Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

BOOK SUMMARY

In the dark, spellbinding sequel to One Dark Window, Elspeth must confront the weight of her actions as she and Ravyn embark on a perilous quest to save the kingdom—perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and Alexis Henderson's The Year of the Witching.

Gripped by a tyrant king and in the thrall of dark magic, the kingdom is in peril. Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last—and most important—one remains to be found: the Twin Alders. If they’re going to find the card before Solstice and set free the kingdom, they will need to journey through the dangerous mist-cloaked forest. The only one who can lead them through is the monster that shares Elspeth’s head: the Nightmare.

And he’s not eager to share any longer.

BOOK DETAILS

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
Series: The Shepherd King (#2)
Sale Date: October 17, 2023 by Orbit Books
Paperback, 480 pages
Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Book Review of Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

TWO TWISTED CROWNS was everything I wanted in a sequel and gave me the epic ending I craved.

Rachel Gillig writes a darker read with plenty of deadly consequences, turmoil and moodier atmosphere as Elspeth must come to terms with what she has brought upon herself and those she cares about.

“𝐄𝐥𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞,” 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬—𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰—𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞. “𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮.
”

— 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠, 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬

I was surprised by the new POV’s in this book. In 𝑶𝑵𝑬 𝑫𝑨𝑹𝑲 𝑾𝑰𝑵𝑫𝑶𝑾 we had only Elspeth’s perspective and now in 𝑻𝑾𝑶 𝑻𝑾𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑫 𝑪𝑹𝑶𝑾𝑵𝑺 we also have Elm's and Ravyn's perspectives.

It completely works. These added voices really made all the difference. Seeing beyond Elspeth's viewpoint made the story that much richer and darker. My heart ached and faltered more than once.

If you're one to clutch your books in emotional turmoil then hang on because Nightmare is truly an unforgettable character. His interactions with Ravyn and inner dialogues, especially with Elspeth are everything.

The whole vibe of the book is that of a dark fairytale - gothic and brimming with danger.

There are mist-cloaked forests and deadly quests. The mysterious Providence Cards full of deceptions and ancient magic. A monster who wants retribution. A love with no boundaries. And, a kingdom cursed.

Treacherous and enchanting, a perfect conclusion.