Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Violence, Graphic violence, Death, Death of loved one, Grief, Mental illness, Trauma, Blood
The Shepherd King
by Rachel Gillig
A gothic dark fantasy duology with one of the most achingly earned slow burns in the genre - the Nightmare living in Elspeth's head will haunt your own long after you finish.
goodreads 4.48/5 1,777 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length912 pages
Story statusCompleted
Spice3/5 · Slow burn with late spice
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Slow burn
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Medium
- Slow burn with late spice
- The angst delivered
- Dark/tortured soul
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- Enemies to lovers
- Tension / anticipation focus
- Cathartic release
- Protective love interest
- Reluctant allies to lovers
- Emotional / loving
- Book hangover
- Secretly soft
- Mutual pining
- Possessive/protective
- Romantic fulfillment
- Brooding prince
- Tension
- Book boyfriend/girlfriend acquired
- Morally gray
- Betrayal to trust
- Touch starvation
- Touch her and die
- Longing glances
- Found family
- Mine declarations
- Eye contact intensity
Fantasy promise
- Romantasy
- Forest / wilderness
- Grimdark / dark fantasy
- Spirits
- Cursed love interest
- Royal court / palace
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- Monsters
- Hidden identity
- Forbidden love
- Secret heir/royalty
- Magic bond
Reading experience
- First person
- Dark
- Atmospheric
- Heavy
- High
- Reluctant chosen one
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- Mysterious
- Lyrical
- Survivor
- Emotional
- Brooding
- Outcast/loner
- Epic
- Immersive
- Angsty
- Bittersweet
- Morally complex
- Cursed bloodline
- Emotional devastation
- Page turner
Similar stories
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Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
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Two Twisted Crowns
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Similar because
Found family · Bittersweet · Cursed love interest
Different because
A shorter read (437 vs 912 pages).
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Similar because
Outcast/loner · Monsters · Brooding
Different because
A shorter read (432 vs 912 pages).
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A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash
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Similar because
Cursed bloodline · Cursed love interest · Hidden identity
Different because
A shorter read (576 vs 912 pages).
Book details
- Length
- 912 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book