What a fantastic beginning to a duology, and I hope that there will not be a long wait for book 2! I was not prepared to enjoy this book as much as I did, it truly has it all--romance, action, suspense-- everything I want in a romantasy.

The characters are intriguing, and the romantic tension between Rune and Gideon made the fact that they were also sworn enemies so much fun! The twist late in the book was unforeseen, and while I was not completely happy with the ending, it certainly left me anxious to read the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the digital ARC of Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli. The opinions in this review are my own.

Heartless Hunter took me totally by surprise and my just be my new favorite obsession. A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, yet its SO MUCH MORE.

I fell in love with Rune, I fell for Gideon, and I love how their story unfolds.Throw in the brother of the witch-hunter, who is in love with the witch, and a dear friend that supports Rune through all of her schemes, and this really just sucked me in. I just cannot wait until the next book because I need to know there they all go from here!

If you like The Discovery of Witches, you'll definitely love this!
5 Stars for sure!

Pub Date: 20 Feb 2024

Right out of the start gate, Heartless Hunter will grab your attention and keep you invested the whole way through, right to an ending that has you begging for more. The author has managed to start the story knee deep in action while alternating chapters between Rune and Gideons POV. The back story is trickled in so the reader has a good understanding of events that lead to current day, while causing you to emotionally connect and invest in both the hunted and the hunter. Throw in a brother and a best friend and you’ve got a great cast of characters to take you on this wild ride.
While I don’t typically find myself drawn to YA fantasy, I devoured this book in 2 sittings.and easily recommend this magical book to a wide audience.
I will be not-so patiently waiting (and first in line) for book 2 of the Crimson Moth. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions expressed are authentically my own.

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤 ℍ𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣
𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝗰𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶
The Crimson Moth - Book One
Romantic Fantasy
Teen & YA
Pub Date: February 20, 2024

Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs
The Crimson Moth saves witches from certain death. Gideon’s goal is to get rid of all the witches. The witch hunters search for those who have escaped by hiding.

The Crimson Moth hides in plain sight. When witches are captured, she finds a way to save them. Gideon is determined to find the Crimson Moth. He is a witch hunter who is ready to do whatever it takes for the Revolution.

Both are willing to fake romantic interest in each other for their cause. But…are their feelings fake?

Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs
Heartless Hunter really reeled me in. The plot reveals itself at the perfect pace, dictating a fake attraction that might turn into more.
Rune is one brave gal, pushing aside any fear to help the witch community. I love how she covers her ‘behind the scenes’ life by acting the part of a young socialite. She is fabulous at playing this part, quite the actress, if you will.
Gideon messed with my mind. Do I like him? Do I dislike him? He’s certainly conflicted and so am I.
If you like witchy stories, this is a good one. It doesn’t go into detail about witches but revolves around them.

💕Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ebook for me to read and review.

Heartless Hunters by Kristin Ciccarelli had me hooked from page one. This one kind of snuck up on me, because as interesting as the book sounded to me, it was one of those books that far exceeded what I thought to expect and ended up being one of those books I couldn’t put down, and yet didn’t want to end because I just needed more of it. More of the story, more of the world, more of the characters.

I loved the characters. The two point of view characters, Rune and Gideon, were both compelling and instant favourites that I just needed to know more about. I couldn’t decide who’s point of view I loved the most, and the author succeeded in making me want both equally, which meant when there was a shift, I was never unhappy to see the character change and became equally invested in both sides of the story and what was happening for them. Both were also useful for the opposing sides of story they each had to tell, one the witch, one the witch hunter and successfully filled in gaps on the story that would have otherwise been missed. Suffice it to say I was enthralled by both characters and loved getting the inner thoughts and feelings, as well as perspectives of each. Particularly as it helped to fill in backstory and each of their reasons for their beliefs and doing what they do to accomplish what they believe is right, though opposing.

Beyond that, let’s be real, I am a huge lover of the enemies to lovers trope. And what greater enemies than a witch hiding her identity and a witch hunter trying to seek out and purge the rest of the witches. I can’t stop coming back to how hooked I was by this book for so many reasons. There was Gideon’s past that was often hinted at but not completely explained for a good chunk of the book which I could make assumptions about but not truly know the extent of it. I wanted so desperately to dive deeper into his story and the origin of why he hated witches so much. There was the burning chemistry between Gideon and Rune as they fought to outwit one another, despite not knowing what the others true intentions were. And how valiantly they fought the idea of having real feelings for one another while pretending to court to get information out of each other. I mean, what’s worse than having real feelings for a witch when you’re a witch hunter and vice versa?

And the way the book ended has me more than ready to get my hands on the sequel. It’s going to be a brutal wait because there are so many things that need answers and so much potential for everything to go wrong for the characters. I will definitely be picking up the sequel to Heartless Hunters as soon as I possibly can.

