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boba_nbooks 's review for:
The Knight and the Moth
by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
Spice Rating: 🌶️.5 / 5
My Thoughts: Rachel Gillig is back at it again with another wonderfully mysterious and gothic novel. The Knight and the Moth is a fantasy story with a subplot of romance, and the new world Gillig brings us to is just as unique and uncanny as the The Shepherd King duology.
Our main character is a Diviner known as Six, but her real name--the name she hasn't been called by in 10 years--is Sybil Denning. She is one of the best Diviners and a favorite of the Abbess. She has always done what she is told without complaint or questions. But when her fellow Diviners start to disappear, she has no other choice but to seek help outside the cathedral from a knight named Rodrick who has no respect for Sybil's visions. Rodrick, his fellow knights, and the king take Sybil on a quest to find the Diviners that lead them to places Sybil has only dreamed of visiting. And, surprisingly, their journey leads Sybil to question everything she's been taught to believe.
At its core, The Knight and the Moth is a story about how easily we can be deceived when we're isolated and taught to only believe one thing without question. But once we have access to outside information and other points of view, it can lead us to realize how much more complicated the world is. That there are usually at least two sides to every story. Sybil learns that the Omens aren't exactly who or what the Abbess taught her to believe, and that changes everything. It leads her to doubt her upbringing and her own beliefs.
There is also a subplot of romance between Rodrick and Sybil, whose banter never ceased to amuse me. They definitely have their differences, and it's a case of true enemies to lovers, which I'm always searching for. I also thoroughly enjoyed the side characters including the knights but especially the stone gargoyle who leaves the cathedral to journey alongside Sybil in her quest. The gargoyle calls everyone "Bartholomew" and seems to have a never-ending supply of sarcastic remarks and slightly incorrect common phrases.
If you're looking for a unique fantasy novel with some romance, lots of banter, and plenty of snark, The Knight and the Moth is for you.
My Thoughts: Rachel Gillig is back at it again with another wonderfully mysterious and gothic novel. The Knight and the Moth is a fantasy story with a subplot of romance, and the new world Gillig brings us to is just as unique and uncanny as the The Shepherd King duology.
Our main character is a Diviner known as Six, but her real name--the name she hasn't been called by in 10 years--is Sybil Denning. She is one of the best Diviners and a favorite of the Abbess. She has always done what she is told without complaint or questions. But when her fellow Diviners start to disappear, she has no other choice but to seek help outside the cathedral from a knight named Rodrick who has no respect for Sybil's visions. Rodrick, his fellow knights, and the king take Sybil on a quest to find the Diviners that lead them to places Sybil has only dreamed of visiting. And, surprisingly, their journey leads Sybil to question everything she's been taught to believe.
At its core, The Knight and the Moth is a story about how easily we can be deceived when we're isolated and taught to only believe one thing without question. But once we have access to outside information and other points of view, it can lead us to realize how much more complicated the world is. That there are usually at least two sides to every story. Sybil learns that the Omens aren't exactly who or what the Abbess taught her to believe, and that changes everything. It leads her to doubt her upbringing and her own beliefs.
There is also a subplot of romance between Rodrick and Sybil, whose banter never ceased to amuse me. They definitely have their differences, and it's a case of true enemies to lovers, which I'm always searching for. I also thoroughly enjoyed the side characters including the knights but especially the stone gargoyle who leaves the cathedral to journey alongside Sybil in her quest. The gargoyle calls everyone "Bartholomew" and seems to have a never-ending supply of sarcastic remarks and slightly incorrect common phrases.
If you're looking for a unique fantasy novel with some romance, lots of banter, and plenty of snark, The Knight and the Moth is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Murder