One Dark Window (The Shepherd King Book 1)

This was one of those situations where I kept putting off the book because it was sooo hyped. I'm notoriously fearful about trying overly popular or talked about books. I guess I've been burned one too many times that way 😅

But this book gripped me from page one and I couldn't put it down.

I loved the world building...the danger filled atmosphere and the fear of the physicians disturbing the sleep of wayward children, like monsters under the bed.

And a never ending Nightmare, "the voice in my head, the creature with strange yellow eyes and an eerie smooth voice"

The magic system was utterly amazing. I feel like it's a difficult thing to do ....to weave a complex tale involving the rules, the give and take, and just the overall existence of an, oftentimes, intangible force. But, in this particular book, the reader is given EVERYTHING. Even the taste and smell of magic. At times I felt myself drowning in it alongside the FMC.

And let's not forget the most important elements to any good story, at least for me, the character development.

This was told in first person POV and only by the FMC, Elspeth. She was such an intriguing young girl and completely likable, if not relatable. Her fears and insecurities basically kept her sealed off from any true social interactions and romantic relationships.

The MMC, Ravyn, was the perfect dynamic. He came in with unknown motives, giving their "relationship" instant enemies to lovers vibes. I loved how his actions weren't always innocent but his intentions...his reasoning and drive were pure and often unselfish.

The plotline was perfectly executed. Their endgame was set with laser focus and the steps to achieving their goals are obviously hard earned.

I know I'm extremely late to this party but I'm excited to dive into book 2. I'm just glad that I've managed to avoid any and all spoilers up until this point.

I've quite enjoyed the little twists in the storyline and secrets revealed.

• Engagement of convenience/ forced proximity *Enemies to lovers *Slow burn 🌶️🌶️ *Found family *Gothic setting (old castles, ruins and dark woods)
• Magic system *World building

Tropes/ Key Points: ✨Unique Magic System ✨Dark Secret ✨Political Subterfuge ✨Fake Dating ✨Slow Burn ✨(Slight) Enemies to Lovers ✨Gothic Fairytale Vibes (Grimm Brothers) ✨YA Fantasy/Romance

Spice:🌶️

Twelve Cards of Magic, gifted by the elusive Spirit of the Wood to the Shepherd King. The Black Horse for mastering combat. The Golden Egg for great wealth. The Prophet to see the future. The White Eagle for courage. The Maiden for great beauty. The Chalice for truth. The Well to see one’s enemies. The Iron Gate for peace, no matter the situation. The Scythe for power over others actions. The Mirror for invisibility. The Nightmare for speaking into others minds. The Twin Alders to speak to the Spirit.

But all magic comes with a cost, even these cards.

Elspeth caught the fever as a child. It gave her magic, but all magic comes with a price. Those who catch this disease are put to death, but Elspeth was hidden by her family and secretly allowed to live. She has a monster living in her head and he is growing stronger.

Blessed with the ability to see the cards of power, Elspeth is pulled into a treasonous plot against the king to gather all the cards to undo a blight on her kingdom.

What happens when she is a bigger monster than the threat they face?

This book turned about to be such a great read. I was a little hesitant going into it, kind of felt like it wasn’t going to be my thing. It seemed like I was going to be proven right as the first bit of this book is very slow to get into. This story is more mid-high fantasy so the author has to do a bit of info dump at the beginning to set up the world and fill us in on what’s going on. Once you read around chapter six though, prepare for it to take off.

Once I got into it I didn’t really want to put it down. It gives off strong political vibes but the romance comes into play later. I wouldn’t say this book is spicy by any means but it definitely gets steamy. It’s marketed as Adult but it feels more YA, and that’s not a reason to pass on this story.

The magic system is so unique, I honestly don’t know of another book that I can compare it to. I think it’s one of my favorite parts of the entire story. The author did such a great job at filling us in on how everything works, despite some of the gaps in logic. This applies more to the people within the world than a flaw in the magic system.

Part of the issue with the magic system again does not fall on the magic itself, but more on the people of this world. They talk about how you need to reunite one of each of the cards into a solid deck in order to cure the curse that this world is kind of facing. And yet all these people have these cards, and they know their king needs them, but none of them are turning over the cards willingly. They barter with the king, especially if the cards are more rare to get better statue for themselves, but instead of just giving him the cards to stop the curse, they hold onto them which is ultimately making things worse for them. That is a little bit of a plot hole that is introduced in the story, but I don’t feel personally that it takes away from it.

The Nightmare in Elspeth’s head is my favorite character in the book. He is so dark and blasé about things that it’s honestly hilarious. He comes in often to help Elspeth only to find out he could have earlier but didn’t cause she didn’t ask. I laughed so many times when he “came out to play.”

One of my complaints is with the main female character, Elspeth. She has had this magic for 11 years and had to hide and not really engage with people outside of her family because she felt they might discover that she is infected. It doesn’t make her interactions with other people are somewhat stilted and awkward, but personally, that part doesn’t bother me. The part that bothers me is how Naïve she really was and how she went back on what she said she was going to do repeatedly. As I mentioned above all magic comes with a price even the natural magic that she has and once she realizes her cost, she makes this vowel that she’s not going to engage with the magic so the cost. At least until the slightest bit of danger shows up and then she starts using it. Every single time.

