I have such love for this duology. This book gave everything I needed and more. It had the tension, the romance (old and new), and the adventure that I was looking for in the gothic fantasy. The Introduction of a new POV that I was hoping for was done beautifully, it gave an insight to their character that I was desperately hoping to get to know more of. I'm so sad to see the end of the series, I loved this world and the characters go, but I feel happy with the ending. I love the writing in this and I can't wait to read more of her work in the future!

This was an excellent conclusion to the Shepherd King duology. It had the perfect eerie atmosphere for the season. I liked that the amount of perspectives expanded and that we got to know more of our side characters. A second romance develops in this book and it was wonderful.

I would highly recommend The Shepherd King duology.

This was a wonderful end to a wonderful duology - loved it! The Nightmare continued to be my favourite character, but I loved how beyond just being snarky and grumpy we got even more depth and complexity from him! Similarly, the world that was introduced in book 1 got expanded perfectly, I loved learning more about the lore and history. although I did miss some of the atmospheric descriptions from book 1. Elm and Ione were two characters I was really fascinated by in book 1 (Elm especially) so it was great to see them centre stage here. With that said, my only slight criticism was our OG protagonists being a bit sidelined. In particular, a major moment towards the very end felt rushed. I don't mind when side characters get more page time, but it's a shame when it comes at the expense of the other main characters. What we did get of Ravyn and Elspeth was still wonderful so I can't complain too much. The mystery in this was different from book 1 but just as eerie and captivating. Rachel Gillig's writing is just so fantastic and I can't wait to read more of her work as it's published.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC!

Two Twisted Crowns picks up right where One Dark Window leaves us. Elspeth is trapped within Nightmare, Ravyn is beyond devastated. Gothic-romance, magical, fantasy.
Multiple POV’s which normally is something I greatly enjoy, yet this time it seemed to be a lot to keep up with.
The world building is fantastic. The background knowledge about the characters and the cards is great.
I know I’m going to be in the minority here, but though it was good, I didn’t love it.

Absolutely devastated.

Thank you to Rachel Gillig, Orbit Books and Netgalley for this emotional trauma.

This is by far the best duology I've ever read and the top book of 2023. This book is beautiful and complete. Ever minute detail had purpose and meaning. Every relationship was honest and the romance was so sweet. I can't say I've read anything like this in the fantasy/romance world. I love how everything was mapped out and precise - there wasn't any plot point or character inserted for a singular task. Everything just made sense. The book was heartbreakingly bittersweet in the best possible way. I am writing this through blurry eyes because I cannot stop mourning this book.

I received this book as an ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I am anxiously awaiting Ms. Gillig's next masterpiece.

This was a fantastic follow up to one dark window. I loved the addition of the new POVs, and how we shifted the romance focus to Elm and Ione. I feel like this shift fixed the problem some series have, where they resolve the romance too soon and then the next books aren't as interesting. In two twisted crowns, we have this wonderful angst between Ravyn and Elsbeth, but we also have this building tension between Elm and Ione and it is so well done.

I also loved how much darker this book was. It felt like the stakes were much higher. I always appreciate when an author isn't afraid to leave lasting damage, or kill characters, and I was pleasantly surprised that that was the case here.

The trauma bonding that ione and elm had over their shared treatment by hauth was so compelling to read about, I really feel in love with both of their characters so much this book, and their relationship was so beautiful, but also sexy. I have to commend the author on her writing of spicy scenes. despite there only being a few in the book, they really packed a punch.

Finally, I was very entertained by the plot. I had a difficult time putting this book down. I loved learning more about the shephard king and the providence cards. Watching our heroes try and unite the deck against all odds was so exciting. The atmosphere here is also perfection. The only thing that didn't quite hit for me was some of the scenes leading up to the retrieval of the twin alders card just felt a bit confusing and haphazard, especially when they find the refugees in the woods. Otherwise I really loves this sequel.

I was over the moon when I received a copy of the ARC. One Dark Window, was one of my favorite reads of the year. I read it back in January and I have been eagerly waiting for the sequel to come out.

Sometimes, when I read fantasy, I tend to get annoyed. This happens when I feel like I am reading the same concept with different character names.

This duology has been such a refreshing read because I feel like I am reading a brand new & unpredictable story.

The character development in this sequel is outstanding. As if I could love Elm & Ravyn even more?!

Easily a five star read. I encourage all of you to pick these 2 books up & escape into a unique world full of an enchanting magic system, high stakes, & a dash of romance.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, & to NetGalley for a copy of the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Was very excited to finish this duology and Two Twisted Crowns did not disappoint!!

Normally I’m not a huge fan of additional POVs during a short series, but I LOVED it here. Being able to explore the other characters brought so much more to this book. I did not expect to love the Nightmare as much as I did, and I might love the new romance even more than the first 👀.

If you haven't read this series, move it to the top of your TBR! It is now one of my all-time favs and is a perfect read for spooky season!

