Quick Thoughts: One Dark Window (The Shepherd King #1) by Rachel Gillig

One Dark Window

(The Shepherd King #1)

by Rachel Gillig

September 27, 2022

Goodreads Summary:

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.

Review

One Dark Window is everything I love about fantasy! The unique magic, mercurial characters and intense romance made me feel all the feels. Why did I not pick it up sooner?!? At least the wait for the sequel won't be as long!

What I Liked:

- a dark and gothic world

- super atmospheric

- a good balance of seriousness and humour

- intriguing Card magic

- creative backstory

- a morally grey villain- the Nightmare- that cared (for Elspeth)

- cunning politics

- a ploy that required deception and betrayal

- plenty of action

- the mystery was not overly twisty and easy to decipher

- hints leading up to a major reveal

- dynamic characters

- Elspeth and her willingness to help despite her fears

- everything about Ravyn <3

- painfully romantic

- the sizzling tension between Elspeth and Ravyn

- side characters whose story I want more of (particularly Ione and Elm)

- the ending: heartbreaking but ripe with possibilities

The Not So Much:

- nothing at all!

"One way or another, the truth will out." (p. 337)