One Dark Window

Rachel Gillig

Sep 2022 · Sold by Orbit

About this ebook

THE FANTASY BOOKTOK SENSATION!

For fans of Uprooted and For the Wolf comes a dark, lushly gothic fantasy about a maiden who must unleash the monster within to save her kingdom—but the monster in her head isn't the only threat lurking.

Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her.

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom she calls home—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it. Except the highwayman just so happens to be the King’s own nephew, Captain of the Destriers…and guilty of high treason.

He and Elspeth have until Solstice to gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly, darkly, taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.

Ratings and reviews

An interesting, poetic exploration of a dark(er) fairy tale. Like many Romantasy books the romance is forced, but here it at least makes sense. The plot progression is smooth and well-paced, and the magic system explanation arrives relatively apace. The book is written in a very poetic style, good enough to work well for it, though it occasionally makes it repetitive. Finally, this would be a 2 star review for the ridiculous cliffhanger, if there weren't already a second book. Reading that now.

This first of two books is beautiful in a dark and melancholy way that yet dares to hope. This is a tale that feels ancient and true in its themes, yet charges forward with its unique and riveting story. Filled with mist and magic, cards and power, love and hope, and a question of who really are the monsters, this book is a must for any thoughtful bookworm.

My new favorite series and I'm sure it'll stay that way for a long while. A world unlike any other I've read of, and the most beautiful, exhilarating story.

About the author

Rachel Gillig was born and raised on the California coast. She is a writer, with a BA in literary theory and criticism from UC Davis. If she is not ensconced in blankets dreaming up her next novel, Rachel is in her garden or walking with her husband, son, and their poodle, Wally.