Superb dark twisty gothic romantasy, Rachel Gillig is a true story teller, I can imagine her as a intinerant story teller by the fire on a dark evening gathering her customers around her and spinning a tale that grabs the imagination. She gives us a story that is not clear to start with, of a cloistered girl, ready to escape into a new life. Six, she is known by; a diviner of omens, good and bad. But her life is about to be thrown into turmoil, as secrets are revealed and a quest begins. Big twisty turns, and a second book to follow.. I look forward to being entertained once more. Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group Uk and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I don’t quite think I would have enjoyed this book half as much without that gargoyle. He was the comic relief I didn’t know I needed.

Extremely likeable characters and the Maude, Benji, Rory and Six dynamic was really enjoyable. I can’t say there was a single character I didn’t thoroughly enjoy learning about which is a surprise and they all seemed very fleshed out in such a short time.

Overall whilst very different from the utterly perfect Shepherd King duology I can’t fault this book as being anything less than what I expected from the author. Waiting for the next book will inevitably be torturous but I will endure.

The Knight and The Moth is one of the most beautiful hauntingly told stories I have read in a very long time, with it's gothic and eerie atmospheric setting of crumbling castles and omens that completely consumes you from the very first page to the way the story is seemlessly weaved throughout by such amazing and vivid in detail writing that has a way of pulling you into the lives of these characters and at times their heartbreaking storylines.

The plot is unique and the romance is a beautiful slow burn of epic banter and all the possible yearning you could ever want, it was so enchanting to see the romance develop over the course of the journey both the FMC and MMC take.

The star of the book for me is the gargoyle though, whose narrative of lighthearted moments throughout what is otherwise a tense and atmospheric read is one of my favourite things ever, I adore this gargoyle immensely.

I honestly can't recommend this book enough it has become one of my favourite books of all time. I cannot wait to reread it all over again, It's truly amazing.

Wow. What an amazing story. With Gillig's books you have to trust the process, everything will slowly begin to make sense.

This story feels like the kind of fantasy that's been missing from shelves for a while now. It's not about romance or being the badass female hero. It's a story of morality, self-worth and faith.

Gillig's writing is absolutely beautiful. She has such a concise style that reads like poetry but every single word is there for a reason and it doesn't make it a difficult read at all.

It's been a long time since a book gave me physical reactions but I cried so hard over Sybil and Bartholomew.

I'm going to start this off with, no one is more disappointed taht I didnt like this than me! Rachel's One Dark Window duology is my absolute favourite of all time, so this was my most anticipated read! Unfortunately it just didn't hit with me. The prose was very flowery, which I sometimes struggle with (me problem), but it just seemed unnecessary at times when you have the characters saying "shut up idiot" or "what the fuck?"

What I did love though, and the character that was the absolute star of the book was the gargoyle!! He was absolutely fantastic, and I loved their relationship.

Overall, this was a bit of a miss for me but I definitely think people will love this!! And I do think that I will read the next one, just to see where Rachel takes this.

Many many thanks to Orbit for the arc!

4.5/5 ✨
1/5🌶️
Magical romance in a gothical setting, what is better than this?
Rachel Gillis does it again. She has the ability to transport you into this beautiful, magical worlds and make you instantly fall in love with all of her characters.
The thing i loved the most was the writing. Gillis’s writing always feels like a gothic blanket, easy and poetic and magical. I never read the acknowledgements and hers also feels like a magical story. Her writing is poetry and make everything flow easily, making reading a true enjoyment.
Some examples i have deeply adored (no spoilers):

‘not touching the tears that fell from beneath my shroud but guarding them against the breeze, as if they deserved their own tender pilgrimage down my cheeks.’

As magical as her words are, her world building is also incredibly crafted. And also, spectacularly unique; the props are also never-heard-before and unexpected, bringing you in different world easily. And big praises because even with this absurd magical sistems she always explain perfectly and you understand everything there is.

The characters are beautifully build and feels like actual people that you get to meet and know; while I have loved the main character in every way with her braveness and unbreakable personality, i have felt Rory a bit ‘distant’, not flat simply not dynamic and involved in the story. All the other side characters were so well done and added so much flavour to the story, making me fall in deeper into the story every time we meet a new one.

