Two Twisted Crowns is a great conclusion to the Shepherd King Duology. Picking up directly after One Dark Window, Two Twisted Crowns has added 2 more POV, Elm & Ravyn which helps to flesh out the story and adds more layers to the world.

I really enjoyed being in Ravyn and Elms head, especially since Elspeth was going through some things. It helped to build upon the world that Gillig started in One Dark Window. The pace of the story is not rushed and the ending of Ravyn & Elspeth's story is satisfying and not rushed or unbelievable, which happens when books are trying to wrap things up into a nice bow.

Thank you netgalley for an eArc. All thoughts are my own
4.5/5 stars

This author is a new favorite. Her Shepherd King duet has utterly engrossed me and left me breathless. From the captivating prose, incredibly unique magic system, and stunning character development, I was enchanted from start to finish. I honestly didn’t think that there was any topping One Dark Window, but somehow I loved Two Twisted Crowns even more. The imagery was so rich and the anticipation so prevalent that I felt as if I had my own Nightmare residing in my soul. I was haunted, enraptured, and on the edge of my seat in turns. I felt the characters pains and triumphs as if they were my own and I cannot recommend this series more highly.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

“I’m a rotten thing, Ione. I’m learning as I go.”

Gillig managed to break my heart and make it whole once again with this stunning conclusion to The Shepard King duology. I had fought myself the entire way through this one; a part of me wanted to binge it in a day, and the other part wanted to make it last as long as possible. Two Twisted Crowns picked up right where One Dark Window left off, with the Nightmare taking over Elspeth’s body and Ravyn fighting to figure out how he can release her, save his brother, and get rid of all the providence cards. I loved that we got a deep dive into the Shepard King’s past. Prince Renelm and Ione take the spotlight in this sequel. As their characters develop and their relationship grows, you can’t help but fall in love with them. Gillig is an absolute genius, creating a lyrical, spellbinding book about magic, love, and fear. Two Twisted Crowns reads like One Dark Window, with haunting riddles and eerie rhymes that pull you in. If you loved Elspeth and Ravyn, wait till you read about Elm and Ione! This book made me laugh, scream, and cry. With so many twists and turns and a truly gothic atmosphere, you’re bound to be hooked.

Thanks to Orbit for the copy of this book!

"It happened because, five hundred years ago, a boy wore a crown-- had every abundance in the world-- but always asked for MORE."

What an absolutely perfect sequel. Not only did Rachel Gillig deliver action, adventure, and a satisfying conclusion, she gave us IONE AND ELM. And ohhh my goodness did I love their romance so much. Ione is the perfect, fiery female MC and Elm is top-tier book boyfriend material. "I'd be your Kingm but always your servant. Never your keeper." MELT. I absolutely loved the arcs of every single character in this book and can't recommend it enough.

Rachel Gillig is a new favorite. Her Shepherd King duet has utterly engrossed me and left me breathless. From the captivating prose, incredibly unique magic system, and stunning character development, I was enchanted from start to finish. I honestly didn’t think that there was any topping One Dark Window, but somehow I loved Two Twisted Crowns even more. The imagery was so rich and the anticipation so prevalent that I felt as if I had my own Nightmare residing in my soul. I was haunted, enraptured, and on the edge of my seat in turns. I felt the characters pains and triumphs as if they were my own and I cannot recommend this series more highly.

I guess I have a thing for Morally Gray characters because I seem to actually LIKE the Nightmare in this second book, even more than I did in book one. I don’t want to give too much away but the story continues right where 'One Dark Window' left off, with Elspeth's mind still under the ominous grip of the Nightmare. And although this second book still contains plenty of Elspeth and Ravyn, it seemed to center around Elm and Ion quite a bit, making Elm a new favorite of mine. We learn SO much about Ion as well, and what all she has been through, while being betrothed to the Prince. And let me just say, you will never look at Ion the same again. Throughout the narrative, we finally delve into the true origins of the Providence Cards, the steep price paid for their existence, and the enigmatic history of the Shepherd King.
One Dark Window was one of my top reads of 2022 and Two Twisted Crowns is now one of my top reads of 2023. This series is one of the best gothic fantasies I have ever read. Rachel Gillig has masterfully woven an extraordinary fantasy romance duology, and 'Two Twisted Crowns' stands as a perfect and satisfying culmination. This is an essential read for anyone in search of an exceptional and emotionally captivating fantasy narrative. Gillig's enchantingly evocative writing will undoubtedly leave you enchanted and spellbound. This truly is, a tale like not other. I eagerly anticipate the release of book 3.

A beautiful sequel to a fantastic book! I loved the continuation of Elspeths story and the plot just kept twisting! This is how you do a duology. Big fan.

