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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
The atmosphere of the book hit the spot for me given I am a sucker for a "castle ruins in the mist" imagery, so that actually does the hard-carrying of the rating for me. The relationship development was lacking for me - it's one of those romances where the male character does some aroused growling, which I am not opposed to, but I need to buy into the falling-in-love part. I wasn't convinced of that here but *shrug* it's still enjoyable enough to read for the heart-fluttering moments. I'm going to go ahead and read the sequel and see how I feel about the duology overall.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig is a mesmerizing mix of dark fantasy, mystery, and rich character development.
The novel immerses you in a world where magic isn’t just a force of power—it’s something that can haunt, consume, and sometimes even take over your mind. The pacing of the story is gripping, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to uncover the mystery surrounding Elspeth, her dangerous connection to a cursed magic, and the strange world she inhabits.
Elspeth is an intriguing protagonist, balancing her vulnerability and strength in a way that feels real and relatable. Her relationship with Rayven, a mysterious and tortured character, provides an emotional depth to the story. There's undeniable chemistry between them, though their dynamic is far from simple, and I loved how the author took time to develop it slowly and deliberately.
The world-building is atmospheric, with detailed descriptions that set a haunting tone, yet Gillig never overwhelms the reader with unnecessary exposition. You feel fully immersed in the setting without feeling bogged down.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is the way it explores themes of trust, power, and the cost of magic. Elspeth’s journey is as much about discovering her own inner strength as it is about the dangers lurking in the shadows.
Quote:
"I had never felt so alive, and yet so close to the edge of darkness."
The novel immerses you in a world where magic isn’t just a force of power—it’s something that can haunt, consume, and sometimes even take over your mind. The pacing of the story is gripping, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to uncover the mystery surrounding Elspeth, her dangerous connection to a cursed magic, and the strange world she inhabits.
Elspeth is an intriguing protagonist, balancing her vulnerability and strength in a way that feels real and relatable. Her relationship with Rayven, a mysterious and tortured character, provides an emotional depth to the story. There's undeniable chemistry between them, though their dynamic is far from simple, and I loved how the author took time to develop it slowly and deliberately.
The world-building is atmospheric, with detailed descriptions that set a haunting tone, yet Gillig never overwhelms the reader with unnecessary exposition. You feel fully immersed in the setting without feeling bogged down.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is the way it explores themes of trust, power, and the cost of magic. Elspeth’s journey is as much about discovering her own inner strength as it is about the dangers lurking in the shadows.
Quote:
"I had never felt so alive, and yet so close to the edge of darkness."
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
GREAT tree lore in this
I really don’t understand the hype. The concept of the tarot cards/magic system is interesting, but I just didn’t vibe with the writing style. If I had gone into this knowing it read like a YA novel, then maybe my expectations could’ve been better managed.
Alas…I couldn’t get past Chapter 2. DNF’d.
Alas…I couldn’t get past Chapter 2. DNF’d.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I. loved. this. book. I'm mad at myself that I waited so long to read it. Elspeth and Rayven were so sweet with each other. The vibes were dark and perfect. The Nightmare was by far my favorite character. The sassiest mean best friend you could ever have. It wasn't a 5 star because some of my questions weren't answered by the end. I assume the second book will have the answers, so maybe my rating will change.