Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this earc

Normally I would tell why you should read this book in detail. But all you need to know is it’s a great conclusion to the duology. Elm and Ione will steal your heart
Ravyn and Elspeth and the Nightmare will save the day and all the bad guys will pay for their scenes.

It’s spooky, it’s the best type of romance and it’s great writing. Go read it.

4.5 Stars
🤍 Thank you @orbitbooks_us for the earc of Two Twisted
Crowns 🤍

I was blown away by Rachel Gillig’s debut, One Dark Window, and couldn’t wait to read the sequel to this duology.

This story is the perfect read for spooky season. The atmosphere is perfect, dark and twisty with a mystery to keep me turning the pages.

The stakes are higher in the book, relationships tested, characters showing their strength, and romance …well yes, there’s that too 🔥

A fantastic duology that I would definitely recommend to fantasy lovers!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆/5
Steam: open door
.
TW: blood, violence, death, language

➸ 4.5 ⭐️
Loved this more than One Dark Window!

I thought ODW was a great debut, the magic system was phenomenal, the vibes on point, romance and characters great; but it wasn't perfect. Certain things like the pacing in the beginning and the start of romance between Elspeth and Ravyn felt off. However, where ODW lacked, Two Twisted Crowns made up for it.

Where the first book was more plot driven, the sequel focuses more on who the characters are and their relationships.
TTC didn't have as many shocking twists as ODW but the emotional impact was better.
Elm and Ione, and even the Nightmare, really shone in this book.

Ione's pretty nuanced and I loved that, I found her more relatable - she's stripped of everything she knows, abused, constantly challenged and in the end her character development was great.
Same goes for Elm, though with him it's more of we finally get know him better through his chapters. I absolutely adored getting know him.

Elm and Ione's chemistry and banter was great. Dare I say I loved their romance more than Elspeth and Ravyn's. I think it was built better and both of them are the type of character I usually fall for in fantasy books so I found it much easier to connect with them and their love story.

Loved the multiple POVs, didn't have any problems with the pacing it was great, the twists were still shocking.
Two Twisted Crowns is better and more interesting . I definitely think that the first book would've benefitted from different POVs. Loved reading what Ravyn thought, seeing his inner strggle, the way he unraveled because of what happened to Elspeth.

It's not often that the sequel is better than the first book, but I'm happy that this was the case here.
The ending was also great and I'm sad to say goodbye to these characters. I hope RG will return to Blunder one day even if it's just for a prequel story or novella.

eternal gratitude to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

“The Twin Alders is hidden in a place with no time. A place of great sorrow and bloodshed and crime. Betwixt ancient trees, where the mist cuts bone-deep, the last Card remains, waiting, asleep. The wood knows no road— no path through the snare. Only I can find the Twin Alders... For it was I who left it there.”

An idealistic continuation of One Dark Window – Brings us Two Twisted Crowns. The second installment of the Shepherd King Duology by Rachel Gillig. In One Dark Window, you meet Elspeth, Ravyn, Elm, Jespyr, and of course The Nightmare – but the highlight of the rest of this journey is spotlighting Ravyn, Elm, and Jespyr – while they continue collecting the twelve Providence Cards and Elspeth thrown into darkness. This expands the POV from every direction of each character. Giving this whimsical gothic romance the grand finale it deserves.

The love and infatuation I have for this series, this Author’s writing style, is unfathomable. This is MY idealistic Gothic Fantasy Romance. Extremely plot driven, with angsty tension… that is so… Divine. Even the smallest fraction of detail can give anything away. Do yourself a favor and curl up with Rachel Gillig this Fall and let her tell you the tale of Blunder.

Thank you, Orbit Books & NetGalley for this spellbinding experience!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and definitely lived up the hype of the first!

I love the world that Rachel created and I really enjoyed being back into this unique world and magic system! I definitely felt the lack of Elspeth in this book but it did help we got a lot more in depth to the Nightmare’s past. He is one of my favorite characters along with Ravyn!

I enjoyed the different POVs we got in this book. I felt like it added to the story and showed a different perspective to what’s going on! I thought Two Twisted Crowns was a great wrap up to the duology and the characters definitely got some justice and revenge!

