"Nearly every character in the book is hiding at least one secret and most are hiding multiple. As these secrets are revealed the plot becomes more intricate and the characters and I were drawn in deeper and deeper. I really enjoyed uncovering all these different secrets and coming to know the characters better through the story. " - Luna Gauthier

A full review of this title is available on my website thecosmiccircus.com

A cute YA fantasy.
The story follows a girl named Elseth who is hiding not only her magic but also the monster living inside her head.
It had a very unique magical system made up of 12 providence cards. Each card you used comes with its own cost.

Only thing I didn't like Is they advised the book as being adult gothic romance. It reads more YA than adult in my opinion.

That delightfully creepy cover caught my interest but it was when I read the blurb that I decided I absolutely had to read this book. It’s an utterly engrossing debut, with dangerous mist-filled woods, treachery and lots of gothic vibes – plus an enemies-to-lovers romance. As a note, when I first started reading this, I thought it was a standalone. It most definitely is not and to say that I’m very much interested in reading the next book right now, well that should give you a hint about how it ends.

It used to be that the people of Blunder would go to the Spirit of the Wood and ask for magical help. The Shepherd King, though, used that magic to craft the Providence Cards, and eventually all magic was banned except for them. In retribution for the losing the worship of the people, the Spirit has made the mist encroach more every year on Blunder. Anyone caught in the mist without a talisman becomes infected with wild magic and eventually degenerates. When Elspeth first comes down with the infection, her father, rather than turning her in to the Destriers, sends her to live with her aunt and uncle.

She pretends that she escaped unscathed and without magic, but in reality, after touching her uncle’s Nightmare card, now a Nightmare lives in her mind. The possession is minimal and for most of the eleven years, it’s been content to spew enigmatic rhymes in her head. But when she asks it for help, it can lend her strength and speed – but at what cost? When she encounters – and escapes from – a group of highwaymen intent on stealing her uncle’s Cards, something seems off. And soon it’s clear that those highwaymen were actually high-ranking nobles, including Ravyn, the Captain of the Destriers, intent on securing enough of the Cards to rid Blunder of the mist forever – and they think Elspeth can help them. Surrounded by possible enemies, Elspeth’s Nightmare may be the only one she can depend on.

“In the end, the Nightmare continued, it does not matter how and why the Cards are used. Nothing is free, nothing is safe. Magic always comes at a cost.”


The world building was absolutely fascinating. There are twelve types of Providence Cards, and according to legend, all of them were bargained for by the Shepherd King. Each has different magic and a different price. The Scythe, for instance, allowed its user the power to control others, but at great pain to themselves. Much like Pokemon, there are more common cards and rarer cards, with the rarest never having been found. The others are either in the care of nobles or the king. Legend says that reuniting one of every type of Card will allow the bearer to defeat the mist once and for all, but no one, not even the king, has ever been able to do that.

“What creature is he, with mask made of stone? the Nightmare said once more. A Captain? A highwayman? Or beast yet unknown?”


Elspeth is twenty but she’s been very sheltered, cautious of being around too many people for fear her infection would be revealed and she would be hunted like an animal. She’s cynical and resigned, knowing that no matter what, the infection will eventually cause her to degrade and lose her mind. When Ravyn and the rest of the conspirators approach her with their plan to rid Blunder of the Mist and heal the infected, it’s the first taste of hope she’s had in eleven years. But even then, she’s not willing to share the full extent of her magic with the Captain of the Destriers, a man meant to hunt the infected. But as their missions to recover the last cards they need continue, she gradually starts to trust Ravyn and the others. After all, it’s clear he has secrets of his own. And as you can probably guess, there’s a slow-burn romance that ignites between Elspeth and Ravyn, part forced proximity and part them recognizing their similarities. It’s enjoyable enough but not what really sold me on the book.

The relationship I really loved was that between Elspeth and the Nightmare. There are only two Nightmare cards and they allow the user to read others’ thoughts and talk to them mind-to-mind. For Elspeth, though, it’s a literal presence in her mind, full of gnashing teeth and yellow eyes. It treats her almost like a younger sibling, taunting her with knowledge but only answering in rhymes. But when it truly matters, despite being a literal bloodthirsty monster, the Nightmare is still protective of Elspeth. After all, the more she depends on it, the more control it gains over her…

“Be wary. Be clever. Be good.”


