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

Can we just take a moment to admire this stunning cover cause I'm obsessed 😍
This book pulled me in from the first chapter.
I'm really happy I picked this to be my first book of the year. I love the world building in this book and the magic system is so unique. I will definitely recommend this book. Such an incredible read, I'm obsessed.

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.

I am on the floor.

Forbidden love. Fake courting. Enemies to lovers. A witch and a witch hunter who catch the feels. Say no more. I had some very high hopes for this book since the moment I first saw it.

It did not disappoint!! I was captivated from the beginning with the fast pace and intriguing magic system. I loved the dual POV and getting to see the push and pull between Gideon and Rune from both of their perspectives. I loved the mystery aspect. As the reader, we know things that Gideon doesn't, which is thrilling, but there is also another mystery that we don't know and get to watch the discovery unfold.

There is a love triangle that was agonizing, but also not overly played into or too frustrating to be enjoyable. I was swooning over Gideon the whole time, giggling and kicking my feet at the things he says and does for Rune. But then there's the scheming, the lies, the uncertainty and questioning. UGH. So much tension!!!

AND THE ENDING. O.M.G. I need book 2 immediately, I am so unwell with that cliffhanger.

If there's anything I would change about this book, it would definitely be to get to see more of Rune in action as the Crimson Moth. There is one scene where we get a peek into that part of her and I wish we would have gotten more instead of just hearing her thoughts and planning about the Crimson Moth's missions.

I'm so glad this book was what I was hoping it would be. I cried multiple times. I need more of them right now!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm so excited to continue this series and other work from the author!

This book ticked off all of the boxes for things that I like in a good book.
- Dual POV - The two main characters, Gideon and Rune have very different motivations going into their fake courtship (another fun trope) and I was very pleased with how their thoughts were executed through unique perspectives.
- Slow burn - there is nothing quick about the pacing of the story or the romance in this book and I loved every second of it.
- The magic system in this book is intriguing and well developed. I liked the concept that the scars produced during casting form beautiful tattoo-like images. Rune’s alternative way of casting in order to avoid detection is ingenious. There are also multiple levels of spells with different requirements to the blood sacrifice. Also, the magic seems to be exclusive to women in this world.
- The betrayals and twists in this book were pretty epic. I had some suspicions and things that I thought would be the case, some of them I thought early on and some only towards the end. But, there were also some complete surprises. I gasped a couple of times towards the end. There is a cliffhanger, but the closing did not leave me anxious. While I wish I could read the second part of the duopoly right now, it will not kill me.
I highly recommend this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the e-arc. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

3.5 ⭐️ A fast-paced romantasy set within an intriguing world.


***This review contains spoilers***


"It's not the times you don't need saving that I'm worried about. It's the one time you'll need it, and there will be no one to do it."


WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ forbidden romance
✨ witch x witch hunter
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ insta-lust
✨ best friend’s brother
✨ fake courting / dating
✨ he courts her because he suspects she's a witch
✨ she dates him for information to help free a witch prisoner
✨ brothers love triangle
✨ loss of virginity
✨ size difference
✨ .5/5🌶️ (brief, not explicit)
✨ high stakes
✨ cliffhanger
✨ 3rd person / dual POV
✨ TW: sexual abuse/cohesion (past), sexual trauma, physical abuse, murder, death of loved one, grief

This book is marketed for a younger YA audience (ages 13-18). However, I think age 16+ is better since there are non-explicit sex scenes, violence/gore, and heavier topics.


My Thoughts:

I enjoyed the overall story and had a good time reading. I would definitely recommend it to the right audience. However, while there are things I liked about this story, I was disappointed by other things, so let's get into it.

What I liked:

I was impressed with the world building and truly loved the magic system! I haven't read a story with witches quite like these, so I found this aspect to be unique and captivating. Everything from the witches backstory before the revolution to how they use magic was so interesting and was explained so well. I never felt overwhelmed with information.

