The Shepherd King Duology Paperback Boxed Set

by Rachel Gillig

The Shepherd King Series, Set of 2 Books. One Dark Window, Two Twisted Crowns

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Gothic, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Fiction

912 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2023

About the author

Rachel Gillig was born and raised on the California coast. She is a writer, with a B.A. in Literary Theory and Criticism from UC Davis. If she is not ensconced in blankets dreaming up her next novel, Rachel is in her garden or walking with her husband, son, and their poodle, Wally.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This duology is rare. By rare, I mean that in a world where tropes and shallow writing seem to dominate, this duolougy is filled with beauty and depth. The prose is hauntingly beautiful, without being showy or detracting from the story. The premise and magic system are original and consistenly upheld. The romance is intense and striking, free from immature fighting or heaps of smut. The story is driven by its characters and the constant conflict between what they love and how pursuit of their goals endangers what they love. The author makes you care about each character (except the villian--she did a great job making you hate him). Your heart breaks in the best way as the characters fight, win, lose, live, and die. Reading duology felt like finding a story I had been searching for for a long time. Thank you, Rachel, for sharing the beautiful story of the girl, the king, and the monster they became.

[Halima (Starlight_and_blooms) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible series! As an avid fantasy reader, I’m often hard to impress, but Rachel Gillig’s Shepherd King Series truly captivated me.

“One Dark Window,” the first book, earned a solid 5 stars from me, while its sequel, “Two Twisted Crowns,” felt even better. It’s rare for sequels to outshine the original, but this series defies that norm. The books are atmospheric and at times slow and detailed but that’s where Gillis’s writing shines. The story is intriguing and unique and had me gripped.
I wholeheartedly recommend it and am thrilled to have experienced such a remarkable journey through these books.

Phenomenal!!

[Krissy (books_and_biceps9155) · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is it possible to write your second book AND it be a sequel and just KNOCK IT OUT THE PARK?! I dunno but ask @rmgillig! I binged this like I have never binged a novel before. I am sick and can barely keep my head up, but I was determined, and this took me far away from my couch and into the woods. The world building and character development was perfection and the suspense and action top notch!

This novel was told in multiple POVs unlike the first and I must say, I really enjoyed it. I was thrilled that we got a perspective from Elm (he is my fav character) and more development from him. The writing in this is excellent and really transformative. You feel like you are racing through the forest with Ravyn, Jesper and the Nightmare to find that Twisted Alder card. We also learned more about Taxus, our Shepherd King which was awesome! I could go on and on. I loved this so much, my only negative thing I have to say is-it’s over. Total book hangover.

[cierra ♡ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ (one dark window - 5 ⭐️, two twisted crowns - 3⭐️)

[Chelsea Grzegorczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5. I really enjoyed this second book. It wrapped up a lot of questions from the first book, but left enough to keep you wondering.

I love Elm’s story in this!

The thread of the providence cards kept it interesting, and how a new providence card was gained from the Spirit of the Mist, and another one at the end of the book.

It all turned out happily ever after, for the most part.

[Tiffany Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was seriously so beautifully written. I was sucked into the whole book.

I LOVE what the author did with the secondary characters from book one. It was so awesome not to have a sequel follow up with nothing but misunderstandings and unnecessary conflict. Having the multiple POVs was great and not something every author can deliver like this.

Not only did the main characters from book one get to finish out their story. Which was great btw. The ending I think for Ravyn and Elspen was definitely different for me and well done.
Giving Elm more of the spotlight in this one was brilliant. SUCH a great character. Probably my favorite next to Nightmare.
I’m glad the King realized what he did when he did.

Nightmare 😭😭 I just love so much. From the very beginning this has been one of my favorite characters. The sarcasm is great.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read a lot of books, but very rarely ever mark one 5 stars. Both books in this series have been marked as 5 stars for me.

I loved the story, I loved the vibes. Yes I know some people mentioned they would have liked more of the world building but I think this is what it needed to be.

Ended up binging both books in two day. One of my favorite series to date and such an accomplishment for this to be the first two books for this author. Cannot wait to read what they write next.

Again, I just want to mention how well it was written.

🎧🎧🎧NOW, the only thing I have to say isn’t about the book itself but more of the audiobook. I listened to it as well as reading the books and I do believe that it could use a different narrator. Maybe bring in more of the multiple narrators like alot of books are doing now. The audiobook is still good just not my favorite. I thought a lot of the characters ended up sounding like children when spoken in their POV. It was more like hearing an 8 year old speaking and not the 20-26 years of age they are.

