I read One Dark Window, so I couldn’t wait until the second book would be out.

This book was amazing. I was hooked from the very beginning. I was a little nervous at first that I wouldn’t remember what I had read in the first book since it’s been a while, but I was able to follow along with no problem.

This was one of my most anticipated releases, and I was not disappointed! I can’t wait to receive my physical copy of the book so I can add all of my highlights and annotations.

If you read the first book, and loved it, then you need to pick up this book as well.

I didn’t think Rachel could top One Dark Window but she certainly did! This book holds a special place in my heart. I laughed, cried, had my heart broken and then healed all through the course of this book. The continued world building, the storyline, the quality of the writing, nothing beats this book. I cant recommend enough.

This was a great conclusion to this lush and gothic duology. I found that I loved the first book more than this one however. This first book just built up the plot and lore so well so I was a bit disappointed that half the book was spent developing the relationship and characters for the cousins instead of Elspeth, Ravyn, and the Shepherd King's much more interesting storyline. It's a very engaging read - I pretty much read it in 2 sittings and I will absolutely read anything else this author comes out with.

“There once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a King—a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same: The girl, the King… and the monster they became.”

It is such a nice conclusion! A fantastic spooky read! I could not put it down. This book focuses more on Elm and Ione's relationship as well as Nightmare's backstory. The world-building was brilliant and the plot was well-written. And the ending made me cry! It made me feel so many emotions. Despite the fact that this is an excellent read, I still crave more about Elspeth and Ravyn's moments. We only got so little of their interactions. Still, I will absolutely read more of Rachel Gilig's work!

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for providing this ARC.

Thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This duology was a fantastic read. They will always hold a place in my brain.

A story of love, magic, adventure and friendship. Rachel Gillig will take you on a ride you won't soon forget. 5 Stars!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing access to the arc. My thoughts are all my own.

4.25*

I really enjoyed this book. I love the way that the story went. The magical system in this series is cool and fun. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the first book. I look forward to reading more of the authors books in the future.

4.5/5 ⭐️ This was such an amazing end to the duology. Not going to lie, I shed a few tears there at the end, but I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion. “Be wary, be clever, be good.”

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While Rebecca Yarros probably holds my favorite series debut, with Fourth Wing, Rachel Gillig HANDS DOWN, holds the best duology of the year with The Shepherd King duet. I cant even tell you how fast I finished One Dark Window. Everyone was saying it was the perfect thing to read to cure your Fourth Wing hangover and I can confirm: they are 100% right. The fantasy world that Gillig creates is so unique. The magic system is both complex, yet easy for reader's to understand, and while I can't say I would necessarily love to live in the world of Blunder, she made me want to be there, with these characters, as they experienced their adventure.

Two Twisted Crowns picks up where One Dark Window leaves off. In this book we get more POVs - Ravyn, Elm, and Elspeth - just to name a few. We learn about the character's backstories and how they turned into who they are today. The Shepherd King was the character who's background I was most interested in and his story did not disappoint! While the beginning of this book was actually a little slow - almost tedious at times - when it hit the 46% mark it completely turned around! The hits were coming one after another after another and multiple times while I was reading my mouth dropped open.

I can't wait to see what Rachel Gillig thinks up next for us. I'll definitely be checking it out!

Thank you to Orbit Books for this opportunity!
Long story short: if you thought book 1 was good, prepare yourself because this one is somehow EVEN BETTER. I was very curious what Rachel Gillig was going to do with this book after that ending since in general that type of plot line is not my favorite, but I can honestly say this book exceeded all my expectations. The character development was phenomenal, the use of the Providence Cards was much clearer and so interesting to me, the history mixed into the present was cool, and the wit (or should I say insults??) had me laughing out loud at parts. Also the Nightmare🥹he was absolutely my favorite part of this book, which is a sentence I was not expecting I’d say. It was all so good, I truly have no complaints. The ending was so bittersweet but I loved it. I just loved it, all around really. I can’t say it enough.

How can I give anything less than 5 stars?

This story is atmospheric, with a gripping plot and memorable characters. It was the perfect spooky-season read. This sequel is now proudly placed on my shelf in paperback.

Don't hesitate if you get the chance to buy it!

I requested this when I got the first book bc I was expecting to like it so much that I would want to read the second. That was proven to be untrue lol. This was fine, fantasy just simply isn’t my genre. I don’t like books that take place not in the real world. I’m glad to have learned more about the shepherd king but overall just not my thing

This was such a good sequel and conclusion to the Shepard King Duology. I'm so excited we got more of Ione and Elm, who were my favorite characters in One Dark Window. We also get more backstory, and learn more about the magic system. I enjoyed the romance in this one more, too. And I'm always here for gothic vibes. Would definitely recommend this duology to just about anyone!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC

Thank you NetGalley for allowing to get to read this early. Firstly sequels and subsequently finales are hard when the first book was so successful.

