Two Twisted Crowns

4.5 stars.

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.

This book was a perfect wrap-up to The Shepherd Duology. The magic system in this duology is super unique, I love the dark gothic fantasy setting, and the plot is so well written and captivating. I love the direction book 2 went and how the plot played out. The introduction of Ravyn's and Elm's POVs gave the story more complexity and allowed us to see deeper inside the two important characters, their backstories and struggles as well as their relationships with other people, especially between Elm and Ione. We also get more insight into the Nightmares backstory and his relationship with Elspeth which I loved seeing.

My only complaint is that I wish there was more of an emotional impact at the end of the story. It felt like there was too big of a time skip between the end of climax and the epilogue without all of the feels you get from emotional reunions and reconciliations and I desperately wished for that.

Other than that, this was a great book and I will definitely be rereading the series at least once a year.

Really great book and the perfect sequel to One Dark Window. I loved where the story went and I absolutely loved seeing more of Ione and Elm - I didn't really like Ione in the first book, but this one made me love her so much and understand her so much better. The characters are great, the story was beautiful and tense and it kept me on the edge of my seat for so long, waiting to see what was going to happen to these amazing characters.

my bad reading trait is that when it comes to a series I'm always tempted to finish it regardless of enjoyment. I can DNF otherwise and I badly wanted to with this one.

Elm and Ione story line was just filler. I didn't mind his POV but to have a romance with Ione was just odd, why couldn't he of seen her as a human to help but not have a whole new love plot and a more descriptive sex scenes than Ravyn/Elspeth did lol. More flirting, more banter, more everything than Ravyn/Elspeth. It made Ravyns sacrifices and Jes's sacrifices seem so silly and not noteworthy in the end.

Also Elm being so helplessly in love with Ione but genuinely could not care less for Elspeth in any way was a joke and I missed the punchline. The whole thing Ravyn saying how much Elm cared for him and his family, choosing them over his brother, etc but yet not batting an eyelid to the pain Ravyn had regarding Elspeth? That coupled with Ione was just weird as fuck, like the only few people who he claims to love in his life care for Elspeth and all he can do is be like “told you so Ravyn but watch me be a hypocritical little bitch baby when it comes to an ethereal beauty with curves(!!) did I mention she has (curves!!!).

Gillig won't be on my radar any time in the future. Characters are one dimensional, and as thin as the paper it's been penned on.

The only blessing is she had the smarts to end it all here.

Deze stelde zeker niet teleur! Anders dan ik had verwacht, maar leverde toch een zeer goed geplotte finale op in dezelfde griezelig sfeervolle en lyrische stijl als zijn voorganger.

“I know what I know. My secrets are deep. But long have I kept them. And long will they keep.”

Two Twisted Crowns gaat verder waar One Dark Window eindigde, wat een verschuiving in vertellers noodzakelijk maakte. Bij het na elkaar lezen van beide boeken, leek dit aanvankelijk een beetje schokkerig, maar uiteindelijk is het best heel logisch voor het verhaal.

Toch is het een zeer moedige zet om je oorspronkelijke primaire verteller volledig buitenspel te zetten en extra nadruk te leggen op een verteller die niet eens het hoofdmissiegedeelte van het verhaal volgt.
Gelukkig raakte ik uiteindelijk erg gecharmeerd door dit nieuwe gezichtspunt en genoot ik echt van hun kant van het verhaal.
Helaas nam dit ook wel een deel van de focus weg van wat volgens mij het hoofdverhaal was, waardoor het enigszins onevenwichtig aanvoelde. Het gebrek aan focus op wat in boek één als het primaire koppel werd aangeduid, voelde ook een beetje nalatig.

Het algehele plot zat heel vernuftig in elkaar. Mijn nieuwsgierigheid was doorheen gans het boek heel hoog en de algehele uitvoering en onthullingen waren enorm bevredigend.

“Here we are, my darling girl, he whispered to me. The end of all things. The last page of our story.”

Al met al een zeer mooie gothic fantasy-duologie, met een intrigerend magie systeem, een zeer goed in elkaar stekend en afgerond verhaal en een immens mooie schrijfstijl.
Ik ben enorm benieuwd naar het volgende werk van deze auteur!

This picks up right where One Dark Window ended. This was fantastic! One of my new favorite series, and I will read anything she writes.
I love the magic of the cards. It's different and new. And these characters are some new faves. They are all flawed and that made me love them even more.
Whether you're a person that likes character driven books or you're looking for a good plot, this would be great for you. It's so good!

Thank you to Net Galley and Orbit for an e-arc.

The second half of this duology did not disappoint! It ended in a very satisfying way. Obviously if you read book one you know this is very dark and book two definitely stuck with that theme. I loved getting to know Elm and Ione more, I didn't really care for either of them in book one but grew to love them in book two.

One of my most anticipated releases for this year finally came out and I am so glad to say it absolutely delivers! 

Rachel Gillig's One Dark Window was one of my favourite books of 2022, it had an amazing ending which left you wanting more. Finally, the time has come when we can read the sequel to find out what happens to our main characters and boy, was the wait worth it. 

Two Twisted Crowns is as well-written as the first book with beautiful prose. It has stakes, eerie atmosphere, a lot of magic, and a lot of great character development/writing. I am happy so say that more characters get fleshed out in this book and you truly start to get to know them beyond just Elspeth and Ravyn. The bond between The Nightmare and Elspeth continues to be the best thing in the story, I can NOT get enough of them! I love them and they're easily my favourite thing about these books. I also really like the way the romance between the main leads was handled, as well. It felt more mature than what I usually experience in books that read a bit younger than adult. 

I loved the revelations and the ideas Rachel Gillig had for this story and its' ending, and I am heart-broken that this is the end. I will miss those characters and the world – especially Nightmare who is the best character (objectively, ofc!). However, I can also appreciate the story was not stretched out just to make it a trilogy. It really feels so complete and there's not much filler, which just adds to the quality of the books in my opinion. 

I do have one complaint though, which is the reason I can't in good conscience give this entry 5 stars. I absolutely couldn't stand the new POV for most of the book. I don't know what happened, but it reads very different from the rest of the book to me. It felt less mature in its' romance and not serious enough to match the rest of the story/atmosphere. Most of the chapters just read like your typical YA romance which just isn't my thing. In my opinion, the writing just wasn't on the same level and it was painful going through them. It felt the other chapters had stakes, and here we just followed a sad prince and his attempts at romance. The romance also started off-page so it was really hard for me to feel invested and root for them to end up together. I like seeing the journey the character take before they fall for each other, so it's definitely a personal preference.

I might sound too harsh, and i probably am, but trust me when I say I truly struggled to get through this POV. The only thing keeping me going was the fact I liked the female character in those chapters, and also faith in Rachel Gillig. As you can tell, it was so worth pulling through but I feel like this is something I ought to mention since it really made me struggle with reading the book at times. They get better closer to the end of the book though. I will say that I know I can be very nit-picky and there is a high chance it will not affect your enjoyment. 

The duology was more than worth going through and the ending made me feel geniuely happy that I gave this series a try. This one is definitely staying on my shelves! 

I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sequels can so easily miss the mark. That's not the case here. Two Twisted Crowns continues the ensnaring story of Elspeth, The Nightmare, and the search for the Twin Alders. The balance between POV chapters is so well done. Usually, I'll have a preference for certain characters but I was fully immersed in everyone's chapters.
The danger feels so real. It's gripping. I usually have control of my face, but I caught my jaw dropping and eyes wide in shock or fear multiple times.
I want to read this duology for the first time, again and again.

The perfect sequel!

Everything about this book was amazing. The characters, the vibes, the plot – it drew me in, and I was invested. I enjoyed the multi-pov. Watching the relationship between the Nightmare and the other characters grow was also exciting (the banter and camaraderie made me smile). The ending also had me shedding a tear or two. The only thing I wish we got was a proper Ravyn/Elspeth reunion.

This was a beautifully written story – I'm so sad I finished it! I would definitely re-read this series again. It would also make an amazing show/movie. :')

Favourite Quotes

A satisfying conclusion to a dark and immersive fantasy duology filled with old magic, evils, and those who find the strength to overcome them.

A brilliant end. It's not often that I'm so engrossed in a story that I'm not trying to figure out where it's going, but it happened with this.

My only complaint is I wish I had reread the first before moving to this one.

The book emerges as a captivating read, particularly for enthusiasts of dark fantasy. The book follows an addictive narrative style that seamlessly blends a moody, atmospheric setting with a fluid, engaging storytelling technique. This combination is sure to enthrall readers, drawing them deep into the world the author has crafted.

While the book excels in its ambiance and narrative style, it does encounter a hiccup in terms of plot originality. The storyline, although absorbing, tends to tread along predictable paths, which might detract from the experience for those seeking unexpected plot developments or innovative twists. Additionally, the impact of the book has been somewhat overshadowed by the overhype it received on social media platforms like TikTok, where it was perhaps excessively lauded, leading to inflated expectations among readers.

Despite these issues, it does redeem itself with a satisfying conclusion. The ending provides a well-rounded and gratifying closure to the duology, leaving readers with a sense of completion and contentment. This resolution is particularly commendable, considering the challenges in crafting a finale that lives up to the expectations set by a strong first installment.

In essence, this is a recommendable read for its atmospheric setting, engaging writing, and a fulfilling conclusion. Though it may not completely evade the pitfalls of predictability and social media overhype, it ultimately succeeds in delivering a pleasing and comprehensive conclusion to its dark and intriguing tale.

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

And boy do I have lots of thoughts and opinions!!! This was just a stunning conclusion to this duology. I've finished this book in two days because of how hooked I was by what I was reading. It was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it did not disappoint me!

In this book you will find: he falls first and harder, touch her and die, creepy settings, mind/body control, self-sacrifice, interesting magic system, bodyguard/protector and love against all odds.

I'm not going to say anything about the actual plot of the book because I think going in blind is for the best with this book. But as soon as you can get your hands on this book you are on a wild and fantastical ride!

Elspeth dan Ravyn sudah berhasil mengumpulkan hampir semua dua belas Kartu Takdir, tersisa kartu ke-12, kartu yang paling penting, kartu Alder Kembar. Mereka berniat menemukan kartu terakhir sebelum titik balik matahari dan “menyembuhkan” kerajaan dari infeksi, serta mengangkat kabut yang menyelimuti seluruh kerajaan.
Namun satu-satunya yang bisa membimbing mereka untuk menemukan kartu terakhir adalah monster yang berada di kepala Elspeth, Sang Mimpi Buruk. Dan Sang Mimpi Buruk tidak berniat berada di kepala Elspeth lebih lama lagi.
Wow, tidak kuduga aku bakal memberi 5 bintang untuk sebuah Romantasy. Karena buku pertamanya kuberi 4 bintang, kukira buku keduanya pun bakal sama, namun ternyata sekuelnya ini melebihi ekspektasiku. Ada tambahan POV disini, sang pangeran favoritku, Elm.
Hal-hal yang masih belum membingungkan dan belum terjawab, terungkap tuntas disini. Penyelesaiannya memuaskan. Aku sangat merekomendasikan buku ini bukan hanya untuk penggemar Romantasy, namun juga penggemar Fantasy, karena buku kedua ini seru sekali.