One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig is a fantasy novel about Elspeth, a woman striken by a supernatural fever that left her mind infected by a mercurial and ancient being called the Nightmare. For years she has escaped the clutches of the kingdom and the death sentence that the fever brought upon her until she becomes entangled in a search for the 12 magical Providence Cards with one of the men who should be hunting her. In order to find a cure, Elspeth must work to gain the trust of the man who should be her enemy while keeping Nightmare and the full extent of her abilities hidden.

The last few novels I've read have all been great, but I was still surprised by how fast this one drew me in. The world building and magic system were excellent. The 12 cards, which each grant a unique magical ability, and the mythology surrounding them had a depth that made them more than just a macguffin and instead part of the larger fabric of the gothic fantasy world. Gillig does a great job of setting things out clearly enough to understand this new world while still maintaining a sense of mystery. The same goes for the characters. Elspeth is smart and cunning but still empathetic. Raven is intriguing and clever. The cast of supporting characters are similarly well developed.

I definitely recommend checking out this fantasy and can't wait for the rest of The Shepard King series!

Thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for the arc!

One Dark Window is a fantasy gothic by Rachel Gillig filled with dark woods and even darker magic. I really enjoyed this book. I thought the mix of fantasy and gothic worked really well together. I thought all of the characters were really interesting and well fleshed out. The magic system was really cool because you either had legal magic that was contained within a special deck of cards called Providence card, something only a select few had, or if you caught the magical illness that ravaged the land you had wild magic that is considered dangerous and illegal. Even though both forms of magic could be really helpful, you had to really think about whether using it was worth the risk of the after effects that went along with using magic. The Providence cards had both a helpful effect the user could use on others, and a negative effect that would hurt the user if they used the card too much. For those with the wild magic, it would start to degenerate the user's body over time. I think this magic system was really creative and I liked how the dangers of magic meshed well with the gothic feel of the novel. I think the author did a great job with world building and keeping a gothic tone throughout, all the castles were dark and drafty, the atmosphere always had a spookiness to it, and even the characters all had a darker edge to them. I think my favorite thing about this book is that, as mentioned before, magic in this world has some dire consequences and I really appreciated that the author didn’t have a get-out-of-jail free for any character’s potential over-use of it. The only thing that didn’t work for me in this novel was the rhymes that were thrown in either at the start of the chapter or throughout the story. It just didn’t work for me and I didn’t feel like it added anything to the story. If you’re looking for a darker fantasy with some fairy tale vibes and just a hint of romance I would highly suggest this book.

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

This is a debut novel, and while certain things make that apparent, I was VERY pleasantly surprised.

The magic system is original and dynamic—one I've never seen before. It hinges on the Spirit of the Woods that spreads magic through an infection brought on by the mist and a set of cards called Providence Cards. The entire premise is interesting and in-depth.

I enjoyed the FMC, Elspeth, and I was pleasantly surprised to find her diverge from recent books I've read where plots move forward by the ridiculous, reactive actions of the FMC. Elspeth is intelligent, honest (except about the Nightmare), and resilient. I also enjoyed the side characters, but I harbor a secret softness for Elm (I have a few theories about him). And, of course, Ravyn was great.

Were there things that could have brought my review to four stars? Maybe. But, my enjoyment of the book and excitement for the second one overrides those.

"There once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in the shadow in the depths in wood. There also was a King - a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same: The girl, the King...and the monster they became."

It's hard to know where to start with this review, as my feelings were all over the map while reading. Initially, ONE DARK WINDOW read like a vibrant fairytale, and I was drawn into world Gillig created. However, as the book progressed, the chilling atmosphere I was hoping for wasn't quite there. Marketed as dark and Gothic, I was expecting a grittier, more-claustrophobic read. While there was some violence and thematic content, I found myself wishing for more, especially since it's marketed for adults. I felt that the book may have benefited from an additional round of editing, as there were a few pages where the same descriptor was used several times, and I disliked that the main characters's surnames were used frequently, yet inconsistently throughout the novel. The latter may simply be a personal preference, and I can see how it wouldn't bother everyone. **Additional thoughts on Goodreads, hidden under the "spoilers" label.**

All of that said, the plot picked up steam (both literally and figuratively) after the halfway point, and I was impressed with the ending. Furthermore, the magic system with the cards and how they came to be was explained well. I look forward to reading book two, and I'm hoping for a deeper dive into the mist and the Nightmare, as both have the potential to take the story to the next level. PS, this is the perfect book for fall!

