4.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for the Arc.

After reading One Dark Window only a few months ago, this quickly became one of my most anticipated reads for 2023. Rachel Gillig created such a unique world and magic system, unlike one I had ever read before, and I am happy and sad this duology is now complete.

While Two Twisted Crowns felt a little slow at the start, there was a lot of ground to cover following the ending of ODW. In the end there was some romance, a lot of action, mystery and the perfect end to a wonderful series. I think fans of ODW will enjoy this finale and love the ending.

This is one of the best books I’ve read this year!

One Dark Window was about Elspeth and the Nightmare. Two Twisted Crowns is about Blunder- its history and what it will take to undo the savage reign of the Rowan’s and uplift the poisonous mist.

Interwoven character point of views make up the complex plot and timelines of this story. Ravyn, Jespyr, Elm, Ione, and the Nightmare (with Elspeth) continue on their journey to unite the deck of Providence cards by unearthing the last card for completion- the Twin Alders. To do this they must bleed, barter, and bend to the will of the Spirit of the Wood. This journey is riddled with pain, manipulation, deceit, and treachery, but also shows them what it really means to love.

Speaking of love- there’s even a new and enchanting love story in this one! I found it entirely sweet and an important aspect to the plot.

Rachel Gillig made the transition from One Dark Window to Two Twisted Crowns seamless. The plot is strong and the characters have newfound depth. In the last third of the book, I was wrecked by plot twists I should’ve seen coming. The finale to this duology was the work of a genius. I still can’t get over how unique the creation and system of the Providence cards is. It’s an unbelievably cool idea. Gillig is an author to keep an eye on and snatch up any books with her name on them. 5 stars!

A great thank you goes out to Rachel Gillig, Orbit, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I was so excited to read the second book of this series knowing that this was a duology and I'm happy to report I was not disappointed. I love that a story can be told in two books and doesn't drag out. Ione and Elm and very different compared to Ravyn and Elspeth and their story is perhaps more in depth because we've already met them in the first book. The conclusion of the fate of the kingdom, the mist, the how Nightmare gets his revenge, is all resolved and the end still managed to take me by surprise. If you didn't like the rhyming and riddles in the first book, I'm sorry to say there is still a lot in this book. Each chapter doesn't have a little blurb anymore though. I personally did not mind reading the rhymes but I don't think too hard to figure out what they mean. Fans of dark forests will be excited to read a lot of forest action in this book. Overall, I'm sad to leave this world but happy to have experienced it.

thank you to Rachel Gillig, Orbit Books US, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. how fitting is it that my first Advanced Reader’s Copy was one of my most highly anticipated reads!

this sequel to “one dark window” was everything i could have hoped for and more! this book has multiple points of view, including Elm’s, who has quickly become my favorite character of the duology. the entire book was fantastic, of course, but Elm’s pages had me smiling and swooning!! after ODW, i wanted to know more about Ravyn and Elm and Two Twisted Crowns certainly delivered on that aspect….i love these characters so much. i also loved learning more about The Nightmare, the Providence Cards, and even their long term affects.

also, Rachel Gillig, how dare you make me feel so many emotions all at once!! i absolutely devoured this book and I have not one single complaint. if you loved One Dark Window, you will absolutely be obsessed with the conclusion to the duology.

if you have been waiting for the release of the sequel, know that this book is 100% worth the wait and you will not be disappointed. this book is easily in my top reads of the year without hesitation. i feel so honored to have been able to read this gorgeous book before the release date.

if you haven’t read book 1…what are you waiting for? #TWINALDERS

Possible spoilers - proceed with caution.

