The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig — Genre’d Podcast Episode 7
- genredpodcast
- Sep 25
- 2 min read
About the episode:
This week on Genre’d, Elyse leads us into The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig—a gothic romantasy with windswept moors, sacred artifacts, a cathedral full of secrets, and one tiny gargoyle who steals the show. Come for the spoiler-free first ~20 minutes; stay for Bartholomew 🦇, layered magic, and our debate over “how many quests is too many?”
💥 Spoiler warning: First ~20 minutes are spoiler-free; full spoilers after ~20:00 (including magic system details and late-book reveals)
What we cover in this episode:
Tropes & vibes: enemies→lovers, slow burn, he falls first, found/chosen family, “chosen-one” quest energy
Bartholomew appreciation: comedic MVP with actual plot utility (’90s Gargoyles + Hunchback shout)
The quest discourse: when “epic” becomes “too questy,” and why we still had fun
Pop-culture detours: Taylor Swift “Mirrorball” vibes, Minority Report echoes, Robin Hood: Men in Tights chaos
Guest segment: Erica joins We Have Some Things To Say (audiobooks, Bourbon & Lies, the NJ-287 spicy-scene incident 😳)
Why listen?
If you’re curious about gothic romantasy with found family and a light-spice romance—or you want a spoiler-free on-ramp before reading—this episode blends craft talk, pop-culture riffs, and a lovable gargoyle with our trademark sisterly chaos.
Mentions & shoutouts:
Guest: Erica (commuter-to-romance-reader pipeline via audiobooks)
Books/series: Bourbon & Lies (Victoria Wilder), The Shepherd King duology (Gillig)
Pop culture: ’90s Gargoyles, Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, Taylor Swift “Mirrorball”, Minority Report, Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Recs for new romance readers (from Erica segment): Liz Tomforde’s Windy City (sports), Elsie Silver (cowboy), The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (historical), Scarlett St. Clair (myth retellings)
Our ratings:
Katy: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — “Fun, but a little too questy; Bartholomew gets all the stars.”
Elyse: ⭐⭐⭐⭐¼ — “Inventive magic, great banter, and a gargoyle I’d die for.”
Join the conversation:
Team “more vibes, fewer quests” or “give me the epic journey”? And is Bartholomew your 2025 character of the year? Drop thoughts, theories, and fave lines below.
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Fast facts: The Knight and the Moth
Is it part of a series? Reading order?
Book 1 of a planned duology; start here.
What tropes are in it?
Enemies→lovers, slow burn, he-falls-first, found/chosen family, quest/“chosen one,” secret identity, gothic atmosphere.
Spice level (0–5 chilis)?
1.5/5: light, tasteful scenes; romance is a strong B-plot.
If I loved it, what should I read next?
The Bridge Kingdom (political romance), One Dark Window (moody gothic vibes), Windy City (sports romance) if you want a lighter detour.
Audiobook notes?
Samantha Hydeson narrates; the worldbuilding reads smoothly in audio, though artifact/quest tracking may be easier on the page.
Loved this book!