One Dark Window
My magic moves. My magic bites. My magic soothes. My magic frights. You are young, and not so bold. I am unflinching — five hundred years old.
Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder — 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 Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder... 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.
Readers also enjoyed
Rachel Gillig
Rachel Gillig is an author whose writing casts a shadow over the fantasy genre, drawing readers into worlds where magic, danger, and romance intertwine in unexpected ways. Born with an affinity for the darker side of storytelling, Rachel's work often explores the complexities of power, fate, and the human condition, all while enveloping her characters in the rich tapestry of magical realms.
Her debut novel, One Dark Window, captured the imaginations of readers with its haunting atmosphere and deep emotional currents. Set in a world where forbidden magic runs rampant, the book introduced readers to Elspeth Spindle—a young woman bound to a dark spirit—whose journey through a kingdom teetering on the edge of ruin is as much about self-discovery as it is about survival.
The Shepherd King
The Shepherd King consists of two books — considered a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