This book was an exceptional magical travel with a beautiful prose and i am sure i will recommend this to everybody. I can’t wait for book 2 (i mean after that finale, i want it now!!!)

Thank you Rachel Gillig and Orbit Books’ team for gifting me this E-Arc through NeyGalley in exchange for an honest review!!!
love u divas
-Gio🪄

Listen up Batholomew - if you're going to read 1 book this year, let it be this one!

A Diviner, a Knight, a King, a gargoyle, Omens and dreams.

A coin, an inkwell, an oar, a chime, and a loom stone.

If you loved One Dark Window then you're going to LOVE this!

There was banter, there was drama, there was heartache, joy and A LOT of shocking revelations (that I didn't even guess!) in this fast-paced story.

What an absolute hit this was! How the heck am I going to wait until the next book?!

Okay, this book absolutely swept me away. I went in expecting moody vibes and a bit of romance and came out fully obsessed!

The worldbuilding is gorgeously eerie, with crumbling cathedrals, whispers of old magic, moths as omens, and a romance that feels like it’s unfolding in candlelight. Perfect gothic vibes, but with the emotional punch to match.

This is the epitome of slow burn and from the moment the FMC and MMC meet their banter is sharp, chemistry undeniable, and their journey together is both heartwarming and thrilling.

I know it sounds weird, but my favourite character was without doubt the gargoyle. He steals the show in the best possible way providing equal parts comic relief and wisdom, and I honestly want a whole spin-off just for him.

If you’re into slow-burns, magic, and characters to fall in love with, The Knight and the Moth is 100% for you. Easily a new favorite. I already want to re-read it just to soak it all in again.

Literal perfection 💕

This 👏 book 👏

When an authors debut series is so strong, it’s difficult to see how it could be topped. One Dark Window is one of my favourite books, Two Twisted Crowns topped that. But The Knight and the Moth? Unparalleled.

From the very first page, traversing the Stonewater Kingdom felt effortless. No part of this book felt like a slog to get through, no chapter too long or scene dragged out. It was perfectly paced and just endlessly captivating.

The best part about The Knight and the Moth, is its ability to surprise. From reading both of Gillig’s prior books, following the marketing campaign for this one and reading the synopsis, I felt I had a good idea of what to expect and those expectations were high. The actual content itself though? Hit those expectations and surpassed them on every single front.

I laughed (rare for a gothic fantasy!), I cried, I gasped, I sobbed some more and I felt absolutely consumed by this book and its characters.


Rory has soared to the top of my book boyfriend list. Six has become one of my favourite female main characters. The gargoyle. THE GARGOYLE. My favourite character ever. Even the side characters were fleshed out and absolutely brilliant.

I don’t know when book two is coming, but I need it yesterday.

"To tell a story is in some part to tell a lie, isn't it?”

Thank you to Orbit Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Sybil Delling has spent nine years dreaming of having no dreams at all. Like the other foundling girls who traded a decade of service for a home in the great cathedral, Sybil is a Diviner. In her dreams she receives visions from six unearthly figures known as Omens. From them, she can predict terrible things before they occur, and lords and common folk alike travel across the kingdom of Traum's windswept moors to learn their futures by her dreams. Just as she and her sister Diviners near the end of their service, a mysterious knight arrives at the cathedral. Rude, heretical, and devilishly handsome, the knight Rodrick has no respect for Sybil's visions. But when Sybil's fellow Diviners begin to vanish one by one, she has no choice but to seek his help in finding them. For the world outside the cathedral's cloister is wrought with peril. Only the gods have the answers she is seeking, and as much as she'd rather avoid Rodrick's dark eyes and sharp tongue, only a heretic can defeat a god.

