Book Review: The Shepherd King Duology by Rachel Gilling

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

Trigger Warnings/Content Warnings: Scenes of terror, general violence/gore, a child in peril, blood, mentions of self-harm for magic, moderate sexual content, parental neglect, alcohol consumption, vomiting, violence against children, suicide ideation, grief/loss, and more.

My Thoughts:

Let’s talk about this beautifully crafted duology! You’ll either love it or dislike it—there’s really no in-between.

The writing is exquisite, the characters are unforgettable, and the plot is addictively captivating—everything you could want in a romantasy! If you can, I highly recommend the audiobooks. Lisa Cordileone’s narration? Pure magic. Trust me, it’ll elevate the experience. Plus, let’s show some love to the incredible narrators who bring these stories to life! 🎧

Book 1: One Dark Window

This gothic fantasy is going to live rent-free in my head FOREVER.

Elspeth & Ravyn? YES. YES. YES. I adored them both so much. And that monster living inside Elspeth’s head? Yeah, I kinda liked him too. His grumpiness? Hilarious. 🤔 Or was that just me who finds the monster entertaining? Okay, fine, maybe it’s just me!

The magic system is refreshingly unique, the atmosphere is perfectly eerie, and while the pacing starts a bit slow, trust me—it picks up fast. Stick with it. It’s totally worth it.

You can grab it on Amazon. <–

What You’ll Find in This Book:

♡ Royalty & Cursed Magic

♡ Found Family

♡ Dual POV

♡ Riddles & Mystery

♡ Open Door Romance (but not overly steamy)

♡ Slow Burn

♡ Cliffhanger Warning! (But don’t worry, the sequel totally delivers.)

Book 2: Two Twisted Crowns

Now THIS is how you write a sequel. Two Twisted Crowns is a masterclass in sequel writing.

It picks up exactly where One Dark Window left off—yes, that brutal cliffhanger—so naturally, I had to dive right in. And guess what? It did not disappoint.

Were there moments that felt a bit too slow and some that rushed by? Sure. But when you look at the big picture, it’s one incredible series.

I devoured this book. The characters, the action, the drama, the plot twists—mmm, chef’s kiss. 💀👑

And we get even more POVs, including The Nightmare’s POV (which I loved), with stakes that feel higher than ever. The epic ending and epilogue? Perfection.

If you’re craving a dark, atmospheric, and utterly gripping romantasy duology, The Shepherd King is exactly what you need. Now go read it. You’re welcome.

You can grab it on Amazon<–

What You’ll Find in This Book:

♡ Royalty & Cursed Magic

♡ Found Family

♡ Dual POV

♡ Riddles & Mystery

♡ Open Door Romance

♡ Epic Ending (with an epilogue!)

Some Great Songs for This Duology:

As you can probably guess, I’m not really into pop unless it’s exceptional. Here are some songs I think perfectly vibe with this duology:

“The Catalyst” – Linkin Park

“The Devil Within” – Digital Daggers

“Bury Me Alive” – We Are The Fallen

“Seven Devils” – Florence + The Machine

“No More Sorrow” – Linkin Park

Duology Description:

The Shepherd King Duology by Rachel Gillig—comprising One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns—follows Elspeth, a young woman cursed with a deadly monster spirit known as The Nightmare. As the Kingdom of Blunder battles dark magic that infects both people and land, Elspeth is thrust into a perilous quest to unravel the magic’s mysteries and cure her kingdom before it’s consumed by the mist.

Setting: The Kingdom of Blunder is a fog-enshrouded land where magic is feared, and the mist itself is a corrupting force.

Premise: The mist infects people with dangerous, often fatal magic, and the king’s soldiers relentlessly hunt down those tainted by it.

Elspeth’s Story: Infected as a child, Elspeth hides her powers from everyone, living in secret with her aunt while fearing the monster within her. The Nightmare—a malevolent, ancient spirit—is trapped inside her, a constant threat to both her sanity and survival.

The Quest: Joined by a mysterious highwayman and later the head of the king’s elite soldiers, Elspeth embarks on a dangerous journey to find the last and most powerful Providence Card—The Twin Alders—which holds the key to breaking the curse and saving her kingdom.

The Providence Cards: In this world, magic is bound to Providence Cards, each granting a unique power. Elspeth’s card, The Nightmare, is one of the most dangerous, granting her immense power at a steep cost.

The Nightmare: The Nightmare is both a source of untold power and a dangerous, uncontrollable force within Elspeth. As the spirit grows restless, Elspeth struggles to maintain control over her body and mind, knowing that the spirit’s release could destroy them both.

Themes: This duology explores themes of magic, fate, deception, and the eternal battle for control over one’s destiny. With a unique magic system and a gothic, fairy-tale atmosphere, the series delves into the darkness that lies within, both in magic and the heart.

About the Author:

Rachel Gillig is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Shepherd King series. If she’s not ensconced in blankets, dreaming up her next novel, Rachel is out walking in beautiful coastal California with her husband, son, and their dignified poodle, Wally. Author’s Website   Author’s Instagram @rmgillig