Naomi with a Novel

This month, I read the Shepherd King duology, AKA One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig. Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) of Two Twisted Crowns. All opinions in this review are my own!

Before I get into my review of the sequel, let me recap my feelings about the first book. I read One Dark Window at the beginning of October, and it was precisely the dark and eerie read I had been yearning for this spooky season. The unique magic system, coupled with memorable characters and an intriguing storyline, piqued my interest.

However, I didn’t exactly fall head over heels for One Dark Window. There were moments when I found it surprisingly easy to set aside, and I even struggled to push through certain sections, particularly at the beginning. Nevertheless, I can say that One Dark Window was a satisfying read overall, and I was eager to read the sequel! So, let’s get into it.

In this enchanting sequel to One Dark Window, I found myself captivated once again by the gothic, forest-y magic vibes that drew me to the series in the first place.

Elm and Ione finally received the depth and exploration they deserved! I remember wanting more from their characters in the first book, so I was excited to see Two Twisted Crowns partially revolve around them.

Confession: For most of the book, I was more interested in Elm and Ione than Elspeth, Ravyn, and the others in the forest. Oops.

Of course, I still love Elspeth and Ravyn. I ended up missing their interactions from One Dark Window that were—understandably—mostly absent in this book. But Elspeth’s unique situation gave me the chance to get to know the Shepherd King as his own character.

In terms of other important characters, I won’t waste any words on Hauth.

Storywise, I was intrigued by how the “two twisted crowns” unraveled throughout the book. Rachel Gillig used foreshadowing intentionally and well. When certain things (sorry, no spoilers) were revealed, they made sense, and by the end of this book, everything came together.

I enjoyed so much of this sequel that it feels weird to critique it, but I did struggle to continue reading when I got to the 50-60% mark. Reminiscent of my struggles with the first book, the plot started to drag at this point. The pacing was a bit off. However, once I picked the book up again, I read the last 40% in one sitting.

Overall, I rate this sequel 4 stars, a testament to its enchanting world-building, character development, and compelling narrative, despite a brief hiccup in pacing. I eagerly look forward to more from this talented author in the future!