When children are infected by a magic-inducing fever, they are taken away and killed, but when Elspeth fell ill, she was hidden and saved by her aunt. Now she's left with a spirit she calls the Nightmare trapped inside her mind, afraid of it, and afraid that anyone will notice she's not like everyone else.
For years, Elspeth's believed she was the only one to survive the fever, but then she discovers that those with magic-tainted blood can be used by the king to further his plans - and that a small group is making a stand against this.

I've always read fantasy novels but I'm finding myself increasingly drawn to them at the moment - perhaps as escapism from the real world? perhaps because the bad guys always lose, and the hero and heroine live happily ever after? Whatever the reason, I loved One Dark Window.

It's a compelling tale of dark magic and evil kings and those who oppose them, of romance among the danger - chock full of the things I like - a complex but believable magic system backed by brilliant world-building, a heroine who's prepared to stand up for herself and others, and take on the status quo, and a story in which the 'bad guys' aren't apparent at first. All of these are bound together with an atmospheric first person narrative which pulls the reader in, and keeps them hooked. Elspeth isn't specifically unreliable as a narrator, but obviously she doesn't know everything, and the story is told in such a way that the reader can see other characters' motivation when Elspeth seems unaware of it.
It's not perfect - at times the romance seemed a little forced, certain plot-threads seemed to be abandoned (though I hope they'll be revisited in book 2), and the end came unexpectedly and abruptly leaving me wanting more. Now! I can't wait to read book2.

A very unfortunate DNF for me.

I think my issues with this book are due to two reasons primarily. First is that this book really sits in the crossover between YA and adult, this isn’t a bad thing and I know would be a selling point for many but I didn’t know that going in and the book subsequently felt underwhelming as it wasn’t as eerie or dark as it could have been if fully adult. The second issue is a really personal problem I have with books written in first person. The blurb is in third so I assumed the book would be too. There’s no real reason for this assumption and it is entirely my fault, it’s rare I enjoy first person narrative especially for this genre and with younger characters.

I do believe that the marketing was off for this title, wether that came from the publisher, the author, or initial reviewers I’m not sure but selling this as dark adult gothic fiction feels very misleading.

One dark window is a uniquely dark and chilling fantasy book. The world building is different but very well established and believable. Despite reading this book in several sittings, I still felt immersed in the world as soon as I picked it up.

The characters were so lovable and mysterious and I enjoyed figuring out their secrets as I was reading. I did find it hard to keep track of all the side characters and their relationships to each other but that did not take away from the story or their part in it.

Overall, I loved the twists and turns and for the last 20% I couldn’t stop reading! Really looking forward to the next book. Thanks to Little Brown Book Group for giving me access to the eARC.

One Dark Window is a fairytale reimagined with a dark, lyrical twist filled with intrigue.

The worldbuilding was probably my favourite element of the story, particularly how atmospheric the entire book feels, and the ominous press of the fog that seems to be spreading further, which proved to be a really intriguing concept, especially alongside the ominous sickness that can imbue you with magic, which is what Elspeth has been spending her whole life hiding. Add to that the fact that she appears to be psychically linked to the Nightmare, a monstrous creature with a curious power and an even more mysterious past, who often speaks in riddles, and it made for a convincing premise. I also enjoyed the backstory of the Providence cards and i'm excited to see where the story goes with the collection of the cards in the sequel!

As the first book in the series, I thought it did a great job of setting the scene and introducing characters into the story, but while I liked Elspeth, I wasn't entirely convinced by her relationship/chemistry with Ravyn, and I thought their bond could have been given more space to breathe, especially considering that this is adult fantasy rather than YA. That said, I think there's a lot of potential to be realised and I look forward to reading the sequel and learning more about the world and its characters!

This book is everything I love and it's executed perfectly! Creepy forest, that not only creates atmosphere but also is a key part of the mystery in this story. Magic system that has very clear rules and limitations. A protagonist that has a very real reason to keep a secret and create miscommunication. And a romance that not only makes sense within the plot itself and actually contributes, but also was between two characters who had bundles of chemistry that I really rooted for. Honestly it simply ticked all of my boxes and was a perfect read for the cold nights as the atmosphere the author created and the stakes she raised were often quite chilling. Something else I thought the author did an excellent job with was the possession, it can often flop but for some reason in this novel it really worked. The Nightmare had a full personality and it was compelling to watch Elspeth succumb to him the more she asked for her help. The background characters were fleshed out and everyone of them felt fully realised and developed, no one added in just for the sake of a bigger cast, which sometimes with fantasy can be the case.
NOT TO MENTION THE ENDING. I need book two now please.

