Name: big ab's review of The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
Item: The Knight and the Moth
Rating: 3
Author: big ab

Rachel Gillig

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.

The Knight and the Moth

Jillian Roberts

“An entire branch of idleweed?” I quipped.

“Little sounds?” came his slow, mirthful reply. 

Nicole Mills

i so badly wanted to like this.. and i did not. but im definitely in the minority LMAO. it was fine. i was just so bored and found it all entirely predictable. i didn’t feel transported into the world at all, just felt like i was reading a book. this is so disappointing because i tried SO HARD. i wanted more sisterhood and was so excited in the beginning because i thought i would get that, but no sadly. i liked two crowns way more than one dark window, so maybe i might like the next one in this series more? but im not entirely convinced i will read it … eek.

big ab

I love stories about women who have been manipulated and taken advantage of finally learning the truth and liberating themselves. Once I got over the fact that this wasn’t sapphic (yes that was a real hurdle I had to jump, I’m only human), I got so engaged with the world. The writing was really good, and I loved the way the story flowed, the vibes were so immaculate. As always, I love a book that can make me laugh. I wasn’t expecting this to be funny, but it was, not in a belly laugh way, but in a nice, charming way.

I love a good cast of characters, all else can fail, but if I fall in love with your characters, you’ve got me; and the author really did make me fall in love with these characters, Sybil and the gargoyle especially of course, but everyone else too. I loved that Sybil was written to be strong, and have wit, and I felt strangely maternal over the gargoyle. Usually, the character of the moody handsome knight irritates me, but I liked Rory, it’s rare that I meet a mmc that’s actually quite charming (sometimes, the beginning was a bit rocky). I liked that Maude was strong and knightly but was also very matronly and kind. Everyone really worked for me and I can’t wait to read about them again.

I had no qualms with the pacing, I thought the progression of events was written well enough, not too slow to be boring, but not too fast to be absurd. I liked the romance, it was sweet and seemed to have progressed somewhat organically, again not too fast. I would have preferred more of a slow burn though. As always Rachel has managed to cook up something creative and engaging, I can’t wait to read the next one.

bel 

I love stories about women who have been manipulated and taken advantage of finally learning the truth and liberating themselves. Once I got over the fact that this wasn’t sapphic (yes that was a real hurdle I had to jump, I’m only human), I got so engaged with the world. The writing was really good, and I loved the way the story flowed, the vibes were so immaculate. As always, I love a book that can make me laugh. I wasn’t expecting this to be funny, but it was, not in a belly laugh way, but in a nice, charming way.

I love a good cast of characters, all else can fail, but if I fall in love with your characters, you’ve got me; and the author really did make me fall in love with these characters, Sybil and the gargoyle especially of course, but everyone else too. I loved that Sybil was written to be strong, and have wit, and I felt strangely maternal over the gargoyle. Usually, the character of the moody handsome knight irritates me, but I liked Rory, it’s rare that I meet a mmc that’s actually quite charming (sometimes, the beginning was a bit rocky). I liked that Maude was strong and knightly but was also very matronly and kind. Everyone really worked for me and I can’t wait to read about them again.

I had no qualms with the pacing, I thought the progression of events was written well enough, not too slow to be boring, but not too fast to be absurd. I liked the romance, it was sweet and seemed to have progressed somewhat organically, again not too fast. I would have preferred more of a slow burn though. As always Rachel has managed to cook up something creative and engaging, I can’t wait to read the next one.

3.5 ⭐️ This is a classic example of, it’s not you it’s me, but in book form. I was desperate to love this book but wasn’t ready or in the mood to read it but was contractually obliged by book club. Maybe I’ll give it another try in years past. 

Samantha Waterson

I liked this book so much more than Gillig’s last duology. I think the characters were more interesting and mythology and magic system held my attention a lot more. There were also a few twists at the end that I did not predict which I always enjoy. The romance had its good moments but can basically be boiled down to two hot people think the other is hot - they fuck - now they’re in love lol. One thing I hate that’s been coming up in a lot of my reads recently is an inherent lack of curiosity or intelligence sometimes. When there’s foreshadowing so obvious that even your characters clock it, but then don’t go a single step further to ask ANY question, I just get frustrated. That’s just not realistic and also signals to me that your skills in foreshadowing and plot twists are weak if your whole premise comes undone by one question. I did enjoy the ending though as it’s made me curious where book 2 is going to go!

