Rachel Gillig does it again.

Immaculate vibes. Gothic, eerie perfection.

Lovable characters each with their own back stories you discover along the way.

The twists and turns were fabulous.

Our wee sidekick was my absolute FAVOURITE and brought some much needed comic relief to the story. I adore him!

And our MMC, a giant walking green flag. Aside from feeling like his name wasn’t fitting the gothic vibe I have no notes.

But that ending….. I need the next one immediately 😭😭😭

Beautifully haunting. I can’t stop thinking about this book!

Six, who secretly remembers her name is Sybil though she is supposed to have entirely forgotten her life before, has lived at Ashling for as long as she can remember. Along with five others, she has been raised within the cathedral and forced to drown in the waters in order to divine the omens for whoever can pay enough for the privilege. With only the Abbess, her fellow Diviners, and the unusual living gargoyles for company, she has spent almost a decade drowning within the walls, and dreams of the day they will be allowed to leave. However when the new boy king comes to Ashling with his knights, a series of events are set in motion which mean Sybil’s life will change forever.

I was utterly entranced by Sybil’s story. It took me a little while to become accustomed to the world, and we learn about it and the magic system along with Sybil as she only knows the small parts she has been allowed to see at Ashling, but I enjoy this through-the-window approach to world building.

Once we got to see more of Sybil herself I really loved her as a character, and along with the Gargoyle - who I adore with my whole heart - Maude, Rory, the King, and all the other side characters I felt that we had a varied cast who were easy to keep track of but all added to the story in some way.

The plot developed beautifully, and I enjoyed every twist and turn as Sybil ventured further into the world in search of answers. I have to admit, I did actually shout at the twist at the end - luckily I had just come in from gardening or I would’ve gotten some interesting looks from my neighbours. It was a slightly slow start, but the build up was well worth it.

Overall I adored The Knight and the Moth and can’t wait for the next book in the series to see what happens next. I have so many questions, in the absolute best way!

This book was an up and down roller coaster!!! Rachel Gilligs writing is ALWAYS magical, I can always count on that. The pacing was iffy at first but I should have not feared, Rory, Sybil and the Gargoyle kept me on my toes!! Speaking of which, THE GARGOYLE😭😭 what a book! An absolute 5⭐️ banger. So excited for the second book!!

Utterly Enchanted. I’m in Love—with Everything (Especially the Gargoyles).

The Knight and the Moth is the kind of book that crawls into your ribcage and builds a home. I devoured every page, utterly spellbound by the atmosphere, the aching prose, and characters so richly drawn they feel like they’ve lived in my bones forever.

Can I give it 6 stars???

A big thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc of this via Netgalley!

It’s safe to say that my jaw is well and truly on the floor…I honestly knew this was going to be a 5 star read from the first page.

Such a unique concept with the most beautiful writing and world building. It was dark and immersive, with the best found family; so many twists and turns I definitely didn’t see coming.

I never knew that a gargoyle sidekick was something I needed until now…I can’t wait for the next book!

I want to start of by thanking Orbit Books for reaching out to me and giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

From the moment I saw the title The Knight and the Moth, I was intrigued, and the promise of a gothic, adult romantasy sealed the deal. Having previously fallen in love with Rachel Gillig’s Shepherd King duology, I had high hopes for this new release, and I’m happy to say it exceeded all of my expectation.

Set in the mist-shrouded kingdom of Traum, this novel introduces us to Sybil Delling, a Diviner who has spent nine years of her life serving in a towering cathedral, dreaming on behalf of kings and commoners alike, giving them a glimpse of their futures. Her visions come from six eerie figures known as Omens, and from them she sees glimpses of tragedy before it strikes. As she nears the end of her service, her sister Diviners begin to disappear, and a mysterious, irreverent knight named Rodrick arrives to upend everything she believes in.

Gillig masterfully blends gothic atmosphere with rich, immersive worldbuilding. The cathedral, the enchanted spring, the windswept moors, all of it felt vividly real, like I could step into Traum at any moment. Sybil is a wonderful protagonist: layered, conflicted, unbelievably endearing and so easy to fall in love with. The concept of the Diviners and the Omens is original and haunting, adding an eerie mythological edge to the story’s emotional depth.

