This duology is going on my list of all time favourites! A fantastically dark and atmospheric fantasy filled with nightmares and magic, I was totally hooked from the start and couldn't have put either book down even if I'd wanted to. Completely blown away by it!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Two Twisted Crowns is the desperately awaited sequel to One Dark Window. I loved the first book and was so excited to be given the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.

I loved every second of this book, so much so that I wish I could erase the duology from my mind just to be able to enjoy it all over again for the first time.

Gillig is a phenomenal story teller, this book grips you from the first page. The magic system is so unique and I loved how it was used to further the story.

The characters are so well written, each having their own motivations and flaws. They are all so relatable and you can’t help but love them.

This series was absolutely incredible and I strongly recommend it. I can’t wait to read Gillig’s next duology.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing me with this arc.

Friends, book folks, we’ve gathered here to today to acknowledge how good The Shepherd King duet is. This is just *chefs kiss* masterpiece and I’ve so found a new fav author.

In this book, we get to follow Elm and Ravyn more as well as Elspeth. I’ve gotta be honest, I so thought Elm was a douche in the first book and in this one he’s my fav! I mean, outcast prince always dressed in black, secretly pining after a golden girl? Yes please! I loved his chapters, he’s PoV and his attention (bordering on obsession) with Ione. The nightmare is another one of my fav in this duet and I loved every bit of him.

The whimsical, dark, gothic feel is very much present in this book as well, we get to learn more about this so unique and amazing magic system, the history of everything and it was such a good read. Never once was it boring, I had to rein myself in so I wouldn’t finish it (because this was a buddy read and for once I didn’t mess it up).

Thanks Netgalley and Rachel Gillig for this ARC, I loved every second of it. Two twisted crowns releases on October 17, can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy.
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Thank you so much, NetGalley & Little Brown Book, for approving me for this ARC. I was worried after how brilliant the 1sr book was that the 2nd might not be as good, but honestly, it was better!

We pick up exactly where we left off. Elspeth body/mind/soul has been completely taken over by the Nightmare, and she's 'lost' somewhere. Ravyn is in love with Elspeth and has to go with the nightmare to retrieve The Twin Alders cards for the king (while he is using Elspeth body!!!)

I loved that we got more of the origin, kingdom of Blunder and back story of the Nightmare/Shepherd King, I really enjoyed, and the flip of Elspeth being in his mind!

We also have multiple pov in this book which I love as we get alot from Elm and I just loved his chapters with Ione and also with the multiple POV we are kept up to speed with different times/areas of the story.

We still have the fast-paced story and unique magic system we loved in book 1, but this one just had so much more! I literally devoured in 48 hours!

I WANT MORE OF THIS BUT ALSO WHAT A GREAT WRAP UP TO SUCH AN AMAZING DUOLOGY.

I absolutely ADORED One Dark Window, like, loved and raved about, because it was just very different and had such an atmospheric vibe and yeah I just loved it.

Two Twisted Crowns did not disappoint, and in fact I think was better in some aspects!

My only so so feelings about book one was the romance between Elspeth and Ravyn (liked them, didn't love them, you know?) But the romance in TTC?! Yes, here for it.

I loved getting to know the Nightmare better, just ❤

My only negative with this book is the lack of Emory (but HUGELY made up for with Elm!)

Overall, amazing book, amazing duology, and I will continue being the annoying person I am by throwing this as a recommendation to every person I know. I am what I am 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

Thank you very, veryyyyy much NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for sending me an eARC. I'll just sit patiently waiting for my preordered physical copy to turn up now so I can caress it tenderly ❤

I was so happy when I saw I was accepted for an arc. I read one dark window earlier this year and absolutely loved it and was excited for this one. I did enjoy it, but it took me a little bit to get into it. But once that happened it was great.

I was fortunate enough to receive an arc of this novel, and I’m so excited to scream about it with everyone once it officially comes out! I loved the adventure and mystery with Ravyn and Elspeth, and the tension and ache with Ione and Elm— not to mention the plot twists and how the character’s stories entwined towards the end. The ending is so bittersweet and I think I’m going to have these characters in my head for a long while after. I didn’t expect myself to get attached to a character like The Nightmare, but in my opinion he was one of the best parts! Gillig’s style of writing is so lyrical and descriptive, and the world building is fresh and creative. I’d definitely recommend these books to anyone who likes that eerie, whimsical type of novel.

I absolutely adored One Dark Window so I was extremely excited to find out what happens in the conclusion to The Shepherd King duology. Like the previous book, Two Twisted Crowns is deeply atmospheric and is beautifully written. I absolutely loved the continued romance between Elspeth and Ravyn, as well as a secondary romance and new POVs. The magic system is phenomenal, as was the world building. The plot was very fast paced and highly suspensful- I was on the edge on my seat whilst reading certain parts!

