Reviews

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

littlelibraryofsky's review against another edition

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5.0

Any book that captivates me to the extent that I can't put it down, and occupies my thoughts even when I'm not reading it, 100% gets a five-star rating. This book was that for me.

“Be wary. Be clever. Be good.”


Secrets, magic, and a kingdom in trouble; One Dark Window serves up a captivating gothic fantasy that had me hooked right from page one. The story flows effortlessly as we follow a Elspeth with a dangerous secret, a kingdom lost in mist, and a deck of cards that can wield powerful magic but at a cost. Every twist and turn keeps you glued to the page, wondering what's coming next.

I loved Elspeth, Ravyn, Elm and Jespyr! And then there's The Nightmare, who's both chilling and oddly funny, adding a whole new layer to the story. The comments and thoughts he would make had me laughing out loud.

Sure, romance isn't front and center, but you can't deny the chemistry between Elspeth and Ravyn. It's enough to make you crave those moments of connection in the midst of all the chaos.

“When he looked at me, I felt seen, known. There was a line between us, drawn by fate and magic, that stretched out over space and time. Ravyn and I had walked that line our entire lives, unaware we were headed straight for each other.”


One Dark Window has it all: intricate world-building, characters you'll root for, and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very last page. If you're into dark fantasy and stories that suck you in, this one's a must-read.

“Had I known they’d be the last words I’d say to him aloud, I might have chosen them differently.”

amageek's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

ermunleybooks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

ermunleybooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

cinnamonreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Beautifully written. Elm and the Nightmare were my favourite characters!

shauna_grenead's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

trishgeee's review against another edition

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5.0

Oh my gosh, I LOVED this. That ending! I’m dying that we have to wait until October. It took me a hot minute to get into the story but all of a sudden I was invested. I need book 2 nooow.

agreathullabaloo's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

kparish's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

alexpaperandpages's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

OMG. Lived up to the hype! Prose so wonderful! I love the magic system. I love the romance between Ravyn and Elspeth