Sybil is the best at what she does. She Divines more than the others and has a certain way about life on the tor, but it because of her kindness and her giving heart. The way she was with the other Diviners absolutely melted my heart. They were more than a group of Diviners, they were family in every way that mattered. I was so proud of Sybil for defying everything and going out in search of her sisters when she knew there was more going on, when she knew that those around her would potentially stop her in any way possible. Even her relationship with a gargoyle made me smile! There is something about Sybil that drew me in from the first page and all I wanted was to see her succeed. She goes from strength to strength over the course of the book and I am so stoked to see where she goes in the future.
Rodrick is all brood and no fun - at least, that’s the impression he sends off. He didn’t half annoy me in the beginning. His sarcastic nature was more on the cruel side but gradually, he seemed to thaw out. And thank goodness! He becomes such an integral part of this story that I found myself becoming attached to him and was looking forward to seeing what gallant knight thing he’d do next. He, like Sybil, tests the boundaries which I love - and they’re both from such similar backgrounds that they just become the perfect fit. I really hope we see more of him in the future!

I absolutely love the Shepherd King duology. There was something about Gillig’s writing in those books that captured my attention and never wanted to leave. So, when the publisher reached out to me and offered a review copy of Gillig’s newest book, I was NOT going to say no! This plot was pretty dang good. I can definitely tell a difference in writing from the SK duology - namely being this one is aimed at adults as opposed to young adults. But it just made it all the more better. It felt as if there were no restrictions to where this story could take us which I loved. There was a lot of world building and thus some info dumps but they didn’t lessen my enjoyment any. I found myself swept away and even had to pace myself so I could enjoy the book to the fullest! We have a whole range of characters here and as I found before with Gillig, you find yourself enraptured with a character or two and just want to hold them tight. There is something so intrinsically real about the people in this book that you are incredibly invested in their journey. Romance was more of a hint for the majority of the book and then came to the forefront later on. This worked absolutely perfectly for this story. We are trying to change the world and save people, not just watch people get moony eyed over each other - though I never say no to that. But the romance we do get is so sweet and so emotional too! The spice that accompanies it was beyond delightful. It worked so perfectly for both the story and the characters - I wouldn’t want it any other way! OMG THAT ENDING. Gillig, how could you?! I had my suspicions during the last 10% or so of the book but my jaw dropped to the floor. Now I have to wait god knows how long to see what will happen next?! I’m dead. Absolutely dead.

Overall, The Knight and the Moth is another stunning book from Gillig that has me wanting more, more, more!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to Orbit Books for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day and is available now on Goodreads.

I loved everything about this book. Plot, character development, world building, and writing. RACHEL GILLIG WAS THE MOTHER OF IT ALL. And it's one of the books I'm excited to read in 2025. When I received an email asking me to read it, I almost screamed with joy. Of course, I'll do it with joy! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc.

I had no idea where the plot was heading, but it had me hooked and I couldn't put it down. I kept guessing where the 5 Diviners went, and Sybil's search for them was fraught with twists and turns. The omens were very frightening and gave me goosebumps. Many secrets were slowly revealed in each chapter, which I believed wasn't too fast or too sluggish. When Rodrick was with Sybil, I couldn't help but yell, "WHY DON'T YOU TWO KISS"

It had a strong dark vibe that I really loved, similar to the One Dark Window Duology. All of the characters are unique and distinct. I like Sybil best with the shroud that always covers both of her eyes, therefore I'm interested what it'd be like if she removed it. She is also quite tough and strong. However, The Gargoyle made me laugh and helped to ease some of the tension while reading. He is cute. What I enjoy best is the novel concept. The magic system differs from most fantasy books I've read, making it one of my favorites. The plot twist shocked me. I want the second book to come out soon since the ending is such a cliffhanger.

Is there a word for when your most anticipated read suddenly is at your fingertips? Elation? All consuming joy? Whatever it is, I felt it ALL the second I started The Knight and the Moth. Rachel Gillig has such a talent for writing the most whimsical, darkly romantic fairytales and this was certainly no different. With a delightfully slow burn romance between Sybil the shrouded diviner and Rory the grumpy, pragmatic knight, the most charming gargoyle in the entire world and a quest-style plot, I was enthralled from start to finish. The magic system was just as invented as I’d hoped it would be and the world wonderfully lush and layered. And the ending!! Wow. Needless to say, I will be absolutely dying to get my hands on the sequel as soon as possible. Absolutely wonderful in every way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We have gothic romantic fantasy! We have a grand quest! We have a rich and interesting world! We! Have! Gargoyles!