The author paints a very vivid picture and the writing was straight forward so it was easy to follow along and imagine the story in my mind. I honestly couldn't put it down (I finished it in 5 hours).

The angst had me in a chokehold. I'm a sucker for angst in romance because it usually means the stakes are high and there's loads of drama, and that's definitely the case between Rune and Gideon (and Alex). There were a lot of moments where it felt like my heart was getting strangled from the angst, and I'll be honest, I loved it. lol


What I was disappointed in:

The story and plot twists/reveals were so predictable that I thought about DNFing since I knew what would happen. I'm not going to lie, this part was a bummer for me because I truly LOVE this world and the story, but when an author writes in a way that makes it SO obvious what's going to happen, I lose the will to keep reading. I mean, hello, I also want to be surprised along with the characters. At 27% I wrote down my guess for the big reveal, and I was right. There was ONE thing that shook me to my core, but it was an action instead of a reveal.

The characters weren’t bad and I liked a lot about them. However, they definitely could have been stronger. Rune and Gideon had some good development. I understood their backgrounds, their actions, and the things that drive them. Even though both are on opposing sides, they are similar in the sense they struggle with grief and guilt.

But there were a lot of things they did or said about the other that seemed to contradict our initial understanding of them.

For example, Rune is supposed to be a strong, cunning woman who makes in-depth plans to help free witch prisoners. She's supposed to be level-headed, but she sometimes acted like a bumbling idiot and gets caught up in the moment when she's around Gideon. There's also the time Gideon (who Rune knows is fake dating her to prove she's a witch) makes a comment to his comrades that she means nothing to him, and Rune has a breakdown over it. I get this is supposed to be a vulnerable moment and show how much she's let herself care, but still, it didn't sit right. I also wish we actually got some badass moments with her doing something besides trying to flirt with and seduce Gideon. And another thing, how did Rune not know Alex was in love with her? Is she that daft??? Again, I thought she was supposed to be smart.

And as for Gideon, in the beginning his inner thoughts are about how Rune is just a shallow girl and just like all the other socialites, but then later he admits to basically wanting her from the moment he met her but resisted since his brother was in love with her first. Like, what? Which is it? Did you always like or dislike her from the beginning?

Also, Gideon is supposed to be the equivalent of a detective, and yet somehow he doesn't connect the most obvious dots - like the silver ring belonging to his brother or the fact Alex wants him to bet his prison access coin during a game of cards. It's like he was written to be obtuse but only at certain moments when it was right for the story.

While I find the dynamic between Rune and Gideon intriguing and deliciously tense, I don’t know if I quite believe their ‘love’. I get they were vulnerable with each other but they beliefs are just so fundamentally different and they’re both aware the other is dating them for other reasons, so when they start getting feelings, I wasn’t really convinced. They just seemed dumb for continuing the charade, especially when Rune legit got nothing out of it. She needed info on how to break out a witch from prison and she got absolutely no info about it from dating Gideon. So what was the point? It seemed like she was just deluding herself into thinking it was a good idea since, I don't know, he got her hot and bothered?

Harrow and the whole “you have to sleep with her to find out if she has cutting scars” was weird. I get Gideon needed to see Rune naked to make sure she didn’t have any scars anywhere, but Harrow was so pushy that it came off as weird and suspicious. She’s also just Gideon’s informant, not really a best friend so her insistence on this matter seemed inappropriate. There’s also the fact Harrow appeared out of nowhere during the raid on that print shop which made me even more suspicious of her but nothing came of it. But I feel like there’s more to her character that we’ll learn about in the next book.

***MASSIVE SPOILER AHEAD***

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I cannot and do not believe that Alex, who knows exactly what Gideon and his entire family went through, would not only let Cressida go, but lie about it! I don't care how nice you are, you don't let your brother's r*pist and sister/parent's murderer go. And if you do, then honestly screw you. Alex's not killing her was selfish and ultimately damns the people he loves the most.



