★★★★☆/ 5 stars

The Knight and the Mother by Rachel Gillig is a book I was SO excited for and it did not disappoint. The world-building came fast, the character arcs unfolded smoothly, and it delivered that enemies-to-lovers slow burn with a twisty reveal at the end. What more could you want??

There’s a touch of spice for those who might shy away from it, but it’s tastefully done. It doesn’t overshadow the plot— it serves it. It hit the perfect balance of tension and tenderness.

Spoilers from here on out!

Bartholomew stole the show for me. He’s hilarious, grounding, and his quiet wisdom hit me harder than I expected. Total heart-stealer.

Rory was such a fun MMC—broody, morally gray, and the perfect match for our FMC. He did and said all the right things. That “if you know, you know” kind of guy.

Plot-wise, I wasn’t blown away by twists, but I didn’t need to be. I saw the omens turning to stone coming, and guessed early that the gargoyles were the diviners. I also suspected Bartholomew was the boy from the tale, and that the boy king wasn’t as sweet as he seemed. The predictability didn’t take away from the magic. It was beautifully crafted and absolutely immersive.

Gillig’s writing has such a lyrical tone. Her prose feels almost like folklore—rich and rhythmic—and that really resonated with me.

Quotes I loved:

“If you value your friend when he fights your battles for you—when he is rogue and ruthless—you must value him when he is gentle too. Otherwise, you do not value him at all.”
“It is easier wearing ourselves to someone else’s cause than to sit with who we are without one.”