This one is being marketed as a romantasy, but in my opinion, that’s a bit misleading.

Yes, there is some romance, but it’s not the heart of the story. If you’re picking this up expecting slow-burn tension or swoon-worthy moments—you might be disappointed.

What this book is, however, is a gothic fantasy with fairytale vibes. The writing is strong, the world is intriguing, and it’s clearly well-developed. It just didn’t quite land for me personally—partly because I went in with the wrong expectations, and partly because I wasn’t in the mood for this kind of story.

I didn’t feel especially connected to the characters or the plot, so I’m not sure I’ll continue the series. But I do think there’s an audience for this.

If you enjoyed books like The Witch’s Heart or anything by Jennifer Saint, this might be right up your alley.

What a great romantasy book! I don’t think I have much bad to say about this at all, other than some of the dialogue felt anachronistic to the setting (minimal, but something that bothers me)!

I thought this had such good worldbuilding and romance, and I felt neither took the backseat in the overarching plot. I loved the gothic setting, and the characters were so well-rounded and fleshed out. I need more gargoyle content now.

I’m not sure how I’m going to wait for book 2!

Thank you for an advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

✨ 6 STARS? HA! I’M GIVING IT 7 BECAUSE EVEN THE DEAD CAN’T RESIST THE POWER OF FALLING IN LOVE WITH A BOOK ✨

Alright, gather ’round, creatures of the night. I’m not crying, you’re crying — but honestly, I’m legit weeping because this book is exactly what my fantasy-starved soul needed. Like a dark, velvet-wrapped gust of fresh air through the dusty halls of my reading life.. Imagine full goth glam, dipped in moonlight, wrapped in midnight velvet, and then cursed with pure magical WTF energy. I spent half the book playing detective with zero clues and 100% obsession. Spoiler alert: still lost in the dark, still begging for more.

Meet Sybil — a diviner who spends half her life drowning herself in magic water. Seriously, is this a bath ritual or a desperate plea to the abyss? She rocks translucent veils like she’s the ghost queen of the underworld runway. Mood: Untouchable. Untamed. Undead level iconic.

Then there’s Rory — the skeptic knight who’s basically “I’ll trample your heart, kiss you into a coma, and summon demons for fun” incarnate. Their banter? I snorted coffee like it was a potion gone wrong. Swooning? I’m practically a love-struck banshee. Chemistry? Electric enough to raise the dead.

Add a broody king darker than my soul at 3 AM (and trust me, that’s a void), Maude — the fierce big-sister knight we all want to abduct and keep in our haunted manors — plus a bat-like gargoyle sidekick who calls everyone “Bartholomew” (officially my new familiar), and you get a chaotic, sass-infused coven hunting magic, missing diviners, and utter mayhem.

Worldbuilding? Dark, lush, and thick as the fog rolling over a cursed graveyard — basically like wrapping yourself in velvet shadows and never wanting the dawn. Pacing? Tighter than the coffin lid on a full moon night (no regrets). Audiobook? Straight-up witchcraft. The narrator’s voice trapped me in Traum, and honestly, I’m not escaping anytime soon.

The author? Cosmic-level sorcery with a hotline to the shadow realm. This is the rare, glittering gothic fantasy gem I never knew I craved but now can’t live without.

Sure, a few info dumps made me go “Wait, hold your necromancy…” and some transitions skipped like a ghost’s heartbeat — but honestly, who cares when the vibe is THIS spellbinding? Some twists were a bit obvious, but they still stabbed my feels like a silver dagger through the heart.

If you want gothic fantasy soaked in sass, atmosphere, laughs, and characters you’d gladly hide in your crypt forever — THIS is your next obsession. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m summoning book two with every ounce of my dark magic because Traum got me under its spell.

Sybil Delling can remember her name but she can't tell anyone she remembers her name. As a diviner, Sybil's life was erased and her only memory of her life before is her name. Her purpose now is as a servant to the Abbess and the Crown by divining the future for royals. When the king arrives with a small group of knights, including the handsome yet aggravating Rodrick, Sybil's life will be forever changed. She joins in their quest around the realm where she learns that things are not all what they were led to believe.

Rachel Gillig does it again! She weaves a completely original story and it's a joy not to know what's going to happen next! Samantha Hydeson does a fantastic job narrating the book too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Knight and the Moth is the second Rachel Gillig book I’ve read, and I think it’s time to admit her writing just isn’t for me. I know her work gets a lot of praise for its lyrical style and dark romantic fantasy vibes, but I find it hard to connect with her stories. The prose feels overwrought, the characters feel flat or oddly motivated, and the romance doesn’t grab me—it leans too much into the moody, dramatic insta-love territory that I find frustrating.

This book, like One Dark Window, left me feeling more confused than intrigued. The world-building is dense but not engaging, and the emotional stakes don’t land. I kept reading, hoping it would click at some point, but it never did.

If you already love Gillig’s style, this might work better for you. But if you’re someone who needs tight plotting, believable character arcs, and emotional payoff that feels earned, you might find yourself disappointed like I was—again.

