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adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Sexual content
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a very interesting book. It had possibly one of the most unique magic systems I’ve read so far as well as well written characters and interesting world building. It had several turns that I was not expecting but still fit the story nicely.
It was a bit simpler in terms of writing style than what I prefer but I don’t think it detracted from the story being told in anyway worth mentioning besides as an offhand comment (such as this one).
I only have a two complaints: one being the character of Ione and her place in the story. It was difficult to understand her motives and reasoning behind her actions. I felt she was important to the story but in what way, I’m not sure. Something I am willing to overlook at the moment as it may resolve in the sequel. Nevertheless, I thought she was an interesting and complex character and would enjoy seeing things from her point of view. Another complaint I had was the romance in the book. It felt very rush and like there were scenes that we were missing. I was very excited for a fake dating troupe but was ultimately disappointed by the lack of development of the relationship between the main characters. Unfortunately I don’t know what the author could have done to remedy that, except for splitting the book in two in order to provide that content. While decently disappointing, I don’t believe that it detracted from the story severely, at least not enough for me to dnf the book.
It was a bit simpler in terms of writing style than what I prefer but I don’t think it detracted from the story being told in anyway worth mentioning besides as an offhand comment (such as this one).
I only have a two complaints: one being the character of Ione and her place in the story. It was difficult to understand her motives and reasoning behind her actions. I felt she was important to the story but in what way, I’m not sure. Something I am willing to overlook at the moment as it may resolve in the sequel. Nevertheless, I thought she was an interesting and complex character and would enjoy seeing things from her point of view. Another complaint I had was the romance in the book. It felt very rush and like there were scenes that we were missing. I was very excited for a fake dating troupe but was ultimately disappointed by the lack of development of the relationship between the main characters. Unfortunately I don’t know what the author could have done to remedy that, except for splitting the book in two in order to provide that content. While decently disappointing, I don’t believe that it detracted from the story severely, at least not enough for me to dnf the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Vomit
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood
Minor: Gore, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
✨ 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰 ✨
Tropes:
🎴 Unique Magic System
🗝️ Enemies to Lovers
🎴 Monsters
🗝️ Secrets
🎴 Paying the Price
🗝️ Gothic Medieval Setting
🎴 Fake relationships
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
Rating: ⭐3.75⭐
"The Hawthorne tree carries few seeds. It's branches are weary, it's lost all its leaves. Be wary the man who bargains and thieves. He'll offer your soul to get what he needs."
- One Dark Window, Rachel Gillig
_________________________________________
One Dark Window was a book that I both enjoyed and struggled with a bit. It was beautifully atmospheric, the characters were amazing and the plot was setting itself up to be incredible. However, for me it fell a little flat due to predictability and pacing.
We are immersed into the world of Blunder, where 20-something year old, Elspeth Spindle, was plagued years ago with a highly feared disease causing a forbidden magic to creep through her mind and body. She's kept her magic and the creature that lives within her a secret for years up until now when she finds herself amongst others who, in part, she allows to see her for who she really is. Although she still keeps some of her magic to herself, there now exists a use for what she believes is her curse. They embark on a treasonous quest in search of magical cards in an attempt to break Blunder free from the clutch of an ancient bane.
The book is a dark atmospheric read in which the reader can easily imagine the setting, castles, mist, and ruins. I found the world building to be well done and interesting. With a complex magic system and interesting magical cards this makes the book incredibly unique and the occasional rhyming laced with well chosen words gives the book an eerie, sinister feel.
The characters were also well developed in my opinion. I despised the villain and loved the FMC and the MMC. I enjoyed reading about the flourishing and struggling relationships and friendships. I would have liked if we could have seen more development or destruction of these relationships, especially one relationship in particular that was supposedly very detrimental to the FMC. Yet maybe there is more development of this relationship in the second book of this duology.
I've seen so much hype and I wanted to love One Dark Window but I felt like the pacing was a bit slow. I wanted more events, more action, I would have gladly read another 100 pages if I could have had more epic edge of your seat moments. In my opinion, it had all of the right elements to become a fantastic read but for me it felt a bit predictable, especially the ending.
Overall, I think One Dark Window was worth the read but for me it didn't live up to the expectations that the internet hype created. It had all the parts to be an epic read, atmospheric, great character development and story so I still do plan on reading Two Twisted Crowns and I am hoping that the second book peaks my interest more.
___________________________
Check out my profile for other reviews and my socials
IG: @bookish.n.tea
Tiktok: @bookish.n.tea
Tropes:
🎴 Unique Magic System
🗝️ Enemies to Lovers
🎴 Monsters
🗝️ Secrets
🎴 Paying the Price
🗝️ Gothic Medieval Setting
🎴 Fake relationships
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
Rating: ⭐3.75⭐
"The Hawthorne tree carries few seeds. It's branches are weary, it's lost all its leaves. Be wary the man who bargains and thieves. He'll offer your soul to get what he needs."
- One Dark Window, Rachel Gillig
_________________________________________
One Dark Window was a book that I both enjoyed and struggled with a bit. It was beautifully atmospheric, the characters were amazing and the plot was setting itself up to be incredible. However, for me it fell a little flat due to predictability and pacing.
We are immersed into the world of Blunder, where 20-something year old, Elspeth Spindle, was plagued years ago with a highly feared disease causing a forbidden magic to creep through her mind and body. She's kept her magic and the creature that lives within her a secret for years up until now when she finds herself amongst others who, in part, she allows to see her for who she really is. Although she still keeps some of her magic to herself, there now exists a use for what she believes is her curse. They embark on a treasonous quest in search of magical cards in an attempt to break Blunder free from the clutch of an ancient bane.
The book is a dark atmospheric read in which the reader can easily imagine the setting, castles, mist, and ruins. I found the world building to be well done and interesting. With a complex magic system and interesting magical cards this makes the book incredibly unique and the occasional rhyming laced with well chosen words gives the book an eerie, sinister feel.
The characters were also well developed in my opinion. I despised the villain and loved the FMC and the MMC. I enjoyed reading about the flourishing and struggling relationships and friendships. I would have liked if we could have seen more development or destruction of these relationships, especially one relationship in particular that was supposedly very detrimental to the FMC. Yet maybe there is more development of this relationship in the second book of this duology.
I've seen so much hype and I wanted to love One Dark Window but I felt like the pacing was a bit slow. I wanted more events, more action, I would have gladly read another 100 pages if I could have had more epic edge of your seat moments. In my opinion, it had all of the right elements to become a fantastic read but for me it felt a bit predictable, especially the ending.
Overall, I think One Dark Window was worth the read but for me it didn't live up to the expectations that the internet hype created. It had all the parts to be an epic read, atmospheric, great character development and story so I still do plan on reading Two Twisted Crowns and I am hoping that the second book peaks my interest more.
___________________________
Check out my profile for other reviews and my socials
IG: @bookish.n.tea
Tiktok: @bookish.n.tea
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Child death
dark
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:
Complicated
A dark fantasy with a card system for magic. It’s different and frankly refreshing. I couldn’t stop reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail