Review by amdeigloria - Two Twisted Crowns

amdeigloria 's review for:

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

2.5

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

2.5 stars. I really enjoyed the first book and thought it was a great introduction to a unique fantasy series. I loved the world building, the prose, the main character (!!!), and it ended on a great cliffhanger. But this finale was a let down.

The protagonist of the first book (Elspeth) is barely around which was disappointing. Most of the story is instead focused on a secondary character whose arc felt forced and completely uninteresting. The main plot is rushed through and overshadowed by a romance that wasn't present in the first book and a subplot that felt so longwinded and unnecessary. Ravyn's POV, and the relationship between Elspeth and the Nightmare are the best parts and none of it gets the justice it deserved.

The entire book could have been focused on Ravyn's journey to get the Twin Alders Card, so many incredible scenes could have been expanded while they were journeying through the forest.

I don't really see the point of Elm's POV at all, that could have been its own standalone novel.

I'm excited to see what Gillig writes in the future, she clearly has talent and a unique voice in the fantasy realm, but this was not it for me.

Content Warnings