I absolutely loved One Dark Window and so I was so excited to read Two Twisted Crowns. This book was an amazing follow up to the first. It contained the same hauntingly beautiful writing and atmosphere from the first book. I’m am so sad that this series is over but am extremely excited to see what Rachel Gillig writes next.

This book added so much depth to each character as you learn more about their past. We also get new points of view which I loved. While I was reading the first book I was hoping to see more of the side characters which I definitely got in this book. We also got a new and amazing romance storyline from characters that you would never suspect.

This book also added in a different timeline and we were able to learn more about the Nightmare and his past. This was so interesting because he becomes such a complex character. In the first book he is mainly viewed as a villain but he definitely becomes more of a morally grey character in the sequel.

Overall, this duology is so beautifully written. I’m so sad to say goodbye to these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn't influence my review. I personally liked the first book better, as there was only one-person POV. This was an okay read. Some tropes include: fantasy romance, gothic romance.

5 freaking stars!
This definitely reminded me Out of the Woods by Taylor Swift and this gothic romantasy is a must read. The duology has come to an end and it was just literal perfection. Chefs kiss and I love the world building in this so much that I am definitely going to reread for sure.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit books!

WOW this duology shocked me in the best way and although I didn’t want it to end, this was truly the perfect ending! I loved this so much—everything about it was amazing, there was seriously nothing I didn’t enjoy (in either book). The setting, the storyline, the magic, the characters, I loved it all. This one especially had so much emotion to it and that ending!!!
It is such a unique story that was fascinating, thrilling, suspenseful, heartwarming, and emotional all at once. These are definitely now some of my top reads this year and a new favourite duology. Elm, Ravyn, Elspeth, and of course the Nightmare all now hold a special place in my heart!

Oh how I needed this book in my life. After reading One Dark Window and loving the plot, characters, dash of romance, and the MAGIC SYSTEM I was thrilled when this was available.

Overall, I loved that we got the answers left wide open in ODW, but with a spin. I didn’t expect to meet a new couple, and while I was aching for more of Elspeth and Ravyn, I understand the need for the focus to be off of them and shifted elsewhere.

We continue to learn more about the Nightmare, his history, and why/how he plays into the magic system and the world they are in.

But this book takes a sharp turn and primarily focuses on Elm and Ione. I greatly enjoyed their story and what they were to each other, and the plot. Unfortunately, it felt like this approach really left us stranded in terms of the development of the relationship, the magic system, and where we leave off in book 1. There were parts of Elspeth brought in early on in this book and it almost feels like it was pointlessly there because we didn’t really go back there enough for it to be prevalent to the storyline.

This book was fun, but left SO much to be desired.

3.75/5

It is hard to put into words how much I loved the conclusion of this brilliantly written duology. From characters that are impossible not to fall in love with to one of the most unique magic systems that I have ever read, this book had everything I needed to block out the world around me and dedicated every free moment to reading. After falling completely in love with the first book in the series, One Dark Window, I was worried that the second in the series could not meet my incredibly high expectations. Thank goodness that I can say, with complete transparency, that not only did this book meet expectations, it blew right through them like a runaway train.

There is not a single character in this series that did not captivate me completely. The heroes were not only heroic, but they were well rounded and flawed in the best ways possible. They drew one another up and flourished through shared motivations. Each of them had to overcome the darkness that had been thrust upon them and their journey made it hard to stop reading. The villains were absolutely horrendous and it made it incredibly easy for audiences to understand and root for the heroes. If I go into any more details, I will definitely spoil something, so I’ll just keep my mouth shut from here.

The idea of magic cards that limits the magic users is absolutely fascinating. From the creation of the cards to the limitations of each card, the whole system is well thought out. There are a handful of cards that are focused on, and that limitation allowed for the cards to be truly fleshed out. I am hoping that there will be other books that take place in the same world because there is just so much possibility and I have so many more questions!

I could absolutely talk about this 5 star read for hours!

This series does deal with some very dark topics and triggers should be checked if necessary.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This second book to the Shepard King Duet was absolutely magnificent! This duology is 5 stars and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get into gothic fantasy. The vibes in this book were immaculate. The best second book to a series by a long shot. 5/5 starts from me!

I love love loved this duology. I feel, like a lot of people, I have been searching for something that made me like a group of characters, magic, and world as much as I did when I first read Sarah J. Maas, and for me this did it. That is not to say that this is the same style of writing or story, but I was excited by these characters in the same way as I had been with the other books.

This book does not have "second book syndrome," which is so common in promising fantasy series. This one opens the story up to some new characters, but I found myself enjoying their story just as much as I enjoyed the first book.

I don't want to summarize the plot for the sake of spoilers, but it is absolutely a satisfying ending, and I can't wait to see what else this author comes up with. I like my fantasy a little dark and twisty, and this fully delivered the vibes I crave.

My one little, teeny tiny complaint that is barely worth mentioning is that I would have liked a bit more time at the end to wrap up the characters from the first book.

Otherwise, perfection. Loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Starting off 2024 reading strong by finishing this excellent duology! I really loved One Dark Window but am so happy to say that the finale is even better. If you read the first one a while ago or don’t remember what happened, I suggest reading a recap first because this one catches us right from where ODW’s cliffhanger tossed us.

