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A review by kathywadolowski
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
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? Yes
4.0
The hype for "One Dark Window" is REAL, and I was honestly a little scared to read it; said hype, coupled with my ideal gothic ~vibes~, made me primed for a letdown. And while I'm happy to say this one did *not* disappoint, it also didn't land on my favorites shelf either which is honestly where I expected it to be. Let's unpack it.
The magic system was a bit confusing at first, and I found myself flipping back and forth between pages and rereading passages to try and get a handle on everything. But once I bought in, I was really impressed with its originality. This book didn't remind me of anything else—a criticism that can be levied at many a fantasy book right now—and that fact alone kept me reading. In addition to being an effective plot tool, the cards also made an intriguing statement about the frequent hypocrisy and smokescreens that accompany power.
Though the magical system was robust and impressive, the universe actually felt really small and self-contained. It probably has something to do with the mist that's choking off the city of Blunder... but the lack of a sweeping setting did make it feel a little claustrophobic. We met everyone we needed to meet and went everywhere we needed to go pretty early on, and after that the plot lost steam and I got a little antsy for more. I think this is where the book lost a star for me; it just felt like there could be MORE.
Which brings us to the strongest area of the novel, which imo would be the cast of characters. Elspeth was a littleeeee boring/frustrating, but hey my girl had a lot going on so I'll give her a pass. Her family was predictably horrible for the most part, but her collection of royal allies were so engaging and definitely gave the book a spark that it needed. And Ravyn is a sexy name for a male lead, no?? 👀
But the best character is probably the Nightmare, who supercharged most of the plot and also contributed to the electric ending. Because if there's another area in which this book excelled, it was ending on a cliffhanger so that you NEED to know more.
So needless to say, I will be picking up book number 2 and diving in asap. Check your sky high expectations at the door if you pick this one up, but I'd still be prepared for a sweet and magical ride with high stakes and even higher suspense.
The magic system was a bit confusing at first, and I found myself flipping back and forth between pages and rereading passages to try and get a handle on everything. But once I bought in, I was really impressed with its originality. This book didn't remind me of anything else—a criticism that can be levied at many a fantasy book right now—and that fact alone kept me reading. In addition to being an effective plot tool, the cards also made an intriguing statement about the frequent hypocrisy and smokescreens that accompany power.
Though the magical system was robust and impressive, the universe actually felt really small and self-contained. It probably has something to do with the mist that's choking off the city of Blunder... but the lack of a sweeping setting did make it feel a little claustrophobic. We met everyone we needed to meet and went everywhere we needed to go pretty early on, and after that the plot lost steam and I got a little antsy for more. I think this is where the book lost a star for me; it just felt like there could be MORE.
Which brings us to the strongest area of the novel, which imo would be the cast of characters. Elspeth was a littleeeee boring/frustrating, but hey my girl had a lot going on so I'll give her a pass. Her family was predictably horrible for the most part, but her collection of royal allies were so engaging and definitely gave the book a spark that it needed. And Ravyn is a sexy name for a male lead, no?? 👀
But the best character is probably the Nightmare, who supercharged most of the plot and also contributed to the electric ending. Because if there's another area in which this book excelled, it was ending on a cliffhanger so that you NEED to know more.
So needless to say, I will be picking up book number 2 and diving in asap. Check your sky high expectations at the door if you pick this one up, but I'd still be prepared for a sweet and magical ride with high stakes and even higher suspense.