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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:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Sexual content, Vomit, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Abandonment
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
Spice Rating: 🌶️ / 5
WOW. Before I even started this book, I knew I was going to like it. But I didn't expect it to pull me in as fully as it did.
Elspeth lives in a world where a magical mist can infect children and gift them with strange magic that slowly degenerates them, even causing them to lose their mind. But Elspeth has been infected for 11 years and has yet to experience that kind of degeneration. Just as her family has hidden her infection, Elspeth has hidden the monster in her head, leading people to believe she was infected but was not gifted the magic that causes the king to execute the infected children. Elspeth has spent these past 11 years denying her magic and the nightmare inside her head, but when she meets a mysterious highwayman, everything changes. She's pulled into a treasonous quest that could change everything and cure her, as well as other infected people, of the magical curse. Elspeth uses the monster in her head to help the highwayman and his family find the Providence Cards that could cure her and hopefully dispel the mist, but this requires her to face the nightmare and become more acquainted with him than she would like. The more they talk, the stronger he becomes, and there might come a point where Elspeth can't stop him anymore. There are so many morally gray decisions Elspeth has to make, and she has to find her limit even as the nightmare in her head has his own agenda.
The magic system in this novel is absolutely fascinating. I love the idea of the magical cards that give people the power of both magic and status within the kingdom. The chemistry between Ravyn and Elspeth isn't quite electric but more of an invisible string that slowly pulls them together. I love how much they understand each other and are, thankfully, more forgiving about secrets than any fantasy couple I've ever read about. Because in a world where everything is out to get both of them, it makes sense that they want to keep their cards (pun intended) close to their chest.
One Dark Window has a film of horror overlaying the plot with gothic vibes that are unmatched. The author made it easy to keenly feel the urgency with Elspeth as the nightmare slowly gained strength inside her head. Rachel Gillig definitely has a way with words. The way she can create such a beautiful yet creepy world that I just want to learn more about. I can't wait to read Two Twisted Crowns and even more stories created by this author.
WOW. Before I even started this book, I knew I was going to like it. But I didn't expect it to pull me in as fully as it did.
Elspeth lives in a world where a magical mist can infect children and gift them with strange magic that slowly degenerates them, even causing them to lose their mind. But Elspeth has been infected for 11 years and has yet to experience that kind of degeneration. Just as her family has hidden her infection, Elspeth has hidden the monster in her head, leading people to believe she was infected but was not gifted the magic that causes the king to execute the infected children. Elspeth has spent these past 11 years denying her magic and the nightmare inside her head, but when she meets a mysterious highwayman, everything changes. She's pulled into a treasonous quest that could change everything and cure her, as well as other infected people, of the magical curse. Elspeth uses the monster in her head to help the highwayman and his family find the Providence Cards that could cure her and hopefully dispel the mist, but this requires her to face the nightmare and become more acquainted with him than she would like. The more they talk, the stronger he becomes, and there might come a point where Elspeth can't stop him anymore. There are so many morally gray decisions Elspeth has to make, and she has to find her limit even as the nightmare in her head has his own agenda.
The magic system in this novel is absolutely fascinating. I love the idea of the magical cards that give people the power of both magic and status within the kingdom. The chemistry between Ravyn and Elspeth isn't quite electric but more of an invisible string that slowly pulls them together. I love how much they understand each other and are, thankfully, more forgiving about secrets than any fantasy couple I've ever read about. Because in a world where everything is out to get both of them, it makes sense that they want to keep their cards (pun intended) close to their chest.
One Dark Window has a film of horror overlaying the plot with gothic vibes that are unmatched. The author made it easy to keenly feel the urgency with Elspeth as the nightmare slowly gained strength inside her head. Rachel Gillig definitely has a way with words. The way she can create such a beautiful yet creepy world that I just want to learn more about. I can't wait to read Two Twisted Crowns and even more stories created by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Abandonment
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
VIBES!!!!
Gothic, mystical, yet darkly cozy.
the romance was cute but definitely needed more fleshing out as everything happened within the span of a couple weeks.
the worldbuilding! yes ma’am, I hope that in the next book the world kinda opens up a bit more but with the way this book ended I don’t think we’re going very far.
Gothic, mystical, yet darkly cozy.
the romance was cute but definitely needed more fleshing out as everything happened within the span of a couple weeks.
the worldbuilding! yes ma’am, I hope that in the next book the world kinda opens up a bit more but with the way this book ended I don’t think we’re going very far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book just didn’t grip me. I felt like the first 75% of the book moved really slowly and I felt myself getting bored. The reveal of the Nightmare being the old king also felt prolonged—it was fairly obvious that this was the case so when it was “revealed” to Elspeth and the reader, it just felt underwhelming. I don’t enjoy when it feels like the author is underestimating the reader, and this was one of those times.
I also wasn’t a big fan of the romance, but that may be personal preference as I don’t enjoy the “love at first sight” trope.
The concept of the story—a bargain with a greater entity that takes more each time one asks for favors—is really compelling, and the ending was interesting. I just wanted the whole book to be as eventful and impactful as the last 25%.
Read if you like dark fantasy involving bargains for power with a tiny bit of romance.
I also wasn’t a big fan of the romance, but that may be personal preference as I don’t enjoy the “love at first sight” trope.
The concept of the story—a bargain with a greater entity that takes more each time one asks for favors—is really compelling, and the ending was interesting. I just wanted the whole book to be as eventful and impactful as the last 25%.
Read if you like dark fantasy involving bargains for power with a tiny bit of romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder
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
Dr. Seuss for adults that like dark fantasy. Really interesting magic system, solid plot and a cute slow burn romance. Great read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual content, Torture, Abandonment
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence, Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Child death
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This had a great premise. I just felt the character design was very shallow which resulted in inconsistent actions and undeep relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Murder