Many thanks to Orbit Books for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I received an e-arc of One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was pleasantly surprised with this one, having not heard much about it before picking it up. There's a really interesting and unique tarot-based magic system. Some light fake dating, and I was getting Serpent & Dove vibes from the romance a bit. The main character also has a bit of a Venom thing going on.
4 stars, will definitely pick up the sequel

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for a digital ARC of this excellent book!

With its dark, atmospheric setting, intriguing characters and unique premise, One Dark Window was the perfect spooky, magical read for October, and easily one of my favorite reads of 2022.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect after reading the synopsis, but I’m so glad I gave this book a chance! After a bit of a slow start, due only to some important world building, the story quickly took off after a few chapters and I was completely immersed in this world of gothic castles, ominous woods, monsters and magical providence cards.

Gillig’s world-building is expertly crafted, as are her characters. I could smell the salt and feel the mist on my skin as I read. I loved the delicate details of this story, such as the families being named after trees and that magic smells like salt.

Elspeth and the monster have an intriguing relationship. For eleven years she has kept him secret while The Nightmare, as she calls him, both protects and diminishes her. And while she’s done well to keep this secret from the world around her, it all begins to unravel once she meets Rayven Yew.

I devoured this book in a matter of days, and cannot wait for more. And happily, there will be more, as this is the first book in a duology or series.

I really wanted to like this one but I ultimately think it was not for me. It took a very long time for it to get going as the beginning was very slow. I did like the main character and the fact that it was a gothic book but other than that I was fairly disappointed. I will however, check out the author's other books in the future.

One Dark Window is a story with layers and layers of secrets-- some that clearly won't be revealed in the first book. I enjoyed the intrigue, romance, and suspense. I am already looking forward to the sequel.

Thank you NetGalley and especially to Orbit for giving me a copy of this book.

Elspeth Spindle has been living with a secret for eleven years- a secret that in addition to the magic running through her very veins, means she is marked for death. Will she succeed after joining together with an unlikely group of allies to search for a cure and rid the kingdom of this "plague" or will the cost of magic finally take it's toll?

I also think that this book leaned a lot more young adult then I was anticipating (aside from there being one sex scene that isn't TOO terribly graphic). I think I also may have expected a lot more of those gothic and atmospheric vibes that the back cover promises, and instead it felt like a bit more of a dark fairy tale. Again, not really a problem, but it does seem like a bit of a miss since I may not have picked this up if it was described differently.

This synopsis makes this book sound like something I would absolutely love. And to be honest, I enjoyed the last twenty-five percent immensely. It was just the build up, the confusing transitions, and some plot holes that really kept this from being as amazing as I was anticipating. That's not to say however that this isn't a good book. For being the author's debut, I think that this is a very promising start to a series and I will likely be picking up book two.

I don't know if it is because the seasons have changed or if there is another reason, but I am really digging these creepy, atmospheric fantasy books with a dash of mystery and magic. One Dark Window was one of my favorite books this year. I fell hard for this world where there are the infected and those that hunt them. Elspeth is an interesting and captivating main character who was once infected by the mysterious illness that gives the infected illegal magic. Elspeth is able to evade the King and those that hunt down the infected and is left with mysterious magic and the Nightmare that lives inside of her.

The magic system in this book surrounds these tarot-like Providence cards that give their owner various powers. This is the only legal way to use magic in this world and legend has it that the only way to break whatever curse causes this infection is to collect all 12 of the cards in the deck. This is easier said than done as no one has ever been able to find the mysterious Twin Ader card.

Elspeth meets up with a gang of highwaymen that are not what they appear and she must join their cause in order to collect all the cards before the King can and they can break the curse and she can be free of the Nightmare that lives in her head.

The found family Elspeth ends up in is a lot of fun and of course the romance was one of my favorite parts. Ravyn the captain of the Destriers, the group who hunt down the infected, is my favorite type of stoic and tortured romantic interest and he and Elspeth have the best type of chemistry as well.

I have a lot of questions about the magic system and also about Elspeth's mysterious cousin but overall I just couldn't put this book down. I can't wait for the next book.

If you like For the Wolf, Belladonna or Uprooted I think you will love this.

