I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth: Book 1) by Kristen Ciccarelli from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/MacMillan Publishers in order to read and give an honest review.

“…filled with witches, magic, danger, darkness, and a twisting enemy to lover, to love triangle dynamic that keeps you on your toes culminating in a devastatingly brutal cliff hanger…”

Young Socialite Rune Winters is a flirty young aristocrat living in a country famous for condemning witches to death. To the eye, Rune seems like a guileless, shallow debutante, but she is also a brilliant actress who carefully harbors a secret: she is not only a witch herself, but she is also the Crimson Moth, a crusading witch who uses her magic to save other witches from the clutches of the deadly Blood Guard. The Blood Guard was established when an evil witch, Cressida, had taken over the land with her destructive magic, their mission is to execute all the witches.

As a mere child Rune herself had been forced to betray her grandmother, the woman who raised her by turning her into the brutal Blood Guard at her insistence. Rune’s powers did not surface until after her grandmother’s execution and now a young woman Rune has been searching for her grandmother’s friend Seraphine to help her understand her power. When she hears that Seraphine has been arrested and is awaiting execution Rune sets out as the crimson moth to rescue her before that happens. Upon failing to locate her and desperate for information on where she is being held, she decides to seduce the Captain of the Blood Guard, Gideon Sharpe, and older brother of Rune’s trusted confidant Alex. Gideon, repulsed by Rune’s socialite ways, suspects her of being the Crimson Moth but when more information hints he is correct he makes it his mission to seduce her in hopes of revealing the truth and for once executing the witch who has murdered his men and freed the witches who he feels should be slaughtered. The game is on both intent on seducing the other to get to the truth, a cat and mouse game like no other. As the game continues, do enemies become lovers who begin to believe the lies…or are they lies?

Set in a “Victorianesque” era the Heartless Hunter is filled with witches, magic, danger, darkness, and a twisting enemy to lover, to love triangle dynamic that keeps you on your toes culminating in a devastatingly brutal cliff hanger. With a twisty plot and perfect pacing this was a quick and enjoyable read I would highly recommend. Was it YA? I am on the fence it dealt with some dark issues, and in my opinion, it leans more to NA.

This was a great book. I loved the action and the angst! The ANGST! Witch hunter falling for the Witch, who is also his younger brothers best friend! I gasped and laughed and definitely teared up a little while reading this. I need the next one yesterday!

Sometimes a book just hits for you and this one absolutely hit for me. I feel like I devoured it with how fast I read it and how much I thought about it. The Serpent and Dove comparisons for this book are fair, it does surround a witch and witch hunter in a fake sort of real dating situation where they each have their own agenda as they slowly fall in love. I also saw the twists coming a mile away. And even with all of that, I felt so much tension and propulsive energy, I couldn't put the book down. I was fully enmeshed into this world and devastated when I finished (the sequel says 2024?? Is it a duology? Tell me more).

Rune as the witch in hiding who must play the vapid aristocrat while secretly saving witches was everything to me. Gideon as the stoic witch hunter guard who pretends to court Rune to see if she is a witch I also absolutely my type. The two of them together, as they gradually let their guards down was just magic.

The story was propulsive and filled with action as well as steamy and heart pounding scenes. I feel like I highlighted half of this book. This is capital ENEMIES to More and the chemistry was present from page one.

I just so enjoyed this fantasy (romantasy?) series beginner and I am absolutely feral for the next book.

Thank you so much Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Tale as old as time, witches and witch hunters. Rue hides her identity as a witch by day and is a vigilante at night. I enjoyed the political and social intrigue as well as the magical elements. Rune's character complexities shown through but the MMC did not grow on me. There were times where the main characters did not seem to have chemistry. Overall, I enjoyed the story but do not know if I would continue the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I had heard a lot of buzz about this one and was so excited to have a chance to review it. Heartless Hunter lived up to the expectations! Rune, a witch in her own right, is living at a time when witches are being hunted and executed. She is living as a witch secretly, even having gone so far as to turn her own grandmother in to be executed as a way to honor her family, keep up appearances, and stay alive. Her best friends, Alex and Verity, know her secrets and help her save other witches from the Bloodguard, who are tasked with ridding the New Republic of all witches. Gideon, Alex's older brother, who he has a very complicated relationship with, holds a high ranking position in the Bloodguard, Rune is determined to honor her grandmother at any cost by saving a very powerful witch who has been imprisoned, but she will have to deceive Gideon to get the information she needs without the help of Alex. Events unfold and allegiances are broken, relationships tested, and there's plenty of action throughout. This book ends on a bit of cliffhanger and that was slightly annoying since I didn't know going in that this was a series, but I will say that I will definitely be reading the next one for sure!

Rune is a witch but she can't let anyone know... she's also the Crimson Moth a vigilante saving witches awaiting persecution and a giant pain in the ass to the Blood Guard. She had 2 friends who know and aid in her endeavors. Verity who's sister's were murdered for being witches during the revolution and Alex, who's brother Gideon just so happens to be the captain of the Blood Guard.

Gideon has a suspicion that Rune might be helping the Crimson Moth and a witch herself, so he starts courting her as a way to see if she is. What he doesn't know is that Rune is courting him too for her own Intel.

Review:
My god. This was so good. I didn't want to put it down once I started it. If you're looking for a book that hooks you from the Prologue, you got it! I felt like this had a pretty unique magic system and plot for a book about witches. I really loved the character development and it was so easy to love the characters immediately. The plot twist got me. I didn't see it coming until just before it did. I loved where the story ended because I know the next book is going to be SO GOOD!

Pick this up tomorrow when it comes out! I promise it won't be a let down.

thank you @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks for the arc!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc copy of Heartless Hunter.

This book was everything I wanted in terms of romantasy. There were high stakes, the romance was full of tension and passion, a witch and a witch hunter, and a world that was enticing it was almost impossible to stop reading,

We' meet a witch, Rune, who is the elusive Crimson Moth who saves her own kind from being hunted and purged. Gideon is a witch hunter, desperate to track down the Crimson Moth and be done with her once and for all. The pair are locked in a dance around one another, utilizing each other for their own benefit. But what happens when they fall in love with the one their supposed to hate?

This book was intense, immersive, and absolutely addicting. I went into this with high expectations and left with them intact. This book was everything it was cracked up to be and worth the read a thousand times over. I cannot wait for the second book in this duology.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This book was a definite hit for me that I did not expect. Yes I don't like romance in books, but this was extraordinary. Witch and witch hunter. A romantic thriller..

This book was the easiest 5 stars I've given in awhile. I take my 5th star seriously. I loved it and cannot wait for the next one.

With heart-pounding twists and thrilling turns, Heartless Hunter is an alluring new fantasy full of duality—witch and witch hunter, love and hate, enemy or ally. From the very first page, it instantly draws readers in with a clever and cunning heroine you can’t help but root for.

On the outside, Rune Winters looks every bit an unassuming, flighty socialite with her sweet smile and undeniable charm, but Rune has a deadly secret—she’s a witch. Feared and hunted, witches are part of a bloody and violent past the new era of government wants rewritten, so Rune hides in plain sight, escaping at night to become the sought-after vigilante, The Crimson Moth, and rescues witches from their fate. When the captain of the guard has his sights set on taking down The Crimson Moth, will Rune be able to keep up her façade, or will her growing feelings for the captain put her position in jeopardy?

I absolutely devoured this book and fell hopelessly in love with this story and the incredibly written characters! The witchy, almost regency vibe instantly lured me into the story with Ciccarelli’s dark and mysterious setting and beautiful and romantic storytelling.

The enemies-to-lovers romance in this book is *shouts to the rooftops* INCREDIBLE. From the insane amount of passion, chemistry, tension, and angst (my favorite), Ciccarelli created a true enemies-to-lovers story where the lines of love and hate blend together. You believe their strong feelings of loathing and hate all while they helplessly fall for each other. Just absolute PERFECTION.

