Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

9 reviews

druzyquartz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Vomit, Hate crime, Blood, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual content

jlent41553's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book would be good for someone who enjoys series where having magic is a curse rather than a blessing; It would also be good for someone who enjoys series such as: The Serpent and Dove series, The Foxglove King, and The Dark Gods. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Hate crime, and Police brutality

There are some graphic scenes involving torture of secondary characters/citizens and hate crimes among citizens; (the scenes really help the reader understand the dilemma the MC’s face and are not just there for fluff)

emsavors's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Police brutality, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Classism, Mental illness, Cursing, Death of parent, and Forced institutionalization

brielabrash's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Death

camiclarkbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

Very reminiscent of “For the Throne,” but not quite as well executed. 

The magic system is so unique and Gillig did a great job with her world building. The characters use “trees” as a curse word, which was such a fun touch for a fantasy world with a cursed forest. 

I like a vulnerable heroine, one whose strength evolves over the series, but I was really unimpressed by Elspeth.

She was constantly complaining about the Nightmare in her head (valid), but at the first whiff of trouble she was screaming for his help. And then went right back to whining about him. It could have just been the voice the narrator chose to use for Elspeth, but she was just an endlessly whiny baby.

Gillig’s debut definitely had promise—the world was interesting and grounded, the magic system was interesting, and the plot was great. But her characters (her many, many main characters) were so flat that it ultimately fell short in my eyes. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child death, Death, Abandonment, Body horror, Bullying, Blood, Death of parent, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, and Chronic illness

bettysbookishworld's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Blood, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Death, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Mental illness

vivdarko's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

This book really surprised me and exceeded my expectations! I tend to avoid first person perspective novels as I often find myself frustrated when trapped inside the mind of one person (even worse when they are annoying and I despise them), but I LOVED Elspeth! The banter between her and the Nightmare was so interesting and I loved how deeply rooted all the characters were with the magic system and history.

There was a whole portion of the book where I read 100 pages straight and didn’t even realize it, looking down at the page number and just absolutely baffled by how hypnotized and sucked into this book I had been.

So many complex characters to try and pick apart, Elm and Emory ended up becoming huge soft spots for me and unlikely favorites. Elm may not the nicest guy in the world, but man is he complex and interesting! The only thing preventing this from being a full 5 stars was Ravyn, as my feelings for him were a bit muddled and hard to place for most of the novel, I was frustrated that I wasn’t liking him as much as I should be. I can’t place my finger on what it is, I’m guessing it may be how quickly he transforms from bad guy to good. I do like him, I was just disappointed that I wasn’t head over heels for him like I usually am (I’m weak for dark and brooding boys okay). These feelings towards him did not take away my interest from the plot at all, and I still actively rooted for him throughout the book, as well as for his relationship with Elspeth. I love those two together, pairings where the big powerful and scary guy becomes whipped and so soft and in love will always be god-tier.


Rachel really knows how to make an atmosphere, the writing was beautiful but not excessive or pretentious, it was just right to leave a lasting and immersive impression without slowing the plot. This is such a strong first novel and the consistency of it from its first page to its last really has me hopeful that the other books in the series will only continue to be as interesting, fast-paced, heart racing, and immersive!

If you want a quick and easy to read dark fantasy with high stakes, interesting characters, and unique world-building, I could not recommend this novel enough!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Hate crime, Genocide, and Violence

Has the "touch her and I'll kill you" dynamic, protective dark and gloomy love interest shrouded in mystery!

missgarceau's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

What a horribly cruel cliffhanger ending!!!

I recommend waiting until the series is complete tbh.

The magic system is fascinating & the lore is intriguing. It’s like a dark and twisted fairytale full of riddles & rhymes. An epic quest full of shock & horror and a sprinkle of slow-burn romance.

It’s not FTB but the spice is mild. 

Idk if this is categorized as a romance, but unless there’s an HEA- I might trash it in my fury & rage! I am REELING after that ending!! Toddler tantrum level 3000!!!

Caveat emptor. Buyer beware. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Abandonment, Body horror, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Torture, and Toxic relationship

clairew97's review against another edition

dark funny 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Violence, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Medical content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Classism