★ 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ★
👑 One Dark Window & Two Twisted Crowns by @rmgillig
📚 Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Gothic
🗓️ TTC Pub: 10/16/2023

✨ Happy Pub Day to TTC! Thank you @orbitbooks_us us @rmgillig @hachetteus for the physical copies of both books and ARC (via @netgalley ) for TTC! ✨

📖 𝐎𝐃𝐖 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛: Elspeth, w/ the help of the enigmatic Nightmare within her, embarks on a quest to cure Blunder’s dark magic by collecting 12 Providence Cards. But as her connection with a mysterious highwayman grows, she battles the Nightmare’s encroachment on her mind.

📖 𝐓𝐓𝐂 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛: In the thrilling conclusion to Elspeth’s journey with the enigmatic Nightmare, we uncover hidden mysteries in uncharted parts of Blunder, racing against time to heal the kingdom from its affliction. We also explore the backgrounds of secondary characters introduced in ODW.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐬:
🗣 Single POV (ODW) then multiple POV (TTC)
🐢 Mini slow burn
💞 Found family
✨ Unique magic system
💀 Spooky vibes
⏳ Historical elements

💬 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: This series is truly amazing! Rachel has crafted a fresh and magical world. It has a fairytale-like quality with a dark twist, and the misty woods add to that eerie atmosphere. I found myself completely enamored by the historical elements and sheer originality of Rachel’s storytelling. TTC seamlessly continued the tale from where ODW left off and gave us the closure that we so desperately yearned for after ODW ended the way it did. The multiple POVs in book 2 also gave us deeper insights into the minds of our beloved side characters. One more aspect that truly captured my affection was the Nightmare’s clever rhymes, which continued to grace the narrative. These rhyming verses added a unique dimension to the story.

🌟 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ x ∞.This series is incredibly well-written, and I love everything about it – from the dark and magical world to the unique characters, captivating storyline, and fantastic writing. It deserves all the stars! Highly recommend this especially if you’re looking for a breath of fresh air from the usual fantasy read.

Thank you Orbit and NetGalley for the eARC of this book!
This book was 4.25 stars
I really loved this duology and had such a fun time revisiting the world and magic system.
I think it’s safe to say if you liked book one, you will definitely like book 2.

What I liked:
- the slow burn romance
- deep dives into the characters we learned met in book 1
- more history of the nightmare
- the magic, cards and the world

Overall, I think Rachel Gillig has become an autobuy author for me!

4.5 stars

I was ecstatic to receive an ARC of this sequel. I really liked this story! I am sad that it is over, but one day, I'll read it again.

I really enjoyed Ione and Elm's story in this one. Elm was one of my favorite characters, and oh man, that spicy scene with Ione and Elm! Whew.

I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

This kept me going with its many twists and turns but I enjoyed the ride the entire way. It was lovely to live the story through additional characters this time around and see the development of their relationships.

Two Twisted Crowns was nothing short of perfection. This is the dark fairytale that I have waited for, and it delivered on every aspect. I’m not usually one for a “dark academia vibe”, but this was so hauntingly beautiful. You’ve got romance, friendship, magic, adventure, pain, laughter- what more can you want?
With the multi-POVS, we get to see the end of the story play out from all angles. Characters who were previously a supporting role really had their chance to shine.
The magic system is so unique, easy to understand and easy to picture in your minds eye. I can’t stop thinking about it! Magic wands who? Give me a providence card any day.
This book stayed uniquely true to itself, unfolding and expanding into such a beautiful world. I’m so glad to have read Elspeth and the Shepard King’s story, and it will definitely be a series I will be returning to in the future.

Rachel Gillig does it again. One of the best books I've read. Even better than one dark window. PERFECT for spooky season!

Oh wow I loooved this moody ya fantasy read. The POV's included were such a treat and I loved them equally which is so hard to do! Thank you orbit and netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I did the first one. I'm not going to lie -- I had to reread the first book before diving into this one because I completely forgot what happened and this book doesn't quite recap the first book. You get three different POVs this time (Elspeth while Nightmare is using her body, Rayvn who is trying to find the Twin Alders card, and Elm who is stuck at the palace as potentially the next heir if his brother Hauth dies). It was definitely interesting following Elm. I love how the world was slightly expanded even more in this book. I think the author does a good job filling in some magical holes (such as can you use a Providence card on someone while they're also using one, what other things can the Maiden card do, etc.). You also get a little bit of background on the Nightmare and how his life came to be the way it is. Ione also get much more page time, so if you're interested in her journey, I recommend picking it up!

