The Knight and the Moth (The Stonewater Kingdom, 1)

𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙛, 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝, 𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣. 📖 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗵 ✍🏼 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴 #️⃣ 𝟯𝟴𝟵 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 🎧 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁: 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘰 🎙️ 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿(𝘀): 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢 𝘏𝘺𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: 𝘠𝘦𝘴; 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 🦋 ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴛʜ ⭐️♾️ 🦋 ᴛʙᴅ “𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚.”. 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦 🪨 ᴅɪᴠɪɴᴇʀꜱ 🪨 ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ɢᴀʀɢᴏʏʟᴇ 🪨 ʙᴀɴᴛᴇʀ 🪨 ꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴅɪꜱᴄᴏᴠᴇʀʏ 🪨 ʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴄʏᴄʟᴇꜱ 🪨 ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ 🪨 ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛᴀꜱʏ 📖𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪📖 ⭐️♾️ I randomly picked this book up at target on a pure whim. Strictly because it was pink. Didn’t read a blurb, didn’t know the authors other works (𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘛𝘉𝘙) But man, did I had the time of my life with this read. As a whole, I’ve never read a fantasy like this and goodness was it so refreshing. I enjoyed this story from start to finish, and didn’t find myself slowing in any parts of it. It was perfectly paced, there was no overwhelming world building. It was just fantastic. Now let’s get into a few character breakdowns. 𝗦𝗜𝗫: I really enjoyed her character. This isn’t a coming of age story, as she is in her mid to late 20’s. But more of a self discovery for her. She’s lived all of her life in one way, and she has been shrouded that entire time. And I don’t mean that hypothetically — her eyes are in fact shrouded, and she’s never been without it. The story starts off with her friends going missing, and she is on a mission to find them. This leads Six to rely on a Knight (Rory) she met, a king (Benji) and another knight (Maude). 𝗥𝗢𝗥𝗬: I love Rory as a MMC, even though we don’t know 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘰𝘰𝘰𝘰 much about him as a whole. He’s a mysterious one. We got peeks into how he came to know Benji but not too much else. What we do know, is that he’ll do anything Six asks of him. 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗪: I say, Bartholomew, I’d lay down my life for you. I mean it. In a heartbeat. He’s precious and perfect. Even though he is a side character, he carried this whole story for me (𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘚𝘪𝘹 𝘰𝘳 𝘙𝘰𝘳𝘺) but I just found myself having the best time during his dialogues. It’s hilarious that he calls everyone Bartholomew as well LOL no matter who you are. 🎧 𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 🎧 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I tend to have a harder time connecting to an audio listen when it’s only solo narration. And this is strictly personal preference. With that being said. Samantha did a fantastic job with her narration as a whole! She executed Sybil/Six’s character beautifully! And I did love that it was available with such a new release. 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗘 📖 ᴘʜʏꜱɪᴄᴀʟ ✔️ 🎧 ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ✔️ 📱 ᴇʀᴇᴀᴅ ✔️

Six omens and six diviners to interpret their signs. In this kingdom, people pay whatever is asked, trade whatever they can, to have their futures told by a diviner at the abbey. Young girls, foundlings, brought to the abbess and saved given the gift of translating signs from the omens / gods by drowning and dreaming in the sacred waters of Aisling. Six is the favorite of the abbess and draws the short straw to divine for the new boy-king. She meets his knight, Rory, and instantly dislikes everything about him but also feels as if he might be the first person to actually see her. When her fellow diviners star disappearing one by one, Six escapes to the castle to beg help from the boy-king. Help arrives in the form of Rory who promises to help her find out what happened to her friends if she comes with him on the new king’s tour of the kingdom to lend legitimacy to his role. In her desperation, Six agrees and leaves Aisling and its walls for the first time she can remember. The journey to the hamlets brings danger, action, fear and excitement and allows Six to see more of Rory and get to know him. There truly is a thin line between love and hate, and can Six and Rory get to the other side of it? Can they beat all the omens and take back the kingdom from the heretics? Will Six finally be allowed to live her life on her own terms? Such a great first book of this series. Excellent world building while also balancing character development and a well-paced plot. I love Six and Rory separately and together and won’t all of this first book rooting for them. And Bartholomew is just about the best sidekick an MC could have! Can’t wait for book 2!