Overall, it was a fast read and I was entertained. The ending was intense and that cliffhanger left me very eager to know what happens next, BUT I'm not sure I'll pick up the next book.

This will be a doozy of a review. I have to express my feelings somehow and let them out 😭

Two years ago, Rune had betrayed her grandmother and now she’s trying to make up for that taking advantage of being considered a witch hater and saving witches from being purged. A very important witch recently has been imprisoned that Rune needs to rescue and she realizes she may have to take a big risk to get her out. Rune decides to court Gideon Sharpe a guard who can give her info and figure out a way to get the witch out.
On the other hand, Gideon has been trying to find and capture the Crimson Moth who has been rescuing witches and finds some interesting information that may tie Rune Winters to the Crimson Moth. Gideon realizes he will have to court her to get her to trust him and find out whether Rune is the Crimson Moth or helping her.
A game of cat and mouse ensues while they each try to not fall for the other.

I love The Scarlet Pimpernel. That is one of my favorite movies and books I’ve ever read. When I first learned that Kristen Ciccarelli was going to be releasing a fantasy romance inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, I knew I had to get my hands on this book! I’m so glad I did because it was worth every agonizing, heartbreaking moment of it.

I don’t have the words to express how much I loved this book. This book destroyed me and I’m not sure how I can continue. This story took my heart, wrenched it and ripped it apart and it’s still ripped apart because that ending was not fair and now I have to find out how this beautiful story continues 😭

This world reminded me of The Scarlet Pimpernel with the clothing and people and parties, etc, the time period is very similar with some modernization thrown in there, plus magic of course! The magic I will say is gruesome 😅 it’s blood magic and was intense at times when describing how it was used, but interesting and unique nonetheless.

I loved the little nuances throughout that reminded me of The Scarlet Pimpernel. This takes place after the revolution and now witches are being hunted. The Crimson Moth is trying to save them with her many disguises and acts like a complete dolt of a socialite to throw people off. The betrayals and secrets also were similar to The Scarlet Pimpernel and no less heartbreaking. Except, instead of being a standalone, I have to wait for the next book to know what happens next! I just loved seeing these little bits that reminded me of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but being its own story completely! Plus, the betrayal in here is one of the hardest for me to read, and I have a hard time with betrayal, but it’s so well done and it makes you want to keep reading to see what will happen, how will this end?

Now, for the characters. Rune is a delight! She’s so much like Percy(from The Scarlet Pimpernel) and I loved how ditsy she is while being cunning and smart, and witty. And yet, she’s merciful. She does not love the bloodshed and she just wants the hunting to stop. I appreciate her understanding of Gideon when she learns his story. She understands where he comes from, but still wants what he does to stop, which is also understandable. She recognizes where the line needs to be drawn between being merciful and when you’re beyond being merciful. And I look forward to seeing how she handles her current situation after the way this book ended.

This brings me to Gideon. I don’t know how to explain what I feel for this boy, this man, except for heartache, and love. A lot of love for this beautiful and broken boy. His story is so utterly heartbreaking, you cannot help but fall in love with him. What he went through, and what he did to himself because he thinks he deserves it, I mean my heart hurt so much for him and he truly deserves something good in his life. The love he had for his family and the love he has for his brother is beautiful and what he does to protect his brother, just wow. And I will say Alex(his brother) disappointed me because I really think he took for granted what Gideon has done for him, but I digress. I don’t want to spoil anything about Gideon because you need to read it to experience it, but it’s rough and I just need him to be okay and I want him to be happy…with Rune. I need him to have Rune because they are so so good together! I also really need a man who can tailor and make me beautiful gowns and embroidered flowers 😭

The romance is beautiful. It’s such a good cat and mouse, enemies to lovers, tension filled romance. I mean we have Gideon this broken boy who thinks no one could EVER love him and Rune who just thinks she’s the worst because of what she did to her grandmother, and these two match each other when it comes to wits and smarts and it was entertaining to see them fumble around each other and realize, “oh hey, I might like this person, they’re not quite what I expected”! And yet, and yet, you just know it won’t turn out well and yet I had to keep reading, I had to know what would happen, no matter how much my heart would be ripped apart. I loved every moment of it, and I also hated it.

