Wow. Wow wow wow!

I so thrilled with how the second installment of this duology panned out. As action packed as it was tender, I will not be able to get this story of these character from my mind for a long while.

I really have no notes. While there are certain aspects I wish, as a reader, I could have had more of (I missed Elspeth and Ravyn so much) the purpose behind all the choices felt clear as day. I loved getting to know a few other characters more deeply. And I’m so shocked at how choked up the conclusion made me. I love these characters dearly and I love the unique and mesmerizing magic system that exists within Blunder.

I will happily be returning to these books time and time again.

Thanks so much Netgalley and Orbit for the arc.

I am struggling to find words to explain how absolutely phenomenal this story was. Going into this series I had absolutely 0 expectations, I really thought it was gonna be a Little Red Riding Hood retelling based on the cover. I was wrong. I cannot recommend this duology enough.

Something I adore about this is the fact that Rachel didn’t pull this out into a 3 book trilogy adding a ton of filler and making book 2 that “adventure in the woods” story. We all know the curse of the sequel. I must say though, prior to realizing this book was the finale, I assumed it was a second in a trilogy and I genuinely thought to myself, “Hey, this book is evading the second book curse!” Could I have read another 300 pages of this story? Absolutely. Am I glad that she didn’t drag it out? Also yes. I give her tons of credit for that one.

I can say without a shadow of a doubt that Rachel Gillig’s next book will make it on my highly anticipated reads list whenever it is announced.

*Minor Spoilers for Books 1 and 2 from here on out*

Based on the fact that ODW is told from Elspeth’s POV I was unsure on how we were going to continue on with the story with the Nightmare taking over her body, but was pleasantly surprised with the Multiple POV format of TTC. We got an insight into Elspeth/the Nightmare, Ravyn, and Elm’s mind that helped to keep the story engaging and intriguing all the way through.

While Elspeth and Ravyn were the established couple from ODW, I found myself BEGGING for more time with Elm and Ione. They might be one of my new favorite fantasy couples for the year.

Normally, if I have even one singular critique, the rating is going down a peg. I simply cannot fathom moving this down from 5 stars but I will share my one and ONLY critique. Which honestly? It shouldn’t even count as a critique. Everything seemed to be wrapped up in a neat little bow a little *too* nicely at the end. Which honestly, she made us work for it so maybe I did deserve the nice little treat.

The Nightmare was one of the most impressive takes on a deuteragonist I have seen in ages. You hated him, but you didn’t. He was pulling you left and right in every move he made.

The writing here was *spectacular*. I seriously cannot stress that enough. I picked up ODW and I thought, “Am I going to be able to comprehend this?” But wowowow it was so impressively done in rhymes and prose I cannot believe that there is a real human being out there creative and intelligent enough to make this stuff up. It was simultaneously confusing and making you work for it, but explaining it to you all at once. I cannot give this author enough credit for this.

Amazing. I will never not recommend this book to fantasy lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Orbit publishing for the arc. Seriously. This was amazing.

There are some books that don’t leave you, and this is one of those for me. I absolutely loved one dark window, it’s the magic building and characters were top notch. coming into the sequel, i didn’t know what to expect, but my expectations were high! i stumbled a bit with my investment on having split storylines, as i was very much invested in one over the other, but the second and it’s characters grew on me and with the culmination of the story, absolutely paid off in the end. i loved learning more about the magic and the more secretive characters from the first book, and how secondary characters were fleshed out. all i wish is to have more time with elspeth and will have to reread this doulogy. thank you netgalley for the arc!

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig is a sequel that defies the stigma often associated with second installments. In fact, I dare say it's just as good, if not better, than its predecessor, One Dark Window.

Gillig masterfully crafts a world that's equal parts haunting and enchanting. She takes you by the hand and saunters you through the eerie pages of this macabre nursery rhyme. I was captivated by the intricate web of family secrets, past injustices, and the dark mysteries that begged to be unraveled.

The setting, blanketed in an ever-present mist, adds an extra layer of delicious eeriness to the tale. It's a place where you'll find yourself lost in its foggy depths, and it's a journey well worth taking. It's a book to savor, so take your time to acclimate to the slower rhythm of the story and get lost in it.

What sets "Two Twisted Crowns" apart is its focus on characters like Elm and Some. These complex figures were, in my opinion, the true gems of the story, and I became even more invested in their arcs than with the protagonists from the first book (almost).

