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boba_nbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
Spice Rating: 🌶️ / 5
WOW. Before I even started this book, I knew I was going to like it. But I didn't expect it to pull me in as fully as it did.
Elspeth lives in a world where a magical mist can infect children and gift them with strange magic that slowly degenerates them, even causing them to lose their mind. But Elspeth has been infected for 11 years and has yet to experience that kind of degeneration. Just as her family has hidden her infection, Elspeth has hidden the monster in her head, leading people to believe she was infected but was not gifted the magic that causes the king to execute the infected children. Elspeth has spent these past 11 years denying her magic and the nightmare inside her head, but when she meets a mysterious highwayman, everything changes. She's pulled into a treasonous quest that could change everything and cure her, as well as other infected people, of the magical curse. Elspeth uses the monster in her head to help the highwayman and his family find the Providence Cards that could cure her and hopefully dispel the mist, but this requires her to face the nightmare and become more acquainted with him than she would like. The more they talk, the stronger he becomes, and there might come a point where Elspeth can't stop him anymore. There are so many morally gray decisions Elspeth has to make, and she has to find her limit even as the nightmare in her head has his own agenda.
The magic system in this novel is absolutely fascinating. I love the idea of the magical cards that give people the power of both magic and status within the kingdom. The chemistry between Ravyn and Elspeth isn't quite electric but more of an invisible string that slowly pulls them together. I love how much they understand each other and are, thankfully, more forgiving about secrets than any fantasy couple I've ever read about. Because in a world where everything is out to get both of them, it makes sense that they want to keep their cards (pun intended) close to their chest.
One Dark Window has a film of horror overlaying the plot with gothic vibes that are unmatched. The author made it easy to keenly feel the urgency with Elspeth as the nightmare slowly gained strength inside her head. Rachel Gillig definitely has a way with words. The way she can create such a beautiful yet creepy world that I just want to learn more about. I can't wait to read Two Twisted Crowns and even more stories created by this author.
WOW. Before I even started this book, I knew I was going to like it. But I didn't expect it to pull me in as fully as it did.
Elspeth lives in a world where a magical mist can infect children and gift them with strange magic that slowly degenerates them, even causing them to lose their mind. But Elspeth has been infected for 11 years and has yet to experience that kind of degeneration. Just as her family has hidden her infection, Elspeth has hidden the monster in her head, leading people to believe she was infected but was not gifted the magic that causes the king to execute the infected children. Elspeth has spent these past 11 years denying her magic and the nightmare inside her head, but when she meets a mysterious highwayman, everything changes. She's pulled into a treasonous quest that could change everything and cure her, as well as other infected people, of the magical curse. Elspeth uses the monster in her head to help the highwayman and his family find the Providence Cards that could cure her and hopefully dispel the mist, but this requires her to face the nightmare and become more acquainted with him than she would like. The more they talk, the stronger he becomes, and there might come a point where Elspeth can't stop him anymore. There are so many morally gray decisions Elspeth has to make, and she has to find her limit even as the nightmare in her head has his own agenda.
The magic system in this novel is absolutely fascinating. I love the idea of the magical cards that give people the power of both magic and status within the kingdom. The chemistry between Ravyn and Elspeth isn't quite electric but more of an invisible string that slowly pulls them together. I love how much they understand each other and are, thankfully, more forgiving about secrets than any fantasy couple I've ever read about. Because in a world where everything is out to get both of them, it makes sense that they want to keep their cards (pun intended) close to their chest.
One Dark Window has a film of horror overlaying the plot with gothic vibes that are unmatched. The author made it easy to keenly feel the urgency with Elspeth as the nightmare slowly gained strength inside her head. Rachel Gillig definitely has a way with words. The way she can create such a beautiful yet creepy world that I just want to learn more about. I can't wait to read Two Twisted Crowns and even more stories created by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Abandonment
jennlikesreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
Wow. Wow. Wow. What a vibe. This is a fantasy retelling with some romance. I loved the magic system in this book, the world building was done so well for a complex magic system. It was explained thoroughly without it feeling like an info dump. I am floored with the creativity in this book. It took a really cool spin on incorporating trees, nature and tarot card like decks as a magic system. It was very spooky and autumnal. Definitely would recommend if fantasy, spooky vibes, and high stakes are ya thing. Maybe stay away from it if you don’t enjoy gore (there isn’t a lot but enough), complex magic systems. It takes its time in the beginning of the book but I don’t mind the slower pace. The author did a great job setting up the world, magic, characters and plot. This book had be completely immersed I adored the authors writing and her descriptive story telling. I was LOCKED IN. However, I wished we got more depth to some relationships.
Small spoiler ahead*
<It felt like elspeth and Ravyn were all of a sudden together and super in love. I’m curious to see where it goes but wow what a cliffhanger.>
Small spoiler ahead*
<It felt like elspeth and Ravyn were all of a sudden together and super in love. I’m curious to see where it goes but wow what a cliffhanger.>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
jamiejanae_6's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
elle622's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment
violetofthesea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
this was so good!!! best book i’ve read in a long time. i’m excited to see what happens next with the nightmare and Elspeth. I know she’s still in there, but I wonder how long it will be to get her back in the next book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gore, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Physical abuse
straybutterfly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
crinkledmochi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.25
VIBES!!!!
Gothic, mystical, yet darkly cozy.
the romance was cute but definitely needed more fleshing out as everything happened within the span of a couple weeks.
the worldbuilding! yes ma’am, I hope that in the next book the world kinda opens up a bit more but with the way this book ended I don’t think we’re going very far.
Gothic, mystical, yet darkly cozy.
the romance was cute but definitely needed more fleshing out as everything happened within the span of a couple weeks.
the worldbuilding! yes ma’am, I hope that in the next book the world kinda opens up a bit more but with the way this book ended I don’t think we’re going very far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
sassafrasscommon's review against another edition
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
4.75
OBSESSED. WOW! I consumed this book in one sitting. This was such a fun story. The characters came alive in such a vivid way. It was all too easy to fall in love with them. The magic system was really unique and yet it called back to the hallmarks of classic fantasy. I needed this story more than I realized. Also, the romance was DELICIOUS.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, and Alcohol
scarlett_f's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse and Drug use
dani794's review against another edition
4.25
It had some good potential. I did enjoy it.
I did like the first half more than the second.
Elspeth and Ravyn's relationship moved a little too quickly for me, it was a lil surface level. I liked all the characters and their relationships, if it digged a little bit deeper into the layers of these characters it could've been really nice.
Elm I found particularly fun
I'm excited for the next book!
I did like the first half more than the second.
Elspeth and Ravyn's relationship moved a little too quickly for me, it was a lil surface level. I liked all the characters and their relationships, if it digged a little bit deeper into the layers of these characters it could've been really nice.
Elm I found particularly fun
I'm excited for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail