Name: One Dark Window
Rating: 4.241497461928934 (394 reviews)
ISBN: 9780316312486

Rachel Gillig

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.

Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.

One Dark Window

alexys <3

Honestly, the romance didn't do much for me. There was barely any tension between the MMC and FMC. Ironically, she had more chemistry with the beast in her head than with the actual love interest.

Because of that, every romantic moment fell a little flat. I know it's a romantasy, but I wish the relationship had been written with more depth and tension. At the same time, I also wanted the story to spend more time developing the central conflict.

The characters often felt surprisingly clumsy, which made it difficult for me to take some of their actions seriously.

I really liked the premise, but it ultimately felt like something was missing.

I just finished this book.

Honestly, the romance didn't do much for me. There was barely any tension between the MMC and FMC. Ironically, she had more chemistry with the beast in her head than with the actual love interest.

Because of that, every romantic moment fell a little flat. I know it's a romantasy, but I wish the relationship had been written with more depth and tension. At the same time, I also wanted the story to spend more time developing the central conflict.

The characters often felt surprisingly clumsy, which made it difficult for me to take some of their actions seriously.

I really liked the premise, but it ultimately felt like something was missing.

Mage

OH… MY….GOD! WHAT AN ENDING! My jaw literally dropped. I cannot wait to read book two! This is my very first Rachel Gillig book I’ve read. And I got hooked by its world-building and the characters. This book is filled with mystery and thriller, which was completely different compared to the books I've read. I loved all the characters and the writing of the author; it truly was captivating. Every page has kept me on the edge of my seat, such a great page-turner. I also love the use of dark magic in this book, with the use of different cards. That was a truly interesting and creative concept. Elspeth is a cautious and calculating main female lead. In the first few chapters, she didn’t have many friends, but throughout the book, she began to slowly find the people who made her feel she belonged. And here we have, Ravyn Yew, his last name should be yearning. He was clearly in awe-struck by Elspeth. I loved them just having a fake dating/courting trope. But I do love fake dating/courting. Their chemistry was something else; I could feel the heavy tension they had. It felt like I was intruding on them. As I said in the beginning, I cannot wait to get my hands on Book Two! I really do need to know what happened next!

tashi dolkar

liked how the magic system worked in this book. Idk I think I’m starting to feel smth for the shepherd king 

Started off pretty slow but picked up in the middle to end of the book. I wish Elsbeth was a bit stronger of an MC rather than just asking for the Nightmare for help all of the time and that being her downfall. I didn’t think the “twist” of the Shepherd king being in her head was that out there and pretty predictable. A lot of cringe moments with her flirting and the tree lore. Love seen with Elsbeth and Ravyn seemed pretty forced and random lol. Will read the duology to see where the characters land. 

Paige Paul

I was really excited to start this book. I had heard such amazing things about it, but it was pretty hard for me to get into. The beginning was really difficult to wrap my mind around the magic system, but once I did, I enjoyed the story while I was reading it. I just never found myself really looking forward to picking it up. I did start to get invested near the end, but it felt pretty slowly paced throughout the whole thing. I'm interested to read the next book though, to see if I enjoy that one a bit more. 

Maggie Hotmer

Idk if maybe I’m just a hater but I felt this book felt so rushed, characters suddenly just changed with no real time to get to know them. Additionally it was hard to get attached to them because I feel when half were introduced the author would sprinkle how they looked into several paragraphs across a page or two which just made it hard for me to conceptualize who was who. I don’t think I’ll read the next one because I wasn’t truly moved by the story or the arc the characters went through. The world and magic system also seemed super underdeveloped. 

Ashley Denktas

Ravyn and Elspeth 🥺🥺 Just listening to Ravyn break because Elspeth got taken over by her Nightmare absolutely kilLED ME INSIDE.

Also, Elm... Accepting his degeneration... AAAAAAAA 😭😭

Susan

Ravyn and Elspeth 🥺🥺 Just listening to Ravyn break because Elspeth got taken over by her Nightmare absolutely kilLED ME INSIDE.

Also, Elm... Accepting his degeneration... AAAAAAAA 😭😭

foggy mystical - that’s what I felt reading this fantasy

at first, starting this book was slow but that’s most fantasy books but the concept of a monster being in elspeth’s head - made me want to know more especially when the world building was still a mystery. as I kept reading, i was hooked!!! i was so captivated by this that i started annotating the book and taking notes of important quotes/scenes

I love the author’s writing. her depiction of the fantasy world is so mystical and poetic. i do have to admit it took me a minute to also figure which characters are whom because there’s just so many people especially when the fantasy names are so unique

on to the romance aspect - oh I ATE IT UP the romance plot like lowkey enemies to lovers and a SURPRISE TROPE!!! I wasn’t expecting but I LOVEE!! ugh yes the way i was giggling and kicking my feet like they got me !! they are my elite employees now next to kazi and jase from dance of thieves

ivy by taylor swift !!!!!! - "i can't stop you putting roots in my dreamland your ivy grows and now I'm covered in you"

north by clairo - THIS SONG IS SO THEM - "i never let anybody in. somehow you got under my skin"

marjorie - bc the chapter cards starting with the quotes reminded me of the song lyrics "never be so kind you forget to be clever, never be so clever you forget to be kind"

foggy mystical - that’s what I felt reading this fantasy

at first, starting this book was slow but that’s most fantasy books but the concept of a monster being in elspeth’s head - made me want to know more especially when the world building was still a mystery. as I kept reading, i was hooked!!! i was so captivated by this that i started annotating the book and taking notes of important quotes/scenes

