Worse than a mediocre romantasy is a mediocre romantasy with potential. One Dark Window has atmosphere and engaging worldbuilding based on dark fairy tales. It has the idea of an engaging female protagonist in its first chapters. Elspeth is quiet, silently flinching at the monster trapped in her head, but quietly resilient. The card magic system may have flaws but it fits the world itself, and the consequences of using magic is compelling. The opening chapters instantly set it apart from many cookie cutter romantasy by having a clear aesthetic and good writing style that ties everything together. 

Then the poems slowly start to grate on you. Some are compelling, eerie, and the rhyme schemes fit. Others are so bad I laughed at what was supposed to be a dark moment. Then, the love interest is introduced…

Ravyn is in no danger of being Rhysand. He is the more brooding, angsty type who actually asks Elspeth’s permission. However, he, like Elspeth, suddenly gets possessed by the spirit of romantasy. 

He is the captain of the Destriers despite secretly being infected himself, and Elspeth barely mentions how he has literally killed his own (and only a brief mention of him ‘helping a few escape’ after Elspeth does the work for them). The two are forced into a very sad fake dating scenario that suddenly rears its mediocre head randomly and reminds you it exists.

Elspeth banters with him in such a bland way it’s almost embarrassing, and their insta-love is so devoid of chemistry I tried convincing myself she’d have a different love interest. 

Elspeth learning she may become insane

is not as horror-fueled as it could be, because one of her key freak out moments is in the middle of a very bland make out scene. This isn’t even mentioning the bland evil stepmother and stepsisters, and her occasionally remembering to be concerned about her cousin. If there was another, better story set in this world with Elspeth’s arc being changed to the suitably horrifying mental war with the Nightmare that I was expecting, then I would read that book instead. The ending is brilliant and horrifying but not worth the suffering no doubt awaiting me in the second book.