One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig opens the Shepherd King series with a mist-locked kingdom, dangerous magic, and a young woman sharing her mind with a monster. This paperback follows Elspeth Spindle into a quest where protection comes at a frightening price.

Elspeth calls the ancient spirit trapped in her head the Nightmare. He protects her and keeps her secrets, but nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When she encounters a mysterious highwayman on a forest road, Elspeth is drawn into a dangerous mission to cure the dark magic infecting her kingdom. The stranger is the king’s own nephew, Captain of the Destriers, and guilty of high treason.

Together, they have until Solstice to gather twelve Providence Cards, the keys to the cure. As the stakes rise and their attraction intensifies, Elspeth must confront her darkest secret: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind, and she may not be able to stop him.

Book details

• Author: Rachel Gillig
• Format: Paperback
• Series: Shepherd King, Book 1
• Genre: Dark fantasy / fantasy romance
• Features dangerous magic, a quest for twelve Providence Cards, and a mysterious spirit called the Nightmare

Reading order

Start the Shepherd King series with One Dark Window, Book 1.