One Dark Window
In the kingdom of Blunder, magic seeps from twelve mysterious Providence Cards — and from an infection of the mind that can twist those who carry too much of it. Elspeth Spindle learned to hide her own affliction years ago: a second voice in her head, an ancient, cunning spirit she calls the Nightmare, who lends her power in exchange for a slowly tightening hold on her mind.
When a chance meeting with a highwayman drags Elspeth into a secret circle risking everything to collect the Cards and lift the curse blighting their kingdom, she is pulled into a world of court intrigue, dangerous magic, and a slow-burning romance she never expected. But the more she leans on the Nightmare's strength, the harder it becomes to tell where she ends and the monster begins.
Gothic, lush, and laced with menace, One Dark Window is the spellbinding first book in Rachel Gillig's Shepherd King duology — a dark fantasy of monsters, bargains, and the cost of borrowed power.
A young woman hiding a forbidden magical affliction and the voice of an ancient spirit in her mind.
An ancient, cunning spirit bound to Elspeth's mind who lends her power at a cost.
Captain of the King's Destriers, drawn into a secret circle collecting the Providence Cards.
The story concludes with a significant unresolved plot point, directly leading into the next book in the series. Readers should be prepared for an ending that leaves major questions unanswered.