I received an advance copy of the audio book for review. I LOVED One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns, so I was excited to get another book by Rachel Gillig. This one did not disappoint. It’s the start of a new series and I’m looking forward to what she does with it. In the meantime, I hope this is released in hard cover and has some fancy sprayed edges for us!

I LOVED this. It was one of my favorite books I've read in a longtime. The premise is so interesting and so well done. This was everything I wanted it to be and more tbh. I found myself sitting in my car or taking longer to do stuff so I could listen for just a few more minutes. I really wanted to have a book copy of this as well so I could read when I wasn't listening. The main characters are fully realized, complete characters and a pleasure to read about. I'm upset this is over honestly and can't wait for more.

Beautifully written story with more humor than I expected. The audiobook narrator does a gorgeous job that kept me very engaged in the story.

This book! Somehow ever better than One Dark Window, which I didn’t think that was possible.

The plot was really interesting. I really enjoyed how it all unfolded. Diviners and omens. The world was really fascinating. The atmosphere felt rich.

The gargoyle stole the show. 10/10. No notes. I love him.

I was a little ambivalent about One Dark Window but The Knight and the Moth captured me from the first moment. Strange, gothic-flavoured and introspective, this is a mystery, an unconventional love story and a meditation on losing your religion all at once. Six is a seer - essentially one of six maidens taken in as foundlings by the Abbess and trained to endure the trials of prophesy, where the waters of the sacred spring impart the knowledge of the Six Omens. This is similar to the set up with the Oracles of Delphi or the Vestal Virgins and you're left feeling that these girls are being exploited just as those poor young women were right from the start. Then comes the boy king with his retinue, which includes the very unknightly knight Roderick Mendacious. Everything Six knows is overturned and then her sisters start to go missing.... This was completely absorbing, dark and beautiful. Highly recommend.

4.25 stars!!
I love Rachel Gillig! She writes such unique fantasy worlds with characters you can’t help but to root for. This is a refreshing romantasy that focuses more on the plot than shoving a bunch of tropes into the story. The pacing was good and the romance unfolded naturally.

The narrator really brought this to life. I highly recommend the audio!

I really enjoyed this! The world created is a very interesting place, with magic and divination as a key tenet of society. Six is a great protagonist, strong and naive in equal measure and the relationship between her and her fellow diviners was well drawn. I also loved the bat gargoyle. The banter between Six and Rory was fun and the camaraderie between him and the other knights was fun. Overall, I had a great time with this and will eagerly pick up the sequel.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

INCREDIBLE NARRATOR AND STORY!!! A PHENOMENAL high fantasy book, but also incredibly romantic? The build up of tension??? I was quite taken away with how much romance we got!! Again, Rachel has created such an innovative and unique magic system. Detailed world building while being incredibly digestible. THE BANTER? PLS A++++++! The CAST of characters was chefs kiss incredible, but THE GARGOYLE STOLE THE SHOW!
I'M SEATED FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!

One of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I was not disappointed. Did I like it more the One Dark Window, not exactly but this is only the first of two books so I want to see how this all plays out in full before deciding which duology I prefer.

I liked the concept around the plot and the characters were all interesting, I enjoyed following Six and her relationship with the other characters. Rory, the love interest was also a true knight, and I found his romance with Six to be a slow burn that didn’t take over the rest of the plot. One of the things I like about Rachel Gillig is spice isn’t a main factor of the story, the focus is more on the characters and their connections to one another. It’s also nice to see a fantasy where an author isn’t allergic to female friendship. Maude was a great friend to Six as well as the rest of the Diviners.

Samantha Hydeson does a fantastic job narrating, especially the gargoyle. I felt like she told the fantastical story in an engaging way that have me on the edge till the end.

Though I will say one of the best parts was the Gargoyle, I loved him every step of the way. I’m really grateful I got a chance to read it before release and I can’t wait for the next book.

Much like everyone else, Bartholomew, this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I am pleased to announce that it absolutely lived up the the hype. Gillig has created a world so dark and ominous, it often felt like I was playing Elden Ring. Eerie and unsettling, but also incredibly captivating.

Samantha Hydeson brought so much life to this novel. Her voice work for our sweet gargoyle was full of whimsy and fun while her voice for the Abbess was cold as stone. She did a wonderful job with this novel.

"Swords and armor are nothing to stone."

I haven’t been this affected by a book in a long time. The Knight and the Moth is everything I’ve been searching for in the Romantasy genre—and more. I’ve struggled to find my footing in this space, often feeling left out of the fun that others seem to have with popular series (I couldn’t get into Fourth Wing, despite my best efforts). But Rachel Gillig changed that for me.

She’s crafted the perfect balance of story, magic, and romance, all wrapped in prose that flows beautifully. Her writing is skillful and lyrical without ever being overwrought—a rare gift in Romantasy writing. And the characters? I’m in love. The found family dynamic was everything, the action kept me on edge, and the slow-burn, will-they-won’t-they romance made my heart ache in the best way.

