Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books, for my free digital copy for review.

Witch against Witch Hunter—a showdown I eagerly anticipated, and it didn't disappoint. The narrative promised by the blurb unfolds beautifully, delivering even more than expected.

The depth of world-building is captivating, unveiling a rich history of witches and humans intertwined with revolution. The author's imaginative creation of witch lore is both unique and enthralling. Rune, our heroine, is a character whose journey is compelling to follow. She's not just fighting for a cause; she's navigating the turbulent waters of personal challenges that test her resolve. And then there's Gideon, her counterpart, whose strength and complexity make him the perfect foil to Rune. Their journey from enemies to lovers is charged with tension, making each moment between them intensely satisfying.

The Crimson Moth series opens with this spellbinding tale, immersing readers in a world where witches and witch hunters weave a story of intrigue, power, and romance. Each chapter keeps you hooked, eager to discover what lies ahead. Truly, a fantastic voyage into a realm where magic and conflict dance in a delicate balance.

In this heart-pounding retelling of the classic Scarlet Pimpernel story, Rune is a witch in a world determined to extinguish all witches. Forced into a double life, Rune plays at a carefree life amid the ruling class while secretly working to save witches from burning at the stake. When she decides to falsely court witch hunter Gideon Sharpe, she's drawn into a cat-and-mouse game where her fate, as well as her heart, is in peril. The author nails the breathless enemies-to-lovers feel. After devouring this romantasy, fans will be clamoring for a sequel.

I absolutely loved the magic system, and world of this book! The complexity yet predictably of the characters! I did figure out the twist pretty early on, but it didn’t make reading the story any less fun! I will absolutely be reading the next book! I cannot wait to see what happens next!!! If you love witches, enemies to lovers, betrayal, or intricate magic systems you should absolutely read this book!

Overall Score: 3.5/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Character Development: 3.5/5
Ease of Reading: 3.5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 3.5/5

The Heartless Hunter was a really good, quick, easy read. The plot was compelling and I enjoyed that the book was written from two POVs. I love a good book about witchcraft and the witchcraft in this book felt soooo unique! The casting scars were such a beautiful and interesting way to explain the magic of the world.
I liked Rune, and she was quite clever. Gideon was really broody and I LOVE a broody MMC.
I wasn’t bored at all throughout the book, but I was a bit confused at times.
There were a few things that didn’t make much sense to me and I don’t know if it was down to the way things were written or a lack of consistent imagery in the book.
The civilization in this story doesn’t appear to use technology of any kind- including electricity. But there is a specific reference to electricity in the book that made me think maybe the author forgot this? And the way in which the characters discuss some things (especially university) feels very modern despite a possibly Victorian setting? There are some terms that just felt very out of place and took me out of the story.
I really annoyed the enemies to lovers in this book, but it felt a bit forced sometimes and felt kind of icky on Gideon’s side at some points.

The writing was simple and not overly complicated which made for an easy read but wasn’t super compelling or entrancing. I think it’s a great YA Read but just fell a little short for me. I will still recommend to friends because I know tons who will love it but this story just wasn’t necessarily for me!

WOW WOW WOW!!! I am totally hooked and cannot wait for the next in the series 🥰 I almost never am blown away in fantasy stories, but this one GOT ME!

Rune + Gideon = enemies to lovers and I loved it!!!

Intensity, romance, thrilling action, TWISTS!! Oh I cannot recommend enough!

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in review for an honest review. 🫶

4.5 Stars!!

A wonderful compelling start to this duology!

As per the blurb, it hasn’t been long since witches were bloodily and brutally deposed from their exalted position. Once held in awe and revered, their abuse of their power inevitably heralded a revolution, and many have been killed and many still hide. This is a world divided, and we find our heroine Rune caught in the middle.

Rune, forced to betray the woman who raised her, is forever on a quest to help her own kind survive the ongoing purge, chasing an endless penance she can never repay. Desperate times push her to seduce Gideon, captain of the Blood Guard, for valuable intel. He’s a man who is both terrifying in his deadly capabilities and alluring in his mysterious dangerous demeanor.

