Hello to all of you at Hive Book Club, dear friends! I hope everyone is well. Today I will talk to you about a strange and interesting book. The book is called Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig. It was published on October 17, 2023. This book is the second part of The Shepherd King series. At the center of the story is Elspeth, who lives inside a mysterious entity, Nightmare. Elspeth and her partner Ravyn embark on a difficult journey to free the kingdom from a terrible curse. The book beautifully mixes magic, politics, relationships, and inner fear.
For those who love fantasy and mystery, this is a must-read book. I hope you will like it too.
This image was made by AI.
When the kingdom is plunged into darkness, when people are afraid of their own shadows, some people emerge who not only want to survive, but also want to save. This story is just like that of a time, where magic, nightmares, politics, love, and self-sacrifice are deeply intertwined.
Elspeth Spindle is a girl who at first glance seems very ordinary, but inside her body lives The Nightmare. It is not just a magical spirit, it is a kind of old and strange magic, which affects Elspeth's thoughts, dreams and every decision in life. At one time, she herself does not understand whether the voice inside her mind is actually her own.
In this book, Two Twisted Crowns, we see Elspeth and Ravyn embark on a mission to collect all the Providence Cards. Because only through this can they free the kingdom from the curse. But to do this, they have to cross the most dangerous and mysterious place, the Elm Forest, from which no one returns easily.
Elspeth once left her unconscious brother at the orders of the Nightmare, and got lost in that forest herself. She does not know where she is going, what awaits her, but she understands that the Nightmare inside her is the only one who can show her the way. On the one hand, Elspeth tries to come to terms with the Nightmare inside her, while on the other hand, the kingdom is plunged into a huge war. The battle begins for control of Nightshade Hollow, the terrifying place where this demonic magic is created.
Elspeth and Elm find the last Providence Card, the Twin Alders, in the forest. This card is the only one with the power to remove the curse from the kingdom. But the question is who will use it? Who will sacrifice themselves? Here the story takes a deep turn. Elspeth realizes that her Nightmare is not just a monster, but a once-human being who became this nightmare through a mistake. Freeing him means Elspeth's own liberation. Some live, some lose in this war, but Elspeth returns with the power to break Nightmare's curse. She is ready to sacrifice herself, because she knows that sometimes love means letting go, and survival is also a kind of courage.
In the final scene, we see Elspeth walking a new path with all her experiences. The kingdom regains light, Ravyn does not become king, but rather a new era begins where there will be no more cards, no more nightmares, only people with their mistakes and love.
My Learnings, Experiences, and Opinions
After reading this book, I felt that the story is not just about the kingdom, magic or curses. It is more about the story inside our minds, about our own fears, mistakes and love. I really liked the character Elspeth. She is someone who has a different entity called The Nightmare inside her head, which always talks to her, sometimes gives good advice, and sometimes takes control over her. At first it seemed very strange, but later I understood that this Nightmare is actually our inner fears, which we don't tell anyone, but which affect our daily decisions. I learned from this, that we should not hide the dark sides inside ourselves, but rather understand them. Only then may we find freedom.
The character named Elm Rowan also really stuck in my mind. He is a complex person, a little broken, a little alone. But inside he also had a strong desire to protect the kingdom. The kind of understanding that develops between Elm and Elspeth is not very different from romance, nor just friendship, it is a quiet understanding, which is very powerful. The whole atmosphere of the story, especially the Elm forest, Nightmare's voice, and the way the questions arise in the minds of all the characters, all in all, the whole book was like a journey. While reading, I sometimes felt like I was standing next to Elspeth myself.
Another thing that struck me was that this book showed that the monsters we think of as monsters also have a story. Nightmare seemed completely evil at first, but later I realized that he also has a past, a sadness. This thing made me think a lot.
Finally, Two Twisted Crowns was a very special book for me. It is not just a fantasy, it is a story that taught me to look inside myself. If someone likes slow-paced, thoughtful, emotional stories, it is perfect for them.
Thank you very much for being by my side for so long.
Don't forget to let me know how you liked the article, your comments are very valuable.
If you have any questions, I will try to answer them, God willing.
Your love is my motivation.
See you again in a new discussion, in a new story.
Hope you liked it. See you in the next book review post
(Translation: Google Translate)
(Editor: Canva)
By-