[Brianna Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE love love

[Sydney Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book series!! I don’t typically read this type of gothic dark fantasy but a friend recommended it and I was fully encapsulated by the first few chapters. I love when a book has just as good (if not better) secondary characters. The characters in this book were fantastic and so lovable. The villains were also equally as evil and you love to hate them! I think it’s interesting that the environment in this book is very somber and dark, but there is such warmth to the characters and their love for each other. It was such a beautiful story that entertwined all of these characters together. I definitely cried during the last chapter of the final book— I just wish the ending was a little bit longer only because it did feel slightly rushed at one point and there was a couple of gaps the author skipped over that I actually would’ve really loved to have read, but overall I love this series and I highly recommend!

[Madison Pinchbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED these books!! The story was compelling and addicting. I completely devoured the duology and found it impossible to put them down. I was falling into a rut where no story felt decent enough to finish, but the minute I began reading I remembered why I love fantasy and delving into new worlds. I will be rereading both books because I’m not yet ready to leave Blunder, the tails of the mist and the providence cards.
Be clever. Be wary. Be good.

[McKell Farr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic doesn’t come free, you must pay the price. If you choose to pay, just tap once, twice, thrice . Shepherd, maiden, monster and crown. A mirrored lake - dive too deep and you’ll surely be drown. A tangle of roots deep in the wood- remember be wary, be clever, be good. A treacherous climb, gruesome and steep, on the backs of those whose eyes are forever in sleep. Spindle, Hawthorn, Rowan, or Yew - or something unknown- different and new? The bells do toll, for whom do they ring? Forever in Blunder - long live the king!

3.5 - rounded up for the storyline and magic system as a whole

[LT Rosado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanting, addicting, suspenseful, romantic. I will always recommend this series. Multiple povs, dark romance, paranormal, royals .....everything a fantasy series needs. I am now a fan of Rachel Gillig, she is now one of my favorite authors. Her writing style & story telling are so compelling & not overdone in any way. Highly recommend reading this series.

[Heather]

the second book is the shining of the two, but I loved them both nevertheless. characters you come to care for, a compelling story. would recommend to ant fantasy lover or someone dipping their toes in the genre

[Bee Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read these sooo quick. Loved the banter between characters. Such an under hyped book!!! the magic system was extremely unique which I loved and I really enjoyed the gothic elements of this book series. 100000% recommend. Did wish it was a little more 🌶️🌶️

[Patrícia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foi uma duologia engraçada e com um mundo mágico um pouco diferente do que estamos habituados a ver. Acho, no entanto, que tem demasiado hype para a realidade dos livros…

[Zara · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a very long time since I’ve felt attached to a world. I cried as I finished and I thank you for that.

[Brooke Havens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this duology the first time I read it. Reading it again, solidifies it into my top 3 favorite reads ever.

[Hannah Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored this series. So unique and beautifully written.

[Emi(o˘◡˘o) · Rating 3 out of 5]

(；⌣̀_⌣́) I liked it, until I got bored...3/5.

One dark window was moderatively enjoyable, but it really dragged on🐌! Everything that happened could have been written in 1/2 of the book and more story could have been added. Had that been the case I'd be giving this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, alas... much creative potential gone to waste by useless verbosity.
The coup de grâce certainly was the ending, underwhelming and predictable. One could have come to that conclusion after the first 5 chapters. At least I did (--_--)

Story 🩵🩵🩵🤍🤍
World-building💚💚🤍🤍🤍
Pace💛🤍🤍🤍🤍
Characters🧡🧡🤍🤍🤍
Writing❤️❤️🤍🤍🤍

Lovely concept, could have been more.

[Rylee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the magic system and the world to be interesting as a whole but two out of four of the main characters lacked depth and development. I felt that the ending of the duology came without surprise or any plot twists that I was anticipating, making for a dull resolution. I never truly felt emotionally invested in the characters beyond Elm, and towards the end, Ione. By then end, I was sick of the Nightmare’s voice being described as “slick with oil.”

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was good. I couldn't put it down. Elspeths journey is just amazing.

[Tatum Happy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished both books within two weeks, I could not stop reading. When I started the first one; I was a bit sceptical because the magic in it was a lot different than in the other book I’ve read, but when I got about a quarter of the way through, it started to pick up and make sense. I love the magic. It was really unique I have never read something like that before, and when I read other reviews saying that they were a more Gothic style, I can agree, especially after finishing the both of them. The second book was better than the first there was so many unexpected twists and turns happening. Highly recommend.

[Huda Fiaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing and the concept was great but the story not so much. The dynamic between nightmare and FMC was amazing. The ending was abrupt and I feel like the author should have written something more about the people of the kingdom.

[Rana Samh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best duology in existence.

