You've just closed One Dark Window, and you're still haunted by the Nightmare; that seductive voice in Elspeth's mind, the foggy moors of Blunder, and the desperate quest to find the Providence Cards before the kingdom falls to the mist. What made Rachel Gillig's novel so captivating wasn't just the romance or the magic system; it was the gothic atmosphere dripping from every page, the moral complexity of characters who can't be neatly categorised as good or evil, the heroine's internal struggle with the darkness she carries, and a magic system rooted in mysterious cards with their own sinister history.
Whether you're obsessed with the dual nature of Elspeth and the Nightmare sharing one body, the brooding tension between Elspeth and Ravyn Yew, the tarot-inspired magic of the Providence Cards, the creeping dread of the mist and infection, or simply that delicious atmosphere of crumbling castles and dangerous secrets, we understand exactly what you're craving. The books below capture different facets of One Dark Window's appeal; some lean heavily into gothic horror romance, others into card magic and fortune-telling systems, and many deliver that same morally grey character work that keeps you reading deep into the night.
Contents:
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
If you loved the morally grey romance and the heroine willing to dance with darkness in One Dark Window, Tricia Levenseller delivers a protagonist who fully embraces her villainous ambitions. Alessandra plans to marry the Shadow King and then murder him, taking his kingdom and his legendary shadow magic for herself. Like Elspeth hiding the Nightmare, Alessandra must conceal her deadly intentions whilst navigating court politics and an inconvenient attraction to her intended victim. The slow-burn romance develops as both characters reveal unexpected depths; he's not the monster everyone believes, and she discovers her ambitions might be more complicated than simple power. Levenseller creates delicious tension through forced proximity as Alessandra must stay close to the king to execute her plan, all whilst someone else is trying to assassinate him first. The shadow magic and dark court atmosphere echo One Dark Window's gothic sensibilities, and the morally complex characters who blur the line between hero and villain will feel wonderfully familiar. The banter crackles with the same charged energy as Elspeth and the Nightmare's internal conversations, and the romance builds with that satisfying slowness that makes the payoff worthwhile.
Why you'll love it:
Morally grey heroine with villainous goals
Shadow magic and dark court intrigue
Slow-burn romance with a brooding king
Protagonist hiding dangerous secrets
Gothic atmosphere with political scheming
Standalone novel with satisfying conclusion
Content note: moderate spice level
Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft
For readers who loved One Dark Window's atmosphere of creeping dread, mysterious manor houses, and a romance that develops whilst danger lurks in every shadow, Allison Saft's gothic fantasy delivers all of this wrapped in a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Wren Southerland is a healer sent to a crumbling estate to treat a notorious enemy soldier, where she discovers dark magic, political conspiracies, and a growing attraction to the dangerous man she's meant to cure. Like Elspeth navigating her relationship with the Nightmare whilst pursuing the Providence Cards, Wren must balance her healing mission with uncovering the sinister secrets hidden within the estate's walls. Saft excels at creating claustrophobic tension; the isolated manor, the winter storms trapping everyone inside, and the sense that something is fundamentally wrong create that same uneasy atmosphere that permeates Blunder's mist-shrouded forests. The magic system involves healing with a cost, echoing One Dark Window's theme of magic requiring sacrifice. The enemies-to-lovers romance develops slowly as Wren discovers her patient is more than the monster she expected, and the gothic horror elements escalate beautifully towards a climax that will keep you frantically turning pages.
Why you'll love it:
Gothic manor house with dark secrets
Healing magic with dangerous costs
Enemies-to-lovers slow-burn romance
Atmospheric tension and creeping dread
Political intrigue and hidden conspiracies
Beauty and the Beast retelling elements
Standalone novel
Content note: some violence and injury descriptions
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
If the fairy tale atmosphere, forest magic, and heroine who must embrace darkness rather than fear it captivated you in One Dark Window, Hannah Whitten's gothic fantasy reimagines Little Red Riding Hood with a heroine sacrificed to the Wolf and a forest filled with ancient, hungry magic. Red is the Second Daughter, destined to be given to the Wolf in the Wilderwood, and when she finally meets him, she discovers he's not a monster but a man desperately holding back the dark magic threatening to consume the world. Like Elspeth's relationship with the Nightmare, Red must learn to work with dangerous forces rather than simply resist them, and the romance develops as she and the Wolf become partners in keeping ancient horrors at bay. Whitten creates a lush, atmospheric world where the forest itself is a character; sentient, dangerous, and beautiful in its menace. The magic system involves blood, sacrifice, and the thin line between salvation and destruction, perfectly capturing that sense of power that comes with a terrible price. Red's journey from sacrifice to saviour, her growing mastery of magic she doesn't fully understand, and the found family she builds in the Wilderwood all echo the themes that made One Dark Window so compelling.
