Two Twisted Crowns: the instant NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestseller (The Shepherd King)

I wanted to do a review for both of these books in one because most of the points l'm going to make is a reflection of the series as opposed to individual books.The story follows Elspeth and The Nightmare, a power inside her, as they try to save the kingdom from a dark power that is destroying their people.This series is unlike anything l've ever read. The story, the lore and the world building is so unique and well thought out. The magic in the duology comes through the power of a deck of cards and the lore behind their origin is so brilliant and so well delivered. You don't just get thrown all the information at the start of book 1, it is slowly explained and therefore easy to follow, with more of the origins and details being revealed as the books go on.The story itself is simple but it's all of the additional aspects that make these books so wonderful. The characters have so much depth, and those who you think you will dislike, you may end up changing your mind as the series goes on.Elspeth and Ravyn, the main characters for the majority of the series, have amazing character development.And the secondary characters who take more of a spotlight in the second book also grow so much stronger as the books go on.Although the romance is a subplot in both books, the slow burn and way the relationships are written is just wonderful. There's two main couples in this duology and both are so different from each other. There's enough sexual tension, protective 'touch her and die’ that you will still feel fed if you want the romance.I truly believe this series is something that every single fantasy lover should read. You will not be disappointed.

Brilliant conclusion.In the end, it's the story and following it through that always keeps me going.The prose is wonderful, with a plot that fell into place with each page.May the author keep growing into her craft, and find new voices nestled in the stories untold.Spice 4/5Plot Decent, not unpredictable but the story kept me turning each page.World building great, some loopholes towards the end, but never taking away from the storyFocus on this book was divided between another couple, with multiple POV of about three to four characters. I kept longing for book one's main characters, but I think the author did a good job trying to balance both storylinesSolid effort.

I only read One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig a few weeks ago, and I’ve been counting down the days to the sequel and conclusion to the duology, Two Twisted Crowns. And it definitely meets my high expectations from the first book. Gillig manages to wrap up this deliciously dark fairytale in a way that had me biting my fingernails til the bitter end. So it’s five stars from me.Elspeth Spindle has degenerated – the Nightmare that shared her mind has now taken over completely, and she is lost somewhere in the recesses of their shared mind. And that Nightmare, also known as the Shepherd King, knows where the Two Alders card is that can break the curse… but nothing is as it seems when it comes to magic, and there is always a cost.Where One Dark Window was a gothic, atmospheric, creepy fairy tale vibe, Two Twisted Crowns has a feeling of desperation and dark inevitability to it – more fate than fairy tale, although something about repeating the past has echoes of a dark fairytale to it as well which I love. Every character seems backed against the wall, and where Elspeth in the first book constantly had choices and agency, what feels like a lack of choices and helplessness of the other characters in the first two thirds of this novel is quite a contrast. But it works. The contrast ups the stakes and despite our main character being essentially absent we never feel like we’re simply waiting for her return.Elspeth is what I properly consider a strong female lead. She’s not a stereotypical romantasy stubborn, contrary, snarky woman with crazy fighting skills and hyped up powers – instead, she has real agency, makes decisions for herself, has a little bit of sass to her but it’s not her whole personality, and is mentally and emotionally strong, facing and overcoming huge challenges. In the first novel, Elspeth’s foil was Ione, who chooses to lose her emotions and become a beautiful puppet for powerful men – but in this novel we see a different side to Ione, and a different kind of strength, and I’m genuinely living for the female characterisation and character development here.Also, can we talk about Elm? I liked him as a character in the first book, the idea of the prince that hated his family so much he’d betray them, arrogant and mistrusting but good at playing the part he needed to play. I couldn’t decide if I trusted him or not – so no wonder Elspeth couldn’t! He was the ‘petulant, reticent Elm’ he describes himself as in Two Twisted Crowns.But now Elm has become a character I want to put in my pocket and take home with me: we see more what he has to deal with with his father (the moment he heard about the feasts I had a genuine visceral response to) and brother, and through him we see get to know Ione too. He makes an excellent romantic lead and a very different one to Ravyn. I really love what Gillig has done developing Elm and Ione and I’ve definitely developed another book crush on Elm here.And the ending. Endings in fantasy are tricky things – they can’t be too predictable, or there’s no feeling of anxiety or worry over how the story will resolve, but equally there has to be some hints at what is coming, and it has to make sense in-universe so that readers are left going ‘of course!’. It’s a hard balance to strike and endings in fantasy often are either rushed or fall flat and anti-climactic. But Gillig nailed it. I won’t spoil anything, but it’s not what I predicted, and yet it’s absolutely perfect as a dark fairytale ending. It felt very bittersweet.Gillig’s writing I have to comment on. Like the first book, her writing is easy to follow and simple to understand, and more direct than meandering (which isn’t common with a fairytale vibe). However, she somehow creates this really lush atmosphere and has such a knack for a turn of phrase or word choice builds this magical setting despite her writing be easy to digest. I actually don’t quite know how she does it, but I love it. I never find myself skimming paragraphs of description to find out what happens next, the way can sometimes be the case for fantasy writers. It’s brilliant.All in all, I just massively rate this duology, which are up there as some of the best books I’ve read this year. This series is for you if you like gothic light-horror-meets-fairytale-fantasy vibes like Naomi Novik’s Uprooted, Rosamund Hodge’s Cruel Beauty and Crimson Bound, or Erin A. Craig’s House of Salt and Sorrows.