OK OK I LOVED THIS!

* enemies to lovers
* fantasy romance
* with & witch hunter
* slow burn
* cat & mouse game

so much tension. so much angst. so much banter... so. many. emotions.

twists. turns. secrecy. I really didn't see some of it coming towards the end.. and the ENDING. gahhh I just... how long do I have to wait for book 2?!

Rating: 4.5 stars!

3.5🌟

This was a good read!! I enjoyed the magic system and the subterfuge. Reads YA - definitely a fantasy/paranormal genre. There’s some enemies to lovers going on and some very gentle fade to black.

Blood witch idea was neat and I really liked the idea of silver scaring and the design elements - the witches owned it.

Definitely a cat and mouse going on, but the relationship building feels rushed at times and I didn't feel that the characters were flushed out as well as they could have been.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, secret identities

First book in a series. I will read the second!!
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[I knew Verity was suspect the whole damn time. She definitely gave off shady vibes. Alex fell a little flat tho as a love interest, but he redeemed himself.

Heartless Hunter
A young witch is forced to hide in plain sight as she uses her socialite status to save other witches from being purged. To keep herself safe she will require more information from the Guard, and she strikes up a courtship with the young captain as her target. He soon realizes she might be important to his investigation for vigilante plaguing the city and decides to play his own courting game.

Read if you like: romantasy, witch/hunter, fake dating, a historical feel, cool magic systems, save our people vibes, lavish courtly intrigue, kinda love triangle but not really, slow burn is this real romance.

Rune’s life is a lie. Everything changed when the witches lost power and the purge began. When she came into her power, she knew she had to use her status and resources to help the remaining witches escape their country. Rune knows she’s being hunted for her secret work, but nothing will stop her not, even crossing wits with the young captain of the guard who also happens to be her best friend’s brother.
Gideon thinks almost nothing of his little brother’s vapid friend, until her ships are tied to an escape route for witches. When she strangely begins showing interest in him, he decides that it is the perfect opportunity to see what she’s really hiding behind all the smiles and lace.

Heartless Hunter is a delightfully twisty romantasy. Witch and hunter is one of my favorite enemies-to-lovers pairings, and of course he’s a straightlaced rule follower and she’s a reckless vigilante. Squee! This alone would have made me delightfully happy but we get so much more with this story. The world building around the witches and the uprising has you feeling the tension in their country without dumping a lot of information on us or trying to commit to a specific historical time period. They use blood magic and this adds another layer to the mystery and volatility. So, if you don’t like reading about blood or witch trials, maybe skip this one, because there’s a lot.

Rune and Gideon also have their own depth. They aren’t just plugged into the trope; their personal histories flavor their character building and add to their courtship rife with ulterior motives. Fake dating! Like ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ but with much, much more cloak and actual daggers. And oh, did you notice that Gideon’s little brother is Rune’s bestie? Hehehehe. The tension is delightful. I could eat it with a spoon. I’m squeeing while writing this. We are left with quite a dilemma for our couple and I have no idea what’s coming next. I am so excited to get the second part of this duology!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an electronic copy of this book for review.

Okay, I'm calling it. This is going to be the next big fantasy duology. I absolutely loved our main characters, the pacing and plot were completely on point, and the ending had me gasping. Cannot recommend this highly enough.

I want to start out by saying thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me access to an ARC of this book!
This book is *chef’s kiss*! This enemies to lovers, witch x witch hunter plot has me by the throat! It has the perfect mix of magic, intrigue and tension that kept my eyes glued to the page. This book is dual POV and both of the characters are extremely well written with complex (and tragic) backstories that really make you root for them. I finished this gem within 48 hours and I highly suggest you do the same. I need the second book immediately!

Kristen Ciccarelli nailed it. Heartless Hunter has perfect emotional tension and explores the enemies-to-lovers trope in the most magnificent way. This amazing book is perfect for fans of YA fantasy, forbidden romance, witches & magic, cat and mouse games, dual POVs, and cliffhanger endings that leave you wanting more!
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy to review.

I actually have no words. This book was everything I could have hoped for and more, and I truly have no idea how I’m meant to wait for the next one. The story was incredible, and the game of cat and mouse between witch and witch hunter had me on my toes the entire book. The plot twists gave me whiplash (in the best way), and the cliff hanger actually has me begging for more. This has easily become one of my favourite books and I can’t wait to see what Kristen has in store for book 2!

A witch hiding in plain sight, and a hunter searching for her desperately. Rune has been risking her life to save witches ever since she was forced to turn in her own Nan for witchcraft. With her closest friends, Alex and Verity, she does her best to learn and protect as many as she can.

But Gideon is determined to stop her. His search for the Crimson Moth has consumed him, and while he suspects that she and Rune may be one and the same, he has no solid proof. As he gets closer to Rune, he questions his own motives, and where the line between fiction and reality lies.

