I first heard about One Dark Window as a retelling of the poem The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes, but I was more interested in it being billed as a gothic fantasy romance book. The book does have some hints of The Highwayman story, but it is not a true retelling and readers should not expect for Gillig to follow the poem in its entirety.

The story centers on Elspeth who is one of those infected by a mysterious illness that leaves her with magic. Magic does exist in Gillig's world-building, but the only legal magic is through the use of Providence Cards. Magic like Elspeth's is considered illegal, and the king has those harboring illegal magic and magic users executed. Elspeth has kept her magic hidden and the Nightmare Providence Card in her head is suitably creepy. He's her ally, but yet has his own agenda, and the author really drew out the Nightmare's ambiguity until the climax of the book.

The world-building is basic, but the descriptions are suitably atmospheric, and the world feels real if a bit small. Elspeth is only familiar with the surrounding area due to the mist that obscures much of the wooded areas around Blunder. It creates a claustrophobic atmosphere which adds to the unease that the characters have throughout the story.

The story really moves slowly with events here and there and characters spending a lot of time in conversation and planning. The romance can be seen a mile away, but Gillig develops it slowly enough that it feels natural. She also developed Elspeth's relationships with the other characters so that side characters have natural chemistry together and I actually enjoyed the interactions with Elspeth and Elm more than I did with Elspeth and Ravyn.

There aren't any surprises in the text, but the story just flows together so well. The backstory and the legends of the world are dropped a line here and a line there and I had fun making connections in the arc and highlighting passages that seemed important at one time and then finding out that yes, they are important and every time it was like ha, I was right!

I didn't know that this was the first of a planned duology and the book does end on a cliffhanger. I can't wait to get my hands on book 2 to find out the remaining legend of The Shepherd King.

One Dark Window was the perfect gothic fantasy romance to start spooky season and it is one of my favorite books of 2022.

I received this arc from Netgalley and Orbit Books in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

If you ever need a book to get you out of a terrible book hangover or slump, THIS is the book for you! Full of gothic feels, a unique and intriguing magic system, poems/rhymes that will send chills down your back, this Highwayman retelling is one of the best I've read. The author understandably takes some time to establish the setting and characters (this is a series after all), but once that world building is established, this story will ensnare you. It's atmospheric and mysterious, and it has a swoony slow-burn romance to boot. Definitely one of my faves of the year. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for giving me an e-copy to read and review!

“Magic always comes at a cost.”

Thank you so much to Orbit Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

We follow the now 20-year-old Elspeth Spindle who has been infected with a fever (magic) from the time she was a tween and sent away to live with her aunt, uncle and cousin on a farm far enough away from the cursed town she came from.

There is a sort of *enchantment* like no other - a uniquely spooky type of monstrous character that resides within her being… we call him Nightmare. No one knows about him. He is quite literally in her head - she can feel him taking over her more and more, yet she relies on him so heavily for protection and to help her through the big task at hand:

Elspeth is on a treasonous mission with a mysterious man named Raven Yew who ends up being the king’s nephew - they must collect the twelve Providence Cards (fortune telling cards) which will be the key to cure the dark magical mist that is infecting the kingdom. The King had previously ordered guards to track down and kill anyone who had been infected with this “fever.”

I had a lot of fun consuming this literature. I think the intrigue of Nightmare was so incredibly captivating. The banter that Elspeth has with her mental inhabitant has the snarkiness that I delight in, however I am worried for her because he’s literally TAKING OVER HER MIND. He’s probably one of my favorite parts of this entire book - I am curious to learn the progression in the next book.

Ravyn has the muscles to protect Elspeth physically, but no one can save her from what’s going on in her mind. However, the physical distraction that he brings her once they become more comfortable with one another is quite delightful. It gets young-adult spicy for sure…. *spoiler alert* I love when Ravyn asks if her can kiss Elspeth “not on the mouth.” OOooO yes!! I love the way Elspeth talks about always being in her head & stuck in her mind… but the passion of the moments with Ravyn is able to ground her and have her physically in her body during the present moment.

I am one who is totally into tarot cards - so I was thrilled that we had a similar type of fortune telling card featured in this book (which is loosely similar to another series I just read with fortune telling cards, Caraval by Queen Stephanie Garber). This book was perfect to read for fall as it is timed during the autumn equinox.