This has to be the best book I've read in all of 2023. And the year isn't even over yet! Seriously Rachel Gillig has blown the fantasy genre out of the water! This book picks up directly where the first one left off which I am extremely thankful for because after the ending in book one I was shook. We get more POVs in this book which I loved. It was so interesting to find out the internal workings on some secondary characters by reading through their point of view. Of course the King and Rayven were my favorite (no surprise there.)

I could tell by 17% of this book that this duology was going to be my favorite of all time. I could not recommend these books enough. If you’re on the fence about reading them, let this be a sign that it’s a must.

Two Twisted Crowns picked up immediately after One Dark Window ends. It’s fast paced right off the rip and the high stakes just keep coming. I absolutely ADORED Elspeth’s POV and the predicament she finds herself in. It’s such an otherworldly experience (and without spoiling I cannot say more about it)

I can’t put into words how much I love the riddles and rhymes in this book. They are so fun to read and hit so hard. Rachel Gillig does a fantastic job weaving these into her story. It really makes me look forward to scenes with the nightmare and trying to decipher them. These also add to the all around ominous vibe which gives it just enough of a spooky feel while still holding onto fantasy.

I am HERE FOR all the screen time Elm and Ione get in this book. I am literally obsessed with them. Their story was top notch and I couldn’t get enough. I always love when authors go more in depth with side characters. This ensures that side characters don’t feel like chess pieces moving the plot along.

This sequel is definitely darker than the first book but in a good way — all the high stakes have one hell of a payoff. The scene around 70% and on are incredible and painted such a cool picture in my mind & that is about the time my eyes were racing across the page at lightening speed.

I did not want this book to end, but my gods the ending was spectacular. It still left me with sadness but I can’t imagine the book ending any other way. This was the easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given, and I would give everything to go back and read it again for the first time.

**spoiler alert** Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

"I am the shepherd of shadow. The phantom of fright. The demon in the daydream. The nightmare in the night."

I loved One Dark Window so much; I was worried that the second book in the duology would suffer from Sequel Syndrome. It. Did. Not. Two Twisted Crowns absolutely lived up to the first book, and in some areas even surpassed it.

Getting to know Nightmare and watching the relationship between the Shepherd King and Elspeth grow and evolve was so bittersweet. The character development of Nightmare killed me. I loved that we got to be inside their shared mind and psyche. I also enjoyed traveling through the woods with our characters--it gave us that traditional fantasy feel of a hero's journey, on a dangerous quest. The secondary plot with Ione and Elm made it so easy to fall for those characters after not getting much of them in the first book. Their use of magic and deception within the castle was so easy to get sucked into.

I am still in awe of this strange magic system in this mist filled world. I cannot think of another novel I've read with a magic system quite like this one. I will say that I missed the cards and riddles in the beginnings of the chapters, but they might only be missing in the ARC copy. Catch me speaking in rhymes for the foreseeable future.

I know that I won't be able to stop thinking about this duology for some time now. It will absolutely be on my list to recommend to friends and family, as well as on my rereads shelf. I will be on the lookout for any other releases from Rachel Gillig in the future.

Thank you again for an advanced copy! Headed to preorder my own copy now too!

"There once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There was also a King, a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same. The girl, the King, and the monster they became."

Be Wary. Be Clever. Be Good.

What an absolutely fantastic adventure! I loved the conclusion to the Shepherd King duology. The pacing, the characters, the twists and turns, the reveals! I literally cannot think of a single thing I did not like, I thought the book was very atmospheric, making it a MUST read any October and I was absolutely glued to my kindle for two days devouring every single word. As captivating as I found Ravyn and Elspeth in One Dark Window, Elm and Ione are my new obsessions. I loved their dynamic. Just a perfect conclusion to a fantastic series and I cannot wait to read it again.

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

When I received an arc for this book, I FLIPPED. As we all know, book one 'One Dark Window' ended on a major cliffhanger. I couldn't wait to meet back up with Elspeth on her continued journey. Where book one is single POV, book two is multiple POV's. I was immediately thrown off as I didn't expect the multiple POV'S at all.

