One Dark Window

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.

Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and show more their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him. show less

I wish I could give this more than 5 stars. INCREDIBLE.

The style of writing is more lyrical/poetic than I’m used to, but it reads like an old fairy tale. The rhythm, the rhyme, the figurative language. This book is an English teacher’s dream. I want to annotate it because reading it once is not enough. This book is a work of art.

No notes. I’m in awe. I’m mad I didn’t bring the second book to work with me lol

No competition, this book is now my Roman Empire.

Wow. From start to finish, just wow. The brain that this book came out of is nothing short of brilliant.

I've had this book for a while, but didn't find the right time to read it. I initially had it as the paperback edition, but then the deluxe special edition came out and I had to have it. Since it was autumn, it seemed the perfect time to delve into this. And, wow, what a perfect time. The book is intensely atmospheric, utterly delicious, and hauntingly beautiful.

Elspeth Spindle and Ravyn Yew...yes, please. I loved how their relationship developed over the course of the book. I definitely enjoyed the unique magic system. The Nightmare was very compelling. I was in this book's grip from the beginning, but the last half had me show more absolutely glued to it.

I'm so glad I have the second book, because I need to read it pronto. show less

This book completely hooked me. The story was dark, magical, and beautifully written — I flew through it way faster than I expected. The characters felt real, the world was eerie and enchanting, and the tension kept me turning pages. As soon as I finished, I dove straight into the second book. Highly recommend if you love gothic fantasy with a twist!

Rachel Gillig's One Dark Window swept me away with its haunting atmosphere and deeply layered characters. From the first page, I was captivated by the intricate world of mist-shrouded forests and forbidden magic.

The chemistry between Elspeth and Ravyn was absolutely electric. Every moment they shared crackled with tension and undeniable connection. But it was Elm who truly stole my heart. His layered personality, wit, and steadfast loyalty made him unforgettable. His complexities added so much to the story, making him a character I couldn't help but root for.

Emory's fate weighed heavily on me. His story was heartbreaking, and Rachel Gillig's writing ensured I felt every bit of his pain and frustration. The emotional depth she wove into show more each character made their struggles and triumphs feel incredibly real.

The dark, immersive atmosphere paired with Gillig's lyrical prose made for an enchanting read. The magical system, centered around the ominous presence of the Nightmare, added an extra layer of suspense and intrigue. I was constantly on edge, eager to uncover the secrets hidden within the shadows of the kingdom.

I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment. With its captivating characters, gripping romance, and a world brimming with danger and desire, One Dark Window has firmly secured a spot on my favorites shelf. Highly recommended for fans of dark fantasy with a touch of slow-burn romance! show less

6 STARS I cannot believe how fantastic this book was. I am clawing at the walls of my enclosure for book two. I loved the gothic atmosphere and the magic system and the gore and the characters and everything. I am utterly obsessed with this book.

Adding this from my review of the sequel, Two Twisted Crowns (don't worry, no spoilers ahead for either book!):

I cannot even begin to understand why some people do not like these books, the first book is flawless in my opinion and the second book, while ever so slightly not as good as the first book, is still fantastic. I do hear a lot of people on TikTok comparing these books to series like ACOTAR and Fourth Wing (I have read both of those series- ACOTAR through ACOSF and Fourth Wing through show more Iron Flame). I have no idea why the hell people are comparing the Shepard King books to ones like ACOTAR and Fourth Wing because they could not be more different. The only similarity is that they’re all fantasy books involving magic. But even still, the magic in all of these series are soooo different from each other. So perhaps that's why people aren't liking these books, they're going into One Dark Window expecting intense fae politics and fae smut every other page or horny teenagers that ride dragons, when these books just aren't about that. I’ve heard a lot of people say they expected more smut and romance in the Shepard King series because of the comparisons to Fourth Wing and ACOTAR. The Shepard King duology, while it has romance, is not just about romance and doesn’t rely just on romance. It’s much deeper. So to people that picked up these books because they were looking for something to fill the void from missing ACOTAR, Fourth Wing, or other beloved romantasy series, pLEASE try these books again with a clean slate and palette. You won’t be getting ACOTAR 2.0 from these, it’s much, much different and honestly better. And to the people who said these books were “too wordy”, kindly be quiet and go read a dictionary because apparently you never studied your SAT words well enough. To me, the language of these books was like a breath of fresh air especially having grown up reading books like Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre and especially after the overly blunt and simplistic language of most popular novels and series out there (which I admit and appreciate, do still have a time and a place!). show less

Rachel Gillig’s One Dark Window was a great novel to end the month and usher in the spooky season. A countryside filled with a menacing mist. Monsters that talk to the main character. Political machinations. Family drama. It is quite the story, and Elspeth is quite the character. Between the Nightmare, her partnership with the highwaymen, and her complicated relationship with her father, Elspeth has to deal with more than your average female. She does so with courage, passion, and compassion. The ever-growing presence of the Nightmare adds its complications and fascination to the point where I tore through the novel too fast and finished it too quickly. Now I have to wait until the sequel, and that’s just too long.