The Knight and the Moth is the first book in Rachel Gillig's new Stonewater Kingdom series. Set in the kingdom of Stonewater, six girls are offered a life at the Aisling Cathedral. Upon waking in Aisling for the first time, the girls are told that they are foundlings and have visited the sacred pool where they have become Diviners.

 

For the next ten years, the girls dedicate their lives to the Aisling Cathedral, dreaming dreams for both the wealthy and the poor, falling into nightmares trying to divine the will of the gods of the land. They are not paid and no longer have names -- just referred to as numbers. They must also constantly wear a shroud over their eyes: never truly looking at anyone, allowing anyone to know them, or truly know themselves.

 

The current six are nearing the end of their ten years and enjoy making plans of how they will live outside of Aisling and away from the close gaze of the Abyss who controls their lives. One day, the new king arrives needing a Diviner’s vision. Six, the main character of our story, dreams for King Castor and his army. While the vision is not pleasant, King Castor is kind to the Diviners and gives them the opportunity to mingle with him and his knights before heading to another city. At the end of the evening, Six bests a knight named Rodrick Myndacious and promises to divine for him. This divination is done without the support of the Abyss, and Six cannot interpret what the vision means.

 

Shortly after the King’s departure, five of the Diviners disappeared: one each night, right out of their shared bedroom, even though it was locked tight and guarded by the Cathedral's living gargoyles. Six is the only one left and makes her escape with Myndacious, who has powers of his own. Followed by a bat-like gargoyle, who insists on calling everyone Bartholomew, will Six find the lost Diviners? Will she find herself?

 

The Knight And the Moth is a strange book at first, but it’s full of interesting thoughts, sassy characters, and great banter. Patrons who love to read fantasy or watch M. Night Shyamalan movies should give Rachel Gillig’s latest book, The Knight and the Moth, a try.

I picked up The Hummingbirds' Gift because I’ve taken an interest in birds of all kinds over the last several years, and hummingbirds are no exception. They appear tiny and fragile; however, watching them maneuver through the air with their vibrant feathers and dizzying speed, one realizes that hummingbirds are among the most agile creatures on Earth. They can also be quite aggressive and ruthless when protecting their food source!

 

The author, Sy Montgomery, is known for her insightful and straightforward nature writing, and I was drawn to the promise of a brief yet meaningful story that blends science, emotion, and the wonders of the natural world. Quick reads are perfect for long, hot summer afternoons, and this book delivers all these things in just under 85 pages. There are also resources listed in the back for those who are passionate about hummingbirds.

 

Montgomery tells the true story of two orphaned baby hummingbirds, Maya and Zuni, being cared for by a dedicated wildlife rehabilitator named Brenda Sherburn. Readers get a detailed look inside the painstaking process of rescuing and raising baby hummingbirds, which require feeding every twenty minutes and weigh less than a dime. She shares the birds’ journey to survival but also explores their resilience and mystery. Did you know that they are the only birds that can hover in place for minutes at a time and can even fly upside down and backward?!

 

What I enjoyed most about this book is the way it honors both the birds and the humans who help them. It fascinates me that there are people who believe that the lives of tiny creatures matter enough to pause their own world for weeks at a time until the babies grow strong enough to be released into the wild. I came away learning more about hummingbirds, such as the fact that their mothers build nests using spider webs, allowing them to stretch as the babies grow. I also walked away with a renewed appreciation for the quiet, tireless work of wildlife rehabilitators.

 

This book is perfect for fans of memoir-style animal stories or anyone looking for a quick, uplifting read. The Hummingbirds' Gift is a beautiful reminder of the miracles that can happen when empathy and dedication converge.