I loved this sequel so much. It was impossible to put down, it maintained momentum throughout the entire thing. It provided so much backstory I did not even know I needed. I loved Prince Elm in the first book but seeing his story play out so was fulfilling. no character feels like a side character because my investment was so high. The loving detail each character got in this book was so rewarding. The pacing and chapter lengths are amazing. The romance in this book was amazing my investment was at an all time high after book 1. ending on a cliffhanger the way it did really build the hype up for a second book and this truly delivered on every level. I also have to mention I love Rachels ability to rhyme. Her prose is beautiful, sumptuous and straight up brilliant.

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

Oh man, I finished this an hour or two ago and I'm still heart sad and happy at the same time.
One Dark Window was one of my favorite reads last year. My only complaint is I can't buy a damn hardcover in it! Publishers! We want a hardback! Please!

Going into this we find Elspeth Spindle, completely overtaken by the entity in The Nightmare Card, who turns out to be The Shepard King's soul. I was honestly expecting to hate him, but his backstory is so incredibly sad. He asked for too much, and gave too much of himself creating the Providence Cards when all he really wanted at the core was to lift the mist and end the infection and degeneration of using those gifts of the infection. Gifts from The Spirit in The Wood.

They need to end it, and the only one with answers is The Nightmare, they need to find the Twin Alders Cards and reunite the deck. Sacrifices will be made.

'The two were together. So the two were the same. The girl, The King.. and the monster they became."

500 years in the dark, it really was a circular tale of family, redemption, greed, violence, sacrifice and love. And although The King lived for 11 years in the mind of young Elspeth Spindle, he really did grow to love her, to want to protect her from the violence of the world he created. But as a passenger in a child's mind he too gained back some of his wonder and humanity that he lost. And Elspeth became a bit more monstrous, but she took comfort in it.

Rayvin Yew will discover who he is, Ione Hawthorn will do what she has always wished to, Elm Rowan will finally get the freedom he always craved.

And those who have preyed on others will finally get what they deserve. The Trees will have their blood. The Spirit of the Wood will be appeased. The Twin Alders found.

But as we know nothing is soft or gentle in the Kingdom of Blunder. A Girl and a King will become a Monster to set things right. The goodbye was hard, I cried.

This is an amazing series, I cannot recommend it enough. This second book was as good as the first. Please if you haven't read One Dark Window, pick it up.

Two Twisted Crowns was such a satisfying conclusion to this duology for me. between the atmospheric setting, unique magic, riddles, plot twist and character arcs - I was feeling every emotion in existence.

I grew so attached to these characters and the way each of their storylines developed I thought was so well done. I loved the longing and tension in the romances as well. the last 30% of this book was so intense and engaging, I was at the edge of my seat the whole time. I will be keeping a look out for whatever Rachel Gillig writes next.

I have no words yet so many words to say about Two Twisted Crowns. It was the PERFECT sequel to One Dark Window. It took the world that Gillig created in the first book and gave it so much more depth. The magic system is still the most unique one I've read in recent years. Her world building is outstanding. Dare I say I loved this more than One Dark Window (previously my favorite read of the year).

SPOILERS AHEAD

It picks up right where we left off. Elspeth's mind has now been taken over by the Shepherd King, she does not currently remember who she is. The king has thrown her into the dungeon for treason for having almost killed the prince and being infected. The king wants the Twin Alders card so that is the only reason she is still alive. From here, we get to go on the adventure of finding the card but also seeing what is happening in the castle at the same time.

I loved getting multiple POVs in this. Seeing Ravyn struggle with the loss of Elspeth and begging for the Shepherd King to let her come back, and also his determination to get the Twin Alders card no matter the cost. And then getting to experience the world through Elm's eyes, learning what it was like to grow up with his family, watching him and Ione fall for each other (a beautiful romance done so well, I love them together). And then of course Elspeth's POV. First she is lost, she doesn't remember who she is, who the Shepherd King is, or anything that has happened. He has pushed her into a corner of her mind in order to let her rest and protect her. Slowly, she gets to experience his memories but also starts to remember herself. Through her, we finally get to learn the Shepherd King's past, one that was so shrouded in riddles and mystery. We learn who he is, and that he truly does care for Elspeth and is doing all of this for her (for the most part).

I enjoyed this book so much and devoured it so fast. I'm devasted that we are done with this universe but I am also looking forward to whatever Rachel Gillig writes next because I know it will be so good.

A HUGE thanks to Orbit Books and Netgalley for the eARC. I count myself so lucky that I was given the chance to read my most anticipated read before it's release. I will of course still be buying the book when it comes out.

