Bartholomew is getting his own book. Rachel Gillig and Orbit just revealed The Sprite and the Gargoyle, a standalone novella set in the world of the Stonewater Kingdom, and our favorite talking gargoyle is front and center.
If you read my Knight and the Moth guide, you already know I said I would be shouting about Bartholomew until further notice. Consider this further notice. I cannot tell you how many people I immediately messaged this news before immediately grabbing my laptop to write this post.
Here is everything we know so far, including the release date, the cover, and what to read first.
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The Sprite and the Gargoyle Release Date
The Sprite and the Gargoyle comes out in March 2027 from Orbit. The UK edition is listed for March 16, 2027, in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.
Preorders are starting to appear now. đź“– Preorder on Amazon
What Is The Sprite and the Gargoyle About?
Spoiler warning: the official description mentions where a few characters are living after The Knave and the Moon. Nothing about how they got there, but skip to the next section if you have not finished the duology and want to go in completely blind.
The novella is set one hundred years after the Stonewater Kingdom duology. Sybil and Rory are living peacefully in the Stonewater Kingdom with Bartholomew, until a young king named August discovers a new sprite wandering the kingdom with powers Orbit describes as "ungodly."
That discovery sends August and the sprite on a quest across Traum, and Bartholomew has to become a squire again to go with them. August is stubborn, academic, and devoted to reason, and is committed to keeping the balance between humans and sprites. Bartholomew, with a few centuries of knowledge to share, ends up teaching the young king along the way.
A gargoyle schooling a very serious young ruler on a road trip quest? I could not have asked for a better setup.
The Cover and Illustrations
Orbit revealed the cover on October 9, 2026. It was designed by Lisa Marie Pompilio, with illustration by Mike Heath of Magnus Creative.
The best detail? The novella will include original illustrations by Rachel Gillig herself. That alone makes this one I want in hardcover.
[FILL: embed or screenshot of the cover]
Do You Need to Read the Stonewater Kingdom First?
Orbit is calling it a standalone novella, but it takes place a century after the duology and the setup assumes you know who Sybil, Rory, and Bartholomew are. I would read the duology first. Bartholomew's story hits a lot harder when you know where he came from.
The reading order is simple:
- The Knight and the Moth (2025)
- The Knave and the Moon (September 2026)
- The Sprite and the Gargoyle (March 2027)
If it has been a while since book one, my Knight and the Moth summary and character guide covers everything you need, including Bartholomew's backstory. The Knave and the Moon came out last month, and you can find it with the rest of the new books in my September 2026 releases.
Who Is Bartholomew?
If you have not met him yet, Bartholomew is the gargoyle at Aisling Cathedral who attaches himself to Sybil in The Knight and the Moth. He is ancient, wildly knowledgeable, a little dramatic, and the funniest character in the duology. He also carries one of the saddest histories in the series, which I will not spoil here.
He is the reason so many readers fell for these books, so it makes perfect sense that he is the one getting a story of his own.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does The Sprite and the Gargoyle come out?
The Sprite and the Gargoyle by Rachel Gillig is set for release in March 2027 from Orbit. The UK edition is listed for March 16, 2027.
Is The Sprite and the Gargoyle a standalone?
Orbit describes it as a standalone novella, but it is set one hundred years after the Stonewater Kingdom duology and features Bartholomew, Sybil, and Rory, so reading The Knight and the Moth and The Knave and the Moon first is recommended.
What is The Sprite and the Gargoyle about?
A young king named August discovers a new sprite with immense powers, which sends them on a quest across Traum. Bartholomew the gargoyle becomes a squire again to join them and ends up educating the young king.
Is The Sprite and the Gargoyle part of the Stonewater Kingdom series?
It is set in the same world, one hundred years after the Stonewater Kingdom duology of The Knight and the Moth and The Knave and the Moon.
Does The Sprite and the Gargoyle have illustrations?
Yes. According to Orbit, the novella includes original illustrations by Rachel Gillig.
Are you as excited about a Bartholomew book as I am? Tell me in the comments.
