After absolutely adoring Where Dreams Descend, I have been eagerly anticipating the sequel. I love how fiery, talented, and ambitious Kallia is. And in When Night Breaks, Angeles has the characters re-evaluating what they want and their future. It’s glorious and glittering. Keep reading this book review for my full review.
Summary
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
When Night Breaks is a sequel about shadows, secrets, and magic. It explores whether we can ever escape. Whether choices made without information are free. And what would happen if we chose to remain. Angeles’ second book is full of characters playing with the line between illusions and perception. Of us (re)defining what we think of ourselves. Like Where Dreams Descend, When Night Breaks has magic, performance, and danger.
There’s absolutely lyrical and gorgeous writing sprinkled throughout. At at the core of When Night Breaks are questions of the cruelty of illusions and appearances we create. The masks we slip on to get through the day. To survive our cage of mirrors. An element I enjoyed immensely is the way Angeles explores this idea of collective memory loss – of losing our history. Knowing that the key to fixing things, to truly fixing the damage isn’t erasing the wound.
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When Night Breaks is a glorious sequel. It was full of heart wrenching scenes dripping in stunning writing. Especially as it explores forgiveness – how it’s not our right for us to demand acceptance – or to figure out what choices are worth fighting for, When Night Breaks is a wonderful performance. Find When Night Breaks on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.
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