**Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an advanced copy**

I have to say I loved this sequel even more than the first one! That doesn't always happen. I don't wish to say too much when I am reviewing a sequel, but I loved the continuation of the world building, and magic system.

The sequel is split between a few different POVs, and split between two locations. There is a quest for one group, and some political intrigue for the other. With a side of romance ;) Which was melt your heart perfect. I was rooting for them almost more, if not more, than Elspeth and Ravyn.

Ione Hawthorn was a stand out character for me. I really learned more about her and her life. I won't say too much as it's spoilers, but my favourite quote from her was,

"My father never let me touch his Providence cards. But the Maiden - the Maiden I was gifted freely, like a horse a lump of sugar. Something sweet to distract me from the bit they shoved in my mouth."

Ione is a strong female character, and I feel some of her story, and the circumstances surrounding what is happening to her, is a mirror to how women are treated in today's society.

The Nightmare is an antihero for sure, and I feel his character development and arc was written beautifully.

Every chapter I could see this duology as being a movie, or tv show. I would love to see it come to life on the big screen.

Rachel Gillig is now an auto buy author for me, and I can't wait to see what is coming next for her!

Two Twisted Crowns is the stunning conclusion to Rachel Gillig’s Shepherd King Duology. This story is deliciously dark, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns. This continuation of One Dark Window will have you sitting up well into the night turning page after page and then leave you wanting for more when you reach the end.

Two Twisted Crowns picks up right where One Dark Window leaves off, continuing the action and hooking me immediately. We follow two story lines as the characters continue their mission from One Dark Window and attempt to unite the deck of providence cards,

My favorite part of this book was diving deeper into The Nightmare's background and learning more about his character. While Elspeth takes a bit of a back seat, I didn't seem to mind it as I was so intrigued by the Nightmare's story and how the providence cards came to be.

The other story, while still entertaining, wasn't my favorite. I wasn't a huge fan of the romance -- it felt a bit insta-love -- but it didn't take away from the book overall for me.

Overall, this was a satisfying conclusion to a duology like I've never read before. As a loose fantasy reader, this was an approachable fantasy duology with a super unique premise. I would definitely recommend this to anyone!

Goodness! The tears that were shed at the end of this! A wonderful end to The Shepherd King duology.

This book took us into a deep dive of the history of Blunder and how the providence cards played out. The Nightmares history was so fascinating, heart wrenching, and kept me on my toes. Rachel certainly knows how to write an enticing story that keeps you captivated until the end.

You know a book was well written when you are so sad to leave the characters while reading the epilogue.

While I immensely enjoyed this finale to the story, my only critique was how the new romance was introduced. There were zero hints of this in the first book and I think it would have felt more naturally developed in TTC if there had been Easter eggs hidden in One Dark Window. But, with time the romance developed well and I was here for it. Mainly just not a fan that it was a complete surprise because it felt off at first.

Overall, a well deserved five star!

Thank you NetGalley & Orbit for the ARC! I absolutely loved this book and it was bittersweet seeing this duology come to an end.

Two Twisted Crowns picks up where One Dark Window left off, throwing you right back into the middle of the mystery of Blunder with new POVs and the same lovely dark prose and gothic atmosphere from ODW. I thoroughly enjoyed the POVs and the characters that got more of a spotlight in this book. This one is definitely being added to my favorite books of 2023 list.

My spoiler-free, TL;DR bulleted thoughts:
-New POVs
-More of the lovely prose and dark, gothic atmosphere from One Dark Window
-YA fantasy with romance
-More romance
-Slow build world building, character and plot development from the beginning of One Dark Window to the end of Two Twisted Crowns that emotionally devastated me in the best way!
-The resolutions and answers to my questions were so satisfying
-I cried (again…in the best way)

From this point on, there may be SPOILERS!

Atmosphere and Setting
Like One Dark Window, Two Twisted Crowns had such a dark, lush atmosphere and I loved the descriptions given in the book. I especially enjoyed that Gillig provided enough world building to paint the picture beyond what we saw in One Dark Window, but I never felt lost in her prose or as if her descriptions were too flowery or too much.

Characters
The character building and growth was one of my favorite things about this series. I loved getting to know Ravyn, The Nightmare, Elm and Ione better. I was going to say “especially Elm,” but I honestly loved every character’s story equally. (Also, I’m still obsessed with Renelm as a name).
My favorite part was that these were characters I knew from One Dark Window and the slow continuation and build of character growth from ODW to TTC resulted in satisfying pay offs and an incredible emotional connection with the characters. Getting to the end of the book was devastating in the best way.

