Review of The Knave and the Moon (Stonewater Kingdom #2) by Rachel Gillig

The Bossy Bookworm

36 minutes ago

2 min read

In book two of Gillig's great gothic fantasy series, main characters go through satisfying arcs and development, a great love story persists, gargoyle Bartholomew yet again steals the show, and a struggle between political power and faith continues.

In The Knight and the Moth, the first title in Gillig's Stonewater Kingdom series, a shadowy, eerie tone gave way to heartwarming, sometimes funny moments as an unlikely pack of allies set out on a journey of discovery, complete with battles, evolving loyalties, and an increasingly high-stakes quest. The romantic aspect was less essential than the fantasy elements, which I appreciated.

In book two, key characters Rodrick Myndacious, Bartholomew, and Maude Bauer have evaded what felt like certain death to return to the kingdom, where Sybil has been forced to marry the faulted, weak king Benji. At the first of a series of tournaments meant to illustrate Benji's control, a mysterious knight becomes champion. He will turn out to be pivotal to Sybil's resistance--and to the path forward for the kingdom.

Gillig continues the underlying, mystic and dark drownings, divinations, and cryptic powers of Sybil--and now of others in her orbit. Maude is presented with a well-deserved, respected role that would do her lineage proud. Bartholomew is as irresistible a character as ever, and he shows uncanny wisdom and self-sacrifice alongside his very funny, odd manner.

“Do not let the light go out of your eyes."

A tear fell down my cheek. "There's no light in stone, Bartholomew."

"That is true." He peered out the window and nodded at the moon above. "And yet.”

The Knave and Sybil cannot deny their draw to each other, and each is wonderfully relentless and formidable in their own right. The level of saucy attraction and true emotional connection between them is fantastic, feels legitimate, and is not overly belabored or drawn out. I loved it.

The story explores the conflicts between power and faith, and the influence of the appearance or reality of each. Greed threatens to overwhelm belief; authority threatens pure hearts; but those who try to assert their command often fall to unassuming, guileless, true characters.

Gillig allows full character development for the story's key figures, including a poignant and powerful arc for wonderful Bartholomew.

I wasn't as captivated by the adventure as I was in book two, and I wasn't always certain of the journey's goals--nor did the characters always seem to be--but the gothic feel, haunting tone of the novel and the hearkening back to the depth of book one carried this novel for me.

I listened to The Knave and the Moon as an audiobook courtesy of my public library and Libby.