I was approved for this ARC four days before release, which happened to be over the weekend full of plans. My kindle never left my side, I read every spare moment I could. Two Twisted Crowns was one of my most highly anticipated books after One Dark Window consumed me last month. As with the first book, the writing in Two Twisted Crowns was above par - intentional and purposeful. The world of Blunder that is built is unique and this duet stands out above the rest. Rachel Gillig is likely my favorite author of the year. If you’ve not read the duet, do so immediately!! They will take you on a journey unlike other tales of magic kingdoms. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to obtain and review this ARC.

Two Twisted Crowns was everything a sequel should be. The story begins almost directly after the end of One Dark Window, immediately drawing the reader back into the gothic fantasy atmosphere and the delectably angsty, high-tension plot. I honestly did not want to put it down. Everything the reader was left wondering about at the end of book one is explored further in this installment—from the magic system and history of the world to side characters and budding romances. The Shepherd King duology is one of my favorite reads of 2023.

Trees, let's get into it.

I loved how we got multiple POVs in this book, and how we got to learn more about the secondary characters from One Dark Window - Ravyn, Elm, Jespyr, etc. It was a bit of a slow burn to justice, but so satisfying when karma came around. I loved how we got The Nightmare's background without the use of flashbacks.

All of the twists and connections made sense and were BEATIFULLY executed. The one revelation of a certain Providence Card was a twist I did not see coming! And the journey to retrieve the Twin Alders Card had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't read this book fast enough. The tension during the race to midnight was probably my favorite part.

Overall, this was a perfect duology. The epilogue made me put my hand to my heart and say "awww." We learned more about the magic - new and old. I will be recommending this to a lot of people, and this will sit with me for a while. Rachel Gillig - you've got a fan for life.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit books for the eARC!

This was a beautifully written story and I’m so glad I was gifted this arc! I loved absolutely everything about this duology. Highly recommended read for me!

This is an excellent follow up book from the first. It picks up right where it left off. No storyline is left untold. Such an awesome duology.

It was easy to get wrapped up into the book. It’s hard to review without giving away the spoilers. The writing is at a great pace, captivating and funny at time. If you loved the first, you’ll love the second.

*Fantasy
*Gothic
*Magic
*Dark/ horror

Thank you Netgalley, Orbit and the author for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow! Second books sometimes struggle to live up to the promise of the first one. Not the case here! This one was maybe even better than the first one. It was an adventure from cover to cover. Two Twisted Crowns picks up right where One Dark Window left off. Factions are trying to reunite the deck of Providence cards and free Blunder from the mist and illness that comes from it. While others are more than happy to keep things the way they are controlling the population through fear and the cards held by those in power. But magic always has a price, and things eventually are returned to a balance.

This story introduced a relationship between Elm and Ione, while still having pov’s from the Nightmare, Shepherd King, Ravyn and Elspeth. However each one was handled so well you never felt overwhelmed by the voices, they were all so distinct and each one added so much to the overall story while developing individual character arcs and showing their growth throughout the series.

I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I’ll just say I really loved this duology! It was so atmospheric, from the details of the mist and the darkness in the characters and their actions. This was a great read for October.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit books for my ARC copy

Two Twisted Crowns
Rachel Gillig
♾️⭐️

"To bleed is the first step— drop your blood on the stone. The next is to barter— match her price with your own. The last is to bend— for magic does twist. You’ll lose your old self, like getting lost in a mist. The Spirit will guide you , but she keeps a long score. She’ll grant what you ask... But you’ll always want more."

The first few chapters already did a solid job of reeling me in and winning me over! BEST SEQUEL EVER!

The eerieness and darkness continued and intensified in this book. There's less poetry. They're more subtle but definitely more powerful when used. Again, similar to the ODW, this book is so expertly written. It's not just telling a story, Gillig painted a freaking world in this one. All their trials and hardships and heartaches were all so palpable. I felt so much love and enthusiasm for the characters, and felt deep hatred for some.

The focus of the storyline widened in this book. Ravyn and Elspeth are definitely a huge part of this but it also focused on other characters, which I didn't expect. I actually thought the quality will devolve because I was so invested in those two aforementioned characters from book 1 but MAN!!! Gillig definitely threw me in for a loop because she did what I didn't expect and made it so much better than what my theories were. Most of the time, either the journey OR the ending will be the best thing about a book. But this one checked BOTH boxes. The plot was solid, it was beautifully written, and the ending... the justice... the balance... was phenomenal.

The Shepherd King duology is definitely my favorite books this year! Just... amazing!