While many are labeling the dynamic between Sybil (Six) and Rory Myndacious as "enemies to lovers," that tag simply does not fit. There is no grand opposition between them, no deep seated malice or genuine reason for hatred. Instead, Gillig gives us a beautifully orchestrated grumpy meets sunshine, allies to lovers slow burn. The romance breathes because it is entirely unforced. Rory’s devotion is a quiet, protective ruin. he stands as a shield, drowning in a puddle of respectful, agonizing adoration while Sybil navigates her fracturing visions. The sharp tongued banter and simmering emotional intimacy flow entirely from the characters themselves, never manipulated just to move the plot. The yearning is top notch, proving that true romantic tension is built in the natural, aching space between two people who belong on the same side. The other common misnomer surrounding this book is "worldbuilding." This is not Tolkien level, sprawling architectural world crafting. It does it need to be for Gillig’s audience. The world of Traum is deeply fascinating. There is a staggering amount of complex lore regarding the Omens that the reader must understand for the story to function. What makes the book successful is that Gillig executes this massive delivery of data in a way that feels seamless, engaging, and artfully woven into the prose. Even when a sentient limestone gargoyle is used to relay centuries of history, it feels less like a dry textbook and more like a darkly atmospheric bedtime story. It is dense with exposition, yes, but it is delivered with a lyrical sleight of hand. The Knight and the Moth is an addictive, beautifully flawed spell of a book. By ignoring the mismatched tropes of its marketing and appreciating it for what it actually excels at, exquisite, unforced pining and a highly engaging delivery of dark lore, you find a story that holds you captive. It leaves you balanced on a sharp cliffhanger, entirely desperate for the sequel.

We are all here because would read anything written by Gillig after the truly entrancing Shepherd Dulogy, am I right? Or maybe you are just wondering if the hype is real? Short answer is yes. And oh Bartholomew, I have never been interested in meeting a gargoyle before. Ok here goes. Sybil, known to most as Six, is the darling diviner of Aisling Cathedral, where the wealthy residents of the kingdom of Traum go to learn if their futures are blessed by the Omens. When the other diviners mysteriously disappear from their beds one by one, Six does not know who to trust or where to turn, and runs away to beg for help from the newly appointed king and his knights. She enlists the help of the reluctant knight Roderick, King Benji, his mentor Maude, and the faithful gargoyle Bartholomew. I had high expectations going in and they were still blown away. Gillig’s writing is understated yet powerful, both effortless and intricate, and so imaginative I would love to see inside her mind for just 5 minutes. Sybil is both sheltered and naive, her worldview narrowed by what she has been taught. She is also brave and relentless in her devotion to finding her diviners, and her character arc reflects these attributes. Roderick is not quite your typically brooding MMC. While he can be grumpy and severe, he is also bashful and sweet. Their love story is beautiful. While this romantasy has the typical themes of discovery, love, and betrayal, there is nothing typical about their presentation. The world building is breathtaking. The magic system is tragic and extraordinary. The plot twists and cliff hanger made me cry. I don’t care how many books are on your TBR list. I highly recommend you put it aside and read this now.

