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Two Twisted Crowns
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig Review: A Dark, Satisfying Gothic Romantasy Finale
Two Twisted Crowns is the concluding volume of Rachel Gillig's Shepherd King duology, following Elspeth and Ravyn as they race through a mist-cloaked forest to find the final Providence Card before Solstice — with the Nightmare, the monster sharing Elspeth's mind, as their only guide. An instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller, it delivers a widely praised payoff to one of gothic romantasy's most distinctive recent series.
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for
Readers already invested in the Shepherd King duology who want a darker, more expansive finale that deepens the gothic atmosphere and pays off the emotional arc between Elspeth and the Nightmare.
Worth it if
Worth reading if you loved One Dark Window and are hungry for a gothic fantasy conclusion that broadens its scope through multiple POVs, sharpens its themes of sacrifice and redemption, and delivers a well-earned ending to a series that has captivated over three million readers.
Skip if
Skip it if you haven't read One Dark Window — the Providence Card mythology, character histories, and political stakes are entirely unexplained here — or if you're seeking high-heat romance, as the romantic content sits firmly on the milder end of the romantasy spectrum.
What readers & critics say
Reviews.readingtrolls.com describes the book as "distinctly more emotional" than its predecessor, praising the final act for delivering "intense action and dramatic twists" and calling it "a satisfying and well-earned conclusion to the duology." Sprinklingofcreativity.wordpress.com characterises it as "a worthy sequel that furthers complex relationships" while noting it is "slightly tainted by a cast of too many characters and a predictable ending."
Sources: Reading Trolls, Sprinkling of Creativity, Girl in the Pages, Dark Side of the WordThe Shepherd King reading order
Book 2 of 2 books
- One Dark Window2022
- Two Twisted CrownsThis book
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- Is it worth reading?
- For readers who finished One Dark Window, Two Twisted Crowns is a compelling and rewarding conclusion. Paste Magazine called it 'darker and even more atmospheric' than its predecessor and 'a satisfying end to the Shepherd King duology,' and the broader series has sold over three million copies — a signal of sustained, enthusiastic readership well beyond niche fantasy circles. The book concentrates its central themes of sacrifice and redemption through Elspeth's evolving relationship with the Nightmare, delivering genuine emotional stakes alongside its quest mechanics. The one clear caveat: readers expecting high-heat romance may find the romantic content on the milder end of the romantasy spectrum.
- Similar books
- Readers drawn to Two Twisted Crowns' gothic atmosphere and monster-touched romance will find kindred reads in several titles. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig is the essential starting point — the first half of the same duology and a prerequisite for this volume. Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber shares the dark fairy-tale aesthetic and morally complex romantic tension. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab offers a similarly atmospheric exploration of a bargain with a dangerous supernatural entity across a lyrical, gothic canvas. The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole and When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker both deliver the dark romantasy blend — monsters, high stakes, and emotionally charged pairings — that defines Gillig's appeal.
- Who should read this?
- Two Twisted Crowns is squarely for adult fans of gothic romantasy who have already read One Dark Window. Those who love atmospheric world-building, morally layered magic systems, and central relationships built around sacrifice and the cost of sharing yourself with darkness will find Gillig's finale especially rewarding. Readers who finished One Dark Window and appreciated its blend of mist-cloaked gothic tension, the Providence Card mythology, and the charged dynamic between Elspeth and the Nightmare are the natural and primary audience. Those seeking a standalone entry point, or readers who want high-heat romance as a genre centrepiece, are likely to be less satisfied.
- About Rachel Gillig
- Rachel Gillig is an American gothic romantic fantasy author.
- What are the main themes?
- Two Twisted Crowns centres on sacrifice, redemption, and the cost of sharing yourself with darkness — themes concentrated most powerfully in Elspeth's evolving relationship with the Nightmare. The Providence Card magic system serves as a moral lens through which the novel examines how humanity would abuse power, a thematic layer that critics praised for elevating the system beyond plot mechanics into something with genuine moral weight. The kingdom of Blunder's ongoing struggle against a tyrant king grounds these personal and philosophical tensions in tangible political stakes.
- How does it compare to One Dark Window?
- Two Twisted Crowns is broadly considered a worthy and satisfying continuation. Paste Magazine called it 'darker and even more atmospheric' than its predecessor, suggesting Gillig deepens rather than simply maintains the gothic tone that defined One Dark Window. The most notable structural difference is the shift from a tightly focused single perspective to a multi-POV narrative, which broadens scope while paying off story threads established in the first book. The gothic atmosphere, the Providence Card mythology, and the charged dynamic between Elspeth and the Nightmare all carry through — but with higher emotional stakes as the story moves toward its conclusion.
- Are there content warnings?
- Yes — content disclosures on Rachel Gillig's own site flag violence, gore, and blood as elements present in Two Twisted Crowns alongside its romantic content. The romance itself is on the milder end of the romantasy spectrum, so readers seeking explicit content will not find it here. The book also explores dark psychological themes, particularly through the Nightmare's growing claim over Elspeth's mind, which may not suit all readers.
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Synthesized from verified book data & published reviews · How we review
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Our Review
We review the evidence: published critics, reader verdicts and BookTube reviews, gathered and weighed with AI assistance and edited by LuvemBooks, rather than one reader's first-hand take.
What the Story Is and What's at Stake
The Magic System and World-Building
Reception and Cultural Footprint
Strengths: Character, Tone, and Narrative Architecture
Limitations and Who Should Approach with Care
Sources & Further Reading
The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.
- 1
Rachel Gillig, LuvemBooks
- 2
hachettebookgroup.com
- 3
- 4
- 5
laurieisreading.com
- 6
girlinthepages.com
- 7
darksideoftheword.com
- 8
bloggingwithdragons.com
- 9
- 10
barnesandnoble.com
- 11
Reading Trolls
- 12
Sprinkling of Creativity
Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Ages 16+
Reading level
Older teens & adults
Heat level
Steamy · rated 3/5 spice by readers
From how readers describe it, not our own reading.
3 content notes · who it suits
Content to know about
Best for: Adults / mature 16+ — violence, gore, and dark psychological themes including a monster's growing possession of the protagonist's mind.
Skip if You're looking for a high-heat romance or a standalone entry point into gothic fantasy.
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