Series Review: The Stonewater Kingdom by Rachel Gillig

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Synopsis for The Knight and the Moth (from Goodreads):

Sybil Delling has spent nine years dreaming of having no dreams at all. Like the other foundling girls who traded a decade of service for a home in the great cathedral, Sybil is a Diviner. In her dreams she receives visions from six unearthly figures known as Omens. From them, she can predict terrible things before they occur, and lords and common folk alike travel across the kingdom of Traum’s windswept moors to learn their futures by her dreams.

Just as she and her sister Diviners near the end of their service, a mysterious knight arrives at the cathedral. Rude, heretical, and devilishly handsome, the knight Rodrick has no respect for Sybil’s visions. But when Sybil’s fellow Diviners begin to vanish one by one, she has no choice but to seek his help in finding them. For the world outside the cathedral’s cloister is wrought with peril. Only the gods have the answers she is seeking, and as much as she’d rather avoid Rodrick’s dark eyes and sharp tongue, only a heretic can defeat a god.

SERIESous’ Top Picks: Must Read Author
Author: Rachel Gillig
Series: The Stonewater Kingdom
# of Books: 2 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Gothic, Romance
Heat Rating: Warm
Point of View: First Person, Single (#1), Alternating (#2)
Publication Dates: May 2025 – September 2026
Source & Format: Public Library–Audiobook

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I had just finished Gillig’s other series, The Shepherd King, and knew that I had to add her to my must read list for her unique gothic worlds and stories. Reading gothic novels reminds me so much of the fantasy novels I read in my teens, so I was eager for more! So I put myself on the long holds list for this series – and timed it just right to read the finale as it was published.

The Concept / The World:

As I said above, I enjoy gothic novels. I love the dark and eerie magic that is present. And in a romantasy-trend world where everyone is writing about shape-shifting creatures or immortal fae, Rachel Gillig’s approach to steep her stories in old magic and creatures is so refreshing to me. I never feel like I’m reading a regurgitation of the same story and tropes.

I will admit that some of the finer details of this world were lost to me as I chose to listen to the audiobook and therefore lacked the ability to go back and double-check explanations. But one of Gillig’s great talents is her ability to grow worlds as you read so you are never overwhelmed with facts. Her worlds are lush and well planned.

The Plot:

The Knight and the Moth (#1) feels more adventure based – which is not my favourite genre to read . Yet I still found myself drawn into the world and bonding with the characters. I feel like the pacing slowed in the middle but it picked up at the end and left me endlessly curious to see what would happen in the sequel!

The Knave and the Moon (#2) completely shifts the vibe to be more about the drama and fallout from the first book. I found the pacing was faster and as a result, more engaging to me as the reader. I would say I enjoyed this a lot more than the first book: I liked that I couldn’t figure out the ending or know what was going to happen next.

The Characters:

I really liked all the characters – even some of the ones I shouldn’t have! Everyone was well-developed and well executed. No actions ever felt out of place because I had a firm grip on who the characters were.

The Romance:

The romance here really grew on me! I thought it was sweet and well executed. They have great chemistry from the start and I enjoyed the slow burn of true feelings growing as they adventure. I also really like the Gillig doesn’t write a copious amount of smut scenes in her novels; she strikes a great balance in using them to develop the romance and plot but never distract from either.

My Audiobook Experience:

The audiobook production is great! It’s an easy listen. I think for myself, with the complexity of the world I might have benefited from the ability to turn back a few pages to review world explanations.

Series Rating: 3.5/5

The Knight and the Moth 3/5 | The Knave and the Moon 3.5/5

While this series didn’t blow me away, I certainly enjoyed it! It helped cement in my mind that Rachel Gillig is a must read author for me going forward!

Read if You Like: gothic romance, magic
Avoid if You: want erotica