I was so excited when I saw that I was approved for the digital arc of this book! One Dark Window was one of my favourite reads this summer and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to Elspeth. I’m happy to say that I was not disappointed.
Two Twisted Crowns is the final book in The Shepherd King duology. This book puts a greater focus on Elm and Ione in addition to Ravyn and Elspeth. We also get to learn more about the shepherd king and his motivations both past and present.
There wasn’t a single moment where I wasn’t completely engaged in the story or its characters. This is absolutely my favourite read this month, and I highly recommend it! I can’t wait to see what Rachel Gillig writes next! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

"The two were together, so the two were the same. The girl, The King...And the monster they became."

Two Twisted Crowns has left me in such awe with this duology. Such an incredible experience and truly wrapped up in the most perfect way. If you enjoy One Dark Window then I have no doubt you will fall even more in love with this book.

The unique magic system, riddles, twists, moody and gothic atmosphere, as well as the character arcs were everything I could ask for and more. Rachel Gillig had my heart in her palm with this one. And she gave it a squeeze many times. So many emotions were felt.

I really appreciated the multiple POVs as it added more depth to story. And although Ravyn and Elspeths romance takes a backseat in this story we are not let down in that department with other characters!❤️‍🔥 Elm really stole the show on this one. Between him and The Nightmare I can not choose who I loved more. For different reasons of course 🤭
There are many things that come to light that have been hinted at from the first book and looking back now you can really see how everything has been so well thought out and planned from the beginning. I would 100% reread ODW just to go back and catch all the little details the author has so intricately woven to create such a masterful end.
The pacing is very similar to ODW as well, with the first half being a little more slower paced. But after about 50% through hold on to your horses, cause it's a wild ride! This story was engaging and heartachingly romantic. I just can't give this book any less that 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit Publishers and Rachel Gillig for the gifted arc.

Wow. I am absolutely obsessed with this duology. One Dark Window was a tough act to follow for me, and Two Twisted Crowns did not disappoint. I loved this book!

It picked up right after the insane cliffhanger that ODW ended with. This book brings multiple POVS, which was so well done! I was living for it. So many chapters ended on a cliffhanger and then the next would be a different POV! It kept me at the edge of my seat THE WHOLE TIME!!

While we are still following Ravyn, The Nightmare, and Elspeth, we also get more Elm (my love 🥹) and Elspeth’s cousin Ione. I absolutely adored their story line. Elm is seriously the LOML. I love a pained MMC who secretly just wants to be loved, and Rachel wrote his character to perfection. 🤌🏻 also, he falls first is my absolute favorite romance trope and boy did he bring it 😭

The way all the storylines wove together at the ending was so well written. I just love her writing style. It’s just dark fantasy perfection. So lyrical and atmospheric. The story was SO unique and interesting. Just like the first book, the whole last quarter of the book had me STRESSING!! But I ultimately loved the way she wrapped it up. Although I honestly wanted more. I’m not ready to let these characters go 😭 I’m not sure what to do with myself now. Thank you Rachel, for this beautiful story.

This book was a beautiful ending to this magnificent, atmospheric fantasy duology! One Dark Window was one of my top reads of last year and I was itching for the sequel as soon as I finished. This book picks up right where One Dark Window ended and hits the ground running. The pacing of this book was great and there weren’t any parts when I was wishing things would move faster. I love this world that Rachel has created and wish we got even more (like another book!), but its conclusion was fulfilling.

I also loved getting to hear other characters' POVs and getting inside their heads a bit more! We also got to learn more about these characters and their past. The romance in this duology is a subplot and it’s done beautifully and I love the additional romantic relationship that was in this book.

The only comment I have on this book is that I wish we got some more Elspeth and her POV. I still loved this book and highly recommend this book and duology!

If you’ve read One Dark Window, then this review is probably not for you because, no doubt, you have already pre-ordered the 2nd book. If you haven’t, consider this review also a huge recommendation for the entire Shepherd King duology.

This story is a beautiful, dark, gothic fantasy with mythical, ancient magic and a very unique magic system. The plot is fascinating and the vibe is haunting; dark woods, enchanted mist, a mysterious infection, a magical card deck, and more (no spoilers here...).
In terms of tropes, we have self-discovery, self-acceptance, enemies to friends to lovers, found family, politics, betrayal, revenge, and above all, the concept of consequence – that everything comes with a price, which flows through every aspect of the story.

Two Twisted Crowns starts right where ODW leaves off. The characters are lovable and so relatable, and there’s a lot of character growth. In this book, we are also introduced to the Shepherd King’s origin story and learn about him as an actual character, not just the myth.

In ODW, Ravyn’s & Elspeth’s romance takes center stage, and in the 2nd book, we continue exploring their relationship in light of the new challenges it faces, while in TTC, a new romance is introduced, which I personally liked even better. There is very little spice, nothing graphic, but a lot of tension, and the banter is top-notch.
This book has multiple POVs, which I was nervous about at first – but it works perfectly, especially to support the delicate balance that is needed due to the shift between Elspeth’s and the Shepherd King’s perspectives.

