The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig | A Haunting Fantasy Full of Mystery and Heart

Rachel Gillig’s The Knight and the Moth is a haunting, character-driven fantasy where faith, fear, and found family collide beneath the shadow of superstition.

I picked up The Knight and the Moth for my local Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club at Barnes & Noble, and honestly, I’m so glad I did. This was my first time reading Gillig — though yes, I own One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns thanks to my FairyLoot addiction — and it was such an engaging introduction to her writing. While the book has its pacing quirks, I genuinely loved the story, the characters, and the eerie atmosphere Gillig weaves throughout.

A Strong Start with a Slow Burn

The first quarter of the book is definitely on the slower side. It’s more about tone-setting than world-building, which I understood, but I can see how some readers might struggle with it. There’s just enough foundation to keep you intrigued, but not quite enough to fully ground you in the world yet. Once the journey begins — the hunt for omens, the diviners, and the creeping dread of superstition — the story really hits its stride.

A World That Feels Close but Needs Space

The pacing feels paradoxical: both fast and perfectly timed. The book reads like a D&D campaign — hopping from one danger to the next with barely a short rest in between. It makes for great momentum, but it also leaves the world feeling a bit small. My book club and I had a whole discussion about this — are there other kingdoms? What’s beyond this “bubble” of a land? Do other realms know about the omens and sprites? I just wanted more space for the story to breathe.

Characters That Carry the Story

What The Knight and the Moth lacks in sprawling geography, it makes up for in emotional depth. Sybil is a standout — fierce, resilient, and unwilling to let anyone take her name or her identity from her. Ma, with her Brienne-of-Tarth energy, adds warmth and strength to every scene she’s in. And Bartholomew… oh, Bartholomew. Everyone in our book club agreed: nothing bad is allowed to happen to this poor gargoyle. He’s hilarious, sweet, and somehow heartbreaking all at once.

Even Myndacius (whose name sparked plenty of jokes during our meeting) and the omens themselves — the Heartstone Weaver, the Oarsman — are fascinating. The tension builds steadily, keeping the stakes high even when the world itself feels small.

A Twist You Feel Coming — But Not Like This

The ending packs a punch. I knew Benjamin was going to betray someone — that much was clear — but the way it all went down still caught me off guard. The betrayal hits hard, cutting deeper than expected and leaving just enough emotional carnage to make you crave the sequel.

Final Thoughts

The Knight and the Moth is a dark, atmospheric fantasy with tight characterization and a story that grows stronger the deeper you go. The pacing could use more breathing room, but Gillig’s character work and tension-building more than make up for it. Solid 4 stars — and now that I know her style, I’m even more excited to dive into One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns.