Review of One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, #1) by Rachel Gillig
When I first caught wind of One Dark Window, the buzz surrounding it was palpable—it felt like every corner of the book community was abuzz with excitement. Rachel Gillig, a fresh voice in fantasy, promised us beautiful writing, unforgettable characters, and a world bursting with intrigue. Naturally, my curiosity piqued; I was ready to dive into this highly anticipated read. But as I turned the pages, I found myself drowning in a different kind of anticipation—one that left me crying, “Why are all y’all out here LYING?!”
Let’s start with the plot, or lack thereof. Following Elspeth, a 20-year-old protagonist who disappoints at almost every turn, I initially hoped to find a heroine I could root for. Instead, I faced a narrative resembling a poorly executed mash-up of frustrating YA tropes: melodrama, angst, and a much-too-helpless heroine. Elspeth is judgmental, self-serving, and melodramatic—think high school freshman throwing tantrums rather than a capable young woman facing dark challenges. Her interactions with Ravyn, the “Captain of the Destriers” (I can’t tell you how many times I wished to rid myself of this title), felt more like a soap opera than an epic fantasy. Gillig’s choice to refer to Ravyn by his title ad nauseam had me rolling my eyes to the back of my head—did Elspeth forget his name the moment someone introduced her?
Now, the upside? The magic system showed sparks of originality, but sadly, it felt underutilized in a world where the important cultural significance of trees is thrown around like a catchphrase with little thought to world-building. Gillig’s fascination with “gray eyes” and “brambles” quickly became painfully overdone, leaving me twitching whenever I encountered them. The writing, awkward and repetitive at times, did little to salvage what could have been an intriguing plot; I often found myself cringing through clunky sentences and juvenile poetry from a 500-year-old monster that was anything but terrifying.
And then—let’s talk about those plot twists. If you’ve read one fantasy novel, you’ve probably seen them all. The twists were painfully obvious, almost prompting me to shout at the book, “Get with the program, Elspeth!” The cliffhanger ending was another frustrating ploy to manipulate eager readers into thirsting for a sequel, though I, for one, had no interest in pursuing this particular adventure any further.
It’s shocking to see how highly rated this book is on Goodreads. While I genuinely believe every reader has their taste, I can’t shake off how much potential was wasted here. What’s left is a curious blend of stale tropes and bland characters that could have easily been discarded for something so much more compelling.
One Dark Window certainly has its audience—if you’re a fan of YA fantasy, especially with the smattering of tropes seen in Sarah J. Maas and Fourth Wing, it might tickle your fancy. But if, like me, you crave depth, unique perspectives, and characters that resonate, you may want to look elsewhere.
In the end, this reading experience was a mixed bag for me—perhaps a cautionary tale of expectations meeting reality. Though I walked away disappointed, I’m eager to uncover those hidden gems that leave a lasting impact. If, like me, you’re looking for something that truly challenges the genre, let’s steer clear of One Dark Window. Trust me, there are far better escapades waiting in the wings.
Curious about my deeper thoughts? Check out my rant-filled vlog reflecting on all the ways this book fell short: PBB Book Club on YouTube.
Happy reading, friends!
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