That ending left me in pieces—in the best, most desperate-for-more way. I almost regret reading this book early because now the wait for the sequel feels unbearable.

As for the audiobook, Samantha Hydeson’s narration was masterful. Her range of voices brought every character to life, but her portrayals of Sybil and the Gargoyle were especially outstanding. She added such depth and nuance to the listening experience.

In short, I’m in awe. This book has carved out a permanent place in my heart, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Rachel Gillig, Samantha Hydeson, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful and atmospheric read! The character development was on par with my expectations of Rachel Gillig after her first duology. I care far more about a gargoyle than I thought was possible!
The romance is a much smaller part of the story than I expected, but it worked well. The world building was great and the pacing was perfect for the dark, gothic setting.
4 stars for the story because it was a bit more predictable than I like. I loved the story but it leaned more on tropes than I expected (especially the ending, I figured a particular character would turn out to be evil nearly immediately upon meeting them). I'm eagerly awaiting the next book!

The audio was perfect! The narrator was amazing and really brought the book to life. I almost exclusively read audiobooks these days and this one was top tier.

Rachel Gillig's writing gets better with each book.

The Knight and the Moth did not let me down. It's the gothic fantasy we know and love, but somehow a completely different vibe. This one leans more knights (ovbiously) and Abbey ruins. But it also feels SLIGHTLY cozier because there is more comedic relief. Not enough that we lose the moody gothic vibe, but just the perfect touch. The gargoyle, who calls everyone Bartholomew, it's the side kick I didn't know I wanted until she gave it to me. God, and the banter between the FMC and the MMC is 👌.

The twist at the end was a tad predictable, but I still loved it all the same. I cannot wait for the second book.

I listened to the audiobook at 2x. The narrator was fantastic.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the DARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"You learned how to dream. And how to drown"

This felt very mythical and mysterious. I did not immediately feel the haunting vibe, but closer to the end, it felt very ere, and I was hanging on every word.

"Moth- insect made holy by mastering death"
Learning about the Diviners and how the world seemed entranced with them, the mystery of the sprites, and trying to figure out how the boy-king fit into it all. Many questions still, but this was a really good first book. I can see the next book being phenomenal.

Sybil and Rory were reluctant alies and I am really excited to learn more about them. HOWEVER! The gargoyle sick-kick, Bartholomew, is my favorite character by far. He felt like Mushu in Mulan just along for the ride but also there to help and protect. "Swords and armour are nothing to stone".

There are times when this felt pretty dark, especially toward the end. The "foundlings", how scared and secluded one through six were, and all the drownings. That little boy 😭 I expected some, but not the extent of abuse and trauma endured.

This was my first Rachel Gillig book and I have to say...I am in absolute AWE of this woman's talent. Her writing is as lush and wondrous as the fantasy world she crafts, and every sentence feels like it serves a purpose. There's an eeriness in her prose that is woven seamlessly into the story to enhance the gothic vibes, and it makes you frequently hold your breath in anticipation. A true wordsmith, and a new favourite voice in the romantasy genre!
As for the story itself, I'm OBSESSED. I was initially worried it was going to be another "sheltered girl becomes courageous after a big strong man shows her the world", but luckily it's so much more complex than that. From the very beginning I was intrigued by the haunting concept of the Diviners, and I loved how despite being perceived as these untouchable, timid people, they are actually bold, nuanced characters who crave human experiences and will sneak out for the sake of fun. Sybil is a fiery protagonist whose wit and bravery make the story incredibly compelling to view through her lens. The intricacies around the world's lore were so fun to delve into, and the journey across Traum with Sybil and her new friends was riveting, as well as watching her belief system crumble and reconstruct itself as she uncovers the dark truths of the cathedral. Everything from the cunning Omens to the wild landscapes had me absolutely hooked. Especially, of course, the ROMANCE!! Rory is skyrocketing to the top of my book boyfriend list, and his banter-filled dynamic with Sybil is everything I love in a romantasy (who knew fitting armour could be so hot?? me next??) From their intimate quiet moments to the heated arguments, I was on the edge of my seat every time they were on the page together.
Honourable mention to my favourite character Bartholomew, who healed my heart with his innocence and humour and then completely obliterated it with his backstory. I would die for that gargoyle. He deserves all the joy and love in the world.
I was so perfectly happy with this book until that ending. Is this the kind of torment the Diviners felt when they drowned? Book 2 is not a want, it's a NEED! I will be screaming about this devastatingly addictive read until the sequel releases.
I don't know if I could have fallen in love with this book as much as I did without the captivating narration of Samantha Hydeson. Her gentle tone was an anchor in the gothic whimsy of the story, and made it so much more immersive. Something about her steady narration made it feel as though she'd stepped out of the cathedral with the Diviners - if gossamer shrouds had a sound, it would be Samantha's voice! She perfectly captured Sybil's essence and I can't wait to hear more from her as a narrator.
10000/5 stars. I adored this book.