»Two Twisted Crowns« is the second and final installment in the »The Shepherd King« duology, and while I was a bit hesitant to pick this up because of what happened at the end of the first book - I didn't understand how we should continue without our main character, you know? - I'm glad I gave it a chance picked this up because it was a very satisfying read.

While »One Dark Window« mostly follows Elspeth and Ravyn, the second book focuses more on Elm and Ione too, and I honestly didn't expect to love those two together so much, but oh boy, they had chemistry! This series is definitely one I read more for the characters and writing than for the plot. Rachel Gillig just has a beautiful, magical writing style that I adored, and I am already very curious to see what she comes up with next!

This book is an excellent example of how a sequel should be written. It was most definitely worth the wait. As one of my most anticipated reads of 2023 I was super nervous to get stuck into this book in fear of it disappointing me, but Rachel really did an outstanding job.

This book is beautifully written, it's captivating, charming and I wish I could experience it again for the first time.

The romance... Wow. Electrifying.
The plot? Delivers on everything promised within One Dark Window.

This duology has been a pleasure to read and I am very much excited to see what Rachel Gillig does next. It'll take me a little while to recover from this book I think!

What a conclusion to an outstanding duology! If you've read and loved One Dark Window, pick up Two Twisted Crowns now. And if you haven't yet read One Dark Window, now is the perfect time because you can binge the complete duology.
I absolutely adored The Shepherd Kind duology and found Gillig's prose lush and immersive. It makes a perfect read for autumn nights: a dark, twisted tale of romance, magic, and monsters with strong gothic vibes.

Gillig struck the perfect balance between characters - while Two Twisted Crowns focused on a different central couple, the romance between Ravyn and Elspeth which started in book one integrated beautifully into the plot, which was centered around Elm and Ione in Two Twisted Crowns. The central characters were of my favourite shade - all somewhat morally grey, willing to use magic when it served their purpose.

'I wish we could have had those hundred years, Hawthorn. I wish you could have been Queen.'
Elm, the spare to the Rowan throne, 'rotten Prince, and a piss-poor Destrier at that', was one of my favourite characters in this sequel. His relationship with his family and found family was complex, and I always have a weak spot for a character who uses nicknames.
The other less obvious contender for favourite character was Nightmare. His flashbacks made the history on which Blunder was built come alive, and they made the monster he perceives himself to be more humane. Gillig very cleverly navigated the depiction of the shared mind, and Nightmare's dry and snarky comments have left a lasting impression.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Little Brown Group and Orbit for providing me with an eARC. It's an easy five stars from me - and I'm excited to find out what we'll read next from Rachel Gillig.

An excellent sequel to an amazing duology. Following straight on from One Dark Window’s ending, the story follows the aftermath, jumping mostly between Elm and Rayven.

Elm is fleshed out more, I found myself caring for him this time round. He’s reluctant to rule as king, but he knows that he’s the king that his people need. He doubts himself, makes mistakes, is careless, but he’s devoted to the people he loves.

Rayven is the medieval version of the terminator with the goal to get his girl back and also heal the kingdom.

The Shepherd King’s story was heartbreaking; despite his wicked and cruel ways he would turn into the grumpy fed up dad who was just trying to stop his kids from getting hurt.

The plot was high paced, if I was able to I would have read this book in one sitting.

I absolutely loved this book. I have been looking forward to reading it since I finished the first book in February.

The story picks up where it left off but there is a more romantic note to this book in my opinion, love is blossoming with other characters but there's a different level of love and care with the two main characters. I don't want to give much away in case you haven't read the first book, if you have not then please read it before this one.

I love the development of the characters and the whole world is just beautifully described. There are parts of the book that kept me up late because I had to see what happened at the end of the next chapter.

The world of magic is beautiful.
The writing is almost artistic and conjures up beauty, pain, sadness and love perfectly.

One of my favorite reads this year

*Arc provided by Netgalley*
Have I mentioned I love duologies a lot? I love them even better when they keep me so entertained. I LOVED one dark window and I just knew this would sweep me off my feet right away. This was great. Go read it. Right now. Perfect for the spooky season. Or for every season for that matter. ALSO gorgeous cover. Buy it for the cover and stay for the plot. That’s how it was for me with this series🥰 Elspeth proved to be one of my favourite main characters EVER because of her vibes and personality and everything else. Also her name!!! Such a pretty name. Such an amazing book!