One of my biggest applauds for this book, is the big twist and the ending. Don’t get me wrong. some of the twists throughout the book are so in your face that you can’t not see them coming. But there was one that I was 100% not expecting, and it was such a great moment in the story. I think that the ending of the book absolutely overwrites the few flaws that are present within the novel. I absolutely love the cliffhanger, and I am so eager for book 2. I read this with my book club and we are so frustrated that we have to wait a few months for the second one to come out. I would recommend this book to anybody.

I'm obsessed with this book - incredible world-building, character development, prose, pacing, and even the little details like the cover are on point. I read over 200 books a year, mostly fantasy, and this is a cut above the rest. This book is for you if you like dark, gritty fantasy with nightmare-ish undertones. It's not horror in the traditional sense, but the writing will raise the hair on your neck. Fair warning - there's a romantic subplot, but I'm a big fan of "romantasy" so this doesn't bother me. Read this book ASAP.

Good things to say about this book and the story, and very few bad. For the good, The magic system in this book is very unique and really exciting to learn about. There are some things, for example about the main character, that we have to learn slowly, and maybe there are questions about it, but this system is very interesting. Additionally, Ravyn 😍 there are many characters that are interesting, and I will be excited to learn more about in the second book, but I really loved the slow burn between him and Elspeth. Also!! I felt like not only was the magic system very interesting, but the telling and writing about the magic was very fun. Rhymes and riddles not just to start a chapter but throughout dialogue and exchanges made it feel very fresh and enjoyable. The dialogue between Elspeth and the voice, for example, feels very fresh because of the riddles. While I could guess at the identity of this voice before it’s revealed, I think there is still a lot to learn. There are a few things I don’t like. Obviously, the evil characters do come off as truly hateful. But the character that upsets me most in this story is Iona. we barely got to know her before she changed and the reason for it and crypticness around why she did, it is not explained. I hope it’s explained in the second book, and I’m going to give it the benefit of the doubt, but if it’s not explained, I will a wee bit miffed.

"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.”

First book and the story was luring, the characters easy to remember and the rhyming fun yet twisted. I love the different plot of this story. It's beautiful in a slightly twisted kind of way. I was worried when I first started the story. I thought that I would get lost in the whole Providence Cards concept, but no. It was easy to understand the story concepts and the powers at hand. It was even more easy due to the rhyming passages that explains powers. I swear, rhyming makes context and concepts stick so much better.😂 This book was like opening a storybook from my childhood, with all the rhyming. I smiled and teared up a bit throughout my reading. Enchanting. Thank you, Mrs. Rachel Gillig, for a wonderful read and for giving me a piece of my childhood back.

“There once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a King—a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same: “The girl, the King… and the monster they became.”

Wow. Absolutely enthralling. The fact that this is Rachel's debut is astounding to me. I don't even know precisely where to start. The world-building was superb and seamless with little-to-no data dumping. The magic system was among the more unique I've encountered with magic being relegated to the use of cards (akin to tarot cards) and those infected by the mist. The pacing was absolutely perfect, not a sluggish section to be found. Add to that, Rachel's beautiful, atmospheric writing and you get a really satisfying gothic fantasy sprinkled with romance and monsters.

The Characters: Elspeth is a realistic FMC. She comes across as a normal girl who isn't trying to become something she just isn't for the sake of the story. She isn't interested in learning to fight by physical means to save herself. Instead, despite the strangeness of her circumstances, she relies on her wit and her adherence to doing the right thing compels her efforts to make right the unfairness of her world. She doubts herself like any sane person would. There were several instances while reading where I could feel her fear and the urgency of her actions as if they were my own. I loved that I felt like I really got to know her without ever feeling like I was being "told".

Obviously, Ravyn Yew is freaking fantastic. He ticks all my MMC boxes. He's tall, dark haired, and handsome and willing to crush the bones of anyone who harms his girl. His characterization is a no brainer and is spot on for those who gravitate towards this type of male lead in a F/M story. I do feel that there's a lot more to him than we got to see in book 1 and I'm curious to see if book 2 gives more with regards to the inner workings of his mind.

Not one of the side characters in this book fell short for me. They were all intriguing and I found myself wanting to get to know each of them because their inclusion in the story felt truly compelling and not at all like any of them were there as mere plot devices. However, I loathed Prince Hauth almost immediately. I am rooting with every fiber of my existence for him to meet a very grisly end in book 2.