And then there's the romance. From the first clash between Sybil and Rodrick, I was hooked. Their bickering, their begrudging alliance, and that slow, smoldering burn, it’s the kind of tension that keeps you flipping pages long into the night. Rodrick is a standout love interest: witty, sharp-tongued, and unexpectedly endearing. Their dynamic was not only satisfying but incredibly fun to watch unfold. The spice level hit just the right note, tasteful, intense, and never gratuitous.

Beyond the romance, the novel delivers on suspense and mystery, with stakes that feel urgent and twists that had me gasping out loud by the end. Gillig’s prose has matured beautifully, and her ability to weave tension, lore, and longing together is remarkable.

The Knight and the Moth is a gripping, gorgeously written tale full of secrets, impossible choices, and forbidden love. It's a must-read for fans of gothic romantasy and richly imagined worlds. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read whatever Rachel Gillig gives us next.

I loved every second of this book—every word and every page was just amazing. Rachel Gillig writes the most atmospheric books, with such a unique magic system that always has me hooked from the very beginning. I found the story itself captivating, and I loved the FMC and MMC together. Also, the gargoyle had me laughing out loud so often. This was pure perfection to me, and I cannot wait for the next book. I’ll devour anything Rachel Gillig writes.

From the author of the much-loved The Shepherd King duology, this sweeping fantasy was a five-star read for me. Gillig has built a new kingdom led by a determined boy-king, his gallant knights, a populace spread across specialised hamlets and a cathedral on a Tor from which the Abbess sees them all.

Sybil is a Diviner, an orphan plucked from obscurity to act as an interpreter of the gods’ signs. Every day she is drowned in the sacred spring to foretell the future of anyone with curiosity and coin. But the day the new king comes to have his destiny read is a day that changes things for her and her Diviner sisters forever.

This story has all the ingredients of a wonderful fantasy read - impeccable prose, characters with depth and feeling, solid world-building, romance and a talking gargoyle. Whilst the latter provides a lot of the comic relief, mark my words he one the best things about the book. There’s also a gorgeous romance woven into the plot as Sybil grows to love the arrogant and stubborn but loyal knight Rory.

Ultimately, the story of Sybil, Rory and their little found family is as beautiful and moving as the stunning cover. And it’s not over - there’s another book coming and whilst the ending of this one has left me hanging, I cannot fault the author for it because this is the best book I’ve read this year.

It was always pretty guaranteed I was gonna love this book! Elm move over and make room for Rory because I LOVE HIM DAMMIT!

OKAY OKAY ALL JOKES ASIDE ... whoops just realised that's all caps and I didn't mean to but im not going back and changing it 🫣

All jokes aside ... I'm obviously obsessed. This is the perfect Gothic Gloomy romantasy ... with gargoyles I might add! And I loved that side ... the banter, the flirting .. the found family ... the BOMBSHELL ENDING!! It's the perfect recipe for an atmospheric and cinematic read. BUT what I loved even more was the commentary on religion and cult like behaviours, and the ultimate question of how blind does faith have to be for it to be too much, what needs to happen for us to question everything we've been groomed to see and who are we when we step outside of our own boundaries.

Bravo rachel, you did it again.

This book was so much more than I expected. It’s moody, magical, and has just the right amount of creepy god-lore mixed with slow-burn tension and sarcasm. The story follows Sybil, a Diviner who’s spent nearly a decade having visions from these eerie, otherworldly beings called Omens. She’s basically been dreaming other people’s nightmares for years so they can avoid disaster. No pressure.

Just when she’s almost free of this life, a knight named Rodrick shows up—he’s rude, doesn’t believe in her visions, and of course he’s annoyingly attractive. Naturally, when Diviners start going missing, Sybil ends up needing his help. Their dynamic? Think enemies-to-reluctant-allies with chef’s kiss banter and some really good tension.

The world feels gothic and strange in the best way—windswept moors, an eerie cathedral, gods who feel more terrifying than comforting. The vibes are immaculate.

If you like fantasy with rich atmosphere, a bit of mystery, and characters who grow on you (and each other), you’ll probably devour this. I need the second book like right now!!!

Rachel Gillig does what she does best and has created yet another breathtakingly refreshing new world and characters to fall in love with!!! 5 stars.

As an avid romantasy and fantasy romance reader even way before booktok and bookstagram was a thing, I can say that I can already spot certain patterns and a huge number of worlds, magic systems and characters seem to echo each other but not when Rachel Gillig does it. She did it with the Shepherd King duology and she did it again in The Knight and the Moth.

Sure there were Knights and Diviners and that's not a new thing but it somewhat is as they're designed to be in this world. And she gives us a gargoyle (a gargoyle of all things!!!) with a heart and personality that can rival the more famous fan-favorite dragons and other creature companions. Bartholomew, you will love this gargoyle and if you only read this book for him then it still would be well worth it.

But of course everything else is. But it goes beyond loving the characters. She gives you beautiful imagery and language to devour and philosophize even. My favorite is when the gargoyle asks: "Which is more intricate? The designs of men, trying to reach gods, or that of gods, trying to reach men? and our beloved Diviner answers, "What is either to the intricacies of women, who reach both?"

Rachel Gillig writes prose like poetry and puts most booktok-famous books to shame, I'm sorry, I said it. But I suppose I can, with a graduate degree in English Literature under my belt. The Knight and the Moth is BEAUTIFUL. I can obviously keep raving more about it but I'd rather you read it than read my words.

Gillig is a go to author for me now, a true masterpiece in beautifully rich characters and atmospheric books that are so detailed you just feel like you are within the pages.

I cannot wait for everyone to read the book that has me purchasing stone gargoyles for my bookshelf, ugly crying into to pillows at 3am and screaming into the void forever after amen.

Six is a Diviner, a foundling who has spent nine years drowning. When she drowns, she dreams; visions of six unearthly figures known as omens. While she dreams, so can predict terrible things before they occur.

But one day, the new boy King comes to have his future told, and with him he brings a heretical (beautiful) knight who does not believe in the Divine. But then again, whats a god to a heretic? Six’s fellow diviners start to disappear, and might be time for Six to find out the truth about the strange spring she drowns in, and remember who she used to be, including her real name.

One of the best books I have EVER read. One of the greatest females leads I have ever read, she is so strong- and I mean that quite literally, she can put a knight on his back in seconds. I adore her. The story is so atmospheric and haunting and you will not be able to put this down, you will not be able to not think about this book ever again.

And the wRITING!?T The prose, oh my god. I have no words. The words Gillig has written about how life, love, and the truth all beautiful violent things, made me ACHE and the sentences but are enough to drown in. I want to tattoo this novel all over my body.

Five stars, of course. But this feels above a normal rating, this feels like a sacred text.

This book!!! 🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️ Once again Rachel Gillig has served us gothic perfection, with the added bonus of the earring-wearing, guyliner-using, scoundrel knight Roderick Myndacious - a gift to society I’m telling you now!!! If that wasn’t enough to convince you to read this, there’s also a talking gargoyle!

Whilst this book definitely fits what is becoming Gillig’s signature style (gothic atmosphere with great banter and unique worldbuilding), it still feels very fresh after the Shepherd King duology (which is one of my faves!) ✨

I bow down to Gillig for her ability to write the most palpable and believable chemistry (and tension!!) 💕 Every little glance and interaction carries so much weight and I was audibly squealing several times. It’s been a while since a book made me this giddy 🤭 I loved the communication between the love interests and the way that Sybil’s strength and sense of self wasn’t compromised for the romance, but enriched by it.

Whilst the romantic subplot is TO DIE FOR, I think there’s a lot in here which will appeal to fantasy readers of all kinds: a found family with the best camaraderie, a mysterious quest, and gorgeous worldbuilding 💫

As with the Shepherd King duology, Gillig expertly balances eerie gothic vibes with lots of quippy banter (the way she writes dialogue is masterful 👌). Some of the one-liners from Bartholemew (the gargoyle) had me genuinely cackling 🤣 At the same time, we’ve got dark and heavy themes which are handled with enormous tact and nuance, e.g. abuse, trauma, identity, and organised religion.