Rachel Gillig doesn’t write stories so much as she conjures them. In The Knight and the Moth, she returns to her signature blend of gothic fairytale and arcane magic, this time weaving a tale that is quieter, stranger, and more politically charged than her previous work. At the center of it all is Aisling, a towering cathedral built atop a spring that submerses girls into prophecy. These girls, "Diviners", are vessels for the six Omens, enigmatic figures who rule the Stonewater Kingdom not with armies, but with portents. Their symbols: coins, ink, oars, chimes, loom stones, and the elusive Moth, appear in visions and are sold to the desperate and the devout alike. It’s a theocracy of the subconscious, and Gillig paints it with eerie reverence. Our FMC is Six, a Diviner with no memory of her past, nearing the end of her ten-year service. When her sisters begin to vanish, she turns to a brash knight who does not believe in the Omens, Rodrick “Rory” Myndacious. What follows is not a rescue mission, but a heist of holy relics, a pilgrimage through a kingdom where the diviners command more respect than the new King. Gillig’s world is lush with invention: sprites that are the embodiment of nature and left to starve; gargoyles who are sentient guardians; and a monarchy that dares to challenge the gods themselves. The political threads are subtle but sharp, this is a story about who controls belief, and what happens when that belief begins to crack. The pacing is deliberate, sometimes meandering, like a dream you’re not sure you want to wake from. It lacks the fluid structure of One Dark Window, and Gillig herself admits to writing it under the haze of “Covid-brain.” But even dulled, her prose glimmers. She resists the pull of trendy “romantasy,” letting relationships simmer in trust and tension rather than heat. The romance is present, but it’s the world (its rituals, its rot, its quiet rebellion) that takes center stage. And just when you think you’ve found your footing in this strange, sacred land, Gillig does what she does best: she pulls the rug out from under you, and you fall beautifully, bewilderingly into the dark. Final Thoughts The Knight and the Moth is a quiet, unsettling fairytale that explores the intersection of magic, memory, and power. While it may not have the sharpness of Gillig’s earlier series, it offers a compelling meditation on belief and rebellion, wrapped in a world only she could conjure. Recommended for: Fans of gothic fantasy, slow-burn quests, and stories where the magic is as mysterious as the politics behind it.

Pretty sprayed edges are cool, but the rough cardstock texture on the cover is a sensory nightmare. Also Amazon's decision to ship a book in a bubble mailer led to some creases in the cover. Great book poor execution.

I absolutely adored every aspect of the book! The thrilling adventure, the captivating mystery, the enchanting romance, and the author’s exceptional writing style made it a truly memorable read. I even learned some new words along the way! Without a doubt, it’s one of my all-time favorite books, and I can’t wait to read it again!

Oh my goodness! I had heard good things about this book so I was excited. I was also skeptical. I am not sure why I had so much doubt when I started reading this but I did. That skepticism was totally unfounded. I don’t know at what point exactly, but the book went from slow and building to absolutely riveting. I can’t even choose my favorite part. I loved the love story so much. I didn’t know there was a love story so it was a surprise. It was so real and ardent and mature. I absolutely adored the gargoyle. He was so endearing. The main characters were so relatable and real. The tasks were exciting and worrisome. I love this book so much for than I expected to. I don’t want to say anything that might ruin it for anyone but know that this story is worth so much of your heart and mind. This book is so special and I can’t wait for what happens next. Read this. You will not be sorry.

Perfeito. 5 estrelas. Essa autora me faz resgatar a esperança no gênero, depois de ler tantos livros parecidos, sem ideias originais e pouco profundos, ela me entrega mais uma obra prima. Um romance muito bem desenvolvido, personagens e cenários super interessantes, uma história envolvente. Amei e super indico.