The Romance: The progression of things between Elspeth and Ravyn felt so natural and not at all sluggish or forced. I adored the fact that there is very little conflict between Elspeth and Ravyn. Too often, I find that although they can be great fun, some stories are bogged down by poorly executed adherence to certain tropes. That did not happen in One Dark Window. Here, it was clear pretty early on that Elspeth and Ravyn are drawn to one another and neither of them put up contrived barriers that prevent them from being honest about how they feel. It was so satisfying to read a story with so much depth that played out the romance in this manner. There was also a dash of smut, but it was so well written. See quote below as evidence:

"Can I kiss you?" "A bit late to ask, isn't it?" "Not on your mouth, Elspeth."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

✔️ Dark Gothic Fantasy ✔️ Slow Burn ✔️ Fake Dating

Trees this was a good book. 🤣🌲 Like most of us, I kept seeing this book popping up and decided I had to read it for my 12 in 12 this year and luckily @talesandtiramasu offered to buddy read it with me! ❤️ I’m SO glad we picked this book it’s nothing like I expected but was SO good.

This books story and world building absolutely sucked me in. This book truly showed you its gothic world. My favorite part however has to be the unique magical card deck. This concept was brilliant and different from anything I had read before. I also really enjoyed the rhythmic pattern to the cards that foreshadowed the following chapter. Another great thing was that the characters were all exceptionally interesting (even the bad ones). I loved learning all of their secrets and seeing how they intermingled with each other. The romance between Elspeth and Rayven was a very sweet, slow burn, that made me giggle with happiness as it progressed. I do wish we would’ve gotten so more spice though. 🤷‍♀️ I also loved Elm’s humor, “Oh trees.” 🤣 I truly hope we see more of all 3 characters in the next one. 🤞

“The two were together, so the two were the same: “The girl, the King… and the monster they became.”

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig -The Shepherd King Book 1-

4/5⭐️

•My Blurb• After contracting a magic fever that if discovered means her execution, Elspeth is sent to live with relatives. She keeps a low profile and manages to keep her magic a secret for a decade. But when her path crosses with Ravyn, the Captain of the Destriers, she gets involved in a dangerous plot that involves a quest for magic cards that are the key to saving their kingdom. Elspeth and Ravyn are in a race to collect the cards first but they don’t realize Elspeth’s secret magic also has a time limit and letting that time limit pass would have greater repercussions than they can imagine.

•My Thoughts• I repeat, I have never read anything like this before. The magic system was fascinating, slightly complex but once I hit about 15%, it all came together. To me, this book was heavier on the fantasy plot than the romance but I’ve heard that there’s more romance in book two and I can’t wait for that. The romance in this one was a super slow burn which I loved. I’m still processing but I think I want to say that this book was very plot driven. So much is happening with kingdom politics, their magic, the race to collect the cards and her possession (yes, you read that right 😳), that I sometimes felt like I had a little trouble connecting to the characters. That said, the plot was fabulous. It felt very different from what I normally read even those it’s a fantasy romance - it’s got creepy vibes without crossing into horror and I enjoyed the cast of characters. The writing was amazing and if this at all intrigues you, I absolutely recommend giving it a shot.

Okay. Here's my quick thoughts on this TikTok obsessed book. It's overhyped. 😬 And it has made me come to the conclusion that I think most BookTok recs are just that: overhyped. Every one has let me down and I am no longer using that platform to navigate my reads any longer. Sorry, not sorry.

Quite frankly, how anyone can say it's their favorite book of the year/month, or for people who loved Fourth Wing and need a book like it is beyond me. Even taking Fourth Wing out of the equation, this book was so below my standard for fantasy or writing in general. And gah. That sounds so harsh. I can barely string together two sentences at times, much less write an entire book or series, so I feel awful being overly critical here and if you loved this book, I am sorry. Clearly it is well loved. Because when you have a book with that Goodreads overall rating you have to sit here and be perplexed. I don't know... maybe it's me.

But here are my main takeaways and the issues I had:

My main issue with this book for me is it all fell flat. The story, the characters, the plot all felt one dimensional. It is like we had all the ingredients to make this extravagant fantasy book and it got botched right out the gate.

We are introduced to the female main character and I felt nothing from her. The characters were so bland. I didn't care for anyone at all. Not the main characters (I don't even remember their names, nor do I care enough to look them up). The side characters were an improvement. Nightmare, Elm, and even Ione (See I remembered their names? 😅) give us the most personality to make the story palatable. Except Ione may have the worst name in history of books, because I kept reading her name as lone with a "L" and not Ione with an I. It was so disruptive to my flow while reading. 😆

And that romance?? Are we seriously supposed to feel like that was real? Even as an enemies to lovers that was a stretch for me to get behind. Where was the angst? Where was the build up? Where was the getting to know each other part to make me feel like they were actually in love?? It felt so rushed and so inauthentic. I couldn't get behind it and it sure did not make me wanna swoon.

It saddens me to not love this book because the story, the magical elements, and the plot had such potential. But it was the writing that made it all so one dimensional. The 50% mark and on did improve for me. We get that fighting scene that was keeping my attention and I did finish the book. But overall, I don't know guys. I just don't get the hype. I will continue the series because I bought book 2 recently when it was on sale, and I am holding out that it will be better, because it did seem to improve as we continued on in the first book so I am holding out a little hope that I will enjoy it but who knows.

I did go in with high expectations thinking I had a slam dunk winner on my hands but honestly, even if I had went in with low hopes of this being a good book I would have been disappointed.