Why you'll love it:
Gothic fairy tale retelling with dark forests
Heroine who must embrace dangerous magic
Slow-burn romance with a cursed hero
Atmospheric worldbuilding with sentient forests
Magic involving blood and sacrifice
Found family amongst outcasts
Series (two books, complete)
Content note: moderate spice level, some body horror
The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller
For readers fascinated by One Dark Window's exploration of multiple selves and shared consciousness, Sara A. Mueller's gothic murder mystery features a protagonist who creates sentient bone ghosts; magical duplicates of herself, each embodying different aspects of her fragmented personality. Charm runs the Bone Orchard, where she creates companions for the wealthy, but when the Emperor is murdered, she must use her ghosts to unravel a conspiracy whilst hiding the dangerous secrets locked away in her own missing memories. Like Elspeth and the Nightmare sharing one mind, Charm's relationship with her bone ghosts explores identity, autonomy, and what it means when you can't trust your own thoughts. Mueller crafts an intricate murder mystery layered with palace intrigue, forbidden magic, and a romance that develops slowly as Charm pieces together her forgotten past. The gothic atmosphere; decadent and decaying, beautiful and terrible; rivals One Dark Window's misty moors, and the magic system rooted in bones and blood carries that same sense of power extracted at great personal cost. The psychological complexity of a protagonist who is simultaneously one person and many will appeal to anyone who loved Elspeth's internal dialogue with the Nightmare.
Why you'll love it:
Protagonist with multiple selves/personalities
Gothic murder mystery with palace intrigue
Bone magic and memory manipulation
Complex psychological exploration of identity
Slow-burn romance woven through conspiracy
Lush, decadent worldbuilding
Standalone novel
Content note: some violence and dark themes
The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen
If you loved One Dark Window's themes of infection, outcasts, and magic tied to death, Margaret Owen's dark fantasy follows Fie, a member of the Crow caste who collects plague-dead bodies and temporarily steals the magic of the deceased. When she's hired to smuggle a royal prince to safety, Fie must navigate a kingdom that despises her kind whilst wielding stolen magic that could save or damn them all. Like Elspeth hiding the Nightmare, Fie must conceal the true extent of her abilities in a world that would kill her for them, and Owen doesn't shy away from showing the brutal reality of being society's untouchable class. The magic system tied to teeth collected from the dead, each granting temporary borrowed power; has that same dark, visceral quality as the Providence Cards. The slow-burn romance develops between Fie and the prince she's protecting, built on mutual respect that grows as he witnesses her strength and cunning. Owen creates a caste-based society with its own mythology and conflicts, exploring themes of plague, prejudice, and power with the same unflinching approach Gillig uses for Blunder's mist and infection.
Why you'll love it:
Death magic and plague themes
Outcast protagonist hiding her true power
Slow-burn romance across class divides
Brutal, unflinching worldbuilding
Found family forged through survival
Complex caste system and political intrigue
Series (two books, complete)
Content note: violence, plague descriptions, class discrimination
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
For readers who loved One Dark Window's atmospheric setting, monster-hunting elements, and enemies-to-lovers romance complicated by family loyalty, Chloe Gong's 1920s Shanghai retelling of Romeo and Juliet features rival gang heirs who must work together to stop a madness-inducing monster spreading through the city. Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov were once lovers before betrayal tore them apart, and now they're forced into an uneasy alliance as a mysterious illness makes people claw their own throats out. Like Elspeth and Ravyn's tentative partnership whilst collecting the Providence Cards, Juliette and Roma must navigate their history and conflicting loyalties whilst hunting something that threatens everyone. Gong creates a lush, atmospheric 1920s Shanghai where gang politics mirror the blood feuds of Verona, and the monster-hunting sequences have that same creeping dread as Blunder's mist-infected victims. The magic is subtle, the monster's ability to drive people mad echoes the Nightmare's influence; and the romance burns with all the intensity of former lovers forced to trust each other again. The historical setting provides a fresh backdrop for familiar gothic themes of family secrets, forbidden love, and monsters both human and supernatural.
Why you'll love it:
Historical fantasy with gothic atmosphere
Monster-hunting and mysterious infection
Enemies-to-lovers with shared history
Gang politics and family loyalty conflicts
1920s Shanghai setting with lush detail
Dual POV showing both sides of the conflict
Series (duology, complete)
Content note: violence, body horror, some spice
The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
If you were drawn to One Dark Window's exploration of a woman loving darkness itself and the moral complexity of characters who don't fit neatly into hero or villain categories, Genevieve Gornichec's Norse mythology retelling centres Angrboda; the witch who loved Loki and mothered monsters. Cast out by Odin and left to die, Angrboda finds Loki on her doorstep with her stolen heart in his hands, beginning a romance that will birth the creatures destined to bring about Ragnarök. Like Elspeth's relationship with the Nightmare, Angrboda must navigate loving someone (and parts of herself) that the world calls monstrous, and Gornichec explores the devastating consequences of trying to change fate whilst knowing how the story ends. The witch's isolated existence in the Ironwood mirrors Elspeth's isolation with her secret, and the magic woven throughout; prophecy, transformation, and the thin line between protection and destruction; carries that same sense of power that demands sacrifice. The romance is tender despite its doom, showing how love persists even when darkness is inevitable, and the found family Angrboda builds with her strange children echoes the loyalty and acceptance Elspeth finds with her companions.