I love the author’s writing. her depiction of the fantasy world is so mystical and poetic. i do have to admit it took me a minute to also figure which characters are whom because there’s just so many people especially when the fantasy names are so unique

on to the romance aspect - oh I ATE IT UP the romance plot like lowkey enemies to lovers and a SURPRISE TROPE!!! I wasn’t expecting but I LOVEE!! ugh yes the way i was giggling and kicking my feet like they got me !! they are my elite employees now next to kazi and jase from dance of thieves

delicate by taylor swift !!!!!
invisible strings by taylor swift
ivy by taylor swift !!!!!! - "i can't stop you putting roots in my dreamland your ivy grows and now I'm covered in you"
north by clairo - THIS SONG IS SO THEM - "i never let anybody in. somehow you got under my skin"
skin by dijon
tyrant by beyonce, dolly parton
crooked smile by j cole, tlc
twin flames - thuy, denise julia
marjorie - bc the chapter cards starting with the quotes reminded me of the song lyrics "never be so kind you forget to be clever, never be so clever you forget to be kind"

one of the only good books to come out of booktok recommendations

˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶

I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did but it just felt too predictable at times. The love interest held little depth.  However the magic system and conflict at play drew me in. The ending nearly had me giving a 4 star, and I’m excited to read the sequel, but the rest of the book struggled to hold my interest. 

Nicole Neuman

I was genuinely obsessed with this. I immediately put a hold to the sequel on Libby. The spooky and unique atmosphere; not trusting what is going on in your head and your body (haunting!). The ending also had me hooked, and I can't wait for what happens.

Sarah Campbell

Best fantasy book I've read in a long time. 

Interesting world building and characters. another very positive point of this book for me, was that the romance was not the main focus of the story and there were just a few romantic scenes. 

Yega

Best fantasy book I've read in a long time. 

Interesting world building and characters. another very positive point of this book for me, was that the romance was not the main focus of the story and there were just a few romantic scenes. 

౨ৎ | “are you still pretending?” “i never was,”

i picked this up after it was sitting on my shelf for months and let me tell you it was the best thing i ever did. this will now be my personality trait for the next year. 

the world building was perfect, not fast, nor slow. the way everything was explained and it wasn’t half assed. when you found something out, you found out the whole piece not parts. 

the magical element is so intriguing to me. the whole concept of the providence cards and how they work. and the infections and how they are described and feared because they can not be controlled. 

the characters i loved in every single way. even the side characters. elm got on my nerves but i could tell he was just trying to protect his family. i wish we got more of ione though and her whole ordeal with the maiden card etc. i hope we get more of her in TTC. 

RAVYN AND ELSPETH. the romance, although it was only drizzled through i ate that shit up everytime. the fake dating? the “i was never pretending”. sedate me NOW. 

i loved them as a duo and when they were seperate. the way they were portrayed was so beautiful. i just love them so much i could scream. 

also nightmare, i know he’s like this big scary monster of the cards but i NEED him. anyway. 

highly recommend this book and i will be talking about it till i die. about to go look for special editions so read this, thank you! this is a threat xxx 

౨ৎ | “i know no one’s going to ask me what i want, but just in case you were wondering, the answer is no. NO, i am decidedly NOT agreeable.” - nightmare

౨ৎ | “are you still pretending?” “i never was,”

— ★ 5/5

i picked this up after it was sitting on my shelf for months and let me tell you it was the best thing i ever did. this will now be my personality trait for the next year. 

the world building was perfect, not fast, nor slow. the way everything was explained and it wasn’t half assed. when you found something out, you found out the whole piece not parts. 

the magical element is so intriguing to me. the whole concept of the providence cards and how they work. and the infections and how they are described and feared because they can not be controlled. 

the characters i loved in every single way. even the side characters. elm got on my nerves but i could tell he was just trying to protect his family. i wish we got more of ione though and her whole ordeal with the maiden card etc. i hope we get more of her in TTC. 

RAVYN AND ELSPETH. the romance, although it was only drizzled through i ate that shit up everytime. the fake dating? the “i was never pretending”. sedate me NOW. 

i loved them as a duo and when they were seperate. the way they were portrayed was so beautiful. i just love them so much i could scream. 

also nightmare, i know he’s like this big scary monster of the cards but i NEED him. anyway. 

highly recommend this book and i will be talking about it till i die. about to go look for special editions so read this, thank you! this is a threat xxx 

౨ৎ | “i know no one’s going to ask me what i want, but just in case you were wondering, the answer is no. NO, i am decidedly NOT agreeable.” - nightmare

One Dark Window

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