Oh Trees!

I really enjoyed the final chapter to 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘋𝘈𝘙𝘒 𝘞𝘐𝘕𝘋𝘖𝘞. A Girl, A King and What a monster... who I totally loved.
The Nightmare was brilliant, cruel and full of 500 years of attitude.

I enjoyed the multiple points of views across the different characters. And was really captivated by Ione and Elm.

The worldbuilding in this book was even better then the first book and the
darkness even more haunting.

Learning about the past of each character and why they became who they are was great.

It was everything a gothic fairytale should be.

Thank you @netgalley for letting me read this ARC.

What a book!!

Honestly, this was such an incredible way to finish a superb duolgy.

This book left me tense, sobbing, confused, and in utter awe. I don't think there can be words to describe what reading this series has felt like and has done to me.

I don't think I'll stop thinking about this long after I've moved on to the next one. The writing is impeccable and I think Rachel Gilling has to be up there with some of my other favourite authors for her incredible writing, fantastic story telling and the sheer number of emotions she brings out of me when reading on of her books.

I always find it hard to describe to people this duolgy and the reasons as to why I love it. All I could probably say is, read it, and you'll understand why.

10/10 all across for me!!!

Thank you for an early copy #netgalley & #orbit

I loved this book and its magic system, the plot was well paced and the twist at the end was really good although i did spoil it for myself by googling certain names. I loved the relationship between Elm and Ione but I was a bit disappointed that Ravyn and Elspeth didn't really get any actual time together after they reunited; I would have liked for them to have a couple of chapters together at the end, without that the ending felt a little rushed.

When my request for the eARC of this book was approved, I SQUEALED with excitement. I adored One Dark Window, and Two Twisted Crowns was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023.

This sequel was utterly perfect in each and every way - I truly cannot fault it. Just like in One Dark Window, Rachel Gillig’s writing is stunningly dark, atmospheric and so clever.

Everything was woven together so well in a fast-paced, action-packed story filled with emotional moments, delicious romance, beautiful world building, unique magic, shocking revelations, and the answers to secrets I’ve desperately needed since I finished ODW.

There are multiple POV’s in this book, following two different storylines, which were both as captivating as each other and came together in such a satisfying way. Each chapter ended with a cliffhanger that made this book impossible to put down.

I loved Elm in ODW, so getting his POV in particular was such a treat. He is for sure one of my all time favourite characters. The character development in this book was fantastic, and learning more about some of the characters backstories was both interesting and heartbreaking.

The ending was absolutely perfect, and had me sobbing into my Kindle. I love this story and the characters so much, and it was bittersweet to say goodbye to them. This duology is truly a favourite, and I already cannot wait to reread it. I also cannot wait to read Rachel Gillig’s next book. She is an auto buy author for me and I will read anything she writes!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK and Orbit Books UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review will be posted to my Instagram and Goodreads 2 weeks before release date.

In the shimmering tapestry of dark fantasy, Rachel Gillig's "Two Twisted Crowns" emerges as a masterpiece of narrative, taking readers on an intoxicating journey filled with magic, menace, and profound choice.

This book is an emotional roller coaster with evocative writing. With every turn, it offers darkness juxtaposed with beauty, and hope intertwined with despair. While we, the readers, might have anticipated the trajectory of this narrative, Gillig's genius lies in the way she presents it—dark, twisted, poetic, and metalinguistic. The predictability of the outcome doesn't diminish its impact; rather, it elevates the journey, making every twist and turn all the more poignant.

Gillig's characters are her pièce de résistance. She paints her villains with a brush soaked in the pure essence of malevolence, while her heroes are an intricate weave of flaws and redemption. It's a testament to her prowess that characters like Elm and Ione were thrust into the limelight, steering the narrative with unexpected grace and fortitude. This bold move, especially after the cliffhanger of "One Dark Window," showcases Gillig's audacity to defy conventions and enrich her tale with layers of depth.

"Two Twisted Crowns" is not just a sequel, but a magnum opus in its own right. Gillig has penned a tale that's both hauntingly beautiful and intensely gripping. It stands as a testament to her talent, weaving a finale that is hard to forget and impossible not to love. If "One Dark Window" was the tempestuous storm, "Two Twisted Crowns" is the enthralling rainbow that follows - vibrant, mesmerizing, and utterly unforgettable.