What an absolutely perfect sequel and duology.
Two Twisted Crowns starts flawlessly and picks up right where we left off with One Dark Window. Throughout the entire book, I couldn’t help but think how incredible Rachel Gillig’s writing style is. Her beautifully vivid imagery is weaved through each page with such purpose, power, and eloquence.
I found Two Twisted Crowns to be a gripping and emotional journey from the first page until the last. I really enjoyed the multi-POV’s we get, and from characters I didn’t necessarily expect this time around.
We are gifted with not one, but two damaged and heartbreaking romantic relationships, watching the hardships each endures and seeing how or if they can prevail in the face of darkness.
I absolutely adored the expanded character work of Elm and Ione, though reluctant at first. I came to hold those characters very close to my heart through this story.
The intricate family dynamics, the tumultuous politics, and the ominous atmosphere of this tale made this an easy 5 as I knew it would likely be with how much I loved book one.

I’ll hold the The Nightmare and his story forever.

Be wary, be clever, be good.

God this series is so beautiful. Truly the only negative thing I can say is that I wish this was a trilogy not a duology bc I just want more of this world & these characters 🥹

I won’t post any spoilers until the book is actually released but I thoroughly enjoyed this & really loved how everything was tied up in the end. By far one of the most unique fantasy books I’ve read in a very long time

Ione & Elm truly carried this book and I loved their part in this book! Their romance was so beautifully written

Thank you net galley for the arc!

“𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬” 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A wonderful sequel and conclusion to The Shepherd King duology!

𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬, 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸, 𝘌𝘭𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘺𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮.

This book was everything I hoped for! It had the same perfectly done dark and atmospheric vibe that I fell in love with in 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰, and the plot that went with it did not disappoint. With multiple POV’s, sometimes I find myself not caring so much about a certain character’s view or storyline but with this I was equally invested in each and every character’s point of view and I never felt a lull. I didn’t want this series to end, but it has made a major fan out of me and Gillig’s writing has secured her a spot on my auto-buy authors list. A perfect spooky season read that I definitely recommend.

Thank you so much to @orbitbooks_us @rachelgillig @netgalley for my arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 is out October
17th! #TWINALDERS

Just as perfect as the first. As I began reading, I was telling myself, “This isn’t as good. It’s going to be a case of sequelitis.” I’m pleased to say that I was wrong.

Do you like suffering? I do! The main characters endure through some pretty dark stuff. The last 25% is a nail-biter. This book is solid angst, and I’m here for it.

As for notes, I do have one. I’ll admit I felt short-changed by the ending and epilogue. I wanted more closure for Elspeth and for Ravyn. We need a short story or novella like “The Mysteries of Thorn Manor.” Please please please.

What a sequel! Two Twisted Crowns picks up right where book 1, One Dark Window, ends. There is very little summary of the main events so if it's been awhile, maybe read a summary before diving in. The tension, excitement, atmosphere, all the things I loved from ODW carried over effortlessly into book 2. The writing is so beautiful, the poetry gives this book such other worldly vibes. I feel like I am in Blunder when reading this. This book still focuses on the Nightmare, Elspeth, and Ravyn but it also centers the romance between Elm and Ione. I enjoyed the new romance being highlighted as I love stories about relationships beginning. But it did feel like we did not get enough of Elspeth and Ravyn interacting (esp. since Elspeth was trapped within the Nightmare).

I was devastated after finishing this book (at 2am because I could not put it down) because I don't want to say goodbye to this world. The story ends in a very satisfying way with all loose ends tied up. But I wanted more of the post-climax world to see the characters living their lives in their new world a bit more. I am going to miss the world of Blunder. I hope to see more from Rachel Gillig.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing a eARC of this book!

“I know what I know. My secrets are deep. But long have I kept them. And long will they keep.”

This book was probably THE most anticipated release for me this year. I loved One Dark Window, it’s a favorite book.

Two Twisted Crowns picks up where we left off at the end of ODW and immediately immerses us back into the eerie, mist covered woods with magic cards and riddles abound. The twists and turns in this book did not disappoint.

I loved having Ravyn’s POV. The banter between him and Nightmare was fun and humorous at times.

but…

The beloved characters from book one seemed to take a backseat in TTC to make way for new main characters and a new relationship.

And I will be honest, while I loved the book, the Elm chapters frustrated me a bit. They were slow in the beginning and the romance between him and Ione detracted from Elspeth and Ravyn, who in my opinion deserved to dominate in the book more than they did.