Plot
The way Gillig built the setting and characters throughout the book made me want to savor the plot and take my time reading this book. If you’re looking for a rollercoaster of a book like Fourth Wing, this might not be for you. But if you want to connect emotionally with the characters and their stories, where the stakes and pace built with every page, this book was incredible. And that’s not to say that the stakes weren’t high or that the pacing was slow. I loved the way time was used to raise the stakes and how the adventures the characters went on highlighted more of the world.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. One Dark Window was the first Fairyloot book I got when I signed up for the YA subscription and it was a book that I kept thinking about after I finished it…and this sequel was just as amazing, if not even better.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Orbit (and Rachel Gillig for the incredible story). I feel so lucky to have received this book as my first ARC!

What a beautiful conclusion to the duology. This story was so unique and intriguing. I absolutely loved The Shepherd King’s riddles!

I really loved One Dark Window last year, so much so that it made my Best Books of 2022 list. Naturally, I immediately added the sequel to my TBR and, once I got it, spent all day in bed reading. This was a good story but I knew it was going to be tough to live up to the first book, which totally swept me away.
This picks up right after the dramatic (and traumatic) events in One Dark Window. Elspeth is now trapped in her own mind, with the Nightmare running the show and because of that, they’re now in the dungeons. Ravyn, the traitorous Captain of the Destriers is determined to get Elspeth/Nightmare out of the dungeons so they can go after the Twin Alders card and remove the mists and ill effects of the magic in Blunder. Prince Elm, usually in cahoots with Ravyn, ends up staying behind to take over as heir while his brother Hauth lies on his deathbed.
This book ends up with two very distinct plot lines for much of the story. That of Ravyn and Nightmare/the Shepherd King/Elspeth and that of Elm and Ione Hawthorn, Elspeth’s cousin. The plotline following Ravyn is very much quest oriented as they journey through the mists to find the Spirit of the Wood. Nightmare’s tendency to speak in verse only serves to enhance the feeling of the traditional fantasy quest line. Elm, on the other hand, spends most of his time unsubtly confounding his father the King and trying to help Ione find her missing Maiden card while also falling (unsubtly) in love with her. I suppose we needed some romance and I enjoyed following them as they worked together in their search. I gotta say, I enjoyed unpacking both Elm and Ione’s emotional baggage - very interesting stuff.
I really missed Elspeth in this installment, even though she was technically there. I think because the worst had already happened to our former main character, Two Twisted Crowns felt remarkably low stakes. I didn’t feel the same sense of danger and urgency because half the excitement of the first book was Elspeth trying not to get found out for having magic! I admit, I was less invested in the plot this time around, but I still liked the book. It wasn’t bad by any means, just not a 5 star read for me. I’ll definitely be reading future books by this author!

A beautiful conclusion to the Shepherd King duology with all the dark romance and plot twists of the first novel.

Sequels have a tendency of not living up to the first book in the series, but that is so not the case here. Two Twisted Crowns was the perfect follow up and conclusion to One Dark Window.

If you are looking for a spooky, atmospheric, and magical fantasy with romance, look no further. This duology is utter perfection. The author creates such an immersive world that continuously unfolds and awes as we learn more about what’s going on behind the crown and how it intertwines with the past.

The magic system is unique but even more so how each character interacts with the Cards. It’s so telling of who each character is and you can clearly see how each develop throughout the story.

I had some reservations about switching from one POV in the first book to multiple POV in this book, but it was such a clever decision. We get a deeper understanding of the story and the characters. I also really liked the shortness of the chapters because it helped move the plot along but without sacrificing the integrity of the character development. We get so much more of Nightmare’s thoughts and his history and how each character is tied to the past and how it can affect the future.

Furthermore, I didn’t expect to freaking sob towards the end of this. Throughout the book, you get history and mystery and romance and adventure and suspense and then BAM! You’re suddenly crying because Rachel Gillig did such a phenomenal job at connecting you to the characters that you feel what they feel and you’re rooting for everything to be okay at the end.

If there is one duology you read this year, let it be this one.

Thank you Ms. Gillig for your imagination and amazing storytelling. This story will stay with me forever.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Orbit Books for sending me an eARC in exchange for a review.

I just am obsessed with this duology. The unique magic system, the atmosphere Blunder creates, the cast of characters. Elm is SUCH a cinnamon roll. I admired having his point of view and thoroughly enjoyed the steamy chemistry between him and Ione. The banter between Ravyn, Elspeth and Shepherd King was top knotch. This was an epic conclusion to book one but if there were to ever be more I'd be wholly committed to continuing. Gillig has such a powerful writing style. She mixes dark and romantic, humor and terror in an intricate blend that is so uniquely hers.

I was really excited to read this book with the ending of the first I was really intrigued what was going to happened next in the story and mainly with Elspeth and Ravyn I wanted to know more about them and their at the time doomed love story.

I really like the hold atmosphere of this book the world where the story takes place, and the creepy vibes. This scene where they are following Ravyn’s sister through the forest and find all the people that had disappeared is one my favorites. I got to know more of the beast and it seems he is not as bad as he seems to be. His teasing of Ravyn about Elspeth was so fun. And I like that the Villains where so evil that it really made me hate them.

