I loved this so much! Even better than the first book. Any fantasy romance lover should read this! The writing is beautiful and I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

The Two Twisted Crowns is the thrilling conclusion of the Shepherd King series, the sequel to Two Dark Windows that you don't want to miss . It picks up where we left off, in the wake of the crimes committed, physically Elspeth is in jail, while her mind is trapped in the hidden world of the Shepherd King .

Desperate to save the real Elspeth, Ravyn is willing to go to any lengths, even if it includes making deals between two tyrant kings. In order to do that he sets off on a journey to collect the remaining cards bringing along with him his sister, fellow destriers, and the untrustworthy Shepherd King himself.

Along the way shocking truths are revealed, powers are pushed to their limits, and threatening betrayals around every corner. It's a matter of time before death comes for them all.

This second book was just as good as the first one if not better. We see a new romance blossom, major character development, and added on details to the story line that kept me glued to the pages.

In Two Twisted Crowns we get points of view of what is happening at the castle, what is being pieced together from the hidden Elspeth's , and also what is going on with Ravyn. These scenes were weaved together smoothly; I was absolutely delighted when everyone met up towards the end.

Even though the thriller aspect wasn't quite as strong, the not knowing of how the events were going to work together kept me on the edge of my seat. It was difficult to put this book down.

I absolutely adored the new romance between a different couple and the banter between the Shepherd King and Elspeth was a treat.

The ending...oh my goodness the ending, I wasn't and still not ready for the story to end for these characters. Two Twisted Crowns is the most perfect & satisfying conclusion to end this delightfully twisted series. I could not have asked for anything different and am sad this is it. So much love for this series!

Such an amazing book! I loved every second of it!!! I can’t wait to read more from Rachel Gillig. Ravyn is my favorite character!

“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.”

This was one of my most anticipated releases after I read One Dark Window earlier this year.

I’m always nervous when I dive into the sequel of one of my favorite, 5-star reads. One Dark Window is one of my most annotated books, so though I was excited to see the story’s conclusion, I can’t count how many times I’ve been disappointed by an anticipated sequel.

Two Twisted Crowns is no disappointment. I loved it. The hidden identity that was revealed blew my mind 🤯. This is a book that keeps you past your bedtime because you simply can’t put it down.

How Rachel ends the story, the multiple POVs, and the addition of another love story…chef kiss! 😘👌

I balled at the end at a certain part, it was bittersweet. I will say the only thing I wished was that we got more conversations between the Nightmare and Elspeth. I loved their interactions so much in book one, but their on-page time was limited in this book. I mean, a lot is happening simultaneously in different locations, and unless we want a Tower of Dawn/Empire Storms tandem moment, I understand why their interactions were limited. Still, I missed their banter. It’s still present, just not like it was in One Dark Window.

Overall, I adore this duology and it’s a perfect vibe for the spooky season 🖤🍁

There was something so mesmerizing about this book. This book might have been even more haunting, thrilling, mystical, and gothic than One Dark Window. I honestly had such a hard time putting this book down and I can’t stop thinking about it. This was such a beautifully done fantasy novel that has risen to be a top favorite.

The story picks up right where we left off from the second book, only to now follow Elspeth through the lens of The Shepard King. We dive straight into Ravyn and Elm’s perspectives as they work to reuniting the deck of cards to lift the mist from Blunder.

One of my favorite parts about this book was the multiple povs! I loved being able to learn more about Ravyn and Elm and their internal thoughts. They are so morally ambiguous and I loved reading scenes in their perspectives. There were good and bad things about them, and it was interesting to see what decisions they made. It made me love Ravyn and Elm so much more, especially Elm. Having their povs allowed them so much room for growth and how crucial their stories were to the bigger picture. I also just loved Elm so much, and his character arc throughout the novel.

I loved how Elspeth and The Shepard King became one, and how he ended up becoming an important character in this book. I think their dynamic was written so beautifully and it made the story more enriching having The Shepard King be a center part of the story. And of course the relationship between The Shepard King and Ravyn was very funny and enjoyable to read.

Getting the backstory of the cards added another element that I thoroughly enjoyed. We get a basic understanding of the magic system and the cards powers in the first book, but in this book we learned more about what was sacrificed for each card and how everything progressed. It added so much more to the story, why things were the way they were, and The Shepard King’s motivations. It added so much more dimension to The Shepard King’s character.

And of course I was enthralled with Rachel Gillig’s writing. She truly has a way with words that had me fully transported into this world and I don’t think I’ll be able to get over this book. And then of course, how everything connected in the end. I loved how intentional she was with the names, the cards, and the people, and how everything made so much sense. It was really wonderful seeing everything tie together.

This was such a good sequel and I’m so excited to read more of Rachel Gillig’s work! Already wanting to reread the duology, I miss this world and the characters so much.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit books for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

5⭐️

Let me start by saying, I just finished this, and am struggling to put into words how much I enjoyed this book, and how devastated I was when it was over. I did not expect to love Two Twisted Crowns as much as/possibly more than One Dark Window, but this book blew me away. This is me tell you, that if you have been sitting on One Dark Window, READ.IT.NOW so you can jump right into Two Twisted Crowns without much of a wait.

This book picks up right where One Dark Window ends, and we do not have to wait long to be pulled right back into the hunt for the The Twin Alders card in the hopes of reuniting the deck. As the book unfolds, we get to learn more about the Providence Cards, what was taken to create them, and the Shepherd King himself. To say that this Nightmare became a favorite of mine is an understatement. The banter we get between Ravyn and him, and dare I day it, kinship that develops, gave me quite a fondness for both of them.

The ending of this book had me in tears, and it honestly ended better than I had envisioned it ending. I don't want to give anything away, so all I can say is this: this book does not struggle from the curse of sequels. Read it!

Wowowowowow!

I WANT MORE! BUT ALSO WHAT A GOOD WAY TO END EVERYTHING!

This book was just such a good close out to a duology. I didn't realize it was a duology till I finished, and now I'm sad that I'll never see these character again. I find Rachel's writing so smooth, so unique and very easy to read. I love how she describes and how well she develops her characters.

I loved One dark window so much I read it in three hours one night (might be a new record). I think I liked Two Twisted Crowns more! The character development and the romance was just so amazing. Raven and Elspeth was so good. I also loved getting to learn more about the Nightmare and his backstory. His story made me very emotional and I'm so happy with how it was wrapped up.

Elm was a surprise for me, I didn't expect to love him as much as I did, and he really grew and made me become emotionally invested in him.

Overall Two Twisted Crowns was such a good way to wrap up the story, but I am so sad it is over I need more of these characters!

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for letting me have an early edition of this ebook in exchange for a honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! This was greatly appreciated as I absolutely inhaled the first novel, One Dark Window. I would rate this book a 3.5, a solid sequel which I enjoyed, but was simply just a little bit less than the first.

I was happy with the way all the character's arcs were wrapped up at the end, however it was just a little less exciting. With the Shepard King in Elisapeth's body, the romance with Rayvn couldn't continue, as must as I personally loved the Shepard King calling him 'stupid little bird' all the time. The interactions between the characters was less varied here, so the adventure felt predictable. I wasn't again Elm and Iona's romance, and by the end was rooting for them, but if it was more hinted at in the first book perhaps this change wouldn't have been so jarring.

Overall it is a good sequel that leads to a satisfying ending, I just wished the first novel and sequel blended a bit more together to make the transitions smoother. Good writing, interesting plot, I am excited for this author's future books.

What a stunning conclusion to the nightmare’s story. I didn’t realize how much I needed more Elm. I loved this book so much! The story, the character growth, all the twists and turns. I hate ending a series and having to say goodbye to the characters, but the ending of this one made it a little less bittersweet.

We learned so much more about the nightmare, so much that I didn’t expect. There are so many lessons being learned. The dangers of always wanting more and never seeing what is already right in front of you, the way grief can overtake a person, how power can change a person.

