A review by rqdreads
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I enjoyed this dark, gothic fantasy set in the fictional world of Blunder where magic is a NO-NO, so we all know what that means for our dear MC! It was fast paced, had a little dash of romance, and lots of deception and adventure. I REALLY liked the ending and am definitely intrigued to what happens next. I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed books like Caraval, Where Dreams Descend, or Ace of Shades.

Overall, it was an interesting magic system (using magical cards - almost like a Tarot deck). It reads a bit YA for it being labeled as ADULT, especially via audio. The narrator wasn't my favorite because it completely changes the tone of what I was expecting of the Elspeth and the other characters. When I physically read the book it was a completely different experience, so IMO, if you're interested in this book, commit to a physical read!

Content warnings listed from the authors website:
Scenes of terror.
General violence/gore.
Child in peril.
Blood.
Mention of self-harm for magic.
Moderate sexual content.
Mention of parental neglect.
Alcohol consumption