5 STARS!

THAT ENDING????????? I LITERALLY NEED THE SECOND BOOK IMMEDIATELY. I loved literally every single portion of this book: the magic system, Elspeth as a character, the romance, even the Nightmare. I think it is a testament to this book that I guessed one of the twists in the book, and it was only a slight reveal and did not hamper my enjoyment of the book at all. I immediately finished it, knew that it was going to be a 5 star, and told every single one of my friends that they had to read it. I was gasping, swooning, screaming, and will definitely be rereading it before the sequel comes out, but also October come sooner.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.75

When I initially heard about this book, I was hesitant, but I was drawn in by the creepy woods and tarot magic, and I was not disappointed. There are critiques that could be made, like some of the characters and world building elements aren’t as deep as I would expect from an adult fantasy, but this book was just really fun.

The pace was nonstop- I read it over two sittings, and I liked the Nightmare and seeing Elspeth interact with it. I also really liked Elspeth and Ravyn, even if the relationship did feel a little fast. And I appreciated the combination of eerie woods/mist unexplained magic with the hard rules of the cards and learning more about this world. And the ending! While it wasn’t a shock that it happened, I still need to know what happens next.

Overall, this was a fun debut book, and really fits in nicely with the rise of books in the ”new adult” fantasy romance category.

Stars: 5 out of 5

This book is dark and poetic, cruel and poignant, horrifying and fascinating. I loved every page of it, which is rare for a YA book. So I would say this is a YA book done right. No over emphasis on "feelings" and love triangles, but just good old-fashioned storytelling at its best. 

The world in this book is fascinating - it's dark and unforgiving, but has a strange poetic beauty to it as well. This is a single kingdom that is cut out from the rest of the world by a wall of mists that turn anyone who wanders into their midst without a charm insane. And they also slowly choke the land, advancing closer and closer to human habitations, killing the crops and blocking out the sun. Oh, and some citizens get the fever and acquire magical abilities, which in this kingdom is a certain death sentence not only for the infected, but for their family as well, if they hide them from the King's justice.

Oh, and magic in this world has a price. Any sort of magic, even the Providence Cards, exact a bloody price from the user. Nothing is free, and the reckoning always comes. I loved that! I've read too many books were magic is seemingly effortless and free for the caster, as if creating something out of nothing is a perfectly normal occurrence. Having magic exact a price is a refreshing change. That way there is a balance - a magic user can do terrible things in this world, but the price to pay would be just as terrible.

I also really liked the characters, especially Elspeth. All her actions and reactions made sense. She wasn't the Chosen one, or a special snowflake. She was real and very human, and very very flawed. And she was lost and battling her own personal Nightmare, a loosing battle, I must say. I also liked how she slowly changed in this book from only caring about staying safe and hidden to actually embracing a dangerous cause. Yes, she'd done it at first because she wanted to be cured of her affliction, but by the end of the book she gives in to the Nightmare, fully knowing that she would be lost, for the hope that by her actions she can save others.

The writing is also very engaging. It's rather poetic at times. I found myself repeating some sentences out loud just because they had a certain hypnotic rhythm to them. I think this adds to the slightly surreal and dreamlike impression that this book gives. A kingdom shrouded by mists where monsters dwell. And sometimes monsters wear human clothing...

I would say that my only complaint is that I didn't like Elspeth's love interest as much as any other characters. Ravyn isn't bad per se... He is just blah. Dark and brooding with a hidden heart of gold - we've seen that done a hundred times over. He gets lost in the background any time Elm or Emory or even Ione are in the scene. And honestly, Elspeth had a lot more chemistry with all of them instead of Ravyn. 

Other than that, I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, because there are a lot of unanswered questions left in the story and some rather unpleasant revelations. I also want to know what happened to the Shepherd King to turn him into the monster he became. Oh, and the events at the end of the book 1 definitely need an answer. It's not a cliffhanger, by any means, it's just not a happy ending you would expect from YA. Then again, this is not a world that thrives on happy endings.

PS: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness. I loved this book so much.
The mágic and the cards. The romance and the almost found family. What I liked most about this is that your typical main lead doesn’t solves everything and that there’s consequences that us readers do not want to happen. When those consequences happens and then we’re left with an oh no. Our characters that we come to love are on the brink of degeneration and we see it happening. I was gripping the book just hoping a good things would come. This was such a good read.

I was pleasantly surprised by this! It straddles the line of YA and NA, leaning more towards YA. The ending happened very quickly, which surprised me since I thought this was a standalone. Looking forward to the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for sending me a copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

Oh my goodness this book was everything I wanted and so much more. It is so creepy and atmospheric from the very beginning, and I was automatically hooked and couldn't get myself to put it down. The premise is so fun and different, but the way it's presented keeps you on your toes and full of suspense.

The magic system and worldbuilding are so unique, and I adored learning more about the world. The Providence Cards are such a fun way to get magic, and I loved the dichotomy of having magic but exacting a toll on the user. It made the stakes that much higher and really gave such a depth to the world.

I also loved the characters, and I can't wait to see where their stories go. I love the romance, but I wish there had been more of the fake courting trope than what actually ended up happening. They didn't ever really pretend in front of anyone or get the silent pining that I first thought would happen. But I loved Ravyn and how he kept me swooning the whole time.

The cliffhanger left me dead and I really need to know what's going to happen next! If you're looking for a gothic, dark fantasy, please check this out! You will not regret it!

One Dark Window is a very creepy gothic story! I like Elspeth and thought that she was a very strong protagonist. I like how she tries to fight her possession with Nightmare. There were many scary scenes in this book, and it was very dark. The only thing I did not like about this book was that it had a bland romance. I was not interested in the love interest. His character was stereotypical. Still, it was a solid novel, and it ended on high note! I can’t wait to read the sequel! I recommend this for fans of Cruel Beauty, The Wrath and the Dawn, and A Curse So Dark and Lonely!

Thank you to Orbit for sending me this ARC. All reviews are honest reflections of my own opinions, always.

Mist and magic and salt. The city of Blunder fades under the swirling mists that spread further every year, isolating the people, infecting the unwary. And to be infected is to be sentenced to death.

Magic. The infected are afflicted by it, the privillaged wield it with pride... but magic always comes with a price. It is a barter, not a gift. One a legal tender, the other a hangman's sentence.

Elspeth has learned to hide her magic, her monster. Her Nightmare. It has been so long she cannot tell if the voice inside her head is a helper or a usurper. When she calls upon the Nightmare to defend herself from a highwayman, a tangled web of treason, lies, and love begins to weave itself around Elpeth's very soul.

When a chance at a cure aligns with the mission to save other innocents before the Solstice, Elspeth finds herself in the company of some of the Kingdom's most feared. Time is short, and Blunder's magic & mists will exact their price.






A well built world with a uniquely drawn history, which I found insular yet broad enough, and well thought out characters. The plot is somewhat predictable, but that in no way made me less willing, or addicted, to reading and finishing this book, anxious for its sequel.

Gillig has created an interesting card based magic system, which is a little confusing. There's some terminology regarding decks & cards that would be much less misleading if the use of cards suits, or some such thing, had been used. I spent a little time trying understand the objective of these cards and which ones, exactly, were meant to play a critical role. Beyond that, the plot of the book was utterly engaging, and not one character out of the bunch to love & loath landed flat.

Elpeth's character is both endearing and powerful, the monster in her head drawing the reader in with the very first introduction. Side characters carry strong emotional dynamics, some you begin to adore then hate, and the other way around. Of course, the Captain... he has black messy hair. There goes every reader's heart strings.






Content Notes: Contains mature language/mature sexual content.

“Nothing is free. Nothing is safe. Magic is love, but also, hate. It comes at a cost. You're found, and you're lost. Magic is love, but also, it's hate.”

In the mist-locked kingdom of Blunder, people are becoming affected with an illness that ends up giving them magic. Nothing ever comes free and this is no exception when it comes to magic. People who are discovered to have magic are executed and if someone is found harboring someone with magic, then this is a punishable offense as well. Elspeth spindle was infected, but no one knows she has magic and that magic just happens to be an ancient monster that calls the Nightmare who is trapped in her head. The Nightmare keeps her secrets and protects her. On a forest road, Elspeth encounters a mysterious highway man that changes her life. From there she is thrust in a treasonous and dangerous quest to find the twelve Providence Cards, which these cards are the key to curing the infections.

I am pretty much obsessed with any book Orbit publishes. This book I snagged on a Kindle Daily Read and the #openlybookedbookclub picked this as their January read. I totally did not finish this book to participate in the discussion, but I am so very glad that they picked this one so I can actually read it instead of it sitting unread on my Kindle for a long time.

One Dark Window is marketed as a gothic adult fantasy, but a lot of people argue that this feels more YA. To me it does not matter since I like anything fantasy.

I totally could not put this book down since the world was so immersive. The infection that causes different types of magic was really interesting and I really want to see different types of magic and how they manifest differently in others. We
do see this, but we only get small glimpses, but it was still fascinating.

The Providence Cards were pretty cool on what they can do if someone wields them and the consequences of using them too long.

Then, we have the enemies to lovers trope between Elspeth and Ravyn, which was fun and I was rooting for them the whole time.

I am really looking forward to the next book due to how this one ended! I highly recommend this book.

I had heard rave reviews about One Dark Window and it was everything that I heard it would be and more. I absolutely loved the gothic setting. This book is a must read.