Thankyou SO much Orbit for sending me a finished copy of the book, and for the e-ARC via Netgalley ✨

Have you ever read a book that is so fundamentally 5 stars you question every other 5 stars you’ve ever given? Yeah.

Gillig’s previous two books One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns were absolute triumphs that both made it into my top reads of 2023. Earlier this year, ODW was chosen as my local book club's pick and it is the only book where every single member unanimously loved it. I knew whatever Gillig produced next would be gold-touched, and the second The Knight and The Moth was announced, it became one of my most anticipated reads of all time. When I received an email offering me early access to the NetGalley ARC of it, I literally started kicking my feet.

But nothing - nothing!!! - could’ve prepared me for how good this book was.

I haven’t felt a heady rush like this from a book in such a long time. It was all-consuming, and I couldn’t think about anything else but getting back to it whenever possible. If I had 2 minutes to spare whilst I waited for the microwave to beep, I’d be back to reading. I have really missed this feeling, and am so delighted to have experienced it again with TKaTM.

The gothic prose and setting is decadent. I wanted to sink my teeth into these words, to bite off a chunk to savour it. I highlighted so many sentences - paragraphs, really - that made me squirm with how good they were.

The characters were fantastic. So, so well fleshed out and developed, their motives clear, their bonds nurtured. The sisterhood elements were beautifully done. Rory made me feel feral. Maude is a badass I didn’t expect to love as much as I did. Sybil is one of the best protagonists I’ve read in a long time.

But the star of the book - of every book, ever - is the Gargoyle. Oh my god, what a character. I cannot emphasise enough how funny he is. (Actually) Funny moments in books usually get a smile out of me, an exhale from the nose if they’re especially witty, but this had me laughing out loud multiple times and for ages. I started reading out all of the Gargoyle’s best lines to my boyfriend, and he would laugh too even with zero context. There was one line in particular that had me laughing so hard I woke up my puppy who wouldn’t come near me the rest of the night, and even weeks later as I’m writing this review I’m laughing to myself.

Thank you SO MUCH to Nazia from Orbit Books for sending me the early NetGalley eARC, I am forever so grateful. All opinions are my own.

** spoiler alert ** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

If you’ve ever longed for a story that wraps you in mist, drips with gothic beauty, and tangles you up in fate, The Knight and the Moth might just be the book your bookshelf has been whispering about.

Rachel Gillig returns with another mesmerizing tale, and this time she’s given us Sybil, a prophetess haunted by dreams she doesn’t want and visions she never asked for. For nine years, Sybil has lived in the cathedral, serving the Omens and interpreting their warnings. But just when the end of her cloistered service is in sight, girls start vanishing, and a devil-may-care knight named Rodrick storms in, all swagger and sacrilege. From that moment on, nothing is safe, not the cathedral, not Sybil’s dreams, and definitely not her heart.

One thing I really appreciated about this novel is that it doesn’t rush. Gillig builds her world like a cathedral itself: slow, deliberate, and awe-inducing. The moody setting of Traum feels like it’s soaked in candlewax and old hymns, every corner brimming with myth and melancholy. You don’t just read this book; you dream it.

Sybil is a standout protagonist. Her struggle with duty versus desire, belief versus doubt, is deeply human. And Rodrick? He’s that frustratingly charming character who makes you want to shake him and maybe kiss him a little. Their dynamic crackles with tension, emotional, spiritual, and everything in between.

If you're the kind of reader who loves prophecy-laced quests, prickly banter, and stories that toe the line between sacred and heretical, you'll likely find yourself just as hooked as I was. And honestly? As someone who adored One Dark Window, I went into this with high hopes. Gillig not only met them, she exceeded them.

I devoured this book and was genuinely sad when it ended. There’s a quiet sort of devastation to it, the kind that lingers like fog long after you’ve turned the final page.

So if you're asking yourself whether this book is for you: do you crave morally complex characters, a slow-burn romance that doesn’t overshadow the plot, and prose that feels like a dark lullaby? Then yes, The Knight and the Moth is absolutely for you.

I’m already counting down the days to the next in the series. Until then, I’ll be rereading my favorite lines and dreaming of misty moors and heretical knights.