This was so good. It was emotional and exciting, and had some twists that I never expected!

(4/5 stars) The way I devoured this book in two sittings (that would have been one if I started it early enough in the day)!! The twists and turns in this book had me trying to guess how it would end, and the (enemies to lovers)^2 potential has me begging for the next book in the series to come out. I want more character development, more intrigue, more world-building, more magic, more romance, more everything in the next book!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Heartless Hunter is the first book in a new duology about a secret witch and a witch hunter. Rune is a socialite, living a life of gossip and fancy parties by day and sneaking witches off their island as the Crimson Moth by night. Gideon is a young but successful witch hunter with a tragic past and is determined to bring the Crimson Moth down. When he suspects that Rune is involved with/is the Crimson Moth he decides to court her to get close to her and she chases him back to get insider info on captured witches. Instead feelings get involved.

Everything about this set up is great. I liked the world building. The magic system was unique although at times it felt sidelined. There isn't a lot of magic use in this book but I expect that to change in the second. The good thing is the system well bounded with limitations, rules and plenty of ways things can go wrong.

Rune was a fun main character. I liked her probably more than anyone else. I thought she was tough but sometimes her characterization fell a little when she didn't come across as smart as the story wanted her to be. Gideon was well established. I didn't always like him but I understood him. Alex and Verity were okay. I had some difficulty with the side characters.

Things I didn't exactly love (or hate):
The romance, while tense and angsty, was rushed a bit. A couple more (vulnerable/cute) scenes between Gideon and Rune would have sold their connection more.

This is marketed as YA and it just doesn't feel YA. I don't know how to explain it.

Harrow??? Why was this person pushing a sexual assault survivor to sleep with someone for information. Gross, gross, gross. Did not like that character at all.

3.5 stars probably. Would read the sequel. In fact I need to know what happens next now even though this book was just published.

Heartless Hunter absolutely stole my heart, my emotions, and my awe. I could not put this book down for a second once I started. This book deserves SO much more hype because it gripped me with emotions the entire time.

Rune, our little witch. Everything she does is purely for those she loves and the cause she truly believes in. I could not help but stand behind her and fight with her. On the other side, Gideon, oh Gideon… you brute you. I love everything he stands for. He’s so conflicted, yet always sticks to his morals and I have to admire him for that.

Also.... witch and which hunter who "pretend" to date, try to play each other, but then love bests both of them. Hellllooooo.... I eat this stuff for breakfast and wanted eighteen bowls of it. Also, the last 20% of this book is a doozy. My heart was all over the place. However, Heartless Hunter was just everything. I cannot wait for book two. I need all the damage that Kristen created fixed… I hope.

Captivating from the very first page, this is a thrilling tale of seduction and suspense between a witch and witch hunter. With its richly drawn characters and pulse-pounding plot, Heartless Hunter is a must-read for anyone craving an intoxicating blend of passion and danger.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC of "Heartless Hunter" by Kristen Ciccarelli. This book is utterly addictive. Once I picked it up, I literally couldn't put it down until it was over. The greatest strength of this book lies in its compelling characters. Each one is distinct and memorable, and the dynamics between them keep you hooked. Rune herself is an incredible main character. She's clever and strong, but what truly shines is her compassionate motivation that drives her to put herself in perilous situations for others.

Of course, the romance is the primary draw for many readers (myself included), and boy, does it deliver. There's nothing quite like a dramatic slow burn, spiced up with a healthy dose of enemies-to-lovers tension. The witch/witch-hunter dynamic is always a favorite of mine (shoutout to "Serpent and Dove" for getting me hooked on this trope). The relationship between Rune and Gideon is complete with witty banter and genuine emotion that kept me turning the pages late into the night.

Overall, "Heartless Hunter" stands out among recent YA titles and delivers a powerful and addictive storyline. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone even remotely intrigued by the synopsis.

This was so much fun!! The banter was on point!! I loved the tension, the pining and the "will they won't they" moments that seemed never ending 💀 This was just overall so much fun that I just blasted right thru it.

Two years ago Rune Winters’ life was forever changed. The witch queens were overthrown, witches outlawed and Rune was forced to bear witness to her Nan’s death. She has been living a lie ever since - hiding in plain site pretending to be a shallow anti-witch society girl, while at the same time saving as many witches as she can as the Crimson Moth. After failing in a task, she is forced to get close the witch hunter himself to save everything she cares about. Can she tread the line between what’s real and what’s not?

This was a great quick read. It kept me turning the pages wondering what next thing was going to turn Rune’s plans askew. The novel does a great job of progressing the story through subtle clues and by switching perspectives between Rune and the witch hunter. The romance thread drives the story as well and provides the heart of the novel - about who we really are inside beyond the tragedies that shape us. 5 stars.

Review based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley. Thank you!