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⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4/5
I went into the The Knave and the Moon audiobook expecting another cozy little fantasy sequel.
I did not expect to lose an entire Saturday to it.
This is the second book in Rachel Gillig's Stonewater Kingdom series, and it picks up the fallout from a shattered cathedral, a broken faith, and a queen who is basically a hostage in her own crown.
If you liked the gothic, slow-burn mood of the first book, this one leans even further into it.
Listen to it if: you love gothic romantasy with a mysterious love interest and a heroine who refuses to fully break.
Skip it if: you haven't read book one yet, or you want fast-paced action over atmosphere.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | The Knave and the Moon |
| Author | Rachel Gillig |
| Narrator(s) (audiobook) | Samantha Hydeson, Rupert Channing |
| Series | The Stonewater Kingdom, Book 2 (sequel to The Knight and the Moth) |
| Genre | Fantasy Romance |
| Subgenre | Gothic Romantasy |
| Audiobook length | 12 hours 18 minutes |
| First published | September 1, 2026 |
| Publisher | Orbit / Hachette Audio |
Aisling Cathedral is in ruins.
The people who once held this world together — Rodrick, Bartholomew, Maude — are rumored dead.
And Sybil Delling, the woman who once stood against the Omens, is now the king's captive bride.
Benji, the king, wants a show. So he throws a series of public tournaments across the land, partly to flex his power, partly to keep Sybil drugged and compliant while he does it.
Except Sybil isn't actually compliant.
She's planning, even half-drugged, even watched.
Then a knave with no name and no memory starts climbing the tournament ranks, and Sybil realizes he might be exactly the wild card she needs.
That's the setup. It's moody, it's political, and it's got just enough mystery in "who even is this guy" to keep you listening past your stop.
Sybil is not a passive heroine sitting around waiting to be rescued.
Even trapped, drugged, and married off against her will, she's still calculating her next move. That's what makes her likable — she's tired, but she's not done.
The knave is the more interesting wildcard here, mostly because we genuinely don't know who he is either. No name. No memory. Just skill in the ring and something unreadable underneath it.
Writing a love interest with amnesia is a gamble — it can feel gimmicky fast — but paired with a heroine as sharp as Sybil, it works as a slow reveal instead of a cheap twist.
Their scenes together lean on tension more than declarations, which fits the tone of the book. Nobody's handing out love confessions in a burning cathedral world.
The biggest shift from book one is stakes. Sybil isn't fighting from a position of relative freedom anymore — she's fighting from inside a cage the king built specifically for her.
That claustrophobia comes through clearly, and it gives the book a heavier, more desperate energy than the first one had.
Gillig also keeps leaning into faith and myth as a plot engine, not just set dressing, which is honestly one of the more original things about this series.
Now the honest part: if you go in without having read The Knight and the Moth, you will be lost. This is not a jump-in-anywhere book. Character histories, political alliances, and the "Omens" mythology all assume you already did the homework.
It's also a slower burn than some readers want from a "tournament" setup. If you're expecting constant action because of the tournament framing, temper that expectation a little.
This one's a dual narration, with Samantha Hydeson and Rupert Channing.
Dual narration works especially well for a book like this, where you've got a heroine hiding her real plans and a love interest hiding his real identity — having two distinct voices keeps that separation clean in your head, instead of you having to mentally sort out who's thinking what.
I found the runtime manageable — a little over 12 hours, which is enough to settle into the world without it dragging.
The gothic, tense atmosphere of the writing translates well to audio — this is a book that benefits from being read to you in a lower, moodier voice rather than skimmed on a page.
Good fit if you:
Not a great fit if you:
This is a solid, moody sequel that raises the stakes without losing what made the first book work.
It's not flawless — the entry barrier for new readers is real, and the pacing won't be for everyone — but if you're already invested in Sybil's story, this is a worthwhile next chapter.
If you've got an audiobook credit sitting around, or your platform is running an introductory offer, this is a good one to spend it on.
You've got a few realistic options here, and none of them require paying full price upfront.
Most major audiobook platforms — think Audible, Audiobook.com, Kobo, and similar services — run some kind of free trial or introductory credit for new members. That's usually enough to cover one full audiobook, including this one at just over 12 hours.
The catch: these offers change often, and they can depend on your country or which platform you're signing up with, so it's worth checking the current terms on the platform's page before you commit.
If you'd rather skip trials altogether, check whether your local library gives you access through an app like Libby or Hoopla. A lot of libraries carry new fantasy releases like this one, and it costs nothing beyond your library card.
Either way, it's worth checking your library first — it's the most reliably free route, trial offers or not.
How can I listen to The Knave and the Moon audiobook free?
See the section above — depending on your location and platform, a free trial or introductory credit may cover it, or you can check your local library via Libby or Hoopla.
Who narrates The Knave and the Moon audiobook?
It's narrated by Samantha Hydeson and Rupert Channing.
How long is The Knave and the Moon audiobook?
The unabridged audiobook runs 12 hours 18 minutes.
Is The Knave and the Moon a standalone or part of a series?
It's Book 2 in The Stonewater Kingdom series, following The Knight and the Moth.
Do I need to read the first book before this one?
Yes. This one picks up directly from the events of The Knight and the Moth, and you'll be lost without that context.
