This plot is so unique. I really enjoy the magic system, it’s honestly one of my favourites. This story really captures the reader and has several plot points that can fit so many readers. I definitely purchased a physical copy for my collection!

"Two Twisted Crowns" by Rachel Gillig is a spellbinding fantasy novel that captivates from start to finish. Gillig's world-building is exceptional, creating a richly textured setting that draws readers in. If I could rate it more than 5-stars, I'd give it so many more. One of my favourite reads of the year. The intricate plot and well-developed characters make for a gripping and immersive experience. This book is a fantastic read for fans of fantasy and intricate storytelling.

I enjoyed this book- it was entertaining from start to finish and I’m looking forward to more from this author!

I really enjoyed this book! It was a great duology overall. The characters are fantastic, the world interesting.

4.5 ⭐️!!

*very minor spoilers*
I loved being back in this world! The multi-POV was such a nice touch to the follow up of One Dark Window. Two Twisted Crowns was darker, moodier, and the stakes felt much higher. I know Ione and Elm are crowd favorites, but the chemistry between Elsbeth and Ravyn will always be my Roman Empire. The magic system, the realm, the beautiful story Gillig has created will have me rereading this duology time and time again. Cannot recommend enough!

I was very excited to get back into the Shepherd Kings world! These are characters I’ve come to love and not just the primary characters, but the secondary ones as well. There is friendships, betrayal, new and old love interests… sometgimg for everyone. The story wasn’t just a continuation of book one, it has so much more to offer than that!

The dark gothic vibes of this book also have my heart! From castles to old magic, the clothing to the characters names, I loved it all!

Now, I did seem to get a bit lost with some of the story, but maybe that’s just me? I hope to have a relisten to this to see if I can pick up what I missed.

A very fitting end to the duology. I was just as captured by the story in this book as I was the first.

Thank you NetGalley, Orbit and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I liked Two twisted crowns a LOT, just not as much as one dark window. One of my favorite parts was getting to read Elm’s pov on their love story.

Overall, a very very good book. Would recommend.

I was really excited to read this after finishing the first book. Unfortunately, I was not as invested in this book while reading it as the first in the series. The multiple POV’s threw me off. I did enjoy the character dynamics though. Namely those between Elm and Ione. Overall not a bad book but not my favorite.

Two Twisted Crowns is a great follow up to the first book in this duology. I continue to praise the magic system, the characters and the mystery. I was very anxious to know the outcome for everyone! The pacing was good until the end - I think there was somethings that felt rushed, and I was kind of over it by the end so I rated this a 4. Great time! Definitely recommend!

This is book two of a series and I enjoyed reading more in this world. The magic system is unique and the plot keeps you engaged.

4.5

“To anyone who’s ever felt lost in a wood. There is a
strange sort of finding in losing.”

"Two Twisted Crowns" is the sequel to the beloved "One Dark Window" and the finale of The Shepherd King duology. As before, I love this duology and this world that Gillig created - she has such a poetic prose and creates a wonderful gothic fantasy vibe. I maybe went into this one with too high of expectations, and I did not love it as much as the first but I think it was still the perfect conclusion to the story.

"Two Twisted Crowns" is dominated by the Nightmare with very little Elisabeth and also focusing more on Elm. It felt more YA than the first but Gillig created connections, layers and iconic scenes that were superb and overall I enjoyed it.

+ love the cover and waiting patiently for Gillig's next novel.

Thank you to Orbit for the gifted copy.

Two Twisted Crowns was the perfect sequel and ending to one of my new favorite duologies. We get to still follow Elspeth and Ravyn in this sequel, but they step back a little to let Elm and Ione shine. Elm and Ione's story was so interesting, and although I was hesitant to focus on a new couple, I really loved how the author slowly introduced them to the reader as an additional main interest.

This duology is truly so unique and captivating. I love when I read a story and just wonder how the author has such a creative imagination to come up with the things they do, and I felt that tenfold in this series. The Nightmare and Elspeth were so wonderfully woven together but yet very obviously separate, and it felt perfectly done again. I was captivated from beginning to end, and it's going to take me a while to get over the book hangover I have!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this e-ARC! I do my reviews on my social media platforms. I am currently working on getting through my reviews so stay tuned! Leaving a rating as a placeholder for me and to not effect the books rating in order to post this. Thanks again!

Rachel Gillig absolutely nailed the landing for the conclusion of this story. I did not think I could love this story more than the first book but somehow I did. Gillig gets all the stars from me and is now an author whose new books I will always be keeping an eye out for. Read this duology!!!

I reread the first book in the series earlier this year so I could go in fresh to book 2, and I'm so glad I did. I really enjoyed this duology and was a little surprised at the pov's we got in this book. I really enjoyed seeing things from the other character's perspectives, because it added more depth to them and the reasons they were doing what they did. I cannot wait to read whatever Rachel Gillig writes next!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC in exchange for my honest review! Plain and simple, Rachel Gillig is a gem. If this is her debut series, she will be a powerhouse in publishing.

(Also, more books about feral gothic women, please and thank you.)

⇢➤ Plot: Picking up after the events of the first book, the crew must face the fallout of Elspeth’s and the Nightmare’s decisions. What does it mean to be a monster? Who decides which stories are told? And when it comes to settling a centuries-old debt at the heart of a nation, how far is too far?

This book has multiple POVs which help flush out side characters and the overall world of Blunder. Readers will see more of Elm, Ione, and side characters introduced in the first novel. The mystery of the Nightmare and the curse play a key role throughout.

⇢➤ Pros: Gillig’s writing is poetic yet succinct, a perfect fit for the gothic atmosphere she builds. She is an expert at incorporating metaphors and analogies that make sense for the world and don’t take the reader outside of Blunder. There is more brutality and higher stakes than the first book. The pacing is fast, the characters are engaging, and there is always something to look forward to. Whether it’s Ravyn’s quest, the Nightmare’s 500-year grudge, the crown princes, or Elspeth’s reclaiming of self, this is a page-turner.

Many fantasy novels introduce the idea of “free” or unlimited magic without consequences. This novel dismantles that trope and chooses to look at the cost of balance. Having the magic be tied to the greater world while distilled into tarot cards will always tickle me.

⇢➤ Cons: Due to the conclusion of the previous book, fans looking for more time between Elspeth and Ravyn will need to exercise extreme patience. There is romance in the book focused on other characters, but it’s more tempered.

⇢➤ Recommended for fans of: Margaret Rogerson

I love this series. I found I did like this one a bit less than the first , but I still was excited to find out what was going on.
I find the magic system really interesting and unique with the cards, and it was a fun read.

The world-building in Two Twisted Crowns provided so much knowledge about the history of the kingdom and its magic. I loved getting to know the Nightmare better and understanding his motivations on a more personal level. I still really liked the magic system, and everything came together in this story in ways that made all the mysteries make sense.

Overall, Two Twisted Crowns wrapped up this story really well and cemented this duology as one of my favorites. I cannot recommend it enough for anyone who enjoys gloomy fantasy with a side of romance. The covers of both books really do a fantastic job of representing the vibe of the duology. So, if the cover speaks to you, definitely pick these books up. All things considered, I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I love this world so much. And I am so happy that this author is one who realizes that sometimes a story just needs two books. I will be reading anything she comes out with!