To me, this was a masterpiece. As a fantasy reader, I can honestly say – this is the high I am always chasing when reading fantasy.

Thank you so much, Rachel Gillig, Orbit Books, and NetGalley, for sending me this advance reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review

Two Twisted Crowns is the stunning conclusion to The Shepherd King duology.

Elspeth and Rayvn continue their quest to gather all twelve Providence cards. They must venture far into the mist to obtain the final Providence card, the Twin Alders. But, only one person can lead them to the final card; the monster in Elspeth’s head. Will they make it before Solstice to save the kingdom, or will dark magic overtake the land?

If you enjoyed One Dark Window, you’ll absolutely love Two Twisted Crowns. The brilliant and unique magic system is explored further, there is vigorous action, heart wrenching betrayals, quests for revenge, and not one, but two romances.

I enjoyed every moment of this book. There was fantastic character growth, and the writing was beautiful. Every choice made by the author felt so intentional. The plot was incredibly well crafted and it was the perfect ending to this duology. This story is going to stick with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC.

I loved everything about this duology. The magic system was cool, the characters were great, and I loved the plot. I think my only complaint for this book was that I wish there was more Elspeth and Ravyn but Ione and Elm were a good distraction. This was such a good and interesting read and I"m excited to read more by this author.

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

When I found out I got an ARC for this book, I was so excited. I absolutely loved One Dark Window and was patiently waiting for the sequel.

Two Twisted Crowns continues to explore the enthralling gothic fantasy ambiance and the foundation of the unique magic system. Additional POVs from Ravyn and Elm were so fun to explore and made me appreciate their characters even more. I also loved reading more about Ione too and the integration of Elspeth/the Shepherd King/Nightmare. All around, Two Twisted Crowns was just a perfect conclusion to the duology. I’m going to miss this fantasy world and characters so much.

I consider this book one of my favorite reads of the year.

A perfect partner to One Dark Window! Two Twosted Crowns leaps over the bar set for it by its phenomenal predecessor, and explores its cast of characters and magical world-building to make for a sequel that continues to build on the things that works so well for One Dark Window. Perfectly paced. Perfectly developed. Perfect.

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was a satisfying ending to the duology. The card-based magic system was interesting and fresh, and I enjoyed the premise. It was a bold choice to take the protagonist from the first book out of the action so much, although I admire the follow-through of the stakes in the first book. Still, the lack of Elspeth made the first part of the book drag for me, especially as I warmed up to the new points of view. Once I got to the final half of the story it started to go much faster for me. I think this is a firm 3/5 for me. If you liked the first book, it will give a satisfying conclusion but just after a lot of extra stuff to wade through.

This was amazing!

I really liked that the book delved more into the Shepherd king’s backstory as well as developed Elm and Ione’s characters much more.

There were many plot twists that I didn’t see coming & I couldn’t stop reading to find out what happened next.

Thank you so much for the advanced copy! I have truly loved both books of the duology & think the plot and how magic is represented in the world of Blunder is truly a unique and captivating story!

👑Two Twisted Crowns Review👑

One Dark Window was certainly one of the highlights of spooky season 2022 so when I was approved for an eARC of the sequel, Two Twisted Crowns, I was so excited! As this is the second book in a duology, I will keep this somewhat brief to avoid spoiling either book. Everyone should get the chance to discover something new and enjoy it all the same.

While I did not re-read One Dark Window (I was too excited), I was able to immerse myself back into the story rather easily. I did find the readalong Fairyloot hosted on their website and did refer to their plot summaries a few times in the beginning to get my bearings. However, Gillig did such a great job with laying down hints of the previous plot for the reader, I think I would have been fine either way.

Similar to One Dark Window, Two Twisted Crowns had a similar darkness that was so addictive. I could not put this book down. The plot was so interesting, I just needed to know how the story would conclude. This time around there were a few different points of view. I really enjoyed them all. Each had something interesting going on that I just wanted to know more about.

In summary, this was a fantastic conclusion to the Shepherd King duology! My heart was absolutely full of emotion by the time I reached the end. I binged the book in very few sittings and I already cannot wait to re-read them both back-to-back. I cannot wait to see what Gillig comes up with next!

A huge thank you to @orbitbooks_us and @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! Two Twisted Crowns comes out on October 19th so there is plenty of time to read One Dark Window if you have not already!

⭐5/5 stars⭐

Two Twisted Crowns is the follow up to One Dark Window. I enjoyed this just as much as the first in the series. You'll want to read them in order. I'm excited to see what is next for Rachel Gillig.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

3.5

One Dark Window was such a surprise to me when I read it earlier this year and I think this sequel rounds out the duology nicely. Two Twisted Crowns picks up right after the events of the first book and contains a couple new perspectives. I liked the way the alternating POVs kept the pace feeling snappy and I liked that we got to see more of Elm and Ione as well as more background about the Nightmare.

I think this series would be perfect going into fall. It’s very atmospheric and takes place in some creepy woods. There’s magic based on a card system and vengeful spirits. I think this series definitely falls into the New Adult Fantasy Romance category, but it was fun and well written, and that’s a genre that is really having a Moment right now. The romances are well developed across both books, though I admit I liked the romance in this book more than in the first book.