THANK YOU NetGalley and Orbit for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Two Twisted Crowns is the second book in The Shepherd King duology. If you like books with multiple POV's, an intriguing magic system and subtle spice this book is for you! I was impressed by Rachel Gillig's ability to continue Elspeth's/the Nightmare's story which left me captivated throughout the entire book. TTC delves into more of the side character's stories which added depth to the plot. Overall, highly recommend this duology - it was such a fun read!

I could not put down 'One Dark Window' and was very excited to read the conclusion in 'Two Twisted Crowns'. Although I did not find this quite as captivating at the first book, I do believe it served as an excellent conclusion and a compelling story in its own right.

Stylistically, it is a bit different than the first book. It does not have the poetry that provided the framework in the first book, although there are some poems and riddles sprinkled within. The story of Ravyn, Elspeth and the Nightmare continues to unfold, but this is also very much Elm and Ione's story. Which confused me for a moment because going into it, I could not remember who on earth Elm and Ione were. Although the author does a good job of activating the reader's memory over the first few chapters, I think it would have been a a great help to include a list of Dramatis Personae at the very beginning.

The Elm/Ione plot is very well done and represents the heart of the romantic tension in the book, while the Ravyn/Elspeth plot is beautifully written to convey his desperation and determination to save her and the kingdom.

I love the relationship between Elspeth and the Nightmare, and the way the past and its secret gradually unfold. This book is an excellent, fulfilling conclusion to the duology. Would love to read more by Gillig.

In this stunning sequel to One Dark Window, we find our merry band of misfits on their own quests to unite the Providence Cards and set the Kingdom free. With the Nightmare in Elspeth’s mind as a guide, Ravyn and Jespyr tackle finding the last Card - the Twin Alders. Left behind, Elm must find a way to survive life at court and that answer might be Ione Hawthorn.

I cannot express in words how excited I was to read this sequel. One Dark Window is one of my top reads of the year and I’ve been on bated breath for this book. Overall, this is a wonderful conclusion to the duology but I think my expectations were too high for this one.

Two Twisted Crowns carries the same moody, gothic vibes as the first book and the continuation, even in new settings and ways, is delightful. This really was a direct continuation, picking up right where One Dark Window left off. My love of the unique world and magic system is unmatched. The setting truly becomes the perfect backdrop for the character development we see in this sequel.

With the narration style of the book, we follow multiple characters this time around, including Ravyn, Elm and Nightmare, with just a sprinkle of Elspeth. While I was disappointed in the lack of Elspeth, the other characters really make up for her diminished presence. I was particularly interested in Nightmare’s backstory and how it’s portrayed through what we do get of Elspeth. Ravyn staying his broody self was refreshing, but it was nice to see him grow in the ways he did. Elm really did have the best development of them all, possibly some of the best character development I’ve read in a while.


My mixed feelings deal with the overall story and the aspects I loved too. While I loved the character development, the multiple perspectives were sometimes harder to follow. It felt like too many characters to keep track of with our narrators PLUS their supporting casts. While I expected a happy ending, I got one that felt expected and a little boring. For a conclusion to such a fantastic series, it felt like a let down. Even the general plot to getting the Twin Alders felt rushed and a little boring. I generally loved this book and still rated it very high but I guess I had higher expectations for it overall.

This was a 4.5/5 stars read for me and I cannot recommend this series enough. I hope we get more of this world in some capacity in the future.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

“I know as well as you that magic is the oldest paradox. The more power it gives you, the weaker you become.”

Two Twisted Crows was one of my most anticipated books this fall, and I absolutely loved it!

The story picks up right after the events that occurred in One Dark Window. Ravyn is on a path to get Elspeth, the only woman he’s ever loved, back while also working together with The Nightmare to retrieve the Twin Alder Card, reunite the deck of providence cards, and free Blunder of the magical plague that consumes it.

What I loved most about One Dark Window was the dark and eerie setting and I was so happy that this did not change in Two Twisted Crowns. With the majority of the world building and character development being established in the first book, the pacing of Two Twisted Crowns was fast and filled with twists and turns, with love, healing and sweet revenge.

Elspeth and Ravyn are one of my favorite couples and even though they were put through the ringer, I enjoyed seeing their growth.

“I would have liked a little more time. With you.”
“We’ll get that time. I swear it.”

While I would have liked a bit more focus on Elspeth and Ravyn, I was pleasantly surprised to read about other character’s stories and perspectives. Elm was a favorite of mine in the first book and I have grown to love him even more this time around. Learning about his troubled past and his struggles and seeing him stand up for himself and find love was so fulfilling.

“Above rowan and yew, the elm tree stands tall. It waits along borders, a sentry at call.”