I thought this book carried the ending of “One Dark Window” and expanded the world to tie all of the loose ends. Any of negative feelings about the first book (which were few) were because I was left with lots of questions regarding the world building. So I was happy to have all my questions resolved.

Secondly so many characters were fleshed out which was a pleasant surprise. My expectations going in was that we’re going to get more the Nightmare but I was happy to see more of the other side characters.

In conclusion o am happy with end of this duology.

This book was immensely better than the first one in my opinion. Elm carried this story for me. I absolutely adore him! My main issue with One Dark Window was that I struggled to connect with the main character, Elspeth. Thankfully there were multiple POVs in this one of much more interesting characters with better personalities. I couldn’t put this one down. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I am still trying to process the AMAZINGNESS that I read.

Rachel Gillig really just tore my heart out with this book.

THIS is how you write a sequel. *sigh* like I said, I am still processing this book.

The first book will always be one of my favorites, and I loved this one as well. Appreciated hearing more background on other characters like Elm and Ione, and their love story was perfect! Plus we learned more history of the shepherd king, his family, and entanglement with the Rowans. In the end, Rachel Gillig made us love the monster! Still laughing for every time the nightmare called Ravyn "stupid bird", but felt my heart break for him in the end.

Two Twisted Crowns is the perfect follow-up to One Dark Window. I went in thinking I’d be disappointed with the plot and that there would be a lack of Elspeth, but you’re able to get so much more invested in other characters. And don’t worry, there’s still no shortage of tension and romance. This duology is one of my top reads of the year and one of the most unique fantasy reads that I’ve probably ever read! 5 stars all the way.

Such a great ending to this duology. I like how it was in different point of views unlike One Dark Window which was all Elspeth. This gave you a deeper understanding of the other characters and allowed you to see what was happening in different places. I loved the magic system in this book. This was such a unique story that captured me from the beginning and never let go. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.

Two twisted crowns/


“Human life is short. You are not as a tree, stoic and unyielding, but a butterfly. Delicate, fleeting, inconsequential.”

Thank you to netgalley and orbit for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

It is so difficult to say goodbye to these characters and this world and I am so emotional writing this review. Because although it has come to an end, it was an utter masterpiece of adventure.

This world consisted of so many intricate layers, each building more in depth than the last and from the moment I closed one dark window I was yearning to continue this journey.

Two twisted crowns did not disappoint and it was enlightening and wonderful to get chapters from Elm’s POV. He was one of my favorite characters from book one and I loved getting to know him, and his story in depth. I was able to understand his trauma, his dark past and how truly strong and brave he was. Even while brutalized as a child, of losing absolute control of his own body he still chose good-through and through.

This book, in its true form, felt like a character study as I got to understand the nightmare’s character further than I ever imagined, as well as Elm, Ione and Ravyn. While I felt the loss of Elspeth, especially near the beginning I was grateful that the nightmare was finally able to tell his story, after spending 500 years in the darkness. No one knowing his truth or the things he ultimately sacrificed for the people of blunder.

There is an evil vs good weaved into the pages of this tale, often crossing the thin line in between. Nothing is what it seems in blunder, as we come to understand in one dark window and even further in its sequel.

We continue our journey through a world of gnarled trees, ghosts and undying love in this book, it’s atmospheric writing leading us through the mist with no way out and we become lost to it wanting to hold on tight and never return to reality.

It was lovely to return to the love of Ravyn Yew and Elspeth spindle, both made of salt and magic, doing their best to free the infected and blunder from the Rowans’ disastrous rule. I have an undying love for characters who are able to find love and hope even among the wreckage of war and hate- who are able to find the one bright light even while surrounded in darkness and these characters are no exception to that- believing in the good of people despite having every reason not to.

While learning more about the nightmare, we also learn more or blunder: how it ticks, and the world beyond the mist. It was interesting to see the communities of infected that formed outside of Blunder. These dystopian communities were intriguing in how they continued to survive outside of the king’s rule. I also loved meeting the spirit of the wood, in all its infamous glory. The people of blunder equate this being to that of a god, their god, especially in the times before the providence cards were creating. It sees and takes also while giving and teaching and the only way to best it is to be clever.

This is a duology that sunk its claws into me and didn’t let go, and I feel it will be a part of me forever, tapping it’s claw-like fingers in the back of my mind for years to come, waiting to be awaken, shaking off its deep slumber. So until the next time you visit Blunder again, in all it’s gothic atmospheric glory. Be clever. Be good.

“To anyone who has ever felt lost in a wood. There is a strange sort of finding in losing.”

Be wary. Be clever. Be good.
This duology will have my heart forever. The world, the magic, the way the story is told is just beautiful.

“I am the shepherd of the shadow. The phantom of fright. The demon in the daydream. The nightmare in the night.”

Special thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.