I can gush forever about this book and am literally DYING for the next one!! If you love Little Thieves, The Winner’s Curse, or Serpent & Dove, definitely keep this book in mind.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This was very intriguing and I can see it being super popular. I found the beginning to be a little slow, but once it started to pick up it was really good. It feels very YA from the writing style, but in a good way!

Witches once ruled the land, but their queens were corrupted by forbidden magic and were overthrown. Now the Blood Guard governs and is relentlessly pursuing the remaining witches and their sympathizers. Once caught, they’re executed in a procedure called purging. Gideon is a captain in the Blood Guard who absolutely hates witches and is one of the Guard’s top hunters. Rune is a member of the upper crust and is known as an informer who hates witches. She’s also secretly a witch who tries to rescue her fellow witches and smuggle them to safety. Her alias is the Crimson Moth and she’s public enemy number one.
Part fantasy, part thriller this book has it all. I enjoyed the romance part as well; two reluctant parties and their irresistible attraction to each other. The author has come up with something I hadn’t encountered before in the source of the witches power. It’s a blood-tingling good read and I am very much looking forward to finding out what happens next. 4.5 stars

What did I just read?! Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli was everything I was expecting it would be but so much more!
This was definitely one of those I didn’t want to end.
An outstanding enemies to lovers romance fantasy that is full of action, witches and phenomenal magic!
This enchanting romantasy was amazing. I was hooked from the first page. I loved everything about it. The world building is fantastic; it's got enough background information that it doesn't overload and the action was perfectly executed. 
Gripping, immersive, and absolutely masterful, HEARTLESS reels you in with the promise of beauty, and holds you tight with Ciccarelli’s grit. I couldn’t turn the pages quickly enough.

Thank You NetGalley and Wednesday Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

A witch and a witch hunter enemies-to-lovers romantasy? Yes, please! I wanted to read this book from the minute I heard the premise, and it is a wild ride. It left me stunned and so emotionally invested in the story, and I’m still thinking about THAT ENDING days after I finished the book.

The setting is dark and ominous, and there are certain parts that reminded me of the Salem Witch Trials. It is a bleak place for witches to hide, and Rune has to hide who she is or face death like her grandmother and others. The story is told from dual perspectives, so you get to understand both Rune and Gideon’s points of view. I thought this was really important to the story, and it highlighted the many layers to both of their characters.

Rune lives with a lot of guilt over the past, and though she is a popular socialite, she spends her other time trying to save witches from the clutches of the republic. Gideon adds to the ominous and bleak feel of the story, as he is a ruthless witch hunter. I didn’t expect to like him as much as I did considering his job, but once his story is told, I definitely understood his motivations.

Gideon and Rune have a slow–building, slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance, and I ate it up! Rune and Gideon sound like they make a bad pair – she’s a witch, and he’s a witch hunter. Plus, Gideon’s brother is in love with Rune. There’s so much standing in their way, yet the pull these two feel toward each other is undeniable. Their relationship is built on secrets and lies, but their chemistry and sexual tension are off the charts! There is a bit of a love triangle, which made sense for the story, though it’s not my favorite trope. I could see why Rune was torn between these two men, and my heart broke for more than one of them as their stories played out.

This is the kind of story that is very easy to get pulled into, and I found it hard to put down. It’s immersive and interesting, and I loved the characters and themes. Plus, the plot is super suspenseful! I was on the edge of my seat, worried that Gideon would figure out all of Rune’s secrets, and I was invested in their stories as well as many of the secondary characters, especially Rune’s two closest friends. With so many secrets, lies, betrayals, and more, Rune’s life is in constant jeopardy, and her heart is too. Then I got to the final chapters, and I tell you my jaw dropped. There were a few twists that completely surprised me. Talk about gasp out loud! I can’t wait to find out what happens next!!

Special thanks to Wednesday Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Wow! What a swoon-worthy enemy-to-lovers romance!

Gabriel is a witch-hunter whose number one goal is tracking down the witch known as the Crimson Moth. By day, Rune poses as the ditzy society heiress whose loyalty is unquestionable after she turned in her own grandmother for being a witch. By night, she's the Crimson Moth, saving as many witches as she can to make up for not being able to save her only family.

