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One Dark Window

By Rachel Gillig
Series: The Shepherd King
0.0 (0 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
One Dark Window is a dark, lushly gothic fantasy following Elspeth Spindle, a maiden who shares her mind with a mercurial spirit called the Nightmare. Living in a mist-covered kingdom, Elspeth must embrace this monster within to save her land from a spreading dark magic. When she meets Ravyn, a mysterious highwayman and the King's traitorous nephew, they embark on a perilous quest to find twelve Providence Cards before the Solstice. As the stakes rise and their romance deepens, Elspeth grapples with the growing influence of the Nightmare on her mind in this spellbinding tale of shadow, deception, and magic.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$5200

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for adult and young adult readers who enjoy dark fantasy with gothic atmosphere, complex magic systems, and slow-burn romance. Fans of Uprooted, For the Wolf, and authors like Sarah J. Maas, Naomi Novik, and Robin McKinley will find much to appreciate here.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

THE FANTASY BOOKTOK SENSATION!

For fans of Uprooted and For the Wolf comes a dark, lushly gothic fantasy about a maiden who must unleash the monster within to save her kingdom—but the monster in her head isn't the only threat lurking.

Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her.

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom she calls home—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it. Except the highwayman just so happens to be the King's own nephew, Captain of the Destriers... and guilty of high treason.

He and Elspeth have until Solstice to gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly, darkly, taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.

Series: The Shepherd King

View all
  • One Dark Window
    In One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, readers are introduced to Elspeth Spindle, a young maiden living in the mystical town of Blunder, a place plagued by dark magic and pervasive shadows. Trapped within her mind is a cunning and ancient spirit known as the Nightmare. This enigmatic being offers her protection and keeps her secrets—but at a cost. When...
    By Rachel Gillig
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (4)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Two Twisted Crowns
    ‘Enthralling from beginning to shocking end’ Hannah Whitten, bestselling author of For the Wolf. THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER In the luscious, dark conclusion to the series that began with One Dark Window, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought — perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and A Court of...
    By Rachel Gillig
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • One Dark Window
    A special edition hardback of the million-copy bestselling TikTok sensation One Dark Window — the dark, lushly gothic fantasy about a maiden who must unleash the monster within to save her kingdom. One Dark Window is enthralling from beginning to shocking end — Hannah Whitten, bestselling author of For the Wolf ELSPETH NEEDS A MONSTER. THE MONSTER MIGHT BE HER....
    By Rachel Gillig
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Two Twisted Crowns
    A special edition hardback of the final book in the million-copy bestselling Shepherd King duology, which began with One Dark Window. In this lushly gothic, mist-cloaked romantasy, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought. THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last, and...
    By Rachel Gillig
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • One Dark Window
    One Dark Window
    THE FANTASY BOOKTOK SENSATION! For fans of Uprooted and For the Wolf comes a dark, lushly gothic fantasy about a maiden who must unleash the monster within to save her kingdom—but the monster in her head isn't the only threat lurking. Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her. Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in...
    By Rachel Gillig
    Paperback
    $5200
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Two Twisted Crowns
    Two Twisted Crowns
    In the New York Times bestselling sequel to One Dark Window, Elspeth must confront the weight of her actions as she and Ravyn embark on a perilous quest to save the kingdom—perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and Alexis Henderson's The Year of the Witching. Gripped by a tyrant king and in the thrall of dark magic,...
    By Rachel Gillig
    Paperback
    $5100
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • One Dark Window (Deluxe Limited Hardcover Edition)
    One Dark Window (Deluxe Limited Hardcover Edition)
    LIMITED PRINT RUN―featuring stencilled edges as well as a bold new cover and other beautiful features. This breathtaking deluxe hardcover edition of Rachel Gillig's sensational gothic romantasy debut is available for a limited time and while supplies last. THE FANTASY BOOKTOK SENSATION! A dark, lushly gothic fantasy, One Dark Window follows a maiden who must unleash the monster within to...
    By Rachel Gillig
    Hardback
    $7400
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Two Twisted Crowns (Deluxe Limited Hardcover Edition)
    Two Twisted Crowns (Deluxe Limited Hardcover Edition)
    LIMITED PRINT RUN—featuring sprayed edges, a bold new cover, and other beautiful features. This breathtaking deluxe hardcover edition of Rachel Gillig's sensational gothic romantasy debut is available for a limited time and while supplies last. In the New York Times bestselling sequel to One Dark Window, Elspeth must confront the weight of her actions as she and Ravyn embark on...
    By Rachel Gillig
    Hardback
    $7400
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Publishers Weekly praises the steamy romance and recommends it for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Naomi Novik. Hannah Whitten calls the book enthralling with its thick fog, shifting alliances, and clever magic. Library Journal highlights the finely detailed magical system and slow-burn romance, while Chicago Review of Books compares Rachel Gillig’s lush language to Alix E. Harrow and Robin McKinley, noting the richly detailed and decadent worldbuilding. Booklist concludes readers will be enthralled by Elspeth's riveting adventure.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780316312486

Publisher: Orbit

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 September 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Orbit

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 29.0mm

Width: 141.0mm

Height: 209.0mm

Weight: 381g

Pages: 432

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fantasy Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Rachel Gillig Sci-Fi & Fantasy Series: The Shepherd King

About the Author

Rachel Gillig was born and raised on the California coast. She is a writer, with a BA in literary theory and criticism from UC Davis. If she is not ensconced in blankets dreaming up her next novel, Rachel is in her garden or walking with her husband, son, and their poodle, Wally.