Overall, I enjoyed ODW more, but would recommend this duology to any fantasy lover who enjoys a mysterious setting and unique magic system.


Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All I can say is, stunned. The author takes everything we love about fantasy and romance and embeds it into our dark and spooky hearts all the while feeding the part of us that truly loves traditional fantasy with a dash of romance.

TTC was the perfect close to a very dark, unique and beautiful story. Showcasing that there are no limits as to how far someone is willing to go for their family, home and person they love. And that even in the darkest of times, there is light at the end of the tunnel and sometimes you may find an unexpected connection to the darkest parts of you.

Love,
A quiet girl with soooo many stories in her head

What a magical sequel! I burned through this so fast. This book continued the gothic vibes of One Dark Window and unraveled into an amazing journey with fun plot twists and layered character arcs. I absolutely loved how the multiple POVs were executed - they get you deeply attached to several different characters and plot lines throughout the story.

Without spoilers, I’ll say that the end was an amazing rollercoaster that concluded the duology perfectly. And I am still an Elm girlie till the day I die! Great fall time read 🍂

Thank you Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was perfect. The writing was beautiful. I’ve never been able to visualize a book as much as I have with this series. I loved that this book wrapped everything up nicely and something I normally struggle with is endings feeling a bit too rushed like I didn’t get enough “what happens next” but I felt like this was an amazing ending and just the right amount of closure

I don’t have the words, but the conclusion of this story felt so… right. The history and the stories retold and rewritten were nothing short of beautiful. I wasn’t sure how I would feel or respond to this book when the first was primarily from Elspeth’s POV, but I was enamored by Elm and his place in this tale most of all.

Two Twisted Crowns felt like it was Ravyn’s moment to shine. We got to spent more time with his character and really got to see his way of thinking. One could feel how much he loved Elspeth, his family and Elm. Ravyn thought he had lost Elspeth. Her degeneration took her fast and before anyone could realize what was happening. He was ten minutes too late. Ten minutes that robbed him of his happiness, but he wasn’t going to give up on finding a cure for the sickness.

The multiple POV’s added a new layer to the story that kept you flipping pages and looking for answers. The redemption arc’s for some of the hated characters in book one was a pleasant surprise. I grew to like character that I could have easily thrown off a bridge prior to this story.

The shepherd kings backstory was explained in an intricate and captivating format. It wasn’t an informational dump for you to swallow without water. Instead we were given one small puzzle piece at a time. Rachel delivered the information we craved with riddles, puzzles and small glimpses of the past so we could paint the big picture ourselves.

The ending did feel a bit rushed. After everything was said and done I was hoping to be able to spend happy times with the main characters after everything they endured and we didn’t get that. It was nice for a certain King and Queen to get their HEA. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the couple that I was hoping would get their HEA.

Overall, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. Two twisted Crowns wrapped up the story that began in One Dark Window nicely and with a pretty bow on top.

Although it read differently from One Dark Window, due to the multiple POVs, I loved seeing how the plot begun to unfold from the eyes of various characters. I did miss Elspeth, but the beautiful writing distracted me enough from noticing how much I wanted to hear her voice more. An instant favourite duology.

I recieved an e-arc through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion about the book.

I give it 4.75/5.

Nail biting wonderful conclusion to this gothic fantasy. I absolutely loved One Dark Window but book 2 vibes are not the same as book one. This one has so many twists and turns you don't want to put the book down. The tone has changed slightly with it being in multiple povs now. I feel like I was hoodwinked on the romance. Its not as prevalent in the story as it was in book 1 but it is there. I am absolutely sad to let these characters go this book has let me connect with them so much more and get more insight to backgrounds and reasoning for actions. Gillig did an amazing job with this final book and I can't wait to read more of her work.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing an arc in exchange for a honest review.
Two Twisted Crowns releases October 17, 2023

<b>Disappointing.</b>

TTC is a fast read, but I don’t think this needed to be split up into a duology.
Where was the sense of urgency? Don’t they want to save Emory from dying? I don’t know why other scenes kept taking precedence over actively looking for the last Providence Card.
Respectfully, who freaking cares about the Maiden Card that Ione misplaced. Did we really need to spend that much time on that one plot point?! I think not.