I think this was a debut with a lot going for it that definitely made me want to pick up the sequel and certainly made me interested in where Rachel Gillig is going in the future.
One Dark Window is a fantasy novel that would make a great transition for older YA readers wanting to branch into adult fantasy as it has a lot of familiar tropes and story beats that I think wouldn't be out of place in a YA fantasy novel of the last few years. That can be a huge positive, but I know for some that might mean this book isn't for you!
I thought that the main character Elspeth was a really fascinating individual and I appreciated that it was almost always clear why she was making the choices she was - even when they did often turn out to be slightly iffy choices.
I also thought that the idea of the magic system, provenance cards that each do different things and exact their own cost, was interesting and a nice framework for the story.
There were some moments where the fact that this was a debut became apparent. I think the pacing of the story was a little slow to begin with and got a little lost in the middle and some elements of the story were a tad generic or familiar in feel.
I did, however, really enjoy the denouement of the story and I went from thinking this would be a book I would enjoy and then be done with to getting quite excited to reread and eventually read the sequel.
Rachel Gillig seems to me like an author to watch, this is a strong debut in a time when most if not all debuts are strong and I am excited to see what comes next and in the future.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, All opinions are my own.

I think the concept of One Dark Window is VERY unique. The idea of providence cards sort of gave me Yu-Gi-Oh! mixed with Pokemon, and a dash of gothic Victorian era vibes.

We follow our main character Elspeth, who is one of the infected- someone who was afflicted with a disease that leads to slow regeneration, and sometimes grants you magic powers. However, Elspeth has one of the strangest 'powers' of all- she has a dark voice inside her head and if the wrong people find out about her, her life will be at risk.

Honestly, other than the romance and a few scenes, I found the middle chunk of this book quite bland. It was definitely an atmospheric read, but it didn't give me the gothic, haunted feeling I was hoping for. Elspeth didn't really stand out as a character- she was just sort of there. I did enjoy her romance with the Captain Ravyn though! I think it was a great slow burn and an interesting addition to the book. I also loved Elm, his brother, who is sassy and fun and just blurts out whatever is on his mind.

The writing was okay. At times it read a little confused, but I liked the dialogue and descriptions. The interactions between the characters as well as the action was written well. I do wish more had happened though. Except for a few action scenes, this felt quite slow in the middle.

The ending really left me lost. I had to think about what just happened, because it sort of just ended. There was nothing that made me feel like I need the next book now. It was interesting, but nothing that won't be forgotten in the next day or two.

Overall, I enjoyed the concept and the setting. The magic system was really cool and I liked the angst. But it all felt just okay. It had SO much potential, but I think this may be one I have to reread to formulate my thoughts for the future. Idk some books aren't 5 stars, but they have the reread value, and this one definitely does in my opinion!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this gothic YA fantasy book. Elspeth Spindle has a monster residing in her mind as a result of being infected with magic. Now that she needs the remedy, she must collect all twelve providence cards. I love Elspeth and the gothic tone of this book, it is what particularly appealed to me. It is the ideal fall read, and I can't wait to listen to it when it is released on audiobook in September. The characters were all wonderful. It was a really intriguing how she interacted with the various family members. I had a strong attraction to Ravyn despite the fact that he is the stereotypically gloomy, dark love interest. In the upcoming novels, I hope to learn more about Ravyn's "highwaymen," who I found to be a refreshing set of people. Elispeth and Ravyn's interactions with one another were undoubtedly the focus of the novel, but I hope the following volume gives the other characters a little more depth. It had a pretty fantastic finale that left a little bit of a cliffhanger.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me an ARC.

The story has a slow start and I wasn't sure about it in the beginning but I found the concept so interesting by the end that I now want my grubby little hands on the sequel.
I found the concept and majority of the writing interesting, but the characters do at times read very YA and could be a little annoying at times, if you're no longer a teen, along with the relationships feeling a bit sudden and while it's explained how people care about each other, i was missing seeing it a bit more.

Overall I'd give 3.5 stars and recommend as fun NA fantasy read!

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Books UK group for this arc!

3.5–4*

After many stop–starts due to life taking over, I ended up devouring this book in a day, and enjoyed it.

The unique selling point from the blurb was the magic system and the setting, and I’m glad it lived it up to my expectation. This cursed mist causing a sickness and the use of Providence cards (similar to the major arcana) that grant magical abilities. I appreciated the cost and weight of using magic in this world, and the multiple potentials of threat for Elspeth: whether it’s the revelation of the Nightmare in her head or being found out that she was once infected. The atmosphere also ensured an immersive read.

The parasitic relationship between Elspeth and the Nightmare intrigued me and I always looked forward to their conflict. However, despite Elspeth’s warning regarding the dangerous use of magic for her, it seemed that she relied too heavily on the Nightmare instead of trusting her own skills, so it felt as if she gave into exactly what the Nightmare wanted without too much manipulation on the Nightmare’s part. Also, there seemed to be no real way for Elspeth to mentally keep the Nightmare separate in her mind and he could come and go as he liked, which made certain romantic situations weird, although the Nightmare did conveniently disappear. Although the characters weren’t particularly notable, they worked well together to form an entertaining story.

The romance between Elspeth and Ravyn is a prominent part of the story, but it was the weakest portion and I wasn’t as invested in it as I hoped. There was also meant to be a fake dating/courtship element that I wished lasted longer but it felt as if the feelings developed too quickly to fully enjoy this trope. Elspeth also seemed to have more chemistry with Elm.

I’m excited to read the sequel and find out how collecting the rest of the Providence cards goes, and this book was the perfect read for the autumnal season.

Thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for a eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the kingdom of Blunder where tarot cards hold magical powers which could help you or be used against you, Elspeth doesn't know if she could trust anyone with her secret. You see, Elspeth Spindle has lived her life isolated, away from everyone. Everyone thinks she is weak, fragile. But they're wrong. She has the Nightmare.

I am always on the hunt for morally grey characters and Elspeth became a quick favourite. I loved her headstrong approach and being unafraid to ask for help at times she knew she desperately needed it. I kept looking forward to her inner dilemmas and bickering with the Nightmare, who kept her secrets and protected her in dire circumstances, with her consent of course.

It's always nice to see a bunch of misfits come together for a common purpose and I found that Emory, Ravyn, Elm, and Jespyr fit nicely with her. While the focus was always on Elspeth, I was glad that the other characters were given enough background to feel invested in them. I did find the interactions between Elspeth and Ravyn and bit lacking, but there was so much more going on, it didn't really bother me that much.

In all, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the sequel, especially after that cliffhanger!

Ever since I learned about this book, I knew it would be the kind of story I would enjoy. I must have waited about a year to read it and now that I finally have, I am unconditionally and irrevocably obsessed with it.

-Rough start: for me, the beginning was difficult to get through because I felt there was too much information being given. A lot of world building that I thought could have been delivered in smaller bits throughout the book.
-Dynamic, quick read: once the world is presented, the story quickly picks up and we are thrown into this mission the cast sets to. Personally, fantasy books take me a bit of time to get through but once I connected with this story, I found it very difficult to put the book down.
-Great characters: without getting into too much detail, I thought each character was really well fleshed out. Elspeth, the protagonist, was quite gripping to read from, especially because of her constant companion, the Nightmare. And as for Ravyn Yew, Captain of the Destrairs, let’s just say he’s the perfect book boyfriend.
-Even better character dynamics: the cast is mostly made up of families and relatives, so many of them are very close and the banter between them is so much fun. Special shout out to Elm, Jespyr and the Nightmare. They genuinely made me laugh.
-Steamy, slow burn, almost enemies to lovers romance: that’s all you need to know about the romance in this story. Absolutely delicious and enjoyable.
-Gloomy atmosphere: the descriptions of the different places in which the story takes place, the castle, the woods, build a beautiful gloomy, gothic feel that I truly enjoyed.
-Trees and seasons: nature is almost another character in this book. It’s ever present through the constant mention of different trees, after which the most important families are named. And also because of the relevance equinoxes and solstices are given, which mark different events or dates in the book. These details added to the story and I loved the way they were presented.
-Unique magic system: the author created a magic system based on cards that it’s unlike any I have read before. The only thing it shares with others is that all magic comes at a price. And the price these characters pay, it’s quite high.
-You’ll want more: the events leading to the end are so intense that once you’ve finished the book, you are not simply going to want the sequel, you will need it.

