One Dark Window is the first installment of the Shepherd King duology written by Rachel Gillig. A dark fantasy novel with gothic undertones, the story centers on Elspeth Spindle, a young woman attempting to survive the dangerous, magical, and monarchical world while trying to hide her own secret from the prying eyes of the Rowan King. Published in 2022 by Orbit Books, One Dark Window is Gillig’s first novel, while its sequel, Two Twisted Crowns, was published in 2023. The novel is also a popular BookTok read. Gillig is a graduate of and professor of Literary Theory and Criticism at UC Davis, giving her the appropriate tools to tell complex stories about abuse of power and bias.

This study guide refers to the Orbit e-book edition published in 2022.

Content Warning: One Dark Window depicts physical violence and murder and implies domestic abuse.

Plot Summary

One Dark Window takes place in a world where the god-like Spirit of the Wood’s infectious mist and magic have been shunned, and the only legal magic are 78 Providence Cards (with 12 variants)—left behind by their deceased creator, the Shepherd King, who was once favored by the Spirit. Twenty-year-old Elspeth Spindle lies in wait for signs that someone reported her secret to the authorities. Elspeth is the eldest daughter of Spindle House, infected by the Spirit’s magic and host to a dark creature in her mind—a spirit sealed in the Nightmare Card who lends power in times of need. For years, she has kept her infection and the Nightmare a secret, lest she be killed for illegal magic. Elspeth is estranged from her paternal family (the Spindles) and kept safe at her aunt Opal and uncle Tyrn’s estate (the Hawthorns). However, she is attacked by two highwaymen at night.

Elspeth finds herself dragged back to Blunder high society, where the current Rowan King’s Physicians and 13 Destriers (elite soldiers) prowl for infected. The Rowan King is desperate to complete a Deck of 12 Cards and follow the Shepherd King’s instructions to lift the mist. When Elspeth is cornered by the Rowan King’s nephew—a young boy named Emory Yew, who is also infected and sees the Nightmare—she prepares for the worst. However, she is helped by the handsome Captain of the Destriers and Emory’s older brother, Ravyn Yew.

With her ability to see Providence Cards, Elspeth is exactly the person Ravyn has been looking for. Though she distrusts him, she allows Ravyn to explain his and Second Prince Renelm’s (Elm’s) mission to complete a Deck before the Rowan King—to save infected and especially Emory, whom the Rowan King intends to sacrifice in a ritual. Hoping to be cured of her infection, Elspeth joins Ravyn and moves to his home at the Yew estate under the false pretense of a courtship; however, they develop genuine feelings for each other. Elspeth’s first mission is to help Ravyn’s team steal the Iron Gate Card from an unsuspecting noble. They disguise themselves as highwaymen, but as they attempt to steal the Card, their heist goes awry: High Prince Hauth, Elspeth’s father Erik, and other Destriers are part of the noble’s escort. When Hauth wounds Elspeth, she has no choice but to rely on the Nightmare. She maims Hauth and manages to flee with Ravyn‘s team, but Hauth is suspicious of her identity.

Later, Hauth believes Elspeth is connected to the heist because of her injury. On Market Day, he tries to execute the parents of an infected child by having them walk into the mist. Unable to stand by, Elspeth attempts to save the child and his parents. While she is successful, she is cornered by the Destrier Linden. The Nightmare takes partial control of Elspeth and maims Linden, to her horror.

She begins having nightmares of an armored old man in the Yew ruins, which the Nightmare says were originally built for the Spirit. When she wakes, the Nightmare reveals he is the sacrificed soul of the Shepherd King. He warns Elspeth that he will eventually take over her body and mind should she continue to use his power. Still, she decides to participate in the next mission—which targets her father and his Well Card. She and Ravyn’s team take advantage of her half-sisters’ nameday to search the estate. However, Hauth forces them into a truth-telling game by drugging their drinks with the Chalice Card’s truth serum. Ravyn tries to help Elspeth evade the truth through Card magic, and discovers the Nightmare in her mind. She becomes violently ill from resisting the truth serum.

When Elspeth wakes, she lets Ravyn become properly acquainted with the Shepherd King’s soul. Ravyn and Elm leave her to execute a perimeter check ordered by the Rowan King. Her uncle arrives and brings her to the upper level of the house, where she finds Hauth and Orithe Willow, head of the Physicians, waiting to interrogate her. They beat Elspeth, and though she knows she will fade, she asks the Nightmare for help so she alone will take the blame for the last mission. The Nightmare promises to look after the Yews when she is gone. He takes possession of her body, kills Orithe, and maims Hauth before being taken away to the Rowan King’s dungeon. When confronted by the Rowan King, Ravyn, and Elm, the Nightmare offers to find the final Card—the Twin Alders—if the Rowan King allows him and Emory to live.