Gillig has yet again woven a beautifully gothic, fantastical, romantic and original (!) tale that I adored. You know that feeling where you’re so sucked into a book that putting it down feels like emerging from a fog? that’s what being in the world of the Stonewater Kingdom felt like - and not just because we spent most of the time looking through our main character’s shroud. The atmosphere of this novel was so thick and heavy that I too felt like I was drowning and divining in the spring of the tor, I loved it so so much.

The world building was, as expected, supreme. The cathedral and its lore bled life into every hamlet, forest and sea. Our six omens and their unique names and symbols made for a truly eerie spectacle. Our six diviners, nameless but for their numbers, were so full of personality and life, even if we only knew five of them for a little while. Our two main knights, soft and brave with intricate back stories of their own, were rich side characters. & finally, our boy king, heavy is the head that wears the crown and ego.

Our story is told from the pov of the sixth diviner: Sybil (though no one else knows her name.) To divine is to dream, and to dream is to drown in the black waters of a magic spring. Sybil, or ‘Six,’ as everyone knows her, is devout, proud and grateful for her position at the cathedral. Who is best fit to shake her faith? A handsome, heretical and downright moody knight, obviously.

The romance was a slow burn (thank youuuuu) and somewhat secondary to the quest! yay! and although a bit ‘spicer’ than The Shepherd King duology, it was still lyrical and fitting with the setting. Our romantic lead actually had personality, and I was grateful that he wasn’t all bravado all the time (a knight blushing is very cute ok)

Also, this was funny! The comedic relief in our gargoyle who calls everyone and everything ‘Bartholomew’ was a really welcome surprise. A lot of the dialogue between our characters had me laughing out loud which isn’t something that happens very often. And thank GOODNESS because my chest ached for Sybil and the diviners so often i could barely breathe. Poor honeys, I wanted to scoop them up tell them to get behind me.

Easy 5 star read. Sybil, Gargoyle and Rodrick are my new faves and to wait for a sequel is cruel to me. gimmie.

I did not want this book to end.

In all honesty, I am absolutely in love with this book. The pacing was perfect! The rich lore was incredibly dreamy, and the worldbuilding is some of my favourite yet. The way Rachel Gillig writes is so incredibly decadent and I want to drown in it.

We’re treated to lyrical prose and a gothic atmosphere; I now want to live in Traum. Gillig’s writing has such a way of drawing you in and making you care about every single character. She achieves this by crafting compelling characters and guiding you through their evolution.

The side characters infuse the story with so much warmth and humour, offering a much needed reprieve from the despair our FMC is facing. The themes of faith, power, and self-discovery are so well executed and after The Shepherd King duology, I would expect nothing less.

The Knight and the Moth is one of the easiest five stars I’ve given this year. I can’t wait to be back in the Stonewater Kingdom!

Thank you Orbit Books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was incredible. I absolutely loved it. It had the solid mystery that kept me guessing and compelling and endearing characters and at the same time it managed to feel completely new and fresh.

I can’t wait for the second and final book in the duology. For me, this book was phenomenal.

Many thanks to Orbit for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was phenomenal! The story was thrilling, full of magic and twists and turns. I really liked the main character, whose transformation and development we observe throughout the book. Rachel Gillig has created a heroine who is very easy to root for. Throughout the book, I hoped that Six would find her place on earth and finally start living her own life. The romantic plot was charming and full of suspense.
However, my heart was not stolen by Rory, but by a saucy and self-confident gargoyle, who definitely influenced my positive reception of this book. I am absolutely delighted with this story, and after the emotional and surprising ending, I can't wait to see the fate of the characters. Rachel Gillig did it again!

4.5 ⭐

A story of freedom, dreaming and belonging that haunts you from start to finish.

Rachel made me fall in love with her writing style, imagination and characters when she wrote The Shepherd King series. Safe to say I was incredibly excited for The Knight and The Moth. She once again delivered a masterpiece that will stay with me for a long time!

Gothic vibes? Check! A strong female main character? Check! An amazing sidekick? Check! An intruiging love interest? Check! Trust me, the checks could just keep coming. This book was so much fun to read, albeit also heartbreaking. I absolutely fell in love with the little gargoyle who is not only the perfect companion but also hi-la-ri-ous. I want one!

