Elspeth has a secret: she survived the fever and now has magic. Magic without the use of the cards given by the alder king. This could mean death, but only if the king or his court find out. The very court Elspeth is required to visit. What starts as a story of a girl just trying to keep her secret and survive turns into one of the best fantasy novels I have picked up in a long time. The magic system is unique, the world is fleshed out and each character is so well done that you can understand every aspect of their motivations. Although the book starts with just Elspeth trying to survive a week at court, it quickly becomes a story about love, politics and even revenge. The heart of the story really is about how far you are willing to go to save the ones you love.

OMG how did I wait around to read this for so long?? Give me all the Gothic romantic vibes please!! Slow burn romance girlie, party of one right here. This book hit so many beats I love. It's atmospheric, lyrics, with a unique magical system and an excellent romance. The dark fairytale vibes are off the charts. AND AND AND it's a duology, which is the Platonic ideal length for a book series in my humble opinion. Thanks a million to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

I greatly enjoyed this book, and I have a new favorite for my personal shelf! I greatly recommend this story. It is the perfect combination of original, dark, and mysterious. Plus, the romance is a sweet addition. I was invested in Elspeth, and I was intrigued by the Nightmare. The world building pulled me in, and I devoured it!

One Dark Window has a wonderful premise that revolves around magical tarot cards and unexpected alliances. While I enjoyed reading the book, there were a lot of moments where I was left wanting in regards to worldbuilding. Perhaps, I have been reading too much higher fantasy, but I wanted a more fleshed out world and plot. I think there's a lot of potential and room for magical tarot card plots in the fantasy genre, so I'm glad this book included it.

I absolutely adored this duology! This is the best series I have read in the last several years, possibly the last decade. I loved characters and the moral grayness, It was so unique, so well thought out, and just so darn well well-written. I think I read this in like 3 sittings, I just blew through it because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I cannot wait to read more from Gillig!

I’m tongue (or type) tied on where to start…

But to get out with it - I’d suggest reading this book. Especially if you’re looking for something new to keep you up all hours of the night!

“One Dark Window, The Shepherd King-Book 1” is a captivating story that delves into the complexities of magic but with a twist. The author sets a stage focusing on the more darker elements of magic and what it costs to wield it. After all “nothing comes for free.”

With incredible character development, you’re sucked in from the start hoping that Elspeth can find a way out of her bond with her own magic, that’s a literal nightmare.

In short the storyline continues with overcoming obstacles that make you question what’s right and wrong, family ties, and even love.

Don’t pass this one up! Can't wait to read book 2!

I devoured this, it was incredible. It's very rare that I find a book with this particular vibe and now that's all I want to read.
5/5

I'm having a really hard time describing this book without giving too much away. It's seriously one of my favorite books I've ever read. So dark and twisty, but not horror. The magic system is so unique and the monster in this girl's head.... I mean, I think everyone can relate to that in some way, shape, or form. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, too, so that always makes a story entertaining. I'm so glad I waited to read it until book 2 was out because I HAD to read them back to back. The end of this book was amazing and killer at the same time. Seriously wonderful read.

This book has been getting lots of raving reviews across booksta and booktok and i can see the appeal, I wasn’t able to connect to
the book as much as i would hope. I wanted more. It was very slow moving and too anti climactic for me to be in love. But the writing, the atmospheric vibe, the magic system, and the complex world were all things that give this book so much potential and saved the book for me. I can’t wait to start book two!

One Dark Window takes us on a gothic adventure to a world where magic isn't allowed in its wildest forms. Venturing into the mists unprotected can infect children, gifting them unprecedented power at a steep cost. Elspeth was afflicted in her youth, but where most are carted off by the Physicians to await execution, Elspeth's aunt hid her away until the infection ran its course. Most never knew she was sick, and for the family members who did, they were mollified with the lie that Elspeth miraculously escaped the infection's great curse with a full recovery.

Some magic is allowed, though it has its own cost. The legendary Shepherd King once bargained for a set of magical cards, each type with a specific boon. Aristocratic families horde and trade them for influence and power, while the royal family keeps some of the most dangerous in reserve for their own use. To stop the mists from taking more children and prevent the degenerative magical malady that already stalks Elspeth, the King must put a complete deck back together, but a particular card hasn't been seen since the Shepherd King took it into the woods centuries ago.

Elspeth is a cynical protagonist borne of the truths her life's misfortunes taught her at a young age. She was cast off by her father, lost her mother, and became host to a Nightmare that once existed within a magical card. Her mental companion speaks in riddles and once saved her life. Their connection is possible because of the infection, so no one can know what goes on in Elspeth's head.

This is a romantasy, so we have a romantic plot alongside Elspeth's adventure to protect her secrets and save herself. And you know you're a dark, moody fantasy boy love interest with a name like Ravyn Yew. He's the Captain of the Destriers, who are tasked with rounding up all infected magic users, the nephew of the king, and a man with a secret agenda. He pulls Elspeth into a scheme to help construct a complete deck using a skill granted to her by the Nightmare-- the ability to recognize cards by a telltale glow, no matter where they are hidden. She needs a faster fix than what the royal family can offer, and she's tired of seeing others punished for the infection. The romance between Elspeth and Ravyn is based on a strong foundation of shared trauma (not joking). I didn't find it objectionable or anything dramatic like that. It just wasn't my vibe. They both play hard to get because they're too used to hiding to find vulnerability with each other easily. Despite the surface-level reticence, the romance unfolds at a high intensity level, which can put me off.

It's the double-edged sword of a fast pace that the book's definitely engaging, but I think it prevented me from forming a deeper connection with the story and characters. The world-building is at times compelling (eerie rhymes with magic lore start each chapter), but the plot's pretty run-of-the-mill romantasy fare. I need an emotional crescendo, some tension, or a unique spark of wit or perspective to make that not bother me. As it is, I enjoyed myself reading this one, but even a dramatic cliffhanger ending couldn't make me desperate to return for more. I wish the characters well without finding myself particularly attached to them.

For romantasy lovers who like a bit of spooky ambiance and a high-stakes adventure, pick this one up for a love story with a side of doom and gloom. Thanks to Orbit for my copy to read and review!

That was very fresh. Make no mistake, though—it's not without faults, but that's the nature of a good book: it's a package that eventually either catches your attention or not, and this one definitely did. I liked the gothic setting, the magic, and the idea itself (monster!). Those were enough for me to keep reading. I do agree with others that the characters are cardboard—very bland voices that evaporate immediately after your read their thoughts. But then again, overall, this was good!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of Rachel Gillig's One Dark Window. This is an entrancing fantasy novel, and well worth the hype it is receiving on social media! The storytelling is dark and beautifully done and the characters are engaging and believable.

I'm about halfway through, and not feeling particuarly compelled to finish. I will at some point, I think there are some interesting ideas in here and I can see why people would like aspects of it (the romance, the unassuming fmc with secret magic), but it's not working for me right now.

4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this dark fantasy! Gilig's writing is sharp yet beautiful, just like her female protagonist Elspeth. The magic system is really unique and I loved the medieval setting if kings, knights and damsels. And of course, monsters is all different forms! I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel!

I loved this book. I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed it because I tried reading this book several times last year and kept DNFing it. It just goes to show that your reading mood can affect enjoyment.

This book is a gothic fantasy with romance that is perfect for the fall season. I think I loved it so much because I read it at the perfect time. The descriptions of autumn, mist, and magic were perfection. The romance was perfectly paced for my taste. Elspeth and Ravyn’s relationship started mistrustful and slowly built to more. I adored them. It wasn’t hard to guess the main reveal, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment. I’m eagerly anticipating the conclusion to this duology.

OH, THIS WAS GOOD!

I know this is late, but the reading/vibe slump really hit me hard, but this book kept me going. The sparks in this story just pulled me back in every time!

Listen, I love stories about people becoming monsters, whether willing or unwilling, and the rush to save them against the clock and One Dark Window is about that - a kingdom inflicted with that. This world is benefitting and failing due to their magical ways: cards from a deck that a king bartered for with a spirit; they were meant to help his people but ruined them & him. Now, a mist is taking back the magic by stealing people & inflicting children with powers that, if allowed to grow, will corrupt their bodies, minds & souls.

This book indeed shows the double-edged sword of magic and how everything has a cost, whether good or bad. That ending was good, but left me SCREAMING! Please read this for the magic system, the curse/gifts, a romance between two people suffering from afflictions and the cost someone is willing to pay for hope!

I really enjoyed this book!! It was such a good and intriguing read. Definitely a perfect read for fall and I cannot wait to see where the story goes in the sequel. I actually really adore almost all of our characters and always love a "sentient forest" trope in a book.

4/5 Stars

Thank you to Orbit for providing me with an arc of this book.

I don’t particularly have a reason for not having read this book for almost a year and I truly am mad that I didn’t read this sooner because it was really good. The fantasy elements were spectacularly fleshed out and complex without feeling like it took all of my brain power to understand which is exactly what I want in my fantasy books. It has just a dash of romance which I did wish there was a bit more but I am excited to see more of it in book 2. I will say I am a bit happy that I waited because I have an arc of book 2 so I can dive into that very soon.

Normally I would give a summary but unlike romance there is not a graceful way for me to do that so here's a single line summary :
Elspeth is just trying to survive in a world that would kill her in an instant but when she meets a mysterious highwayman she is thrust into an even more dangerous path.

I love Elspeth and the “internal” conflict she is dealing with throughout the book is so well done and kept me hooked the entire book. I also loved Elspeth’s relationship with Ravyn and I need more now. Her family relationships were also interesting especially with Ione and I’m curious how that will be handled in book 2.

I highly recommend this book especially for spooky season.

Thank you to Orbit for my arc!

I adore the heck out of this book. The magic system based of tarot cards?! The writing is so beautiful and I love every single character. I honestly can’t say enough good things about this book.