Scan barcode
A review by shona_reads_in_devon
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
𝜤 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒆
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I had high expectations going into the second part of this duology. The heartbreaking end to the first installment had me not feeling optimistic about our girl Elspeth.
My main grouch about part one was the lack of development of the side characters. Ione, in particular. Well this was fully addressed in book two as Elm and Ione become more central to this storyline. Which is great, I get the Elm love now! I will say, the rest of the side characters still get short shrift - Jespyr, mama and papa Yew. Hauth becomes a stock villain by the end and I don't think the *why* of the way he is is fully addressed or explored meaningfully. He's just a bad guy™️ and that's a bit of a shame because the motivations of everyone else are better explored.
But, the goth vibes were still vibing, I absolutely *ate* up the last third of this with my heart in my mouth. I thought the end was a bit convenient, and I prefer my HEA to have a bit more compromise in them but it was a great conclusion to this haunting little tale.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I had high expectations going into the second part of this duology. The heartbreaking end to the first installment had me not feeling optimistic about our girl Elspeth.
My main grouch about part one was the lack of development of the side characters. Ione, in particular. Well this was fully addressed in book two as Elm and Ione become more central to this storyline. Which is great, I get the Elm love now! I will say, the rest of the side characters still get short shrift - Jespyr, mama and papa Yew. Hauth becomes a stock villain by the end and I don't think the *why* of the way he is is fully addressed or explored meaningfully. He's just a bad guy™️ and that's a bit of a shame because the motivations of everyone else are better explored.
But, the goth vibes were still vibing, I absolutely *ate* up the last third of this with my heart in my mouth. I thought the end was a bit convenient, and I prefer my HEA to have a bit more compromise in them but it was a great conclusion to this haunting little tale.