Why you'll love it:
Romance with morally complex, "monstrous" characters
Protagonist isolated by her dangerous nature
Norse mythology retelling from witch's perspective
Exploration of fate, prophecy, and inevitable doom
Magic involving sacrifice and transformation
Found family with unconventional members
Standalone novel
Content note: some violence, themes of loss and grief
Conclusion
These seven books capture different elements of what makes One Dark Window so hauntingly memorable; whether it's the gothic atmosphere of creeping dread, the complex relationship between heroine and darkness, the morally grey characters who defy simple categorisation, or magic systems that demand blood and sacrifice. From Tricia Levenseller's shadow-wielding villain romance to Hannah Whitten's sentient forests, from Sara Mueller's bone ghost mysteries to Genevieve Gornichec's Norse witch loving monsters, you'll find stories that deliver that same intoxicating blend of darkness, romance, and characters who must embrace what frightens them. Each offers its own unique atmosphere whilst understanding exactly why you couldn't put One Dark Window down. Your next gothic obsession is waiting in this list; the only question is which darkness will seduce you first.
Books Featured in This Article
The Shadows Between Us
by Tricia Levenseller
Tricia Levenseller, author of Daughter of the Pirate King, is back with an epic YA tale of ambition and love in The Shadows Between Us...“They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.”Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power: 1) Woo the Shadow King.2) Marry him.3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?“Tricia Levenseller’s latest, The Shadows Between Us, is a decadent and wickedly addictive fantasy, full of schemes and court intrigue, and delightful descriptions of food, which I am always a fan of.” —Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns seriesAnd don't miss the companion novel, The Darkness Within Us—an instant #1 New York Times-bestseller!
Down Comes the Night
by Allison Saft
"A YA fantasy classic in the making." - Christine Lynn Herman, author of The Devouring Gray"Fans of Leigh Bardugo’s “Grisha Trilogy” and Marie Rutkoski’s “Winner’s Trilogy” have been waiting for this Darkling-esque romance..." - School Library Journal (Starred Review)New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft’s Down Comes the Night is a snow-drenched romantic fantasy that keeps you racing through the pages long into the night.He saw the darkness in her magic. She saw the magic in his darkness. Wren Southerland’s reckless use of magic has cost her everything: she's been dismissed from the Queen’s Guard and separated from her best friend—the girl she loves. So when a letter arrives from a reclusive lord, asking Wren to come to his estate, Colwick Hall, to cure his servant from a mysterious illness, she seizes her chance to redeem herself. The mansion is crumbling, icy winds haunt the caved-in halls, and her eccentric host forbids her from leaving her room after dark. Worse, Wren’s patient isn’t a servant at all but Hal Cavendish, the infamous Reaper of Vesria and her kingdom’s sworn enemy. Hal also came to Colwick Hall for redemption, but the secrets in the estate may lead to both of their deaths. With sinister forces at work, Wren and Hal realize they’ll have to join together if they have any hope of saving their kingdoms. But as Wren circles closer to the nefarious truth behind Hal’s illness, they realize they have no escape from the monsters within the mansion. All they have is each other, and a startling desire that could be their downfall. Love makes monsters of us all
For the Wolf
by Hannah Whitten
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND TIKTOK SENSATION! The first daughter is for the Throne. The second daughter is for the Wolf. An instant NYT bestseller and word-of-mouth sensation, this dark, romantic debut fantasy weaves the unforgettable tale of a young woman who must be sacrificed to the legendary Wolf of the Wood to save her kingdom. But not all legends are true, and the Wolf isn't the only danger lurking in the Wilderwood. As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose--to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he'll return the world's captured gods. Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can't control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can't hurt those she loves. Again. But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn't learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood--and her world--whole. "If you ever wished Beauty and the Beast had more eldritch forest monsters and political machinations, this is the romance for you."―Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January "A brilliant dark fantasy debut!" --Jodi Picoult, NYT bestselling author
The Bone Orchard
by Sara A. Mueller
