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adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed the magic system in this, I thought the idea was unique compared to similar books I've read recently, and it kept me engaged throughout (and also keen to read the second book in the duology). Loved the atmosphere and setting of the story, but the writing was a bit inconsistent. Some lines were beatifully written and poetic, while others felt too YA for the way the book is set up and marketed. Additionally, the romance didn't really interest me. I felt at times that it was unnecessary, and I also didn't care a whole lot for the main male character, as I feel he wasn't as developed as he could've been. I was much more interested in the protagonist as well as other side characters and their journeys.
Overall it was a good, quick read. Some elements I loved whilst others I just didn't care for. Sadly a bit forgettable if you read a lot of this genre, with the big highlight for me being the magic system.
Overall it was a good, quick read. Some elements I loved whilst others I just didn't care for. Sadly a bit forgettable if you read a lot of this genre, with the big highlight for me being the magic system.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
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
I loved this book. It pulled me in very quickly to the world and the story, and I liked how dark and unique it is. The magic isn't like magic systems I've encountered before. This was the second card magic book I've read and I'm learning that's a magic I quite enjoy! The addition of the folklore and stories was fantastic. And the characters? I love them. All of them. They are morally grey and complex and interesting. I cannot wait to read the sequel with that ending!!! Some very good twists.
Definitely recommend for people who like darker fantasy with interesting magic and some romance.
Definitely recommend for people who like darker fantasy with interesting magic and some romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny, Sexual content, Death of parent, Abandonment
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:
No
Kicking myself for putting this book off for so long! Really interesting magic system, force proximity, an ancient being trapped in your mind- what’s not to love?!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual content, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Sexual content, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Body horror, Child death, Infidelity, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Rating: 5/5 stars
Elspeth Spindle lives with a monster inside of her head…but when she’s pulled into a mysterious and possibly treasonous plot, the monster might be exactly what she needs.
I LOVED THIS. The magic system is a bit complicated so it was a slightly slow beginning as I got my sea legs in the world, and then I absolutely fell in love—the plot, the characters, the world, all of it. I am so so excited to read Two Twisted Crowns (and alas I have finished it before I even post this review, oh well).
The ending of this book gave me actual chills, and I screamed and gasped and squealed so many times at so many different parts. I truly cannot recommend it highly enough.
HUGE thanks also to my buddy read crew and to my friend Alx for gifting me this one and for being the champion this book deserves.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Gothic fantasy; Tarot cards; found family vibes
CW: Blood/injury/violence; child death and abuse and mentions of death of parent
Elspeth Spindle lives with a monster inside of her head…but when she’s pulled into a mysterious and possibly treasonous plot, the monster might be exactly what she needs.
I LOVED THIS. The magic system is a bit complicated so it was a slightly slow beginning as I got my sea legs in the world, and then I absolutely fell in love—the plot, the characters, the world, all of it. I am so so excited to read Two Twisted Crowns (and alas I have finished it before I even post this review, oh well).
The ending of this book gave me actual chills, and I screamed and gasped and squealed so many times at so many different parts. I truly cannot recommend it highly enough.
HUGE thanks also to my buddy read crew and to my friend Alx for gifting me this one and for being the champion this book deserves.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Gothic fantasy; Tarot cards; found family vibes
CW: Blood/injury/violence; child death and abuse and mentions of death of parent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Blood
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
MY HEARTTTTTTTTTTTTT I LOVED THIS SO MUUUUUUUUUUUCH!! Will be in my Top 10 of the year, for sure.
The characters and world were just SO lush and immersive and the writing is so beautiful. The world was almost a character of its own, especially with the encroaching mist and the eerie forest and what lies within. I got chills down my back multiple times during this read.
I love Elspeth as a character SO much- she can be a liiiittle naive and hypocritical at times, but honestly, I love the way she spoke to the Nightmare and Ravyn, with her wit and sass. She's smart, but as she develops, starts to become aware of her own faults and judgements, which I can appreciate. And Ravyn is so elusive and secretly caring and UGH. And THE NIGHTMARE?! What an incredible character LIVING inside of Elspeth's head. It's a lil bit enemies to lovers (which I love) and I found the romance to be just so lovely, if a little rushed (in a YA sort of fashion), but it still got me kicking my feet. There's also some found family, which I absolutely adore.
I think the audiobook, narrated by Lisa Cordlieone, was fantastic. I think she nailed the characters voices and cadences, especially the Nightmare's.
Very much looking forward to Two Twisted Crowns!
The characters and world were just SO lush and immersive and the writing is so beautiful. The world was almost a character of its own, especially with the encroaching mist and the eerie forest and what lies within. I got chills down my back multiple times during this read.
I love Elspeth as a character SO much- she can be a liiiittle naive and hypocritical at times, but honestly, I love the way she spoke to the Nightmare and Ravyn, with her wit and sass. She's smart, but as she develops, starts to become aware of her own faults and judgements, which I can appreciate. And Ravyn is so elusive and secretly caring and UGH. And THE NIGHTMARE?! What an incredible character LIVING inside of Elspeth's head. It's a lil bit enemies to lovers (which I love) and I found the romance to be just so lovely, if a little rushed (in a YA sort of fashion), but it still got me kicking my feet. There's also some found family, which I absolutely adore.
I think the audiobook, narrated by Lisa Cordlieone, was fantastic. I think she nailed the characters voices and cadences, especially the Nightmare's.
Very much looking forward to Two Twisted Crowns!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Abandonment
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
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Abandonment