I fell in love with this story! The way they weren’t suppose to fall in love but did. Then the plot twist in the end! So good! Cannot wait for the second in the serious to come out! I knew she had a love interest but I don’t think they were meant to be together. And even knowing that they aren’t going to be together even as friends sucks. I truly hope it gets better for Rune. And she does get her happy ending and hopefully it is with Gideon!

This had me engaged in a way I haven’t been in months. Absolutely fantastic slow burn, enemies to lovers story. I’m upset I read it early because I’ll have to wait even longer between this one and the sequel.

I do worry the abundance of menstrual blood talk is going to be a deterrent for some — but also fight the patriarchy, you know?

Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy to review!

Heartless Hunter was a fun, fast paced romantasy story. While this story was nothing unique, I enjoyed reading about Gideon and Rune's relationship. I would have appreciated learning more about the world and the magic system, and I wish we could have delved a little deeper into both characters internal dialogue as it sometimes felt we were breezing past their reactions to the events of the story. Overall would recommend to anyone who likes romantasy or a cat and mouse style relationship!

Heartless Hunter intertwines the worlds of witches and witch hunters in a captivating enemies-to-lovers tale, seamlessly blending YA/NA fantasy elements.

Rune Winters, a witch concealed in a world where hunters purge her kind, crosses paths with Gideon Sharpe, a relentless witch hunter pursuing the elusive Crimson Moth, a savior of captured witches.

I'm still absorbing the ending and eagerly anticipating the next book in this duology. The main characters were intricately developed, and the author's writing is both beautiful and detailed.

Honestly 👩‍🍳 💋 I will definitely be pre ordering the physical copy!

This book kept me up until 2 am.
It kept me invested, but it also made me uneasy. The world it creates is dark and intense, and I've never read anything quite like it.

Heartless Hunter is an enemies-to-lovers YA novel about a witch named Rune and the witch hunter trying to trap her, Gideon. The witch hunters in the book are "purging" (violently killing) all the witches to put an end to their power. Rune needs information from the hunters to protect other witches, forcing her and Gideon into a cat-and-mouse game with each other.

It's refreshing to see enemies to lovers who are actual enemies, like, "I want to kill you and your friends violently," enemies. Despite the back and forth, the characters feel balanced out. Neither is truly good or bad. Past experiences and social standing complicate them, and there is some interesting discussion around class and privilege. The pace is good, the characters don't just randomly suddenly decide they are perfect for each other, there's a build-up to the romance. Before you ask, yes, there is an open-door spice scene, but it is mild.

While the romance in this book is very YA, the book itself feels much more NA/ adult because of its content and chilling atmosphere. The magic system is unique, and ..... okay, it's a bit gross. Remember when I said this was dark? To use magic, witches need blood— either their own or from others.... the fresher, the better. You're going to hear about blood a lot. Some plot twists are predictable, but a few surprised me. If I had one main complaint, I would have liked more world-building, especially around politics and the history of the witches. I'm hoping we get some of that in book two.

Should you read it? Yes, probably, but be better than me. Please don't go into it expecting a nice wrap-up and happily ever after. This book ends on a dark cliffhanger, with several twists and turns to get there. It's going to keep you up.

3.5 Rounded up because I couldn't put it down.
TW: blood, self-mutilation, abusive relationship

A big thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Heartless Hunter" captivates with its gripping narrative and engaging worldbuilding. The seamless blend of YA/NA fantasy unfolds the story of Rune, a witch facing the perilous threat of hunters. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic and forbidden love elements add a delicious tension that keeps readers hooked. The book's accessible worldbuilding and well-paced plot make it a page-turner, especially with unexpected twists and a compelling cliffhanger. If you crave YA/NA Romantasy with witch vs. witch hunter intrigue, this series promises an enthralling journey. Readers beware: you might find yourself impatiently awaiting the sequel after the rollercoaster of emotions this book delivers.

Wow this book totally shocked me! I had heard amazing things from a couple of friends but was still somehow surprised that I loved this so much that I devoured it in under 24 hours! Heartless Hunter follows Rune, a witch in a society where witches are hunted. Rune is also the "Crimson Moth" who rescues captured witches and ferries them to safety. When a witch that Rune has been searching for for 2 years is captured, Rune vows to do anything to liberate her, including courting Witch Hunter Gideon, who is the brother of her best friend Alex, in the hopes that he will reveal some secrets.

The worldbuilding in this book is easy to understand and is not overly complicated, which is something I've come to love about YA/NA fantasy. It's really easy consumable and engaging - and once you hit about 65%, you can't put it down! There are a few twists at the end as well as a bit of a cliff hanger that has me absolutely feral for the next book.

The enemies to lovers vibes and forbidden love were really delicious - the tension was great and as someone who really loves the whole "reluctant lovers" trope, I really just ate this up.