I loved Two Twisted Crowns a lot more than One Dark Window. I love multiple POV books, so this was such a pleasant surprise. I'm happy that Elm and Ione got more attention in this book. The Nightmare's backstory is very interesting and I'm glad that we got to know more about him, even if that meant less Elspeth.

This is such a great duology and the author's writing is incredible. I'm so sad to see it come to an end but excited for what we'll read next from Rachel Gillig!

This is an amazing conclusion to a unique and intriguing duology. I think I loved this more than One Dark Window. I'm glad that we got to see more of Elm.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Featured: Multi-POV, Fantasy, YA, Gothic, Spooky, Magic

This book was the perfect conclusion to this duology, although I wish I could keep myself in this world for longer I loved the length of this story.

If you loved the first book you will love this even more. It is darker than ODW but the more time Spent on Elm and Lone in this book was amazing. Reading Elms POVs was great I enjoyed the sassiness and it really made this book.

This book is perfect for autumn with it's dark and Gothic elements and I am so lucky I got to read this so soon. I need to pick up the physical copy for a re-read.

The world that the author has created is magical and beautiful. She has an amazing way with words, describing and setting the scene and creates a real connection with the characters so you really care what happens to them. The relationship between Elspeth and Nightmare is my favourite; it’s like they’re unexpected best friends but you can tell how much they truly care about one another. Although I knew how their relationship would end, it still broke my heart a little!
Overall, I really wanted to love this book as much as I loved the first one but I just didn’t find it as gripping. The author has created an intricate and beautiful word but I just found at some points there were parts of the book that I felt didn’t add much to the story and so I struggled through them and it slowed the pace of the book for me personally.
I’d rate this 3.5/5 ⭐️ but would still rate the duology as a whole 4/5 ⭐️❤️

It has been a book that has had me hooked from the first moment, the story develops well along with the first one, but keeping the dark and gothic atmosphere of this one.
I liked the ending, the development of the characters and the multiple perspectives from which the story is told.

Wow. I am absolutely speechless after reading this incredible book. What a credit to the writer, and an absolute gem overall. The plot is very well written, I became fully engrossed in this beautiful world. The characters where spectacular. Just amazing.

The nightmare has taken over and as Solstice nears, Blunder is in great peril. Can those who remain work together to lift the mist and heal the infected, or will enemies past and present prevent Blunder from ever being free?

This read was absolutely amazing! I am so in love with this duology and sad to see it come to an end.

The story truly feels like a fairytale for adults. The imagery and characters are all so vivid. The blurs between good and evil. There isn’t a single two-dimensional character in sight.

I love it when the sequel is even more outstanding than the first book and as I loved One Dark Window so very much, Two Twisted Crowns had an awful lot to live up to. Thankfully, it delivers and then some on every single level.
I really don't want to give any spoilers for book one in my review. This duology has so much to love and admire and I'm sure it will become a firm favourite for so many readers.
It's written in a beautiful narrative that raises the hairs on the back of your neck with its poetic tone, but it never slows down the pace of the story. This is a stunning, dark and gothic novel, set in a fantastic, dark magical world. I loved every part of the unique world building in these books.
The characters are rich and vivid. Elspeth and the nightmare, sharing their one mind will forever be some of my favourite characters. The romances are just so perfect and make your heart ache. I truly don't want to say goodbye to these characters.
Quite simply, this is gothic fantasy at its best. I honestly can't find any fault with it. I had book one sat on my shelf for so long and could quite literally kick myself for not getting to it sooner. Read it...just read it!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in return for an honest review. A solid 5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley & Little Brown Book UK for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review

One Dark Window was one of my favourite books of 2022 so I’m not going to lie, I had high hopes and expectations for this sequel.

I have to give the author praise for how Elspeth’s character was written and portrayed in this book. The balance between The Nightmare and Elspeth’s inner monologue was so interesting. At no point was I wishing for the conclusion to that element of the plot to hurry up. But when it inevitably did, I had tears in my eyes. It was risky to have the main character be pretty much absent for the majority of the book but it paid off.

The new POV’s really rounded this book out for me. I was a little surprised to see Elm’s appear and was a little hesitant about whether or not I would like it. But as points started clicking into place and his arc progressed, his chapters were some of the most intriguing - as well as providing some unexpectedly romantic scenes.

I’m so sad to say goodbye to this world, but I enjoyed every moment of my time in it. A perfect ending to an excellent duology.

4.5 stars

3.75/5 stars.

I wasn't as in love with this book as the first one. I loved hearing the rhythms and rhymes from the Shepard King in the first book and we just didn't get as much of that in this one. Understandable to a point but at the same time I did miss it.

I do think the story wrapped up well though, things started falling into place and questions started getting answered. I have no issue with the way the plot moved in this book and honestly don't think I would of done much differently in terms of the outcome.

It's just a shame we had to have the vibes (and Elspeth) sacrificed for the plot. If felt like we got a large chunk of things we fell in love with from book one taken away from us in book two. The atmosphere, Elspeth, Elspeth and Ravyn's relationship, the secrecy, the Nightmare's sass.. all felt missing or hidden in this book unfortunately.

I had been waiting for what felt like forever for this sequel and it did not disappoint! I loved Elm and Iones story especially in this book and Elspeths connection with The Nightmare. The concept of the providence cards and their magic was something fresh and exciting and I loved how it was all woven together in the end. The only thing I wish was done different was to have it as a trilogy so that we could explore the characters in even more depth and spread it out. However saying that, the story wouldn’t have felt the same had it been spread out anymore anyway. Overall I loved this duology, it was one of my favourite reads this year by far.

I’d like to thank Netgalley and Orbit Books for a gifted eARC of this book! My review is honest, voluntary and has not been influenced in any way.

𝗚𝗨𝗬𝗦, honestly, if you are considering this duology in anyway I beg you to pick it up because it has me in a 𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗞𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗗. The last page of the first book ruined me and I have been so eagerly anticipating the second book, and let me say - 𝗜𝗧 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧!

𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 is how a debut duology is done! 👏🏼👏🏼

𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘴 picks up right where the first book finished off with some new POV’s and you are quickly thrown back in to the perfectly created atmosphere and the totally unique magic system, with plenty of angst and drama along the way!

I don’t usually enjoy more than two POV’s but Gillig wrote this perfectly as you follow Elspeth, Ravyn, and Elm, each with their own unique story that is perfectly combined to the overall storyline of the book, that makes for a superb ending where 𝗡𝗢 𝗖𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗙𝗧!

I was completely satisfied with Elspeth and Ravyn’s ending, and 𝗜 𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗨𝗣 the new romance between Elm and Ione (𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬!!), the 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥 and chemistry between the characters was top notch!! Two very well written romances and I just hold them all in my heart.

The only aspect I struggled with at first, although it didn’t affect my rating, was how Elspeth went from being a dominant character during the first book, to a side character in the sequel. She was no longer a girl with a monster trapped inside her head, she was very much lost to the nightmare. That being said, the inclusion of the other POV’s truly made this book what it was and although it was a contrast to the first, I appreciated the way this one was written and I very much felt immersed in to the story line and was alongside Ravyn as he set out to save Elspeth.

I won’t discuss the plot, all you need to know is that it is just 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧, it was very fast paced, action packed, and I was left on tenter hooks 𝗦𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗬 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗦. The last 30% of this book was intense, and I don’t think I have ever felt as stressed, and it kept me on my toes until the very last page. A perfect read for this time of year.

I love all of the characters in these books but Nightmare just makes it for me. He is very much a love to hate character for me but he is just so cunning, but caring at the same time, he is brutal yet so very charming, you could see he truly cared for Elspeth so I never worried for her in that sense, but my god he loved to keep you guessing. Not sure I’d want him stuck in my head but as far as characters go I loved learning more about him in this book.

𝗪𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸｡ 𝗔 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲｡ 𝗔𝗻 𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹｡ 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲｡

I love the Shepherd King duology with my whole heart.

Two Twisted Crowns picked up where One Dark Window left off, with The Nightmare taking over our beloved Elspeth's body.

Unlike ODW, Two Twisted Crowns is in multiple POVs and I appreciated that because we got to see the rest of the characters fleshed out, I enjoyed the multiple storylines and how each story contributed to the plot. The pacing was good.

In the second installment, we really dive into The Nightmare's past and his character as a whole and to me, it solidified my love for The Nightmare. I enjoyed the banter between him and the rest of the group but especially with Elspeth.

Not gonna lie, I cried at the end because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters, especially not The Nightmare but I'm happy with the ending and I'm excited to see what other books the author comes out with next.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review*

I loved One Dark Window, I adored Two Twisted Crowns. First of all, Elm 😍. Yes, I love him. Second, why, oh God why, is it only a duology? I mean NOOOOO. Anyway, I'm okay now. It was an EPIC conclusion to an EPIC book. I loved it. Rachel Gillig if you hear me, can you write an Elm novella? No? Okay, I had to ask. I loved this book.