Thank you so much to Orbit Books and NetGalley for letting me read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️

<b> To be wary is to be keen—
Keen of those who may use magic for wrong.
To be clever is to be wise—
Wise not to use the Cards too often.
To be good is to be reverent—
Reverent of balance—of the salt in the air—of the Spirit of the Wood.
Be wary. Be clever. Be good.</b>

Providence Cards allow people to use magic, but all magic comes at a cost. Elspeth was infected with the fever as a girl, and has hidden the magic the fever brought for eleven years. She was sent to live with her aunt and uncle, and her cousin, Ione. But her uncle has kept a Nightmare card for years, and Elspeth’s magic allows her to absorb what is in the cards. When she touched her uncle’s card, the Nightmare himself became trapped inside her mind and allows her to see the light emanating off all Providence Cards. Elspeth’s uncle intends to give the King of Blunder his Nightmare card so the King can complete the Providence Card deck and lift the mist plaguing Blunder, and in exchange, Ione will be betrothed to a brutish Prince.

Highwaymen attempt to overtake Elspeth and steal Providence Cards while she’s out for a walk in the woods, and she implores the Nightmare to help her escape. Later, during the Equinox celebration, Elspeth meets the King’s nephew, Emory Yew, who sees the truth and the monster within her, and his brother, Ravyn, who Elspeth recognizes as one of the highwaymen. Ravyn later discovers that Elspeth can see Providence Cards, and reveals that he and his family are trying to complete the deck to save Emory from the degeneration his magic has caused. Elspeth agrees to help them to cure her own degeneration and in secret hope of removing the Nightmare from her mind. Elspeth and Ravyn agree to pretend to court so that Elspeth can stay with the Yews, but their pretending soon devolves into true feelings.

I admit that I had a difficult time getting into this book. There’s a lot of poetry and lore that at first felt a little too YA, but as more started to happen I was totally sucked in and understand why the author chose to use the technique. I also loved these characters so much, especially the relationship between Ione and Elspeth even after Ione is betrothed to Hauth. And of course, I love Ravyn and Elspeth so much. This is a really great, spooky fantasy and I cannot wait for the next one!

<b> “It is not they who bring the reckoning, Ravyn. It is you. It is us.”</b>

I think I was in just the right mood for One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. The fall air is crisp in the mornings and warmer in the afternoons. My Halloween decorations are out and ready to be admired. I have my cozy, bookish fall pillows out. Needless to say, tarot-inspired magic was calling to me.

This is a dark fantasy with romance and gothic elements. Something about it just clicked with me. I think the audiobook was such a major selling point, as well. Lisa Cordileone bounces from sinister to joyful with ease, and I thought the voice she did for the Nightmare living in our main character, Elspeth’s, head was perfectly eerie.

The magic system in this novel is built around cards, seemingly inspired by tarot. People are able to invoke magic to use against others when they have certain cards, but the usage of these cards is not without payment. You give a little bit of yourself with each use and you can quickly diminish completely with repeated use. I liked this, because the idea that magic needs to be balanced with some sort of other energy when used makes sense to me. Too often we read books where people are able to use whatever magic they want without paying any cost. This makes the stakes higher, makes the usage of magic more dangerous.

Elspeth was a fun character to follow, with Nightmare slowly overtaking her mind and actions. We are left with a cliffhanger in this regard and I won’t lie, I am one of those people who LOVES a cliffhanger. With so many book series out there, you gotta pull me in for the next book and One Dark Window won me over there.

The romance hit a sweet spot for me. It was a tad slow-burn but had a bit of steam once it got there.

Needless to say, I need more and I can’t wait until the next installment. Thanks to Orbit Books and Hachette Audio for the gifted copies.

This was a really solid read! I loved the setting. Gothic is a really good descriptor for it and I think Rachel Gillig really nailed the atmosphere in this book. It felt like you were in this dreary and dark castle with the characters and the magic fog definitely added to the gothic vibe of the setting.

I absolutely adored the magic in this book. The idea of the deck of cards was so cool and unique. I loved that it was so that anyone who had a card could use its magic as opposed to magic being an innate ability certain people are just born with. And I thought the idea behind each card's magic was interesting and she did a good job making sure the cards covered a variety of things and she balanced it really well in regards to the desired effects of magic vs the negative effects of using the card.

The plot did have a little bit of a slower start than I usually prefer and it took me a bit to get hooked but once I did I was hooked all the way until the end! And I think the way she wrapped up one of the story threads was really well done and she surprised me (in a good way) with where she took it versus where I expected her to take it.