In a world where dreams whisper warnings from the divine, Sybil Delling has spent nine years carrying the weight of prophecy. As a Diviner, her visions guide kings and commoners alike—until the sacred silence of her cathedral is broken by a charmingly heretical knight and the sudden disappearance of her fellow seers. What follows is a haunting unraveling of secrets, faith, and fate, set against moody moors and ancient powers.

With sharp tension, atmospheric worldbuilding, and a reluctant partnership that crackles with chemistry, this story blends dark fantasy and mystery with just the right touch of slow-burn intrigue. A beautifully crafted tale of belief, betrayal, and the cost of seeing too much.

I was a huge fan of Rachel Gillig’s The Shepherd King duology, so I was really looking forward to this new book. It was one of my most anticipated reads, and thankfully, it didn’t let me down. Rachel Gillig has a way of making me crave more gothic fantasy, and this one delivered. From the premise and the title to that gorgeous cover, everything about it drew me in.

This story follows Sybil Delling, also known as Six, as she searches for her fellow Diviners, who have mysteriously begun vanishing one by one. Right from the start, the dark, immersive world-building pulled me in. The atmosphere is eerie in the best way, the magic system is unique, and the pacing felt just right. I especially liked how the Diviners and the sisterhood were portrayed. Their bond felt genuine and meaningful. I found the whole drowning and dream aspect of the plot really fascinating. The shroud Sybil wears over her eyes added an extra layer of mystery that kept me curious all the way through. That mystery paid off well when the truth came out. And as always, Rachel Gillig’s prose kept me locked in. She has a way of writing that just flows.

Sybil herself is a standout. She's complex, relatable, and easy to root for. Now, I have to say, the real scene-stealer here is Bartholomew, the bat-like gargoyle companion. He’s funny, charming, and honestly, I’d read a whole spin-off just about him. Total highlight.

As much as I enjoyed it, there were a couple of things that held it back from being a full 5 stars for me. I saw the plot twist coming, so the reveal didn’t hit as hard. And while there was some good tension and banter between Sybil and Rory, their relationship felt a bit flat overall. Compared to Elspeth and Ravyn’s dynamic in Rachel Gillig’s previous series, this one didn’t quite have the same spark. Also, while the found family theme was nice, I felt like Rory and some of the side characters could’ve used more depth.

Still, this was a strong start to a new series. I had a great time with this book and will definitely be picking up the sequel. It’s a great read about freedom, identity, and belonging, all wrapped in a beautifully gothic, mysterious world. If you’re into fantasy with an immersive setting and a dash of mystery, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

This novel has been one of my most anticipated reads for a while. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.

The opening scenes from the Aisling Cathedral were my favourite part of the book. The gothic setting, the mystery of divination, and the descriptions of the dreams were fascinating. Despite the great beginning, the story lost my interest a few chapters in and had me struggling to finish.

This story seems perfect to read in one day and forget the next. It becomes blurry in my mind already, and I just finished a few hours ago. The short sentences and paragraphs make it a quick read, but this writing style made me feel like reading a draft that still has to be fleshed out rather than the finished novel. The world-building and descriptions are minimal, and there is hardly any interior monologue. The main character seems to make life-changing decisions on a whim, as there is no hesitation or thought process to follow. She also joined knights on a quest without questioning their motives or the final result. Also, the romantic subplot could work well, but I found some dialogue scenes odd.

The worst thing is, the initial idea is excellent. This could be a brilliant novel, looking at religion, royalty, and identity, if the author could spend more time adding detail and complexity and creating the gothic atmosphere I loved in her previous books. As it is, I only enjoyed reading about the gargoyle.

oh i loved this!! i find rachel gillig's writing so easy to follow, and i always get so quickly invested in her story. i loved all of the characters in this, from steadfast sybil to taciturn rory to the GARGOYLE who arguably stole the whole show. i read basically the whole thing in one sitting, because once i started i was loath to put it down. i do wish we'd had a little bit more time with the other diviners, but appreciate that we needed to move the story along...

i'm super intrigued to find out where this world and hope book two isn't too far away!!