I don’t think there is anything about this book that I didn’t enjoy. The multiple POV kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen next. Elm and Ione?!?! More Ravyn and Elspeth. There aren’t enough words for how much I loved these books.

I will for sure be recommending both of these books to everyone!

Great sequel to the first book! I am looking forward to reading other books by the author and cant wait to see how this series ends

NO SPOILERS

Through some miracle, I was gifted a digital arc of two twisted crowns by Rachel gillig on NetGalley.

Idk what gods i appeased, but the spirit of the wood was really lookin out for me.

I DEVOURED the first book. I knew my ass was going to lose my damn mind when the second book came out in November. On a whim, I applied for an ARC through NetGalley. When I tell you a SCREAMEd, when I got the email telling me I had been approved, that is an understatement.


This book kept me gooped and gagged the entire time. I can’t wait for everyone to get a chance to read this.



Rachel really put her whole GILLIGUSSY into this series, and I just want to let her know: WE APPRECIATE YOU GIRL. LOVE YOU. I will read anything else you decide to write ever.

Maybe when the book is out for a week or so, I’ll write a review with spoilers, but until then, just know that this second book did not disappoint. It lived up to the hype. It exceeded it. It will be worth it, and you should calendar some time on publishing day to read it in one sitting.

I know I will be pre-ordering my copy and marking it up in all my favorite parts.

This was an amazing end to this duology even though I hated to finish it. I honestly couldn’t be more happier with how it ended.

I don’t even know how to give a review without giving away the whole plot! What I can say is I love how she built the world and it flowed so seamlessly with the first book. Nothing seemed forced. I’m glad she went into details of a few of the characters back story.

I literally felt like I was part of the story. Well done!

Two Twisted Crowns was fast paced from the start and never let up. I devoured this sequel as quickly as I did the first. And oh, was this sequel just beautiful.

I don't want to say too much, as that would include spoilers for the first book, but the dark horror setting of Blunder and its magic continues in this sequel- a perfect read for the spooky season. Where the first book sets up the world and magic system, this sequel focuses on the characters. Questions are answered and we learn more about our main characters- all of them.

I highly recommend this duology for the unique magic system and the loveable characters. You'll be cheering them on the whole time. This was one of my most anticipated releases this year, and I loved it. I can't wait to read more from Rachel Gillig.
4.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had high expectations for One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns. While I like the creative idea for these books and think both were well written in a poetic and fantastical way, I still wanted a little more.

Two Twisted Crowns picks up right where the first book left off and since the magic system has already been explained, we’re able to see more plot and backstory which really tidied everything up nicely.

However, I think the story would have been more realistic with infected people having been studied and experimented on to understand how the crown could be challenged and/or how the crown could use peoples magic to their benefit. There are a few minor aspects of this in the storyline but not enough in my opinion.
I also expected and wanted more action or revenge in the plot for all the lost souls.

Two Twisted Crowns picks up right where One Dark Window lends and does not miss a beat.

Everything about this sequel was absolute perfection. It built on the things I already loved from book 1 - the eerie setting, the unique magic system, and the interesting cast of characters - and added so much more depth. We get to experience more of the history of the Shepherd King and Blunder, yet while always moving the plot forward. It was so much fun getting to spend more time with different characters and get their POV (🖤 Elm). And the way Rachel wrapped everything up with the ending was just so satisfying.

I laughed. I cried. I laughed while crying. Infinity stars.

If you read and enjoyed One Dark Window, I have no doubt you will love the sequel.

5/5 stars!

I did NOT expect what I got from this book (in the best way possible). To be honest, and something that is probably an unpopular opinion, I did not fall in love with Gillig's first book in this Duology. I loved the originality in the magic system and the plot, but it just didn't pull me in as much. But THIS. THIS BOOK. Her second book is a masterpiece! I found myself racing through chapters to switch back to the next part of each character's story. It was rivetting, nail-biting, and just so well done. I fell in love with some of our side characters from the first book and really enjoyed the magical intrigue and the themes of power and corruption. This is definitely one of my new favorite books and is being released just in time for the perfect read during spooky season. READ TWO TWISTED CROWNS (after you've read One Dark Window, of course).