Gideon, too, has his own personal mission, forever on a quest to kill those who represent all that he thinks is evil in the world. He is single minded in his devotion, hell bent on finding the elusive Crimson Moth who has been saving witches right under his nose. When he’s pointed in Rune’s direction that she might be the culprit, he has no choice but to seduce her to find the truth.

What unfolds is a fast paced game of cat and mouse, where both Rune and Gideon try to entrap the other. The fear, the suspicion, the anxiety and worry amplify as these two try to achieve their goals, unable to stop revealing small bits of their past trauma, shedding the facades they’ve both put up to survive.

This is a fantasy world with witches and magic, fraught with danger and dark themes all with a twisty enemies to lovers plot overlaid with a subtle triangle dynamic. Points for Rune being a heroine to root for. Points for the lovely portrayal of both these two trying not to fall for the other but unable to resist the inevitable. Points for equally building a case for each to stand on regarding why they do what they have to do.

Admittedly, I’m very hard to please, and I was continuously and pleasantly surprised that Ciccarelli created two strong characters, each with their own values and understandable convictions in what they think is right, and despite knowing the other is the enemy, they can’t help but fall for the other. Neither was naive, neither went into things blind, nor did they fumble in trying to fit a plot point. I completely appreciated that despite Rune and Gideon being adversaries, the author made me hope for a better outcome for both, regardless of whether they ultimately find that happiness with each other or apart.

Overall, I applaud Ciccarelli for the propulsive and compelling writing. I loved the alternating POV’s showcasing Rune and Gideon’s internal struggles and insecurities as both dig themselves deeper, lying through their teeth (until they aren’t), all for what they believe is absolutely necessary.

Be forewarned. This ends on a cliffhanger, and what I look forward to the most is how the author is going to find peace for Rune and Gideon as the emotions and vulnerabilities and intimacy shared were basically annihilated by the end of this book. There is an unscalable mountain of issues for both to overcome, and I’m hopefully confident that Ciccarelli can pull it off. I’ll be here waiting impatiently for the conclusion!

Thank you to the author and St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for a honest review posted on Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6256977349

This story had it all, action, suspense, and a love triangle. As I read this, I was a little thrown off by what should be triggers in this book. I wasn't prepared and it was slightly unnerving. IMs. Ciccarelli did keep the story flowing and it was apparent that any of the characters would be in danger before the end.

I just finished this and my jaw is dropped, tears rolling down my cheeks. What a roller coaster ride!
Absolutely loved the unique take on magic. The love triangle. Enemies to lovers. The twists and turns. My God!
10/5 stars. Loved this!

This was an anticipated read for me in 2024 - I’m so happy to be given an ARC copy from NetGalley!

I really enjoyed this book! The Heartless Hunter is centered around how a family know as the “Queen Witches” ruled the town and were purged due to a revolution by the republic. Witches were considered to be dangerous and unpredictable. Now two years later, Rune Winters who had to turn in her own grandmother to the republic is now revenging her death by being the “Crimson Moth”. The moth is rescuing witches who are captured by the Blood Guards. Enter - our MMC: Gideon.

What is better than a blood guard hunting the crimson moth and the crimson moth being hunted - it’s a match made in magic!

We have enemies to lovers, magic, deceit, betrayal, and more! I found myself wanting to keep reading this and to know what happens next! I think the world building could have been elaborated on more and the ending felt rushed, but I did enjoy and will be reading the sequel!

4 ⭐️

This was really good! The pacing felt consistent the whole way through and I really appreciated that the stakes were high for the characters. They were all morally grey, which I happen to really like—especially in fantasy. I also enjoyed the magic system. The signatures left by spells and the nuances of how magic works was very interesting and was explained clearly. The definitions from magical law at the beginning of some chapters were helpful but I’m glad they were sparse to avoid a “too much information”/textbook feel. I hope that the consequences of the darker magic in practice (related to the main characters) is explored more in follow-up book(s). The romance storyline was great too. Rune and Gideon had such great chemistry and I really do love the “bad boy brother” trope. There was some great tension and both heartwarming and heartbreaking moments. The dual POVs really benefited the development of the characters and story in this one—I’m glad we saw things from both Rune and Gideon’s POV. I loved the little plot twists, they really kept things interesting!

