From Goodreads: Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her.
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.
Together they must 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 taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58340706-one-dark-window?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=TNtGoYlW7n&rank=1
One notable aspect that captivated me in this book was the ingenious use of cards which clearly used Tarot cards as inspiration as a conduit for harnessing powers. This concept, entirely novel to me, breathed a refreshing air into the narrative. The story unfolds in a gothic, dark fantasy realm, reminiscent of the atmospheric tones found in The Grimm Brothers movie featuring Heath Ledger. Unlike the typical light and airy fantasies, this narrative delves into darkness, where nightmares loom menacingly over Elspeth. Intriguingly, she grapples with a monstrous entity residing in her mind, akin to Venom. Initially unsure about this element, I found myself drawn into the storyline as I delved deeper, especially appreciating Elspeth's lack of control over it.
The pacing of the novel maintains a seamless flow, with no noticeable lulls in the plot or the conflict. The romance aspect is deftly woven into the narrative, avoiding any forced feeling. Instead, it unfolds authentically and organically, adding depth to the overall storyline. While book one concludes with a compelling cliffhanger, the fortunate availability of book two ensures a continuation of the tale. I wholeheartedly recommend adding this to your "To Be Read" list; it's a captivating journey worth undertaking.