I really enjoyed learning more about the magic system and how the providence cards came into existence. Taxus was a complex character that we got to explore, and I enjoyed seeing his journey come full circle. I also enjoyed his humor and heart in the end.

Overall, this was a great conclusion to the story of Blunder, and while I feel sad about letting these characters go, I am so grateful to have been on this journey.

Things I loved:

♥️ Elm the “Gallivanting Heir”
♥️ Slow Burn
♥️ Forced Proximity
♥️ Plot Twists
♥️ Ravyn Yew
♥️ Touch Her and ☠️ Vibes

Thank you, Orbit Books and NetGalley, for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was the perfect sequel to One Dark Window. I adored the first book: the dark vibes, unique magic, characters and relationships, and world building were all exquisitely done. Two Twisted Crowns started off right where One Dark Window left off and carried the duology home perfectly. It did not have any of the disappointments that sequels so often do. Rachel Gillig's writing style is elegant and poetic. She creates characters that you cannot help but adore (or hate) deeply. She sucks you right in to this world in a way that made me never want to put the book down. It's the perfect amount of sad and happy, causing me to get teary-eyed more times than I'd like to admit. I really cannot gush enough about this book and I'm encouraging everyone I know to read it. Rachel Gillig instantly became a must-read author for me.

I cannot thank Netgalley and the publishers enough for allowing me to read this early, it was truly a privilege.

Where do I start?

I fell in love with this world within the first chapter of the first book. I didn't know what I was in for, but this duoloy has made me laugh, cry, rage, and swoon. It's equal parts fairy tale fantasy and slow burn romance. Getting to see what happened with Elspeth and the Nightmare, learning the Shepherd King's story, and getting to know Ione and Elm, was absolutely lovely. I will recommend this until I die.

Tropes / Key Points:
* Unique Magic System
* Touch her and Die
* Found Family
* Multi-POV
* Reluctant Allies
* Court Intrigue

Rating: 4⭐️
Spice: (Closed Door) 🌶️🌶️

Trigger Warnings: Bodily Possession, Alcohol Consumption, Violence, Gore, Self Harm, Parental Neglect, Mention of Violence against children, Murder (Attempted & Successful), Body Mutilation


This advanced copy was provided by Orbit and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review:

While I was obsessed with One Dark Window, the dream was quickly shattered by this long awaited sequel. I am left disappointed and somewhat confused by the change in styles between the first and the second book.

We lose access to Elspeth as she is more of a background figure in this story, as opposed to the main character in the series debut. The POV switch was slightly jarring and unexpected, only giving us glimpses of Rayven and Elspeth throughout the book. Considering that the entire first book was a build up of their ultimate relationship, only for Two Twisted Crowns to shove it onto the back burner, I feel a bit lied to.

We are also given more perspective into Ione and Elm in this series, and while it was nice to get insight into who they are at their core and a have their characters be a bit more fleshed out, I just wasn't interested in them. I didn't like Ione in the first book and yes, she does get redeemed, but frankly, I couldn't care less. Elm also gets a bit of a redemption arc but once again, I am more concerned with Rayven and Elspeth. I feel like Elm's perspectives were extremely slow towards the beginning of the story and It did cause me to lose a bit of interest in the story. I found it harder to have the desire to pick up the kindle to read because of the odd pacing / extra POV chapters. <spoiler> I feel like I wasn't able to form a connection to this couple because Ione was under the influence of the Maiden card, but the romance felt a bit off. </spoiler>

I loved the deeper insight to the Nightmare. I loved his banter and the way that he so boldly interacts with others. I loved that we were able to peel back the layers of mystery surrounding him and get all the questions that have been burning answered. He is my favorite part of the story from book one and that doesn't stop here. I also adored the way that he was protective of Elspeth and the way that he clings to her.


I do have to say that the overall villain of the story, the climax and the ending were very satisfying. We got an ending the made sense and fell in line with what had been building up throughout both books. It wasn't overly emotional or earth shattering, but it was what I wanted it to be. The "twist" at the end was surprising, though I did figure it out a few chapters before it was revealed.


It's a great follow up to an amazing debut and I am so glad that I read it and gave it a shot! I have found my favorite character of 2023 in the Nightmare and I wish we had some Merch for him because it is needed! I want a nightmare Plushie! I am very proud to have been apart of the arc team for this book and I will be checking out more of this authors work as it comes!

A perfect ending to a beautiful duet! Picking up right where we left off in One Dark Window, the story does not disappoint, with amazing journeys, found family, a beautiful love story, the twists and turns this book takes and a touch of banter to keep you laughing. This book/duet is just simply perfection!