This means the stakes are high and there is a level of urgency from the get-go that propels us forward, only this time we get an additional POV: Elm’s. Elm is one of the characters I didn’t remember much from ODW but I quickly and deeply fell in love with him. Through his POV we also learn a lot more about another side character — Ione’s character gets so much more depth.

Of course we still have Elspeth, The Monster, and Ravyn but due to the ending of the first book Elspeth is at arm’s length. Our distance from Elspeth makes sense within the context of the plot but it was also a creative way for the reader to be able to get an inside look into the Monster’s mind and look into the past. I really enjoyed these moments because it contextualized so many things and made the world-building that much richer.

I don’t have any nit-picks and the more I think about it, this is more gush-fest than review so here’s a list of other elements that I particularly appreciate:

-The pace during the action scenes was on point.

-The atmosphere from the first book was still ever-present, suffocating us in malevolent mist.

-The split of the POV’s was executed so well. One gave us more action and danger, another delivered romantic tension and court politics, and yet another delved into deeper lore and magic but together they all twisted into a cohesive story.

-Lastly, Elspeth and Ravyn’s love was still present but we get a new romance to carry us through the darker moments.

Elm and Ione’s unlikely budding romance was delightful. There’s a scene with a fireplace & a chalice card (which makes you tell the truth) that felt like Fantasy Truth or Dare and it was so intimate yet full of humour. I soaked up every second of it and I feel like it encapsulated their relationship perfectly. The themes explored through their conversations were some of my favorite, especially the theme of women getting their choice taken away by men and reclaiming it.

In short, If you like Gothic fantasy and romance I wholeheartedly recommend this duology.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #OrbitBooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Be wary. Be clever. Be good.”

THIS. DUOLOGY.

Two books was simply not enough time with these amazing characters, however, it ended absolutely perfectly. This was such a unique fantasy read, with the perfect amount of romance. I couldn’t put them down!

Def recommend 👏🏻

I absolutely loved this book! It followed the story line from One Dark Window very well! Rachel Gillig did a tremendous job keeping me on my toes each chapter. I found myself wanting binge the book and carving out as much time as I could so I could read Two Twisted Crowns! the character building beyond Elspeth, Ravyn, and the Nightmare is amazing! You get a really good look at who the other characters are and develop a love for some of them. I loved the journey to get to the end and felt like I was holding my breath at points along with heart wrenching moments! Great Job! Definitely a must read!

This is the best sequel I’ve read in a long time. It jumps back in right where the first book left off and keeps you in a hold where you’re not allowed to move, to breathe, to think about anything else. Make sure to clear the rest of your day when you jump into this one. You won’t be able to put it down.

This was such a great end to the duology! I once again loved the magic system and it feels so unique. The relationship development between Elm and Ione was absolute perfection. It had me kicking my feet!

This book was a real rollercoaster for me but I enjoyed it so much! There was so much to the book that I just loved!

I read this book in one sitting. It was absolutely incredible. Tied up the duology in a nice way! I wish I could read this for the first time again

Even better than the first!!! I loved the romance. I’m glad there was no weird conflict between all of the characters and instead we got a completely new love story

A fantastic follow up to book one!!

The characters were still ones I either liked or hated (appropriately). The plot definitely thickened after book one. This is dark and moody, and the stakes are high.

Definitely a book you need to read in series order, but if you liked book one, you'll love this one too!!

This is the second and last book in the Shepherd King duology, and definitely must be read in series. We are left with a ton of questions at the end of the first book and it was a tall order for Two Twisted Crowns to answer those questions and wrap up the series all in one go, especially when we spend at least half of the time exploring characters that were side players in One Dark Window. Honestly, I had a bit of a mixed experience.
On the one hand, I love the characters in this world and I was so excited to get more from Elm and Ione. It was delightful to get a closer look into their lives and see them more fully fleshed out. Also, I have been craving the resolution to the series arc since the second I finished One Dark Window and I found that to be a powerful motivator. On the other hand though, I found the narrative rhythm within this book very difficult to lose myself in. We switch between story lines each chapter, or almost each chapter, and in this case I felt my momentum break at each turnover. Perhaps it was the intensity drop between the mini-cliffhanger ending of one section and the expositional beginning of the next that I found a choppy, or at the very least tiring. I also felt unmoored by the pull back in scope from the concentration on Elsbeth in the first book to a fully ensemble cast in the second. I want all the story lines, but I also want to be grounded somewhere and I couldn't find where I was supposed to be. Couldn't be with Elsbeth but also wasn't really with Ravyn?
It's difficult to write this because I loved the first book so much that my excitement for the series vastly outpaces my experience of this particular book. Still.
I would love to see this as a tv show or movie. I will also absolutely continue to follow this author's work.

Two Twisted Crowns was a great conclusion to The Shepherd King duology. Elspeth, Ravyn, Elm, and the rest of the group trying to unite the deck each face their own trials and tribulations, we learned more about the history of the Shepherd King and the Providence Cards (and even a hidden card power!), and, despite all the obstacles, our characters found a happily ever after. I would definitely recommend this duology for anyone looking for a good gothic fantasy.

This is the perfect ending to the duology. I was gripped from beginning to end. I loved the focus on a side character from the previous book. Fantastic. This author will be added to my must buys.