Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King, 2)

In the New York Times bestselling 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.

Praise for One Dark Window:

"Enthralling from beginning to shocking end." --Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf

"Pulse pounding, darkly whimsical, and aglow with treacherous magic." --Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic

The Shepherd King
One Dark Window
Two Twisted Crowns

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Published Oct 17, 2023

480 pages

Average rating: 8.53

702 RATINGS

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What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Two Twisted Crowns* offers a gripping dark fantasy with vividly drawn characters like the sassy Nightmare, resilient Elspeth, and fan-fav...

Ashwe2011

Jul 06, 2025

10/10 stars

This book was a true delight! The author's writing style in this one allowed me to connect with each character on a deeper level, especially Elm, whom I simply fell in love with. It's inspiring to see how a great writer can create such a profound impact through their words.
I'm so excited to read more from this author! I'm a little sad to finish this book though because I'll miss the characters. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who's looking for a good fantasy book with a touch of romance and no fairies.

Kristin Rose

Jun 24, 2025

8/10 stars

Book 2 was just a little slow to start for me, but I ended up LOVING it. One thing I really missed in this one were all the little rhymes, but the magic system was still incredibly interesting & unique so that aspect remained. I LOVED Elm and Ione. I actually felt like their connection was more formed than Elspeth and Ravyn’s. I actually felt like Elspeth and the Nightmare had a stronger love than they did

Zya The Book Dragon

Mar 05, 2025

6/10 stars

I liked the different type of magic system. the way the characters were more connected that originally depicted was a fun twist. seeing the characters really grow and change was my favorite part.

faetedfantasy

Aug 18, 2024

10/10 stars

Chefs kiss! So happy to have finally dug into this series - a fun magic system. A dark world and a sinister plot. It is engaging and interesting from page 1

Gail_71

Feb 20, 2026

9/10 stars

Trees! After finishing "Dark Window," I eagerly dove into its sequel, eager to find out what would happen to Elspeth, Ravyn, Elm, Ione, and their loved ones, including the Nightmare. The book captivated me with its blend of physical and emotional journeys, making Ione and Elm two of my favourite characters. The interaction between the Nightmare and Elspeth was particularly striking, characterised by unique and vivid descriptions that painted a clear picture in my mind. Rachel Gillig's writing weaves a wonderfully dark and mysterious gothic fantasy that held my attention. I raced through the second half of the book, driven by a desperate need to uncover the fate of the characters I had grown to love.