Becca Reviews: One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

I had a great time with this novel, and I'm excited to read the second part of this duology very soon. I definitely find it appealing that it is only a duology rather than a 6+ book series.

Gillig is great at efficiently world-building and creating a magic system all in just under 400 pages. I didn't really even feel anything was missing owing to the book's brevity. Perhaps the one thing I would have liked to see would be more from individual characters to bring further depth and more individual character arcs, but it wasn't lacking.

The setting and the sense throughout the novel were dark and gothic in the best way. Why did I picture the Nightmare as the scary bunny from Donnie Darko?

The plot is simple and effective. A deadly magical mist shrouds the kingdom of Blunder, and our protagonists must find all of the Providence Cards, created by the Shepherd King, to stop this. However, Elspeth must also contend with the monster in her head.

I love the complex, flawed characters. They're not just a bit annoying or rude, they are truly troubled and complicated, and you feel you only get to know them later in the book after spending more time with them. We come to understand their back stories, their traumas, and their priorities.

If you've been reading and liking the current popular romance fantasy books, definitely give this a read. I found it to be better written, more lyrical, and focused more on lore and magical systems than other recent reads.

Read: 28/08/2025

Published: 27/09/2022

Price: £10.04 (GBP)