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adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As a fan of Gillig's Shepherd King duology, I went into this book with high hopes and high expectations and they were absolutely met. Gillig is a master of crafting unique and interesting magic systems that create a compelling premise but are not overwhelming to the reader. Similarly, the limited cast of characters are complex and intriguing - there are breadcrumbs of character development that Gillig leaves for the reader along the way that you can pick up on if you're following closely, but even if you miss them, you're going to have a good time. As always, she imbues her characters with a good dose of humor and wit, which keeps the dialogue crisp and fun to follow.
This book is definitely beginner friendly if you're new to the fantasy genre, and though it's being categorized as a romantasy, I'd more say it's fantasy with a romance subplot. The romance storyline is fun and believable, and there are some good spicy scenes, but not too many as to overwhelm the reader or detract from the main adventure/quest storyline.
Despite there being a fairly clear "this is the path we must take and here is the quest we must undergo" the book stayed interesting and shied away from the trap of getting too formulaic. The pacing was just right - a less careful author could have easily ballooned this another 100-200 pages but it kept up a solid clip of "find, action, quest, travel" repeat that kept us on track and understanding where we were in the storyline.
The ending had a few good reveals that again, didn't come as huge surprises if you'd been paying attention, but I don't mind when an author leads their reader in the right direction. I guessed one of the plot twists, but this isn't a dealbreaker for me. Gillig is making gothic, dark fantasy/romantasy accessible and it's a joy and a delight to read either way. The cliffhanger makes me wish I had book two in hand - I would have jumped right in - and I can hardly stand the wait until it lands in bookstores.
This book is definitely beginner friendly if you're new to the fantasy genre, and though it's being categorized as a romantasy, I'd more say it's fantasy with a romance subplot. The romance storyline is fun and believable, and there are some good spicy scenes, but not too many as to overwhelm the reader or detract from the main adventure/quest storyline.
Despite there being a fairly clear "this is the path we must take and here is the quest we must undergo" the book stayed interesting and shied away from the trap of getting too formulaic. The pacing was just right - a less careful author could have easily ballooned this another 100-200 pages but it kept up a solid clip of "find, action, quest, travel" repeat that kept us on track and understanding where we were in the storyline.
The ending had a few good reveals that again, didn't come as huge surprises if you'd been paying attention, but I don't mind when an author leads their reader in the right direction. I guessed one of the plot twists, but this isn't a dealbreaker for me. Gillig is making gothic, dark fantasy/romantasy accessible and it's a joy and a delight to read either way. The cliffhanger makes me wish I had book two in hand - I would have jumped right in - and I can hardly stand the wait until it lands in bookstores.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Vomit, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another beautiful book from one of my favourite fantasy authors. A blend of impacts of the childhood & exploitate deep attachments issues on the 2 main characters, a fantastic gargoyle, knights, a found family and a young King, trying to find his way to own his country. Looking forward to the 2nd book, to see if it has a true love outcome.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ohhhhh I can feel the book hangover already happening đŸ˜
This was my most anticipated book of the year, and it easily became my favorite of the year, too. Everything about this book was a absolute masterpiece. From navigating lost faith, to the extreme slow burn, to the found family, and the insane plot twist at the end that had me holding my hand over my mouth, was done beautifully. Oh, and that cliffhangerđŸ˜ There were a couple plot twists that I could guess, but it was done in such a wonderful way that it didn't pull me out of the story.
Laughs were had (literally laughed out loud SO many times), tears were shed, and my heart absolutely broke at the end. All the characters were wonderful, but Bartholomew was hysterical! Oh to be a gargoyleđŸ–¤đŸ–¤đŸ–¤
I can't wait to see where Sibyl's story goes next!
This was my most anticipated book of the year, and it easily became my favorite of the year, too. Everything about this book was a absolute masterpiece. From navigating lost faith, to the extreme slow burn, to the found family, and the insane plot twist at the end that had me holding my hand over my mouth, was done beautifully. Oh, and that cliffhangerđŸ˜ There were a couple plot twists that I could guess, but it was done in such a wonderful way that it didn't pull me out of the story.
Laughs were had (literally laughed out loud SO many times), tears were shed, and my heart absolutely broke at the end. All the characters were wonderful, but Bartholomew was hysterical! Oh to be a gargoyleđŸ–¤đŸ–¤đŸ–¤
I can't wait to see where Sibyl's story goes next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I am so sad that i have to wait however long for the next book, this was an absolute masterpiece of stunning writing. I felt transported into the world and felt so much of everything throughout. 100000000 stars <3.
The ending whilst i had suspicions throughout was written in such a way that it was still a slap around the face and put me through relief, hope, comfort, sadness, utter despair, rage, pain, heartbreak all in the span of like 1 minute.
You are in for an utterly ignoble ride, Bartholomew.
You are in for an utterly ignoble ride, Bartholomew.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
Moderate: Gore, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence, Blood, Vomit
A lot of detail around drowning via force etc. Hence the numerous 'abuse' under graphic even though it is not the 'average' drowning there is still a lot of detail and focus around it.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I devoured this book.
Gothic fairytale indeed!
That cliffhanger will have me counting down the days until the second book in this Duology is complete!
Gothic fairytale indeed!
That cliffhanger will have me counting down the days until the second book in this Duology is complete!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A dark (in the gothic sense), medieval fantasy romance; absolutely sign me UP. I went into this absolutely in the dark which I think is the best way to go into this novel. Right off the bat, the imagery of the cathedral and diviners pulled me right in while the enemies to lovers relationship between the bad knight Rory and the diviner Six made me stay. Thank you Orbit for the ARC because this novel could knock Fourth Wing and ACOTAR right off the booktok pedestal in it’s sleep!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Body horror, Drug use, Kidnapping, Car accident
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Religious bigotry
Minor: Gore
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Stunning, thought provoking, and deeply impactful, The Knight and The Moth is brilliance personified. It masterfully delves into the very roots of the stories we tell, both for ourselves and for others, leaving readers with much to ponder long after the final page.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, Blood