From the moment I delved into Kristen Ciccarelli's "Heartless Hunter," I found myself ensnared in a spellbinding cat-and-mouse, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance that unfolded with relentless intensity. The tale of a witch, driven by a desperate mission to save her kind from impending doom, and the relentless witch-hunter tasked with tracking her down, gripped me from the first page, leaving me eagerly anticipating the highs and lows of their tragic dance.

The strength of this novel lies in the depth of the characters, both of whom bear the weight of tragic pasts that shape their every action. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is wonderfully executed, adding layers of complexity to their relationship. The emotional stakes are high, and Ciccarelli skillfully navigates the intricate balance between despair and desire, making each encounter between our two leads charged with tension and heart-wrenching emotion.

However, my enthusiasm is tempered by certain shortcomings, most notably the lackluster world-building. While the core concept of the story is captivating, the world itself was severely underdeveloped in my opinion, leaving me with hardly any visual of what this world really looked like or how it functioned. Plot holes also lingered, detracting from the overall cohesiveness of the narrative, and the magic system, though promising, felt diluted and left me yearning for a more comprehensive exploration.

Despite these quibbles, the engrossing character dynamics and the high-stakes romance propelled the narrative forward, keeping me invested in the fate of the protagonists. The promise of a tragic conclusion loomed throughout, heightening the suspense and ensuring that every victory felt bittersweet.

Looking ahead, I eagerly anticipate the next installment in this high-stakes duology. The unresolved questions and the characters' destinies hanging in the balance leave me hungry for more. If Ciccarelli can weave a tighter tapestry of world-building and fill some of the plot holes, the next book promises to be an even more immersive experience.

The hunter vs. the hunted.

After the witch queen fell, no witches are safe. Rune is a secret witch hell bent on rescuing other witches from hunters out to purge the world of them. Her enemies know her as the Crimson Moth.

Gideon’s job is to rid the world of witches. His goal is to catch and destroy the Crimson Moth. He doesn’t know that socialite Rune Winters is the Moth, but he does suspect she has something to hide.

The story that follows is a cat and mouse game. They want to expose each other’s secrets for personal gain but they can’t help but see who the other one is in different ways they didn’t expect.

I thought this book was a whirlwind. I liked the story and the tension. I’m rooting for these two but their story just gets more complicated as it goes.

I’d rate this book a PG13. It does deal with delicate topics. And ends on a cliffhanger. Can’t wait for the next one!

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

I have been in a book slump for the past few weeks. I just haven’t been able to finish a book, until this one. Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli follows Rune, a witch in hiding, and Gideon, the witch hunter she’s trying to get information from, As the two circle each other in a game of cat and mouse, feelings begin to develop between these two opposites.

What I liked: If we are talking technical aspects of the book, if found the writing very clear with excellent pacing. The magic of this world was well explained and well-developed. Content wise, this book was amazing. The characters had great development throughout the book and actually adapted in a way that was appropriate for the timeline. My favorite character was Gideon because the author wrote him with genuine conflict that does not just disappear. He is a character that sticks to his values and does not compromise on them. The development was also shown in Rune with how she adapts to the new expectations that we see introduced at the end of the book.

To keep in mind: I really enjoyed this book, but just check trigger warnings prior to reading.

Ration 5⭐️ I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. I found the characters engaging, the writing consistent throughout the book, a plot that had great pacing, and an ending that is making me wish I had the second book in my hand.

NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Kristen Ciccarelli: thank you for giving me the opportunity to rate and review this book with this ARC. Heartless Hunter is out February 20!

Intriguing start to this series!

There are a lot of things I enjoyed about this book, and the start of this series. Please note this is an interconnected series, so there is a bit of a cliffhanger with this one.

I do the love Hunter and Hunted vibes, basically trying to play each other and *of course* falling for each other. Definitely a handful of twists given to us by the author too! Overall great premise.