Overall, this was a delightfully atmospheric read, perfect for spooky season. I will definitely be picking up the sequel!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig is the first book in The Shepherd King Series. It’s a darker fantasy story with romance.
 
The story is about Elspeth and who is such a stunning protagonist. She grows up in a world where she isn’t appreciated by her family and must do a lot of things on her own. That isn’t easy because a demon-like creature lives inside her mind whom she calls Nightmare. While he helps her, he keeps a lot of things to himself and is a monster after all. This concept alone was stunning and the whole plot around Nightmare was so intriguing and mysterious.
 
Her world is also infected with dark magic and especially Providence Cards are in high demand as they let you wield magic. But these are very rare and possess some serious consequences. One day she meets a highwayman in the forest and that leads to a great adventure, and they investigate how to cure the world. I loved every second of the plot and especially the second half was so enthralling that I couldn’t put this book down. Ravyn was an amazing hero, and I absolutely loved the romance in this book. I already can’t wait for the next book.
 
Overall, One Dark Window is a fantastic debut and I highly recommend reading this book. 5 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This started out slow, but I did like it at the end. It took me a few days to really get into it, as I would read a bit before losing interest. The magic system was really interesting and unique - the Providence Cards are a cool concept and I like that there’s a genuine cost that affects the characters when they use them.

Elspeth isn’t my favorite protagonist, but she’s alright. Her dynamic with the Nightmare is mediocre, and I was hoping for more of a relationship after 11 years together. She wants Nightmare out of her head, but then asks for help at every minor inconvenience. I also think the main romance came out of left field.

I also think the villains have virtually no dimension. They were just kind of there. The side characters are mostly forgettable and blend together.

Regardless, this was enjoyable and I look forward to the sequel.

Elspeth lives in a cursed kingdom shrouded in Mist, ruled by a magical deck of cards and plagued with an infection that can leave magical traits behind. Individuals who catch the infection, are collected and disposed of by the Destriers, however at a young age, she herself caught the infection and was sheltered by her Aunt's family. This left her with the ability to absorb the cards she touched. The only card her family held is the Nightmare card, and now this ancient creature occupies her mind and gives her the additional ability to see other cards as colored lights. This ability makes her the key to the plot she is recruited into by the Destriers Captain, Ravyn, who seeks to collect all of the cards and free his brother.

This book was a quick and easy read, the transitions can be a bit choppy but I found the magic system interesting and the characters charming. I got some Caraval dark vibes as well as the Serpent Queen tv show. I wouldn't say it's Gothic but it is dark.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the eARC

I loved this so much, I wish I could go back and read it for the first time. I cannot wait for the second book. I am so in love with Ravyn and Elspeth. This was a perfect debut fantasy novel.

Haunting stories of mysterious magic, ancient bargains, and mythological creatures come to life in this new eerie and bewitching poetic fairytale, where fiction and fable inspire deception, ambition, and betrayal—making masks harder to hide behind and the danger even greater.

In a realm plagued by dark, infected magic, a full set of Providence cards holds the key to freeing the kingdom from this centuries-old burden—but the cards, each riddled with their own cursed magic, have been spread throughout the lands. On a quest to gather the deck to stop the infection from growing, Elspeth joins an unlikely group of allies. But she soon learns there may be more truth to the stories of the cards than she ever imagined.

From the lyrical, poetic inspiration and writing style to the myths of forest spirits and infamous kings to the magical deck of cards and heroic quest, every aspect of this read wove together beautifully to create a new, lush fairytale-esque story.

I especially found the counterbalance between the main character and her “nightmare” to be very intriguing. I loved how it tied into all parts of the story and became essential to her character development. I also adored how she found her very own little found family!

After that INSANE ending, I can’t wait to see where this story is going to go next and am anticipating seeing this world and these characters grow and flourish.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Unfortunately it doesn't escape being mediocre. A gothic YA fantasy that needs a bit more teeth, with characters that are somewhat lackluster. I think the marketing for this book was a tiny bit misleading, because I expected gothic adult horror/fantasy and was served YA gothic romance fantasy. Nothing wrong with the latter, but when you're expecting one and not the other, it can feel like a bit of a letdown.

I'd recommend for anyone looking for a pretty easy read with a mild side of spooky.

In a world where magic is infectious, dangerous, and also outlawed, Elspeth Spindle is fighting a losing battle on all fronts - against the Destriers, soldiers tasked with capturing the infected and impart 'justice' on behalf of the king; against her growing attraction for Ravyn Yew, their Captain, and the king's nephew; and against the Nightmare that lives in her head, who grows stronger every day. He is starting to eclipse her completely.