The main detractor for me from this book was the romantic storyline. In theory I could have liked it. It's a trope I generally enjoy and the characters were ones I knew I could see together given a good build up. However she missed the mark with the build up by not including it and instead the two characters felt like they went from enemies to "we're so into each other" at the flip of a switch. And so overall this caused the relationship to be too insta-lovey for my taste and read a little too juvenile.

Overall though I enjoyed the rest of the book enough to outweight my gripe and I am definitely looking forward to the sequel!

(4.5/5) What I liked a lot about this book is that within the first few chapters I immediately had questions. There was a certain air of mystery, and I wanted to keep reading until I had all the answers. Unfortunately for my heart, this was also a book where you can tell absolutely everything is going to go wrong. So when I finished it within 48 hours I was quite sad...

The world isn't particularly big. The kingdom of Blunder is locked in perpetual mist, and the only people we see on page are its noble families. The magic, however, I thought was well fleshed out. I thought I'd seen it all when it comes to magic systems, but I had never read about one that's based on cards. The mist combined with the magic makes for an incredibly moody read. It's honestly perfect for Fall.

I greatly enjoyed Elspeth's character. Reading about her relationship with the Nightmare was especially interesting. The infection that granted her her magic made her wary and isolated, as possessing unsanctioned magic is often punishable by death. Enter Ravyn: who is captain of the Destries; the unit of men and women tasked with hunting down infected magic users. However, he is also guilty of the aforementioned treason, and can definitely use someone like Elspeth. I loved reading about their relationship as well: how it went from zero trust, to gradually more.

The high prince Hauth is an asshole. Like a legit, hairs-stand-up-in-your-neck asshole. I'm not yet quite sure what his game is, besides being the villain, but I'm sure I'll find out in the next book. I did wish we got to see more of the king. Right now I know there's a king, and that he and Hauth are probably very similar, but he didn't show up quite a lot. It made me forget sometimes that Hauth is not the highest authority. There were so many more characters that have a stake in what happens to the Providence Cards, and I cannot wait to find out more about their motivations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read this story.

I loved the Gothic setting, sprawling estate, infected mist, haunting forest, and slow burn romance. This time of year is my favorite for reading fantasy, especially ones with gothic vibes which this had. Haunted forests seem to be a trend of late and I'm not mad. My favorite part of this book was the Nightmare. I loved the constant tug between whether he was good or bad. Rachel did an amazing job of portraying him as the dark creature he is. I believe her term was oily and I indeed could picture him as such. I could see him slinking around in Elspeth's head clicking his talons and teeth. Oh I just loved it. Very few characters/creatures have felt so real to me. There were a few times I was unsettled after reading before bed.

I really enjoyed the lore/mythology created around the magic cards. I did have a hard time understanding all the additional cards outside of the 12 that completed the main deck. I was confused about how many were actually created. The destrier cards and maiden cards seemed to be subsequent to the main deck, but were not included in the main deck? I could have missed that info while reading.

The slow burn romance felt secondary to the story which worked for me. I was fully invested in the magic of the cards and the NIGHTMARE! How many times can I say he was a favorite. Elspeth and Ravyn were sweet both individually and separately. I loved the tension. I found myself enjoying Jesper, Elm, and the comradery amongst them.

I will say it's difficult to synopsize the story to people because so much is involved, but that's a reflection on me not the author. And the timeline of events seemed rushed/not consistent at times. With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The feelings it gave me and where the story might be going will definitely bring me back for more. That ending has me shooketh!!

Plot: The plot in this was good but took a bit too long at times
Characters: They felt very YA, not in a terrible way. Just a melodramatic way at times.
Setting: Very good, very good - that's what really kept me in.
Magic: Also very good! I loved the idea behind the magic mainly.

This book was a lot like walking out a misty morning into a train wreck of a day and not wanting to look away - the best way possible. One Dark Window is a dark and moody fantasy that I would put squarely between YA and Adult. The characters and the melodrama of it felt very YA while the tone and worldbuilding felt more adult for me, so be aware of that going in. That melodrama and setting was eventually what kept me going. The town of Blunder is surrounded and beset by a fog or mist that never leaves, and is slowly taking over and cutting it off from the world. It all comes from a deal made by an ancient king to the Spirit of the Woods and she's wants her payment. Elspeth, our main character, gets sucked into a conspiracy to locate and fulfill the prophecy that will end the deal and save the town and the the townsfolk.