*SPOILER*
I have one thing that bugged me with this book - Rune stabbed Gideon, and then used his blood to cast. Wouldn’t that be using his blood without his consent, therefore making Rune use the very bad magic??? As soon as this happened, it kind of made me question the whole story/lore since it directly contradicts it.

WOW!!! This was SO good. My jaw is on the floor and my brain just exploded but I’ll do my best to attempt to make cohesive thoughts. Omg just wow. This was unbelievably good. So creative and original and absolutely heart wrenching but it hurts so good 😆 okay let’s get into it.
Dual POV- told through the MMC Gideon the witch hunter & the FMC Rune the witch/vigilante. This was exciting from the first page and the ultimate enemies/rivals to lovers. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. Both MC’s were so clever & fun to read. The whole book was really well written and although it’s YA it doesn’t read immature in the slightest. The story was powerful and heartbreaking and I couldn’t put this down! Read it in 2 days! But that ending….ughh ripped my heart out and now I am absolutely dying for the next book. Thank you so much to NetGalley & the author for my e-arc I enjoyed this so much!

Publication date: February 20, 2024

Heartless Hunter is a fantasy romance from author Kristin Ciccarelli. This is the first book in a duology and I’m already anticipating the conclusion of this story. It’s my first from this author and it did not disappoint.

Rune Winters has a secret. A secret only hee closest two friends know because this secret could literally kill her. Two years ago, Rune turned her beloved grandmother into the blood guard for being a witch. After years of ruling a revolution against them forced witches to the purge and ultimately death. Any witches or witch sympathizers would be given the same fate.

After promising her grandmother she would fight to protect and release as many witches as she could, she turned her in. Hailed for her bravery and hatred of witches Rune donned her own mask and pretended to be a socialite among the people she hated the most. All the while being the Crimson Moth, the witch among the people that was responsible for rescuing hundreds of witches from certain death.

Gideon Sharpe a witch hater and commander in the red guard despises Rune Winters and suspects she may be the Crimson Moth or at the very least knows who it is. After chasing the Crimson Moth for years he decides that courting Rune may be the easiest way to learn her secrets.

Rune needs to get access to the Royal prison in order to save her grandmother’s dearest friend who has been caught and imprisoned yet the blood guard. She knows her time is running out and the best chance she has is getting Gideon Sharpe to fall in love with her, or at least like her enough to share his knowledge of the prison.

Rune and Gideon are playing a dangerous game but time is running out for them both. What happens when fake becomes real? Can the hunter and hunted find a way?

I really liked this book. The world building and magic system was easy to understand and I really enjoyed Rune and Gideons story. This is a 4 star for me and I am looking forward to the next book!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #kristinciccarelli #heartlesshunter

~thank you so much to netgalley & the publisher for gifting me an advanced reader copy-

this story centers around rune, a hidden witch vigilante by night and an aristocrat socialite by day. Rune must court our MMC Gideon, the captain of the blood guard and her mortal enemy. This book is filled with tension, swoon worthy romance, and unique adventure.

I think this was a great first book for this series it was really easy to read, and the story flowed really well. I love the witch & witch hunter trope/romance and I think a lot of people will also be big fans of this book & eventual series.

I have very mixed emotions about this book! on one hand it was exactly what I was in the mood for and I absolutely ate up the romance and tension. on the other hand it took me a while before I was invested. I feel like I didn’t start really getting into it until the 50% mark. But I look forward to the rest of the series! And I LOVE the special editions coming from OC & FL!

thanks again to the publisher!

It was thanks to another bookstagrammer posting their review that I signed up for the ARC of Heartless Hunter: The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli and I'm so grateful for that. I immediately fell in love with the covers (both of them! Yes, there's one for US and a different one for UK) and was very intrigued by the premise. I enjoyed the intricate world where witches are hated and hunted after the fall of the three witch queens. Rune is hiding in plain sight as a witch while trying to save as many witches that are meant for the gallows. Her nemesis, Gideon, is a witch hunter and Captain of the Blood Guard who is always hot on her trail as she continually gives him the slip. It's a cat and mouse battle that leads to tragic betrayal and a cliffhanger ending that will leave your jaw on the floor with the secrets revealed.  I found out too late that it was YA and not really spice filled but by that point I was already sucked into the world and was in love. For those wondering there is one very brief spicy scene without any explicit words. I'm really looking forward to the next book and to see how things unfold.