After One Dark Window ended on THAT cliffhanger, I’ve been waiting for the second book in this duology to drop SO I CAN HAVE ANSWERS! Thanks so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC and subsequent shorter wait period to find out what happens. I was too impatient to wait and you all saved the day.
 
Two Twisted Crowns picks up shortly after the end of One Dark Window, and in this book, we get Elm’s POV! It switches between Elm, Ravyn, and Elspeth as they deal with the fallout of the Shephard King’s return via Elspeth. While book 1 is all about Ravyn and Elspeth, this second book focuses primarily on Elm and Ione. I enjoyed getting more POV’s but was on the edge of my seat just waiting for Elspeth to make her return. It was interesting seeing more of the Shephard King from everybody else’s perspective and their hunt to finish what they started in book 1 took up most of the book.
 
Overall, I really enjoyed this fantasy duology. The premise was unique and I had a really good time reading both books.

4.5/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley & Orbit Books for providing an eARC of Two Twisted Crowns!

This dark fantasy sequel is a fantastic end to the One Dark Window duology. Perfect for fans of dark magic, bargains, and some absolutely amazing chemistry.

Ione and Elm are absolutely perfect. Every single time we switch to Elm's POV, I wanted to jump for joy. The tension between them? Outstanding!!!

Don't expect much between Ravyn and Elspeth. The Nightmare is there, definitely being a chaperone to any potential romance.

I think the only thing holding me back from a perfect 5/5 stars is just that I just cannot take it seriously all the time with all the tree stuff and silly rhyming. It pulls away a bit from how dark the story itself gets.

Do you ever hesitate to finish a story? Not because you don't like it but because you can't stand to see the characters go away? This is one of those books for me. Rachel Gillig has created one of my favorite worlds in One Dark Window and followed up by Two Twisted Crowns. This book did not disappoint. I found that the level of engagement I had with the story surpassed my original obsession with One Dark Window.

Go grab this book. It is gripping and beautiful and lush and whimsically gothic.

5 ⭐️
1 🔥
My goodness! What a finale to a wonderfully, magically dark and twisted story! We got more POVs in this book, and more of The Nightmare and The Shepherd King’s stories. We also got another romance! This duet was so whimsically perfect. The plot, the history, the romances were all so well done! I can not wait to read more from this author.

Thank you Rachel Gillig, Orbit Books and NetGalley for this eARC. This review is of all my opinions and words.

Review from book one One Dark Window:

5 ⭐️
1 🔥
Dark fairy tale
Gothic
Infection/sickness
Dark magic
Tarot like cards that hold magic
Kingdom
Enemies to reluctant allies to lovers
Monster like creatures
Cliffhanger
Duet
This book is one of the best books I’ve ever read, definitely one of the best books of the year. I’m glad I waited this long to read it, so I don’t have to wait for the next. I think you’d love this book if you liked Belladonna and Defy the Night. It had all the best parts of those books and then some! So freaking good!!

i finally finally finished this book and oh holy moly what a finish to this story. if you remember, i read one dark window in 24 hours and was so desperate to have book two (shout out to netgalley and orbit).

so many things happened that i just absolutely did not expect. i very much had a “there’s not much left and too much to resolve” moment in the last 15% of the book. if you haven’t read one dark window yet and you’re a fan of unique magic systems and that dark & gothic feel, you absolutely need to! it’s a perfect spooky season read and two twisted crowns released today so you can read them back to back, i promise you won’t wanna put them down!

Amazing book, I couldn’t put it down. I’m sad it is over and I’m going to reread the first book so I can experience it all together.

Thank you Net Galley and the Author Rachel Gillig for this ARC!!
It was a much needed conclusion to this duology. It kept it’s dark gothic atmosphere, but brought in other pov’s; Ravyn and Elm. I thought they were much needed perspectives to add to the story. I’m also glad we got more back story on The Shepard King.

The courts hearts are as cold as the dungeons. The journey for the Twin Alders Card becomes a race along side of what becomes the kingdom. Some say fear will keep control of its people while others want to free its people of fear. All while you are dying wondering if Ravyn will ever get Elspeth back….

I did enjoy this book and loved this duology, but I did rate this book lower then the first because the pacing was slower.

Rachel Gillig delivers again with Two Twisted Crowns. This sequel in the Shepard King duology beautifully compliments One Dark Window by diving deeper into a well-established magic system and characters we had grown to love…or hate.

With more atmospheric writing, multiple dynamic POVs and an exciting enemies to lovers storyline, this story truly has it all. While I felt a bit torn with the ending, One Dark Window provided an incredibly original magic system combined with a plot that was easy to follow. I feel this was the perfect set up for Two Twisted Crowns to dive deeper into key details regarding the Providence cards, relationships and character backgrounds.

I thoroughly enjoyed the short blurbs from Elsbeth in between the chapters alongside the evolution of her integration with the Shepard King/Nightmare character. While the relationship between Ravyn and Elsbeth was undeniably easy to love, the dichotomy of Elm’s wit and dedication quickly made him my new favorite character. He brought a fun and unexpected twist to a seemingly dark narrative without feeling too gimicky.