If One Dark Window was a fever dream, Two Twisted Crowns was a harsh wake-up call.

Firstly, I believe Rachel Gillig is a commendable writer. She excels not only in originality but also in atmospheric settings. I was completely immersed in One Dark Window, visiting the world she created in the mist and the cards, a world that I would gladly visit again.

I also adored Elspeth as a main character and, sadly, my main issue with this sequel is the lack of this character. It takes courage to write a sequel, never mind one without the original point of view. While I adore the writing, there was no way to maneuver what was missing.

I enjoyed learning more about Elm and Ione, I only cared about Elspeth and Ravyn, and their romance. This was a creative and interesting story but it lacked what made me fall in love with the first book.

Sometimes the ending to a series can be confusing but I found this one to be satisfying. It wasn't as emotional as you would want because, again, you switch between different points of view so you're never fully immersed.

I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and it is with sadness that I bid goodbye to these characters.

I really loved this, the perfect conclusion, it picks up right after one dark window and the pacing across the book is great, I couldn't put it down

I really love the magic system, its so different to what you usually see in fantasy and it was great to learn the history behind it, but there’s so much happening it didn’t feel slow while you were learning the history that’s so important to the story.

Elm was my favourite in book one so I loved his POV in this one and I absolutely loved his story line, more than Ravyn and Elspeth if I'm honest!

Great duology!

“Be wary. Be clever. Be good.”

How am I supposed to write a review when my heart is still not over this book?

With its atmospheric setting and lyrical writing style, Two Twisted Crown was the perfect conclusion to a beautiful series. This story and these characters have carved out a special place in my heart. I've been with them in this incredible journey from the start and now that is over it's hard to say goodbye. Rachel truly crafted an unforgettable tale and I recommend this duology with all my heart.
Read it. You won't regret it.

This book was immediately picked up after the ending of Book 1, The Journey of Elspeth, Ravyn, and the Nightmare.

Wow, oh, how much I missed this world. I love how I was just immediately immersed in the story the moment I started reading this book. Their magical world amazed me. I think I said this before, but I love Rachel's writing. I'm in love with every single thing.

In my opinion, the first half started a little bit slow to adapt to each character and their perspective stories, but I liked it. And I loved how we got multiple perspectives in this book so we could know more deeply about each of them.
It's more angsty, painful, nerve-wracking, and even scary, I would say. We got to see more action packed, which was so good.
The relationship of each character warmed my heart; their little banter the "I hate you but actually not" is so endearing to see.
Also, the detailed story behind the providence cards and the history of the magic are so thorough.
I really love this. This is such a perfect ending for this duology.

CAN I JUST SAY THAT THIS DUOLOGY IS ONE OF THE BEST I'VE READ MY ENTIRE LIFE?

Just like book one, this book did not disappoint to amaze me. In fact, I was mindblown by it all. It was so good that when I finished reading it in two days, with no stops on day two, I just stared into nothingness. And the fact that every chapter ends in a cliffhanger and you want to know what will happen next, that's when you know a book is so good you couldn't put it down.

This is that book.

It makes you hungry for more, and you can't get enough. The plot, the magic system, and the flow of the story are so efficiently written that all I could think about was finishing this book. I was hungry for more and when I reached the end, I just sat there and replayed the imagination in my head.

So, this book immediately opened up to the aftermaths of what happened in book one. That's what I love about this book is because it was fast-paced and literally sucked you in the first sentence. It's action-packed, full of drama, and of course, loads of excitement and giggles because of the romance. The magic system is so cool, making it more unique and authentic to the core.

I love how this book catered for multi-POVs, letting us read Ravyn's, Elm's, and Elspeth's minds. It's interesting how all the characters are flawed and flawless at the same time. They complement each other and the background stories will make you feel wretched, especially Elm.

A lot happened in this book, and my review can't surmise them all. I will just say three things about this book: immersive, mindblowing, and phenomenal.

AND TO RACHEL GILLIG, JUST KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SUCH A BRILLIANT MIND FOR WRITING THIS DUOLOGY. YOU JUST NOW BECAME ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS AND I'LL DEFINITELY READ YOUR UPCOMING BOOKS IN THE FUTURE.

