Book Review: When Night Breaks (Kingdom of Cards #2) (ARC)

Author: 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.

[Where Dreams Descend #1 Review]

When Night Breaks is the sequel in the Kingdom of Cards duology. After the events in the competition at the end of What Dreams Descend, the three main characters, Kallia, Jack, and Daron are now dealing with the aftermath. Kallia and Jack are trapped on the other side created by magic when the Zarose gate was closed. On the other side, is Daron who is desperate to rescue Kallia. The story alternates perspectives between Jack, Daron and Kallia, so the reader follows the characters as they try to find their way back to each other and figure out the mysteries of the magic.

While Jack is familiar with this new world on the other side of the mirror in a false Glorian, Kallia has difficulty believing anything that he says after everything they have been through together. She sets out to locate The Dealer, which leads to new revelations and secrets for her to deal with on top of new plots. In this new world, the mythology and magic is further explored with some expansion from the previous novel and some new information. This style may not be for every reader as it does slow down the story a little as the information is introduced. The pacing in this story is a little slower in the beginning as there is a new world introduced and a build-up that is needed for the characters in this new situation. Once everything starts to pick up, the novel is very exciting all of the way to the end.

In this story, Jack is further explored and I loved getting to know his character. He was fairly mysterious throughout so it was nice to learn some of his secrets and how his role fits into the story. While I enjoyed Kallia and Daron, Jack is the character that stole the show for me as I became invested in his character. His character is one that you do not always know how to feel about, as he can be both likable and unlikable. I liked that he was written this way where I, as a reader, learn about his backstory, but there are still some mysteries that surround him. While this may not have aligned with my style in other novels, the way he was written worked very well in this novel.

Overall, the Kingdom of Cards duology was an interesting ride with a lot of twists and turns to entertain the reader. Both novels in the series offer something a little different, so some may love the first more and some may love the second. For me, I enjoyed the first novel, but I preferred the second as it captivated my interest a little earlier in the writing. The love triangle aspect of the novel is further explored and ends in a satisfying way that fits the story. While I was not Kallia’s biggest fan in the first novel, I greatly enjoyed her journey in this story. This duology was enjoyable and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future!