One thing that did confuse me was the setting, but maybe that’s just me. I had a tough time determining what sort of time period I should be picturing. I thought I caught one mention of electricity but the rest was gas lamps and candles. These details made me picture a sort of 1800s Europe type vibe, but the dialogue felt more modern (especially the cursing). I have no issue with mixing the two, it just made it tricky for me to place the setting. Overall I really liked this. It was a quick read for me and was easy to understand. I look forward to reading the sequel(s)!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was expecting a bit more of a lighthearted romp but what I got was a more heartstring tugging story. While I found some parts very predictable I really enjoyed this Enemies to Lovers story. I enjoyed the build up, the love and the inevitable denouement. The world here is build around the turmoil after a revolution. The main character is a hunted witch, whose survivor guilt drives her to try to rescue her fellow witches before they are executed. She sets out to seduce the head witchhunter as he sets his sights on her as well. Parts of this are very predicable, but the magic system, while cringe, is an interesting component. Can she rescue herself and others and still love this deeply broken hunter or will he find out about her abilities and betray her to her death. Let's just say the ending stuck with me for a while and I look forward to the next book in this series. Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book and write an honest review.

Wow, what a chokehold this book had on me for 48 hours while I raced to finish it. Definitely will be a top contender for romantasy of the year and it’s still early 2024!

Rune Winters is a witch and only her two closest friends know the truth. In homage to her late grandmother, she becomes the Crimson Moth and fights to save others from persecution.

Gideon Sharpe has a complicated history and is now the leader of an army working to find and kill any remaining witches in hiding.

In a far-fetched sort of strategy, the two begin to court each other but intentions get blurred and feelings change. While initially I couldn’t sense the chemistry, their relationship evolved and I had that heavy pit in my stomach by the end.

The characters are complex, the emotions strong and the last 30% of the book gripped me, laundry left unfolded, kids left unfed because I couldn’t stop. When can we expect book 2?

5⭐️ and a thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. I will absolutely order a physical copy once the book releases to add to my permanent collection to read and share with friends!

I was addicted to this book from the second I began reading it. I love a good enemies to lovers trope and this did NOT disappoint. There was great world building and was very different from other fantasy books I have read (in a good way). I loved the witches, the tension and the entire storyline.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of Heartless Hunter.

This is an amazing series starter. This is a true enemies to lovers, secret identity, love triangle with high stakes and spy work. The action scenes were well described and the romance was deeply felt. Ack, the angst of the two developing feelings while also either knowing or suspecting that the other is playing the same game...so good.

The ending left me hungry for the next book. This is initial entry feels like a tiny, mere beginning of what the author has planned.

This is for older teens in the YA category but will easily appeal to fans of adult fantasy. Get in on this series from the start!

This was such a fun book. I loved the magic system which felt really unique and interesting. I loved Rune and I found her to be a really easy character to root for. I loved that this was a true enemies to lovers story. The characters were raw and relatable and the struggles in the world, while fantasy, felt reflective of a lot of modern struggles. That said, the big twist at the end came kind of out of nowhere and the biggest revelations seemed to happen off page. While that made the twist gasp-worthy I do think we sacrificed some character continuity and we missed a critical plot moment that was glossed over.

I will say this is classified as YA and it does not feel like YA at all. The character is older, the world is darker, There are a lot of adult situations. I don't think any of that is a bad thing but I really do wish publishers would stop trying to shove every book written by a woman down into the YA category.

Rune Winters’ life changed forever on the night of a coup that started a devastating revolution, placing once powerful witches in danger as they are outcast from their positions as rulers. Now, witches are ruthlessly hunted, forcing Rune to hide what she is. By day, Rune is a vapid young socialite, but by night, she is the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues witches from being purged. When a rescue goes awry, Rune tries to throw the witch hunters off her scent by courting their captain, Gideon Sharpe. Gideon is loyal to the revolution and he loathes the decadence Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle witches out of the republic, he is determined to unveil the true identity of the Crimson Moth by any means necessary.

