thatsillygoose 's review for:

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

3.5

dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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As with the first book, Two Twisted Crowns has a strong premise but didn’t fully deliver for me. The first half was slow and a little dull, though the pacing improves later on. Gillig’s writing is wonderfully atmospheric and visual, but the reliance on plot contrivances to move things along got frustrating. The dynamic between Elspeth and the Nightmare is still the standout—his snarky banter is easily the most entertaining part of the book—while the rest of the cast feels flat and one-dimensional by comparison. Unlike some readers, I didn’t mind the split POV away from Elspeth. Overall, I appreciate the story and what it’s trying to do, but the execution never quite lived up to the potential.

3.3/5.0