Two Twisted Crowns was not what I expected, but in the best possible way!!! I love a story where you are constantly trying to make predictions and still end up surprised by how things turn out. This duet had joined my list of forever book recs.

I love Elspeth and Ravyn so much in both books. Also, I couldn’t believe that we got not one, but two romances in the Shephard King duet 😍 Ione and Elm were two supporting characters that I absolutely adored from book one. Seeing their characters develop further in book two was chef’s kiss.

Thank you so much to Rachel Gillig and NetGalley for this ebook!!! Of course I also had to purchase the physical book as well— it’s stunning and has joined my fantasy favorites bookshelf!!

great book! i do feel like it had unanswered questions since this is the end of the biology, but the plot twists & vibes were great.

I love this duology so much. I had to take some time to actually get myself together for this review. There are so many great elements that came together in this book. It perfectly continued the gothic fantasy atmosphere that was laid out in the first book. The stakes were high going into this second installment. We were introduced to two additional POV's other than Raven, for a total of four. At first, I'll admit, I didn't want any part of it. I implore you to keep reading though, because I fell in love with Elm and Ione. Rachel wrote so much depth into not only their characters, but the nightmare through Elspeth's POV. There was this very real element that you don't know how everyone is just silently suffering through life. It was heartbreaking but made every step that much more enticing to read.

The only thing I wish is that that was a bit more on Raven and Elpeth's reunion and epilogue. I loved those characters, and I wanted something a little bit more satisfying for them at the end.

We are all Elm stans, right?

Fantastic way to follow up One Dark Window. Throughly enjoyed where the story went and that we focused on Elm & Ione a lot through this book.

I did find the first roughly 25% to be a little slow, almost boring. Additionally, the ending is a little too perfect for me but otherwise really enjoyed it.

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig is the second and final book in the Shepard King Duology. It is a YA dark fantasy romance novel. This book took a turn that I did not expect but makes sense based on the way book one ended. This story follows two romance subplots and this book focuses on Elm's story. I loved hearing more about Elm because he was my favorite character in the first book! I also liked that we got a lot of answers regarding the unique magic system. Overall I loved this duology and I would recommend it if you're interested in a dark YA fantasy romance duology!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review!

What a hauntingly beautiful conclusion for The Shepherd King duology. As we left the first book, I wondered how the sequel could possibly live up to its predecessor. I quickly found out and fell in love with the characters all over again. Finally getting Ravyn's perspective along with Elspeth's was a delight. Elm also gets a perspective and seamlessly weaves into the main plotline with the Providence cards. Elm has a great character arc and his relationship with Ione quickly became one of my favorites. While Elspeth is not necessarily a main perspective in this story, her relationship with the Nightmare became more fleshed out and ultimately the star in my eyes. We get to understand the Nightmare and his motives more and see how Blunder was shaped. The father/daughter relationship with Elspeth was so bittersweet and tender that I teared up in certain parts. Words cannot describe how beautifully written this story was. I delivered everything I hoped- and more!

I loved this even more than Dark Window and solidified Rachel as one of my favorite authors. Her writing is just so beautifully descriptive. She executed this sequel in such a perfect way and I absolutely adored the new romance between the secondary characters. This story will stick with me and I will absolutely read anything that Rachel releases next.

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, wow, wow, wow! What else is there to say?!
This was the PERFECT sequel and made this duology end in an amazing way.
It has 3 POVS in the book and under normal circumstances, I think that can be a bit ambitious and hard to pull off. But Rachel Gillig did it SO well.
The characters are memorable, I cared for the side characters and was so excited to see them so prominently in this book,
This sequel couldn't have been done any better.

5✰ // a well-written, satisfying conclusion to the series. though it did take me a moment to get back into the flow of the story, i ended up enjoying this sequel very thoroughly and i couldn’t be any more satisfied with the series as a whole. i would strongly recommend Gillig’s, Two Twisted Crowns to any and all fans of the series or just anyone that enjoyed One Dark Window.

thank you so much to Orbit and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Two Twisted Crowns was a perfect ending to the duology. The surprise romance, the history, the magic - it was all superb. A million stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Orbit books for this digital early copy of Two Twisted Crowns.

This was such a good ending to an amazing story. I really enjoyed getting know Elm and watching his relationship blossom with Ione even under the circumstances. The magic system here was so unique and interesting. I’m not real good with reviews so I will leave it at this, I can’t wait to reread this story over and over again.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for sending me a copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

I am literally speechless after finishing this duology, and I have no idea how to express my absolute adoration for it. From the dazzling romances to the horrifying world and monsters within it, everything shines so brightly that it feels impossible to turn away. Between the constant action and the heart wrenching romances, there wasn't a single moment that I wanted to put this book down.