[Michelle Deliphose · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 The Shepherd King series - Rachel Gillig
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 🤯 did not expect it to be as good as it was
🌶️ - Wish there was more 🔥 it’s a 0 for me

Okay, I need to rant—The Shepherd King 🤴 series by Rachel Gillig is a fuckin masterpiece, and I need everyone to read it immediately. No, seriously. I don’t know what I was expecting when I picked up the first book, but it sure was NOT supposed to make me feel this way! That fucking cliffhanger at the end of One Dark Window??? 🥴 Are you kidding me?? I hit that last page and sat there with my mouth fuckin open 😯 The disrespect. The audacity. I was pissed but also OBSESSED. So, of course, I jumped right into The Twisted Crown needing tappin my veins needing a fix 💉🤪

Now, let’s get into the meat 🥩 and potatoes 🥔 of this series. One Dark Window throws you into a gothic, atmospheric world where a deadly infection 😷 marks those who carry it for execution. Our girl, Elspeth, has spent her life in hiding, doing whatever the fuck she has to do to stay lowkey and of course alive. But this infection isn’t just a death 🪦 sentence. It has put a whole ass nightmare in her head. And that motherfucker is powerful. When she gets caught up with a group trying to take down the kingdom’s corrupt magic system, her secret gets exposed, and suddenly, she’s fighting ⚔️ for more than just herself.. She’s fighting for her family, her new crew, and the man who smashed her meat wallet and stole her heart 🖤

Then Two Twisted Crowns comes in like a wrecking ball. The stakes? Higher. The magic? Darker 😈 The Nightmare in Elspeth’s head is calling the shots, and it’s a race against time ⏳ to break the system before it destroys them all. But magic 🪄 in this world doesn't come for free… it demands sacrifice. And when I tell you the plot twists had me staring 😳 at my kindle. Every time I thought I had the shit together, Gillig came in, slapped my kindle outta my hands, and said, “Nah, bitch. Suffer.”

This series really grabbed me by the tit, gave me a purple nurple and then made me say “thank you” while I cried 😭 It’s that fucking good. And you’ll love every second of it. If you haven’t read The Shepherd King yet, what the fuck are you doing? Get your shit 💩 together and read this series now. No excuses.

[Cheyenne Lacanlale · Rating 5 out of 5]

🗡️🗡️Book Review🗡️🗡️
#onedarkwindowduology by @rmgillig

First!!! This is now my #favorite #darkfantasy duo! The beginning was slow and with everyone's advice to keep going! Best advice I ever took ti heart because I fell in love with the characters. The Shepard King, Elspeth Spindle, Ravyn, Elm and Hawthorn. ♥️character design was awesome. The scene descriptions are phenomenal.
Elspeth Spindle touches the #nightmare card. At 8 years old she is bound to the nightmare. Though he is dangerous, he cares for Elspeth. There are 12 Providence Cards that complete a deck of #magic. Centuries ago, a King asked the Spirit of the Woods to grant him 12 cards. However, everything comes with a price. That price infected only some. The infection is different for all and while you inherit a great power, if used to much, death will take you.
In the kingdom, there are 12 Destriers. The men protect the King and keep the town safe by ridding anyone with the infection. There is one problem, the head of Destriers is infected alongside his younger brother so he vows to steal all the Providence Cards to unite the deck and cure all. In the height if his quest, he meets Elspeth Spindle, the Kins brother's daughter who lives with the nightmare. She joins this quest to help by using her power. Elspeth's power is unique and extremely helpful. Elm, the youngest of the King's sons, joins Ravyn to help destroy the cards. Ravyn, Elm, Elspeth, and Hawthornn stop at nothing and must battle the King and Hauth, Elms's brother aka first to take the throne. Into the woods and into the mist they go to retrieve the final card. Battling your worst nightmares and hoping the person you love doesn't fall crazy to the mist they will stop at nothing!
The magic in this book is unique and unheard of in the average dark fantasy book. Please read this duology! I rate 5/5! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#bookreview #bookreviewer #ilovebooks #bookrecsofinstagram #booknerdcommunity #bookishengagement #booksilove #bookduology #kingsandqueens #lovestory #ilovebooksmorethanpeople #bookstagramfeature #bookstafam #bookstack #booksta #bookmama #booknerdigans #booknerdsunite #kindlegirlie #kindle #amazonfinds

[Zoie Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as the first, but still a satisfying ending to a good duology. The story-line slipped through the cracks a little, certain plot points felt really impromptu and filler. For instance, there is a scene where a group of protagonists are captured out in the Mist/Fog and all of the bad things that happen to them feel incredibly pointless, adding absolutely nothing to the plot, feeling like conflict for the sake of conflict. The author clearly tried to make that scene a turning point for Rayvn (main male protagonist), but after everything that man had been through, for that to be his "breaking point", I was genuinely ANNOYED. Geez, I'm still annoyed just thinking about it. Anyway, several other things felt pretty forced but I am going to avoid spoilers.