This book definitely has the eerie fantasy elements that make for a great spooky autumn read that will give you chills! The magic is so complex!! I really delighted in the rhyming proverbs at the beginning of each chapter that really added an element of feeling immersed in the magic. I look forward to continuing this series and learning more about what the future holds for Elspeth, Ravyn….and Nightmare. Who doesn’t love a morally grey trio? I recommend this book to you if you like the supernatural, paranormal, fantasy vibe as well as morally grey characters and the dichotomy/duality of the darkness and light. Oh yeah, and if you like endings that leave your jaw on the floor wanting more.

This is a nice modern style fairy tale. In a kingdom cut off from the rest of the world by a malevolent magic mist, some people are infected by the mist and have some form of magic, but it eventually harms or kills them to use it. Some magic is bound into a deck of cards, and using those causes less harm. The cards are the only sanctioned form of magic, any infected citizens are hunted and imprisoned or killed. The villains, the King and his henchmen, are one-dimensionally evil, and the story is very simple, but the main character Elspeth and the people she falls in with are likeable and admirable. There is a perfectly rare usage of modern vulgar language to make you feel like you aren't trapped in a story where nobody had real feelings or could express them. The story is well written, but comes to a slightly unsatisfying cliffhanger non-ending.

Free Netgalley book for review!~~ This one was a lot of fun although at this point I’m feeling like with ten more chapters or so we wouldn’t need a book 2.

The Nightmare was suitably creepy, I liked our mc as well, and the romantic interest as also fairly cool. The world-building and magic was entertaining and I enjoyed figuring it out as I read along.

I did feel the romance was a bit speedy for the mc’s background, especially since this isn’t a standalone book. Also, the repetitive poetry became a tad annoying by the end for me. I undertake is meant to be a feature, but … eh. I could leave it.

Anyway I’ll definitely be on the lookout for book two of this series, so y’all know I enjoyed it enough to finish it relatively quickly.

Holy wow! This book is one of the best I have read thus year. The storyline is consuming and the magic is unique in a way that I have never read before! But that ending, oh my gosh, that ending was heart breaking and left me on the edge of my seat waiting for what Happens next!

I really loved the narrative voice in this book--super dark, super entrancing. The connections between the characters are spot on, and left me wanting more immediately. I also really loved the world and the magic system, and didn't find myself asking a ton of questions because the writing and world-building was so well done that I didn't feel lost at all. I cannot wait for more in this world and more from this author! Everything is so good: the world, the plot, the characters. I absolutely recommend this!

Mesmerizing, gorgeous prose, a remarkably unique magic system, and captivating sparks between Elspeth and her Captain. I'm already craving the sequel.

4.5 || One Dark Window is a stunning story about magic, mist, and monsters. Elspeth Spindle has a secret she’s kept for 11 years, and when a highwayman attacks her in the forest, she forms an unlikely alliance against the greater forces at play.

I had such a good time with this book. It’s an NA fantasy with gothic vibes, a unique magic system, and characters that I loved. I really enjoyed the creepy forest, misty castle vibes and the magical worldbuilding, which included the lore and history of the kingdom. The magic system involves a person holding a magic card and gaining powers, but there is always a price to using one, and the magic cards are rare. As for characters, I liked Elspeth, LOVED Ravyn, and The Nightmare was one of my favorite parts of the whole story. The dynamic between them all was very interesting and left me feeling so many things. I love stories of monsters and madness, and this is one that doesn’t disappoint. The end of the book was insane, and I absolutely cannot believe I have to wait for a second book to come out.

Overall I’d say the book was a little bit trope-y, but I thought it was well done and I personally enjoyed the tropes a lot. My only qualms with the book were that the pacing was a tad slow in the beginning and that I would have loved even more history/background lore. I will absolutely be reading the next book when it comes out, and I hope it dives even deeper into this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Very atmospheric book, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it from start to finish.

From the start the author did an excellent job of establishing a connection between reader and the main character, Elspeth. I immediately found myself on her side and empathizing over the cruel treatment of her step mother. I devoured this book in just a single sitting, as it's very fast paced and engaging.

I loved the rhymes and warnings present at the start of each chapter; this read in such a dark fairytale type of way I absolutely loved it. We do end on a cliffhanger leaving room for book 2, so do not expect a resolution at the end.


Brief synopsis:

The story is set in the Kingdom of Blunder, surrounded and effectively cut off from the rest of the world by a magical mist that a spirit put there hundreds of years before. The mist is dangerous to travel in, especially without some type of charm, as its magical qualities confuse people to the point where they are never seen again. Additionally, an infection that grants magical properties to the infected is also ever-present and is considered dangerous to the point where individuals who contracted the infection are hunted and put to death.

