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A review by mackenzierm
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
3.5
3.5 stars.
Elspeth needs a monster in order to stay safe in the mist-locked kingdom of Blunder. She calls her monster Nightmare – he’s an ancient, mercurial spirit that’s trapped in her head. He protects her and keeps her secrets. But nothing comes for free, even magic. When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a turn. She joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. The highwayman happens to be the King’s nephew and Captain of the Destriers, some of the most dangerous men in Blunder. Together, they aim to gather 12 Providence Cards which are the keys to the cure. As the stakes rise along with their undeniable attraction, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet.
ONE DARK WINDOW is a brilliantly written novel featuring an intricate magic system within an eerie and atmospheric world. The setting and storytelling are very well done with atmospheric and gothic vibes. Gillig’s writing style is interesting, well developed, detailed, and mysterious. I felt this story was really unique and I absolutely loved that about it.
I adored the magic system and the concepts of the Providence Cards. It was interesting to learn about each card, how it works, and what the consequences of using them can be. I also thought that the Nightmare was super interesting, particularly how he was truly within Elspeth, and learning more about his true self, and the impacts he makes on Elspeth in the longer term.
I enjoyed the plot – it’s very interesting and kept me invested from start to finish. I do think that there are some parts that were a bit slower moving though. I did expect more romance than what we got, but nevertheless, I can’t wait to see what comes next in book 2, particularly after that ending!
Elspeth needs a monster in order to stay safe in the mist-locked kingdom of Blunder. She calls her monster Nightmare – he’s an ancient, mercurial spirit that’s trapped in her head. He protects her and keeps her secrets. But nothing comes for free, even magic. When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a turn. She joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. The highwayman happens to be the King’s nephew and Captain of the Destriers, some of the most dangerous men in Blunder. Together, they aim to gather 12 Providence Cards which are the keys to the cure. As the stakes rise along with their undeniable attraction, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet.
ONE DARK WINDOW is a brilliantly written novel featuring an intricate magic system within an eerie and atmospheric world. The setting and storytelling are very well done with atmospheric and gothic vibes. Gillig’s writing style is interesting, well developed, detailed, and mysterious. I felt this story was really unique and I absolutely loved that about it.
I adored the magic system and the concepts of the Providence Cards. It was interesting to learn about each card, how it works, and what the consequences of using them can be. I also thought that the Nightmare was super interesting, particularly how he was truly within Elspeth, and learning more about his true self, and the impacts he makes on Elspeth in the longer term.
I enjoyed the plot – it’s very interesting and kept me invested from start to finish. I do think that there are some parts that were a bit slower moving though. I did expect more romance than what we got, but nevertheless, I can’t wait to see what comes next in book 2, particularly after that ending!