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A review by theinquisitxor
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
3.0
3/5 stars. I was a tad bit disappointed in this one. I was hoping for more of Margaret Rogerson's Vespertine but got more of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf instead. Not entirely my cup of tea, but there were still several things I enjoyed about this book.
The things I liked: Our main character, Elspeth has a nightmare/monster/demon thing in her head like a parasite from a magical infection she had as a child. This monster helps her and protects her, but her mind has never truly been her own. This concept is in the similar vein as Rogerson's Vespertine and it's a trope(?) that I've found I enjoy.
I also enjoyed the premise of the magic of this world. Long ago, The Shepherd King created a deck of cards, each grant the user different magical properties, and collecting the complete set of cards is the key to saving the kingdom. I felt like that was a very unique magic system and I don't think I've seen a writer base a magic system around a card deck before (except for instances of tarot)
This was definitely a moody, gothic vibes book, which created a delicious atmosphere. This should have been an October/November read for me, not something I read during the holidays. But, it is what it is.
I never felt super connected to any of the characters or the plot or really all that invested in the story. I found it somewhat predictable and there is a bit of insta-love which I can't stand. The main male love interest is Mr. tall-dark- and- handsome, and I kid you not, his name is Ravyn. Ravyn. Like Raven.
The things I liked: Our main character, Elspeth has a nightmare/monster/demon thing in her head like a parasite from a magical infection she had as a child. This monster helps her and protects her, but her mind has never truly been her own. This concept is in the similar vein as Rogerson's Vespertine and it's a trope(?) that I've found I enjoy.
I also enjoyed the premise of the magic of this world. Long ago, The Shepherd King created a deck of cards, each grant the user different magical properties, and collecting the complete set of cards is the key to saving the kingdom. I felt like that was a very unique magic system and I don't think I've seen a writer base a magic system around a card deck before (except for instances of tarot)
This was definitely a moody, gothic vibes book, which created a delicious atmosphere. This should have been an October/November read for me, not something I read during the holidays. But, it is what it is.
I never felt super connected to any of the characters or the plot or really all that invested in the story. I found it somewhat predictable and there is a bit of insta-love which I can't stand. The main male love interest is Mr. tall-dark- and- handsome, and I kid you not, his name is Ravyn. Ravyn. Like Raven.