Receiving advanced copies of books can be both a blessing and a curse. I received an advanced copy of The Crimson Moth/Heartless Hunter a couple months ago, and put off reading it because I felt like it was the type of story that would have me sitting anxiously on the edge of my seat, waiting for resolution. I was right, but I'm now realizing that was all the more reason to pick it up.

I don't want to give too much away, as I think it's best to go into this book with no more information than the synopsis, so all that I will say is that this story is expertly written. I have quite a few of Kristen Ciccarelli's novels on my shelves, waiting to be read. She's one of those authors I put off reading because I had a gut feeling her books would be great, but I was nervous I would be wrong. But wow ... The Crimson Moth is so cleverly written. The plot is quite complex and layered, to a stressful degree, but it's very clearly cunningly crafted. Additionally, the characters are endearing. Alex and Rune both have a special soft spot in my heart. And the tension and character growth between Gideon and Rune is perfect. While I was initially hesitant for the romance in this book, thinking the political barriers would be too much to surpass, Kristen Ciccarelli surprised me, making each character relatable and understandable in their choices.

Overall, I absolutely adored this and highly recommend it! I'm incredibly grateful to have received an advanced copy from the publisher through NetGalley, although it hurts knowing the sequel is so far away, and I have no one to talk to about this book until its published.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Romantasy📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
I really enjoyed this one, it was so fun and unique- I didnt want to put it down and I can’t wait for the second one to come out.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Enemies to lovers
Witches + witch hunters
Slow burn
Lies and deception
Slight love triangle
Alternating POVs
Game of cat and house
Opposites attract
Best friends brother
Forbidden magic

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Gave me Bridgeton vibes

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
It ends on a cliffhanger!

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ ”She was drowning, and he was air. She hadn’t even realized how much she needed him until he was gone.”
★ "Rune had gone and gotten herself addicted. The hunted had fallen for the hunter."
★ “Isn’t that the point of art—to tame the monsters in us?”

I knew going into this book that I was gonna love it and I wasn’t wrong. It’s beautifully written and the characters were amazing. I loved the whole witch and witch hunter enemies to lovers aspect of the story. There are a lot of heavy topics discussed throughout the story so make sure to check trigger warnings before picking this one up.

I would’ve given this 5 stars if I wasn’t still upset about that ending. My heart is broken. I cannot wait to see where this series goes!

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the e-arc!

This book actually surprised me. I cannot believe how much i liked this book. I really liked Rune and her and Gideon are cute together they are the two side of the same coin trop. They are both on the extreme of other sides Gideon thinks witches can do no right and Rune thinks all witches are pure and good. I do think the Rune is starting to become less radicalized. And I have high hopes for her now that she sees how the world is and while the way the blood guard acts is evil they have reason to take such extreme measures

*arc was provided for an unbiased review by netgally*

An easy-to-follow romantasy with a magic and societal system that’s easy to follow.

I do think it deserves multiple reads (as even though it has these things and I’m sure it will be the big blow up romantasy this year) for me, especially, so I can pour over each detail and annotate to verify I’m not missing anything.

I do think some *might* have issues with how Rune (FMC) finds a loophole in the magic system, for a majority female-based audience of the Romantasy-genre, I think it’ll be perceived as normal. I will be honest, I did read it 4 times to ensure I did not mistake it.

While the romance was foreseeable, the multiple plot twists weren’t and my jaw was solidly on the floor.

Overall, it’s a solid 4.4 ⭐️ from me and I do recommend as I devoured it in a short amount of time.

