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

Hello, all!

I loved the Shepherd King duology by Rachel Gillig, so her latest release, The Knight and the Moth, was high on my radar.

Pub Date: 5-20-25
Adult - Fantasy

When Sybil Delling was just a child, she was plucked from the streets and brought to live at Aisling Cathedral. In exchange for ten years of service, Sybil and five other girls were granted a home and care by the cathedral abbess. All they had to do was give up their names and memories to become Diviners. As Diviners, Sybil, known as 'Six,' and her sisters are gifted dreams by six otherworldly beings known as the Omens. Everyone across the kingdom of Traum, from merchants to kings, ventures to the Cathedral to have their futures read by Sybil and her sisters. As Sybil's tenure as a Diviner draws closer, the new King's retinue pays a visit, and her sisters begin disappearing.

Determined to discover what happened to her sisters, Sybil strikes up a tenuous bargain with Roderick Myndacious, the handsomely rude knight who sits at the right hand of the King. Rory has no respect for what Sybil does, and the two bash heads at every turn, but he agrees to help Sybil if she will use her gifts to seek out the Omens. Armed with only a hammer, chisel, and her gargoyle protector, Sybil soon learns that dangers lurk outside the Cathedral's walls and that the answers she seeks may come at a cost she's unwilling to pay.

Oh, Bartholomew, Gillig has done it again. She crafted yet another world reminiscent of a dark, Gothic fairytale full of dashing knights, a quest across the kingdom, and unique magic. I love any story that brings a motley crew together to perform a task, so I loved the premise. Sybil was so headstrong, and I liked watching her butt heads with Rory. Gillig must've heard everyone cry for more yearning in books because she gave it to us here tenfold. The romance between those two was achingly slow but had me on the edge of my seat. I guessed at certain plot points, but everything was made up for with Sybil's gargoyle companion. I didn't think I would get so attached to a hunk of stone, but here we are. Now, if you need me, I'll be counting down the days until the next book is in my hands.

Rating: 4/5