4.28 AVERAGE


it’s been a long time since i absolutely just ravaged my way through a duology, and wow was this one just incredible.

THE! MAGIC! SYSTEM! - a true work of genius. it is so unique and interesting, i have truly never read anything else like it. i loved how at every turn characters were reminded the cost of the magic; it was so cool to see a system that had tangible and immediate consequences for misuse or overuse of magic. the book that contains all the information about the magic is just so cool too. the way it occupies a space as a kind of folky story but also a complex and thorough guide to the use of magic in the world is perfect.

“be wary, be clever, be good” will be sticking with me forever i think.

i also loved being inside elspeth’s mind, maybe even more than the nightmare lol. she has such an interesting outlook and experiencing the events of the book through her was so intriguing. her and raven’s romantic tension was truly to die for. (no pun intended)

gothic fantasy is truly just *chef’s kiss*. it’s a genre niche that so truly and accurately describes the energy of this book and i would absolutely recommend it to anyone seeking this vibe in their reading life.
adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I really enjoyed One Dark Window.  I can't wait to read the next. 

One explicit sex scene, several F’s

'One Dark Window' by Rachel Gillig is a fantasy book with a unique magic system and an endearing main character.

The plot is quite interesting, but the magic system isn't well presented and explained, and also, there were some plot holes in the whole magical and political plot. 

The romance, on the other hand, was sweet and intense, and the couple were two compatible characters.

But the book's strongest point is the atmosphere, as the author manages to create a misty and gothic mood, which aids the story a lot.
adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

absolutely loved this, devoured it in a couple of days. very cool premise and I was so invested in the characters. going to get and read book 2 ASAP
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

such a good read and a great mix of fantasy and romance. i love the plot and the magic system set up. also the main character elspeth and The Nightmare are super enjoyable. The characters don’t have much depth or backstory to them, but that might get explained in the second book. loved it can’t wait to read the second book in the series
adventurous dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Woww, I'm so impressed with this book. It helped me out of my reading slump. It was soo good I could have finished this book in 3 days.

This book is action packed and pretty fast paced I would say. I enjoy learning about the characters. Elspeth is just a normal girl, which I surprisingly enjoy learning about her. Sometimes, it's nice to read story about female main character who is just ordinary. I actually think she is pretty smart mouth for someone living so secluded away. Ravyn is such a loveable main mc. He is not over the top powerful, but he is such a down to earth mmc. He is kind and respectful. He is not perfect, he has flaws, but that is what is so attractive about him. Overall, he is a very green flag mmc. 

Elspeth and Ravyn's relationship is like a a steady stream. Their tension/yearning over the progress of the book is so gentle but noticeable. They fall in love so easily through their bonds over
their shared "infections".
. The slow burn was not excruciating since this book is so fast paced. Generally, I really enjoy the speed of their relationship. 

One thing really unique about this book is the magic system. I genuinely  enjoy this unique magic system, the Providence Card. I have never read anything like it before, I would say it's really cool. 

The overall vibe of the book is spooky, with ancient magic, and castles. The sides characters done so well. I would love the learn more about Jespyr, Elm, or the Shepard King. I would love to have more a found family trope, since Elspeth is so lonely. I also love that since magic originated from nature/trees in this book, the characters exclamate by saying Trees instead of Gods! Hahaha I found it funny every single time

One problem I have with the book is the writing style. Some parts are a bit harder to understand, probably due to the fact that the author tried to use the old English writing styles. Some words I am not familiar with, so it kinda slow down my reading experience. Additionally, I wish there was more of a make peace since with Elspeth's father. I think it was done quite fast, and I would love to see Elspeth speak her mind more. There are also many side characters in this book, and I hope to see them have an important role in book 2. 

Overall, I really enjoy this book and cannot wait to read book 2!!!
Spice: YA

I was confused at first, I felt like the cards, the mist, and the fever/infection should have been explained better. But once I finished the book, I felt like it was good to be confused in the beginning. It keeps you guessing when it comes to the Nightmare and who the Shepherd King is, and how these cards came to be. I really enjoyed this book and immediately bought book two as soon as I finished book one. It picks up right where the last one ended.
I'm not gonna lie, I almost DNF the book after 38 pages because I was so confused. I put the book down for an entire week, and then I decided to not be a quitter and read the rest on the book in one night. Other than my sleep schedule being thrown off course, I have zero regrets and can't wait to read more by this author.