This book was a decent ending but it felt like it need another six months of editing and tinkering with the storyline. You can tell the author had really worked on the first book and made it very seamless and natural, while the second book clearly needed to be released, but a lot of TLC on the book's structure and plot point's suffered as a result. I might have been a little harsh given that I still enjoyed the book, but so many things felt added in or conceived last minute in such a way that makes the second book stick out from the first.

I'll end on a positive note! Overall, a good duology and very creative magic system, good characters, and I was most impressed by the riddles and little poems the author would incorporate in. Typically that kind of thing earns an eyeroll from me but the author did a great job of putting them in the right places and they were so well written that I never fought an urge to skip over them! Truly a great feat, I would read more of this author's books if I am looking for a quick fun read.

[ghostlypeach_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to do a review for both of these books in one because most of the points l'm going to make is a reflection of the series as opposed to individual books.

The story follows Elspeth and The Nightmare, a power inside her, as they try to save the kingdom from a dark power that is destroying their people.

This series is unlike anything l've ever read. The story, the lore and the world building is so unique and well thought out. The magic in the duology comes through the power of a deck of cards and the lore behind their origin is so brilliant and so well delivered. You don't just get thrown all the information at the start of book 1, it is slowly explained and therefore easy to follow, with more of the origins and details being revealed as the books go on.

The story itself is simple but it's all of the additional aspects that make these books so wonderful. The characters have so much depth, and those who you think you will dislike, you may end up changing your mind as the series goes on.

Elspeth and Ravyn, the main characters for the majority of the series, have amazing character development.
And the secondary characters who take more of a spotlight in the second book also grow so much stronger as the books go on.

Although the romance is a subplot in both books, the slow burn and way the relationships are written is just wonderful. There's two main couples in this duology and both are so different from each other. There's enough sexual tension, protective 'touch her and die’ that you will still feel fed if you want the romance.

I truly believe this series is something that every single fantasy lover should read. You will not be disappointed.

[Ariyana W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book originally because they had it on sale at Barnes and Noble, and oh, my, god. It quickly became one of my FAVES.
The series presents with a gothic, dark romantic vibe, and a kickass main character with a secret to hide. In a world that sees magic as a threat, Elspeth, who harbors said magic has to try and survive. I LOVED the twists that came with this story, including the creative idea that she has an ancient spirit within her that she names The Nightmare.
The author also wrote these characters to have names of the trees from the ancient forest that the people used to frequent in honor of what’s called The Spirit of the Wood, which gives it an awesome depth into her world. Every character in the story has a purpose, and each book highlights Elspeth and The Nightmare as equally important leading characters.
The story begins each chapter with really awesome poems, all of which are continued throughout the book which I thought was incredibly unique.
There is minimal spice, but the plot was good enough that I really didn’t mind that part. I really loved the character development of Elspeth and The Nightmare and their relationship, and honestly, the end made me cry for sure.

Overall, I was very happy with these books. It’s been a long time since I picked up something that drew out my emotions, and got me out of the reading slump. 💕

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional fantasy duology that stands as a triumphant example of the genre’s potential when executed with both creativity and sophistication. Gillig has crafted a magic system that feels genuinely innovative and intricately woven into the narrative fabric, creating a world where supernatural elements enhance rather than overshadow the compelling character development. The storytelling maintains an expertly calibrated balance between darkness and hope, exploring mature themes without descending into gratuitous bleakness. What sets this series apart is its masterful pacing—each revelation and plot development feels both surprising and inevitable, creating an addictive reading experience that demands immediate continuation. The romantic elements are skillfully integrated, providing emotional depth and tension without overwhelming the broader narrative arc or diminishing the protagonists’ individual agency. Gillig demonstrates remarkable restraint in allowing the romance to complement rather than dominate the story, resulting in relationships that feel authentic and earned. The author’s ability to sustain suspense across two volumes while delivering satisfying character growth and world-building makes this duology an absolute standout in contemporary fantasy literature.

[oritty: books and i (tilayov) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler free!
I have mixed feelings about this duet
It is really unique by itself or by comparison to other fantasy stories I read
The magic in this world is executed by using cards but as u know, magic always comes with a price...


The paradox in magic: the more u use it,
the weaker u become!!!!

Do not ask for more
In order to fix a wrong done 500 years ago and it's consequences
I order to Sa e loved ones infected by infection
And in order to banish the mist
A group of young ppl take a journey, each to their own and sometimes by joined forces
The hold secrets, they have an agenda
And little by little we get to know them and get to know what happened in the past leading to present events
Full of twists and Grey vibes it is a good story
So why the mixed feelings?
First, the slow burn is really slow so when spice came I was totally breathless and not for the right reason, hh
And second, sometimes the descriptions lengered so much I was getting tiered and out of focus until I noticed I was not paying attention so although the turns and twists it also had boring moments for me
I guess I finished both excited and exhausted....