This duology is seriously so addicting. I absolutely love this magic system and like it even more when there was so much at stake.

It took me a moment to gather my bearings about the world again but was able to jump back in after. I really ejoyed getting to know Elm more and the role he played in this story. He actually became one of my favorites throughout this book.

The Nightmare ended up also having so many more connections to the characters and I loved the twists and turns of his back story. I could have used a LOT more Ravyn and Elspeth and I wish we could have had more of them together.

Overall, I think I liked the first book better but this duology is a must read and it was wrapped up nicely!

WOW WOW WOW. An epic conclusion to one of the best duologies I've ever read.

Things I absolutely loved:
- the magic system - it's so unique (like nothing I've ever read) & I found myself able to picture the magic, which was not only entertaining, but also helped me paint a picture of the story in my head
-RAVYN YEW - new book boyfriend; he is perfect
- the LORE - the history, lore, and politics in this book are so incredible. so well thought out & interconnected.
- THE CONCLUSION - I love how everything wrapped up!

I absolutely adore this duology! I find the magic system so unique and it's so atmospheric. This is an excellent conclusion to One Dark Window, which absolutely blew me away when I read it earlier this year. This conclusion answers all the questions I had from book one and I really liked the way it wrapped up. It tugged on the heart strings and wowed me with the beautiful writing. I can't wait to see what Rachel Gillig comes out with next!

Check out a complete review in Chapter 122 on my podcast Pages n' Pages.

The writing is atmospheric and immersive, evoking a perfect gothic ambiance for the fall season. It’s effortless to lose yourself in the progressively thickening plot. Furthermore, Gillig’s prose is both poetic and evocative, painting vibrant images of the alluring and gothic world she has crafted. Additionally, each chapter begins with a poem that ties into the story and the Book of Alders. As you delve into “One Dark Window” and later “Two Twisted Crowns,” you’ll feel like a resident of the town, clandestinely gathering information in a shadowy corner of the castle.

One of the most captivating aspects of “The Shepherd Duology” is how it seamlessly blends the supernatural with the mundane. Gillig skillfully integrates elements of the unknown, creating an eerie and tense atmosphere that keeps readers on edge, feeling like they’re part of the unfolding enigma.

The pacing of the duology is a notable strength. Gillig expertly manages when to intensify the suspense and when to allow the narrative to breathe, enabling readers to savor the gradual revelations and anticipate the next twist. It’s a meticulously orchestrated dance that keeps you engaged from beginning to end.

The only reason this wouldn’t earn a full five stars is the intricacy of the plot. Initially, the story is cloudy. While many readers will relish the layered and enigmatic narrative, some may find it challenging to follow at times due to Gillig’s use of multiple perspectives and interwoven storylines. However, this will be a minor concern for those who enjoy a puzzle-like narrative.

In summary, Rachel Gillig’s “The Shepherd Duology” is a must-read for enthusiasts of atmospheric and ominous storytelling. It’s a literary journey into a shadowy realm of secrets where the characters are as intricate as the plot itself. While the narrative’s depth and complexity demand careful reading, the rewards are well worth the effort. Pursuing these shadows has never been more rewarding. Rachel Gillig’s work is a haunting and mesmerizing masterpiece that will leave you yearning for more.

REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

Two Twisted Crowns was one of my most anticipated reads this year. I cannot say enough how much I adored the character of The Nightmare. I couldn’t decide how I felt about The Nightmare in One Dark Window, especially after that ending. In Two Twisted Crowns however, the Nightmare/The Shepherd King is almost as much of a main character as Elspeth is; probably even more so. We dive into his deepest darkest secrets in this book as the characters search for the Twin Alders Cards. We see how The Shepherd Kings obsession with magic and creating the cards ultimately led to his downfall and the downfall of the kingdom. But we also see that he’s not a bad man. He may also be The Nightmare, but he saves Elspeth and her friends time and time again proving he’s more than the monster he pretends to be. And THAT ladies and gentleman is why I love him so much. I’m a sucker for a morally grey father figure.

Another happy surprise was Elm and Ione’s budding relationship. I very much enjoyed the tension between these two. They bring some spice to the story. If you enjoyed the bit of spice we received in One Dark Window between Ravyn and Elspeth, you will love the spice we’re gifted in Two Twisted Crowns between Elm and Ione. Rachel Gillig really kicks it up a notch.

I loved the story as a whole but Ill be honest, it was the Shepherd king and Elspeth that really kept me reading. The ending was so fantastic and bittersweet. I didn’t want to say goodbye to the Shepherd King. He became such an endearing character for me. That goodbye was really hard to make. The ending is definitely what made this story for me.

The riddles and rhymes, the dark gothic vibes, and character relationships, are truly what makes this series so magical and a must read.