Overall, a fantastic condition to an exciting duology! I shall definitely be keeping an eye out for future Rachel Gillig books If you loved One Dark Window, then you will absolutely adore this sequel, and if you haven't picked up One Dark Window yet, I highly recommend that you pick it up if you love gothic settings and complex characters!

3.5 * I think I liked the story and the romance in this book even more than I did the first book. The characters in this duology have so much depth and development to them especially Elm who truly has my heart in every way. I enjoyed seeing more of Ravyn and Elspeth but I really think the new couple stole the show and I was so desperate to go back into their POV that I became a little agitated when we had to follow the other story line which shocks me because I loved those two so much in the first book. The politics side of things in this book is very reminiscent to me of the Cruel Prince with all the royal family line drama and I really enjoyed that aspect. Even though I liked this book more than the first in many ways, I really struggled to lose myself in this story. It took me almost a week to read and I was picking up my phone mid chapter constantly which isn't something I regularly do. I was reading a few percent at a time before getting bored and not continuing. I have no specific reason as to why this was happening that I'm aware of other than sometimes I was getting quite confused, there were many revelations in this book that had me getting a little overwhelmed and by the end there were a few things I had missed but I got the main gist. I still wholeheartedly recommend this duology, it's brilliant and I did have a great time other than being easily distracted

[ARC provided by NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK, Orbit. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Two Twisted Crowns.]

Rating: 5/5

Two Twisted Crowns is the darkly rich conclusion to The Shepherd King duology by Rachel Gillig. Following on from the heart stopping cliffhanger in One Dark Window, Elspeth faces the consequences of drawing from the dark magic that lives within her. In this book we go on a journey with Elspeth and Ravyn as they hurry to gather the remaining Providence Cards, and most importantly, The Twin Adlers. We also get to experience new POVs and another nail-biting romance that will have you on the edge of your seat.

I was unsure if this would live up to my high expectations as I loved One Dark Window so much and had grown quite attached to the characters. With high stakes and a bleak outlook, I wasn’t confident that the conclusion would satisfy me. Thankfully, my worrying was for nothing. Rachel Gillig has crafted a twisting, complex tale and with this book, the groundwork from book one leads to tense plot developments – some that I could see coming and some that completely caught me off guard.

Gillig’s prose in both books is genuinely stunning and so it’s very easy to get sucked into this dark and magical world. Blunder is so beautifully atmospheric and I could almost feel a chill when reading scenes set in the dark woods covered in mist. Also, by having more POVs to go between, we get a bigger picture of what’s going on in this world from the danger of the woods do the dangers in the castles. There are evil forces at every turn which leaves you in a constantly unsettled state.

One Dark Window introduces us to the blossoming romance between Elspeth and Ravyn which continues on in this story, but we are also introduced to a new romance between Elm and Ione. In books like these where the gothic nature can cast a dark light on everything, I can sometimes find it difficult to connect with these romances but I never had that kind of issue here. Both romances are unique in the hardships they face which adds a new level of stress to the story. With murderous siblings, tragic backstories and the ever-present threat of degeneration, the characters are able to work fairly independently to uncover truths before finally coming together during the brilliant conclusion.

One of my favourite elements of this book was The Nightmare and everything we find out about him in this book. As his story is revealed, perceptions change and I found myself becoming quite sympathetic to his character despite his morally grey nature. The manner in which he speaks to Elspeth can feel fatherly at times which makes it hard to dislike him, and there’s no denying that although he may not always have the main characters best interests at heart, he certainly has a protective streak that will tug at your heartstrings.

This is a book that is perfect to read during the darker months and I’m so thankful that I was able to read this as Autumn creeps in. Rachel Gillig has quickly cemented herself as a new favourite author for me and I can’t wait to see what else she brings out in the future. If you love dark, gothic romances then definitely check out this duology.

Oh my days… I loved this book!
I’m so glad a did a re-read of book one just before starting this because there were so many details I’d forgotten from first reading.
The magic system is so interesting and unique, the characters are wonderfully written and the setting is beautifully dark and gloomy - perfect for an Autumn/spooky season read!
This was the perfect conclusion to the story and I’ll be looking out for more Rachel Gillig books in the future!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!
I'll have to come back and put my thoughts together in a meaningful way- because right now I can only think about how much I loved the book

Absolutely incredible! I inhaled this book!

I was nervous it wouldn’t live up to book one but it was perfect in every way.

I adored the writing style of this author, the way she can tell a story and portray characters so beautifully had me hooked.

She somehow made this incredibly fast paced but it flowed wonderful from every scene and every chapter to every character.

A wonderful story from start to finish

This book does not suffer from being part 2 of this duology. It traps you, it entertains you, it makes you read and read in order to find out what happens next. The romance is more of a back story, not over sweet or distracting. The heist is the center of the story, and I loved it. Cannot wait to have my hardcover copy in my hands!

