The Shepherd King Duology by Rachel Gillig
Just finished The Shepherd King duology, and I was completely captivated by this gothic, magical world! Safe to say, this duo is easily one of my top reads of the year.
I was genuinely surprised to learn that One Dark Window was Rachel Gillig’s debut novel because her writing is so elaborate and impressive. The card-based magic system is incredibly unique, adding a creative twist to the story. It felt refreshing, though I’ll admit that remembering the entire deck took some time!
The characters are all distinct, with the Nightmare being such a peculiar yet oddly lovable presence throughout both books. That said, my favorite has to be Elm! 🤠Not that I don’t love the rest of the characters, but there’s just something about his character that really stood out to me.
Personally, I felt that the two books differ in pacing: One Dark Window builds tension quickly, making it a fast-paced read, while Two Twisted Crowns slows down, focusing more on political intrigue and deeper character development. I still really enjoyed it, but I can see how some readers might feel it drags a bit in comparison.
And the romance? Subtle and slow-burn, but very much a subplot. While this series leans more toward fantasy than romance, I still found the romantic elements sweet nonetheless!
One Dark Window
Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her.
Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.
But nothing comes for free, especially magic.
When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.
Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.
Two Twisted Crowns
In the luscious, dark sequel to One Dark Window, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought - perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and Alexis Henderson's The Year of the Witching.
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.