Rachel Gillig

In the luscious, dark sequel to One Dark Window, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought . . . . 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 are going to find it before the Solstice and cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it, they will need to journey beyond the dangerous mist-cloaked forest that surrounds their kingdom. And the only one who can lead them there is the monster that shares Elspeth's head: The Nightmare. And he's not eager to share any longer.

The Shepherd King #2

Two Twisted Crowns

Sheyd

Loved it. I cried so much it truly was one of the best doulogys i've ever read

Happy that everyone got their Happy ending but i'm also kinda sad that the nightmare is away now since He was a father figure for elspeth. 

lily

"I had my Deck to collect. History to revisit-and rewrite. A path to draw for you and the Princeling, both of you Kings in your own right." The Nightmare clung only a moment longer to his namesake Card, then released it into Ravyn's hand. "And I was not yet ready to bid Elspeth goodbye."

"Magic moves in families. You have two other children with the infection, do you not?" Their gazes shot to Jespyr at the hearth.

I don't_" she stuttered, "I don't know what magic I got in the alderwood."

"You're about to find out," the Nightmare said.

"Your family will be safe someday. I'm going to change things. I'm going to be the worst Rowan King in five hundred years." The tips of his lips curled. "I might even enjoy it."

Elm gave a sweeping bow. "As you've noted, Miss Hawthorn— Im a rotten Prince and a piss-poor Destrier. Must have slipped my mind."

"Let's just say I've never had anything like that. I was too concerned with losing him to note that Elspeth was losing herself until it was far too late."

I like being healed by magic and having no pain. I like who I was and how I looked before the Maiden Card as well. What I aim to get back, Prince, is my choice."

"The only reason you have not lost yourself to the despair of being shackled to Rowans is because the Maiden Card has kept you from feeling it."

"You don't know where your Maiden is, do you, Hawthorn?" lone drew in a breath, then continued down the corridor.

"How exhausting it must be, wanting everyone to know how clever you are, Prince."

Ralie Sutton

"I don't take pleasure in either -horticulture's not exactly a strong suit."

raya

“I’d be your King, but always your servant. Never your keeper.”

The two were together. The girl, the king, and the monster they became.” 

He rolled his jaw, as if it cost him something dear, telling Ravyn the truth. “I thought I was the father she deserved. That I could carry her through this terrible, violent world. I hadn’t done it well with my own children, and when I woke up in her young mind, the first thing I felt, after five hundred years of fury” —his voice softened— “was wonder. Quiet and gentle. I remembered what it was to care for someone.”

taxus and his love and hate relationship with ravyn

The Nightmare made a retching noise, “Not to cut this tender moment short, but time is somewhat of the essence. You sure you don't want the trees to help you, you stupid bird?”

“you agreed to marry hauth, knowing you’d be tethering him to a family that carried sickness? you disgust me.”

Marz

“Someday. But first, I want a hundred years with you.”

I was a bit timid going into this book since I didn't enjoy the first one as much as I thought I would. But I really enjoyed this book. I think maybe I had been a bit confused with the magic system and not in the right mood, but that was not the case for this book. I flew through this book; I enjoyed it so much. Sometimes I can have a hard time with multiple POV's, since sometimes it doesn't feel like they're all necessary. But I really enjoyed all the POVs in this book. I thought they were all important for the story, and I especially loved reading Elm's chapters. I enjoyed seeing Elm grow into himself and how Ione and his love blossomed. I also really enjoyed the journey they went on for the Twin Alders card and learning about the Shepherd King's history. 

Maggie Hotmer

the way this book is better than the first!!!! dodged the second book flop allegations!!

i love the direction the story took especially the added pov with elm, along with the new romance of elm and ione cuties i love their flirty banter!! 

anyways that ending was perfect. felt like the calm of the warm daylight

sparks by coldplay
warm by ariana grande

the way this book is better than the first!!!! dodged the second book flop allegations!!
i love the direction the story took especially the added pov with elm, along with the new romance of elm and ione cuties i love their flirty banter!! 

anyways that ending was perfect. felt like the calm of the warm daylight

the ending songs
daylight by taylor swift
the great war by taylor swift
mastermind by taylor swift
dear reader by taylor swift

Loved this one! Fast paced from the start

Just loved the whole concept and how different these two books were!!

