Take a photo of a barcode or cover
.png)
lambsbooks 's review for:
Two Twisted Crowns
by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
“I know what I know. My secrets are deep. But long have I kept them. And long will they keep.”
This book was everything I wanted it to be. Atmospheric. Dark. Magical. Heartbreaking. Horrifying. Poetic. The POV change was necessary, considering the end of book one, and I was a big fan of the new POVs we got!
Ione’s entire body went still, her leg tensing in the highwayman’s grip. Elm’s voice came from the back of his throat. “Get your fucking hand off of her.”
Elm
Excuse me!?
“Then do it,” he whispered, gliding a hand up her spine. “Use me. Toy with me. Feel something, Ione.”
This tortured soul was perfect. His anxiety, his pain, his strength, his love, everything about Elm was top-tier boyfriend material.
“Are you angry with me?”
Ione’s gaze lifted slowly to his face. “No. Why would you think that?”
“We haven’t found your Card.”
“That’s not your fault. You didn’t hide it.”
“No, but...you just seem—” He swallowed. “I don’t do well with long silences. I tend to overthink.”
I loved him and Ione together, both brutalized by Hauth and learning to overcome that trauma. His anxieties felt real, things that I’ve thought before, his reactions to situations. I love him.
“I’d be your King, but always your servant. Never your keeper.”
SWOON
“Men have no use for the Maiden. What is beauty to real power? My father never let me touch his Providence Cards. But the Maiden—the Maiden I was gifted freely, like a horse a lump of sugar. Something sweet to distract me from the bit they shoved in my mouth.”
I also loved Ione. What a character!! The reveal, of what Hauth put her through/did to her was absolutely horrific and her bravery and perseverance was truly incredible.
It was surprisingly heavy, her hair. Dense. Long enough to wrap around his fist and tug.
Did I say how much I love Elm?
“You cut her hair?” Whatever crossed his face stopped the Nightmare in his tracks. The monster peered through narrowed eyes, dropping his gaze to Ravyn’s knotted hands.
“It will grow back,” he said slowly.
Ravyn
My stupid bird, oh how I love you. His pain for seeing Elspeth the way she was was so well written and I love him so much. This review is going well 😂 TLDR: Sophie loves everything
There once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a King—a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same: The girl, the King, and the monster they became.
The Nightmare was such a unique character.
“The Spirit of the Wood has no need for crude walls or rope restraints, you little twit. Our captors are decidedly human.”
He was 500 years old but sometimes he acted like he was 5😂 There were times I hated him and times where I felt so much sorrow for him, but I think he got the ending he needed/deserved.
Petyr pulled back. “What the hell happened—is Jes all right?”
He tripped over himself, getting to the Nightmare. He reached for Jespyr.
“I’m carrying her—”
“Shove off, you ancient windbag.”
There were so many satisfying parts and saddening parts and I honestly have nothing else to say because it was just great! The funny parts were so bluntly thrown in that I almost always snickered out loud😂
“For fuck’s sake, Tyrn,” a booming voice called. “Stop cowering. They’re only trees.”
“Only trees? When was the last time that wiry shrub in your courtyard ripped itself free and wrapped branches around your neck, Spindle?”
I’ll leave the review here, but if you’ve made it this far, read this duology!
Nothing is free, the trees called after them. Nothing is safe. Magic is love, but also it’s hate. It comes at a cost. You’re found and you’re lost. Magic is love, but also—
“For mercy’s sake.” The Nightmare spat phlegm onto roots. “Shut the fuck up.”
Thank you so much to Orbit and the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!