept of illusion versus reality is fascinatingly explored throughout the story, especially considering how much these lines blur. Kallia can’t trust anything or anyone, even the man she came through the mirror with.

I love that Jack’s character was expanded on in this book because I was so intrigued by him in the first book. Why does he try to confine Kallia? Is he good or bad? What are his true motives? This book delves more into his past, his connection to Kallia, his motives, and more. I like that he is so morally grey, and you never know if you should love or loathe him (though, I admit I LOVE him!!). His story is fantastic, as is Kallia’s.

Kallia is a great protagonist, and she goes through so much in this duology. I love her strength and grit and the way she faces her troubles head-on. Kallia is a survivor, and she is sharp, astute, and a bit cunning. These traits come in handy in this alternate world where competition is fierce and deadly, magic is incomparable, and deception is at an all-time high. Her character arc is so well done, and I enjoyed her growth throughout the duology.

We are introduced to many new characters in this alternate world, each mysterious and full of secrets. I thought I’d be disappointed that some of my favorite minor characters from the first book didn’t have bigger roles in this book (they’re in the book, just not a ton), but the new characters made up for it. Kallia and Jack meet some intriguing people in the alternate Glorian, and I enjoyed learning more about them, how they got there, and their roles in the story. Happily, has a large role in the story even though he is not with Kallia.

The story switches from Kallia to Demarco’s experiences, so you learn a lot about what happens after the debacle in Glorian. Demarco, who is still in Glorian, is relentless in his search for Kallia, and I love that he never gives up on her. His journey to find out more about Glorian, its history, and its connection to Kallia’s disappearance is so intriguing, and Demarco quickly learns that there are some secrets that powerful people don’t want revealed. Demarco’s journey is dangerous, but his love for Kallia fuels him.

Finally, I want to mention the author’s skillful use of symbols, imagery, and foreshadowing throughout the book, all of which add to the suspense and intrigue. Mirrors, in particular, are a strong symbol in the duology, and the imagery brings the setting alive. If I were still an English teacher, I would totally use passages of this book to teach these literary elements and show how much they add to the story.

I’m so thankful to NetGalley and Wednesday books for giving me an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. This was one of my most aniticipated reads of the year, and I really enjoyed it.

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Night Breaks goes in a very different direction than Where Dreams Descend and I'm still kind of processing the reading experience. You might now I am a HUGE fan of WDD and had ideas about where the sequel might go.

This wasn't what I was expecting and while that isn't necessarily a bad thing, I wish we'd gotten more of the dark fantasy and romantic tension that made me adore book one. There is some of it, and we certainly get a lot of answers to big questions from book 1, but this book overall has a very different vibe. It introduces a new place and a new cast of characters, a lot happens, but the emotional resonance and lush descriptions that were everywhere in WDD were more spotty in the sequel. Kallia and DeMarco are separated for a lot of the book and when they get back together, plot specific things mean it takes awhile for that chemistry to really return.

That said, I think the specifics of this world below are pretty interesting, Kallia continues to be exactly who she is which I love: an ambitious woman who will do a lot for the spotlight. We also get a bit more on this theme of talented, ambitious women being kept in the shadows. This began with the history of female magicians disappearing in book 1 and we get more here. I wish that theme had been fleshed out a bit more, but there is a through line. And like I said, there are a lot of questions being answered! Overall while this wasn't quite what I had hoped for, I still had a pretty good time with it and look forward to reading more from this author in the future! I know it's been a rough time to be writing but I'm excited to see the stories she will tell. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Isabella (isabunchofbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, I really, really liked this! It was definitely a really solid conclusion and I adored the Hadestown vibes. I didn't love it as much as Where Dreams Descend, and I was left wanting *more* - I just felt like we didn't get all the answers. I also felt like the major supporting side characters from WDD were barely in this one, and I was a bit disappointed by that. But all in all, I LOVE this duology, it's one of the best out there, and I can't wait to see what Janella Angeles does next!