Sara A. Mueller's The Bone Orchard is a fascinating whodunit set in a lush, gothic world of secrets and magic—where a dying emperor charges his favorite concubine with solving his own murder, and preventing the culprit, which undoubtedly is one of his three terrible sons, from taking control of an empire."Mueller creates an intricate and richly characterized world in her gothic fantasy debut." — Buzzfeed"A masterfully woven plot with refreshing narrators."—Publishers WeeklyBOOKPAGE'S MOST ANTICIPATED SFF OF 2022TOR.COM'S MOST ANTICIPATED SFF OF 2022 CRIMERAD'S MOST ANTICIPATED CRIME FICTION OF 2022 GEEKLY INC'S MOST ANTICIPATED OF 2022 Charm is a witch, and she is alone. The last of a line of conquered necromantic workers, now confined within the yard of regrown bone trees at Orchard House, and the secrets of their marrow.Charm is a prisoner, and a survivor. Charm tends the trees and their clattering fruit for the sake of her children, painstakingly grown and regrown with its fruit: Shame, Justice, Desire, Pride, and Pain. Charm is a whore, and a madam. The wealthy and powerful of Borenguard come to her house to buy time with the girls who aren't real.Except on Tuesdays, which is when the Emperor himself lays claim to his mistress, Charm herself.But now—Charm is also the only person who can keep an empire together, as the Emperor summons her to his deathbed, and charges her with choosing which of his awful, faithless sons will carry on the empire—by discovering which one is responsible for his own murder.If she does this last thing, she will finally have what has been denied her since the fall of Inshil—her freedom. But she will also be betraying the ghosts past and present that live on within her heart.Charm must choose. Her dead Emperor’s will or the whispers of her own ghosts. Justice for the empire or her own revenge.
The Merciful Crow
by Margaret Owen
"[A] ferocious, exhilarating narrative!" - The New York Times Book ReviewA Tor.com Best of 2019 Pick A 2020 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults PickDebut author Margaret Owen crafts a powerful saga of vengeance, survival, and sacrifice—perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kendare Blake—in The Merciful Crow. "Packed to the teeth with fresh worldbuilding and righteous fury...It's a ride that is wildly fun."—Emily A. Duncan, New York Times-bestselling author of Wicked Saints"Rich, harrowing, and unafraid to tackle discrimination—perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Tomi Adeyemi."—Kirkus, Starred Review One way or another, we always feed the crows. A future chieftain Fie abides by one rule: look after your own. Her Crow caste of undertakers and mercy-killers takes more abuse than coin, but when they’re called to collect royal dead, she’s hoping they’ll find the payout of a lifetime.A fugitive prince When Crown Prince Jasimir turns out to have faked his death, Fie’s ready to cut her losses—and perhaps his throat. But he offers a wager that she can’t refuse: protect him from a ruthless queen, and he’ll protect the Crows when he reigns. A too-cunning bodyguard Hawk warrior Tavin has always put Jas’s life before his, magically assuming the prince’s appearance and shadowing his every step. But what happens when Tavin begins to want something to call his own?
These Violent Delights
by Chloe Gong
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! 'Deliciously dark' NATASHA NGAN 'Heady, smart and vicious' TESSA GRATTON This heart-pounding fantasy romance retelling of Romeo and Juliet is set in jazz-age Shanghai and filled with intrigue, danger and betrayal. The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery. A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city in chaos. Juliette Cai is the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang - a network of criminals far above the law. Roma Montagov is the prodigal son of her greatest rivals, the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. He is also Juliette's first love . . . and first betrayal. When a deadly madness strikes gangsters on both sides, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, and a monster in the shadows. And as the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns - and grudges - aside and work together. For if they can't stop this mayhem, there will be no city left to rule. READERS LOVE CHLOE GONG 'This was INCREDIBLE are you kidding me!! It's a friends to lovers to enemies to reluctant allies Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai and I loved it' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This is a stunning and richly-imagined fantasy with lots of bloody action, revenge, betrayal and so much more that there is never a dull moment' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A fusion of thrill, passion and devastation! I absolutely loved this tale and still in-awe of the fact that this is a debut novel! From the very beginning, the story felt grippingly intense and exciting' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I am not at all sure how I am going to patiently wait for the sequel of this book after THAT ending! A phenomenal read!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'WHAT A BOOK!! I am absolutely left wanting MORE, MORE, MORE!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Witch's Heart
by Genevieve Gornichec
When a banished witch falls in love with the legendary trickster Loki, she risks the wrath of the gods in this moving, subversive national bestselling debut novel that reimagines Norse mythology. Angrboda’s story begins where most witches' tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to provide him with knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki, and her initial distrust of him transforms into a deep and abiding love. Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who Angrboda is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin’s all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life—and possibly all of existence—is in danger. With help from the fierce huntress Skadi, with whom she shares a growing bond, Angrboda must choose whether she’ll accept the fate that she’s foreseen for her beloved family...or rise to remake their future. From the most ancient of tales this novel forges a story of love, loss, and hope for the modern age.