This book was captivating, horrifying, magnificent, and romantic, and it had me holding my breath through the very last page. Every aspect of it felt so real, as cliché as that sounds - I felt as if I could smell the dirt and the mist, feel the Nightmare's breath down the back of my neck. Rachel Gillig has a command of description that authors with twice the experience she has still struggle to master. It makes everything about her writing feel incredibly lifelike. Every chapter works to help you unravel the mystery at the very core of the plot - I loved this book because it wasn't simple, but it didn't set out to purposefully confuse, like so many fantasy books seem to do, in the name of world-building.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, especially historical and/or gothic fantasy with the most delectable splash of romance. The magic system is so unique and fascinating, and instead of just being there for the sake of being fanciful, it's a core aspect of the series' plot. It's a very quick read - which is a double-edged sword, because I can't even begin to tell you how badly I wish I were still reading it, rather than writing this review right now. Read if you're a fan of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf, Allison Saft's Down Comes the Night, or Ava Reid's The Wolf and the Woodsman!

This is a Gothic YA fantasy and serves as a gentle introduction to the genre. I enjoyed the ending and the romance was a bit fun. It was also a bit annoying though, unfortunately. It felt too quick (which could be a lot of YA Romance, to be fair) and so very tropey. I love tropes, but this was just so much. Essentially, it’s very very YA and I think it’ll do phenomenally well with its target audience.

A gorgeous, masterful, fantastically gothic journey into darkness...and the self. This book was a lot of fun, and really impossible to put down!

One Dark Window has a hell of a premises. Unfortunately some pacing issues and hard to follow story line made it a bit of a slog.

Elspeth Spindle has a problem. She's got an ancient spirit trapped inside her head. The Nightmare, as she called him, both protects and guards her secrets but magic always come at a cost. With help from the mysterious Highway man, Elspeth sets out on a dangerous journey to rid herself of the spirit. In this works where magic and deception lurk around every corner nothing is what it seems.

There were so many elements of this book I adored! The atmosphere was evocative, the world building was intriguing, and I found the characters to be well rounded and likeable. Unfortunately the pacing felt a bit wonky for me it would become speedy and then be abruptly halted. The story felt hard to follow for me and I found myself rereading passages on several occasions to get me bearings.

I certainly enjoyed this enough to see what the author does next, but in a a stack of fantastic fall reads this one lands toward the bottom for my personal liking,

Thank you to Netgalley for the Review copy.

***ARC received from Orbit and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

The first thing that caught my eye on this book is the cover, perfectly portraying the gothic atmosphere that the book delivers on. And did it deliver.

Elspeth is probably one of my favorite YA heroines in awhile. She just wants to live whatever time she has left before the Nightmare fully claims control over her mind surrounded by her aunt and cousin who love her despite her infection. Shes not quick to run into a fight, is willing to acknowledge her own hypocrisy when it comes to her keeping secrets from Ravyn and thankfully doesn’t spend a huge chunk of the book complaining about women’s garments. When she puts on pants its uncomfortable to her, its a nice change for a female lead whos empowerment isn’t wrapped up in her clothing. The dynamic between her and the Nightmare is also one of my favorite parts. As much as she hates him Elspeth it reliant on the Nightmare despite what it is doing to her which she is well aware of. I’m interested to see what happens to her in the follow up book. Ravyn is the male lead and hes pretty much everything a male lead should be in a YA book, tall, dark, and handsome who loves the heroine but has to keep his distance. I liked Ravyn hes a fine male lead and I think he will have more of a lead in the second book which should be interesting.

Most of the secondary characters feel a little more stereotyped, the cousin with more to her story, the distrusting doesn’t like the heroine friend of the male lead and the villain prince. They are all fine characters that don’t completely blend into the background and still had me interested in what will happen to them in the next book.

The magic system is very interesting, that there are two different magic systems one that can be controlled and one that is to be feared but for both it can exact a heavy price. Magic is not free but that price that one pays may be different per infected person. It was also interesting about how the magic in the cards is used. Its akin to a deck of cards there are many of some cards but only one or two of the others which can make them more difficult to find but not more powerful. They each have their own unique abilities and price is unique to each card. The other magic system that people get from being infected is really fascinating and I love how just with the other magic its unique. But its not unique to the card but to each individual person and some degeneration is much easier to hide that others.

