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katievallin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Abandonment, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Vomit
Minor: Body horror, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Sexism
atomicrobin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Sexual violence, Torture, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Blood, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent
sarrie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The town of Blunder is surrounded and beset by a fog or mist that never leaves, and is slowly taking over and cutting it off from the world. It all comes from a deal made by an ancient king to the Spirit of the Woods and she's wants her payment. Elspeth, our main character, gets sucked into a conspiracy to locate and fulfill the prophecy that will end the deal and save the town and the the townsfolk.
The book builds slowly, Elspeth is possessed? Is in possession of? A spirit that lurks in the back of her mind. He speaks with her in riddles and rhymes and knows far more than he tells her. Over the course of the novel we find out more about him, slowly, and Elspeth learns more how to work with him and struggles to find the answers to her questions. The rest of the cast, though interesting is hardly important. There is our obligatory love interest, who felt very standard, and his assorted found family. Some of which I did really enjoy! There was also an interesting character in Elspeth's cousin who at first a thought was going to become Elspeth's female rival, but the further into the story we went I think perhaps the author is going to explore a different kind of relationship and that's one I'm very excited for.
The setting is the win here though. You want something moody, misty, and you want to feel the cold and chill of the place? One Dark Window has it in spades. The creepy forest, the feel of something always behind you, it's all captured wonderfully. It ties will with the magic of the story. It's all due to the Spirit of the Woods and a bargain made years ago by The Shepard King. Now magic is sealed in Cards that can be used by the people of the town. All other magic is shunned since it comes from the mist and it leads to madness. The idea of give and take is very real and involved here.
Ultimately I ended up loving where this book went. The melodrama and slow pace of the first portion were saved by the atmosphere and the setting. And the ending that pops off had me actually yelling out loud (my husband was highly amused). I immediately ordered my own physical copy because as soon as I can get my hands on the second book I'm rereading the first and diving in. Go in with the right expectations and I think you'll be delighted. 4 Glowing Cards out of 5
Moderate: Torture, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, and Blood
Minor: Sexism and Child abuse
tifcochran's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
This book's release is timed perfectly, this is a great spooky/fall/gothic feeling world that you are dropped into. The world that Gillig creates has original elements, with its form of magic being cards, with the Nightmare that speaks only to Elspeth.
Though this book is marketed as an Adult book, because the MC is 20, it still feels very YA. If you are interested in dipping your toe into more Older YA/Younger Adult Fantasy, this is a great option.
Pros -
Spooky Vibes
Interesting Magic system which included repercussions for using magic with the feel of "nothing is free"
Enemies to Lovers(ish) Trope
Fake Dating Trope
Cons -
Reads very YA
Elspeth is a bit dense in figuring out some obvious mysteries
Fringe characters not well developed
Cliffhanger Ending, not stated it is part of a series
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexism
This book does end on an abrupt cliffhanger, there is no resolution and to be aware of that. It is not marketed as a series, so going into it i thought it was a stand alone.