Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Two Twisted Crowns in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
To begin with, Two Twisted Crowns picks up right where One Dark Window left off—and from the very first chapter, Rachel Gillig pulls you even deeper into the eerie, enchanted fog of Blunder. This is the kind of sequel that not only meets expectations but shatters them, rebuilding its world with higher stakes, sharper emotion, and a story that cuts clean through the heart.
The Details
Firstly, Elspeth has changed. Where she once simply survived the Nightmare’s voice in her head, now she stands toe-to-toe with it. Her growth is one of the strongest elements in this book. She’s stronger, wiser, and more dangerously aware of what she’s willing to sacrifice. Watching her navigate the blurred line between choice and destiny is as compelling as the twisted magic running through the plot.
Ravyn, too, is more than a loyal shadow. His role in this installment brings more vulnerability, more complexity, and a romance that simmers without overwhelming the narrative. Their dynamic—equal parts tension and tenderness—is grounded in mutual respect, not just desire. It’s a love story with teeth and depth, and it’s one of the book’s strongest emotional threads.
Beyond the two leads, the supporting cast shines. Side characters are given space to breathe, to hurt, to fight, and to make mistakes. Gillig crafts each arc with intention. Every decision matters, and every consequence feels earned. There are no throwaway moments here—only ripples of action and reaction that build toward an epic, satisfying conclusion.
Gillig’s prose remains breathtaking. Her writing is lush without ever becoming dense, balancing vivid gothic imagery with clean, evocative storytelling. The pacing moves with a quiet urgency—never rushed, never dragging. She doesn’t waste a single scene. From cursed forests to ancient relics, every setting comes alive with mood and meaning.
Certainly, the magic system deepens in this installment, revealing more secrets behind the Providence Cards. And instead of getting bogged down in lore, Gillig weaves the mythology directly into the character arcs and the plot. It’s elegant, eerie, and full of the kind of dark enchantment that makes you wish you could step into Blunder—despite all the danger.
Hence, more than just fantasy, Two Twisted Crowns is a story about identity, agency, and sacrifice. It asks hard questions and doesn’t offer easy answers. Gillig explores what it means to carry power you never asked for, and how far someone will go to protect the people they love—even if it means breaking themselves along the way.
By the time I reached the final pages, I was emotionally wrecked in the best possible way. This book doesn’t offer a neat, clean ending. It offers something better: resolution that feels raw, real, and earned. The kind of ending that lingers long after you close the book.
Basically, Two Twisted Crowns is gothic fantasy at its finest—atmospheric, romantic, and devastating in all the right ways. If you loved One Dark Window, this is the rare sequel that makes everything richer and more powerful. If you haven’t started this series yet, don’t wait. There’s magic in these pages—and a whole lot of heartbreak, too.
Lastly, highly recommended for readers who crave:
- Gothic atmosphere with emotional depth
- Slow-burn, morally complex romance
- A richly layered magic system
- High stakes and haunting prose
The Verdict
Final Thoughts: Dark, beautiful, and utterly immersive, this is a book that lingers in your mind like mist in the trees—quiet, eerie, and impossible to forget.
