The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

Okay, I read this book over the most perfect birthday weekend I could have asked for. Which meant sitting out by the pool with all my friends as we all read. It also meant that I was able to read this in not quite on sitting, but one day. I have been emotionally compromised for weeks since then. I don’t know what it was with me picking three religious-religion coded books in a row to read, but I am not mad about it. Each was so different¹ and were all perfectly executed. 

Once again, I was fooled by thinking this was a standalone. So don’t think that. But also please, please go pick it up. I am reading this with my dearest T as part of our Romantasy Summer and it was everything I was hoping for. T had read Rachel’s first book series and wanted to read this one when it came out and I was so ready. The world building is delicious—full and varied, complex and thought out with answers to all my questions. Or well, nearly all my questions, which I realized when I found out it wasn’t a stand alone, and that somethings need to wait for the next book. 

I promise not to give away any spoilers, but the entire set up of the Diviners who drown to see the future and the magic behind it all? Immaculate, starting off with a drowning so we as readers and pulled into the gritty truth of the magic and how it impacts them not only makes the story real but gives the immediate gothic vibes that resonate throughout the rest of the book. 

What else I adore is we are thrown right into it from the beginning and the romance main pairing you can see coming from a mile away in the best way. Immediate setting each other off wrong only to see that relationship get EARNED. And when you get to the armor scene please come find me because the tension throughout their relationship is delicious. We love when something good earns its payout in a romance.  

I did enjoy getting to see how the lore and folklore is woven into every day life and how that impacts the overarching goal of the plot line. It made each next step something to look forward to. I can say that I did see the ending twist coming, but also I am so relieved knowing there is a second book now because I wasn’t sure where the resolution would be and now we have so much more at stake. I am on eager tenterhooks, and now that much more invested in learning more about everything in this world. 

Y’all I almost forgot to mention what made this book the crowning glory that it was (mostly because spoilers) and that is the Gargoyle. I won’t lie I wasn’t expecting that from the beginning. His character was something that I was worried would be two dimensional or part of the background on page one. Yet as we kept going I did almost get Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame vibes, but truly he became so much more and was both the comedic relief and the heart of the story. I can’t say more but he will have you laughing, smiling in tender moments, and more. So much more. 

Also, there are so many more spoilers moments that I would love to discuss, so per usual come yap at me! Oh and don’t forget to have tissues. You’re probably going to need them. 

Looking to find The Knight and The Moth? Here you go:
Bookshop.org ~ Libro.fm ~ Goodreads ~ Storygraph

Also!!! I got to see a group cosplay at DragonCon this year where some amazing folks dressed up as Six, the Gargoyle, and Rory and it was EVERYTHING. Look at how amazing they were!

As a side note, some of the links to Bookshop.org or Libro.fm will either provide me or an indie bookshop I support a portion of the affiliate sales if you use them to buy a book I recommend.

1. The other two were Cruel is the Light and The West Wind which I have already reviewed so go read those if you haven’t!  ↩︎