I could go on and on with this book and how much I loved it. One other thing I will mention is there is a very big twist and I actually figured it out before the big reveal. There were little Easter eggs throughout that helped me find out before the big reveal and I have to say that twist upset me so so much and it’s a very good twist because there’s more to it. It’s like a twist within a twist within a twist that happens all at once and left me reeling.

Just read this book. You won’t be disappointed. No, you’ll be crushed and destroyed like I am. And now I will be put in a slump because of this and I won’t be able to stop thinking about this book until I can finally read the next one and know that everything will be okay. Definitely another favorite book of the year and one of my top ten favorites I’ve ever read. All the stars!

I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

All I needed to hear was Witch x Witch Hunter. This book was a wild ride from start to finish and I absolutely ATE IT UP!

By day, Rune Winters plays the part of flighty heiress but by night she is the Crimson Moth - a vigilante, intent on freeing imprisoned witches from impending persecution. A witch herself, Rune tampers down her powers to hide amongst society’s elite until her latest heist forces her to tangle with notorious witch hunter Gideon Sharpe. Gideon has been searching for the Crimson Month for the last two years and while he suspects Rune, he needs more evidence to convict her. Rune, on the other hand, requires intel from Gideon in hopes of freeing a powerful magical ally. The two engage in a dangerous game of cat and mouse in hopes of gaining their respective information, but the lines between fact and fiction blur the deeper they descend into their false seduction.

I couldn’t help but finish this book in one sitting. Between the short chapters and plot driven writing, I was feverishly flipping page after page. The character dynamics in Heartless Hunter were incredibly intricate. Rune’s relationships with her friends Verity and Alex (who happens to be Gideon’s younger brother) and the circumstances that lead to the persecution of her Nan offered insight into Rune’s own deep-seated need for justice. Additionally, Gideon’s motivations are explained through a complex web of past grief and trauma, providing depth to his complicated decision making. Then there’s the multifaceted relationship between Rune and Gideon. The tightrope they walk between hate and love is precarious and as a reader it was fascinating watching them waver between the two warring emotions.

The end of this book sets up a sequel in all the best ways, and I will be waiting with bated breath to see what comes next!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Heartless Hunter (the first book in the Crimson Moth duology) was such a fun and fast paced game of cat and mouse. I was so immersed in the world and could not put this book down.

In a similar vein as Serpent and Dove, this book sets the stage for a thrilling story. I love our girl Rune, and loved getting to know her and her backstory. Pls let our girly Rune rest damn!!!! The romance in this book was also so good, and I love that forbidden love trope tbh. The magic system is also so intriguing, and adds a lot to the overall story. Rune knows she can’t practice the way she wants, as she risks discovery and execution if caught with scars. Also can we talk about that ending!?? Talk about a cliffhanger! I need the second book now pls

I have a feeling this will be a big romantasy hit, and I can’t wait to see everyone read it!!

LOVED this book. I cant wait for the next book as it left me on a cliffhanger and I need to know what happens.
Thank you for my copy in exchange for a fair review.

5 Stars
I absolutely hate a love triangle with 2 brothers but the way it was done in this book just worked for me and made sense (I still hate a love triangle with 2 brothers though). This had me hooked from the beginning, the pacing was good and Rune was such a refreshing FMC. The magic system in this was really interesting (though the blood collecting was a bit gross to me lol) and the twists at the end actually had me shocked. There were definitely some hard and heavy topics in this but I feel like they were handled well enough, though I hope for a lot more character growth from Gideon in the next book. I am fully invested in this series and cannot wait to read the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!