The Shepherd King series by Rachel Gillig -> Restarting November 28th, 2025

[Aly]

Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her.

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.

Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.

[Andy]

Starting this soon! :)

[Andy]

Chapter 2: interestig start! (view spoiler)[I think she should have staied and tried to gainsay her step mother... (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 1-9 (view spoiler)[Okay, lots of world building so far. I think that the world is interesting but it feels like a lot of information at once. This nightmare person is strange, but like how they help. I’m interested to see how the plot moves forward from here and see what happens now that she’s made this deal. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 10-18 (view spoiler)[I’m liking this, but not loving it yet. I still think the world is interesting and now that the plot is moving along more, it’s becoming more intriguing. It was interesting how he said the voice he hears is himself. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 19-26 (view spoiler)[So this Nightmare is really starting to take over her. I think she needs to open up to Ravyn about him. Also I’m not sure how to feel about Linden getting hurt. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Finished (view spoiler)[Well that ended on a cliffhanger. Now I need to read book 2. It’ll be interesting to see where this goes with Raven’s deal and her promise to get the Twin Alder card. (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Sorry I'm so slow!

Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[The ryming is driving me a bit crazy already...i wonder what is going to happens - looks like some political intrigue..m Not sure about Ione to be honest... Wjy is she so obsessed with the other prince? (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

You’re fine! Take your time.

[Andy]

Chapter 14: (view spoiler)[I like that it's quite fast paced, the nightmare talking in rhymes is becoming annoying though. I find the worldbuilding interesting, but I cannot remember a page to the next what most cards do, except some of the prominent ones... I guess it's my fault, but I think if we saw the cards in action rather than getting the teacging session would have stuck in my mind much better, like the Maiden (which is one of the few I actually do remember). It is a bit confusing how the infection works, with some being very sick, and some not so much? I wonder who they are planning to sacrifice instead of Emory and I do worry it is her.
Does Ravyn have the same power as Elspeth then? I am a little confused... But he was touching cards at the interrogation? Bha!
I will admit to be intrigued by the fake-dating trope, and I like Ravyn... Not sure what the deal is with Elspeth previous beau, I don't think we needed him for the plot, it seems a bit random (and if he turns out to be a bad guy it's a cheap trick, since we don't see him at all, we just have Elpeth version of "he's too good for me, vut I don't want him"... (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Andy wrote: "Chapter 14: I like that it's quite fast paced, the nightmare talking in rhymes is becoming annoying though. I find the worldbuilding interesting, but I cannot remember a page to the next what most ..."

I definitely agree! (view spoiler)[I think the author should have included like a card guide at the beginning of the book so it’d be easy to reference. (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Ashlyn wrote: "I definitely agree! (view spoiler)"

Yes!

[Andy]

Ashlyn wrote: "Chapters 10-18 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes, I wonder if they have relatively similar experiences? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20: (view spoiler)[I really dislike Ione at this point, a little bit like Taryn and Jude from the Cruel Prince series as a relationship I think... (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Ashlyn wrote: "Chapters 19-26 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I think it would have been best if Linden had died (laughs maniacally like a psychopath... :P ). I am glad she saved the boy! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 29: (view spoiler)[Poor Emory! I am really worried about what is to become of Elspeth! :( (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Andy wrote: "Ashlyn wrote: "Chapters 19-26 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]

Chapter 29: [spoilers removed]"

I’m laughing so hard right now 🤣🤣🤣

[Andy]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Oh no! I don't believe it'll end bad for Elspeth, bit I don't see how it could end well, either? :( . (hide spoiler)]

I want to read the next too, now! Ah! I'll see if I can get it! ;) Do you want to buddy read it? ;)

[Ashlyn]

Definitely! I think this thread is already set up for the series. I own it, so just let me know if you can get it.

[Andy]

Ashlyn wrote: "Definitely! I think this thread is already set up for the series. I own it, so just let me know if you can get it."

Great! :) I should be able to get it some time next week! :)

[Ashlyn]

Sounds good!

[Andy]

Bought it through WOB, so it might take till the end of the week!