Waiting a whole other year to know what will happen to these characters is going to be torture. But I’ll abide by that time to meet Elspeth Spindle and Ravyn Yew once more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

One Dark Window had an intriguing set up that fizzled out as the book went on. There are concepts I found kind of cool but the way they were explored was somewhat lacklustre. I was expecting something more adult in tone than young-adult which definitely affected my viewing of this and if I had different expectations going in I may have enjoyed it much more. I did find the magic system around the cards a little boring and so all the information around that was kind of a slog to read but again my complaints could all be down to what I expected vs what was delivered.

A perfectly good YA fantasy but not a series I care to continue.

Firstly I’d like to thank eve publisher and NetGalley for the eARC 😍😍😍😍

One Dark Window tells the story of Elspeth Spindle, a girl who has a secret - she has magic. Magic in Blunder is not allowed unless it comes attached to a Providence Card. Elspeth’s is not, it’s a result of a fever she had as a child and it’s left her with a friend, a protector, a Nightmare. When Elspeth gets attacked by some Highwaymen on the forest road it starts a chain reaction that changes her life completely, she goes from hiding her magic from the world to helping Rayvn, the kings nephew, gather the 12 Providence cards to save them all. But she better hurry up…Nightmare wants to come out to play…

I love Elspeth!! She’s such a brilliant MC, she’s kinda grumpy, snappy and awkward but it only makes me love her more. Her cousin Ione is her best friend and she is Elspeth’s happiness, her friendship with her is one of love that is tested and I’m not really sure how I feel about her yet (which is strange for me after a book), I’m keeping an open mind…

Elspeth’s relationship with Ravyn is so lovely, there’s kinda an instant attraction between them but when it blooms it’s deep and it’s a wonderful thing to read. I also really like her relationship with Elm, it’s one I feel could be a strong one though there’s an obvious lack of trust, I’m hoping there’s going to be more to come because I feel that they could be great friends.

My favourite friendship and the one I couldn’t get enough of is Elspeth’s relationship with Nightmare. It’s strangely paternal but at the same time it’s toxic? It’s fascinating!! He protectors her and loves her but it’s selfish? Their relationship is one of habit and loneliness and that has made it a solid one. It’s as though Elspeth has poured her fear of rejection into Nightmare and it’s became a backwards friendship but they love each other? The strangeness is REAL guys!! (As you can tell from the way I’ve described it 😂😂)

This book guys!! THIS BOOK!! 😍😍 It is EVERYTHING!! I mean, I loved every part of it!! The characters (I loved them all), the pace (it’s perfectly balanced between the fast action parts, the more measured moments in the book and the more ‘physical’ moments in the book 🌶😏). I’d love book 2 now please if that’s possible thank you!!

This book is one of my favourite books of the year for sure!! I’m legit obsessed with it!! Im giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I know that’s not possible but I just did so there!!

Oh my god!!! This book was insane!!!! I loved it! From the characters to the magic system, everything made sense. The plot was on point, the romance bit (it's not the main point here thankfully). The nightmare, gee!! I don't have words now, really. I can't believe I have to wait a whole year -maybe more- for the second book.

There are not enough words to describe how much I loved this book! From beginning to end it enraptured me in a way I didn’t think possible. This is seriously one of the best books I’ve read this year, so full of magic and feelings and exquisitely written.
What bewitched me from the beginning was the magical system, one unique in its nature. The lore Rachel Gillig created behind it all made my jaw drop, especially the incipit of each chapter. Absolutely adore that.
The writing style was perfect for the kind of story and atmosphere, dragging into a dark fantasy world where there’s no mercy for people infected by magic. It’s gritty, bloody, and almost gothic in a few points, but I believe mostly mediaeval in the setting.
Elspeth is our main character, and dare I say she blooms through the story, her character developing thanks to other people as well as her… friend. She’s amazing, not weak but also not invincible - though she might seem so, you’ll understand why she’s not, why she’s strong but not omnipotent, just the way I like my heroines. I loved how she opened up to the others, after basically keeping herself away from everyone.
I was in love with Ravyn the moment I read of him. Yes, I’m a very simple person. Honestly, I adore when opposites attract, and don’t get me wrong, he and Elspeth are opposites in so many ways, but don’t you love when they’re opposites and also understand each other in ways that no one else can? I do, I absolutely do. I hope to read more from him in book two, want to reach more into his mind, especially given the way things ended (which caused me to scream, cry, hit my pillow and bang my head against the wall with all the feelings I felt).
And then we have the secretive Nightmare, one that I honestly couldn’t help but compare from Once Upon A Time’s Rumplestiltskin, the sorta crazy one you see in some of the flashbacks only to understand as you go on how much you were wrong. It’s not just the way he loves to repeat that “magic always comes at a cost” that reminded me of Rumple, it’s the personality and everything tied to him. Trust me, if you loved that kind of character (the one from the first season, at least) you’ll fall for the Nightmare the same way I did. At least he has a good sense of humor.
I adored how everything came together, like pieces of a puzzle you don’t know how to put together. This is my kind of jam, the kind of book I fall hard for and would reread over and over again.
Thank you so, so much Rachel Gillig, Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this amazing book.

