The Knight and The Moth: Book Club Discussion Questions

Genre: Fantasy Goodreads rating: 4.22

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig is a haunting, atmospheric, and richly imagined gothic fantasy that explores faith, prophecy, devotion, freedom, identity, love, and the stories we choose to believe. Set across the windswept kingdom of Traum, the novel combines mysterious gods, eerie visions, gargoyles, knights, and a slow-burning romance.

The novel follows Sybil Delling, a young Diviner who has spent nine years living within Aisling Cathedral, where she receives prophetic visions from six mysterious figures known as the Omens. When her fellow Diviners begin disappearing one by one, Sybil is forced beyond the safety of the cathedral to search for answers. Her unlikely companion is Rodrick "Rory" Myndacious, a heretical knight who has little faith in Sybil's visions – or the gods she has devoted her life to serving. Together, they embark on a dangerous journey that challenges everything Sybil has been taught about faith, prophecy, power, and the world beyond the cathedral.

The Knight and the Moth book club discussion questions below were created by our Chapter 25 team of dedicated readers. This atmospheric novel is perfect for readers who enjoy gothic fantasy, romantasy, prophecy, mysterious magic systems, forbidden or unlikely romance, and richly atmospheric worlds. These prompts are designed to spark conversation about faith, free will, religion, institutional control, identity, sisterhood, love, loyalty, storytelling, and the difference between what we are taught to believe and what we discover for ourselves.

If you enjoyed Rachel Gillig's gothic fantasy style, you can also explore our discussion questions for her earlier novel, One Dark Window, from the Shepherd King series.

Book Club Discussion Questions:

• What did you think of the author's writing style? How did it contribute to the gothic fantasy vibes of the novel?

  
  

• Let's talk about the world-building. What did you think about the way magic works in this world? What questions do you still have that the book didn't answer?

  
  

• Did the setting and world Rachel Gillig created feel like a character in its own right? Why or why not?

  
  

• Did you have any predictions at the start of the book? How did those predictions progress throughout the book?

  
  

• If you could wield one of the Omens' powers, which would it be and why?

  
  

• At what point did you first start to suspect that something was off with the Omens, the cathedral, and divining?

  
  

• Contrast the ceremonies held for the arrival of the king in each of the hamlets. What do they reveal about the different societies and what they value?

  
  

• Why does Sybil cling for so long to her shroud (and to a lesser extent, not wearing shoes)? Why do traditions or customs give us comfort?

  
  

• What drives each character in the novel? Whose motivations did you relate to most?

  
  

• What drew Rory and Sybil together? Did you buy into their relationship?

• How much did we love Bartholomew? What was your favourite of his many asides and mangled sayings?

  
  

• What role does destiny play in the novel? Do you think the characters truly have free will?

  
  

• How does the book examine the cost of devotion – to a cause, a god, or another person?

  
  

• The role of religion and the power of stories are both themes in this book, and the abbess states that "a kingdom always needs something to believe in." What do you think the author is trying to say about faith, control, or belief?

  
  

• The book touches on doing the "right" thing several times, with Benji arguing that "for things to go right, you must often do the wrong thing." Do you think he's ever correct?

  
  

• Do you think the sprites are evil or just mistreated? Does oppression ever justify aggression or violence?

  
  

• Were you surprised to learn about the batlike gargoyle's origins? When did you first suspect who was speaking in the prologue?

  
  

• If you could have read one scene from another character's perspective, whose would you choose?

  
  

• The twist ending: surprising or predictable?

  
  

• Will you read the second book in this duology? What do you think will happen? Have you read Rachel Gillig’s other books? How does The Knight And The Moth compare?

  
  

• Where does this book rank among your favourite fantasy romances?

  
  

• Would you recommend it to others? If so, what kind of reader would enjoy it most?

  
  

• There's a line in this book: "To tell a story is in some part to tell a lie, isn't it?" Do you agree?