When Gabriel begins to suspect Rune, he invades her orbit. Rune finds herself intrigued, both by his access to the secrets she needs and for his own dark, smoldering handsomeness. As both of them begin to fall for each other, their forbidden love brinks them to the brink of disaster.

Rune and Gabriel's chemistry smolders, then burns. It contrasts with the safe, sweet love Rune experiences with Gabriel's brother, Alex, her best friend who would die to keep her secrets safe.

This book kept me flipping pages with two unforgettable storylines - the battle of the witches for their lives and freedom, and Rune's love triangle with Alex and Gabriel.

As the witches grow bolder and stage a comeback, Gabriel and Rune find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. This book ends on a cliffhanger, but I don't think those two are done with each other yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book.

10/10! I absolutely loved every single bit of this! I loved the characters, especially how both Rune and Gideon went about seducing each other for completely different reasons and having no idea they were not only going to start liking each other but that it was growing into something so much more complicated and ultimately heartwrenching. I loved Gideon's brother Aiden, and how he just accepted Rune for everything she was. I loved the magic system, and how the witches go about casting their spells. I loved reading from both Gideon's and Rune's POV, and the twists this story took had me reeling! It was suspenseful and action-packed, beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time, and left me feeling all of the feels.

And that ending OMG was explosive both literally and figuratively and I don't know what I'm going to do until the next one comes out!

A compelling start to a new fantasy series!

Our main character is named Rune, a girl who's hiding a giant, deadly secret. We also have Gideon, a boy who carries a hatred for witches. The romance between the two was angsty as hell. The stakes and tension were so high between our characters because there was so many lies and suspicion between them. It felt like a game of cat and mouse sometimes.

The world building and magical system was well written. Everything about this was so unique, I don't think I've ever read any witches like this. I also liked that we got all the world building in a way that felt natural instead of forced into the first few pages of the book.

I thought the pacing was good too. Ciccarelli gives us alternating POVs which really gives us the chance to get to know the characters. Be warned, there is a brutal cliffhanger at the end that will make you want to throw a fit.

- Slow burn
- Enemies to lovers
- Witches and witch hunters
- Forbidden romance

Synopsis: By day, Rune is a socialite, but by night, she is the infamous Crimson Moth-- a witch vigilante who protects fellow witches from "purges." She has to keep her identity as both a witch and the Crimson Moth a secret, as it would put her in grave danger. When she tries to seduce her best friend's brother, Gideon, in hopes of gaining intel on her missing friend, she begins to fall for him. The problem? He's determined to discover the Crimson Moth's true identity and kill her.

Thoughts: This was my first witch/witch hunter romantasy read, and I am obsessed. This book far exceeded my expectations and will easily be a contender of top books this year. The characters have depth, and the dynamics among them are complex, yet realistic. The secrets, the banter, the flirting, the characters... all of it is perfection. Cannot wait for book 2!

Read if you like:
-Best friend's brother
-Enemies to lovers
-Love triangle
-Witch/witch hunter
-Cat/mouse games

Read this if you like:
•best friends brother
•enemies to lovers
•love triangle
•witches

This one was SO good. I didn’t want to put this book down. The cat/mouse game of witch vs Hunter was so intriguing. Parts made me swoon. Parts made me mad. And now I’m excited for whenever book 2 will come out!

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A witch and a witch hunter? Say no more. I absolutely loved this story. The intrigue, the yearning, the plot twist- Heartless Hunter has it all. The pacing and the dual POV kept me engaged, desperately turning the pages for more. I was shattered when I read the last page and realized I now have to wait for the second book. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a magical escape.

Just another novel that will sit by wishing it was something more. Again we have the common fantasy/romance novel so much that their stories now starting to blend together. The characters feel weak, the writing is ok, the story is predictable, and the romances feels like I have read it before. I did like the twists, deceptions, and the game but overall its just another one I will forget soon.