Thank you Orbit books and Netgalley for sending me a pre-release eARC to review.

I devoured this book in a day. It was brilliant. I loved the multiple POVs, I adored getting to see Elm and Ione’s stories play out, everything about this novel was perfection. This duology was such a unique and fresh storyline. I feel like romantasy is very over saturated right now and this novel stands apart. I am so thankful I got an eARC of this novel, and I will definitely be reading more Rachel Gillig in the future!

After reading the first book in the series, I was unsure how I would make it through life without having the second book in my hands immediately!


This book was so, heart wrenching. The second & final book in this series was everything I needed and more. Rachel Gillig did an amazing job of coming full circle with her plot and story line.

We get all of the answers to the numerous questions from the first book and we even get answers we didn’t know we needed! I do feel that some parts of the book were overly long, not really informative to the story and almost filler pages. However, I truly loved this book & this series and I’m distraught that it’s over.

I do have to say that my favorite chapters were the ones about Elm & Ione. I loved watching their love story form and seeing so much character growth for both of them.

The nightmare/Shepherd King was funny per usual. I just love his commentary and brutal honesty, I also love that we discover he has a albeit regretful but very good heart. I love seeing how much he cares about Elspeth and her ultimate well being. I absolutely loved the ending of this book, it was one of the best endings I have ever read in terms of a Romance/Fantasy book.

I am so sad I will no longer get to read about these characters but I truly loved their growth and their story.

Also, Hauth- you deserved worse.


Thank you Orbit Books & Net Galley for an ARC of this book!

#TWINALDERS

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars

I loved this beautiful book! Its dark, twisty, romantic vibes are everything. This book picks up directly where the first book ended. We jump right back into the chaos!

The addition of Elm’s POV in this book is exactly what I needed. I love Elm’s depth, layers, and his ability to love when he has been through so much. Ione was a surprise favorite character of mine in this book. Her character arc is absolutely epic!

The nightmare is still my favorite character in this entire series. The secrets he holds, the pain, the love, everything is such a mystery. Learning his story through the search for the full deck of providence cards has been an absolute roller coaster. Oh Taxus 🖤

The ending was so emotional. I felt like a piece of my heart was physically breaking off, but it was perfect! That ending paragraph had me in tears and I couldn’t be happier that I got the chance to read this arc! Thank you so much for the opportunity!!

I have not been able to finish this series. I requested an ARC for this one, thinking I would love the first book, as it is so popular on Booktok and the reviews are incredible. I gave the first book 3 stars, and I was unable to finish this one. I DNFd around 40%. I just found the characters and plot uninteresting. It is one of those "vibes" or "mood" books like Divine Rivals, and I just do not find them appealing. I wish I had, though.

4.75 stars (rounded up here)

What an impressive debut duology! I loved the unique take on a magic system and the gothic, eerie vibes. Two Twisted Crowns picks up after the cliffhanger in One Dark Window and was a page turner from the start. Book one is first person narrative from Elsbeth's POV while this book has multiple POVs and is mostly third person POV. I love the found family trope and Gillig has mastered it. As a reader it was so fun to delve deeper into side characters that we grew to love in book one. There is a new romance focus for this book and it was a lot of fun to read, so much angst and great banter. I also enjoyed getting more of the backstory of the Nightmare as well as Ravyn. A lot of interesting plot points that were introduced in book one are revealed in book two in a very satisfying way. Great pacing and the plot twists were on point, great foreshadowing without hitting the reader over the head with obvious clues. My one complaint is that Elsbeth is almost nonexistent in book two and becomes a very passive character, just along for the ride. It's an interesting creative choice as an author and the book was incredibly successful despite this choice, however, I would have liked Elsbeth to have more agency. with that said, I do understand how certain plot points limits this option greatly. I won't go into more details as I don't want to spoil anything. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read and I would highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley & Orbit Books for sharing an ARC in exchange my honest review.

FRIENDS. Are you a fan of gothic settings with major spooky season vibes? Then this is the book for you. This series has had a grip on me ever since I started One Dark Window and let me tell you, I'm obsessed. It has incredible lore and an original magic system that I couldn't get enough of. The court politics, tension, and family intrigue kept me on my toes and the pacing (just like the first book) was perfect. This series will EASILY go down as one of my favorites of all time.

Everything I wanted it to be and more. After reading the first one, I had really really high hopes for the second one and I was not let down at all. Cannot recommend this enough

This is the 2nd book in The Shepard King series. Honestly, this is probably the best two books I have read this year! I absolutely devoured this book after reading One Dark Window. There are so many twists and turns, and the magic is so unique I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about starting a fantasy journey because the author slowly emersed you in the magic system of this world. There is a bit of spice in each book which is a welcome treat!