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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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
lqvekanej's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I knew absolutely nothing going in other than that a fantasy Bookstagrammer that I liked rec’d it, and holy shit did this not disappoint in the slightest!! WHAT A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN BOOK!! I can’t wait for the sequel ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Classism
pvbobrien's review against another edition
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Minor: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Abandonment
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
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
alite428's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and War
sarrie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
- 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
This book was a lot like walking out a misty morning into a train wreck of a day and not wanting to look away - the best way possible. One Dark Window is a dark and moody fantasy that I would put squarely between YA and Adult. The characters and the melodrama of it felt very YA while the tone and worldbuilding felt more adult for me, so be aware of that going in. That melodrama and setting was eventually what kept me going.
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
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse and Sexism
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