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!!

Loved this book from start to finish. As someone who loved the Shepard king duology I was worried Rachel wouldn’t be able to do it again - but she DELIVERED. The writing was very atmospheric and it really worked with the gothic setting. Another super unique magic system!!! And I love love loved the banter in this book, I didn’t expect it to be so good but it was. So excited for the next one 😍

Ps I want my own gargoyle bestie….

mrs rachael gillig knows how to write a sexy, tension-filled fantasy. she did it with one dark window and now she's DONE IT AGAIN and i absolutely love her for it. she's definitely becoming one of my fave fantasy authors ever, her writing is so poetic but not too overdone where you can't understand whats ACTUALLY being said, it's just so beautiful.
the book begins off fairly lighthearted and jovial, which oh my god, i loved the most. then it takes a more serious turn, with 6 battling within to find her true self and uncover the mystery of the Omens.
shoutout to the gargoyle for being the MVP, he was a great comic relief for all the dark and twisty feelings being felt throughout the whole adventure.
i've said it before in my review of ODW but i'll say it again, I LOVE ME A GRUMPY KNIGHT/SOLDIER WHO IS WILLING TO RISK IT ALL FOR HIS GIRL.

thank you to Orbit & Rachel Gillig for the ARC 🫶🏽

Rory “I’ll do anything you ask of me” Myndacious!!!! The man that you are! I tore through this one. His dynamic with Sybil is deliciously tense, filled with biting banter and a healthy dose of yearning. It’s also more of a simmering side plot, so if you’re not the biggest romance fan, you might still enjoy this one.

Sybil’s arc is one of quiet transformation. Most of the story lives inside her head, and that introspective, almost fairytale-like tone gives space for the deconstruction of her beliefs. There’s an exploration of faith at the core of her journey (both physical and personal) and watching her begin to untangle what she’s been taught from what she truly believes was one of the most compelling parts of the book. My one gripe is that I could’ve done with a littleee more character depth from Rory and Sybil.

Of course, I’d be remiss not to mention our beloved gargoyle companion, who completely stole the show. He brought just the right amount of levity and sass. One of those rare characters that makes you laugh and tear up. 🥹

Plot-wise, this follows a familiar rhythm if you’ve read One Dark Window. The magic system slightly echos ODW, but it's still easy to grasp and unique! I will say the plot got a bit repetitive halfway through, and I definitely felt like my hand was being held at times. The twists, although predictable, are well-foreshadowed and absolutely made me tear up. Without that ending, this could’ve made for a strong standalone imo, but I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel!

As always, Rachel Gillig’s writing is beautiful and evocative. Her prose breathes such an atmospheric world into being: a place of hamlets and magical relics, gowan flowers and cathedrals. I adore the way she uses metaphors! There are several sentences I had to reread, just to sit in them a little longer and wonder how her brain came up with this.

Can’t wait to see if this duology sticks the landing!

4.25-4.5 (the end of my review says why)

This was a gorgeous, magical fantasy with grief, intriguing magic system and lustful romance. It truly is an incredible read that you don’t want to put down! Eerily dark with hints of folklore and gothic fairytales added to the atmosphere and of course the divine plot. Through Rachel’s lyrical and visual writing, you’re transported into this whimsical kingdom from page one.

The balance of giggling & kicking my feet at the quick wit and romance, the chuckles for our beloved gargoyle and the complex emotions and rich fantasy is nothing short of exquisite.

The characters hold so much weight to the story and I truly loved each one (*ahem spoiler* except one, I saw you*). I need a novella based on our beloved Bartholomew. Sybil is cool and hell, I loved that whilst yes she’s depicted as beautiful, she’s also strong and emotional and smart and caring. Rory has been added to the list of men from fantasy books that made me feel hot and bothered. Blushing ?! Devotion ?! On his knees ?!

I would have loved to have learnt more about each of the characters backstory, motivation and nuisances and teeny bit more just to add to their complexities especially when it’s so much about the characters.

An incredible fantasy and as someone who’s yet to read One Dark Window, it’s crept it’s way higher up the TBR after this.

*Spoiler for why only 4.25 stars*
That bastard ending is what. That ending is why I’m a standalone girly through and through. I will 100% be pining at Orbit and Rachel Gillig’s door for the second book. I’m going to be thinking about that ending for WEEKS.

Thank you Orbit / Netgalley for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review!

4.5🌟 1.5🌶️

If you enjoyed the uniqueness of One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns, you will gobble up The Knight and the Moth.