[Alaina]

I have the first book, physical copy, so maybe I'll join you all for that one.

[Ashlyn]

Keeping this thread active

[Andy]

Thank you Ashlyn! My book got lost, I think... :( I'll try to get in touch with WOb again today... :(

[Andy]

Giving up on WOB - will get my copy from Amazon instead! ;)

[Ashlyn]

Oh no! That sucks that you can’t get it from there.

[Andy]

Book 2

Chapter 2: (view spoiler)[Wow, this books like dramatics. Surely if one needs to dig, they can bring a shovel? Just fetch one from the gardener shed, goodness! :P

Not totally sure why they are arresting everyone in Elspeth family, but fine, it is somewhat reasonable... (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 1-9 (view spoiler)[This is starting to get really good! This whole fight and now almost everyone is frozen. I hope Elm, Ione and Ravyn will be okay. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 10-25 (view spoiler)[Okay, I'm super invested in Elm and Ione now. I'm so glad that Rayvn isn't giving up on Elspeth and was able to hear that she was alive through the Nightmare card. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 26-38 (view spoiler)[I get why Rayvn had to kill his brother like that, but it's still sad that he had to do it. Also I'm glad that Ione is free from the Maiden card now. I'm really hoping for a happy ending for Elm and her. (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Ashlyn wrote: "

Chapters 1-9 [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 11: (view spoiler)[I don't understand what happened in the fight? I like the story, and I don't dislike Elm as a character, but I find myaelf bored in his chapters! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Andy wrote: "Ashlyn wrote: "

Chapters 1-9 [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 11: [spoilers removed]"

Oh no! I actually really like his chapters, especially as the book continues.

[Andy]

Ashlyn wrote: "Chapters 10-25 [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 26: (view spoiler)[Sorry, I like Elm, but I still find his chapters a bit boring. I do not like Ione..
Yes, I am very happy Ravyn didn't give up on Elsphet, I hope the incident I just read doesn't derail the expedition tok mucb though... (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Chapter 36: (view spoiler)[ok, now I am imvestedin Elm and Ione! :) I am worried for the others... (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Hahaha glad you finally are!

[Andy]

Ashlyn wrote: "Hahaha glad you finally are!"

:) sad backstories shown did the trick! :P

[Andy]

Ashlyn wrote: "Chapters 26-38 [spoilers removed]"

Finjshed: (view spoiler)[Ravyn didn't kill his brother? I liked the endig, but I was confused several times over who was where and why, so either I wasn't paying attention, or it was a bit messy at times. I also only at the end realised how people got infected??? Why? Ahahah!
I liked the ending, though, but I sort of wish they had actually killed Haut... Though I imagine he will die, anyway... (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

At the end, I also kept thinking (view spoiler)[this name thing only works in English, because there are two names for the same tree, so I wonder how they are going to tramslate it in Italian... Like, I kept thinking: surely you know that Yew is Taxus, right? Right? He kept talking about his trees... But apparently no, it was a big reveal that Ravyn and him were related... (hide spoiler)]

[Hayley]

finished One Dark Window (view spoiler)[ Elm, Ione and Ravyn are all great characters to me. But, i really liked the Elspeth/Taxus monster the best. There interactions were what set the story for me. Sometimes i wanted to scream at the characters for not getting the things that seemed to me to be clear as day from the hints Taxus/Nightmare gave. This was a 5 star read for me. Also, i never did more than glance at the cover so while reading i kept thinking why is there a train on the cover. WTH did i think it was a train LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Hayley]

finished Two Twisted Crowns (view spoiler)[I was worried when this one started off slow, but i shouldn't have been. I really liked how the magic degeneration and providence cards were resolved. I liked Ione in this book, hated her in the first (and what was up with the rhyme in the first book about the yellow girl won't be Queen? Was it to throw us off? Because Ione did become Queen. Elm, who was a questionable character for me in ODW really came through in this one. I'm so glad Hauth got his due in the end. I'm happy that Elspeth and Ravyn got their everafter. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

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RESTARTING NOVEMBER 28TH, 2025

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