Read this for:
- YA/NA Romantasy
- Witch vs Witch Hunter
- Start of a series
- Enemies to Lovers
- Twists!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a ride. It took me a while to get into the book and I wasn’t sure if it was for me but, I read the last third all in one sitting. That ending? 🤯🤐 The way witches use magic, the effect it has on them, and the ways Rune has to work around that was really interesting. The enemies-to-lovers romance was done really well. They weren’t just quip-y rivals who decided for some reason to be “enemies.” I’m looking forward to reading the finale book in this duology.

What initially turned me off from the book though, was Rune starts out thinking she’s smarter than everyone and there’s this repetition/over-explaining of her backstory, her reasoning for things. Something will happen and then she’ll think about what just happened and explain how she feels about what happened and give the reason why she feels that way. It was mostly gone by the second half though, and that’s when I started to really get into the book’s plot. However, what I couldn’t get past was the brother love triangle thing. Why won’t they just talk to each other?? If you loved The Kissing Booth romance, you’ll love this, but that wasn’t my cup of tea. So, I’d say anyone who likes enemies-to-lovers, witches, blood, and The Kissing Booth, will probably enjoy this.

Similar to other reviewers, I am withholding my review of books by St Martins Press and their imprints until they comply with the demands of the SMP boycott. At that time, I am happy to post the review

I loved this! This is like one of those books you have no choice but to binge, and if your partner is a light sleeper I would recommend reading it in the living room so you don't wake them up with your involuntary *gasps* and squeaks. If the next book was out, I would have been in my car and ready to drive the moment the bookstore opened.

I wasn't in love with every single element of the plot but overall it was just a really fun time. On a side note, this didn't feel like YA at all, which I actually liked I'm just confused as to why they chose to market it that way. It definitely read like a NA fantasy romance.

You know you’ve read a great book when you’re mad as hell at the end that it’s over, and the sequel isn’t available yet! Welcome to your next romantasy obsession, with this tale of witches, witch hunters, and a world where magic is the easiest way to get yourself killed.
You can’t help rooting for Rune, a witch hiding in plain sight in high society, just trying to atone for what she sees as the sins of her past. It’s easy to see that she’s going to fall hard for her friend’s brother-who just happens to be an elite witch hunter-but there is an end of book twist that I did not see coming, and will set expectations high for book two.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy!

3.5 stars for this witchy, intense, age 16+ YA

Two years ago, Rune was preparing to embark on her training in witchcraft when a violent revolution swept across the country. The primary goal of the New Republic was the complete genocide of witches, and resulted in the brutal torture and murder of Rune’s witch-born grandmother. Rune has now dedicated her life to saving other witches from the same horrific fate by moonlighting as the mysterious Crimson Moth. No Blood Guard army soldier is more intent on capturing the Crimson Moth than Rune’s arch-enemy, Captain Gideon Sharpe. Gideon and Rune ultimately find themselves ensnared in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, putting not only their lives at risk, but their hearts as well.

The premise of this novel is a great one. In the acknowledgments, the author notes that the plot was loosely inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, and she does incorporate several of my favorite aspects of that story here. Not only is there an aristocrat with a secret identity fighting to save innocent lives, but the heroine falls in love with the one person with the power to ruin all of her plans.

I loved the pacing of the book, and when paired together with the push and pull between the main characters and the plotline, I was eager to keep reading. There are some fun twists along the way, and touches of sweet romance that make the MMC, Gideon, sympathetic. One of the best parts of the book is the scene in the mine, as the intensity and tension between Gideon and Rune crackle as they match wits one-on-one. I liked the element of spell casting marks being visible on the skin, and that each witch’s magic has a unique smell, and leaves an original casting signature behind.

The problem with the novel as a whole is that there isn’t enough world-building to provide the reader with any meaningful context. This challenges the reader's ability to invest in the characters and their journeys. It is unclear whether there are true “holes” in the plot, or if the author purposefully left things out so that she would have more of a story to tell in the sequel.

For example, we weren’t told anything about the Witch Queens’ reign that would justify their genocide at the hands of the people. It is also unclear why the revolutionaries believe that all witches must be eradicated, as opposed to just the Queens themselves who were the supposed source of the conflict.

I didn’t like the "love triangle" aspect of the story for Gideon and Alex, although I liked the way that the author resolved it. To this point, I didn’t understand why Rune developed feelings beyond physical attraction for Gideon, and vice versa. Yes, they both have suffered severe emotional trauma in their pasts, but that just didn’t cut it for me to make their romance believable. Rune and Alex make a lot more sense as written on the page than Rune and Gideon do.

I love the cover, but I don’t like the title. I would have titled it The Crimson Moth, which is unique and makes more sense anyway.

I would caution that this novel is not for younger YA readers due to the degree of violence, and sex on the page. Although the sexual content is not explicitly described, it is sufficiently detailed that the reader will not doubt what acts are being performed as they occur. The sexual aspect is even more problematic when considering that the MMC conspires to seduce the FMC at the urging of another person.

I did enjoy this read. I like the writer’s style and her storytelling. I think that she strikes a good balance between the number of "good guys" and "bad guys" so that the novel isn’t all over the place with too many characters and subplots that take away from the central narrative arc. I will read the sequel because it did end with an interesting cliffhanger.