But I was really surprised that the main love plot of this second book was not Elspeth and Ravyn but her cousin and the prince, and we barely get POVs from Elspeth which is so unexpected since this book is about her story. Where did Elm and Ione love story came from, I really did not see this coming in the first book this hold plot just felt like a filler to me. Why did my story change I really dislike this aspect of books when they change the POVs and the focus of the story turns to someone else’s. Even the ending was not about them but the wedding of Elm and Ione What??

Not the continuation or the ending that I was expecting.

If Rachel Gillig has one fan, it’s me. If Rachel Gillig has no fans, I’m dead.

What an absolute joy it was to read this duology! From start to finish, I was so engaged, absolutely dreading when it would be over. A couple times I had to force myself to close my Kindle so I could make it last longer.

This dark gothic fantasy series is full of everything you could want: action, a unique magic system, swoony romance, found family, angst, a monster with questionable motives living in a girls head… ☺️

In this second and final installment we are able to get into the heads of more characters which I didn’t know I needed but LOVED! Elm… might be.. my favorite now?! That feels blasphemous to say but I think it’s true! My poor sad boy, let me hug you!

My only complaint is that I’m greedy and want more! I want more of these characters always. Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for this arc!

📚New Review - No spoilers📚

TWO TWISTED CROWNS

Happy Pub Day!!! I am SO GLAD I waited to read One Dark Window until right before the sequel was released because the way ODW ended…Ah!! TTC picks right up where it left off and takes off running.

What to expect:
✅ New POV introduced
✅ More background on the Nightmare
✅ Your heartstrings to be plucked
✅ The story to be wrapped up by the ending

I love these characters and this is one of the most unique stories I’ve had the pleasure of reading as of late. Rachel Gillig has an amazing imagination and executes it so well in her writing. I loved everything about the setting of these novels and the approach she had to the magical realm. I didn’t love this one as much as the first one, but only because I loved the first one SO MUCH I cannot imagine anything coming close. Still a solid 4.5 stars (as opposed to the first being 5) and recommend this series to everyone!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(4.5/5)

One Dark Window left me on the EDGE of my seat. When I say I have never requested a review copy faster I mean it.

Rachel Gillig writes one of the most unique magic systems I have ever read. I adore the idea of the cards and the sickness. I also love the basis of the spirit of nature.

Sequels can be tough but Gillig certainly delivered. Sometimes I abhor multiple POVs but she did it very well. I found myself rooting for all the characters and not just Elsbeth, which tends to me unusual for me.

Would I recommend this series. Absolutely, it oozes a gothic seduction that no other author could replicate. If you are considering picking this up at all, I would urge you to do so!

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for providing this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

There are not enough good things I can say about this novel!!!!!
I loved the different elements in this story!! AND OMG THE ROMANTIC plotlines (sooooooo good)!!!
I was HOOKED from the first book and was completely ECSTATIC to read this!!

I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT ELSE THIS AUTHOR HAS IN STORE FOR THEIR READERS!!!!

I loved the first book in the series. I was looking forward to starting the sequel. It did not disappoint. I had multiple POV and more in depth of other characters from the first book. The only thing I missed in this one was the fun banter back and forth between The Nightmare and Elspeth. I wish there was more books in this series!

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint! This continued from the first book beautifully, it was fast-paced, never a lull, and it kicked up everything we loved about the first one a whole notch. I politely demand Rachel Gillig publish more books. Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for this ARC.

Another amazing spooky season read was released yesterday. Two Twisted Crowns is the sequel to One Dark Window and I absolutely loved this duology.

These are the kind of books that made me forget I was reading. Before I knew it I had almost finished the first book. I was so immersed in the world and the magic.

Ravyn had my heart racing, oh my. I couldn’t get enough of the romance in these books.

I was on the edge of my seat and so concerned the entire time with all of the plotting and scheming and adventure. And the ending of the first book had me screaming!

I was so excited to get approved for this because I was dying to know how the story ended! I do kind of wish that I had done some sort of a recap of One Dark Window before I read it, only because I had a hard time remembering who all the characters were and how they were all tied together, but that was my own fault. Overall this was a great sequel and I loved the way that it all got tied together!

One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns are my favorite books ever. I was very excited and honored to be able to read the sequel before the publication date. The magic system is so original and nothing I've read before. The main character is so likable. All of the charters are. The plot is really interesting and I didn't know which direction it was going which is nice. I wish I could express how much I love these books. I burst into tears when I finished the sequel. But just based on the fact that I had finished the books. Which has never happened to me before. I don't want to say too much about the sequel because I don't want to give anything away. On the release date I went to the bookstore and picked up the paperback edition. I'm hoping I will be able to get the special edition of the hardcover for Two Twisted Crowns. I was able to find it for One Dark Window. So that means I will hopefully own three different copies of both books. I've seen some art prints for this duology that I hope to get and put on the wall. Thank you so much for writing these books!