I did receive a ebook arc. In return for my honest thoughts and review. I also want to start off by saying that I apologize for a late review. It’s not like me to write a late review. But I still read and wanting to review this book. Once I started reading I couldn’t put this book down. This book is packed with so much going on. Loved every second and part of this book. After reading this book I can’t wait for book 2. I hope to read more books too from this author in the future. The characters and the world the author created super amazing. Let’s not forget the magic that Elspeth infected with. I do have to say the monster is creepy that laugh of his. I can imagine sounds creepy. I love how strong Elspeth character is. Highly recommend this book. It’s been along time since I have read a ya gothic. And this one didn’t disappoint me at all. In which I bought my own ebook copy. Thank you the author and netgalley. My review will be posted on amazon and bookbub.

I went into this book excited to get a chance to read it, but it did not live up to my expectations. The characters were great, and I love the relationship between family members in this one. I didn't mind the romance although I wouldn't say I feel strongly about it. This was a new adult book that reads like a young adult read minus a few scenes. The world building was a letdown, with descriptions being so vague that I struggled to picture what the world looks like. This book just didn't feel dark and horror like. I will say I did love the end of this book.

One Dark Window has been one of my most anticipated releases for so long, and it did not disappoint! I loved reading from Elspeth's perspective. She was smart and savvy, and her relationship with the Nightmare was endlessly fascinating. I also adored the tarot-themed magic system, which was unlike anything I had ever read before. I would absolutely recommend One Dark Window for YA readers who are looking for an accessible adult fantasy novel, or anyone who loves a dark fantasy with a dash of romance!

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this one!

"The Cards, The Mist, The Blood."

A dark, gloomy atmosphere. The main character, Elspeth, dealing with an unknown entity insider her head. It was gothic to its core with the imagery, a disease, supernatural powers, ancient entities. I really loved the concept of magic in this one being 12 Providence Cards, each has a power to grant, but can also take from the user the longer it's used. There are others that can be infected and gain unknown magical abilities that are shunned and illegal in Blunder. With magic, everything comes at a price.

I really enjoyed reading this book from Elspeth's POV, you rarely know what's going on outside of what she knows and I enjoy that in a book. I loved everybody in the Yew castle, Ravyn, Jespyr, and ahhh Elm, I love Elm lol I'm excited to see what comes next in the second book, especially after that ending!!

I absolutely loved this book! I couldn't put it down. The balance between Fantasy and Romance was perfect. I need to sequel ASAP.

Wow, this book was great! I have been anticipating this book for a while - since I first heard about it months and months ago - and it did not disappoint. I really liked Elspeth's character, and the relationship with the monster in her head as it continued gaining strength. I thought the love story between her and the Captain of the Destriers, I thought it was well-written.

And the ending - what a cliffhanger. I'm so excited for the sequel!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for access to this e-ARC.
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One Dark Window is everything a dark, gothic fantasy should be. It is pressurized, volatile, unsettling and mesmerizing. The world is fully realized and seeped in lore. You can smell the salt and feel the cool mist that seeps through the pages. You are as desperate to understand the riddles unfolding as Elspeth and her allies. You fear the nightmare in the night, and get caught up in the tangled stories of the Shepherd King. You will balk at the true cost of the Providence Cards. You will find yourself turning the last page before you are ready, and you will be eager to discover what secrets lie, as yet untold, in the next book. I know I certainly am.
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An easy 5 stars.

Elspeth tries to help find all 12 of the Providence Cards which will cure the land, and her.

I absolutely LOVED this dark fantasy. It constantly kept me on my toes. Elspeth has another 'voice' or creature in her mind who talks to her and helps her at times but we keep questioning if we can trust it. She finds herself with a rag-tag group of people who are commenting treason with the best of intentions. The banter with all the characters is so fun. Each chapter begins with a rhyme, of sorts, within what looks to be a card. I really enjoyed those. The creature, Nightmare, that lives inside Elspeth's head speaks in rhymes and riddles at times. It's such a cool feel. Sometimes if gave me Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde vibes. Some twists were pretty surprising to me. At one point I kept going back like, 'did I miss something!?' Ugh! So so good! Highly, highly recommend.

The romances is a crazy mesh of tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fake courting, 'will they, won't they?'...absolutely well done. I would consider this more upper YA or even New Adult though with one, very elegantly done bedroom scene.

I really enjoyed this book. The tone was spot on, and the characters were enjoyable and root-worthy. While the book reminded me quite a bit of Vespertine at times, it was also very different in tone. The Nightmare was ominous, scary, and snarky all at the same time, while Ravyn was a great ally for Elispeth. The magic system/world-building was really well-done. I enjoyed this book so much that I went out a bought a hard copy!

My first thoughts starting to read through One Dark Window were how I’ve never read anything quite like this before. The writing hooked me in and I couldn’t stop reading.

The world building was gradual and easy to follow, I didn’t feel very lost making sense of everything.

There was a scene that happened that was intimate. Not to wordy but enough.

I feel like I read this book at the perfect time. Our weather has been very dreary and even foggy some days, so it fit in with the atmosphere of this book perfectly !!!

The cover is really stunning and I found myself going back to look at it throughout my time reading.

It leaves off on a cliff hanger of sorts, so I’m excited for the release of the second book!