I don't want to give away any spoilers and I think the story is best debribed in the acknowledgements where Rachel Gillig described TKATM as a story <i> "...about a woman who tries her best, an errant knight who falls in love with her, and a precious limestone gargoyle. It’s about what we lose and what we gain, the arduous journey of self-discovery—the painful, beautiful burden of living."</i>

Sybil (also known as 'Six') is one of 6 Diviners who receives visions (or 'dreams') from the Omens by being drowned (repeatedly!) in the magical spring of the Aishling Cathedral. Sybil has been a Diviner for nearly 10 years and has dreamt of not receiving visions anymore and as she approaches the end of her tenure, her sisters start mysteriously dissapearing. A Knight and his young King, sets out to help Sybil find the Omens to try and find her missing sisters. As part of this quest, they need to find 5 magical objects. Sybil embarks on a journey of finding herself and falling in love (?) with the errant Knight, Rory.

Add a unique magic system, a cute gargoyle, a betrayal and you have yourself a terrific start to The Stonewater Kingdom series.

WHAT was that ending! The absolute betrayal! I can't wait for the next book....

Read this book if you like:
💜 Unique magic system 🪄
💜 Epic quests 🗺️
💜 Slow burn ⌛🔥
💜 A girl in armour 🦾
💜 Mystery 🔮
💜 Gothic fantasy 🖤💀
💜 Banter & tension 🗣️🫦

Favourite side character? Definitely Gargoyle 🫶🏼 He needs to be protected at all costs!

Would I recommend this book to a friend? YESSSS ✅✅✅

Big thank you to Little Brown Book Group UK - Orbit for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Rachel Gilligs writing is truly beautiful and I confess it took me a couple of chapter to adapt to it after a few very easy fast paced reads prior to starting this.

I'm not sure I have ever highlighted so many quotes in a book as this one. There was an underlying theme of not having to be useful to be loved that really resonated with me especially as someone with chronic health conditions. Seeing in the acknowledgements that the author wrote this after struggling with fatigue and brain fog after covid makes so much sense to me.

I was not expecting this book to be funny as well as beautiful but there were several occasions when I was giggling and most of these involved the gargoyle and his misphrased sayings.

I am excited to see how this story continues.

Thank you so much Orbit for the chance to read this book in advance.

The Knight and the Moth was one of the new releases I was most curious about this year, so I was impatient to enter this new world. It was also my first time reading this author and I couldn't wait to find out whether I would end up falling in love with her work.

So, was it love? I really hoped it would be, unfortunately it wasn't. That said, I still found the book enjoyable.

I am known for not being a fast reader, but this book I finished in three days, and that is always a plus in my book.

I honestly liked all the characters, the setting, the atmosphere, the romance, the world created by the author.

My problem with this book is that I kept thinking that I didn't feel completely into the story, apart from some moments here and there, and I think one of the root causes is that it all felt a bit rushed.
That's a problem I've been having with other books too: there's no time to digest what you've read, for the characters and the world-building to be more delved into, for the events to breathe and settle, for the love story to develop properly (the love story in this book has been marketed as slow burn, let me tell you, It is nice in its own way, but a slow burn it is not).

The twist at the end was predictable given all the hints the author left in the course of the story, but it left me curious enough to find out how the protagonists will get out of their predicament.

Speaking of, while you might like the leads, the sidekick gargoyle is probably the one who will steal your heart.

In conclusion, did I enjoy it? Yes. Did I expect more from it? Also yes, but I think many people will love it.

3.5

Easiest 5 stars of the year so far. I LOVED this. It’s so fresh yet familiar at the same time. I don’t know how to move on, I’m obsessed with everything. The world, characters, magic, writing. Screaming internally, I need more. What a phenomenal book, Rachel Gillig is truly a master of her craft. I will read anything she writes.

Firstly, a big thank you to orbit books for sending me an ARC of The Knight and the Moth.

I absolutely ADORED Gillig's Shepherd King duology... but I loved this even more.

I honestly don't know where to start. I loved the setting and the vibes, dark and gothic, laced with mystery. The premise right from the off had me hooked. These six young women used to prophesise for the profit of a religion in the most horrific way. The chafing it caused and their desire and excitement to be free was palpable. Even our stoic and loyal Six.

The characters were wonderful. The gargoyle instantly took root in my heart (there is something about gargoyles I've always loved, whenever they crop up in a story my heart sings). He was precious in every single way, and I challenge anyone not to love him.