However, I continued through hoping for some insight into Elspeth's story line. I was disappointed to find Elspeth completely on the back burner for this book.

Elm & Ione have a romance blossoming, but I couldn't get into it. I love a good slow burn, and this felt sort of 'insta love' for me. I found myself skimming their chapters to get back to Ravyn's POV, alongside with the Nightmare.

The Nightmare & Elspeth's relationship has been the one I have been most interested in since book one. It is nuanced, layered, full of darkness, and scraps of light. I love their tale. A father and daughter like bond, even though that not the complete way to encompass their relationship. There is love there, and it is so heartbreaking to behold the brief windows into the nightmare's heart.

In saying all of this, I felt something unexpected. Boredom. Skimming chapters, and only finding Elspeth's brief moments of clarity started to feel like a chore. I think this book held moments of beauty, but unfortunately, they were too hard to find through the forest.

I received this book from Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This BOOK!!! A stunning conclusion to Elspeth's story. Somehow I loved this book even more than the first one, which I didn't know was even going to be possible! It is the perfect fall read - dark, magical, mysterious. It was one of my most anticipated fall releases and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

We pick up where we left off in One Dark Window. Elspeth is literally lost in the Nightmare….can she find her way back to Ravyn? More importantly, can she find her way back to herself? While Elspeth struggles with her internal battle, her friends continue their quest to find the Providence Cards and free themselves from the shackles of an oppressive ruler.

Without giving too much away, I will just say that I really loved getting to see some of the other characters' stories and perspectives. They were absolutely fantastic and I was so engrossed, I could not put this book down! The ending was everything I hoped for and the journey getting there was very, very well done. Rachel Gillig has officially been added to my auto-buy author list!! This duology is going down as one of my all time favorites! I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

I absolutely loved this book. One Dark Window left off on such a cliff hanger that I was anxiously awaiting the release date of Two Twisted Crowns until Netgalley was so kind to put me out of my misery!
Let me start with saying that I love love love Ravyn. The angst, the fact that he fell first, and the way he is tirelessly searching for a cure to bring Elspeth back captured my heart. The subplot with Elm almost broke my heart into pieces. I wanted nothing but happiness for my morally grey love interests.
This is such a unique world that Gillig created and I can honestly say I've read nothing like it. This book immediately picked up where the first book left off and I was immediately immersed into the story once again. The story flowed very nicely and was multiple POV unlike the first book which was solely from Elspeth's POV.
This story has everything that anyone could ever ask for in a sequel including a happy ending. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Sarah J Maas and Kerri Maniscalco.

I wasn’t sure where this was going to go, but from the very beginning I was pull in to the story. It was such an emotional journey with twists and turns that. I wasn’t expecting.

Two twisted crowns picked up exactly how I was anticipating. Rachel Gillig has an incredible talent for pacing and written an incredible plot line. I haven’t read a book that has kept me this enthralled since Fourth wing earlier this year. This is exactly what I needed to kick off spooky season.

In "Two Twisted Crowns," the gripping sequel to "One Dark Window," Rachel Gillig takes readers on a thrilling journey through a kingdom consumed by dark magic and tyranny. Elspeth and Ravyn, armed with most of the twelve Providence Cards, embark on a quest to find the elusive Twin Alders and save their kingdom from impending doom, guided by the enigmatic Nightmare. While the sequel maintains the atmospheric allure of its predecessor, it also introduces a distinct vibe and focuses less on Elspeth, who is under the Nightmare's control. The narrative split between Elm and Ravyn delves into themes of balance, the cost of revenge, and the transformative power of trauma. "Two Twisted Crowns" is a captivating conclusion to the duology, recommended for fans of gloomy fantasy with a touch of romance.

As soon as you start reading Two Twisted Crowns, you’re immediately pulled right back into the dark, magical world that is Blunder.

You learn more about the providence cards and the way they came to be, opening up the world for more plot points and schemes (this magic system is one of my favorite ones I’ve ever read about in a fantasy book).

We get chapters with Elm’s POV in this book and it adds an entirely new layer to the story. I absolutely fell in LOVE with Elm in this story.

