A review by madzie
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

The plot of this book is pretty good, very interesting. The worldbuilding is definitely really great. The magic system is unique and well-thought-out, and Gillig does not info-dump about the world at any point, making it feel very natural.
But the characters are definitely left wanting. They are all one-dimensional, reduced to the main trait that leads them through the story. Their relationships with each other are lacking realism. None of them feel like someone you would meet in real life. Their conflicts are interesting, but not explored nearly in depth. And the romance just doesn't seem to fit and be explored well enough to be believable or intriguing. Further, the main character really doesn't change throughout the book. She seems like the same person at the beginning and end. Along with the lackluster characters, Gillig's writing is oftentimes cliche and unbelievable, especially when it comes to dialogue. Unfortunately, this book has a great premise, but needs better execution to really hit the mark.
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