AND TO ORBIT BOOKS AND NETGALLEY, I CANNOT EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE AND THE HAPPINESS I'VE FELT UPON SEEING THAT YOU'VE AGREED TO GRANT ME AN E-ARC. THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

AND TO THE READER, DON'T WALK. RUN AND DEVOUR THIS DUOLOGY!!!!!

The previous book to this - One Dark Window - was one of my favourites from earlier this year, so I felt so lucky and excited to be approved for this arc and be able to read it early❤

I loved it just as much. The ending was so satisfying with the epilogue wrapping up everything nicely.

I don't want to say too much because of spoilers but it was dark and atmospheric like the first one and I loved getting the chance to find out more about the Shepherd King's backstory as he is such an interesting character.

I would have loved more Elspeth and Ravyn, just because I adored their romance in the first book but there was insights about how they felt and it still felt really emotional.

5⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, The Little Brown Book Group, Orbit and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

This will, without a doubt, be one of my favourite books of 2023. I feel so lucky to have a received an ARC and read it early. This world is so gorgeously written, I love how transported I feel as soon as I turn on my kindle and start reading. I adore how intricate the magic system is, and how refreshingly unique as well. These characters have stolen my heart and we’re so lucky to get multiple POVs in this sequel. I can’t wait for others to read this so I can finally talk about it with someone because this is such a wonderful and satisfying finale.

As a huge fan of One Dark Window I was a little worried that the second book might not live up to my expectations. However, this was absolutely not the case, I found this book to be just as incredible as the first.

The atmosphere and world building was so consistent and beautiful throughout both books. One of the things I loved most about the first book was the world that Rachel managed to create. Not only for the plot but the amazing gothic atmosphere that I found so easy for me to imagine that I truly felt a part of the story. This was continued throughout this second book and perfectly set the scene for all of the action taking place.

Also, can we talk about the romance. I find that a lot of fantasy romance books being published recently have a strong focus on spice and less focus on plot, which is great for some people but really isn’t for me. This book however took a more slow burn approach to the romance and managed to find a great balance between this and the plot. This meant I found that neither aspect took a backseat and both were given the appropriate amount of time in the story to develop.

This was such an amazing read and I really can’t wait to see what Rachel comes up with next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book was absolutely phenomenal,
It was really anticipated after the first book and whilst I do regret the disparition of the small poem the writing is still as good and as atmospheric as before, the character development is just top notched and the pacing was good
I couldn't leave this book and read it in one go as I did with the first book I was scared of how Rachel was gonna wrap this amazing story and she didn't disappoint the ending was so satisfying and I was filled with dread watching the number of pages growing and carrying me to the inavitable end and having to say farewell to this whole world

One thing is missing though is the story of the becoming of the yews how they found their place in the society (after what we learn) between then and the books time-line .

Review
I loved One Dark Window so much (it’s up there with my favourite books) so I was very excited to read this ARC for Two Twisted Crowns.

It was definitely worth the wait! The same gothic atmosphere and beautiful writing sucks you in again from the start. I really enjoyed that we got more insight into Elm from his POV, and that his character gets chance to grow throughout the book. I did also enjoy learning more about Ione and how the events of the first book had shaped and affected her. It was really clever how, as we learnt about the shepherd king’s history this was mirrored throughout the events of the main narrative.

I did miss Elspeth and Rayvn’s relationship in this book. I feel like I could have done with a few more chapters or another half of a book once Elspeth had returned to herself. That said, the ending does tie everything up nicely, I think I just didn’t want it to end!

All in all, I love the world building, the magic system, the gothic feeling of this book, along with the fairy tale atmosphere that comes from all of the secrets and riddles. An amazing duology that I wish we had more of!

I already loved the first book in this series and ended up loving the second book even more! We get introduced to multiple POVs and every time one POV ended I was sad because I wanted to see what happened next, but also super excited to read another POV. There's also a larger focus on Elm and Ione, which I wasn't sure about at first but they really have my heart now. I did miss Elspeth (and her interactions with The Nightmare) and would've loved to see more of it in the book, but it's fully understandable why that did not fit into this story. The whole story is a lot more action-packed than the first book and it is very fast-paced, especially parts two and three. The book has a beautiful, albeit bittersweet, ending. I'm actually sad this didn't turn into a trilogy because I want more of this story!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this arc in exchange of an honest review!

