2.5 stars

I genuinely wanted to love this book, and that almost makes the disappointment worse. I absolutely loved One Dark Window. It was one of my favorite reads of 2024, so my expectations for another gothic fantasy from this author were extremely high. Unfortunately, this book did not feel like it came from the same writer at all. The writing felt juvenile and amateur at times, and the story itself came across as flat, predictable, and boring. The excessive cursing, vulgar language, and open-door spice scenes constantly pulled me out of the story and made it hard to stay immersed. For readers who care about content warnings, it is also worth noting that the main character, Sybil, is bisexual, and there are references to her sleeping with a woman.

Before diving fully into what didn’t work for me, I do want to acknowledge the few things I enjoyed. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a great job bringing atmosphere to the story. Her performance added a moody, eerie tone that fit the gothic setting well. The vibes were very autumnal and spooky, and I can see this appealing to readers who are looking for a fall/autumn or Halloween season read.

I also enjoyed the idea of the quest itself. The journey element helped give the story some momentum, and a few of the side characters added hints of a found family dynamic, which I usually love. The talking gargoyle stone statue was easily the standout character. He was genuinely funny and had more personality than most of the main cast, often stealing the scene whenever he appeared.

Unfortunately, the negatives outweighed the positives by a wide margin. The pacing was painfully slow, and it took nearly a quarter of the book before I felt even mildly invested. The magic system and backstory around the omens were confusing and poorly explained. The portrayal of the Diviners in the opening chapters was especially off-putting. We are initially told they are pious and holy, yet we are immediately shown them cursing, making out, and sleeping with random men. The tonal disconnect was jarring and made the world-building feel inconsistent. It felt less like a sacred order and more like being dropped into a chaotic frat party, which completely undermined the seriousness the story seemed to want us to take these characters with.

Even though I liked the concept of a quest for powerful magical objects, it felt randomly inserted, as if the author needed something exciting for the characters to do rather than allowing the plot to unfold organically. The story often felt like a collection of ideas stitched together instead of a cohesive narrative.

I struggled to care about Sybil as a main character, and that was a huge problem. Most of the characters felt bland and underdeveloped, with little depth, motivation, or distinct personality. I never formed an emotional connection to any of them, which made it hard to stay invested in their journey. They felt one-dimensional and forgettable, more like placeholders than fully realized people.

The romance was another major letdown. I felt zero chemistry between the main couple. The transition from hostility to romance was abrupt and unconvincing, making the enemies-to-lovers trope fall completely flat. It came across more as insta-lust/love than a believable emotional progression, which made the relationship feel forced and frustrating to read.

Overall, this story fell completely flat for me, which is especially disappointing given how much I loved the author’s previous duology. The book ends on a cliffhanger, but at this point, I am genuinely unsure whether I want to continue the series. This was a frustrating read, and I cannot recommend it.