Katie Allard

I am so sad that I finished it, didn't want it to end 😭

Hill

Rachel does it again!! It is so good with the world building. Beautifully done

Jazz

"Which is more intricate? The designs of men, trying to reach gods, or that of gods, trying to reach men?"

"What is either to the intricacies of women, who reach both?"

This was a pretty enjoyable read but I will say I don't feel quite as swept away by it as I thought I would, I have seen some of my mutuals and favourite trusted reviewers gushing about this book and I don't quite feel the same way. Two Twisted Crowns was my favourite read of 2024, and you might have noticed that I'm only mentioning the second book in the duology there, that's because One Dark Window also didn't qute sweep me away like I was hoping it would. The way I felt about that book is how I feel about this one and I am hoping I will love the next book, or books, in this series more like I did then too. I think yet again my expectations might have been a little too high, but that being said four stars is still a good rating and I did enjoy reading this book, it just didn't quite reach five stars like I wished it had.

The Knight and the Moth started off great, in the beginning I was drawn into this mystical and magical story. The nun-like Diviners with their shrouds, their drowning and dreaming ritualistic, prophetess type powers and the mystery surrounding what would become of them when their time at Aisling Cathedral was over was so beautifully done. It was all incredibly enticing. There was a certain whimsical hopefulness to the first few chapters, then when the Diviners started disappearing I was on the edge of my seat and loved following her journey. Sybil is a fascinating main character, she is a bit of a people pleaser, she martyrs herself frequently to help the other Diviners and, more selfishly, to be seen as the best at what she does. As the story unravels we find out that this is driven by insecurity caused by the cruelty of the abbess, the woman who has basically been her mother for the past ten years, and that the religion she is so devoted to is all a lie, and I think watching her figure herself out amongst this ever evolving storyline was entertaining and heart breaking. But I just didn't get enough out of this to really feel completely connected to the story. I found the religion seemed quite flimsy when you stepped back from the emotions, I don't quite get how the abbess and the Omens had so much persuasion over the hamlets when they seemed so sequested away up on their tor. I think the world building just wasn't quite deep enough for my liking.

The side characters also fell just a little bit flat for me. I really liked Rory, the way he was described was really attractive to me and I enjoyed the banter between him and Sybil. Their slow burning relationship was great to start off with but then it all went a little bit too fast all of a sudden. One minute they disliked each other, for reasons that didn't seem very well substantiated personally - she found him brash and didn't like that he didn't show her deference, and he found her too pious and annoying - meh, not exactly strong enough reasons to call this "enemies to lover" but ok. Then they had a few moments alone where things got a bit heated and suddenly they were falling in love. I loved them together but I just didn't feel their chemistry enough. The gargoyle was a lot of fun, his humourous one liners brought some levity to some really serious moments but even then I found it a little overdone and eyeroll enducing at some points. Maude and Benji were interesting but just a little bit one dimensional unfortunately.

I don't know, I did like this book, I wanted to keep reading and it held my attention but it just didn't grip me as stongly as I wanted. I found some of it pretty predictable and then other parts not well developed enough, then dispersed in between that there were moments that I absolutely adored. I found there was a level of repetition to the plot that started to get a bit dry through the middle too. I am still really looking forward to reading book two, and I am hoping I might feel more towards that book like I did with the Shepherd King duology but I am trying to not get my hopes up too high. Regardless, I am glad I read this book, Rachel Gillig has a way with prose that is so easy to read and beautifully atmospheric that it almost makes up for all the parts I didn't love as much.

Genevieve 

"Which is more intricate? The designs of men, trying to reach gods, or that of gods, trying to reach men?"

"What is either to the intricacies of women, who reach both?"

