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Quick answer: If you finished Two Twisted Crowns, try One Dark Window, The Knight and the Moth, A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Cruel Prince, Uprooted and Serpent & Dove. They share dark fairy-tale magic, curses and slow-burn romance.
Rachel Gillig's Two Twisted Crowns ends the Shepherd King duology, with Elspeth and Ravyn facing a kingdom of Blight and old magic. Her readers love moody forests, riddles and romance. These 15 books keep that dark, gothic, fairy-tale atmosphere, from other fantasy romances to older fairy-tale retellings. Most include some violence and romance.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Dark Window | Rachel Gillig | Adult | the book before this one |
| The Knight and the Moth | Rachel Gillig | Adult | more by the same author |
| A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas | Adult | fantasy romance readers |
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | Teen/Adult | readers who like court politics |
| Serpent & Dove | Shelby Mahurin | Adult | enemies-to-lovers fans |
| Uprooted | Naomi Novik | Adult | readers who like forests and magic |
| Spinning Silver | Naomi Novik | Adult | fairy tale fans |
| The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden | Adult | readers who like folklore |
| Daughter of Smoke & Bone | Laini Taylor | Teen/Adult | readers who like lyrical fantasy |
| Wicked Saints | Emily A. Duncan | Teen/Adult | readers who want darker romance |
| For the Wolf | Hannah Whitten | Adult | readers who like Beauty and the Beast |
| Spin the Dawn | Elizabeth Lim | Teen/Adult | readers who like quests |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | Teen/Adult | readers who like action and romance |
| Heartless | Marissa Meyer | Teen/Adult | readers who like retellings |
| The Bridge Kingdom | Danielle L. Jensen | Adult | readers who like spies and romance |
1. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
The first book of the duology introduces Elspeth Spindle, who carries a spirit called the Nightmare in her head. Start here if you skipped it.
Best for: the book before this one.
2. The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
Gillig's next duology follows Sybil, an oracle who sees the future through a ritual, and a knight named Gaspar. Another moody, twisty romance.
Best for: more by the same author.
3. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre kills a wolf and is taken to the faerie lands as a captive. A romance with a Beauty and the Beast base.
Best for: fantasy romance readers.
4. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude, a human girl, enters the faerie court and wants to belong. Intrigue, betrayal and an enemies-to-lovers romance.
Best for: readers who like court politics.
5. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Lou, a witch, marries Reid, a witch hunter, in a story of forbidden love. Fun and steamy.
Best for: enemies-to-lovers fans.
6. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Agnieszka must save her village from the Wood and its curse. A beautiful story inspired by Polish folklore.
Best for: readers who like forests and magic.
7. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Miryem becomes a moneylender and makes a deal with the Staryk king. A reimagined Rumpelstiltskin.
Best for: fairy tale fans.
8. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Vasilisa protects her village from spirits in medieval Russia. Atmospheric and snowy.
Best for: readers who like folklore.
9. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Karou is raised by chimaera and meets an angel. Lush and romantic.
Best for: readers who like lyrical fantasy.
10. Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
Nadya, a cleric, and Malachiasz, a blood mage, form an uneasy alliance in a war between two lands. Dark and gothic.
Best for: readers who want darker romance.
11. For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
Red, the second daughter, is sent into the Wilderwood to marry the Wolf. A gothic fairy tale of curses and trees.
Best for: readers who like Beauty and the Beast.
12. Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Maia disguises herself as a boy to compete as the emperor's tailor. Inspired by Chinese tales and Project Runway.
Best for: readers who like quests.
13. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena, an assassin, competes to become the king's champion. First in a long series.
Best for: readers who like action and romance.
14. Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Cath wants to open a bakery, but fate makes her the Queen of Hearts. A dark take on Wonderland.
Best for: readers who like retellings.
15. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
Lara marries the king of her enemies, planning to destroy him from within. Political and spicy.
Best for: readers who like spies and romance.
How to Choose
If you want to stay with Gillig, read One Dark Window and The Knight and the Moth. For other dark fairy tales, try Uprooted, For the Wolf or The Bear and the Nightingale. For romance, start with A Court of Thorns and Roses, Serpent & Dove or The Bridge Kingdom. Most of these contain violence, and several contain open-door scenes. For the best reading order, finish the Shepherd King duology first, then read The Knight and the Moth and its sequel, since Gillig's later books use similar themes of oracles, riddles and hidden power. If you like audiobooks, the gothic tone works especially well on a dark autumn evening. When you want a break from romance, choose Uprooted or The Bear and the Nightingale, which rely more on folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read One Dark Window first?
Yes. Two Twisted Crowns is the finale of a duology and spoils the first book.
Is there a third book?
No. It completes the Shepherd King duology, and Gillig has moved on to other stories.
Is it romance or fantasy?
Both. It has a central romance with a strong fantasy plot.
What should I read right after the duology?
Try The Knight and the Moth, since it keeps the same mood and style.
Are these books spicy?
Some are. Serpent & Dove, A Court of Thorns and Roses and The Bridge Kingdom have open-door scenes, while Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale are milder.