Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

48 reviews

natashaleighton_'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

My first spooky adjacent read of October, One Dark Window, was a gorgeously lush and atmospheric read that gave me gothic fantasy, Guillermo Del Toro meets Tim Burton vibes — which unsurprisingly, I absolutely loved! 

I was really intrigued by the premise (a girl with a monster trapped in her head, on a quest to save her town, Blunder, from the dark magic that’s slowly begun to infect it) and enjoyed the unique, card-based magic system (and richly detailed lore) of this beautifully eerie, Sleepy Hollow-esque setting. 

The characters too, were pretty intriguing, especially Protagonist Elspeth, whose bond with the nightmarish creature inspires more confidence in her that I really enjoyed seeing. But of course, his help isn’t free and despite how much I loved their bickering, father-daughter-like dynamics, the tenuous balance of power that keeps the nightmare in check made for a nail bitingly intense experience as it slowly begins to fray. 

I did appreciate getting to delve into Elspeth’s emotional vulnerabilities though, which helped me to understand her thought processes and the hardships that led to her cautious (and dare I say skittish) nature.

I also loved the deliciously brooding, Byronic love interest (and occasional highwayman), Ravyn who connects with Elspeth in a way that no one else ever has. There’s definitely a touch of Alfred Noyes’ Highwayman about him and Gillig’s lush prose only adds to his allure, before slowly revealing the kind and protective nature he reserves only for his closest friends and family. The romance that develops between him and Elspeth is really endearing if a slow but I’m definitely rooting for these two. 

However, our rhyme obsessed, morally grey nightmare might possibly be my favourite character of them all. His dark sense of humour and brutal assessment of everyone around them was quite entertaining and after THAT cliffhanger ending I NEED to get my hands on the sequel. 

Overall, a spellbindingly wicked, dark fairytale of a read that fans Hannah Whitten or slower paced, gothic style narratives need to check out! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Minor: Child abuse, Abandonment, and Death

malisac16's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Abandonment, and Blood

Minor: Death of parent

bettysbookishworld's review

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

ashleynp24's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I loved the tension throughout the book. The pace really kept it flowing and I was constantly surprised by the turn of events. 

Elspeth is a strong protagonist, used to doing everything in her own. A strong female character is really nice to see, with both her strength as well as her wits.

I enjoy the relationship a lot between Elspeth and Ravyn, and enemies to lovers/fake dating trope. I hope their relationship Will get to develop more in the next book since it took off a bit late in this one.

The relationship between the nightmare and Elspeth adds a bit of comedy relief in a way, their relationship playful but also deadly.

The plot and characters really compliment each other and I’m excited to get to learn more in the next book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Classism, Torture, Blood, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Abandonment

jillie's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

3.5

I really enjoyed the world building & magic in this book. The author set up the atmosphere very well. I’m not sure I’ll read the sequel though. I think it would’ve been better had this been a little longer & wrapped up in one.

7/4/23 - 7/27/23

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment and Sexual content

noellelovesbooks's review against another edition

5.0

Content Warnings: [straight from authors website]
Scenes of terror
General violence/gore
Child in peril
Blood
Mention of self-harm for magic
Moderate sexual content
Mention of parental neglect
Alcohol consumption

https://rachelgillig.com/2022/05/23/o...

OMG this book was phenomenal. This being Rachel's debut...I know I'm gonna be auto-buying all her work. We get magic, mystery, a lil love story, a character that gives major Tairn vibes [if you read Fourth Wing you'll know what I mean lol] and so much more!

I am so ready for October when book 2 drops! I already preordered my copy 💜 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Abandonment, Blood, Sexual content, Violence, Gore, and Confinement

sophs_mood_reading's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

When men want power they will do whatever it takes to get it. This is what the shepherd king did, and now the people of blunder suffer centuries (I think) later. 
We meet Elsbeth, cursed with the infection and possessed by a creepy nightmare beast/man, let’s just say life’s complicated. 
For years she’s stayed hidden from those hunting the infected but then on one fateful day (courtly ball) she finds herself suddenly face to face with the man who is in charge of ridding the world of the infected (yup not great), and yes he is handsome and broody with some mysteries of his own (well hello captain). 
Thus we start a tale of two sworn foes thrown together to help save their world. But of course they both have secrets they are yet to share. 

I have to say I love me some ye old- timey fantasy/ magical books. We have kings, castles, curses, heroines and a broody MMC who I am sure is a spitting image of Henry Cavil 🤣. 

There was a great unique magic system and it was a fun way to see the price paid for using magic and how it is wielded. 

Pet peeve of course is a cliffhanger where there is no resolution to the story and you need to read the next book. But I will happily do this as it was great. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit

Minor: Abandonment and Death of parent

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

lycheeteareads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Blood

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Death of parent

Minor: Abandonment and Child abuse

moonchild_cos's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Gore

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, Body horror, Death, Alcohol, and Cursing