Rachel Gillig’s The Knave and the Moon is out now. Orbit published the hardcover on September 1, 2026, as the second and final novel in The Stonewater Kingdom duology that began with The Knight and the Moth. This guide covers where things stand today: US and UK release dates, every edition we could verify (including the FairyLoot and Barnes & Noble exclusives), the audiobook, series order, who’s who, and what is and isn’t known about romance and content warnings.
The Knave and the Moon at a glance
| Author | Rachel Gillig |
| Publisher | Orbit |
| US publication date | September 1, 2026 |
| UK publication date | 1 September 2026 (hardback) |
| Series | The Stonewater Kingdom, Book 2 (final novel of the duology) |
| Length | 368 pages (hardcover) |
| US hardcover ISBN-13 | 9780316601849 |
| US list prices | Hardcover $30, ebook $14.99, audiobook $18.99 |
| Audiobook | Unabridged; read by Samantha Hydeson and Rupert Channing |
| Paperback | None announced as of October 21, 2026 |
| Special editions | FairyLoot, Barnes & Noble and Indigo (Canada) exclusives |
| Read Book 1 first? | Yes. It continues directly from The Knight and the Moth |
The Knave and the Moon Release Date
US release
The US publication date is September 1, 2026, according to Orbit’s listing on Hachette Book Group. The hardcover, ebook and unabridged audiobook all share that date. Hachette describes the book as an instant #1 New York Times bestseller.
UK release
The UK hardback, published through Orbit at Little, Brown Book Group, also came out on 1 September 2026. UK retailers such as Waterstones list it at £25 RRP and 368 pages.
Is it still a preorder?
No. Some publisher pages still show preorder wording left over from before launch, but the book has been on sale since September 1. Stock on retailer exclusives varies: as of October 21, Barnes & Noble’s exclusive edition and Indigo’s Canadian exclusive both showed as out of stock online.
What Is The Knave and the Moon About?
The story opens after Aisling Cathedral has fallen. Rodrick Myndacious, Bartholomew and Maude Bauer are rumored dead, and the king, Benji, has taken Sybil Delling as his bride. To display their union and tighten his hold on Traum, he stages a series of tournaments across the hamlets. Sybil is captive and drugged but still intent on bringing him down, as she once did with the Omens, even if that costs the kingdom its faith and costs her too.
Then a stranger with no name and no memory begins climbing the tournament lists. He may be her best chance of breaking Benji’s power. Orbit’s copy frames the central question as a paradox: the surest way to destroy the Stonewater Kingdom’s faith may be to save it.
Setting, themes and tropes
The book is adult fantasy that Hachette files under dark fantasy, and the publisher calls Gillig the “queen of gothic romantasy.” The official synopsis points to tournaments, captivity, memory loss and a crisis of faith. A reviewer’s tag list adds slow-burn romance, a gothic setting and multiple points of view .Because this is a direct sequel, even the synopsis assumes you know what happened in Book 1.
The Knave and the Moon Editions
Edition comparison
| Edition | Price | Verified features | Status (Oct. 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| US standard hardcover (Orbit) | $30 ($40 CAD) | 368 pages; ISBN 9780316601849; no special features listed | On sale |
| Barnes & Noble Exclusive | $25 (B&N shows $30 list) | Exclusive cover with foil treatment; stenciled edges with a four-color design; designed endpapers echoing the edge patterns; foil stamp on the hardcover case; ISBN 9780316608329 | Out of stock online |
| Barnes & Noble Signed Exclusive | $30 | Listed as a format on the B&N page; features not detailed there | Confirm on B&N before buying |
| FairyLoot Exclusive | £25 / $34 plus shipping | See the list below | Announced May 15, 2026; expected to ship around November/December; current stock not verified |
| Indigo Exclusive (Canada) | C$28 sale price (regular C$40) | Labeled exclusive; specific features not stated; ISBN 9780316613651 | Out of stock online |
| UK hardback | £25 RRP | 368 pages | On sale |
| Ebook | $14.99 | n/a | On sale |
| Unabridged audiobook | $18.99 | Two narrators | On sale |
Is there a paperback?
Not yet announced. We found no paperback edition or release date from Orbit, Hachette, or the retailers checked. Some marketplace listings tag the hardcover ISBN as “paperback,” but the publisher lists 368-page hardcover, ebook and audiobook only. If a paperback is announced, this section will be updated.
Sprayed edges and special design features
The standard hardcover listing does not mention decorated edges. The collector editions do, under different names:
- FairyLoot says its edition has digitally sprayed edges on all three edges, plus a redesigned cover with foil, a reversible dust jacket with a text-colorway variation of the trade cover, full-color foil artwork on the hardcover, character artwork on the endpapers (different front and back, with foil), and a digital signature. It is made with the author and Orbit UK, is not part of FairyLoot’s monthly subscriptions, and is priced at £25 or $34 plus shipping.
- Barnes & Noble calls its decorated edges “stenciled,” with a four-color design, and pairs them with a foil exclusive cover, matching designed endpapers and a foil stamp on the case.
Where to Buy The Knave and the Moon
Hachette’s page lists Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org, Hudson Booksellers, Target and Walmart for the print book, and Apple, Audible, Kobo, Libro.fm and several other stores for the audiobook.