— 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Would you like me to tell you a story? The one with the tragic beginning and the desolate, interminable middle?" 📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 396 pages 👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Rachel Gillig 🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Orbit Books, UK 📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 20 May 2025 What you can expect: — Adult Gothic Fantasy Romance — First Person X Single POV — Prophetess X Knight — Omens & Prophecies — Girls In Armor — Found Family — Romantic Sub-Plot — Elaborate World Building — Hilarious Gargoyle Companion — Unique Magical System — Mystery & Political Intrigue 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: The Knight and the Moth is the first instalment in The Stonewater Kingdom duology by author Rachel Gillig. All I can think to start this review with is: SPECTACULAR GIVE ME FOURTEEN OF THEM RIGHT NOW. My jaw? On the floor. My heart? In pieces. My mind? SCATTERED because oh my god this book? I had absolutely zero doubt or lack of faith in queen Rachel Gillig who continues to cement herself as an auto-buy author of mine and I’m beyond thrilled to have been proven right yet again. This book is a masterpiece and there is no ‘if’ or ‘but’ about it. I need everybody to run to their nearest bookshop to grab their own copy so that I can find even more likeminded people to spend hours yapping away with about this book. The richly atmospheric and innovative setting had me instantly swept away as Gillig seamlessly guides her readers through the immersive world-building that takes place from the very first page. I was immediately fascinated by the lore of the world surrounding the Omens and the impact that they hold over the political climate of this world. The way their influence stretches far and wide whilst remaining largely unknown had me eager to discover the truth alongside our main cast of characters as we join them on a tumultuous journey in their bid for answers. The Knight and the Moth perfectly balanced the romantic sub-plot in support of the main purpose of the story which offered a soft and romantic reprieve from the otherwise heavy themes being explored. I loved the pacing of the overall story as I found myself able to anticipate some of the answers to my questions through patience and paying close attention to details being laid out by the author, whilst equally being left in shock with my jaw on the floor and a desperation to find out what happens next. There is truly not a single negative thing that I could say about this book other than it will break my heart having to wait for book two. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: There’s no denying much of the strengths in this book can be found in its main cast of characters. Sybil 'Six' Denning was such a delight to uncover as we get to follow the journey that we find her on through her own point of view. Her growth from beginning-to-end is so apparent as Sybil begins to unravel the truth and comes to the realisation that nothing about her life is what she was taught to believe. I really resonated with her journey as she suddenly finds herself in an unfamiliar world that carries an expectation she's no longer willing to fulfil with a lack of recognition in her self-worth and overall sense-of-self. The way she fights to discover herself and the role she wishes to play within the world was really powerful, and I truly cannot wait to see what comes next from such a multi-purposeful and extraordinarily layered character. Sybil is such a strong-willed character who is loyal to her core with an unwavering keenness to see what the world has to offer outside of the stone walls she’s only ever known as home. The way she continues to get out of bed to push forward on their task amidst the emotional heartache and turmoil that’s flung her way really earned my respect and admiration towards her character. Sybil endures so much and my heart broke in tandem with hers during several jaw-dropping events throughout the book… but I’m very excited to see the woman that emerges in the end after that shocking ending. I suspect the beginning of her ‘revenge girl era’ is only just beginning, and I cannot wait to explore her character and overall potential further in the second instalment in the duology. Rodrick ‘Rory’ Myndacious was such a delightful character and love interest in all of his unexpectedness and complexities that shaped him into the character that I can’t help but love. He's broody and snarky upon first introduction which admittedly I love in a character anyway... but I was honestly sold from the moment his ear piercing and guyliner was mentioned. Sometimes I'm simply a woman who's easily won over by her preferences. Rory's loyalty and belief in the mission that we follow him on is absolute which offered a clear insight into his unspoken aspirations that he often shies away from voicing. I loved his witty nature and snarky remarks which slowly unravelled to reveal the soft and tender-hearted man underneath who has so much love and devotion to offer to the right person that can see him for who he is without judgement. It’s completely understandable why his close circle of friends is small, but I loved how this in no way reduces Rory’s loyalty and devotion to those that he loves. I had a great time getting to explore the emotional intimates of his friendships as this gradually introduced an eccentric gargoyle and a Diviner into the mix. Rory’s yearning was written to perfection and I cannot wait to see what comes next for his character after the most unlikely betrayal has left him reeling and (I hope) a willingness to fight for the life that he deserves. Don’t even get me started on the sweet bat-like gargoyle whose name shall not be mentioned. He’s easily my favourite side character of Gillig’s to date and I cannot even begin to articulate just how much I have fallen in love with this quirky and eccentric creature that left me wheezing from laughter and then crying from the sweet actions and intentions of his character. His dialogue constantly left me grinning from ear to ear with his matter-of-fact delivery and the underlying humour that can be found at all times... in which was usually during the more inappropriate moments which made it all the more fun. The way he cries at everything whilst swiftly recovering with a swift tongue and witty comeback had me laughing so hard I nearly cried because, well... relatable. Learning his backstory truly gutted me as it was something that I found entirely unexpected and completely emotionally unprepared for. I'm not kidding or understating my words when I proclaim that I seriously need his character to be a survivor by the very end. I would happily sacrifice everybody if it makes keeping this wonderful character alive ‘final girl’ style… sorry not sorry. 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: I absolutely adored that the romance between Sybil and Rory was written as a sub-plot which was granted the perfect amount of attention without deriving from the main purpose of the story. The slow burn approach to their relationship was masterfully crafted with perfection as it offered a compelling and emotionally-driven development built on genuine love and acceptance that is earned over time as opposed to being demanded or expected. Both characters enter into the dynamic with their own premeditated prejudices and expectations from the other which made the break-down of their characters feel all the more refreshing the more they got to know one another. Rory and Sybil's chemistry was instantaneous with the sparks flying off of the page and yet at no point did I find their relationship to feel overshadowing or rushed to meet an end point. Every inch of their development is earned until an overwhelmingly tender companionship is formed through trust and soul deep, unwavering belief. The way both characters learn to instinctively understand the other on an intimate emotional level was so pure and innocent in its honesty. The way they come to lean upon each other in a carefully crafted safe space was everything I had hoped to see and more... and I truly don't think I'll ever tire when it comes to discussing the hard-earned love story between this Diviner and her stoic Knight. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: The Knight and the Moth was everything that I expected it to be and even more with its richly innovative setting that left me captivated and vying for more. The political intrigue and religious themes felt very well fleshed out and explored to better enable readership understanding. I was completely immersed into the story and the quest that we follow our main cast of characters on, and I cannot wait to see what comes next after that jaw-dropping ending. I’m going to be clawing at my walls in anticipation of the release of book two. Bravo Rachel Gillig… bravo indeed.

Book came with the paper jacket damaged. It’s so bad !!! It looks folded at the top and bottom.

Rachel Gillig hat einfach ein Talent dafür, emotional berührende, atmosphärisch dichte Geschichten zu schreiben. Nach der Shepard King Duologie waren meine Erwartungen hoch – und The Knight and the Moth hat sie vollständig erfüllt. Die Welt war sofort fesselnd: düster, poetisch und durchzogen von einer einzigartigen Idee – die Diviners tragen eine Art Augenbinde, die mehr verbirgt als nur ihre Augen. Was zunächst wie ein Symbol wirkt, entfaltet am Ende eine tiefe Bedeutung, die mich sehr beeindruckt hat. Gilligs Schreibstil ist ruhig und klug, mit leiser Emotionalität und bildhaften Sätzen. Besonders ins Herz geschlossen habe ich Bartholomew, den Gargoyle – witzig, herzenswarm und überraschend charmant. Er bringt Licht in die dunklen Passagen und verleiht der Geschichte einen besonderen Ton. Auch die Gruppe der sechs Diviner war wunderbar gezeichnet – jede Figur hatte ihre eigene Stimme und ihren Platz. Was mich aber besonders berührt hat, war die Entwicklung der Hauptfigur. Ihr innerer Weg, ihr Ringen mit Wahrheit, Identität und Glaube – all das wurde so feinfühlig erzählt, dass man sich ganz mit ihr verbunden fühlt. Das Ende war genau richtig: rund und zufriedenstellend, aber mit Potenzial für mehr. Ich freue mich jetzt schon auf die Fortsetzung. Ein stilles, starkes Fantasybuch mit originellen Ideen und viel Gefühl. Rachel Gillig beweist erneut, dass sie zu den besonderen Stimmen des Genres gehört. Absolute Leseempfehlung.

جميل، وصل بحاله ممتازه