Our main character was infected as a child and it was hidden, but because of that she was sent away by her father to live with her aunt and uncle, who live a bit farther removed from the town itself.

The only type of magic allowed is magic granted by the Providence Cards, cards that were fashioned for an ancient king by the very same spirit that later surrounded the town in the mist. The Providence Cards each have a specific magical property they grant users, but just as with infected individuals, the magic comes with a price in line with the magic that the card grants its user.

There’s no scale or rating system that could do this book justice. I am absolutely blown away. The plot is unmatched. The story absolutely gripping. I was engrossed in this world from the absolute start. The fact that stories such as this live in the minds of creators like Rachel Gillig is mind boggling.

I wanted to rip through this book with mind numbing speed because it was EVERYTHING but I savored it as much as possible and read through with patience. Absorbing every word. However, it wasn’t slow enough. I feel absolutely empty now that it’s over. This is a book I could LIVE in and one that will absolutely live in me.

One Dark Window is nothing short of magical. The rhyming proverbs at the start of each chapter and sprinkled with in the pages, gave this book so much depth and helped aid in my understanding of the story. I’ve never been so in love with a nightmare. If you are a fan of fantasy you will be a fan of this. ODW is dark, atmospheric, and addictive. With that said, I leave with a rhyme of my own..

Though the book is over, the story is not. I hope that the author is writing the plot. I’ll remain in this story and patiently wait, to read more of dear Elspeth and her inevitable fate.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley/Orbit in exchange for an honest review.

One Dark Window is a gothic horror fantasy based in a town that is surrounded by mist. I utterly loved the tarot card based magic system and the rate at the magic is explored. I loved the dreary and gothic atmosphere created by the book. The lyrical hints dropped at the start of each chapter added to the reading experience.

The story is plot driven but in doing that the characters of the book fell a bit flat. A lot of characters are present in the book that don't add anything to the plot. The characters have a lot of potential but as of right now they just come off as forgettable. I hope the author explores the characters better in the sequel.

The sexual chemistry between our main characters is well depicted but it was a very predictable romance. Their love story is a bit insta-love and a bit rushed. The romance in the book is NA rather than YA. It isn't a enemies-to-lovers romance as promised in the blurb.

Though the book had that haunting Halloween style of writing, there were phrases and sentences that were repeated often. Also, the author spoils the ending quite early on in the book which is an interesting choice.

I will be picking up the next book to know how the book ends, and how the character arcs progress from here on out. It is a good read to get into the spirit of Halloween and experience the atmosphere crated by Rachel.

Thanks so much to Orbit and Netgalley for the chance to read this book early! I really enjoyed the premise of One Dark Window - tarot-card based magic is really different and cool and it was excellent.

The characters in this mist-drenched world were also really captivating, Elspeth was fun to read from although not my favourite protagonists of all time - I did really enjoy her love interest.

Overall - SUPER atmospheric, and I think if you liked For the Wolf this will be a new favourite!

So good, this book definitely one to watch out for, amazing world building love the simple way you can follow the the characters and learn of the world as it goes, that is a really good way to set up a world as you keep the reader interested.
I like how different is from other style of fantasy book and how hunting the sickness is . Plus the Nightmare has to be one of my favorite characters in the book seriously. Love his interaction with the MC. And the ending guys is just crazy, totally unexpected, Again the Nightmare my Favorite character, as much I like the MC and the love interest, I like more The Nightmare .

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

One Dark Window was a very fun gothic fantasy debut! Gillig introduces us to Elspeth Spindle, a girl with secret magic in an extraordinarily ominous world where you really Do Not Want magic, or to wander too far off the beaten path.

I enjoyed the tarot/card-based magic system and thought it had a delightfully creepy atmosphere (perfect fall read!) and I though Gillig did a really good job at creating Blunder, the world she's set the story in. I appreciated that it was really apparent that magic had a steep cost, and I think that the romance was generally well developed, especially in the beginning. It read very well and I found the story to be absorbing and compelling, and I thought that the reveals, while a smidgen predictable, were well done. Also, the ending? Wow, oh my god.