But the real magic lies in Gillig's approachable world-building. It strikes that perfect balance between creativity and simplicity, making it easy to sink into this eerie universe without feeling overwhelming.

Two Twisted Crowns is an enchanting choice. It's a remarkable sequel, a bewitching conclusion to the duology, and a testament to Rachel Gillig's way with words.

I decided to read the second book due to all the hype around it and I'm glad I did! I liked this book so much more.

I think my main reason is that I really enjoyed the inclusion of Elm's PoV. He's such an endearing character to follow, it's so easy to be charmed by him and root for him. I really liked his story with Ione and his development throughout this book regarding everything that he went through in his life. I loved Ione - her character is so well thought outn her banter with Elm was so good. I also enjoyed seeing the Nightmare taking the lead and interacting with people and his development as well. His past is so cool to see and how the author decided to tell it to us and to show the providence cards being made was really engaging (I loved the parallels). I felt that the magic, not explained well in the first book, was really dissecated in this one since we were able to see the making of the cards.

I also felt we had more of a plot in this one. Even though there is a lot going on, different threads being followed, everything was well developed and it didn't feel convoluted. Everything felt necessary and important to the conclusion. I really liked the ending as well.

This was so good. Rachel's writing style is so lyrical and atmospheric, this series has the most perfect gothic vibe. The magic system is one of the most unique I've read, and let me tell you, book 2 did not disappoint. I'll admit, at the beginning of the book I was not thrilled with the addition pov of Elm- I'm already so invested in Elspeth's story, why would I want to stray from that? But every pov, every flashback, everything came together so perfectly! There's so much depth to this book, and I ended up loving the Ione x Elm arc. I enjoyed reading this so much!

Amazing. Incredible. I had enjoyed the first book in this series so much that I feared this book would hit second book syndrome. I was so wrong. Somehow, this sequel blew past my expectations, and ended up making me fall for it even harder than the first. Incredible storytelling, intense emotion, strongly mapped out characters.

What a surprise! I didn't expect to like the book as much as I did. I read the first book in the beginning of the year, and I was really underwhelmed; it was an ok read. I thought the magic system was pretty interesting but I just didn't care for the characters and thing felt a little flat. I decided to read the second book due to all the hype around it and I'm glad I did! I liked this book so much more.

I think my main reason is that I really enjoyed the inclusion of Elm's PoV. He's such an endearing character to follow, it's so easy to be charmed by him and root for him. I really liked his story with Ione and his development throughout this book regarding everything that he went through in his life. I loved Ione - her character is so well thought outn her banter with Elm was so good. I also enjoyed seeing the Nightmare taking the lead and interacting with people and his development as well. His past is so cool to see and how the author decided to tell it to us and to show the providence cards being made was really engaging (I loved the parallels). I felt that the magic, not explained well in the first book, was really dissecated in this one since we were able to see the making of the cards.

I also felt we had more of a plot in this one. Even though there is a lot going on, different threads being followed, everything was well developed and it didn't feel convoluted. Everything felt necessary and important to the conclusion. I really liked the ending as well.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

Wow I loved this book even more than the first. Ione and Elm were so darn cute- I couldn’t get enough of them! I loved learning more about the nightmare and his history. Such a good wrap up to this duology ❤️

This was a fantastic way to end the duology. This picked you exactly were the first book left it. I was on the edge of my seat at times while reading this book. The dynamics between Ione and Elm were fantastic. They by far were my favorite storyline to follow. I want to say that I enjoyed the second one more that I did the first one.

Thank you Orbit and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

"Two Twisted Crowns" seamlessly continues the haunting tale that "One Dark Window" introduced. The storytelling is so breathtakingly beautiful that I found myself lost in this eerie, heartbreaking world. Rachel has a unique mastery of the craft, making her a true story magician.

What's truly exceptional is the multiple new points of view through which the story unfolds. The characters remain as vivid and emotionally compelling as ever, drawing you in with their realness. Elm, in particular, surprised me. In the previous installment, I hadn't given him a second thought, but in "Two Twisted Crowns," he became a favorite I couldn't get enough of.

Honestly, I'm at a loss for what to do with myself after finishing this duology. It's a fantasy masterpiece, unlike any other. And let's talk about the romances! They're tender and raw, tugging at your heartstrings and pushing the boundaries of what you thought you could feel through a book.

