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One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, 1)

By Rachel Gillig

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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.

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432 pages

Average rating: 8.12

1,240 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

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cats&characters

Apr 08, 2025

5/10 stars

I've read this book twice. It is lyrical and unique.

Anonymous

Apr 01, 2025

8/10 stars

Be wary ~ be clever ~ be good.

Courtasaurus Rex

Mar 22, 2025

10/10 stars

I've been sleeping on this book because I was nervous about the hype around it. I finally caved and read it and I am so happy I did!! I loved this book so much that I read it in one sitting.

I love the magic system used in this world and it is easily understood and not overly complex to be unique.

I was fond of the way this was written. The word choice, especially for the nightmare, is top-notch.

Zya The Book Dragon

Mar 05, 2025

8/10 stars

Very slow to get going, but the whole book was full of hints and clues that dragged me in. Forced proximity may be a new favorite trope of mine.

SVCB.IA1229

Mar 02, 2025

8/10 stars

It was a very slow starter for me but totally worth it. I loved the dark world that the characters live in. Great slow burn romance. Good balance between spice and story plot. I thought the characters were well thought out. There are several families involved and lots of characters but it was still very easy to follow. The ending is a cliff hanger so I immediately had to pick up the 2nd book. My best read so far this year!!