Thank you, thank you!! Man I have never been more excited to receive a NetGalley copy of an upcoming book!! After I read the first book I couldn’t wait to see what was next for Elspeth, Ravyn and the Shepherd King. And this book did not disappoint. I love having chapters from different characters points of view and the romance was perfect. I couldn’t stop reading because I just had to know how it was all going to turn out! Again thank you for this privilege to read an early copy of this book. Looking forward to owning a copy of this when it comes out, I loved it!

An enormous thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.


One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns were must reads for me! This was a wonderful conclusion to this duology. Where One Dark Window focused almost entirely on Elspeth, Ravyn and the Nightmare, this one also features Elm and Ione's stories. I really liked the addition of their backgrounds, and the roles they played in bringing this story to it's conclusion. Discovering that the Providence Cards did so much more than what the people clamoring for them even realized, finding hidden lineage, and unexpected people coming into power made for quite the tale.

*All hope seems lost for Elspeth, Emory, and all those who have been infected and are deteriorating from their magic. The Providence Cards must be reunited on the winter solstice, and an infected must perish to banish the mist and save Blunder. With the Rowan King (and his detestable eldest son, Hauth) trying to stand in the way, will the Nightmare be able to finish what he started 500 years ago?*

Elspeth and Ravyn have collected 11 of the 12 Providence Cards with just the Twin Alders remaining. With the country in the grips of a vile and cruel king, They and their friends must work fast to collect it before winter Solstice, as many of them will not live to see another year without uniting the cards.
Most sequels do not live up to the first book but this one lives up to the first and even surpasses it. This book is eloquently written and had me entranced to the last page. This book was not predictable and left me spinning with the possibilities of where the ending would lead. I could not get enough of this book, it was phenomenal. After I finished it, I immediately went to Amazon and bought myself a physical copy. If you love dark, gothic fantasy, you will love this book!!

After reading the first book I was like what will happen next and the author did not disappoint. Such tragedy and such joy and I still have just awe for the amazing quest the reader is taken on. I hope that everyone who love One Dark Window will adore its sequel as much as I do. I just cannot wait to read more from the author and I am grateful to have read this book. I’m already re reading it and that is a sign of a wonderful story in my opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK and Orbit for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This duology's conclusion is simply astounding! The second novel delves deep into character development and unveils the Shepherd King's backstory, skillfully answering lingering questions from the first installment. Seamlessly picking up where the first book left off, I found myself deliberately slowing down to relish the perfection of this beautifully crafted narrative.

Elm and Ione quickly rose to the forefront of my favorite characters in this sequel. Their humanity, entwined with the enigmatic Providence cards, added a compelling layer to their complexity.

The romance in this gothic world remains unparalleled. My emotions ran the gamut, from gleeful foot-kicking to spine-tingling gasps, heart-wrenching tears, and triumphant cheers.

This book not only exceeded the first in the series but will undoubtedly stand as one of my top reads of 2023.

I eagerly await Gillig's next literary offering. Her talent for infusing her stories with poetic depth and well-roundedness leaves readers speechless and craving more.

Thank you NetGalley and Rachel Gillig for this eARC, I was SO excited to receive this!

Ugh, what can I say? I LOVED it! As someone who is hesitant when going into YA books, this duology set a new precedent for me. The writing style, the characters, the plot, I was engrossed in it all. Thank you Rachel for making my new favorite YA series and not disappointing with this book. This was the perfect ending to my favorite story and felt complete in all the right ways.

I love the moodiness of the book, the dark setting, and the morally gray characters, all just felt perfect. The ONLY thing that I could've used more of was Ravyn and Elspeth. I understand the whole point of the book was to save her, but I need more interaction!! At least in the epilogue!! We received SCRAPS, I need more romance from my favorite pair, but Ione and Elm will have to suffice.

This is probably one of my least critical reviews, but I have nothing but praise for this book. I devoured it quite honestly. I will never look at a YA the same way again after this book, and I look forward to all other creations of Rachel's.

To everyone, be wary, be clever, be good

Rachel Gillig does it again! Two Twisted Crowns is the sequel to One Dark Window, but it doesn't suffer from second book syndrome, if anything it's better than the first. Rachel's perfect pacing made it impossible to put down. In Two Twisted Crowns we learn more about how the mist and the providence cards came to be. With themes of redemption and cosmic balance, we see what our favorite characters must barter to set things right. Along the way a new romance blossoms between an unexpected pair that had me aching to get back to their POV chapters to see what unfolds. I would highly recommend this book to any YA Fantasy lovers. It's atmospheric vides makes it a perfect addition to your fall TBR.

I really enjoyed this sequel, especially the addition of Elm and Ione as a second love story as I was super intrigued by both after reading book 1. So glad we got to see move of them through Elm’s POV!! Looking forward to reading what Rachel Gillig writes next