I loved this! This book introduced a really unique magic system and built it in to the story seamlessly so your understanding grows as it progresses. The way the story builds intrigue and drama is fantastic. The characters were brilliant and believable despite this being set in a fantasy world. I will be delving in the next one immediately. I’ve read a lot of romantasy and this one really stands out as something different as it’s not all about the romance. Definitely recommend this to go on your list! And remember…. Be Wary. Be Clever. Be Good!

I’m very disappointed that my three 12 hour shifts at work prevented me from devouring this book in the matter of hours that I wanted to.However it was just as satisfying split into smaller parts.A brilliant follow on from the first book, and really loved having more points of view to move the story along. Felt well rounded and like all areas of the story were covered.Easy to follow, satisfying ending, interesting characters with what I thought was a brilliantly unique magic system- without fae!Loved it!

Rating: 🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉 (5/5)Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig is the gripping sequel to One Dark Window, continuing the dark, atmospheric journey through the fog-drenched kingdom of Blunder. The story picks up with the curse still hanging over the kingdom as Elspeth Spindle and the crew race against time to break it. While the first book focused on Elspeth and her possession by the Nightmare, this one shifts to more political intrigue and power struggles as we dive deeper into the lore of the Providence Cards and the twisted fates of those who wield them.- Genre: Dark Fantasy, Gothic fantasy, romantic fantasy- Length: 450+ pages- Pace: Steady, with moments of tension and action, but not rushed- Vibe: Still eerie and moody, with a more complex, layered feel—less about survival and more about political games and destiny- Tropes: Power struggles, reluctant rulers, forbidden magic, fated lovers, rebellion against fate- Favorite Characters: Elspeth remains a compelling lead with her inner battle against the Nightmare, but Ravyn Yew really comes into his own in this book as the stakes rise. The relationship dynamics deepen, with new alliances and betrayals keeping things interesting. Pros:- A more intricate plot with higher stakes and deeper character development.- The politics and power plays add an extra layer of tension, making it feel bigger and more epic than the first.- Lore surrounding the Providence Cards and their origins get fleshed out, adding depth to the world.- The Gothic tone remains intact, balancing magic and mystery with emotional stakes. Cons:- The pacing may feel slow at times, especially with the increased focus on politics.- Some might miss the more intimate focus on Elspeth from the first book as the plot broadens. Who would like this book:- Fans of One Dark Window looking for a deeper dive into the world of Blunder and its complex magic system.- Readers who enjoy dark, Gothic fantasies with a balance of political intrigue and personal stakes.- Those who like high-stakes magical conflicts where the fate of an entire kingdom hangs in the balance. Quote:"The crowns we wear are not always forged by our choosing, but by the hands of fate, twisted and cruel, binding us to paths we cannot escape."This sequel ramps up the intrigue and lore while keeping the same dark, magical tone, perfect for readers who love their fantasy with a touch of Gothic tension and a slow-burn romance.

Llego con empaque transparente, sin daños y en excelente condiciones

O segundo livro da coletânea encerra uma história lindíssima, com um plot twist tão bem desenhado que pega o leitor de supetão. Para acelerar o coração, torcer, vibrar e chorar. A verdade terrível é que não é todo dia que encontramos um enredo de roubar o coração.

Absolutely loved it beginning to finishSuperb characters to root for and menacing villains to hate!Brilliant concept very originalHighly recommend!

5 ⭐️ is indeed a feeling! I have had this feeling since the first chapters of this book, and OMG!!! did it deliver!!! While book 1 might have been a little bit slow paced, this one is super fast paced, without loosing focus or jumping off script. And what is even better is the author making you care about the secondary characters as much (or even more) as the main characters! And how the main character takes a secondary place in the second book, to make room for the other to shine, and thus organically progressing with the story line and the fate of the kingdom.Let me tell you that my favourite character is the Nightmare! It does grow on you once you understand his story and his motives, and while he is out for revenge, he does not do it while hurting everyone else. He is very considerate (in his own way). His snarky comments, his smartness...such a well build character!Second favourite character....Elm! Not your typical MMC for sure, but for those of us who value character and personality more than looks, he is a definite book boyfriend. Not to mention the progress and life he has had, growing up in such a dysfunctional family. His ending was a very fitting one for sure!All in all, since I have started my reading journey, this is the first book which gave me the 5* feeling from the very beginning. Now i know what to look out for :D HAPPY READING!!!