Two Halves, One Brian

Book Stats

• Series: Book 1 of The Stonewater Kingdom
• Publication Date: 05/20/25
• Format: ebook
• Chapters: 31
• Pages: 396
• Narrator POV: Told in 1st person from Six/ Sybil Delling’s POV

Book Rating

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Summary & Review

Rachel Gillig is a wonderful author. After reading her Shepherd King duology, I knew to expect phenomenal writing and interesting characters. Gillig did not disappoint! 🖤

In The Knight and the Moth, we immediately meet Six. She’s one of the six diviners living at Aisling Cathedral, where wealthy individuals go to pay for the diviners to dream and read omens for good/bad portent. These diviners are not maidens – they can drink and sleep around, as long as they don’t leave Aisling and always keep themselves veiled. Additionally, Aisling is protected by gargoyles – all different kinds of animal-like stone creatures.

We learn pretty quickly that Six used to be Sybil Delling but once brought to Aisling she had cut ties with her previous name and life, as do all the diviners. Six has no memory of her past, aside from her name.

There are five Omens, all with their own magical items – a coin, an inkwell, an oar, a chime, and a loom stone. While dreaming, diviners see these various objects and are able to determine if the objects are showing favorable or ill-fated signs.

We learn that a new king was recently crowned and he comes to Aisling so that Six can divine for him. He receives 5 ill omens, which is a horrible sign, but he doesn’t seem concerned. We also meet Rory – Rodrick Myndacious – one of the king’s knights who is unlikable and mocks Six and her gifts. She later divines for him, but only sees a moth, the sixth and mysterious symbol shown in Aisling’s Cathedral. But she has no idea what it means.

At Aisling, the diviners start disappearing. Four was the first, then Two, Three, Five, and One. Once Six is the only diviner left, she becomes determined to figure out what happened to her friends so she can save them.

We’re taken on quite the adventure and learn the true history of the Omens and their magic. We get to know the king, Benji, and several of his knights, including Rory and Maude. Six is also accompanied by the batlike gargoyle who calls everyone Bartholomew. 😂 He’s quite the entertaining character.

The group has to endure and pass several difficult tests in order to secure magical objects that will ultimately help them reach their end goal. All the while, the group gets closer and more familiar. They form friendships and there’s even a bit of romance.

At the end of the book, there is a huge betrayal, which was well done and while I had guessed something was a little off with that character, I hadn’t been expected such a large betrayal from them. After that ending, I can’t wait for book 2, “The Knave and the Moon”, to become available on Libby!