This utilizes multi-pov which differs from the first installment, however, Elspeth’s pov was just her trying to remember her memories which was boring as a reader since it’s already information we know, or she was recounting Shepherd's past memories of his family from the space where she was shoved in his/her mind.
Elm’s pov felt out of place and it was more of a blend of Elm and Ione since they seemed to be attached to the hip for some odd reason.
You’re telling me it took 500 years of Providence Cards and people using its magic, for Ione to be the one to just now figure out that the Maiden Card can actually heal instead of just being used for vanity purposes?! It’s not even one of the rare cards…

So much was crammed into the last 20-30% and it just wasn’t properly fleshed out or executed well in comparison to the rest of the book or series as a whole. I don’t think that Elspeth/Ravyn were given the page time they deserved together.

The twist with Ravyn and that family name leaves me feeling even more uneasy about the fact that the Nightmare was present for the entirety of Elspeth and Ravyn falling in love and having sex. That’s a really weird boundary I don’t even want to spend my time trying to rationalize.

Overall, I’m left walking away feeling dissatisfied which is a bummer.

First off, I absolutely loved One Dark Window. Loved it. Two Twisted Crowns takes the cake. Picking up right where ODW left off, this book follows Elspeth, Ravyn, and others as they continue their efforts in collecting Providence Cards to lift the mist in Blunder. Overall, this book wrapped the entire series into the nicest possible bow and was everything I hoped for.

This sequel provided some much-needed attention to and understanding for some familiar characters from ODW. I am a massive fan of multiple POVs anyways. But this choice really did up the overall ante of the plot. It added more people to root for, raised the stakes, expanded the story, and kept things interesting.

One of my biggest pet peeves in the fantasy genre is when the magic system or world you initially became acquainted with is superfluously altered for the sake of advancing the plot or finishing the story. This book did no such thing. The card system is still what the readers remember, understand, and love. But in TCC, Gillig whispered newness into the magic and world without ever forsaking a shred of either.

The best part of this book was how it gave context to the Nightmare's backstory and motivations. I love a good romance moment (and there are plenty in TTC!), but I love a tragic hero even more. Learning about the Shephard King's backstory and arc was my absolute favorite part of this book, and I would be lying if I said I didn't shed a few tears for him throughout this book.

Now, the romance. I loved it. I do feel like there wasn’t quite the amount of Elspeth/Ravyn I expected. But I wasn’t necessarily mad about that; It was still there. However, I think the other plots and stories are what truly made TCC great.

Overall, this book was a five-star read. It had the perfect amount of everything I wish for from a fantasy book. Romance will always pique my interest, but those plots were really just the cherries on top for me. TCC had phenomenal character development, a despicable villain, tackled difficult topics, and had a satisfying ending. Although it gave me the romance plot(s) I will forever seek out in a book, TCC also delivered a really beautiful story about siblings, a father’s love, redemption, revenge, and more. Makes the heart sing.

I am so deeply grateful to Rachel's publishing team for an ARC of Two Twisted Crowns.

After reading the second book to this duology I am without words how wonderful of a writer Rachel GIllig is. I have immensely enjoyed the intricate world building both of these books have had to offer.

Two twisted crowns was a masterpiece in multiple POV's I enjoyed Elm and Ione's character builds as their roles hadn't been as big in book one.

I enjoyed getting to know the Nightmare's past and his growth throughout the book. The humanity that he displayed towards the end of the novel.

There are no words to how amazingly written this book was. There were no questions, no stones unturned to answer questions. Rachel Gillig has provided an amazing Gothic fantasy that is worth the read.

I will be re-reading this duology for years to come.

Thank you so much to Rachel Gillig and her team for this opportunity. I look forward to her future books to come.