Admittedly, I’ve always been into fiction but fantasy? Ehh. I mean I had my picks of course – the Harry Potter books (yes, they’re considered urban fantasy), The Song of Ice and Fire series (dark fantasy), Twilight trilogy (urban fantasy), the Vampire Academy books (urban fantasy) etc. but in general, I would not say this genre was my cup of coffee tea. Then upon the Bookstagram hype, I’ve decided to take a leap of faith and immerse myself in the world of violence, passion, and fae that’s mapped out in The Folk of the Air trilogy by Holly Black. Experiencing the ups and downs of high fantasy struck me as one of the most influential reading epiphanies I’ve ever had, and I’ve been a changed woman ever since. What’s more, I even developed a distinctive taste for romantic fantasy or in short, romantasy. This is how I ended up reading and falling for One Dark Window, and later on its sequel, Two Twisted Crowns. (The latter will be discussed in a separate post for fear of overzealous fangirling were the content condensed into one.)
Summary
In a nutshell, this story follows Elspeth Spindle, a young half-orphan noblewoman hiding a terrible secret – a secret living in her head she calls the Nightmare, a secret her King would kill her for, a secret that just as well might end her life in its own right. As if this wouldn’t be enough, after a late-night forest road encounter with a couple of highwaymen, her life changes in the blink of an eye. She’s swept up in a whirlwind of perilous magic and prospects of even more perilous romance all the while embarking on a journey to save the realm that wishes to see people like her dead.
Thoughts
Now when I say the magic system in this duology is unique, I mean it is unique. In Blunder magic is slippery. It’s volatile. And it always comes with a price. One may either use Providence Cards to conjure the power insnared inside the velvet-rimmed papers or have an innate mystical ability the possessors are hunted for, the bottom line is all the same – be ready to pay. With moral compromise, excruciating pain, or even one’s very own life. Besides this peculiar brand of spellcraft, the land itself is blanketed in a dense fog woven with sorcery that inches forward each year right until the cure is found and it lures everyone to their death who’s unfortunate enough to cross its path without a charm – courtesy of the Spirit of the Wood, a nature-born divine entity that strives to regain what once belonged to her. Adoration, devotion, worship. And if she can’t get it the clean way, she might as well play dirty. Something I don’t condone yet fully understand. * croaks the last bit in between coughs and with reluctance *
The plot is neatly nestled inside this magical setup like a tiny flower seed that eventually blossoms into a thing of beauty. It takes some time, but it’s totally worth it in the end. We’re provided a storyline that’s detailed, intricate, and intriguing, making the length of the book appear significantly shorter than it actually is. And the romance, oh my… It’s well-orchestrated with the kind of structure that’s right up my alley. From a he-falls-first starting point it moves through denied mutual attraction to one major romantic encounter which changes the game for good. Now as we all know, one can never appreciate enough the highs without some lows, so after this the final obstacle to an epic amorous fulfillment is introduced as well – an external threat way beyond their means to defeat, just to render the odds less likely. I mean, how awesome is this? If you’re also into this sort of sensibly built relationship courses sprinkled with some hindrance here and there, then I can guarantee you’ll love love in this book.
Another nice touch related to the world-building and plot I’d like to highlight is the characterization. Even the minor characters are richly embellished with traits that make them so achingly relatable and unapologetically human. Elspeth, our protagonist deserves a round of applause specifically. A common tendency in fantasy is depicting young female main characters as overtly mature and wise but when a foolish move on their part serves the plot, it’s immediately explained by their age and nothing much else. I believe this is a subconscious proclivity deriving from the fact that most fantasy novels are written by adults and don’t get me wrong – as an adult myself – I’m not resentful. But. I’m not a fan of overusing this trope – if we can even call it that. So, I was almost ecstatic when I realized Miss Spindle is an outlier falling far from the cluster. Her decisions are rooted in rationale (only occasionally warped by emotions) and her reactions to the events unfolding around her are natural, reflexive responses. All age-appropriate, no-nonsense. A delight to read, truly. * chef’s kiss *
One more thing that definitely deserves at least an honorary mention is the language used. Books emanating medieval vibes usually sport archaic terminology and expressions just to anchor us in that world. However, Miss Gillig uses no such thing and despite my initial skepticism it works well. Words like ‘yeah’ and ‘okay’ frequently leave the lips of our characters yet somehow everything still comes together without annoying the reader into permanent eye-rolling. Honest to God, I used to bare a strong dislike to this kind of mixing, but the fact that the author managed to blend modernism with the middle-ages atmosphere in such a seamless way is a testament to her talents.
I almost jumped headfirst into perspectives when I realized that discussion belongs to the sequel, Two Twisted Crowns, which I’m going to devote a separate blog post to. And just to add the disclaimer here as well, that post may contain spoilers so please proceed with caution and only at your own risk. Common side effects of a spoiled story among many others can be meltdowns, murderousness, extreme sorrow etc., so just take this as a heads up, my fellow coffeeholic bibliophiles!
Conclusion
One Dark Window is a delightful and enthralling gothic NA fantasy that’ll capture one’s attention and eventually heart with likable characters, smart dialogue, and even smarter plotlines. 100% would recommend it if you’re looking for a unique reading experience.
About the Author
According to her website, Rachel Gillig was born and raised on the California coast and currently lives with her husband, her son, and a poodle. Her Instagram account informs us that her next novel, The Knight and the Moth will hit the shelves in 2025.
What are your thoughts regarding the book? Have you already read it? Or will you? Either way, please feel free to drop a few words in the comments. Stay caffeinated and well-read until next time – Your bookish friend Nat