5 ⭐️

Got an ARC of the audiobook and I’m still emotionally recovering… Rachel Gillig writes like she’s casting spells—gorgeous, haunting, and just a little bit painful (in the best way)!! The vibes? Immaculate.. The romance? Unhinged and devastating… The prose? So good I threw my phone. (A few times) No spoilers in this review I might update after the book comes out, but if you like gothic fantasy, slow-burn yearniIng, and books that feel like being haunted by your own heart—this one’s for you.

emotional damage 10/10

🎵tomorrow waits by Klergy, Mindy jones
🎶 no rest for the wicked by lykke li

This brand-new fantasy improves on an already impressive formula for dark fantasy and takes Gillig's writing to the next level. An utterly bewitching Gothic ronantasy where the two protagonists begin as enemies and slowly come to understand one another. The vibes are vibing you guys, so if you've loved One Dark Window and Twi twisted crowns, look no further.

Yes. Yes, yes, yes. This book is fantastic. I loved it so, so, so much. There’s literally nothing more I can say except it was amazing.

This book is so utterly perfect, I cannot even begin to laud it.
Rachel Gillig has outdone herself. The atmospheric, misty vibes of this novel are so exact, so transportive, you can't help but be swept away. The slow burn romance between Sybill and Rory is full of yearning and tension, and so satisfactory. The narrator also had the perfect voice and tone for this book. All factors adding up to one perfect story.

My first Rachel Gillig book and it certainly did not disappoint!

I ate this book up from beginning to end. I was hooked by the first sentence and I was in it. I normally dislike fantasy romances because they often don’t read as fantasy and lead towards modernization, but The Knight and the Moth does not!

This book is atmospheric and gothic, with the writing being the highlight for me. Gillig’s writing is sharp, whimsical and vivid.

The romance is another highlight! I loved Sybil and Rory, and I can’t wait to read more because that cliffhanger broke my heart.

I listened to this book via audiobook, and I found the audiobook to be a part as to why this was an enjoyable reading experience. The narrator did an extraordinary job!

Like almost every other person on the planet (at least it seems to me) I adored Rachel Gillig's duology and was so excited for the opportunity to read her newest work, The Knight and the Moth. She picks right back up where she left off, delivering a concise, exciting story with easy to follow world building and an original magic system. Clever, funny, and perfectly paced, The Knight and the Moth was so terrific that I am devastated I'll have to wait for the next installment.

The audio production was fantastic. I loved her other work on audio so I figured this one would be a good fit as well but I think this is even better produced. The narration is spot on and very compelling.

4.5 Stars Rounded Down

Call me a fool for not double-checking, but I was genuinely hoping this would be a standalone. So after enduring a rather slow start only to realize at 86% that there were too many unresolved threads, I had to round down.

THAT BEING SAID:

The Knight and the Moth is my first Rachel Gillig book, and while I'm not immediately running to read her One Dark Window duology I can safely say I'm a fan now. This book had the lush, gothic fantasy that Gillig can practically trademark, a cast that I fell in love with, and some truly unique fantasy elements that drew me in.

The plot and journey itself isn't terribly innovative: Six, our protagonist, goes on a journey beyond her physical and metaphorical sheltered upbringing to look for her fellow Diviners, who mysteriously disappeared. Along the way she discovers plenty about the world, herself, and the role she has been playing for the past ten years. She falls in love, gets a training montage, and of course experiences betrayal and grief. Most of it was fairly predictable, though certain aspects were pleasant surprises.

I feel like Gillig could have made this a standalone with some plot changes and an extra hundred pages, but hey, get your publishing bag Queen 👑 I just hope the next book justifies being an entire sequel. Bonus shout out to the narrator Samantha Hydeson for her wonderful voice work! Her Bartholomew was impeccable.

I couldn't put this book down! I practically listened to it in one go, that's how immersed in the plot I was. I can't wait for the next book.

This one isn't for me. The lushness of the writing takes away any sense of urgency in the story, and our characters fall flat in comparison.

Gillig is a skilled writer, but somehow the more detail she shoves in the more vague the entire thing feels. There are readers who will love this book, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to those who love this kind of atmospheric setting.

I have been DYING to read this upcoming release from Rachel Gillig, and actually got denied for the digital copy (womp womp) so when the audio version got posted, I requested even though audio isn't my preferred genre. It's giving desperate and I accept that 😌 I really enjoyed Samantha Hydeson, a new-to-me narrator! Narrators can very much make or break the listening experience, so I was pleased that the way that Samantha delineated between characters was enjoyable and didn't feel over the top.

The story itself was good! I think with duologies especially, both pieces are super necessary to judge the story fairly. The pacing at times felt a little bit like okay, where are we going here? Eventually it all came together (!!!!!!!) and all of the pieces made sense, and I finished being super invested in getting the next part of the story.

I do think this is a book that for me, personally, I would've benefitted from reading it pretty much straight through or at least without interspersing other books – it was hard to dive back into this world fully after being out of it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC!
5⭐️
Rachel Gillig delivers another atmospheric triumph with this fresh new gothic romantasy. Perfect for fans of her Shepherd King duology, this book blends eerie magic, slow-burn romance, and a tightly plotted mystery in a richly imagined world.

We follow Sybil, a diviner with no memory of her past, forced into magical service at a cathedral where she’s drowned daily to access her visions. When a skeptical new king’s advisor arrives seeking answers, Sybil is drawn into a thrilling quest across the kingdom. The sisterhood between the diviners is touching, and the characters—especially Rory, Maude, and my favourite character (who stole the show) the gargoyle—bring heart, humour, and emotional depth to the story.

The banter sparkles, the worldbuilding is immersive, and the magic system is as mysterious as it is compelling. With divine beings, cursed artifacts, and political intrigue, this is the kind of book that hooks you from page one and doesn’t let go.

Though there are a few small info-dumpy moments and slightly abrupt transitions, the overall experience is breathtaking. A stellar pick for readers who love gothic fantasy with strong characters, rich lore, and slow-burn tension. I’m already counting down the days to the sequel.

This book had absolutely beautiful world building, but unfortunately some parts were dragging and pacing was a little slow.

The Knight and the Moth, by Rachel Gillig, is a mysterious and wonderous story that had me hooked right from the start. I love how unique the concept of the story is, from the mystical powers of the spring water, to the true nature of the Omens. This book was beautifully written, and I loved how the characters we portrayed, especially the Gargoyle. Samantha Hydeson did a wonderful job narrating this book, I really liked how she portrayed and gave life to all of the characters. Overall, the production of this book was expertly done, and I honestly couldn't stop listening! I'm very excited for book two!!

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.