Overall, I don’t think this duology will be particularly memorable for me; however, I had a good time with the series and I would be interested in seeing what Rachel Gillig writes next.

Thank you so much to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

God, I adore this world and I adore the characters who inhabit it. (Except Hauth.) I adore the prose and the fairytale feel and the gothic horror of this world. I'm sad to say goodbye both because I'll miss this story and because its denouement and conclusion feel incomplete to me. I'd have liked something a bit more. I'd have liked a more emotional follow-through, and for some things that were done "0ff-screen" to have been shown in the story.

Thank you "Netgalley" and the publishing house "Orbit" for this Arc in exchange for a fair review!

"Two Twisted Crowns" is the sequel to "The Shepherd King" duology. It takes place after the climactic end of the first book ("One Dark Window") and goes back and forth between multiple P.O.V. but focuses primarily on "The Nightmare" and "Prince Renelm's" journey. I loved the first book. The magic/world-building of this series is so unique and interesting. Having the mist, the infection, and a magical deck of cards that came at a price per use was what hooked me to read this series in the first place. But the interesting characters, complex riddles, and poetic prose were what had led me to continue reading the series and I'm so glad I did because this book has made this series one of my all-time favorites. The characters, the romantic plot lines from both stories, and the message of hope and perseverance even in the face of absolute peril struck me straight through the heart. I didn't think the first book could be beat, but this one absolutely obliterated the first one, which I think is a huge feat.

I won't spoil the ending but in the second half of the book I absorbed it all in one night and there were multiple times I was either on the verge of tears or crying. I loved how everything came full circle by the end and how the arcs of specific characters finished out. Especially "The Nightmare", he is officially one of my favorite characters ever. Learning about his past and what forced him to become the monster that he is had me feeling so many emotions. I loved how his story came to its conclusion, as well as everyone else's. I'm going to miss this world and its characters, but I can't wait to read what Rachel Gillig writes next! What an amazing debut!

P.S. Never forget. Be wary, be clever, be good. <3

Two Twisted Crowns, sequel to One Dark Window, book two of The Shepherd King…

To anyone that is worried that this book wont be as good as the first one-

This book is phenomenal, not only does it do One Dark Window justice, it does more. It’s its own candle in the dark. As I said in my first review of this series, this is gothic fantasy at it’s best.

The plot stays wicked throughout this novel and there are so many twists. Twists that I think were written flawlessly. It would be a disservice to say the main characters are Elspeth and Rayvn, those who read this understand that there are so many main characters. Elm, Ione, Jespyr, even The Nightmare. The slew of support characters, Emory, Petyr, Wik, Hauth, Linden, Erik, The Spirit in The Woods among many others made this story come alive. I fell in love with each for a wide span of reasons.

I am still in awe at the genius of the magic system with the Providence cards. I’ve never read anything like it and they are such a huge part of this tale. The lore that is revealed is breathtaking causing me to love The Shepherd King more than I hated him. And, the love stories transcend time.

This book, this series, has me in a chokehold. Dare I say, this is the best series I’ve read this year?!
I will forever buy everything that Rachel Gillig ever writes.

I received an advance reader copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.

Amazing!❤️ I loved this duology. The characters, the magic, the atmosphere everything was perfectly wonderful. I am so thankful to have received an ARC ! I don’t think I could’ve waited 500 years! But for those who did it’s definitely worth it!

I am not at all surprised that this book blew me away. One Dark Window was one of my 2022 standouts and made Rachel Gillig an auto-buy author for me. This was a worthy conclusion. A luscious, dark gothic fairytale. I enjoyed the expansion on Nightmare’s character, now one of my favorite morally grey literary characters. I liked the addition of Elm’s and Ravyn’s POV, despite desperately missing my girl Elspeth. I hated Ione and Elm in the first book but they had some fantastic redemption as we got to truly understand their characters. Overall, incredibly satisfying. Easily one of the best duologies I’ve read. Highly, highly recommend to fans of gothic fantasy, unique magic systems, dark fairy tales, and purple prose.

I

WOW. This was fantastic! The perfect ending to this duology - I could not put it down until I finished.

We get 3 POVs in this one - Elspeth/Nightmare, Ravyn, & Elm's. Elm's chapters were a treat and the ones I looked forward to the most. He really shines in this book and I was completely here for it! He was easily the one other character from ODW that I was the most curious about so I'm glad we got to see how things played out from his POV. I'm sure there will be feelings about Ravyn and Elspeth, but with the way the conflict unravels, it makes sense that the plot focuses more so on the individually than them actually together. There is another relationship that develops that really steals the show and gave me everything that I wanted and more. Their romance is easily one of the best things to come out of this sequel!

The pacing kept me on my toes, the magic system is still unlike anything I've read before (how cool are those cards), and the dark and gothic atmosphere still persists here and even more so as our characters embark on their journey to save Elspeth & Emory. Rachel Gillig's writing is phenomenal and wraps up each and every characters' story beautifully. Easily one of my favorite fantasy reads of the year.

Thank your Orbit Books for the ARC!