There are so many interesting charactes in this story. From our main characters Sybil and Rory to the abbess, other knights, the omens!!, the Diviners, ... I am obsessed with all of them.

This was also one of those books that had just a great setting. I could just imagine all the places and their atmosphere. The story has a very dark feel to it, with the cathedral and gargoyles, and I adored it. The gothic vibes were all around!

This book could've wrapped up nicely but Rachel went ahead and turned this into a series which means the ending left a lot more to be desired. I'm so happy we're getting more of this world!

The Knight and the Moth was beautifully written, perfectly atmospheric and one of the most unique fantasy books I’ve ever read!

It has the same gothic fairytale vibe that I loved so much in The Shepherd King duology but this time with a darker, haunting story that I’m sure I will be thinking about for weeks. The build up between Rory and Sybil was so well done and the ending was completely unexpected, I was shocked! I think the gargoyle might be one of my favourite book characters to date.

I will be eagerly anticipating book two!

Rachel Gillig is a gentle and wonderful storyteller. Those few days I spent in the Stonewater Kingdom following the adventures of Sybil, Rory, Gargoyle, Benji and Maude - are precious to me and I will be reminiscing it for a long while.

I’ll start with the magic. The Diviners that dream of one’s fate, the Omens that are thought to be Gods, the Gargoyles and Sprites, and the magical artefacts that play a strong role in this story. Full of symbolism and a touch of folklore. Authentic signature to the authors style - smart, sophisticated and at the same time so naturally easy to follow and understand.

We follow the journey of five courageous characters finding the Omens and revealing the truths on their way. The poetic world building sets the scene in a gloomy dark fairytale place. I love that there’s not abundant amount of info dumping and most of the details are supplied from conversations in a way of storytelling. The interactions between the characters are natural, and each one of them has their own unique way of expressing themselves.

That brings us to the characters. Our gentle Sybil.. Ethereal. Demanding. Bold. She gets a lot of painful and heart wrenching growth in this book. But at the same time she gets to live and build new friendships that makes her only stronger. In the beginning of the story she meets this ignoble knight Rodrick Myndacious and since the first encounter they both take up on making sure that they are aware of how much of annoyance they find in each other. Rory is strong willed, with a strong moral compass and a slight kleptomaniac tendency(but that’s forgivable - you know, tall, dark and handsome and etc).

Their first conversations are full of bite, but that is what sparks Sybil to make the first steps to a change. And we get to be the first row spectators of a beautiful, blossoming falling in love story. We get to kick our feet, blush and sigh with Rory’s words and actions like the true romantics that we are.

Then there is Gargoyle(heart eyes heart eyes). Oh, to be a Gargoyle…. I won’t say a thing more, dear future reader, as You must experience the Gargoyle by Yourself.

The story is written for an adult audience, there’s graphic violence and adult themes, and an open door sex scene, though nothing too explicit. As well it ends on a cliffhanger that left me wanting to drop on my knees and beg for the second book…

I would like to express my enormous thanks to Orbit Books UK, NetGalley and the brilliant Rachel Gillig who wrote this piece of masterful story, for gifting me an incredible opportunity to read The Knight And The Moth early as an e-arc. And I can’t wait to see what the heroes and villains of Stonewater Kingdom will be up to in the sequel.

I have been excitedly waiting to read this book and I can honestly say this has not disappointed! The only negative I have is now having to wait for the next book.
As with Rachel’s other books I absolutely love the unique and interesting magic and storyline. I found myself sucked into the story from the start.
I do love when the fmc is feisty and confident and this definitely did not disappoint, I really like how loyal and fiercely protective Sybil is of her friends.
I have really enjoyed seeing Sybil grow in her confidence and strength and find her voice.
Our mmc Rory is just perfevt with his charcoal lined eyes and gold earrings add to the fact that he is broody and protective and I was kicking my feet and loving him!
I personally love that this book wasn’t all world building focusing more on the characters and how they grow and develop, I feel I was given the perfect amount of information to keep me hooked and wanting more.
I have never thought I would love a cheeky gargoyle but here we are!

Feisty fmc
Mmc that will have you swooning
Interesting unique magic
Cheeky protective Gargoyle
Found family

I could not put this book down, and that ending!!?? I’m left speechless and needing more as soon as possible!