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A review by mynameismarines
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
2.0
My experience with One Dark Window was underwhelming at best and downright frustrating at worst. While it isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever read, that's about the nicest thing I have to say about it.
The premise has potential, but the execution left much to be desired. The worldbuilding was shallow, with no sense of depth or scope beyond the immediate plot. The magic system, while simple enough to follow, lacked any real foundation or explanation. Soft magic systems can and do work for me when they are paired with strong character development, thematic resonance, or other narrative strengths, but here, the magic felt unsupported by every other element, existing without purpose or interest.
Similarly, the characters felt underdeveloped. At first, I was mostly fine with the FMC, but she got worse as the story progressed. She lacked awareness and struggled to follow even the most obvious plot developments. The reader was often ten steps ahead of her, and not in a satisfying way. A significant late-story reveal, framed as a shocking twist, was so telegraphed that it might as well have been an anvil.
I also struggled a ton with the writing style. The prose was repetitive, particularly in its descriptions of characters’ faces and expressions. I know people seem to really like the atmosphere and the aesthetics here, but as far as I can tell, that atmosphere is mostly just telling us a thousand times how foggy it is. Beyond the ever-present fog, there was little to build a sense of place. Conversations were stilted, with characters overusing each other’s names, often in unnatural and unnecessary ways.
We got even more repetition in the Nightmare’s dialogue, which consisted entirely of simplistic rhymes. While likely intended to create an eerie or unsettling effect, the execution came across as grating.
The middle section of the story was the most bearable, but as the ending approached and the protagonist’s obliviousness persisted, my enjoyment waned further.
Honestly, maybe two stars is generous.
The premise has potential, but the execution left much to be desired. The worldbuilding was shallow, with no sense of depth or scope beyond the immediate plot. The magic system, while simple enough to follow, lacked any real foundation or explanation. Soft magic systems can and do work for me when they are paired with strong character development, thematic resonance, or other narrative strengths, but here, the magic felt unsupported by every other element, existing without purpose or interest.
Similarly, the characters felt underdeveloped. At first, I was mostly fine with the FMC, but she got worse as the story progressed. She lacked awareness and struggled to follow even the most obvious plot developments. The reader was often ten steps ahead of her, and not in a satisfying way. A significant late-story reveal, framed as a shocking twist, was so telegraphed that it might as well have been an anvil.
I also struggled a ton with the writing style. The prose was repetitive, particularly in its descriptions of characters’ faces and expressions. I know people seem to really like the atmosphere and the aesthetics here, but as far as I can tell, that atmosphere is mostly just telling us a thousand times how foggy it is. Beyond the ever-present fog, there was little to build a sense of place. Conversations were stilted, with characters overusing each other’s names, often in unnatural and unnecessary ways.
We got even more repetition in the Nightmare’s dialogue, which consisted entirely of simplistic rhymes. While likely intended to create an eerie or unsettling effect, the execution came across as grating.
The middle section of the story was the most bearable, but as the ending approached and the protagonist’s obliviousness persisted, my enjoyment waned further.
Honestly, maybe two stars is generous.