This book had so much symmetry and depth in relation to the first one, and I adored the exploration of the world that we got. It brought so much more to the story and to the characters and their development. I'm not sure I've ever loved anyone the way I love Elm. His story alone was enough to keep me constantly wanting more. The depth of his pain and the way that his newfound love breaks through it all - chef's kiss.

This world was one that was so unique to me, even though I love fantasy. The way that the Cards all fell into the story and helped to propel it along was artfully done. I loved learning more about their history and how they might shape the future.

All in all, this duo was one that I will come back to for years and years. It has won my heart completely.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy. This book was perfection. It was the perfect ending to this wonderful duology.

Absolutely loved this book!! Took my a while to review because I had a baby haha. But this series ended so good. The spice was good! I am glad it ended with a happy ending.

"Two Twisted Crowns" by Rachel Gillig proves to be an incredible duology, with its sequel standing just as, if not more, robust than its predecessor. Gillig skillfully navigates the delicate balance of keeping readers engaged in the immediate storyline while weaving a larger overarching plot that seamlessly ties everything together. Her impressive ability to craft characters with numerous flaws makes them endearing, a testament to Gillig's prowess as a storyteller.

While the opening pace presented a challenge, particularly transitioning from "One Dark Window," the narrative swiftly gained momentum, keeping a relentless speed with an array of twists and turns that proved impossible to resist. The separation of main characters in "Two Twisted Crowns" allowed each one to shine individually, contributing to the depth of the found family trope, a standout element in the narrative.

The sequel left a profound impact, with its fast-paced ending leaving me on the edge of my seat. The unfolding of events felt like absolute perfection, marked by numerous jaw-dropping twists. Gillig's storytelling prowess shines brightly in this installment, delivering a thrilling and satisfying experience. The journey to find the final Providence Card, The Twin Alders, and the complexities of the mist-cloaked forest contribute to the gripping narrative, enhanced by the reluctant partnership with the internal entity, the Nightmare.

In conclusion, "Two Twisted Crowns" is a captivating sequel that surpasses expectations. The intricate plot, well-developed characters, and unexpected twists showcase Rachel Gillig's storytelling prowess. A highly recommended read for those seeking a dark and luscious fantasy with a satisfying blend of suspense and supernatural elements.

Stars: 5 out of 5.

The first book in the duology ended in a rather heartbreaking manner with Elspeth losing her soul and her body to the Nightmare. The King and the Maiden effectively became the Monster. This book picks up almost immediately after that fateful night with Elspeth in shackles and in the dungeons of Castle Stone, and Ravyn Yew reeling from what happened to the woman he loved. The monster and the captain of the Destriers will have to collaborate in order to find the Twin Alders card and lift the curse of Blunder once and for all.

Elspeth takes the backseat in this story, with the Shepherd King coming to the forefront and inhabiting her body for most of the book. And let me tell you that he grows on you the more you discover about his past and what happened 500 years ago when the cards were made and mists came to plague the kingdom of Blunder. It's a classical story of how the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, and how by giving too much of himself to his unhealthy obsession, the Shepherd King lost everything that he should have held dear - his family, his kingdom, and his life.

I loved his interactions with Ravyn, who is devastated because he thinks the woman he loves is lost forever, and he hates the monster that is looking out of her eyes now, yet he needs that monster in order to defeat a bigger treat to his kingdom and his family - the current Rowan King. That made for some entertaining banter between him and the Nightmare, as well as some pretty heartfelt interactions further in the book.

Two other characters from the previous book come to the forefront of the narrative in this one - Prince Renelm (or Elm), and Ione. And I was honestly surprised just how much I liked their story. I liked Elm from the previous book, but Ione had seemed a bit standoffish and "frozen" for most of the last book, because she was under the influence of the Maiden card. Well, we discover in this book that it wasn't her choice or her doing, and the things she had been put through are frankly horrifying. I was really happy that Hauth got what was coming to him.

All in all, I really loved this world and the story, even though I thought that the ending wrapped everything a little bit too neatly. But that is just a small gripe and I would highly recommend this book.

PS: I received and advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me in a chokehold from the get-go. It was so eerie and dark, and I loved seeing more of Ravyn's and the Nightmare's POV.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved these books by this author so much, I can’t wait to see what gets published next. The magic card system was unique and the I loved the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC!

4.5 ⭐️ This book was fantastic! The first book of this series was one of my favorites of 2023, so I was very excited to dive into the second book of this duology.

I really enjoyed getting to know the other characters in this series during Two Twisted Crowns. It was the perfect sequel IMO!

I cannot wait to see what other books Rachel Gillig writes! I will certainly be following along!

I thought Two Twisted Crowns was done wonderfully for being the second and finally book in the Shepard King duology.
I definitely had no idea where the story was going to go after the cliffhanger in One Dark Window, but Rachel did an amazing job wrapping up the story.
My only problem was I feel like the middle was drawn out more than it needed to be. It just seemed pretty slow and made it hard to pick up for about 100 pages.