I learned from the acknowledgments at the end of the novel that this book is loosely based on the Scarlet Pimpernel classic (which, forgive me, I have no clue as to what it is). Don’t worry though, I don’t think this lack of knowledge impacted my enjoyment in any way because I absolutely adored this story from start to finish. I was hooked into the story within the first few pages and had trouble putting this book down.

HEARTLESS HUNTER is an excellent story that is well paced, has interesting and dynamic characters, features plenty of suspense, tension, and several shocking twists (that are delivered seamlessly). It also features a neatly developed magic system requiring blood to cast spells. The plot is intriguing and sufficiently complex leading up to an ending that took me entirely by surprise.

The story is told in dual POV, Rune’s and Gideon’s, which I really enjoyed as you got to see what each character was thinking and feeling, as well as what they were up to. Each is suspicious of the other, so there is a lot of schemes and deception from both sides leading to much tension developing between the two.

Rune is a complex and well-developed character. I enjoyed the scene where we see Rune acting as the Crimson Moth, which was action-packed and a bit of a nail-biter. Unfortunately, this was one of the only scenes of this nature, whereas the rest of the time we see Rune planning and plotting how to gain intel out of Gideon. Gideon has a dark and traumatic past with witches. It was interesting to get snippets of his past and how he came into this position. I am hopeful that book 2 will give us more development of his character.

I absolutely loved the magic system featured in this story, with key aspects of the magic explained as the story develops. It is not overly complicated so I believe it would be an easy read for those who are not usually fantasy readers.

Needless to say, I cannot wait for the second instalment of this duology!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.</i>

The well-written, unique Romantasy you've been waiting for!

A romantasy with a clear, concise blood magic system, a TRUE enemies-to-lovers (to enemies again?!) PLUS a love triangle. The CLIFFHANGER was a killer!

A rare feat, that I loved most of the main characters, but all were flawed in some way, some downright morally gray. The romance was heartfelt and beautiful and absolutely tragic. The past trauma of the characters reverberated through the stories and interwove their fates. I highlighted so many beautiful lines in their dialogue I lost count.

The plot pacing was impeccable and kept me interested. Although I eventually guessed part of the plot twist, I did not see the full thing coming! The only thing I would've loved more of was more on-page heist action by the Crimson Moth in place of some of the focus on Rune's social machinations. I wanted to experience more of her cunning firsthand to get that confident, smart part of her character.

Although the plot was amazing, it's the emotional scenes for the characters that captivated me. I CANNOT wait for book 2!

3 ⭐️ Interesting concept, but a little too fast paced in the romance for me.


She was like a deer making eyes at the wolf that wanted to eat her for lunch

WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ Witch x witch hunter
✨ Blood magic
✨ Forbidden romance
✨ Mini love triangle
✨ Insta lust/love
✨ Trapping the other person
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Tension/ one minor open door scene
✨ Naive fmc at times
✨ Family trauma
✨ Betrayal


My Thoughts:

If you enjoyed Serpent and Dove, this book is for you! This book wasn’t for me, but I can see so many people loving it. It is fast paced, and full of tension and magic.

I loved:

Witches
The magic system for the witches, and how the witches showcased their magic was so interesting. I loved that you could visually see witches by their scars, and how they would make these scars beautiful. I loved that individual spells required different levels of magic. It was interesting hearing the backstory on witches, and how the power was taken from them.


Alex
I can’t express enough how much I loved Alex. His character was by far the best character in the story! He was so dedicated to both Gideon and Rune in different ways. I loved how he attempted to protect Rune at all cost from day one. The flashback to Rune finding out she was a witch, with Alex supporting her immediately had my heart in a puddle. I loved how protective he was of Gideon especially given his past. I definitely wasn’t surprised with the twists that involved Alex, and I will leave it at that so nothing is spoiled.

The villain
Depending on who’s side you are taking on the war, the villain could be the witches or the witch hunters. Personally I think both are somewhat villains, but I felt more for Gideon’s story than I did Rune so I am team Witch Hunters. I enjoyed how the story is set up in a way that both teams feel valid, and it is hard to completely cheer for one.