[Iris]

September 3rd, 2020: WHAT THE HELL HOW IS THIS COVER SO GORGEOUS WHY DID I NOT SEE THIS SOONER OMG I LOVE IT

May 4th, 2020: HOW ON EARTH AM I EXPECTED TO WAIT UNTIL 2021 AHHHHHHHH

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a struggle for me. It took me 15 days to read it and I had to take breaks to read other things because I just wasn't connecting with it and had no desire to find out what happens. Which is sad because I feel that at the core of this book there was a great story. It was just lost in everything that surrounded it. Spoiler warning for the first book ahead.

When Night Breaks picks up directly where Where Dreams Descend. Kallia is now lost in this magical mirror world where almost everything is an illusion and she must learn to tell what's real and what isn't. Meanwhile, Daron is on the other side, frantically trying to find a way to get to Kallia. This is all set against the backdrop of the mirror world wanting to come into the real which would have epic consequences and result in disaster.

The worlds introduced in these books is absolutely stunning. It's probably one of my favorite things about this duology. But while I love the world, I do feel like a lot of it gets lost in the amount of description we are given. Sometimes there is such a thing as too much detail and this book is full of that. Purple prose attacked this book and I honestly think this was why I had such a hard time getting through it. Because there was so much description, the pace moved extremely slow and nothing felt urgent even though there were situations that were dire.

Another issue I had is I felt that there was no real conclusion with most of the characters. I'm all good with open ended endings if it fits the narrative, but since we were so entwined with these characters, it felt unfinished. Especially the relationship between two specific characters whose meeting had been built up since book 1. It fell really flat for being such a huge deal.

In all honesty, I just want to read a book about Jack because he was the most intriguing part of this.

[MyBookJourney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've been trying to read this book for two months and could only get about 30% of the way through. I had enjoyed the first book a lot but this one was a disappointment. It was very well-written but the story was boring and slow. I'm stopping here now but maybe one day if I find the motivation I'll try re-reading it.

[Fanna]

after absolutely loving Where Dreams Descend, I AM DESPERATE TO READ THIS ASAP.

[Yeg · Rating 3 out of 5]

~2.5 stars~

hmm... i guess this wasn't what i expected to get after the way i enjoyed the first book. A lot of what I loved about book one, seemed to be missing. This book just didn’t give me the same feelings. It’s not quite as atmospheric, but it’s still a bit dark and moody. The chaotic energy isn’t gone, in fact, it’s ratcheted up. The use and exploration of magic in the other side is really interesting and cool.

I will say that is book took a while to get started, despite picking up where book one leaves off. It’s also really long and takes a while for things to happen. And because I found it to be long, parts of the plot kept getting lost. I kept forgetting things and then being slightly confused as to how things related. I did like the whole mirror realm – the other side. I found it interesting how that world worked and existed alongside the true side.

What made the first book so great was Kallia and Daron’s relationship. Their tension and chemistry made for an intriguing romance and even made their characters more enjoyable. Having them separated in this book felt like that special spark was missing. Although, there were still a lot of elements to this book that I did love.

One character that we did get more of in When Night Breaks was Jack. When I read Where Dreams Descend I honestly felt no connection to his character. I questioned what his role even was in this series. i will say that i still had no idea about jack here as well , but it definitley changes your pov about him in here. his relationship with Kallia was so tense and fragile that I couldn’t help but want to see how the two of them worked together this time around.

As for Roth – he fucking sucked. Figured him out the moment he stepped onto the page, but his whole conflict felt a big obvious and it didn’t really hold my attention. The reveals he makes about Kalia kind of get lost in the story and I didn’t really get the importance.

I liked the epilogue and thought it was cute, but the events that transpired at the end, just before the epilogue kind of broke my heart. I get why it ends the way it does, Overall, this was a good conclusion to this duology.I would definitely recommend them to read and pick up.

[Rachel Kathryn Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the conclusion to the Kingdom of Cards duology, and it was a really good sequel. I didn’t love this book as much as I did the first because for me the story wasn’t as engaging, it didn’t have me on the edge of my seat. But the plot had a lot of strong moments especially in Kallia’s chapters because it was set somewhere new. The world building was really good, but I wish there was more because the new setting was really intriguing. There was also more tension in those moments where you can feel for her and the other characters. As for the characters I personally didn’t like Kallia as much as I did in the first book, while the side characters I liked a lot more including the side characters. Also, those other characters including Daron went through a lot of emotional growth in this book that I wished I also saw in Kallia. Also, for the romance for me lacked a lot in this book because Kallia and Daron were mostly apart. And the ending, while it was good I kind of wanted something more.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Night Breaks is the sequel and final installment of the duology series Kingdom of Cards. Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about this book or the rating that I'm giving right now. The reason why is because for most of this book I was just bored. Things weren't really happening and I just wanted some action. Or anything to really happen that would make me interested in what was going on.

Then a miracle came my way and things got exciting. The only bummer is that it was pretty close to the ending of this. I'm pretty sure that's what happened to me in the first book. So, in a way, I guess the formula ended up working it's magic on me again. I just wish that the pace was a bit better and didn't have any parts that made me feel like things were dragging.

Other than that, the romance and the twists kept me on the edge of my couch. Some were interesting and others were a bit predictable. Heck I still have unanswered questions when it comes to Jack. Which definitely irks me to no end because I wanted all the answers before I got to the very last page.

In the end, I'm happy that I got the chance to dive into this but I don't really know what to think after I read the ending of this. It was good but it had potential to be better in my eyes.

[Hilda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just like the first book but in a different place. Nothing new. Almost all my original questions from book one were NOT answered. Seriously, none of the big important questions are answered. I always knew Jack was not what he seemed. I was happy to see more of him and to be correct. But the MC’s Kallia and Daron Demarco got on my nerves. Which I realized, was the same from book one. So no difference there either. *ouch* Honestly, I forced myself to continue reading because I own beautiful Owlcrate copies of these books. I also wanted those big questions answered. But now I have more questions. It was a frustrating read. A very LONG frustrating read. So long. Very long. So many details that didn’t need to be included.

[Ayushi (bookwormbullet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This duology owns my heart. I feel so empty inside after having finished When Night Breaks. I honestly think I could read about Kallia, Daron, and Jack forever. These characters are written so well and the dynamics that Daron and Jack have with Kallia (and vice versa) are so interesting. The storytelling and prose also continued to be so beautiful and captivating, just like it was in Where Dreams Descend. Janella Angeles is such a great writer, especially as an author who debuted and wrote with an entire duology during the pandemic.

I loved how the stakes were so much higher in When Night Breaks. I was holding my breath at multiple points throughout the novel because it truly seemed like anything could happen to Kallia, Daron, or Jack at any moment. Speaking of, I’m shocked at how much Jack grew on me in this book? He seemed like such a horrible person to Kallia in WDD, but seeing his arc in WNB was super interesting. I honestly teared up when his arc came to a close (not a spoiler about what happens to him). I do wish we got to see more of Aaros in this book, though. There were a lot of funny moments with Herald, but I really did miss Aaros’ charm and his dynamic with Kallia and Daron :(

The real waterworks came with Daron and Kallia, of course. I’ve expressed before how much I love these two characters. The love Daron has for Kallia is so beautiful and my heart truly felt like it was going to burst watching Daron fight to find his way to Kallia. I love the way Janella wrote his character—he’s such a refreshing male character in YA. Even though he was stoic and grumpy at the beginning of WDD, he wasn’t afraid to be open about his feelings and vulnerable in WNB, which was so great to see. I also really liked seeing his relationship with Aunt Cata and you-know-who, too.

And of course, the magic in this book is once again spectacular. I loved how in WDD, a lot of the magic that we saw was performance magic, whereas in WNB, we saw a ton of magic used in combat and duels, which really emphasized the duality of its power. Overall, I highly recommend this duology to any fantasy lover out there, especially if you’re fans of other circus-themed YA fantasies or shows like Moulin Rouge!. I’m so excited for Janella’s future works and for When Night Breaks to release on October 5!

[mer reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picks up right after the first book which I really like, because there's no catch up. Kalia and Jack are now in the mirror world and DeMarco has to find a way to get her out. I thought the mirror world was cool and liked the new characters we met. We also learned a lot about Jack and he became one of my favorites. He's so mysterious and aloof, but he does love Kalia in his own way.

The pacing seemed very slow and there were a few scenes I thought could have been cut out. I'm not sure why the author decided to make this so long with so little action and magic. Even the duel that Kalia prepares for was over within a page and I'd hoped for more. I also felt like the chemistry between DeMarco and Kalia was lackluster and they would have been better as friends.

The ending wasn't really what I wanted but at least it's fairly happy. I also enjoyed Jack's point of view interspersed throughout the story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

[Ali Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in so much unimaginable pain right now.

I am sobbing and breaking and just WHY.

I am always at my most heartbroken when the Phantom does not get a happy ending. When he always ends up believing full heartedly that he is the monster and villain and just GAH.

I loved the pacing in this and how you get pieces of the plot. Even though a lot of it was predictable it was still executed beautifully.

Of course the relationships in this was as stunning as ever and now I am crying again thinking about it.

This was such a good duology and I wish I never read it so I can experience it all over again.

[Jude: The Epic Reader]

Such a beautiful cover! I can't wait for this!

[Jena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
When Night Breaks is a worthy conclusion to this beautiful duology. The story picks up right where the last book left off, and the takes the readers on a fascinating journey from there. This book expands quite a bit on the pre-existing world and plot of this duology. I did find the additional lore, setting, and characters to be a bit confusing at times, but I think that is mostly just because I haven't been reading a ton of fantasy recently, so it took a little while to adjust. Although all these additions were initially a little overwhelming, they were undoubtedly written with care and added tons of depth to this already well thought out series. Additionally, I loved the way Janella Angeles explored the side characters further in this book. Particularly, Jack's backstory was great, and I loved the direction his character was taken. Lastly, the ending of this book was very fitting for the series and well thought out. Really, my only complaint for this book is just the pacing. Although the first half of the story is good, there's a lot of exposition/world expansion, so when I got to the second half of the book and really fell back in love with this story, I realized how much duller the first half of the book had been in comparison. Still, I really enjoyed this book and loved this duology (+ Janella Angeles's writing style) as a whole. I'd definitely recommend this series to any YA high fantasy lovers!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Isabelle✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

Rtc!

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dropping my rating to two stars. I am very disappointed in how the story played out. Almost 500 pages and somehow hardly anything happened? At some point in the story, I stopped caring about Kallia, Demarco, and Vain (amongst others). The honest highlight of the story for me was Jack, I always looked forward to his next reappearance, and as we learned more about him I enjoyed his character more and more. I wish Angeles gave Jack a larger role in the story and tapped into the potential his character had.

The plot and the magic of Where Dreams Descend that I fell in love with sadly, dissipated in When Night Breaks. A complete and utter change in approach to the story, I was left unsatisfied with the conclusion of the Kingdom of Cards duology.

Pre read Review: The TITLE and the CONTRASTING COLORS between the two book covers is making my heart happy ❤️💙

[Asma · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ This was very different from the last book because what i enjoyed about the last book was the competition, the mystery surrounding the city and the dynamics between the characters.
The theme for this one felt like memories being wiped, everything being an illusion and I was not following at times like WHATS GOING AWN?!?😭
Pacing was pretty slow throughout. Not much was happening and the mystery was being uncovered slowly but that intrigue and excitement I felt for the last book was absent so I was left feeling bored and unmotivated to finish…I struggled real bad and this might be a bold statement but I felt it was better off as a standalone.

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠]

*skids to a stop* *pulls down over-sized sunglasses* *sounds a long wolf-whistle*

folks wouldja just look at that cover!~!

[Daryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5

"would it be enough if i could never give you peace" -janella angeles probably