Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

Series: The Shepherd King (#2)

Format: 437 pages, Paperback

Published: October 19, 2023 by Orbit

Fantasy /own

Honestly, it is so refreshing to read a duology. The end. YES.

There was hardly any Elspeth in this book, sad. But yes she was stuck in herself as the Nightmare had taken over her body and mind. And she was also in a prison cell.

Ravyn was trying to hard to save her.

Lots of pagetime for her cousin Ione who is trying to save herself from a prison cell, and gets help from a handsome prince.

And then there is the hunt for the Alder cards.

So I guess this is romantasy, I just saw it under something, and it said the romance drives the plot...eh, no it does not. Elspeth has been taken over by a guy who died 500 years ago, there is no romance there. Her cousin has some romance bit, but she is under a spell and actually feels nothing. So no, the romance does not drive the plot. The romance is there, but the plot drives the plot. Trying to save a kingdom. This is not romantasy.

I liked it, and I liked it more that it was two books and the end! So satisfying finishing something. An interesting fantasy world, great characters and fascinating magic. Great series.

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.