The continuous uncovering of answers from my ongoing questions created a very enjoyable and fast-paced reading experience. Throughout the story, it was very evident that Gillig skillfully formulated each event with thought and intent, creating not only an exhilarating ending but also a satisfying one. I would like to note that I am glad this is a duology. As much as I would love to stay in the world of Blunder, this story felt complete, left no stone unturned and extending the series, I believe, would have been a disservice. For that it deserves five stars from me!

It's only been a week since I read the first Shepherd King book, so the plot was still fresh in my mind. I really enjoyed the concept of the series and I loved the characters' secrets and developments. I thought the magic was really unique and I really enjoyed learning more about it through Two Twisted Crowns. Rachel Gillig writes beautifully, lyrically and with such vision and direction. You can see that this story was so well plotted and the foreshadowing was so beautifully woven between the two books. There is depth in the world-building and it gave me Sleepy Hollow x dark fairytale/Grimm Brothers vibes. I don't even know if that's the best description - but the title says it all - it was twisted. Just like all the twists and turns this story took.

The magic's lore is very important and it is crucial to understand it to fully enjoy this series. I could see if someone isn't paying attention or trying to read it too quickly would get lost and get bored. It is definitely a book you should go in not chasing the end and more to get lost in.

I loved The Nightmare & Elspeth's relationship. Probably 10x more in this book than in the first one. The first comparison that came to my mind was Fourth Wing (Tairneanach x Violet). Of course, they are together for very different reasons but the banter made me chuckle all the same. I also liked the Nightmare and his Ravyn commentaries. But I don't want to spoil those for anyone.
Something that really surprised me, was how much I would live for Elm and Ione's story. I quickly became a huge fan of Elm and honestly at points - I forgot that this book was not based on him alone. I easily got lost in his character and development and... awesome character.

I did not do well holding my emotions in while reading it. It hit me with tears, outbursts of pure shock, anger and laughter. Overall, this was a really excellent duology and perfect for an autumn read.

(I posted on indigo & amazon.ca as well, but they are pending approval. I will try to add the links once approved.. I couldn't post the amazon one until it was released.)

Sinfully dark, beautiful, and haunting this book is everything and more that I wanted it to be, it destroyed me in all the best ways just to build me back up and knock me down over and over again and I loved every second of it.

Sitting down to write this review, wondering where to start when it's a story that I love so much when these characters hold such a special place in my heart, I had to go back to the very beginning of this book and think about it that way.

When I did that, well breathtaking is the first word that comes to mind, thinking of those first few pages, Elspeth, where we find her, and Rayvn trying to survive without her, trying to find answers that won't fix what's happened, it's all just magnificent.

In a story filled with love and loss, hope and despair, light and dark, the balance of our characters with the world they live in and through, I can't find words elegant enough to describe how this book came to life for me, how it held my hand one moment and destroyed me the next, I really can't wait to pick up book one and start all over again.

Reading this book, and seeing what happens with Elspeth, Ravyn, and their group of traitorous saviors... it was utter perfection that left me satisfied yet begging for more.

Now for those of you who are reading this wanting to know what happens, sorry I'm not telling you, you need to read it for yourself, you need to get lost in this mesmerizing tale and you need to form your own opinions of what is magic and what is real.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing an advance copy of this e-book, I have voluntarily read (and will again and again) and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Two Twisted Crowns' picks up where 'One Dark Window' left off. With the girl, the King… and the monster they became.

We get to find out more about the Providence Cards and how they were made, as well as The Shepherd King’s downfall. Although, now I want a prequel that covers his story.

I didn’t realize how much I missed this world until I started reading. The magical system is amazing and unlike anything I’ve read before.

The pacing was impeccable.
The angst- top tier.

And the new POVs added some more depth. Especially with a certain character… unavailable. And if you were fond of Elm in the first book, you’ll grow to love him in this one. His arc did not disappoint.

The reason the book hasn't gotten a full 5 star rating is that I wasn’t fully satisfied with how little interaction Elspeth and Ravyn had. All that buildup for just a few moments together (this is me being greedy because I love them). But also, during this duology we learned one thing; Magic does not come without a price. I felt like the ending of the book didn’t come at such a great cost that the magic has been known for.

Some might say the disappearance of a certain card was payment enough. And it did leave a bittersweet feeling, but I wanted the price to be clear and something more heart wrenching that all the characters would feel when all was over. That is not to say that I’m not happy with the book. Oh no, I stayed up all night reading this and I don’t regret that. At all.

It's a must-read for readers seeking to be spellbound by a unique and haunting fantasy. Perfect to read during the fall and winter, if you ask me.

Be wary, Be clever. Be good.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

📚Book 263 of 2023📚

SO good! I loved the twists and turns in this book, and that ending!! Chefs kiss!! Such a good duology!

Thank you to NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Publication date- TODAY! ❤️