One Dark Window
Ratings288
Average rating4.1
2.5
Interesting premise, let down by characters that feel like they can only exist inside some delusional definition of a person. Every character's motivations and intentions seem to be randomly forgotten for the sake of forwarding a romantic plot which is then randomly forgotten when the main character remembers they have to hate everything and everyone for the rest of the chapter. Then the loop begins again. One could say this represents teen angst or awkwardness, to me it just comes off and inconsistent.
I don't feel compelled to keep going, mostly because I don't care to see where this story ends up going.
When One Dark Window first came out, I wasn't really all that interested in it. It didn't sound like something I'd want to read, let alone something that I HAD to read. However, after seeing almost all my book-friends praise it, I thought I'd give it a go. After all, the whole duology was on Kindle Unlimited, so I didn't even have to work to find the books. Easy peasy.
Rachel Gillig really has a way with setting an atmosphere. The whole book felt smoky, misty and uncertain. You aren't really sure what's going on, or who to trust the entire time. Once things become a little clearer, all you feel is overwhelming dread.
I did like our heroine, Elspeth, but I spent a great deal of time mentally shouting at the book when it came her total lack of communication. JUST FREAKING TELL SOMEONE WHAT'S GOING ON. I did like Ravyn, too, but we hardly know anything about him by the time the book ends. I really want to know more about him. He is INTERESTING, and well, I'm intrigued. Perhaps we dive more into that in the next book? Maybe? Hopefully. The Nightmare is also attention-grabbing, and I'm very curious to find out what his motivations are. Does he want something (other than to be let out) or is he just sort of along for the ride? There's like...hinted answers for this one, but nothing solid.
The romance between Ravyn and Elspeth was a little lackluster, almost to the point that I wasn't sure what everyone was talking about? Yes, there's on-page steamy bits, but nothing shocking or surprising. The romance is almost ALMOST love at first sight, and to me, at least, it felt rather mediocre. I wish we had seen them trust each other / talk to each other a bit more about something that wasn't the plot. Anything, more about themselves, etc. Instead, they're sort of thrust together due to circumstance and end up falling for one another.
One Dark Window is sitting at a 3.5 to a low 4 star rating for me at the moment. I'm definitely diving right into the next book, with hopes that the romance is done better, and that all questions are answered!
The beginning was a bit boring but Damn, the storyline got me invested. I couldn't put it down, The Nightmare taking over Elspeth really made the book interesting. Literally need the next book!
I like the magic system in this book and think the idea is interesting. However, I found the plot twists and the action of the book very predictable and at times child like.
I also cannot seem to care for any of these characters, perhaps only a little bit about Elm. They either have no personality or are simply clichés (purely evil prince, bethrothed hungry for power, etc.)
I would be interested to see how the story continues, but I don't know if I will read the sequel with these characters and the writing.
Terrible. insta-love, no one's actions make any sense, and the card poems were annoying.
This is marketed as gothic fantasy, and while there are some elements of that, it feels more just like a regular fairy tale fantasy. I wouldn't call this a romantasy either. It's there, but it's not the focal point. I prefer that personally, but just an fyi if you're looking for more romance...
This whole book is completely predictable. There's no intrique, no surprises. The plot twists are not twisting and when they finally happen, you're left thinking “yeah I knew this 100 pages ago.”
The magic system (magic-granting tarot-ish cards) is neat, if underutilized.
It might not bother everyone, but I noticed very quickly that the author has a terrible habit of repeating certain turns of phrase, descriptions, titles, etc. (her lips curled, Captain of the Destriers, slick like oil, his gray eyes, among others). It makes reading so tedious.
Elspeth... in constant need of saving from beginning to end. Everything interesting (and useful) about her comes from The Nightmare: the only remotely interesting character.
If you go into this specifically wanting an easy, light read then I think you're good, but oof. I don't really understand why this has such high ratings.
Absolutely loved it. One of my new favourite books and I can't wait to read the next one.
Does this book do anything groundbreaking with the romantasy sub-genre? But by god, what it does well - it does well.
This is not a book for anyone who turns their nose up at romantasy, it will not change your mind - look to Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross for that - but it does add a fun edition to the genre. It's just fun.
Daha iyi yazılmış Wattpad kitapları okudum. Nesi bu kadar hype almış anlamak zor. İlginç bir sihir sistemi var. Ne kadarı işlenmiş? Karakterlere yakınlık duymak mümkün değil çünkü derinlik denen şey yok. Tam bir zaman kaybı.
4.5 starss (rounded up)
“there once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in the 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.”
AJSBDSURBS THIS WAS SO GOOD
(and the author's a pro palestine queen!!)
edited after reading the summary for the second book. This book was sick except i felt like Nightmare was WAY more interesting than Elspeth's character, and I needed 500% more Elm and 500% less Ravyn
“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.”
I'm a woman with simple tastes, and what I love reading the most is: Beautifully written high fantasy, with romance, that enhances but not overshadows the plot. Bonus points if the characters are older, and we get to read a bit of spice. This doesn't sound too difficult, but It's really hard to find.
This duology though... it hits almost all my check list points, and it was absolutely amazing (particularly the second book).
Beautifully written by Rachel Gillig, we are immersed in a dark fairytale, comparable to those beautifully and twisted stories we grew up listening and reading.
Was it worth the hype? Yes it was! I loved every bit of it.
Thank you to everyone who recommended this to me!
3.5 stars
It's slow paced gets better very late in the story, the characters are not really developed well, the magic system feels very confused at the beginning but the plot is really good if you keep going. I took my time to read this one and I'm glad I completed it. Already starting the second one...
This book was not even enjoyable, it reads and feels like young adult and not in a good way. The dialogue and story is incredibly cringe and the romance was also badly done. I really can't with the prose. Usually I don't read romance, but it can be done very well. This was not that. I didn't like any of the characters and I really didn't give a fuck the entire book. Sorry
Every chapter is so purposely poetic it clenched more in my head than anything else. The words were so colorful it's like a string quartet willing you to ask for more. I love it.
All of the stars!!! I borrowed this from Libby and my library doesn't yet have book 2 so I am immediately purchasing to jump right into it. I ADORE this book. It definitely was a slow burn for me (not referencing romance here). I was intrigued in the beginning but it just get pulling me in more and more and I NEED to know what happens. Off to read book 2!