Love it so much had to grab the physical copy too!!

Enemies to lovers && witches book was definitely for me!!

Love that there is ramifications for using magic.

Ends with a cliffhanger look forward to the next book.

This book kept my attention from start to finish. I loved the magic system, the love story, and the high society with ballgowns and social events. I’m excited there will be more books in this series. Things were left quite up in the air.!

AHHH!!! WHAT am I supposed to do with myself until book #2 comes out!? What an ending 😩

I was hooked with this storyline from the very beginning; I never really thought of it as “slow”, but after I got about 25% of the way through, I COULD NOT put it down! (that is, until I literally threw my kindle at one point towards the end because… Alex 🥲)

The relationship between Rune & Gideon is so painfully frustrating (in the best way???) — I know everyone hates it when characters don’t communicate and voice their feelings to each other, but this is such a unique scenario, because they do… but they don’t… they both have secrets that they’re keeping- Rune especially, since hers are basically life or death. They need to use each other to gain intel, and are technically “enemies”… or are they? 🤔

I did have to chuckle a few times, because I definitely feel like the author may have gotten a few ideas from ACOTAR… but I enjoyed it and found it very easy to read.

I originally was immediately drawn to this book the first time I saw it because of the BEAUTIFUL cover. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC (thanks NetGalley & Wednesday Books!) but I think I will still be purchasing a physical copy.

I don’t even know where to begin. There were so many parts that just worked so well together. I live a book that can carry both a strong plot and strong character development and this book gave both.

This book was everything! It drew me in from the first page and it was such a great ride. This was a story about a witch and witch hunter and was done right. The main characters had great chemistry and it was a true enemies to lovers romantasy. The plot was great and it had a really cool magic system. This book was action packed, suspenseful, and mysterious. It kept me guessing the whole time and had some reveals along the way that I didn’t see coming. It was my first five star read of the year and I will definitely be recommending it. I am already needing book 2 and can’t wait to see what comes next!

Well....crap I have feelings about this book. I've read everything by this author and she's always an auto read for me. I was SO excited about this book since it was announced. I love the Scarlet Pimpernel musical and the 80's movie so I was curious about this one.

Honestly, this wasn't quite what I hoped it would be. I understand that this is a fantasy romance but there are a couple glaring things that honestly should've been addressed to flesh out the story more. I feel like the Blood Guard were just humans who hunted down witches? They have special shackles sure and they can smell the magic on a witch. But there's no other special training or weapons to help these humans fight witches who have magic? That was never fully fleshed out enough.

The other thing was Rune herself. I felt like I was such at an arm's length away from her that I couldn't care enough about her. It felt like she was forced to obsess over Gideon so much that she hardly EVER thought about Alex until it was convenient for the drama of the plot. Sure they're trying to get info out of each other but it did feel a little toxic and it wasn't fully addressed. I did appreciate the complexity of Gideon; both male characters to me were much more relatable and believable than Rune. Their past was tragic and made who they are.

The last thing is a spoiler so I won't put it here but it made me angry. Rune's mindset did not feel genuine at all after events go down at the end. It feels like the publisher really pushed this fantasy romance idea but don't leave any room for thinking about other things. The weight of the ending did not fully settle into Rune and I didn't agree with that at all. Let's just say that the ending should have had much more devastation aimed in a certain direction but all the emotional reactions from both Rune and Gideon were aimed the wrong way.

I will read book two to see what will happen. But honestly, I would recommend her standalone "Edgewood" more than this one. Edgewood had much more complex emotion, heart and an overall more balanced story. I have big issues with these fantasy romance books; you need to flesh out all the players in the story and then deliver on all your promises and it wasn't for me. I still like this author a lot but I'm bummed on how this one turned out.

I thought I would love this book. I didn’t. Mind you it had everything going for it. Intrigue, romance and witches. Others obviously loved the story. I just failed to relate.

A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.