One Dark Window (The Shepherd King #1), by Rachel Gillig (softback, english edition)

🇬🇧 This Book Is In English

Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
(The Shepherd King, Book 1 of 2)

The gothic, spellbinding million-copy bestseller — for fans of Uprooted and For the Wolf. Over 100,000 five-star ratings worldwide.

An ancient, mercurial spirit is trapped inside Elspeth Spindle's head — she calls him the Nightmare. He protects her. He keeps her secrets. But nothing comes for free, especially magic. When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, she is thrust into a world of shadow and deception. Together, they embark on a dangerous quest to cure the town of Blunder from the dark magic infecting it.

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. A gothic fantasy romance about a maiden who must unleash the monster within to save her kingdom — and reckon with the cost of the power she has always carried.

Why readers can't put it down:

• 🖤 An ancient spirit living inside her mind — and the price of his protection
• 🌫️ Thick fog, shifting alliances, and treacherous magic in a mist-wreathed world
• 🔥 A slow-burn romance between Elspeth and a mysterious highwayman that builds to a fever pitch
• 👻 Gothic fantasy at its most pulse-pounding, darkly whimsical, and unputdownable
• ✨ Over 100,000 ratings — the million-copy bestseller that started it all

Perfect for readers who love:
gothic fantasy · romantasy · slow burn · monster romance · dark magic · Uprooted · For the Wolf · Rachel Gillig · Hannah Whitten · Allison Saft

She needed a monster to survive.

She never asked what the monster needed in return.

🖤 An Ancient Spirit Trapped in Her Mind
🖤 A Town Infected by Dark Magic
🖤 A Mysterious Highwayman on a Dangerous Road
🖤 A Secret That Could Destroy Everything
🖤 A Darkness That Is Slowly Taking Over
🖤 A Monster She May Not Be Able to Stop

At Dark Rose, we believe the most haunting fantasy romances are the ones where the greatest threat isn't the world outside — it's the darkness the heroine carries within herself.

👤 Recommended Age: 16+

⚠️ Content Notes:
Dark magic • Gothic themes • Possession themes • Violence • Slow-burn romance • Morally grey characters • Dark fantasy elements

✨ Best for readers who love:
Gothic Fantasy • Romantasy • Slow Burn • Monster Romance • Dark Magic • Rachel Gillig • Hannah Whitten • Naomi Novik

⚠️ Probably not for readers looking for:
Light fantasy • Fast-paced action • High spice • Contemporary settings

“Thick fog, shifting alliances and clever magic make the perfect backdrop for a sweeping romance — enthralling from beginning to shocking end.” — Hannah Whitten
“Pulse-pounding, darkly whimsical and aglow with treacherous magic — everything I love in fantasy and more.” — Allison Saft
“A beautifully dark fairy tale of blood, rage and bitter choice.” — Davinia Evans

📚 Format & Details

• Format: Softback
• Pages: 432
• Genre: Gothic Fantasy · Romantasy
• Series: The Shepherd King, Book 1 of 2
• Publisher: Orbit
• Published: 29 September 2022