The world building it really nice even if it is restricted that it can’t expand very far as the kingdom is locked off by a mist. It does well with the small bit that it has, mostly focused on Castle Yew as that is where the majority of the backstory takes place. I loved how the backstory wove its way into the main characters active lives and story. It was done in a fascinating way and yes, it was a twist I saw coming but it was still done well and made a lot of sense for the story.

The ending of the story was great and was the inevitable outcome for Elspeth and the Nightmare. The writing is good, the use of the Nightmares cryptic rhyming was a nice touch. He gives pieces of the story away that will benefit in a second read through. It was only really about midway through the book that I realized that it wasn’t a stand alone which is fine with me but now I have to wait until the next one to come out.

One Dark Window is the story of Elspeth Spindle. Elspeth harbors a dark secret, as a child she contracted a magical fever in a kingdom where the infection is punishable by death. She also happens to be the host of a mysterious entity she calls the Nightmare. A chance encounter results in Elspeth becoming embroiled in a conspiracy headed by Ravyn, the nephew of the King. The conspiracy may cure her of her affliction or allow the Nightmare to take control for good.

One Dark Window can best be described as a dark fairytale. I loved the Grimm-esque atmosphere of the story. This is a take that wraps into you slowly and will stay with you for a while. Though perfect for spooky season, One Dark Window is more haunting than chilling so those like me who don’t have a tolerance for horror can still enjoy it.

Reading One Dark Window, I found myself wrapped up in the mystery of the story. I wanted to know more about the magical plague, Elspeth’s past and who the Nightmare was. With each chapter the reader gets another tantalizing piece of the puzzle, but is left wanting more. By the end of the story you will wish Book 2 was out already, because things can only get more interesting from here.

Fans of supernatural mysteries and dark fairytales will love this one. If you enjoyed Naomi Novik’s Uprooted and/or Shadow in the Looking Glass you need to read this book.

Well, the whole synopsis of this one grabbed my attention right away. Darkness, monsters, ancient spirits, magic… right up my alley! And let’s not forget that gorgeous cover 😍.

—-

I’ll be honest, it took me a bit to get into it. I found the first part a bit hard to get thru. I wasn’t sure why tho, I found it difficult to follow? So I put it down for a bit, then picked it back up and started over. I’m glad I did because once I got past that first part I quite enjoyed the story 🙌.

I loved Elspeths character, not to mention her name. A bit of an outcast from her family, keeping a terrible secret to herself. When she crosses paths with a highwayman, she learns more about herself and the nightmare contained within her, and how similar she is to this strange man.

“𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐. 𝘎𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤. 𝘞𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵, 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧-𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘴.”

The magic system was quite interesting and unique. A set of 12 providence cards that give those who possess them magical abilities. But there is also an infection going around, and those who have it are given a death sentence.

If you like romance… don’t expect to get a lot of it, right away. But if you like a slow burn… well then dig in 😁. When it finally happened, it was worth the wait ❤️.

I’m really looking foreword to the second book, as this one left the reader needing more! I plan on rereading this one before the second comes out.

Overall I give this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

And… it comes out tomorrow, September 27th 😊.

I was excited to have Orbit provide an eARC of this novel but had no idea how much I would end up loving this book. I essentially consumed this book in a single sitting and could not get enough of the world that Rachel Gillig crafted. The pacing of the novel was perfect—the ending of each chapter left me in a place where I would tell myself "just one more chapter," which ultimately led to me devouring the entire book. The magic system was simple, but unlike any I had ever read. I appreciated how easy Rachel made it to dive into their world. As the reader, I didn't have to put forth much effort but felt I had a solid grasp on the world, characters, politics, and the magic system. The protagonist could have easily been difficult to read given the nature of the character, but the author seamlessly integrates all aspects of Elspeth's character. This novel has something for most readers. beyond the major fantasy element focused on a prized magic; there's romance, action, politics, heist, and an ending that was more gruesome than I expected (in a good way). I've been in a reading slump lately, but One Dark Window was an unexpected gem that has me desperately waiting for more in this universe.

Do you ever just want to hug a book to your chest because it’s just so…cozy, perfect and heartwarming?

ᴏɴᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ is the debut novel by Rachel and basically it’s like if ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴏꜰ ɢᴏᴛʜᴇʟ and ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʟꜰ had a baby.

This book is like a slow to warm personality that finally opens up under the perfect conditions. And what are these conditions?