This series was amazing from start to finish. Rachel Gillig has created a fantastical world within these two books and the second/final book in this duology did not disappoint. I was hooked on every word from page one and couldn’t put it down.

This book has an intricate magic system that is so unique to anything I have ever read. The gothic atmosphere and the romance really set the scene and created a world that I will never be able to forget.

I also can’t forget the plot. There was constantly and consistently a high tension and fast passed plot that I wanted to read more and more.

My only critique is that I would love more insight into this world because I’m sad that it is over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for giving me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars. A solid improvement compared to One Dark Window, and a satisfying conclusion to end the duology with.

Whereas I went into book one with sky-high expectations and came away disappointed, I approached book two warily and came away pleasantly surprised! I think a lot of readers might disagree with me, but book two remedied all the issues I had with book one, such as lack of characterisation, vague magic system and a bland romance.


Two Twisted Crowns is multiple POV, so whilst you do get the occasional chapter told from Elspeth perspective, she's understandably not the main narrator due to being trapped in the Nightmare's consciousness. I personally dislike first person POV, so not having Elspeth as a narrator any more was a welcomed loss.
The downside to the multiple POVs is that we see little growth in Elspeth's characterisation. Her chapters felt either like fillers or she was lost in the Nightmare's memories. By the end of the novel, I still felt like I didn't know her. However, what the multiple POVs allowed for is a glimpse into Ravyn and Elm's head (all third person, thankfully) which I loved. It made Ravyn so much more likeable for me, he no longer felt like a flat character but someone full of fears and emotions. I enjoyed reading about his longing for Elspeth, and we were shown his love for her, rather than told of it. Still, Elm was my favourite POV - he's painted somewhat cold and mistrusting in book one, and we see him grow and develop so much! Him and Ione become main characters here and we also get to find out why Ione was acting the way she was in Window (which I was dying to know)

We find out a lot of other things that Window hints at. The origins of the Shepherd King/The Nightmare. His bargain with the Spirit of the Wood. More particulars and rules about the Providence Cards. To me, reading these chapters was like a sigh of relief because I found the first book frustratingly vague and slow. By comparison, there's a lot more urgency and action in Crowns and I was happy to get a lot of questions answered.

Now, I must warn if you're a big Elspeth/Ravyn fan you'll probably be disappointed. Their romance gets very little page time in this book. But I welcomed the introduction of Elm/Ione's romance by far. Their banter was a lot more fun and their teasing was ... sexier? I'm not saying it's the best romance I ever read but I enjoyed immensely. Also, this time the romance felt a lot more like an undercurrent due to the multiple POV style of the book, so it didn't predominate over the plot (like in Window).

Overall, the fact that I devoured this book in a matter of two days shows just how much better Gillig built the tension here. The last 20% had me screaming at my Kindle (inviting some strange looks from my husband). If you're unsure about whether to read the sequel after finishing Window this is your sign to give it a go! I was really glad I did.

It's rare to see a 5 star book.live up to it, but it does happen as evident here.
Usually I'm not a big fan of dual POV and I still enjoyed Elsbeth's povs the most, but I didn't mind any of the others.
Furthermore as a duology this book doesn't suffer second book syndrome, the suspense is there from the start and everything is wrapped up perfectly.
If you enjoyed the first one you will most definitely won't be let down by this grand finale!

Sequels for a book you've loved are always scary, especially when it's also the conclusion to the duology.

This book goes slightly different from book one, where we have a lot more POVs. This took a bit of getting used to as we spent the whole first book with Elspeth and the Nightmare but the other POVs were a great way to see more of this story and the world.

It picks up right from the end of book one and Elspeth and Ravyn are still trying to unite the deck, with the Nightmare now leading the charge

However, they now have a deadline for the next Solstice and a lot needs to be done between now and then to set things right.

We also spend a lot more time with Elm and Ione and I loved getting to know both of them better.

Amazing story, amazing conclusion to the series. I'm going to miss this world as really fell headfirst in love with it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown/Orbit books for the chance to read and review this book early, albeit I know my opinions would be exactly the same regardless.

No spoilers !!!!!

Absolutely brilliant book !
I loved one dark window , and this sequel did not disappoint at all ! It had everything it in , unique magic system , great character’s, great story and plot , good world building ! Just all round a great book

This is a hard one to review before release because WOW I cannot trust myself with the spoilers. This is one of those stories that has you hustling your fellow readers along, simply to gush over every twist and turn!

What I will say is this is a duology that it most suitable with back to back reading as it is direct continuation from the first installment. I had to go back and reread the first to catch myself up. However, they're not long, they're fast paced reads and there is so much action concisely put together by our beloved author.

If you're into strong character dev, this is for you, they're vivid, I was invested and I was along for the joy/pain ride, whatever they were being out through!

5 stars EVERY DAY 👏 would reread again and again.