The storyline was a little copy and paste of Shepherd King in areas, but only in the sense of utilising a typical formulaic fantasy route. The actual story in itself was different enough that it didn't take any of the enjoyment out of it for me.

I wasn't at all surprised by the events that unfolded towards the end, but again, I don't dislike that. I know some readers don't enjoy "predictability," but I get a sense of satisfaction when something plays out the way I'm thinking it will.

I cried, and that instantly made it a 5 star for me!

I feel like I've started to struggle with fantasy books in recent months, because they all get very samey, and I think that's why I love Gillig so much - she brings a whole different kind of magic into play that feels deeply entrenched in the story and the way it actually impacts the characters.

Easily one of my favourite reads of 2025, and will absolutely be purchasing a physical copy upon its release whilst I impatiently await the sequel!

WTF WAS THAT ENDING, RACHEL????

once again, rachel gillig manages to deliver yet another unique magic system and i LOVE it!!!! sybil “six” delling, i fucking love you. the way she never backed down from rory’s asshole-ishness. my heart truly broke for her with that diviner plot, those girls were her SISTERS!!! rory, despite being a dick in the beginning, really did redeem himself and my god did i love the banter between him and sybil. i am simply not prepared for the heartbreak that will be the next book </3 let’s not even mention bartholomew— his story itself was HEARTBREAKING and that ending when he cried out for sybil because he could not understand why they were abandoning her im- </3 </3

After having read The Shepherd King Duology 2 years ago, I already trusted Rachel to create another amazing story however, I was not prepared for how much I would love it. The magic system and world was so unique and it was such a refreshing story to read but it still weaved in the tropes which we all love but in a different way. I instantly fell in love with the gargoyle , he made me laugh out loud while my heart also broke for him. The romance in this story was also done so well and I really enjoyed the sex scenes too, I didn’t feel like they were rushed at all and I felt like I actually connected to the characters even more as it felt so natural. I have nothing else to say apart from, I NEED THE NEXT BOOK IN THIS SERIES IMMEDIATELY (but also no rush because perfection takes time) thank you so much for letting me read this masterpiece early!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Absolutely amazing and completely soul destroying… my heart feels so healed and so damaged after reading this book.

🗡️ Unique magic system
🖤 Gothic Aesthetic
🗡️ Forced Proximity
🖤 Achingly devastating romance
🗡️ Amazingly hilarious Gargoyle sidekick - Need I say more
🖤 Emotional damage guaranteed

I cannot express my love for this amazing story or world enough. I have never experienced such joy and sadness and desperation to read a book in my life. This book has lived rent free in my mind 24 hours of the day and now that it’s over I just want to dive back in.

Rachel Gillig’s world building is absolutely phenomenal. This book created such an eerie, gothic fantasy in my mind taking me along different adventures with an amazing FMC and devilishly charismatic MMC. With gothic Cathedrals, Omens, kings, diviners, tons and knights this epic fantasy story kept me on my toes and glued to the pages.

I have felt so many different emotions reading The Knight in the Moth. From absolutely screaming with laughter at the gargoyle sidekick to feelings of fear of the unknown and eerie atmosphere and characters created by Rachel.

Watching the FMC, Sybil (AKA Six) grow so much throughout the book had me smiling so much. She appeared so weak and unsure at the start and seeing her strength and determination as time went on was amazing.

I cannot express my love for the gargoyle side kick enough. He provided so much laughter and added fun to this eerie story. His protectiveness and relationship with Sybil throughout made me smile from ear to ear on so many occasions.

THE ENDING THO…. I don’t think I can wait for book 2 in this amazing duology because this book has already given me so much but I’m still here demanding answers!! 🫣🫣

Thank you so so so so so much to Orbit UK and Rachel Gillig for the ARC of this amazing book. I cannot express my love for it enough and I cannot wait to read book 2 🖤🖤🖤

Thank you so much to the incredible team at Orbit Books for giving me an early copy to read on Netgalley!

Rachel Gillig does it again with an incredibly written fantasy. After having loved Rachel’s Shepherd King Duology, I just knew her next book was going to blow me away and boy did it.

There’s something so capturing about Rachel’s writing, her extensive story telling and her way of creating such intricate worlds and magic systems that make me feel so so happy and in some ways have faith that there’s still so much to be explored within the fantasy genre.

