One Dark Window (Deluxe Limited Hardcover Edition) (The Shepherd King, 1) Hardcover – Special Edition, September 23, 2025

I read a lot of books, all genres, and have for a long time.This book I could tell was different than its counterparts at the start. It's still magic and fantasy with a dash (tiny) of romance. The spice level is half a pepper at best.Magic has always been something I've loved I'm 39 now but I've always loved the idea of it. And Rachel writes it by using what we know of magic but making it her own. In this case the magic is stored in cards and even those who are infected with magic, all of it comes at a price. And you slowly get fed the story of what happened through the voice that lived in the main characters head.The main character is female and a badass in her own right, but with words and not fighting. That alone was a nice change since every book Ive read for the last 20 years, if the lead is female, she's also capable of everything. And tho I am a solo human and enjoy my own company more often than not and am also a runner, I am not at all going to win a fight. So Elspeth, the main character, was more relatable rather than a true fantasy. And neither is wrong, I enjoy both tropes, but it was every nice to have a change of pace.Gillig does a good job of character development, it's probably why I kept reading. The story was very slow at first. I almost put it down and I'm really glad I didn't. I am tired of authors alluding to things but never giving you the full story. And that did get old quick. Fortunately as the story develops, Rachel stopped "hiding" things from the reader and the story started moving quicker, giving you more detail to help you stay invested. She is pretty detailed, but not overly so, which may be why the first part dragged until the action kicked in. Obviously you need to hide somethings, you have a plot to build. It was more of that foreshadowing or just not fully detailing it out or alluding to something more that would get in the way of my enjoyment. Rachel isn't alone in this, it's an overly used writing technique right now, which may be why I noticed it more.All in all, the writing was beautiful, different from anything I've read lately, took me a minute to get used to and I thoroughly enjoyed a shift from my normal pace. I loved that the story was familiar but also so different. And I am left ready to dive into book 2 and cannot wait.If that's what you're looking for, and are also a fan of magical fantasy, try out One Dark Window, I don't think youll regret it.If you are looking for that,

Be weary the dark, be weary the fright, be weary the voice that comes in the night, it twist and it calls, through shadowy halls, be weary the voice that comes in the night..I absolutely loved this story. The magic, storyline , characters. Excited to read the second book and continue the story..

"Nothing is free. Nothing is safe. Magic is love, but also, it’s hate."i'm so lucky to have dodged any and all spoilers since this book has blown up and went into it almost completely blind. i was completely enthralled from the beginning and enchanted by rachel gillig's phenomenal story."That’s how the best lies are told—with just enough truth to be convincing."firstly, the poems and magic system. very unique, the use of the stanzas to reveal information throughout the story as well as the lore within the book and to explain the magic system. i've always loved when magic comes with a cost in fantasy, and this system does so in poetically creative ways counterpointing the gifts the magic gives. there is little more satisfying than when an author gives me a few stanzas of rhyme and the tempo is obvious and consistent. it just itches a scratch in my brain. it was very intriguing to have the nightmare basically only speak in his riddle-esque rhyme. he also surprisingly provided some excellent comedic relief."Now we must play at tea with Blunder’s bottom-feeders? You said joining these fools would be dangerous. You said nothing of torture.""I could have died!Don’t be dramatic, the Nightmare said. People fall off horses every day."the cast of characters is distinct and layered. ione was very intriguing to me with her journey, i never quite knew where to stand 100% with elm or ravyn. the precariousness of trust heightens the tension throughout the story and keeps the stakes raised. i've probably read too many betrayal tropes LOL so i won't go on too much about it BUT the chemistry between elspeth and ravyn was organic, well-developed, and simmering.“What about you, Captain? Are you too nice for your own good?”He watched me, something I could not read flashing in his gray eyes.“No, Miss Spindle,” he said. “I’m not nice at all.”it's quite a unique premise and the gothic setting with its fairy tale lore creates a creepy vibe that wonderfully helps drive the story and paint a vivid picture. the motifs of the mist, the trees, the salt, ravens, and crowns incorporate your senses as a reader to help immerse you into the book. the providence cards are easy to liken to a deck of tarot cards, which further encourage both mystical and medieval tones and imagery."The Hawthorn tree carries few seeds. Its branches are weary, it’s lost all its leaves. Be wary the man who bargains and thieves. He’ll offer your soul to get what he needs.""The stone chamber—enveloped by moss and vines—stood tall at the edge of the mist. How strange it looked, alone in the ruins, unmarked but for one dark window situated on its southernmost wall."overall, i was very impressed (and enraptured) with elspeth and the nightmare's story. i can't wait to see where book two takes me.“The girl, the King… and the monster they became.”

I have to thank social media for this one. It was not originally on my list of books to read, but I kept seeing so much hype over it and figured it was a good spooky season read and 20 pages in I knew it was going to be a five star read.The eerie gothic vibes of this book are so perfect for an October read. I’m not a horror reader, and this was a perfect fit to stay in the fantasy realm but still enjoy something spooky and seasonal.The magic system in this book is so cool. I was initially drawn to it because someone online compared it to tarot — (while I can somewhat understand the comparison because of the cards and their meaning, after reading it, I respectfully disagree with that comparison). But regardless it’s one of the coolest magic systems I’ve ever read.Elspeth is such an easy character to relate to. She’s real and she’s raw and she’s sarcastic and witty, but she’s not a brute with an unending pool of confidence and strength (that’s where the Nightmare comes in)I also love Ravyn, and the relationship he has with Elspeth. While this book wasn’t really a romance book and there isn’t much spice, there’s just enough that adds to the plot and character development that also keeps you hooked and wanting more.I would absolutely say this book is a literary work of art. It’s beautifully written, and the addition of the card poems at the beginning of each chapter is so well done. 10000/10 would recommend