Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Satisfying mature fantasy finale has romance, magic quest.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In TWO TWISTED CROWNS, Elspeth has been taken over by the Shepherd King completely and is jailed for attacking the cruel Prince Hauth to save herself. When Ravyn is charged by the king with locating the Twin Alders card that only the Shepherd King can find, he embarks on a quest with this monster wearing Elspeth's body. If Ravyn doesn't return by solstice with the card, his brother Emory will die from corrupted magic. Prince Elm wants nothing more than to accompany his cousin Ravyn on the quest, but is forced to stay behind. Now that Hauth is gravely ill, he's regarded as the heir and paraded about at parties to find a suitable girl to marry. But he already has his sights on Ione, Elspeth's cousin and Hauth's betrothed, and must convince his father King Rowan not to execute her for keeping Elspeth's illness a secret.
Is It Any Good?
Highly satisfying fantasy duology finale introduces another alluring love match to this mix of palace intrigue, forbidden magic, and fairy tale-like lore. While Elspeth is stuck in the back of her own mind, relationship goals are on hold between her and Ravyn. That leaves poor Ione, confined to Rowan Castle, still engaged to the horrible and currently catatonic Prince Hauth, and about to be hung for treason—or worse, sent out in the mist to slowly go mad. Prince Elm tries his hardest to buy her time as they both comb the castle for the Maiden Card that Hauth hid from her. It renders her both perfect-looking and perfectly cold and heartless, and if she doesn't tap it three times to turn the magic off, she will become more unfeeling by the day. But somehow the sparks still fly between Elm and Ione, and their forbidden love story is anything but cold. Obstacles beyond Ione's imminent death abound just to keep things exciting.
Interludes with not-Elspeth and Ravyn involve a quest for a card that can unite the magic deck and change this world shrouded in mist and dangerous magic for 500 years. The quest itself is rushed, especially in a scene of arena fighting that seems to pop up out of nowhere. The best bits take place in Elspeth's own head. Flashbacks to the Shepherd King's origins prove fascinating and essential to the story's frenetic and bloody climactic action. This debut fantasy series is sure to build an enthusiastic fanbase for its author.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Maiden Card in Two Twisted Crowns. Why do you think that only women have known its true power for five hundred years? What advantage would they lose in this society if men knew as well? In what other ways are women in this story holding onto and reclaiming their power?
Would you want a Maiden Card for its well-known properties? Would you trade your emotions for "perfect" looks? What does Ione think of this tradeoff?
How does Elspeth encourage the Shepherd King to show more empathy? How else does their strange parasitic relationship evolve in this duology? How does delving into the Shepherd King's past help show a compassionate way forward for the kingdom?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Orbit
- Publication date : October 17, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18 - 18
- Number of pages : 480
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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