Tropes: secret identity, cat and mouse, brother’s best friend, class difference,

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.

I did not just read this book…I devoured it! I absolutely loved everything about it. It had me begging for more with every turn of the page! Rune and Gideon’s dual perspectives did not disappoint as it allowed insight into the insecurities and scars each harbored and what drew them together and also apart at the same time. The main characters had a chemistry that evolved naturally throughout the book. Their moments together always left me wanting more! And that twist and ending! I didn’t really see it coming until it was actually happening. Once I process it all, maybe I can decide if I loved it or hated it…probably a little bit of both. All I know is that I will be impatiently waiting the next book because that cliffhanger has absolutely destroyed me and now I NEED to know the endgame for this story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a copy of this book for review!

Rating: 4.75/5

This book was incredible. I was not sure what I expected going in but this blew my expectations out of the water! The story that Kristen wove was indescribable, her characters were so relatable and the world she build was done just right. This was the first book I read in awhile that did not feel like it was trying to check a list of "tropes". I devoured this book and cannot wait for book 2 to be released.

Rune and Gideon both deserve a HEA after everything.

I have been provided with a review copy of Heartless Hunter from NetGalley for an impartial review. I just really enjoyed this story and I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Oh my goodness I loved this book!

The term cat and mouse was used when describing this book and I would 100% agree with that. The hunter and the hunted. This book was addicting and once I picked it up I had trouble putting it down. The push and pull between Rune and Gideon was so good! The pacing was great, the plot and plot twists were *chefs kiss*, and the characters were very well done.

One open door scene and some strong language throughout

“Isn’t that the point of art—to tame the monsters in us?”

OH MY STARS!!! That ending?! 😭😭😭 I need the second book now!
Such an enchanting story of magic, enemies to lovers, adventure and world building. This is a cat and mouse book with a witch and witch hunter. It is told in two POVs, Rune and Gideon. They both are playing a dangerous game and they both are falling for it. The tension between the characters is *chefs kiss*.
The author has a beautiful way of telling their stories and the heartbreaking events that unfold in the past and present. She paints a vivid picture that just leaves me wanting more and more!
I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers!

This is an amazing book! I could not put it down! The world building and the intricate details of the magic really draw you into the story. I loved that the use of magic was very different than a lot of books I've read.. The characters are very well written. This book keeps you on your toes the whole way through.

**4.5 STARS**

Content Warning: violence, blood magic, mentions of self harm, mentions of abuse, death, mentions of drug use

+ I went into this book not knowing what to expect and wow was I delightfully surprised at how engaged I was with this story. I loved the game of cat and mouse that Rune and Gideon play. Rune is a witch in secret and Gideon is a successful witch hunter. I didn’t want either of them to catch the either because I was rooting for them both at times – but they did entrap themselves with their attraction to one another which was intense. There was even a steamy scene between them which is why I mention this as a New Adult book because I did feel like the characters seem older.

+ I like how complicated this story was because of Rune’s background – she’s a witch and trying to survive by keeping that secret. She’s also the Crimson Moth, a witch going around helping other witches escape from prison. And then there is Gideon, who was abused by a which he had been in love with and when he set himself free and helped take down the witch Queens who ruled them, he became a changed young man – a hardened one. They both think they are doing their life’s purpose.

+ The twist in the story was so good, I only caught it 3/4ths into the book! I did not see it coming at all until it was too late but I love that it caught me off guard. I was so involved with Rune and Gideon’s game of cat and mouse that I didn’t question anything else happening around them.

+ The world building is great and I love the magic system. I like that we get the history of the Queens and the revolution. The killing of witches did get graphic especially when Rune recalls how her grandmother died.

+~ I personally love how this enemies to lovers, forbidden romance transpired. Gideon really hates witches and Rune really is trying to help any witch she can. I loved the cat and mouse but how could these two people ever be together? It seems doomed from the start because they are both pretending to get something from the other. There is a slight love triangle which some readers won’t like but I didn’t mind it because of what happens in the story. But Gideon is as hardened a character as I ever saw and with the way things end – is there a way the two of them could ever believe the other? But I so loved the way he softened towards Rune (even if it was at first pretend) and the things he did to woo her – I don’t blame her for falling for him!

My Thoughts:

I was really transported into this story and was riveted by the cat and mouse game between Rune and Gideon. I love the moments when they gave into what they were feeling but they have so much to work through. I love the world-building and the magic which was easy to follow. There’s a great tension that builds in the story because of Rune’s secrets, the cat and mouse game, the forbidden attraction and the twist in the story. I’m sad I have to wait for the next book!

Heartless Hunter has so many shades of grey thrown into the character's personalities. I love books where you can't declare one character in the right,t and the other in the wrong, and this book delivers this kind of character in spades. The author delves into the idea that there are often no winners when it comes to revolution, which is a fascinating backdrop for an epic romance. This story is one of the best enemies to lovers that I have read in a long time. I am very invested in Roan and Gidian's story, and I can't wait to read book two and find where the story takes us. I give this book 5/5 stars.

I received an advanced digital and audio copy. All thoughts are my own.