A review by itwasmagicc
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I was told to expect dark gothic fantasy but maybe I misunderstood those terms because I ended up with a tepid, medieval-themed fantasy with a confusing magic system and childish rhymes. When I think gothic I think Victorian period, but this book had a weird mix of corsetry and jerkins and steampunk tools. Maybe I'm just not the target audience. Maybe the characters needed more room to sit and grow so things could build and be explained. As it stands, both Elspeth and Ravyn felt underdeveloped outside of the narrative. Like what do they like to do outside of plot relevant activities? Mope in dilapidated gardens? 

Altogether, the book kinda feels like a lot of tropes shoved together that are meant to evoke a spooky, dark setting, without really exploring any of them and what they mean to the characters and the world they live in. Ruins of a castle? check. Menacing fog? check. Monsters? check. But none of it is given room to breathe.