Knight and the moth has probably been one of my favourite fantasy reads of this year so far. The FMC was likeable, strong and knew her path without having much self doubt. The MMC was everything you could want in a fantasy novel, dark, broody and completely loveable once you got to know him. Their enemies to lovers relationship was so fun to read and I felt like it developed at such a great pace.

Overall the writing was amazing and the pace of the book was pretty much perfect. I didn’t feel bored or like there was pointless chapters once during reading this which is pretty amazing as it flowed so well.

I recommend reading this to everyone, it’s dark, divine and a must read!

I have just finished this master piece and I can safely say this will be one of my favourites of the year. Its characters are divine. Its magic is etheral. The world is beautiful and deadly. The magic is unlike anything I have read before, and it really hooked me. The story like kept me guessing (wrongly), and I loved it so much. The twists and turns and it ending. I am intrigued by so much, especially the spirtes and how they will come into the story more. I know I will be haunted by this book until I get the next one.

Oh my gosh! For some reason I thought that this was a standalone so I was expecting a happy ending and DAMNN.

Rachel Gillig has done it again, created a fantastic world in which I get sucked into instantly and characters that you just fall in love with, the gargoyle, I love him. I'm SO HYPED for book two now, I can't even imagine what is going to happen next and I will be in anticipation for it until release probably next year 🥺

Totally recommend this fantastic book!

Rachel’s writing will forever encapsulate me in a way that I haven’t thought possible. Her writing is so dreamy and magical that really paints a beautiful picture.

The knight and the moth was truly everything I had imagined it to be. I was kindly gifted an e-arc in exchange for a honest review and I can honestly say I loved it.

The magic system in this book was truly unique and wasn’t like anything I have previously read. I loved the way the characters were written and how easy they were to like.

I didn’t expect one of my favourite characters to be a gargoyle with emotional issues but you know we are always surprised in the best ways.

The knight and the moth is the perfect example of a go to romantasy read for a good time and a few laughs.

Due to the magic system being so unique it did take me about 50 pages to fully understand what was going on but once it had became clear I was full steam ahead.

I am so exited for everyone to be able to read this book so I’ll have someone to take to about that ending becuase….. damn.

Thanks so much orbit books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Firstly how can you break my heart like this ! The book is full of the cozy nostalgia from watching the storyteller , labyrinth, legend and I might even say Sinbad movies . Key Harry Hausen and Jim Hensen Flashbacks .

Everyone loves a sidekick why not a childlike gargoyle who is confused by phrases and sees the world a little off balance. Lovable adorable and so sweet. Sidekick steals the show .

Main character a diviner made to see fortunes and omens she is drowned then awakes from her dreaming when drowned to tell the askers her dream.
Definitely different from her other main characters and her other books .

Swoon worthy love interest, twists, sadness.

Beautifully written cannot wait for the next instalment.

The way this books has single-handedly reminded me how much I love to read is absolutely unreal!!
In this story we follow Six a Diviner who’s called to provide a reading for the new king. However when the reading goes wrong and the other five diviners start to vanish she will need the help of one of the knights. The problem? Rory is the rudest and most blasphemous of them all.

I’m absolutely obsessed with both Six and Rory, it’s almost embarrassing. I was kicking my feet while reading so many of their scenes. Also Rory has swiftly inserted himself in my top five book boyfriends, which is crazy because no new character has done that in the last two years, but here we are. I was so worried this was going to disappoint me considering the shepherd king was one of my favorite reads of last year. However this has exceeded all expectations. From lovable characters that you can’t not root for, the super intriguing gothic background and a really interesting magic system, I could not stop reading.
I did see all the revelations coming, but I feel like it would have been difficult not to, since there were clues scattered all over the plot. That ending I did not want though!!
I need book two immediately, which sucks considering book one is not even out yet😭
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sybil is one of Six diviners, and that is all she is known by, a number. She is there to receive dreams from the Omens and make predictions for the Kingdom.

10 years, the 6 diviners have to spend carrying out this duty, and this time is drawing near. When a boy king arrives bearing bad Omens... then the others start to disappear.

Sybil Vows that must find them and she sets off with one of the Knights, Rory, that accompanied the boy King Benji. Her only companion from her past, a strange Gargoyle who mixes his words.

Sybil has only ever known her life as a diviner, can she find herself outside of that, and at what cost...

This book had me hooked right from the start. Despite the dark gothic vibes there is some great humour and a stellar cast of characters to back it all up.

I cannot wait to see what happens in book two!

Out 20 May, so not long to wait! Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the review copy. A highly anticipated read that surpassed even my expectations.