The writing is eerie and poetic, creating an atmosphere that's impossible to escape. The characters and the intricate lore are sheer perfection. I can't shower enough praise on Rachel for this extraordinary series. Without a doubt, this is the best fantasy series I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time. From the very first page of "One Dark Window" to the satisfying conclusion in "Two Twisted Crowns," it's an enthralling journey that answers every lingering question.

Thank you to Orbit books and NetGalley for the arc of this book! To be approved to read one of my most anticipated books of the year made me so incredibly happy!
One Dark Window was such an amazing book and Two Twisted Crowns picked up right where it left off.
This sequel and conclusion was everything I wanted it to be. The magic system continued to be interesting and unique. The characters were well developed and so great. The atmosphere was great for this time of year. I throughly enjoyed this. It’s always great when a series wraps up in a way that leaves you satisfied.

A great finale to this wonderfully dark and gothic series! It Had extremely large shoes to fill after One Dark Window, and I feel as though it did its job! Kept you entertained and on edge, while bringing about a wonderful conclussion.

a lot of people are saying this book is better than the first- i disagree!! the last quarter of the book is great, to the point where i almost forgot about the other 75% and rated it 4 stars.

(-) my biggest problem was the pacing. we switch mainly between elm and ravyn (almost NO elspeth, our main character), and they are going through two separate plots. just when things start to pick up on one side, we switch to the other pov. i couldn’t immerse at all. and as much as i understand why elspeth wasn’t there, i truly did not care about elm and ravyn enough.

(-) elm takes up a huge pov chunk in this book and the instalove was …

(?) as a side note, this book is WAY more new adult than it is young adult. not for me, personally, but it could be for you. there were just many (many) times where i had to pause and wonder what i was reading. a lot of the love between the two relationships (in my humble opinion) was just lust for the most part.

(-) the first book has so much setup and potential storytelling to continue into the sequel, and i didn’t feel like the full potential was there. i reread the first book for this moment!

(+) part three (the last 20-25% of the book) is great. is it because this part actually feels cohesive despite changes in POV rather than two separate books set in the same world? perhaps. it’s also bittersweet knowing that this capability was here the whole time, but i’ll take it.

(+) the father figure/mentor/wise man relationship between elspeth and the nightmare is very likely the best relationship in this book. this says two things: one, it’s simply just written super well, and two, the romantic relationships in this book (which take up a huge amount of pages) were subpar at best.

(+) actually, the more i think about it, the more i think that the nightmare was just overall my favorite character.

—————
overall, a 3.1 stars. maybe 3.2, and definitely no more than 3.3. i can see how others would say 4, and i think the descriptive writing is almost enough to warrant it, but i simply can’t get past how the first chunk of the book felt like two puzzle pieces forcing themselves together when they were from two different sides of a 3000 piece puzzle. same puzzle, but hardly related, and it caused so much disconnect for this anticipated read.

Before I get into my review of the sequel, let me recap my feelings about the first book. I read One Dark Window at the beginning of October, and it was precisely the dark and eerie read I had been yearning for this spooky season. The unique magic system, coupled with memorable characters and an intriguing storyline, piqued my interest.

However, I didn't exactly fall head over heels for One Dark Window. There were moments when I found it surprisingly easy to set aside, and I even struggled to push through certain sections, particularly at the beginning. Nevertheless, I can say that One Dark Window was a satisfying read overall, and I was eager to read the sequel! So, let's get into it.

In this enchanting sequel to One Dark Window, I found myself captivated once again by the gothic, forest-y magic vibes that drew me to the series in the first place.

Elm and Ione finally received the depth and exploration they deserved! I remember wanting more from their characters in the first book, so I was excited to see Two Twisted Crowns partially revolve around them.

Confession: For most of the book, I was more interested in Elm and Ione than Elspeth, Ravyn, and the others in the forest. Oops.

Of course, I still love Elspeth and Ravyn. I ended up missing their interactions from One Dark Window that were—understandably—mostly absent in this book. But Elspeth's unique situation gave me the chance to get to know the Shepherd King as his own character.

In terms of other important characters, I won't waste any words on Hauth.

Storywise, I was intrigued by how the "two twisted crowns" unraveled throughout the book. Rachel Gillig used foreshadowing intentionally and well. When certain things (sorry, no spoilers) were revealed, they made sense, and by the end of this book, everything came together.

I enjoyed so much of this sequel that it feels weird to critique it, but I did struggle to continue reading when I got to the 50-60% mark. Reminiscent of my struggles with the first book, the plot started to drag at this point. The pacing was a bit off. However, once I picked the book up again, I read the last 40% in one sitting.

