Book Review: The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of The Stonewater Kingdom

Publisher: Orbit (May 20, 2025)

Length: 400 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

I confess I had my doubts when I started this one. After all, my first experience with Rachel Gillig’s work, One Dark Window, was not the most positive. That book left me cold with its confused themes and scattered direction, yet the author’s strong writing and the premise of her latest novel intrigued me enough to give her another shot—and I’m glad I did. The Knight and the Moth delivered a beautiful story that features a clearer narrative, compelling characters, and a gothic romantic tone that simply clicked with me in a way her previous series hadn’t.

The novel opens by transporting readers to the haunting, isolated grounds of Aisling Cathedral, where six nameless girls have served as Diviners ever since being rescued as foundlings by the abbess. Revered as soothsayers, Diviners undergo a dangerous water ritual to interpret the future from visions received through dreams induced while they are nearly drowned. Among them is Number Six, once known as Sybil Delling, a young woman who has spent nearly the past decade enduring this process for the benefit of those traveling to Aisling seeking wisdom. Now nearing the end of her service, she and her five sister Diviners are looking forward to their lives of freedom once they leave the cathedral, until an unexpected visit from the “Boy King” Benedict Castor III throws everything into chaos.

Benedict, newly crowned and still in his late teens, has come for a reading to see what lies ahead for his reign. Among his retinue is his loyal knight, Rodrick “Rory” Myndacious, whose open contempt for the Diviners’ rituals immediately grates on Six. Her suspicion proves justified when she catches the king and Rory stealing water from the cathedral’s sacred spring, but instead of turning them in, she strikes a deal: in exchange for her silence, they must take the Diviners out on the town for one final night of revelry before their time at Aisling ends. Yet soon after this outing, things take a darker turn when the Diviners start disappearing, one by one. Fearing that something far more sinister is at work, Six flees the cathedral with Rory’s help, hoping to buy some time while she works to locate her missing friends.

Although romantasy is arguably its main selling point, where The Knight and the Moth truly stood out was in its immersive atmosphere and world-building which felt both eerie and mythical. The setting of Aisling Cathedral, where the Diviners are cloistered, is one that casts a gothic shadow over the early chapters, with its abbess and cryptic rituals shrouded in secrecy. The young women, who go by their numbers One to Six, have had their identities erased and their eyes covered, the better to train them to a life of obedience and reading the Omens. Besides each other, they only have the cathedral’s sentient gargoyles for companionship. But as if all this weren’t intriguing enough, it’s the hints of an even deeper magical ecosystem that intrigued me, particularly the supernatural creatures called sprites that populate the world. Though their appearances were brief, they added a wild, almost elemental energy to the setting, and I hope their lore will be further explored in the next installment.

With regards to the romance, the relationship between Six—AKA Sybil—and Rory is one that simmers quietly in the background while the story’s main events play out, and that’s just the way I like it. Not too slow and yet not so strong that it overwhelms the central plotline, it unfolds with natural chemistry between the two characters. Not quite a “hate to love” romance, theirs is a dynamic which begins with mutual disdain but gradually shifts into something more intimate and vulnerable, and while the sparks don’t fly right away, by the time they do, the emotional payoff is worth the wait.

I also want to note how rare it is to find a book where the side characters shine just as brightly as the protagonists. Sure, Sybil and Rory are the ones who carry the story, but in The Knight and the Moth, we have a supporting cast that’s every bit as unforgettable. Maude, an older knight who serves as both mentor and near-maternal figure to Benedict and Rory, steals every scene she’s in with her quiet competence and unwavering composure—grace that she even extends to Sybil. On his part, Benedict, or Benji to his friends, reveals he is so much more than his youth, displaying surprising depth while he struggles to live up to a crown he barely understands. And then there’s the gargoyle, Sybil’s childlike guardian who follows her from the cathedral and becomes equal parts comic relief and emotional anchor. Together, this group of characters create a rich network of relationships that elevate this novel far beyond a simple romantasy.

In sum, what a huge difference from my first run with Rachel Gillig! Where One Dark Window gave me the impression of stumbling around in the dark, The Knight and the Moth felt more like a confident step forward. Featuring themes that were more focused, characters who were more grounded, and a more memorable story overall, the book managed to balance atmosphere, mystery, and heart without losing its way.  For readers who enjoy slow-burn character arcs and layered world-building with just a touch of gothic romance, this is an easy recommendation. I’m genuinely excited to see where this series goes next.