This book started off so well and yet I ended up disappointed. I was intrigued by the monster and how he will impact the main character but it still couldn’t save the book for me. I felt that the romance was forced and there was no chemistry between them and it was more an insta love which I hate.

I can sum up my experience with One Dark Window with these 2 contradictory - yet both true - statements :
1) I thought I'd love it and I just didn't *but*
2) Ultimately, I enjoyed it more than I expected after the first 30%.

Is it, again, a question of expectations, then? In parts only. Sure, if you had told me about the YA vibes (minus one sex-scene) before I started, I might have enjoyed the beginning more. This said however, it wouldn't have prevented me from complaining about:
◼️ the weak world-building : there's a Village and a Forest and two Castles and all of it is so vague that I couldn't describe it for the life of me ; the magic system ("system" sounds like a stretch tbh) is very simple despite its undeniable potential ;
◼️ the "gothic" atmosphere if gothic means a Mist (I'll be randomly capitalizing it because I feel like it, alright) that we're told is Very Dangerous but has no impact on our MCs so who cares, really ;

I still would have felt meh about :
◼️ the okay writing, the siblings' banter being a definite upside and the little rhymes a boring downside ;
◼️ how predictable the plot was (it's nice to feel clever but I'd rather be surprised, okay)

A 3 stars rating is a positive one however so of course there were aspects I enjoyed :
◼️ the nightmare possessing the MC had its moments, even though I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't compared him to Vespertine's Revenant who is entirely superior and funnier (sorry) ;
◼️ the romance was superficial but I still rooted for them a lot so either I'm a basic bitch who lives for fake courting (I am) or I just love grumpy dudes with hearts of gold too much (also this) ;
◼️ as I mentioned earlier : siblings/cousins' banter always get my love 🖤
◼️ the ending was awesome!!!!! It thoroughly convinced me to read the sequel when it comes out!

Rating : 3 ⭐

Thank you to netgalley and orbit books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, this book was confusing. It had a deck of cards, they were rare, but they seemed to be everywhere and all but one easily found. If you used their magic, it came at a price and slowly consumed you in some way, but apart from some nose bleeds, we didn't really see the outcome of this. If you collect a full deck of 12 types of card, you can destroy the mist to end the infection. The King was trying to do this but also slaughtering infected children, except his dying nephew, whose blood he intended to use go destroy the mist... As I said, there was a lot going on, and it just confused me throughout.

One redeeming factor in this was the romance. The slow burn was so thrilling and enticing and I kept reading for it.

The rest sort of fell flat, and if I'm honest, I don't know if I will continue with this series because it just didn't feel pulled together and as if it made sense. It felt like it was trying to be more than it needed to.

One dark window
This book has very gothic vines about it, perfect for an October time release. It has a solid story, centuries ago, when the townsfolk of Blunder wanted help, they would seek blessings and gifts from the Spirit of the Wood. One day, the Spirit granted the King powerful magic of his own. He wanted to share this with his people, so he created the Providence cards, some blessings, some curses.
A dark magical fantasy, that had several twists I wasn’t expected, and some good characters I really liked. The relationship between the main character Elspeth and her curse is an intriguing one, where she doesn’t seem to fully understand the effects of her possession or what her related powers are. Ravyn and other side characters are all well-built, and all seem to contribute to the plot which I enjoyed.
It took a little time to get into the story, and I hope in future sequels, the magic and world-building gets built on a little, as the idea of magical tarot cards is very exciting. I did feel the characters seemed to act with no sense of urgency, if I was cursed I’d be acting much faster, but other than that, a really enjoyable read. Reads like a YA gothic fantasy romance. Definitely recommend for a rainy October evening!