After reading One Dark Window my expectations for this one was sky high. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

What I liked:
- I loved the new POVs in this book!! Ravyn, Elm and Ione's chapters was such a good expansion to the book. Elm was one of my favorites in the first book and I was very happy seing his name.
- There’s no hiding that I absolutely love The Nightmare. I usually always love the elder grumpy character in books, and this is no exception! After the ending of book 1 you probably know we get to see a lot more of The Nightmare and his interactions with others, which I loved reading!! The nightmare is such a funny character.
- It was nice reading more about Ione, she was a character I was interested in throughout book 1.
- The world building is amazing!!! I remember loving the original concept of the first book and I loved it even more in this one.
- The long awaited twist which all books tend to have was very good and it was executed so so well. I did however have a slight feeling of what was coming, but it was a lot more complex than I had thought.

Things I disliked:
- Because of the whole The Nightmare/Elspeth situation we didn’t get a lot of Ravyn and Elspeth, which made me sad. I loved reading from Elspeth’s POV in book 1 and I missed her a lot reading this.
- The ending wasn’t as good as I had hoped?? I was reading on my kindle and I was expecting a lot more chapters and then suddenly it was over and The Epilog was next up. It felt a little unfinished, but at the same time it wrapped everything up nicely.

If you loved One Dark Window you should definitely read this one!! I am very sad that it’s over already so I’ll probably re-read a couple of times!

I'm so sad, since I was anticipating this book since loving the first one last year, but this was so disappointing.

The things that I loved in the last book, the atmosphere and Elspeth's character, felt like they were missing here. I understand why to an extent considering the events at the end of the last book. And I'm glad Ravyn got his own chapters, that definitely saved this book for me. I also really liked the dynamic between Elspeth and the nightmare.

However, Elm's chapters were very boring for the first half of the book. The pacing felt very weird and slow. I didn't feel connected to his and Ione's romance because it felt like they were taking away from Ravyn and Elspeth, aka the characters we grew to love in the first book. Also, since Ione isn't really her true self for most of thi novel, the romance just felt lacking in emotion for me.

I felt as well that since we had such a large focus on the secondary romance, Ravyn and Elspeth didn't get any actual time together when we were literally waiting the whole book for it, and the ending just felt rushed.

Thank you so much to little brown book group UK for sending me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! So here we go!

Rating: 5/5⭐️

A lot can go wrong with sequels. But a lot can go right and Two Twisted Crowns was an absolutely extraordinary journey from the beginning to the end! We follow Ravyn, Elspeth and the Nightmare on their quest to unite the Sherphen King’s deck and at the same time, we follow Elms and Ione - who were left behind.

The writing continues to be amazing, pulling your attention with every word and you’ll find yourself wanting to just keep reading until there’s nothing else left! All characters are so rich and interesting that you’ll want them to thrive (and to perish badly). I must confess tho, I loved the romance on this one a lot more! It was absolutely on point!

If you enjoyed A Dark Window, you’ll for sure love the sequel!

Keep an eye out for my bookstagram post closer to the publication date! @maria_bookshelf

What an outstanding conclusion to a duology. I thought nothing could top One Dark Window but boy was I was proved wrong. This book was phenomenal, Rachel Gillig just has a way with writing, it quite literally sucks you into the story. The riddles, the rhymes, the mysteries, the romance, everything about this book was just perfect.

The book picks up from where we left off in One Dark Window, Elspeth has been lost to the nightmare and the mist is continuing to infect. Much like the first book, the storyline was just superb, nothing felt rushed, yet nothing felt slow or lacking. I felt thoroughly immersed for the entirety of the book.

Not only was the storyline brilliant, but the slow burn romance was just to die for. Every time I read any of Elm and Iones chapters I couldn’t help smiling to myself. Their Chemistry was Infallible, to the point that I think I actually adore them as a couple more than Elspeth and Ravyn.

Overall this was a fantastic conclusion to the duology, I am wholly satisfied with the ending, unlike other duologies/series that I’ve read I actually feel like the story was wrapped up perfectly. This has quickly become one of, if not my favourite duology ever written.

I am sad that the story is over but as the saying goes all good things must come to an end. I am so excited to see what else Rachel Gillig has to offer, because I most certainly will be reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review will be posted via aaliyahsbookshelf._ on Instagram on 05/10/23