5 stars

this sequel delivered!! In Two Twisted Crowns you will find yourself following multiple points of view, and this change is among my favorite adjustments made by the author in this second book. you get to know and understand all the characters exceptionally well. each character has a significant role to play, and everything seamlessly ties together, leaving no questions unanswered. after finishing One Dark Window, elm became one of my favorite characters and i hope he will become a more prominent character in the next book; GUESS WHAT it's like the author read my mind.

while elspeth does take a backseat in this book due to the events that happened in book one the story does not slow down one bit. it's intriguing to see how she and the nightmare switch roles, and you'll come to adore their evolving relationship. if you liked the banter in One Dark Window it gets even better in this book.

some readers might not appreciate the ending of this book, particularly those who prefer a more significant price to be paid by the characters for a more emotionally impactful or shocking conclusion. it depends on the level of plot twist you desire to make this book satisfying for you. however, the journey, mystery, and character development throughout the story make it all worthwhile and i believe you should definitely finish this duology. (view spoiler) nonetheless, i am satisfied with the ending (i did sob a bit) and this was how i predicted the book would end. my heart is whole.

Posted on Goodreads and Amazon:

Loved every part of this book. One Dark Window was going to be hard to beat, but the sequel sure came close. This book was full of suspense, wonder, and mysterious magic, just as the first in the series. But where the first book left you in a cliffhanger, this finished the story perfectly.

Weirdly enough, I missed Elspeth so much in this book. I liked Ravyn’s point of view and Elm’s and the Nightmare’s memories but I missed Elspeth. I also would have given quite a lot to get a point of view from Ione- even though she was unfeeling. My strange wants aside…this is the perfect way to round out a duology. No stone was left unturned, no holes left in the plot.

“Here we are, my darling girl, he whispered to me. The end of all things. The last page of our story.”

This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time scared of the worst possible thing to happen. It was a great read for spooky season and there is very few horror fantasy books and I love stumbling upon an amazing one. I was IN LOVE with book one and could not stop thinking about the characters. It is a rare talent to see a writer develop the plot and their characters at the same time and never feel like either is lacking. These characters will have a special place in my heart and were the best to watch grow and change. They were all wicked in their own ways but still good in their hearts. There were so many twists and turn within this novel that I did not see coming especially pertaining to Rayvn and Elm. The saddest thing for me was to watch the nightmare go and the sadness that it brought me to see Elspeth say good bye to him.

I was throughly enthralled in this book and will always pick up a Gillig book. I loved every moment of it and never felt that it was dull or slow.

I want to thank Rachel Gillig and Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was a little worried that I was not going to like Two Twisted Crowns as much as I liked One Dark Window since I truly did not remember what happened in One Dark Window by the time I picked up Two Twisted Crowns. However, Two Twisted Crowns had me hooked from the outset and I couldn't put it down. I fell in love again with all of the characters I loved in the first book really enjoyed new POVs from some beloved side characters in One Dark Window. There's a new romance in this book that wasn't in the first book and without spoiling it, I absolutely adored it.

I thought this was a successful conclusion to the duology and matched the feeling of the first (this duology is a perfect spooky fall read btw). However, I did feel that there were some pacing issues and issues with the ending (discussed below the spoiler cut).

While a lot happened in Two Twisted Crowns, I didn't feel like the book had a super clear beginning, middle, and end. It drops you right into the action and it stays pretty constant throughout. I would not have minded a few more ebbs and flows. Because of this, the lead up to the final sequence didn't feel quite earned, and the ending felt a little rushed.

**spoilers below**
I also thought it was a very interesting narrative choice to basically have Elspeth be absent from the entire book. Given that the big jaw drop moment of One Dark Window was her giving up her mind to the Nightmare, I expected her trying to regain control of her body would be a larger part of the book. I wish there was a way for Elspeth to return in the second book while also keeping the Nightmare/Shepherd King around in some form (since he really was a fantastic character).

I almost wonder if the author originally intended for this to be a part of the book, and then decided to focus more on Elm/Ione's story. I loved Elm and Ione's arc, this was really their book, but I do wish we got to see more and Ravyn and Elspeth together. Ravyn doesn't even seem to struggle with Elsbeth being gone all too much? And even at the very end where she does regain her autonomy, we don't get to see the scene where she and Ravyn reunite or hear much about what they're up to in the epilogue. I loved the book, but I'm not sure if this choice worked or paid off.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I really loved this book so much! 4 1/2 stars! The world of Blunder is dark, and those that live there are just as twisted as the tree roots. The layers to each character were so beautifully written. I could vividly picture every bit of this book. One Dark Window was incredible, I’m pleased to say the follow up did not disappoint! Thanks netgalley for providing the ARC.