One Dark Window Review—A Decrepit Kingdom

During a recent visit to my local library, I decided to investigate the “New Books” section. Drawn by gorgeous watercolor cover art (who says you can’t judge a book by its cover?), I walked away with the first fantasy novel by Rachel Gillig—One Dark Window.

In One Dark Window, we follow Elspeth Spindle, a woman burdened with a magical secret which has a mind of its own. The mysterious Nightmare is a constant voice in her head which grants her great power but threatens to overpower her. In the kingdom of Blunder, magic is centered around the twelve Providence Cards, each of which has a unique power—and just as great of a drawback. The Scythe card can control others at the cost of physical pain, and the Maiden card grants physical beauty at the cost of an icy demeanor.

However, Elspeth’s magic exists separately from the Providence Cards, which has led authorities to deem her and similar people as “infected.” Her ability to find hidden Providence Cards is what ties her into a plot to stop the persecution of the “infected” by using all the cards to end a centuries-old curse. She’ll take this opportunity to seek answers about the mystery that is Nightmare while making new allies and foes, all the while trying to keep the voice in her head a secret.

The world that Rachel Gillig has created is one of the strongest points of One Dark Window. Not only is the magic system easy to understand, but it inherently creates tension for our characters who grapple with the costs of their powers. These limitations make for action scenes that are frantic, anxious, and bloody, as Elspeth struggles to avoid being caught or harming others. I found myself wishing for more action scenes, as they were consistently thrilling and moved the plot forward by leaps and bounds.

However, Gillig focuses much more on character dialogue—the struggle to hide secrets from one another, a budding romance, and suspicion cast from all angles. As compelling as these interactions can be, there are times where it feels that the plot is moving at a crawl, only for a great deal to happen in the next chapter.

Character relationships are at the heart of One Dark Window. Elspeth spins a web of connections which twist and tangle over the course of the novel, rewriting the world she is familiar with. She meets the snarky and skeptical Prince Elm, the stoic but layered Captain Rayvn, and is confronted by changes in her cousin Ione. The varied goals and personalities of these characters makes for a memorable cast that always has some interpersonal tension. A feeling of unease underlies the entire book, as even when she is successful at one thing, there are always reminders that Elspeth’s whole world could crumble around her at any time.

Gillig emphasizes the tenuous relationships of her characters to a fault, which can begin to feel repetitive. Remarkably similar character interactions and frequent repetition of key concepts show nervousness to fully trust readers to put things together. Especially for those who favor stories with an emphasis on action and plot momentum, One Dark Window may feel slow.

Even so, the push-and-pull character relationships, sacrificial magic system, frantic action sequences, and an air of mystery come together to make turning the page a thrilling experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the wild ride of the ending, a climax which builds wonderfully off multiple plot threads and left me anticipating the next installment. For my fellow fans of fantasy and character-driven thrillers, One Dark Window should keep you on your toes and leave you waiting for more.