The book builds slowly, Elspeth is possessed? Is in possession of? A spirit that lurks in the back of her mind. He speaks with her in riddles and rhymes and knows far more than he tells her. Over the course of the novel we find out more about him, slowly, and Elspeth learns more how to work with him and struggles to find the answers to her questions. The rest of the cast, though interesting is hardly important. There is our obligatory love interest, who felt very standard, and his assorted found family. Some of which I did really enjoy! There was also an interesting character in Elspeth's cousin who at first a thought was going to become Elspeth's female rival, but the further into the story we went I think perhaps the author is going to explore a different kind of relationship and that's one I'm very excited for.

The setting is the win here though. You want something moody, misty, and you want to feel the cold and chill of the place? One Dark Window has it in spades. The creepy forest, the feel of something always behind you, it's all captured wonderfully. It ties will with the magic of the story. It's all due to the Spirit of the Woods and a bargain made years ago by The Shepard King. Now magic is sealed in Cards that can be used by the people of the town. All other magic is shunned since it comes from the mist and it leads to madness. The idea of give and take is very real and involved here.

Ultimately I ended up loving where this book went. The melodrama and slow pace of the first portion were saved by the atmosphere and the setting. And the ending that pops off had me actually yelling out loud (my husband was highly amused). I immediately ordered my own physical copy because as soon as I can get my hands on the second book I'm rereading the first and diving in. Go in with the right expectations and I think you'll be delighted.

4 Glowing Cards out of 5

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig was such a great read. The world-building was top-notch, and I was very invested in Elspeth's story as well as her relationships with Nightmares and King's nephew, Ravyn. The atmosphere this novel created was just what I wanted. Not especially gorry, but with a bit of bite that kept me invested. I often felt that One Dark Window had similar vibes as For The Wolf and For the Crown, and I gave this book 4/5 stars. A very fun fall read.


I voluntarily read an advanced copy of One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for providing an ARC to review.

WOW. That ending. I need book 2 ASAP.

One Dark Window was amazing. Rachel Gillig's writing is amazing, and I was surprised when I came to the end of the book. I would have happy if it was 600+ pages.

I bought the book because of the cover, and the only thing I knew was that there are Gothic themes and it is a fantasy book.

The book follows Elspeth who was infected with magic at a young age and has a result has a monster in her head known as the Nightmare.

She meets others like her and overtime has to face the truth of her magic in order to save the ones she loves.

I can't say more without giving away everything in the story but I highly recommend picking this up.

ONE DARK WINDOW by Rachel Gillis has probably been one of my favorite reads of the year!

I went in expecting action and dark magic and what I got was so much more: a unique and intricate magic system, darkness held within the secrets every character is hiding, and a perfectly-paced slow-burn romance. (Rivals to lovers in a way?)

Elspeth Spindle is a survivor and while I enjoy her character, I cannot wait to see where her magic-gathering takes her and The Nightmare within her. Even the side characters and families of importance within the story are SO interesting and well-written! With a dark magic system, foreboding atmosphere, and moody gothic elements, ONE DARK WINDOW is the perfect read for this time of year.

The concept of voices in your head is not new by any means, yet I love how Gillis chose to introduce the Nightmare to Elspeth. I guess in the end, they’re both survivors.

The romance was completely and totally unexpected and I found it incredibly well done: a tinge of spice and lustful romance, brought about by something stronger—fate. If I didn’t already have 3 boys there’s a 100% chance I’d be naming my first born son Ravyn 😂. How Gillis writes him to be bird-like yet handsome and strong is peak writing skill IMO.

If a dark fantasy is your vibe, you will LOVE this book! I honestly may go read it again 😍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Okay, I know I talked a bit already about the card magic, but I can't get over it. I loved the ways Gillig examines and creates this magic. The cards and the magical world. Because in One Dark Window not only are there these magic cards any one can use, there's also magical powers you get from a magical sickness. And these powers are our own. That would be all well and good, except because of the current King, anyone who has been afflicted is basically given a death sentence. So enter Elspeth who has been 'gifted' magic but is in hiding her whole life.

And she's escaped notice so far, even if it's terrifying, but when she visits court she will be thrown into an atmosphere of barbed gifts and poisoned words. Of people listening to each of our words searching for missteps to exploit. Elspeth suddenly finds herself in even more danger as she becomes embroiled in a risky scheme and new family power dynamics. One Dark Window has a great balance of action, romance, and intrigue.