The nightmare still has the same sass as book one, which I absolutely love - it gives him a more human quality, even though he's not a being (anymore).

I wasn't quite sure where we'd see characters go or how everything would play out after the ending of One Dark Window, but I think it ended super well and wrapped up perfectly. Rachel's writing is extremely immersive and paints beautiful pictures. Best duology I've ever read!

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig was exactly was I was hoping for after reading One Dark Window. It was attention grabbing and I think it finished the series in a way that was very satisfying.

I absolutely devoured this book. Once I finished One Dark Window, I immediately wanted to read Two Twisted Crowns. I am learning as I’ve read a few darker/gothic leaning fantasy this year that I truly love worlds that are a little more gritty. The high stakes plot in Two Twisted Crowns keeps the book compelling and I felt that the overall pace was perfect,

I’ll admit that I’m more of an Elm girl so I really loved seeing Ione and Elm develop. I also loved seeing Ione open up and getting to understand who she is. I also enjoyed following Ravyn as he’s grappling with the “loss” of Elspeth as the Nightmare has fully taken over. Seeing Elspeth’s perspective as she’s forced down was also an interesting view.

I love the magic system of this whole duology. My biggest complaint with the overall end of the duology is just that it maybe felt a little too tidy. With such big stakes, I expected some fall out from clearing the mist but it seemed like everyone got there happily ever after and it was wrapped up in a neat little package. It definitely didn’t take away from my overall experience but I would have liked to see more of what happens after the mist is lifted. All that being said, I’m sad to see this world go! I wish I could follow these characters for a much longer time.

THIS DUOLOGY is INCREDIBLE. Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for my advanced digital and physical copies of Two Twisted Crowns releasing October 17th.

These books are the perfect gothic spooky season reads! You can expect:

🖤A gothic setting with an encroaching magical mist that consumes anyone without a magical charm
❤️Truly unique magical Providence cards granting holders with temporary powers
🖤Family houses engaged in court intrigue, posturing and betrayals for control of the cards
❤️A (rather snarky and cryptic) monster who has been waiting 500 years for revenge
🖤A band of misfits attempting a dangerous and traitorous heist to unite the deck of cards to banish the mist
❤️Covert glances, fake courting, arranged marriage, and forbidden love
🖤Stong heroines and truly swoon-worthy heroes
❤️Abominable villains (seriously!)
🖤Twists, turns, secrets, risks, edge of your seat, can’t put this book down suspense and conclusion
❤️Found Family
🖤Book Hangover

Readers are swept into a magical world of old castles, magical forests and mist, and a band of characters determined to right the wrongs and save their loved ones and town from evil and oppressive rulers. You will laugh, gasp, jeer, cuss, swoon, and cheer on this rollercoaster! Don’t miss out and add this to your fall TBR today 🖤.

"To anyone who's ever felt lost in a wood. There is a strange sort of finding in losing."

Rachel Gillig takes us back to Blunder and into a world filled with magic, mystery, and tension-filled adventure. The stakes are high for Ravyn and Elspeth as they try to unite the Providence Card deck and end the infection, but as they journey to find the Twin Alders card, the monster inside of Elspeth's head takes control.

The writing and plot of this story was simply exquisite and beautiful. With multiple POVs and subplots, it could've been easy to feel lost, but Rachel Gillig wove an intricate tale that captivated me from the first page.

I fell in love with Elspeth and Ravyn in Book 1, and we were blessed with an unexpected love story in this book. It was one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read - the journey of finding someone who loves you for who you are and encourages you to feel was touching and extremely emotional. "Then be angry.... It looks well on you."

"I'd be your King, but always your servant. Never your keeper."

The Nightmare is one of my favorite characters. I loved his snark and his loyalty to Elspeth. He truly cared for her and wanted to save Blunder, not for his own revenge, but for her to have a better life.
"'You vile traitorous SNAKE.' Tether yourself, dear one, the Nightmare said, unaffected. It's only hair. "

I loved every part of this week, every character. Rachel develops her characters and world so well. I cannot wait to see what else she writes.

Star Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:
🌶️🌶️ / 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Netgalley and OrbitBooks for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy!