Title: The Knight and the Moth (The Stonewater Kingdom, Book 1)
Author: Rachel Gillig
Publisher: Orbit Books
Genre: Gothic Fantasy / Romantasy
Year of Publication: 2025
Date of Publication: May 20, 2025
Pages: 400
ISBN-13: 978-0316582704
Audiobook Narrator: Samantha Hydeson
Summary of The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
This is the first book in The Stonewater Kingdom.
The story follows a woman who is identified as Six. We later learn that her real name is Sybil Delling. She is one of six diviners and lives in a place called Aisling Cathedral. The Cathedral is located in a kingdom called Traum. In addition to Six, there are five other diviners who are also identified by numbers One through Five, and twenty-three gargoyles at Aisling Cathedral.
Like many of the diviners, Six has no memory about her life prior to coming to the Cathedral, she only knows her real name, which she has never disclosed to anyone. She is told that as a diviner, she has committed to serve ten years and is currently in her ninth year of service. The service involves plunging into a dark spring and receiving visions from six mysterious entities known as Omens.
At the start of the book, Six and her fellow diviners are excited about the end of their service and what the next phase of their lives would look like. One day, the Cathedral is visited by the new king. He is young (only about 17 years old) and is accompanied by some of his knights including one named Rodrick Myndacious. Unlike most people who visit the Cathedral and are in awe of the diviners, Rodrick is skeptical of diviners’ powers. Things get really complicated for Six, when her fellow Diviners start vanishing one by one. Afraid for herself and the faith of the others, she agrees to partner with the King and his Knights. In the process, Six learns some truths that completely change her beliefs about her faith and the Cathedral.
A large part of the story centers on Six’s journey to find the other diviners, as well as the King and his knights’ quest to obtain certain stone objects connected to the six Omens and to fulfill the King’s grandfather’s vision for the kingdom.
Main Plot & Characters
- Six (Sybil Delling): She is a strong and capable diviner. Six is determined to find her missing sisters and discover what lies beyond the cathedral’s walls.
- Rodrick Myndacious (Rory): He is a knight who doubts the visions and traditions of the Diviners. Rory’s clash with Sybil evolves into something more.
- King Castor (Benji): He is the king. Benji spends a lot of time reading through is grandfather’s notebook.
- The Gargoyle: He is one of the Gargoyle’s from the Cathedral. He calls everyone “Bartholomew,” and is not a fan of flying.
- Maude: She is a knight and previously served under Benji’s grandfather, Benedict Castor the First. She has been like a mother-figure to both Benji and Rory.
- The Abbess: She runs Aisling Cathedral.
- One, Two, Three, Four, and Five (The Diviners): They are other diviners who have dedicated almost 10 years of their lives to the Cathedral. Together with Six, they are known as the Diviners.
- The Omens: There are six of them including, the Artful Brigand, the Ardernt Oarsman, the Faithful Forester, Harried Scribe, the Heart Sore Weaver.
- The Ardernt Oarsman: The omen who wielded a stone oar.
- The Artful Brigand: The omen who bore a stone coin. He was killed by Rory.
- The Faithful Forester: The omen that carries the Chime.
- Harried Scribe: The omen fitted with Inkwell.
- Heart Sore Weaver: The omen that carries the sacred loom stone.
- Hamelin Fischer, Tory Bassett, and Dedrick Lange: They are knights that have sworn their allegiance to King Castor.
- The Serpent, the Bear, the Falcon: They are other Gargoyles that have allegiance to the Aisling Cathedral and are dedicated to the tor and the protection of the Abbess.
Writing Style
Rachel Gillig builds a very believable world and gives us a story that is easy to follow. She tells the story from Six’s perspective. In terms of the characters in the book, we absolutely loved the Gargoyle that calls everyone “Bartholomew.” This character was a hit for us. Absolutely hilarious and extremely likeable!
With that said, while we enjoyed reading this book, we have to admit we were not blown away. It’s definitely an enjoyable read and one that we recognize has a lot of potential. However parts of the story were predictable. We understand the expectations of the genre, but another brooding knight (though thankfully not a prince) paired with a female lead who does not take to the knight at first, is a path that has been walked one too many times.
We definitely enjoyed the twist at the end. Our hope is that we may get a more developed story in the next book and we actually plan to read it when it is released.
Memorable Quotes
- “The only god of men is coin.” — Rory repeating the creed of the Artful Brigand
- “Swords and armor are nothing to stone.” — The creed of the diviners / Aisling’s creed
- “I’m about to pass my own wind if they dont’ wrap this up.” — The Gargoyle
- “Ever but visitors.” — Recurring saying in Traum
- “Starving things are loyal when fed.” — The Ardent Oarsman
- “I fear she will die without ever having lived.” — Maude
- “To be a gargoyle.” — Six
- “She has always excelled at drowning.” — The Gargoyle
- “Anger is a fine weapon, Diviner…so long as you don’t point it at yourself.” — Maude
- “Would that things were different.” — Rory
- “May you be a witness to the wonders of the omens. A pupil of their portents. Ever but a visitor to their greatness.”
- “Revoltingly curious.” — Rory
Final Thought on The Knight and the Moth
The Knight and the Moth sets the stage for what could become an intriguing series. Rachel Gillig introduces readers to a world filled with mystery and the delicate balance between devotion and doubt. While the story’s structure leans on familiar fantasy tropes such as a guarded heroine, a skeptical knight, and a looming kingdom secret, Gillig’s worldbuilding makes it worth exploring. The ending hints at bigger revelations to come, suggesting that the next installment in The Stonewater Kingdom will expand the character arcs introduced here.
Book 2 titled The Knave and the Moon has a release date of September 1, 2026.
Book Rating
Characters ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)
Plot ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Writing ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)
Book Cover ★★★★⯪ (4.5/5)
Audiobook (Narration only) ★★★★⯪ (4.5/5)
Overall ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)
Have you read The Knight and the Moth? What did you think about the story and characters? Share your thoughts and until next time, keep turning those pages.
Authors
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