I did have some quibbles with this, though, but nothing too major. For one I was expecting something a little more solidly adult, and I found this landed more in that nebulous upper YA/new adult category, especially because the protagonist is 20 and definitely *acts* like a 20 year old—this is important because the novel is in the first person, so we spend a lot of deeply intimate time with Elspeth. It can be a bit frustrating at times, but she does ultimately act how I would expect someone her age and in her situation to. Towards the end I found that, while I found the build up to the romantic relationship to be solid, it hurdled straight into love a little too quickly for my tastes. I also thought that the villain could have used a bit more complexity, but that ending? Wow, it had me ready to throw all my qualms out the window (ha, get it?).

Overall, I really liked this! I'm curious to see how Elspeth's story will conclude in the second book, and I think this has some nice crossover appeal (though, as always with crossovers, it might not stick the landing for a reader who wants a solidly YA or solidly adult novel). It's compelling, it's fun, and I think it's a perfect fall read if you're in the market for gothic fantasy.

Why would you do this to me, Gillig?!

The book contains beautiful imagery, poetic worldbuilding lore, intrigue, romance, and everything in between. I loved this book so much that I read it in two days...two work days. I am simultaneously thrilled to have found this book in which magic is contained in cards and blood and also overwhelmed that I will have to wait for the next book to continue the story!

I recommend this book to anyone who liked The Book of the Ancestor and The Book of the Ice trilogies by Mark Lawrence. The protagonist, Elspeth, is a strong character woven beautifully with the Nightmare she carries.

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit. I'm mad I don't have the sequel in my hands right now. I already know this is one of my top books of the year.

[ETA]:
Coming back to this now that I've gotten over my book hangover. I spent the first part of this book thinking how much it reminded me of ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART, which I loved, and then it just kept getting darker and darker and darker in the best way possible. I could tell early on who the Nightmare was and I enjoyed knowing a secret that would surely change Elspeth's fate. I do think it's a disservice to strongly emphasise the highwayman scene in the book synopsis, as it's not the most pivotal scene in the early part of the novel. It would be better to reference her discovery of a secret group conspiring against the king to save the kingdom, which is a more accurate foreshadowing of the plot and will be less likely to disappoint readers expecting a gallant outlaw as the main male character.

I know it's being marketed as adult/NA, but I feel strongly that it's more YA and will be loved by anyone who enjoys Stephanie Gerber, Holly Black, Kerri Maniscolo, and Tricia Levenseller.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One Dark Window is a haunting and gothic fantasy set in a cursed realm enshrouded by a dangerous mist. Featuring powerful magic-infused cards and deadly secrets, this dark fairytale features the story of a woman who hides a monster within her.

I was absolutely entranced and intrigued when I started reading. With Alice in Wonderland vibes, One Dark Window features terrifying and deadly rhymes, hidden messages, and a variety of characters that all possess dangerous secrets.

The story kept me on edge throughout as I tried to peel back the layers of meanings that Elspeth encounters. What is true? What is false? I felt like I was falling down the rabbit hole finding more questions than answers. The world-building never felt overwhelming because it was presented with suspicion rather than factual.

Harrowing with tension, I was at the edge of my seat the entire journey. The romance was dark with the perfect amount of slow-burn and desire. I consumed the story eagerly; the pacing was consistent with the balanced amount of action, violence, romance, and dialogue. The magic system was enthralling particularly with the concept of a price to be paid for the gift of magic.

I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment. I would recommend this for fans of gothic fantasies, twisted fairytales, and dark magic.

This Gothic Fantasy took me by surprise. In the start of the story was a bit confusing for me but once I got past the first few chapters I could not put it down. I was transported into the world of Blunder. The Author did an incredible job with world building of the town and the characters.
The MC Elspeth is amazing. She is living with a monster who lurks just beneath the surface in head all while continuing on with her own life, normal family drama and all, always aware that one wrong move can put her and those she loves in danger. This always evolving story line comes full circle when Elspeth finds herself in the company of another who shares a similar burden.
I love all that goes on in the story. The Providence cards and the magic they hold. The battles, spells and romance. It is all easy to follow and is soul crushing when the ending comes. A cliff hanger. As always, I am looking forward to what will come next.

4.5 out of 5
I will be recommending this book to friends who are in need of something new to read.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This book started off with a bit of confusion for me but as the story unfolded I was sucked into the world of Blunder. Elspeth is incredible, living with a monster in her head and continuing on with her life as best as she could, constantly aware that her very existence could prove dangerous for those she loves.
The blooming love story was absolutely perfect as Eslpeth finds someone who carries a similar burden to herself.
The book does end a bit of a cliffhanger which leaves me hungry for the next book to come out!
4 stars out of 5
I would recommend to anyone who loves magic and mystery.