Also by Rachel Gillig

View all
  • One Dark Window
    In One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, readers are introduced to Elspeth Spindle, a young maiden living in the mystical town of Blunder, a place plagued by dark magic and pervasive shadows. Trapped within her mind is a cunning and ancient spirit known as the Nightmare. This enigmatic being offers her protection and keeps her secrets—but at a cost. When...
    By Rachel Gillig
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (4)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Two Twisted Crowns
    ‘Enthralling from beginning to shocking end’ Hannah Whitten, bestselling author of For the Wolf. THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER In the luscious, dark conclusion to the series that began with One Dark Window, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought — perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and A Court of...
    By Rachel Gillig
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Knight and the Moth
    'Dreamy prose, characters so vibrant they breathe on the page, a romance that smoulders, and a spellbinding world to get lost in. Prepare to meet your next obsession' Rebecca Ross, author of Divine Rivals From the New York Times million-copy bestselling author Rachel Gillig comes the next big romantasy phenomenon: a gothic, mist-cloaked tale of a prophetess who is forced...
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    $3000
    Elsewhere:
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    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • One Dark Window
    A special edition hardback of the million-copy bestselling TikTok sensation One Dark Window — the dark, lushly gothic fantasy about a maiden who must unleash the monster within to save her kingdom. One Dark Window is enthralling from beginning to shocking end — Hannah Whitten, bestselling author of For the Wolf ELSPETH NEEDS A MONSTER. THE MONSTER MIGHT BE HER....
    By Rachel Gillig
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Two Twisted Crowns
    A special edition hardback of the final book in the million-copy bestselling Shepherd King duology, which began with One Dark Window. In this lushly gothic, mist-cloaked romantasy, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought. THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last, and...
    By Rachel Gillig
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Pre-order
    The Knave and the Moon
    Rachel Gillig, the queen of gothic romantasy, returns with higher stakes, darker mysteries and deeper longings in this gorgeous sequel to the No. 1 international bestselling sensation The Knight and the Moth. Aisling Cathedral is in ruins. Rodrick Myndacious, Bartholomew, and Maude Bauer are rumoured to be dead - and the king has taken Sybil Delling as his bride. To...
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    The Knight and the Moth
    ‘Dreamy prose, characters so vibrant they breathe on the page, a romance that smoulders, and a spellbinding world to get lost in. Prepare to meet your next obsession’ Rebecca Ross, author of Divine Rivals THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER! From New York Times and multi-million-copy bestselling author Rachel Gillig comes the next big romantasy phenomenon: a gothic, mist-cloaked tale of...
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  • Shepherd King Duology Box Set
    A paperback box set of the multi-million-copy bestselling Shepherd King duology - the dark, lushly gothic fantasy about a maiden who must unleash the monster within to save her kingdom.'One Dark Window is enthralling from beginning to shocking end' Hannah Whitten, bestselling author of For the WolfELSPETH NEEDS A MONSTER. THE MONSTER MIGHT BE HER. An ancient, mercurial spirit is...
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  • The Knight and the Moth
    INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Gillig comes a sensational romantasy, a gothic, mist-cloaked tale of a young prophetess forced on an impossible quest with the one knight whose future is beyond her sight. "Prepare to meet your next obsession." -- Rebecca Ross, author of Divine Rivals Sybil Delling has spent nine years...
    By Rachel Gillig
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  • Two Twisted Crowns
    Two Twisted Crowns
    In the New York Times bestselling sequel to One Dark Window, Elspeth must confront the weight of her actions as she and Ravyn embark on a perilous quest to save the kingdom—perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and Alexis Henderson's The Year of the Witching. Gripped by a tyrant king and in the thrall of dark magic,...
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    $5100
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    Pre-order
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    Rachel Gillig, the queen of gothic romantasy, returns with higher stakes, darker mysteries and deeper longings in this gorgeous sequel to the No. 1 international bestselling sensation The Knight and the Moth. Aisling Cathedral is in ruins. Rodrick Myndacious, Bartholomew and Maude Bauer are rumoured to be dead - and the king has taken Sybil Delling as his bride. To...
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  • The Knight and the Moth Talking Gargoyle Figurine
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    "Fear not, Bartholomew!" Keep the most delightful creature from Rachel Gillig's beloved gothic fantasy series, The Stonewater Kingdom, on your bookshelf or bedside as your personal squire with this 3" tall, officially licensed talking figurine. Deluxe collectible: A finely detailed, 3-inch figurine of the peculiar gargoyle, who spoke mostly in broken parables, from The Stonewater Kingdom duology. Speaks 10 lines...
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