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joyolivia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
linzeeslittlelibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“There once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There was also a King, a Shepard by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same. The Girl, the King and the Monster they became.”
If Dark Gothic Fairytales are your vibe, look no further than this book. The books follows Elspeth Spindle on her quest to heal the town of Blunder from the curse of the Mist and free herself from the Nightmare that lives inside her head.
Alongside a group of misfits who should be her mortal enemies since they work for the Crown that would sentence her to death for the magical illness that she contracted as a child, Elspeth tries to unravel the mystery of her unwelcome mental companion and acquire the Deck of magically made cards that will set her and the people of the town free.
The romance between Elspeth and Ravyn starts as a fake courtship that ends with lines being blurred between real and pretend.
While I found some of the mystery around the Nightmare and his true identity a tad predictable, there were enough twists and turns to keep me interested and on my toes.
And the ENDING.
Warning it’s a cliffhanger and the second book isn’t out until October of 2023.
A wild ride from start to finish. I can’t wait until the next entry.
If Dark Gothic Fairytales are your vibe, look no further than this book. The books follows Elspeth Spindle on her quest to heal the town of Blunder from the curse of the Mist and free herself from the Nightmare that lives inside her head.
Alongside a group of misfits who should be her mortal enemies since they work for the Crown that would sentence her to death for the magical illness that she contracted as a child, Elspeth tries to unravel the mystery of her unwelcome mental companion and acquire the Deck of magically made cards that will set her and the people of the town free.
The romance between Elspeth and Ravyn starts as a fake courtship that ends with lines being blurred between real and pretend.
While I found some of the mystery around the Nightmare and his true identity a tad predictable, there were enough twists and turns to keep me interested and on my toes.
And the ENDING.
Warning it’s a cliffhanger and the second book isn’t out until October of 2023.
A wild ride from start to finish. I can’t wait until the next entry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse and War
januaryt123's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
takarakei's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Really unique plot line and magic system. Can’t say I’ve read anything quite like it. Almost like a tarot card based magic. There’s definitely a mysterious element to the storyline as it unfolds which was done well.
The romance is “fake courtship” (aka fake dating) and despite that was a little bit charged with just physical attraction at first, but I did like the way it develops into a deeper connection.
Definitely looking forward to the next book
The romance is “fake courtship” (aka fake dating) and despite that was a little bit charged with just physical attraction at first, but I did like the way it develops into a deeper connection.
Definitely looking forward to the next book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity
booksthatburn's review against another edition
Slow to start, and not interesting enough to keep me around longer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Terminal illness and Death of parent
naomi_k's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse and Abandonment
whatsemilyreadin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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 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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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
5.0
This book is atmospheric and haunting, perfect for spooky season and great for fans of Vespertine and For the Wolf. Elspeth and the supporting characters grapple with questions of loyalty to crown, loyalty to family, and the consequences of magic. The card-based magic system is unique and engrained in the lore of the world. There’s a fake dating/engagement of convenience arc to the romance, with a lovely pay-off (think, again, For the Wolf in terms of spice level: heavy kissing and one classy open-door scene, minimal explicit language). And the cliffhanger ending had me in a chokehold.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
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