4⭐️

This was a pretty enjoyable read but I will say I don't feel quite as swept away by it as I thought I would, I have seen some of my mutuals and favourite trusted reviewers gushing about this book and I don't quite feel the same way. Two Twisted Crowns was my favourite read of 2024, and you might have noticed that I'm only mentioning the second book in the duology there, that's because One Dark Window also didn't qute sweep me away like I was hoping it would. The way I felt about that book is how I feel about this one and I am hoping I will love the next book, or books, in this series more like I did then too. I think yet again my expectations might have been a little too high, but that being said four stars is still a good rating and I did enjoy reading this book, it just didn't quite reach five stars like I wished it had.

The Knight and the Moth started off great, in the beginning I was drawn into this mystical and magical story. The nun-like Diviners with their shrouds, their drowning and dreaming ritualistic, prophetess type powers and the mystery surrounding what would become of them when their time at Aisling Cathedral was over was so beautifully done. It was all incredibly enticing. There was a certain whimsical hopefulness to the first few chapters, then when the Diviners started disappearing I was on the edge of my seat and loved following her journey. Sybil is a fascinating main character, she is a bit of a people pleaser, she martyrs herself frequently to help the other Diviners and, more selfishly, to be seen as the best at what she does. As the story unravels we find out that this is driven by insecurity caused by the cruelty of the abbess, the woman who has basically been her mother for the past ten years, and that the religion she is so devoted to is all a lie, and I think watching her figure herself out amongst this ever evolving storyline was entertaining and heart breaking. But I just didn't get enough out of this to really feel completely connected to the story. I found the religion seemed quite flimsy when you stepped back from the emotions, I don't quite get how the abbess and the Omens had so much persuasion over the hamlets when they seemed so sequested away up on their tor. I think the world building just wasn't quite deep enough for my liking.

The side characters also fell just a little bit flat for me. I really liked Rory, the way he was described was really attractive to me and I enjoyed the banter between him and Sybil. Their slow burning relationship was great to start off with but then it all went a little bit too fast all of a sudden. One minute they disliked each other, for reasons that didn't seem very well substantiated personally - she found him brash and didn't like that he didn't show her deference, and he found her too pious and annoying - meh, not exactly strong enough reasons to call this "enemies to lover" but ok. Then they had a few moments alone where things got a bit heated and suddenly they were falling in love. I loved them together but I just didn't feel their chemistry enough. The gargoyle was a lot of fun, his humourous one liners brought some levity to some really serious moments but even then I found it a little overdone and eyeroll enducing at some points. Maude and Benji were interesting but just a little bit one dimensional unfortunately.

I don't know, I did like this book, I wanted to keep reading and it held my attention but it just didn't grip me as stongly as I wanted. I found some of it pretty predictable and then other parts not well developed enough, then dispersed in between that there were moments that I absolutely adored. I found there was a level of repetition to the plot that started to get a bit dry through the middle too. I am still really looking forward to reading book two, and I am hoping I might feel more towards that book like I did with the Shepherd King duology but I am trying to not get my hopes up too high. Regardless, I am glad I read this book, Rachel Gillig has a way with prose that is so easy to read and beautifully atmospheric that it almost makes up for all the parts I didn't love as much.

౨ৎ | “i have disdain in me, yes. but none for you.” 

sybil delling. you are now one of my elite employees. 

(but what do you mean i have to wait like a million years for the heartbreak the ending caused me to be 

౨ৎ | “i have disdain in me, yes. but none for you.” 

— ★ 5/5

sybil delling. you are now one of my elite employees. 

(but what do you mean i have to wait like a million years for the heartbreak the ending caused me to be hopefully mended?) 

this was very very good and I need the next one like I need air. gillig’s writing is the stand out thing for me; her atmosphere and her settings are so gothic, and her characters are so good they feel deep and real. I really loved the story of this, and just like the shepherd king duology I feel like her magic system is so unique and added so much to the set and feel of the story. the world feels lived in and rich. I really loved this! can’t wait for the sequel!!

fris🐝

Engaging, great characters,  funny banter, really enjoyed this 1st book in series. 

Jenny Engel

Rachel Gillig is a very talented writer. While I did not enjoy the book as much as the Shepard King Duology, I can see beginnings of a very strong fantasy series in The Knight and the Moth. The world building is interesting and Gillig does a wonderful job of showing rather than telling. The pacing however is very fast and leaves little time for the development of the characters and their relationships with each other and the reader. 

Nicole Mills &
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

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