20 December 2024

One Dark Window By Rachel Gillig Review And Book Club Questions

Reviewed by: Melissa Ng

Full Yellow Stars

Quick Facts

Book Publication Date: 27 September 2022

How I Read It: Borrowed from my local library

Where You Can Find One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig: Amazon | Kobo | AudibleDymocks | QBD Books | Apple Books | Spotify

Content & Trigger Warnings: Mild coarse language, spice, violence, gore, blood, terror. For more trigger warnings, please visit Rachel Gillig’s website.

Book cover of One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig with the text "One Dark Window Review & Book Club Questions" on a green background

One Dark Window Summary

Elspeth Spindle’s world is shrouded in mist and magic. In the eerie, cursed kingdom of Blunder, life is anything but ordinary.

As a child, Elspeth contracted a mysterious fever that left her with an unsettling gift — she hears the voice of the Nightmare, an ancient and cunning spirit trapped inside her mind. He protects her, but his power comes at a cost, and the line between ally and threat grows thinner each day.

One fateful night, Elspeth encounters Ravyn Yew, the Captain of the King’s Destriers, and a group of highwaymen on a dangerous mission.

Ravyn, who also happens to be the King’s nephew, is guilty of high treason. He is seeking a cure for the mist that has plagued Blunder for generations.

The only way to achieve it is by collecting all twelve Providence Cards — magical relics that grant immense power but come with a steep price.

Elspeth joins Ravyn and his unlikely band of misfits, embarking on a perilous journey to gather the cards and end the mist’s curse.

Along the way, their initial animosity gives way to a slow-burning romance. But as the stakes rise, so does the Nightmare’s influence on Elspeth, threatening to consume her entirely.

With high-stakes heists, betrayals, and twists at every turn, One Dark Window is an exciting first book to The Shepherd King series.

One Dark Window Characters

  • Elspeth: A maiden hiding the Nightmare inside her mind
  • Ravyn: Captain of the Destriers and nephew to the King
  • The Nightmare: An ancient spirit trapped in Elspeth’s mind
  • Ione: Elspeth’s cousin
  • Jespyr: Ravyn’s sister
  • Emory: Ravyn’s brother
  • Elm: The King’s second son
  • Hauth: The King’s son and heir to the throne
  • Erik: Elspeth’s father
  • Nerium: Elspeth’s stepmother
  • Dimia: Elspeth’s half-sister
  • Nya: Elspeth’s half-sister

One Dark Window Providence Cards List

There are a lot of Providence Cards to keep track of in this book. Here's a handy list showing the card name, the number of cards available, it's colour, it's magic, and the degeneration of the user.

Card # of cards Colour Magic Degeneration
Twin Alders1UnknownCommune with the Spirit of the WoodUnknown
Nightmare2BurgundySpeak into the minds of othersReveals one's deepest fears
Mirror3PurpleInvisibilityLifted the veil between worlds, exposing a world of ghosts
Scythe4RedPower to control othersGreat physical pain
Iron Gate5GreenBlissful serenity, no matter the struggleStole years from one’s life
Well6BlueClear sight to recognise one’s enemiesBetrayed by a friend
Chalice7TurquoiseTurns liquid into truth serumTruth serum turned into poison
Maiden8PinkBeautyChilled the user's heart
White Eagle9WhiteCourageFear
Prophet10GrayGlimpses of the futureHelpless to change the future
Golden Egg11GoldWealthAll-consuming greed
Black Horse12BlackMaster of combatWeaker
A hand holding a paperback copy of One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig with Christmas stockings in the background
One Dark Window - A gothic, fairytale-like fantasy

Memorable One Dark Window Quotes

Better distrustful than delusional.

Having hope does not make me delusional, Elspeth.

"Are you still pretending?" I said, reveling in his gaze.
Ravyn gave a surprised laugh and, in front of everyone, leaned in and kissed me. "I never was," he whispered into my lips.

One Dark Window Review

A quick note about the One Dark Window physical book: Each chapter starts with a short excerpt from The Old Book of Alders. It’s printed as white text on a black background, which is a bit hard to read clearly. So, bear that in mind if you have reading difficulties.

Now, on to my review!

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig is the perfect blend of gothic atmosphere, fairy tale whimsy, and high-stakes fantasy.

I went into this book expecting a solid 4-star read, but it ended up being an easy 5-star for me.

The world-building is rich, the characters are compelling, and the plot is packed with intrigue, magic, and a touch of romance.

The magic system, centred around the Providence Cards, is one of the most unique aspects of the book.

Each card grants power but comes with a cost — often physical or emotional degeneration.

The cards add an exciting layer of strategy to the story, especially during the heist scenes.

However, there are a lot of cards to remember, so I recommend checking out the list of Providence Cards from One Dark Window in my blog post above if you need a reference.

The romance between Elspeth and Ravyn leans into the enemies-to-lovers trope, but it’s a slow burn that feels organic.

Their relationship is more of a subplot, which I appreciated, as it allowed the story’s darker elements and high-stakes quest to take centre stage.

And for those wondering, is One Dark Window spicy? There’s only one mild spicy scene, making this suitable for both young adult and adult readers.

The book’s pacing is excellent, with twists and reveals keeping the tension high. The ending, in particular, is fantastic, and had me jumping straight into One Dark Window book 2, Two Twisted Crowns.

Books Like One Dark Window

If you’re looking for more books similar to One Dark Window, I suggest checking out:

Or, if you’re more into TV series, I recommend Alice In Borderland on Netflix.

One Dark Window Book Club Questions

  • What were your favourite and least favourite moments in the book?
  • How did the book’s gothic atmosphere enhance or detract from the story?
  • One Dark Window is marketed as a young adult book. Do you agree with this rating?
  • At the beginning of the book, who did you think the voice in Elspeth’s head was?
  • How did you feel about the Nightmare’s role in Elspeth’s mind? Was he more ally or antagonist?
  • What did you think of the romance between Elspeth and Ravyn? Did you enjoy the enemies to lovers trope?
  • Who was your favourite side character, and why?
  • What are your thoughts on the magic system? Was it easy to understand and remember all the Providence Cards?
  • If you could hold a Providence Card, which one would you choose?
  • Do you think the degeneration from using the cards is worth the power they grant?
  • Where do you think the Twin Alders card is?
  • What did you think of the different family dynamics in the book?
  • Why do you think Ione helped Elspeth?
  • Did the ending surprise you? Were you able to predict any of the twists or reveals?
  • What do you think will happen in the next book?
  • Will you be continuing the Shepherd King series? Why or why not?
  • If One Dark Window was adapted into a movie or TV series, which actors would you cast for each character?

 

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