A big thank you to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Rachel Gillig for allowing me the opportunity to read an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC of this book.

I'm not sure what to say that's not a spoiler beside "wow". I laughed, I cried, and I'm going to miss these characters so much.

It picks up directly after the cliffhanger of book one and dealing with those consequences. We learn more about the forming of the Providence Cards and how they work. I love Elm, Ione, Rayvn, and Elspeth, (and even the Nightmare). One of the best and most compelling magic systems in a fantasy book that I've ever read.

5 star, 10/10 recommend to everyone. I'll miss these characters but look forward to more from Rachel Gillig; they are going on my instant buy list.

4.5 ⭐ rounded up!

If you enjoyed One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig you are not going to want to miss this. The highly anticipated sequel about The Shepherd King was everything I had hoped it would be and more. The story of Elspeth and Ravyn continue as they work to gather the twelve providence cards.

As they race to find The Twin Alders card before the Solstice, to cure the kingdom of the dark magic that is infecting it, they must travel past the forbidding mist-cloaked forest which surrounds them. As Elspeth battles with the Monster in her head in search of the final card. Ravyn will stop at nothing to protect her from The Nightmare and free them from the sickness which plagues them.

I was in it for the mystical magic and beautiful relationship of Ravyn and Elspeth. And although I was disappointed to find that Elspeth's character was almost non- existent in the sequel, I rather enjoyed the background story of Elm and the lovely Ione.

Rachel Gillig swept me away with her beautiful writing style, and captivating characters. I only hope this isn't the end, because TREES I want more!

Thank you NetGalley, Orbit Publishers, and Rachel Gillig for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This series gives fairytale vibes. It was fun, but dark in places. The characters aren’t the most fleshed out I’ve ever read, but you still root for them.

This sequel to One Dark Window was just as deliciously dark and twisted as the first book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down! I loved the gothic vibes and the romance, as well as the magic and the writing is just beautiful.

We get multiple points of view in this book, which I really enjoyed. I got a much better understanding of Ravyn this time around. He is such an angsty and sad young man that has held a burden for so long that you just want to wrap him up in a huge hug and tell him everything is ok. His concern and love for Elspeth really shines through as well. We also get to hear and learn more from the Nightmare, who possesses Elspeth. We learn a lot more about who he is and how he came to be. The third point of view is Elm, who I was very intrigued by in the first book, but we didn’t know that much about. He is another very broken character, but who triumphs over his torturers in the end.

It is through the Nightmares chapters that we learn more about the cards and their original purposes. I loved how the maiden card went from a simple magic that enhanced beauty to one that provided health and vitality as well as healing to whoever wields it. This is a complex magical system that is very unique. The mist that hangs over the land and infects those that are not protected was an interesting concept as well. The infected that survive are often given powers that could be seen as a gift or a curse.

There are two parts to this story as well as a second romance. Ravyn, Elspeth, and Jaspyr go on a quest to find the missing Twin Alders card. It is a perilous journey filled with adventure and heartbreak. Elm stays behind and he ends up helping Ione to find her Maiden card, which has been hidden in the castle. The romance that develops between these two is quite steamy and spicy, but I really enjoyed it and liked these two together. Ravyn’s and Elspeth’s romance took a bit of a break because of what happened at the end of book one, but they are constantly in each other’s thoughts, and their love for each other shines through regardless of their issues.

The writing and world building continues to be superb in this second book. There are times when I was totally immersed in this world and worried for the characters lives at times. The pacing was just fast enough with some good action sequences and twists that kept you on your toes. I loved how the themes of balance and fate as well as love was seamlessly woven throughout the story. This duology has a very dark fairy tale feel to it with it moody, mystical setting.

If you enjoyed the first book I am pretty confident that you will enjoy this one two. This is an amazing start to what I hope will be a long career for this author. I can’t wait to read her next book.