Book 1 in this duology was a surprise huge hot with my students and in this action packed follow up - I can see this sequel bring an even bigger success than it's predecessor!

Thank you to Netgalley, little Brown book group and orbit for providing me with this ARC.

This book is the perfect conclusion to a stunning duology.

Picking up where One Dark Window left off, we're thrown back into the turmoil that Elspeth, Elm and Ravyn are facing in Blunder.
With the search for the providence cards picking up, and the time running out the book keeps a hefty pace through out. Keeping you on the edge of your seat and keeping you guessing what's going to happen next.

The multi point of views allow you to keep up with what's happening throughout Blunder as each characters journey takes them somewhere different, allowing us to get a whole picture of the timeline. Each chapter us like a mini cliffhanger as you find out what's happening with someone else.

The Nightmares riddles, quirks and wit throughout the book give a touch of foreshadowing, a lightness thats shrouded in shadow when you just need something "else" in a scene. And seeing how other characters interact with Nightmare when he's around is something I didn't realise I needed.

I put off finishing this book because I didn't want it to end. But the ending is so fitting for this story, it leaves you wanting more but also closes the duology off perfectly.

Rachel Gillig is incredible!!!

After absolutely devouring ODW I needed the sequel to be absorbed into my bloodstream. Safe to say, this book was a perfect ending for a duplogy.

The writing style flows as effortlessly as the first, I was hooked from page one. Gillig is masterful at creating beautifully atmospheric scenes, reading this book felt like watching what was happening right behind my eyes.
This duology has one of my favorite magical systems I have ever read. There was never a point where I felt confused or didn’t understand the magic. I loved the limitations to the magic, especially for Ravyn, and how not everything can be solved by it.

For those who loved Elm and Ione in book one, you will love the sequel even more. They both make many many more appearances. I love their character developments.

( spoilers for ODW ahead)
The banter between the nightmare and Ravyn throughout the entire book was impecable. We learn the nightmare is not as evil as he was first made out to be, and I love him as a character.

Thank you so much orbit books UK for bestowing the honor of reading this book.

SUCH a fantastic sequel to One Dark Window, I binged them together as I could not get enough of the world!

Rayvn and Elspeth & The Nightmare I thought had a well rounded ending! I was ROOTING for them and Elm & Iona through the entire book!

Love love love this duology and highly recommend it. I did rate this a little lower than the first book. I loved the plot and seeing how it would pan out I found it well written and thought out and could not put it down! Look forwards to seeing what the author does next!

I was worried I wasn't going to like this book as much as the first, because the pace was much slower for the first 30% of the story, but it picked up just after that and didn't slow down until the very end.

The characters and the story go from strength to strength in this book. Characters I didn't think much about in book one became some of my favourites in book 2 and I loved getting swept away in their stories.

I absolutely adore the gloomy, almost gothic atmosphere Gillig has created in this world. I loved that I could feel every drop of terror, despair, hopelessness and determination the characters did. I loved the little twists in the book and how they tied everything together.

We also got a deeper, clearer look at the magic system and how complex it was which I appreciated.

If you enjoyed the high stakes of book 1, you'll love book 2 even more.

This review will be posted on Goodreads on 9 October 2023
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This sequel starts off not long after the events that ended One Dark Window, and I loved it from start to finish. I tried to read it at a more leisurely pace to allow myself to enjoy it more, and to make it last longer, but I ended up reading over half of it in one day and finished it at 1am because I just couldn’t put it down 😂

Spoilers ahead for those who haven’t read it yet!

Here are my (stream of consciousness) thoughts, not in any particular order, and written down within around 14 hours of finishing the book:

1. Ravyn and Elspeth’s journeys to get back to each other (physical and otherwise) were just *chef’s kiss*, I just loved how dedicated they were to each other. One of my favourite tropes is when an MMC gets back at someone who hurts the FMC (the “who did this?” growl gives me shivers every time), but I equally love when the FMC gets back at someone who hurts her man - and one of my favourite scenes was when the Nightmare broke Hesis’s nose to get them back for breaking Ravyn’s nose at Elspeth’s request 😏

2. Speaking of the Nightmare, his banter was top notch, and I really enjoyed the scenes he was in. I also loved how we saw his history through Elspeth’s POVs. It was a really interesting way of showing it (rather than him just talking a it or having his own flashbacks).

3. Elm and Ione’s relationship was not something I saw coming after the first book, probably because I was so focused on Ravyth? Elspyn? (Is there a commonly used ship name for Elspeth and Ravyn?) So at first I wasn’t sure about Elm and Ione, but I very quickly grew to love watching their relationship develop. I also enjoyed hearing Elm’s inner thoughts, given that he outwardly plays the role of jokester prince. One of my favourite lines in the whole book is when Elm sees Ione remove the Maiden’s influence and return to “normal” - just 🥹 (everyone needs someone who looks at them like Elm looks at non-Maidenified Ione).

4. Speaking of Ione, I’m really glad that everyone didn’t just forgive her father for the bs he pulled to arrange her match with Hauth. I didn’t want him to die (for her sake more than because I liked him at all), but him being relegated to the back of the venue for her wedding to Elm was great.

5. The pacing was perfect and kept me engaged the whole way through. I also think a duology was the perfect length. A standalone book would definitely have been rushed, but if it was a trilogy I think it would have felt dragged out.

6. I guessed pretty early on that Ravyn and the Yews were related to the Shepherd King because of his son having grey eyes instead of yellow, but it was still a very nice twist and I enjoyed seeing how the characters reacted to the reveal. My only complaint is that I do wish we could have seen how the rest of Ravyn’s family reacted to that news. (Although given that they are actually reasonable people, they probably accepted it and took it in their stride, which I imagine is the reason it wasn’t shown.)

7. Hauth was awful and I wanted to throw *him* out the window, but for me that’s always a sign of a good villain. The scene where Ione was thrown out the window was horrific, but not so bad that I didn’t want to stop reading.

Overall, I didn’t want this book to end, and I imagine I’ll be doing more rereads in the future just so I can see all of the characters again.

“There were not enough pages in all the books Elm had read, in all the libraries he’d wandered, in all the notebooks he’d scrawled, that could measure—denote or describe—just how beautiful she was.“

This is the easiest 5 star I have given to any book.

This is how authors end duologies/ trilogies or even series. I though One Dark Window was my top read this year already but this book dethroned it in a blink of an eye. I felt sadness, happiness, tension, pain, wonder, awe and every little emotion I can think of in this book.

I didn’t expect the romance between two of the characters here because they had like zero interaction in the first book and to be honest, I was speeding through the chapters just to to their POV! Ravyn and Elspeth was so precious in this book, their romance definitely wasn’t as evident BUT the yearning is top notch!!

Again the magic system is the most unique I’ve seen, I have never come by with another book with the same system and that is phenomenal. The backstory of how the magic system was brought by is just impeccable and what I like the most is the emotions that is paired with each back story. I felt sad and surprise so many times with the events that took place leading to their present predicament.

The way this was written was so magical and immersive I do not have the strength to put it down. The riddles, the curses, and the clues are so clever. The lines said here really hooked me and I loved every moment of it.

Overall this is definitely my top read so far this year and I can’t wait to read more from the author!

Goodbye, readers. Be wary. Be clever. Be good.

this series has been on my tbr forever and i finally got around to it and wowza. it did not disappoint!! definitely gonna grab these in paperback so i can annotate them <3

A little less enjoyable than its predecessor, Two Twisted Crowns is nonetheless a dark, creepy fairytale that digs deeper into the lore and cursed families of the world. We were without Elspeth for most of the story (it sounds bad that losing the heroine of book 1 wasn’t a flaw…but we managed fine without her), but the Elm/Ione subplot was in many ways more compelling than Elspeth/Ravyn. I wish there was more of the Nightmare/Shepherd King…but I’d probably be saying that even if the whole book was devoted to him. I enjoyed the resolution of this story a lot.

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.