Rachel Gillig Reading Order: Gothic Romantasy at Its Best

Rachel Gillig has become the name in gothic romantasy — atmospheric, melancholy, and swooning. Here is how to read her work.

The Shepherd King duology

  1. One Dark Window (2022)
  2. Two Twisted Crowns (2023)

A misty, card-magic-driven fantasy following Elspeth, who shares her mind with a monster called the Nightmare. The duology is complete and a perfect entry point.

The Stonewater Kingdom

  1. The Knight and the Moth (2025) — the start of Gillig’s next series, with higher stakes and the same gorgeous gothic mood, with a sequel on the way.

Where to start

Start with One Dark Window. It is self-contained across two books and showcases everything fans love: lush prose, a swoony slow burn, and a genuinely creepy magic system.

More gothic reads

If atmosphere is your thing, see our roundup of the best gothic fiction novels and our romantasy reading guide.