Overall, I rate this sequel 4 stars, a testament to its enchanting world-building, character development, and compelling narrative, despite a brief hiccup in pacing. I eagerly look forward to more from this talented author in the future!

Two Twisted Crowns is the perfect conclusion to this dark and enchanting duology.
The story picks back up quickly and the pacing is fantastic. I loved getting multiple POVs, as well as the glimpses of the Shepherd King's past. Finally having his story revealed provided insights into his motivations and really rounded out the entire story, paralleling the present.
Elm!! The character
development and his growth in this story are phenomenal. He is so complex and to see all he went through and how it shaped him was wonderful.
Watching him learn to be happy was so heart warming.
The HEA was everything. It was literally perfect. I am still grinning!

After absolutely devouring the One Dark Window and all its gothic vibes, I wanted to love the second book in this duology so bad. Two Twisted Crowns started off amazing, the high of the reading the first book carrying into the second. But something about the way the chapters were structured, how little there was of Elspeth (whom I adore), made the story slow down immensely. While I enjoyed Elm and Ione’s romance, their journey together felt unnecessary to the story as a whole. I felt like the POVs were unbalanced, not only in length for Elspeth and how everything exciting happened with Ravyn, but also in person—Ione having a POV would have balanced out the three POVs for me. The urgency of completing their task before the solstice lost its oomph because of this as well. The last line of the book “I was its author.” confused me because Elspeth had so little screen time in this book and wasn’t even in control of her body, especially when the first book was told entirely in her POV. The Nightmare was the one orchestrating everything and keeping secrets until it suited him to reveal them, and Elspeth was just caught in the crosshairs. I really loved the first book and the idea of the second but unfortunately, it just fell flat for me.

Thank you to Orbit, NetGalley, and Rachel Gillig for providing me with an eARC of Two Twisted Crowns in exchange for my honest review.

Two Twisted Crowns picks up right where the first book ended, with the Shephard King now inhabiting Elspeth's body and everyone desperately looking for the Twin Adlers. This book is go-go-go from the start. It is a race against time, trying to accomplish everything before the Solstice occurs. In this book, we follow Elspeth, Rayven, and Elm's point of view which was enjoyable. I appreciated being able to experience the plot from the point of view of different perspectives. There is so much going on in the book, that it might have been more confusing if there was only one point of view.

What I struggled with the most in this book is that it is so plot-driven. While I did enjoy it, it is no secret that I am someone who appreciates a lot of character development. This is nothing against Rachel Gillig, as often it is difficult to have the characters take a journey of personal growth and have a plot-driven book. I will be purchasing this book and will be rereading it, this time back to back with the first book as that is always fun to do.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars!

Two Twisted Crowns picks up where One Dark Window left off and hits the ground running. Gillig’s writing is still lovely and the absolutely perfect fall vibes are in peak form. I enjoyed the new directions she took in this and, while I do think it was a little unfortunate to have Elspeth’s story sidelined a bit, Elm and Ione were fun and the exploration of the world at large made up for it. Like with One Dark Window, I found this to be more New Adult in tone than solidly adult, but I do think Gillig’s writing has matured since her debut, which was really nice to see. There were still a handful of parts that I felt a little whatever on, but the good massively outweighs my quibbles.

After getting all of One Dark Window from Elspeth's point of view, it took me a second to adjust to the multi-POV format in Two Twisted Crowns. Still, this change makes sense and this allows the reader to get more information about the world, since there are multiple tasks that the characters need to accomplish over the course of the story. And, honestly, I was very invested in each of the storylines! I love the Providence cards and I love the Nightmare and the generally creepy atmosphere that looms over Blunder.

I also loved how the end felt like it developed organically; I think this was an overall super satisfying sequel/conclusion, and Gillig deserves to be commended for absolutely sticking the landing.

Rachel Gillig is officially an auto-buy author for me... this is how I wish all sequels and endings were delivered.

I put off reading my ARC, because I was reluctant to finish this duology.
I LOVED the world of Blunder and all of the riddles & rhymes.
The magic system was very unique. The characters & relationships were incredibly lovable. I even loved to hate the assholes of story. Gillig's writing style meshes so well with my brain, I never wanted to put this book down... I'm incredibly bummed that this tale is over, though I'm already looking forward to re-reading it 🖤

Thanks to NetGalley & Orbit for the eARC!