Book Review: The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig
Published: September 1, 2026
Series: The Stonewater Kingdom #2
Genres: Adult // Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Open Door)
Quick Thoughts: While there were some moments in The Knave and the Moon that I enjoyed, it didn't hit as hard as The Knight and the Moth. I still loved Rachel Gillig's writing and this world, but it didn't have the humor, emotion, or stakes that made me fall in love with the first book.
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What is The Knave and the Moonabout?
Aisling Cathedral is in ruins. Rodrick Myndacious, Bartholomew, and Maude Bauer are rumored to be dead—and the king has taken Sybil Delling as his bride. To show off their union and solidify his power over Traum, Benji proposes a series of tournaments throughout the hamlets. Captive and drugged, Sybil remains determined to vanquish him as she once did the Omens, even if she destroys the kingdom’s faith—and herself—in the process.
But then a mysterious knave rises to the top of the tournament lists, a man with no name and no memory who may just be Sybil’s ticket to undoing Benji’s power. For in a land where stories repeat themselves, where a king can prove as cruel as a god, the only way to truly destroy the Stonewater Kingdom’s faith is to save it.
The Knave and the Moon Review
The Knight and the Moth was one of my favorite reads of last year, so The Knave and the Moon was on my list for most anticipated releases of 2026. This wasn't a bad book. It was a fine ending to the duology, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed.
What I liked
Starting with the things I liked. The dark gothic atmosphere and writing style Rachel Gillig is known for are there. I've always loved how her writing makes me feel like I'm transported into the world, and this book is no different. My favorite part of book one was Bartholomew and his one-liners. Even when the plot was slow, his humor kept things interesting. He had a few moments here and there, though not nearly as much as in the first book.
What I didn’t like
Other than that, I found this book a little boring, and it comes down to two main reasons.
First, things seemed way too easy throughout. The characters don't struggle or evolve as the plot progresses, and when they came across a challenge, the solution presented itself quickly. I knew from the very beginning where the story was going, and there were no wrenches thrown into the plot.
Second, the tournament trope felt unnecessary, and that's where things get repetitive because the same thing happens at each stop of the tournament in the hamlets. There were no big reveals throughout either, so there wasn't much roping me back in after the slow parts.
Romance
The romance had a happily ever after and the ending was sweet, but the rest of it was nothing spectacular. I was hoping Sybil and Rory's connection would keep developing after the first book, but it picked up where the last book left off and stayed there. It felt transactional, and I didn't feel any emotion between the two leads.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, there were still some moments I enjoyed, but it didn't hit as hard as the first one. I still loved Rachel Gillig's writing and this world, but it didn't have the humor, emotion, or stakes that made me fall in love with the first book.
Check out this review on Goodreads or Storygraph.
Happy reading!
Kim
The Knave and the Moon FAQs
Some of the answers may be spoilers if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution!
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Potential spoilers ahead ⚠️
Violence
Physical abuse
Injury details
Captivity
Drugging
Forced marriage
Memory loss
Drug use
Suicidal thoughts
Fire injuries (minor)
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Potential spoilers ahead ⚠️
Multi-POV
Tournament
Memory Loss
Gothic atmosphere/setting
Captive heroine
Slow-burn romance
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Yes, The Knave and the Moon is the final book in The Stonewater Kingdom series.
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Yes, The Knave and the Moon is 3 out of 5 🌶️ or open door. This means readers are present for spice scenes but they aren’t told in explicit details. Euphemistic language is often used to describe the scenes.
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The one spice scene in The Knave and the Moon occurs in Chapter 25.
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Yes, The Knave and the Moon is book 2 of The Knight and the Moth series. It was published on September 1, 2026.
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The Stonewater Kingdom will have two books. The first is The Knight and the Moth published in 2025. The second book and the conclusion of the series The Knave and the Moon was published in September 2026.