Target
Target carries the standard hardcover, per Hachette’s retailer list. We have not found any announcement of a Target-exclusive design. If a listing advertises special features, check that the product description names them before ordering.
Barnes & Noble
B&N is the verified source for the foil-and-stenciled-edges exclusive and also lists a Signed Exclusive. Stock changes quickly, so check the live page.
Ebook and audiobook
The ebook is $14.99. The unabridged audiobook ($18.99 on Hachette’s store) is published by Hachette Audio and read by Samantha Hydeson and Rupert Channing. A release guide citing Kobo gives the runtime as about 12 hours 18 minutes.
What Readers and Critics Are Saying
The case for it. The publisher’s page carries praise from author Ava Reid, who calls the book a fitting finish to the duology. That is promotional, coming from a fellow author, so weigh it accordingly. ScreenRant, quoted on the same page, says Gillig’s gothic, whimsical, eerie atmosphere is still the book’s biggest strength, but that the characters are what hit hardest.
The case against. An independent reviewer at Burner Kindle gave it 3 out of 5. She still loved Gillig’s prose and world, and enjoyed Bartholomew’s humor in the moments it appears. But she found less humor, emotion and tension than in The Knight and the Moth, felt problems were solved too easily, and thought the tournament structure grew repetitive. She also felt the central romance stayed where Book 1 left it rather than deepening.
So who is it for? Based on these reactions only: readers who come mainly for Gillig’s moody, atmospheric writing and want to see the story finished will likely find plenty to like. Readers hoping for a sequel that raises the stakes or the romance beyond Book 1 may want to temper expectations, or read a few more reviews first. Because both sources touch on plot and romance, we’ve kept their points general to avoid spoilers.
Related Post:
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The Stonewater Kingdom Reading Order
- The Knight and the Moth (US, May 20, 2025)
- The Knave and the Moon (September 1, 2026): the final novel of the duology, per Orbit
- The Sprite and the Gargoyle (March 16, 2027): a separate standalone novella set one hundred years after the duology, 144 pages, listed at $22 in hardcover
Should you read The Knight and the Moth first?
Yes. The Knave and the Moon picks up directly after Book 1 and builds on its characters, kingdom and faith system. The novella is billed as standalone, but its own description refers back to this book, so read the duology first.
The Knave and the Moon Characters
This table uses only what the official synopsis states. Anything more is spoiler territory.
| Name | Role per the official synopsis |
|---|---|
| Sybil Delling | Central figure; captive and drugged, married to the king, determined to defeat him |
| Benji | The king; holds power over Traum and stages the tournaments |
| The nameless knave | A man with no name and no memory who rises through the tournament lists |
| Rodrick Myndacious, Bartholomew, Maude Bauer | Returning from Book 1; the synopsis says they are rumored dead |
| The Omens | What Sybil previously vanquished, per the synopsis |
| Aisling Cathedral | In ruins when the story begins |
Romance, Spice and Content Warnings
Romance. The publisher’s copy leans on “deeper longings,” and a reviewer’s tags describe slow-burn romance. Beyond that, romantic details are spoilers and are not covered here.
Spice. There is no publisher-supplied heat rating. One reviewer rates it 3 out of 5 on her own scale and describes a single intimate scene ; a separate release guide says no independently verified, book-specific rating exists yet . We are not publishing a chapter number until it can be confirmed from a second source or the finished book.
Content warnings. The official synopsis points to captivity, drugging, a forced marriage and memory loss, and tournaments imply violence. One reviewer’s longer list adds physical abuse, injury, drug use, suicidal thoughts and minor fire injuries; that list is unconfirmed. If specific content matters to you, check a second source or a trusted reader.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does The Knave and the Moon come out?
It already has. US publication was September 1, 2026, and the UK hardback was published on 1 September 2026.
Is The Knave and the Moon Book 2?
Yes. It is the second book in The Stonewater Kingdom, following The Knight and the Moth.
Is it the final book?
It is the final novel in the duology, per Orbit. A standalone novella, The Sprite and the Gargoyle, is scheduled for March 16, 2027.
Is it a duology?
Yes. Orbit calls it the final installment in The Stonewater Kingdom duology.
What is the book about?
Sybil Delling is held captive by the king after Aisling Cathedral falls, and a nameless, memoryless knave rising through his tournaments may be her way to undo his power.
Will there be a paperback?
None has been announced. Check Hachette or Orbit for updates.
Is there a FairyLoot edition?
Yes. It was announced on May 15, 2026 at £25 or $34 plus shipping and is expected to ship around November/December. Current availability is not verified.
Does the book have sprayed edges?
The standard hardcover listing does not mention them. FairyLoot’s exclusive has digitally sprayed edges, and Barnes & Noble’s exclusive has stenciled four-color edges.
Is there an audiobook?
Yes. It is unabridged and read by Samantha Hydeson and Rupert Channing (Hachette Audio, $18.99).
Where can I buy it?
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org, Hudson Booksellers, Target and Walmart for print; Apple, Audible, Kobo, Libro.fm and others for audio. For exclusives, go to the Barnes & Noble, FairyLoot or Indigo pages above.
Hi, I’m Nisbah – a blogger with over 2 years of experience creating content and a fantasy enthusiast who loves exploring magical worlds, fantasy books, captivating stories, and unforgettable characters. I share book recommendations, reviews, fantasy insights, and story discussions and creating guides to help readers discover their next great adventure.
