top of page
Search

Mini Book Review: The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

This mini book review of one of the book club picks from 2025 was written by Richmond local Stephanie Hathaway and shared here with her permission. You can check out her original IG review here.


A woman half clothed in armor on the left a and a blue gauzy gown on the right. Her long blonde hair covers her eyes. Moths fly around. Text reads The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig.
The Knight and the Moth on the shelf at local bookstore ILYSM Books.
Deep within the walls of the kingdom of Traum, where the windswept moors whisper the secrets of the land. And the darkness of haunted abbeys shun the foolish, a prophecy stirs....


I had high expectations going into this book because Rachel Gillig has been a top tier author for me since the Shepherd King duology. Spoiler alert: I'm OBSESSED!


The first installment in the Stonewater Kingdom series continues to have the beautiful prose (and book cover!) that Gillig is becoming known for. She doesn't just build a world. She gives it life, breath, and purpose. She doesn't just give you a slow burn. She gives you a slow, smoldering devotion forged against fate itself. To love here is to defy what has been written. Her worldbuilding is especially rich and layered in this book, and the story of Traum seems to exist well beyond the pages of the story we’re reading. 


This novel is an enthralling tale of faith, lies, and loyalty, and what happens when it all shatters. But underneath its softly spun prose, lush imagery, and romantic vibes, there is also a spine of steel, and it’s that dichotomy (also reflected on the novel’s cover) that makes this book such an interesting and entertaining read. 

Fanart Feature

Check out this fanart from artist Fios on Instagram (included here with permission).


Sybil, wearing a green off the shoulder dress and a blindfold sleeps by a gargoyle statue in a cathedral with stained glass windows. Soft light creates a serene mood.

Headshot of Stephanie Hathaway, a young white woman with shoulder length light brown hair with dark blonde highlights smiling gently at the camera.

About the Reviewer

Stephanie is a working mom to 4 crazy boys. She from Upstate, NY and moved to VA in 2005. She and her husband Jay also share a book account and try to squeeze in as many pages as they can between carpooling kids, work, and chasing their toddler! Check out Stephanie's social media, including her personal bookstagram, Wine a Little, and her shared page with her husband Jay, cleverly titled Hathaway Ever After for more book reviews, wrap ups, and wholesome content.


Comments

bottom of page