The things I disliked
Insta love/lust
Rune and Gideon grow very close, very fast. Rune doesn’t seem to showcase her true personality to Gideon, yet he magically believes she is no longer shallow and annoying. Rune had a crush on Gideon as a child, and it clearly did not go away. She was immediately throwing herself into dangerous situations with Gideon without thinking.

Love Triangle
This was brought up repeatedly about Alex’s feelings in Gideon’s POV, but it was not felt in Rune’s POV. It made the whole situation feel less of a triangle, and more of Gideon forcing his emotions on his younger brother. Later in the book, it felt more like Alex had feelings but it was very last second and honestly very confusing to the story by that point. I wish the author picked a side, and stuck to either Alex being a wonderful friend or Alex being in love with Rune.

Victim Blaming
I won’t go into depth into this due to possible spoilers. I will say I disliked Rune’s thought process with Cressida more than anything. Gideon revealed his truth relating to Cressida to Rune which was horrifying and sad, Rune justified in her mind that she didn’t know Cressida’s side. It gave off the feeling of “it’s a man so he can’t be a victim” vibes, and I don’t believe that is what the author was going for but it definitely read that way.

Overall, Heartless Hunter is a tension filled romance fantasy that reminds me of Serpent and Dove with a darker world.


Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.

A high 2 stars. Just a very bland and basic YA fantasy romance, with a romance that I just didn’t buy.

This isn't awful, but it’s completely lacking in depth. Everything is surface-level, even though the characters are supposed to be oh-so clever and the best at what they are doing. Unfortunately, they just come across as idiots and jerks. The included love triangle is annoying and stupid, plus it’s immediately clear how that plotline is going to end.

The world-building doesn't make much sense and isn't very intriguing either. The class system, the land, the wider world or the level of technological advancement—it’s all a bit muddled. The info-dumping is kind of clumsy and all of the writing feels clunky. Not bad, but slightly awkward.

I also don’t think that this is the kind of book that has a large crossover appeal. It’s just SO VERY young adult. When people complain about books being too YA, this kind of plot and characterization come to mind. It just wasn’t believable to me.

There are books out there that do the witch/witch hunter dynamic much better in my opinion. This version of it just wasn’t my cup of tea. There are some great ideas in this, but the execution just didn’t work.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒚: 𝑲𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒊𝒄𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒊
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐️4.5/5 🌶️2/5
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: 3rd Person POV, Enemies to Lovers, Best Friend’s Brother, Witch x Witch Hunter, Forbidden Blood Magic, Cat & Mouse, Slow Burn, Crimson Moth Duology
𝗧𝗪𝘀: Grief, Off Page Physical Abuse, Mentions of Sexual Abuse, Blood, Purging

Wow wow wow! DEVOURED. This first book in The Crimson Moth duology is astounding! There is so much to love in this very alluring and immersive enemies to lovers, high-stakes, cat & mouse story. Ciccarelli created a world with such a unique magic system and complex characters that you will get sucked in instantly. This is action packed set in some sort of medieval time/setting where witches and witch hunters exist, gowns and balls are the social norm, and a society exists that alludes to political intrigue and social class structure. I knocked off half a star mainly because the time period got confusing with some terminology used.

There’s a lot of suspenseful plot twists that were both unexpected and predictable. The storyline was paced well and I liked the progression between our MCs. The characters were purposeful and well-developed; I loved them all, including all the scheming, betrayals, and manipulation. Our MCs Rune and Gideon gave us lots of tension and a devastating type of love due to different upbringings, unwavering ideals, and life experiences. You will get a good amount of backstory for them. There is nothing better than seeing both their will and restraint falter. 🫠🔥The fact that they both were playing a dangerous game was so enticing. 🫠 There are very important secondary characters but I can’t discuss them without giving spoilers - so will leave that be 😂

The last part of the book had so much going on that you couldn’t decipher how you wanted to feel. A complete roller coaster. Swooned, faltered, confused, hopeful, anger, devastation, sadness and aguish. Soooo much. The ending left me speechless. I have no idea which direction the story is going to go and I am looking forward to the next book. Amazing!

Thank you Netgalley and s St Martins Press for this ARC! ❤️‍🔥