Two Twisted Crowns

The Shepherd King, Book 2

By: Rachel Gillig

Narrated by: Lisa Cordileone

'Enthralling from beginning to shocking end' Hannah Whitten, bestselling author of For the Wolf

**THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER**

In the luscious, dark conclusion to the series that began with One Dark Window, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought - perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

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.

Two Twisted Crowns was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller on week of publication in the US.

©2023 Rachel Gillig (P)2023 Hachette Audio UK

Critic reviews

'A beautifully dark fairy tale of blood, rage and bitter choice, that whisked me away to mist-wreathed woods ripe with romance and menace.' Davinia Evans, author of Notorious Sorcerer

'An evocative tale of romance, mystery and alluring monsters, told in beautifully lush prose' Lyndall Clipstone, author of Lakesedge

Be weary. Be clever. Be good.

The book wasnt only good, it was great! With some clever dialogue that made me chuckle, good romance and suspensful moments that kept me on edge for chapters!

P E R F E C T I O N !!!!!

The Shepherd King Duology by Rachel Gillig
(One Dark Window & Two Twisted Crowns)

This duology is nothing short of phenomenal. Rachel Gillig crafted a world and story so immersive that it feels less like reading and more like being enchanted.

The magic system is one of the most unique I’ve encountered - haunting, balanced, and deeply symbolic. Every card, every bargain, every cost adds weight to the choices characters make. It never feels like magic for the sake of spectacle; it’s woven seamlessly into the story’s themes of sacrifice, morality, and survival.

What truly elevates these books are the characters. You feel for them - ache with them, root for them, fear for them. They are layered, flawed, and unforgettable, and their relationships (both tender and brutal) are written with such depth that they linger long after the final page.

As for the ending - it is perfection. The duology is wrapped up in a way that is satisfying and complete, yet still leaves you yearning for more time in this world. That’s the mark of an extraordinary story: when it closes the circle, but you wish you could stay inside it forever.

The Shepherd King duology is, without question, one of my all-time favourites. Dark, poetic, romantic, and utterly spellbinding.

A Great Original Story

I loved loved loved this book! What a fantastic sequel and conclusion to the story, it’s clever, engaging and entertaining. You fall in love with all the characters and connect with their troubles and their growth, I specially loved The Nightmare! Do yourselves a favor a read this great duology.

Saltless, ironically.

I kept waiting for that hook, you know, the moment I’d get pulled in, start caring about the characters, or at least feel mildly invested in the plot. Unfortunately, it never really came. The story had all the right ingredients, the dark magic, brooding secrets, a cursed forest but still somehow managed to feel… oddly bland. Like a gothic soup with no salt.

The characters? I kept forgetting who was who, and not in a cleverly complex ensemble cast kind of way, more in a wait, is this the boring one or the other boring one? kind of way.

As for the audiobook: the performance wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t help much either. Some of the delivery felt stiff or overly theatrical, which only made it harder to stay immersed. I kept zoning out and rewinding, and eventually gave up on rewinding altogether.

All in all, I made it through both books, but mostly out of sheer stubbornness. These might work better in print for someone else, but for me, this was a long, slow, and forgettable ride.