Ella Williams

Loved this one! Fast paced from the start

Just loved the whole concept and how different these two books were!!

🤭🥰Elm & Ione🥰🤭

the whole book was interesting and the ending was amazing! 

Lucy Williams

lovedddd it! 

the whole book was interesting and the ending was amazing! 

loved elm’s chapters 

i def liked this better than the first! brought everything together really nicely

neen

It was a really good story. I love Elspeth and the Nightmare. I love Ione and Elm. And it was a good conclusion to the story. I didn't want to finish the story, so I put off reading it. But now its done and it was good.

Joan 

Overall it was an enjoyable read and an interesting ending to the duology.

That being said, I didn't care about the romantic relationship between the secondary characters. And the first 100 pages were very slow paced compared to the first book.

Yega

Overall it was an enjoyable read and an interesting ending to the duology.

That being said, I didn't care about the romantic relationship between the secondary characters. And the first 100 pages were very slow paced compared to the first book.

This started off slower and then the plot really took off. 

I teared up at the end, and really felt connected to the characters. 

I would've liked to have more on the main couple romance at the end and more on their reunion, and how they ultimately grew together following the main plot conclusion and got to where they were at the end, but the side romance kept the romance itch at bay for me. It really was like "Yay! It all worked out...and they lived happily ever after", and I was like "Huh? Don't just tell me, show me!", but nonetheless, it was too good of a read to knock it down a star over something like that.

Sarah Campbell

This started off slower and then the plot really took off. 
I teared up at the end, and really felt connected to the characters. 


I would've liked to have more on the main couple romance at the end and more on their reunion, and how they ultimately grew together following the main plot conclusion and got to where they were at the end, but the side romance kept the romance itch at bay for me. It really was like "Yay! It all worked out...and they lived happily ever after", and I was like "Huh? Don't just tell me, show me!", but nonetheless, it was too good of a read to knock it down a star over something like that.

 

crying because i know i'll never be able to read this book for the first time again. everything about it was so. fucking. beautiful. love blooms in the dark places between twisted branches. survival is possible. happiness is achievable. i am so, so in love with everything this book is and stands for.

kaii

GREAT BOOK! Just as good as the first! It is a must read!

Rodney Crawford

satisfying end, fast paced from the start and didn’t let up at all!!

Caroline Piephoff

everytime i look up at the sky and see the glowing sun, i’d think about him—the nightmare—which is weird as his name signifies darkness but isn’t as he is who brought light to everyone again. i will miss this family! ended in the best way possible. will def look out for this author’s future books. for now (or until the end of time) though, i’ll cherish these characters in my heart. xx

開花

the 2nd half of this book was something else!!! rachel gillig surely knows how to write a conclusion to a story. the writing is truly amazing, the scenes were playing in my head like a film :’) the world is built so so well, i love how consistent the themes are throughout the whole duology, and it never felt as if the story is missing its direction. it’s like everything is tied together, curved together in interlocking circles — like what elspeth said. 

minus a few points though bc i love elm and ione but i wish we had more elspeth & ravyn 🥹 they really captured me in one dark window & i wish i can see more of them post-nightmare.

this is going to be filed under: books that the author absolutely knows what she’s doing!!! & books whose characters i absolutely love & will never forget!! <3

chel

4.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

the 2nd half of this book was something else!!! rachel gillig surely knows how to write a conclusion to a story. the writing is truly amazing, the scenes were playing in my head like a film :’) the world is built so so well, i love how consistent the themes are throughout the whole duology, and it never felt as if the story is missing its direction. it’s like everything is tied together, curved together in interlocking circles — like what elspeth said. 

minus a few points though bc i love elm and ione but i wish we had more elspeth & ravyn 🥹 they really captured me in one dark window & i wish i can see more of them post-nightmare.

this is going to be filed under: books that the author absolutely knows what she’s doing!!! & books whose characters i absolutely love & will never forget!! <3

i liked this one more than the first bc i was already emotionally invested in the characters from the start | unique magic system | good romance side plot | quicker read, better plot than the first one. i read this in like under 24 hours 

callie

I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one, and found it fairly predictable. I did enjoy reading the series though. 

Samantha Jackson

Really enjoyed this duo of Fantasy with some Romance. Layered characters, a well bodied magical system and world building.

The leads aren’t perfect, and the multiple POVs adds to suspense.

Rabia Sitabi

Really enjoyed this duo of Fantasy with some Romance. Layered characters, a well bodied magical system and world building.

The leads aren’t perfect, and the multiple POVs adds to suspense.



This is what I’ve come to conclude after finishing this second book. I’ll have to give it a second chance. And that second chance I’ll have to physically read it. Like the first one it couldn’t capture my attention and because of that I wasn’t really getting into it like I believed I would have. So I’ve just decided that it’s me that’s the problem and that I’ll have to try again. Because it is an incredibly complex story that is interesting but just couldn’t keep me hooked throughout. Pretty much if you miss just one thing it throws off the rest of the book which is more than likely what happened to me. So I can’t give it a negative review or a postive review because I don’t think I have given it the best chance it needs. Which is why it will be given a second chance at a later date. 

Priscilla Stanfield

4/5⭐️ • 2.5/5🌶️

This is what I’ve come to conclude after finishing this second book. I’ll have to give it a second chance. And that second chance I’ll have to physically read it. Like the first one it couldn’t capture my attention and because of that I wasn’t really getting into it like I believed I would have. So I’ve just decided that it’s me that’s the problem and that I’ll have to try again. Because it is an incredibly complex story that is interesting but just couldn’t keep me hooked throughout. Pretty much if you miss just one thing it throws off the rest of the book which is more than likely what happened to me. So I can’t give it a negative review or a postive review because I don’t think I have given it the best chance it needs. Which is why it will be given a second chance at a later date. 

As the sequel to One dark window I was disappointed to find the story so predictable. Additionally, with Elspeth… indisposed… and the story pov taken on by the other characters, I lost interest in the side quests rather quickly. I did however enjoy the nightmare’s interactions with all the characters, their bond was surprisingly heartwarming. 

Anna

The most action packed book and I loved it. The way certain characters and things connected together in the end was honestly well done. I think now we know why Ravyn’s gray eyes were very emphasized in the first book. IFYKYK.

Kind of wished it kept me wondering if they’d be able to succeed at their mission or not rather than being told by Emory how it was going to play out but nonetheless still kept me hooked.

I’m also glad even tho it did have some romance that it wasn’t the MAIN point of the whole story. 

The most action packed book and I loved it. The way certain characters and things connected together in the end was honestly well done. I think now we know why Ravyn’s gray eyes were very emphasized in the first book. IFYKYK.

Kind of wished it kept me wondering if they’d be able to succeed at their mission or not rather than being told by Emory how it was going to play out but nonetheless still kept me hooked.

I’m also glad even tho it did have some romance that it wasn’t the MAIN point of the whole story. 

Christen 

could not care less about elm and ione just go get that damn card

i have such mixed feelings about this book,, i had to wait a while for my library to have this available so i think my excitement had waned a bit in the process. the writing was as beautiful as the first but i didnt find myself picking this up as much as i did with the first book, it felt slightly like a chore. listening to skryim ambient music definitely helped the experience and i did enjoy it overall but wasn’t blown away like how everyone else seems to react :/

i have such mixed feelings about this book,, i had to wait a while for my library to have this available so i think my excitement had waned a bit in the process. the writing was as beautiful as the first but i didnt find myself picking this up as much as i did with the first book, it felt slightly like a chore. listening to skryim ambient music definitely helped the experience and i did enjoy it overall but wasn’t blown away like how everyone else seems to react :/

 3.75

Two Twisted Crowns The Shepherd King #2

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