One Dark Window !!top!! -
, the 2022 debut novel by Rachel Gillig, is a atmospheric Gothic fantasy that has become a sensation among BookTok communities. As the first installment of The Shepherd King duology, it blends high-stakes political intrigue with a unique, tarot-inspired magic system and a haunting romantic subplot. The World of Blunder
The most distinctive element of Gillig's world-building is the , a deck of twelve ancient artifacts that grant specific magical powers. One Dark Window
Elspeth, however, has a different kind of protection. She is infected, but she has not turned. Within her mind resides a monstrous entity, a voice that has been her companion and protector since childhood. He is the Nightmare. He is tall, dark, made of mist and muscle, and he is the only thing standing between Elspeth and the insanity that claims others. , the 2022 debut novel by Rachel Gillig,
When Elspeth is caught up in a plot by a mysterious highwayman (the brooding ) to retrieve the final, missing cards from the deck, she is forced to use her forbidden magic to save the kingdom. The goal: assemble the full deck to break the curse and destroy the Mist. The risk: if she loses control, The Nightmare will take over her body permanently. Elspeth, however, has a different kind of protection