The Knight and the Moth (The Stonewater Kingdom, 1)

Unique fantasy world/universe.

Captivating story with a compelling group of people trying to figure out their place in the world. The plot was entertaining and the world building was well executed. It was slow to start but picked up and ended with an unexpected twist. Can’t wait to read what happens next!

Anticipated this book too much & it ended in disappointment.

Some things I did like

Phenomenal as always

I sincerely loved this read. It continuously kept me on my toes and desperate to keep reading late into the night (and now yearning for book 2 to be out already.) And it has me bewildered by the amounts of mixed reviews, but I digress. Everyone has their own tastes. The storyline was constantly developing throughout that I did not feel like there was much slow rolling, maybe when Sybil and gargoyle ran away from the trio after the battle with the Harried Scribe... if that? Rachel Gillig did a magnificent job in my opinion on the world building, especially the variety of creatures (sprites). Are there some questionable aspects throughout? Sure. How Sybil/Six came to be so good at fighting so quickly is a bit of farfetched since she only lived in the cathedral halls her whole life. Did I question how quickly Rory went from being a hard ass/tough guy to on his knees devoted to Sybil/Six? Absolutely, but I also think it's because she was everything he didn't believe in and she did not hold back. She was literally a physical symbol, her torture and reality on why the Omens should be taken down. Were there a few predictable factors? Kinda and I think that depends on how closely you pay attention. Like lets be real, we all knew Sybil would get with Rory. Totally okay with, 110% support it. I had a feeling that the gargoyle had much more depth to him then what was originally leading on. Rory had to come from piss poor background hence his distaste for the Omens and what not. Especially, Sybil's eyes. More specifically after visiting the Oarsman, I thought either her eyes are the exact same as his or she has no freaking eyes at all (no in between, in my head there was no other options). Things I LOVED: the slow build in Rory and Sybil's relationship, the development of the gargoyle (and his witty comments), the birth of the diviners (I did not see that one coming), the Heartsore Weaver and Sybil's will to find her fellow diviner's and the truth. In the Heartsore Weaver part, I absolutely loved her will, her recognition and her own condemnation. Though the moth was used to represents the abbess in the sense of death/bad omens, I really do believe it represents Sybil much more. A moth for Sybil is the transformation and her rebirth. It is her adaptability and her desires for enlightenment - a higher truth. I cannot wait for book 2 and see where it takes us.