☾ gothic atmosphere with misty woods
☾ unique magical system comprised of 12 Providence Cards
☾ a little bit of found family
☾ dreamy romance

When I say I was absolutely obsessed with this book, I mean it.

Every chapter starts out with a card and a little rhyme: OBSESSED

The concept of the cards: OBSESSED

Ravyn: OBSESSED

Everything. I can’t wait for the next book because this just hit the spot for me. Honestly, it’s absolutely perfect for this time of year.

If you’re looking for the perfect gothic fantasy… THIS, this is it!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

One Dark Window, in general, is a perfect October book. Spooky season and Halloween vibes come together nicely in this tale set in the misty, dark woods full of scariness, ghosts, and yellow-eyed monstrosities. The characters are sneaky like robbers and are, for the most part, generally likable with realistic faults. If you’re looking for an adult horror romance with a complex plot and organically interwoven magic system, this may not be the book for you. The author says it’s “YA accessible,” but I think that may only be applicable to the simplistic plot structure and not the sexual content or graphic violence with very descriptive, gory wound depictions, fitting the book solidly in the adult genre. The story also ends on a massive cliffhanger, which makes this a possible reread (for those who have that kind of problem) waiting to happen.

The most unique thing about this book is the magic system. Many books have been written about court intrigue, tyrannical monarchs and plots to overthrow them, and ancient kingdoms overturned by current ruling families whose impending comeuppance makes up the plot of a story. Not many books have been written about magic cards that grant power (with severe limitations) to the holders. The Providence cards and the magic they grant feel a bit like a gimmick to me. The collecting of them drive the plot, which only consists of three or so places (the village and its surrounding woods and a couple of castles), and the pacing of said plot stretches very thin and moves at a snail’s pace in this book. Since the book carries an adult fantasy classification, the book could very well have touted 600 or so pages and gotten the whole story taken care of in one go. After all, fantasy readers are used to having huge tomes lodged at them, so a 600+ page debut would not have made too many folks balk.

As for characters, Elspeth and our Captain make for a great romantic couple. The two don’t resist too much, and once they give in to their feelings, the characters around them react in entertaining ways, which provides some nice comic relief to break up the dark atmosphere and tone of the book. Supporting characters don’t take too much away from the two lovers, but I found myself liking all of the ones I should like and hating very vehemently the ones I should hate.

Unfortunately, the rating for me dipped below a 4 because the book transitioned from one place, setting, and/or conversation to another in the most disjointed ways. Not only did the narrative slow significantly in places, but it did not flow smoothly. I had to, several times, go back and figure out where the characters were, what they were currently doing, and what they were talking about several times. Also, the settings and happenings felt repetitive—lots of fights in the woods, lots of clandestine searches for cards, and a couple of visits to a derelict structure in the woods—and it was hard to keep things in order.

Overall, 3.5 out of 5 stars. Gillig’s debut was not completely terrible. It was an enjoyable story with a unique (albeit gimmicky) magic system and likable characters. The setting and tone provide the perfect mood for spooky Halloween season. The biggest drawbacks for me were the limited scope—the book only had three or so settings—and the choppiness of the story transitions. I had to go back and reread a bit to reorient myself a few times, but these issues may be resolved in the polished, final version, which is why I didn’t ding it too much. It’s also a debut, but it felt like one giant set up for the real action to come in the next book (and a bit like butter spread over too much bread), and it ended in a steeeeep cliffhanger. I’m not a big fan of those, and I usually wait until an entire series is out before starting it because I hate them so much.

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Orbit Books, & Rachel Gillig for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I don't even know where to begin, this book checked all my favorite boxes. It was a lush, dark, beautiful read, and I was entranced from the first page. The synopsis of the book is accurate in my opinion & I don't want to give anything else away.

I should preface this with the fact that since I have stepped into my later twenties (28yo) I have had a hard time reading most of the older YA/NA fantasy that I have tried to pick up, which is partly to do with some of the tropes & that I read ALOT of YA fantasy when I was that age.

That being said- This books world and magic system is very unique and was a breath of fresh air for me. The writing is beautiful and it is very atmospheric and gives off all the gothic, eerie, autumn vibes that mood readers want to fall into this time of year ( or if you're like me, this is an anytime of year/ favorite subgenre)

This is book 1 of The Shepard King Duology & I can't wait for book 2 to come out.

**Review to be posted on Amazon as well- currently unable to post on Amazon**