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.

Rune's life changed when a bloody revolution saw witches purged--including her beloved grandmother. In the two years since, she has become a witch known as the Crimson Moth, carefully freeing those captured by the Blood Guard. But to stay one step ahead of her enemies, she needs intel... and she thinks that if she can properly seduce Gideon Sharpe, a Blood Guard captain, then she'll be able to save many more lives. Gideon, on the other hand, has been hunting the Crimson Moth fervently, and when he comes by a piece of information that directs him towards Rune, he pretends to court her back. As their relationship becomes more complicated, Rune has to wonder--is there ever any future between two nemeses?

Witches are, apparently, back in vogue. Much like SERPENT & DOVE and NIGHT OF THE WITCH, HEARTLESS HUNTER features a witch and a witch hunter, perfect enemies embroiled in a love affair. So while the general setup isn't anything new, it can be utterly enchanting if done well. Ciccarelli, drawing inspiration from THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, has created a cat-and-mouse novel that is less romantic than you may expect. 3 stars.

There were some really great things in this book. And there were some not so great things in this book. Let's start with the former. One thing I liked was that the two main characters, Rune and Gideon, are very morally gray--they are not perfect, and they aren't necessarily righteous. They are both scheming and lying for their own ambitions. And because the novel follows both of them (in third person) we get to see a lot of their complex characterizations. Both of them have difficult pasts, and even at the end of the story, you can't say with certainty that one of them is "on the right side."

Additionally, the magic system in this book is very well-defined. There are no loose ends; it's pretty black and white and doesn't leave you guessing. Magic of all sorts is possible, depending on the amount of blood and whether or not permission for its use was given. That, and the witch has to know the spell symbols. That's it. Beautiful in its simplicity. Refreshing in the way that even the lead character is forced to follow the rules.

However, there was one thing I didn't like, and it was kind of a major thing: the romance. To be perfectly honest, I would have liked this book better if it had not been promoted as a romance fantasy. As a romantasy reader, that feels like blasphemy... but I think it just felt like the relationship between Rune and Gideon was forced to become more real than it ever felt. I could believe that they were just pretending. I would have liked to see where they stayed ardent enemies, without the confusion over emotions or the quick belief that they had fallen in love (within weeks).

Telling me that they started to have real feelings for each other didn't warm my heart in the least. Also, it was hard to root for them when you have Alex, Gideon's brother and Rune's confidante and best friend, who is hopelessly in love with her and makes for a much better partner. Their relationship felt more organic to me, and it's very rare that I fall victim to Second Lead Syndrome. That being said, I would have liked to see more of Rune being the Crimson Moth--not just talking about it and planning for it, but doing--and more of Gideon being the great, cold witch hunter he's supposed to be, instead of romantic bits.

(Review posted to Goodreads on January 26, 2024.)

First thing I want to say is I would considered this book a New Adult due to having more adult aspects to the story. The categories need to be reconfigured for books that might be too spicy or triggering for an audience of 13-18.

Trigger Warnings: Murder, Blood(menstrual and cutting) for magic, mass murder of a group of persons, addiction, sexual abuse, public executions, semi-explicit sex scenes, skinny dipping, touch and kissing.

All that said - I ADORED this book and devoured it. I stayed up late reading it and finished it this morning because I had to know what was going to happen. I enjoyed the characters and the roles that they played through this book and I am a sucker for a witches and witch hunter type story. Ciccarelli chose to write witches that use bloody magic, but I loved the imagery of when they bloodlet to cut designs into their skin leaving silvery scars wherever the blood was taken for magic.

Rune lives her life after having to turn her Gran in for being a witch and how her motivation is to live and save as many witches as she can. She works alongside her friends to save witches from being murdered by pretending to be a socialite with a secret. When her mission of saving a witch, Seraphina, she ends up having to court her best friend's brut brother, Gideon, to achieve her goals. Gideon and Rune try and play one another to find out information about one another and eventually their relationship begins to evolve.

The ending of book has me itching for the next one and I can't wait to see what happens with these characters.

I have began to notice I love an enemies-to-lovers and a slow burn romance and that is what Ciccarelli brought to the table with this book. I was sad about the love triangle just because I adored Alex and thought his was what would be considered the perfect husband-type and it always seems like those characters never get the girl or achieve happiness like they deserve.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the e-ARC for a review!

Not sure how I feel about this one honestly. It's very serpent and dove esque. However I hated S&D. I hate higher hopes for this one. While Rune was a better FMC than Lou, I still didn't love this story. It was good for the first little bit and then just went downhill. Gideon was supposed to be this man in charge and yet was taking orders from someone meant to be an informant. Someone telling him to have sex with Rune to see her completely nude. Pushing for it and you clearly see he is uncomfortable with this. Especially with his background and past with being abused and with SA. Pretty gross honestly.

The concept of the book was great but the execution fell a little flat. Wish we would have also seen more of the magic system and Rune being this Crimson Moth. I felt there was hardly any growth for the characters too. Especially Gideon who clearly needs inner reflection on things if there was ever a chance for him and Rune to be together. I get why he hates witches, but I also feel like Rune didn't try to make him see not all witches are evil.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read the earc in exchange for an honest review. I will not be sharing a review to socials unless Wednesday books gets with the program and denounces genocide.

I truly loved everything about this book up until the 80% point. But even the ending has me absolutely dying for the next book. Unlike many others I’ve read, this book is ACTUALLY enemies to lovers and I found myself contemplating how Rune and Gideon would come back from this. By far one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. The writing was great, I loved the dual POV, the relationship struggles were legitimate and I’m absolutely devastated that I have to wait for book 2.

I LOVED this book! The love triangle, the angst, the deceptions and the friendships were wonderful!

This book had a strong plot, and characters that were so relatable & well developed! I felt like it had a good pace, I enjoyed the shorter chapters and Gideon was hands down my favorite male lead!

It reminded me of the Crucible, where witches were hunted & shunned by the community. I really enjoyed the element of her being a vigilante, and rescuing witches that weee tortured as a way to purge her own conscience for letting her grandmother being handed over to the blood guard! Overall a great book! I will definitely read more from this author!

4.5/5 Stars

I enjoyed exploring this unique post revolution dystopian fantasy world in which witches are persecuted by humans after the humans overthrew the ruling witches. The magic system is based on using blood to draw symbols and how the blood is obtained to draw the symbols may affect the magic strength and after effects. Due to the setting of the book, the magic did take a little bit of a back seat in the plot but I am excited to learn more about it as the series progresses.

I felt like all of the main characters were well developed and had great backstories. I felt for the characters and they were fun to follow. The book focuses on the secret witch, Rune, and the famed witch-hunter, Gideon, as they play mind games and attempt to uncover secrets from another. The author’s writing did a great job in building tension and empathy for the characters. The writing was easy to read and was paced well throughout the book. I also thought some of the romantic lines were very heartwarming and will leave you smitten.

The plot was fairly straight forward as most of the book focuses on the relationships and trying to meet fairly simple goals. I will say there is some mystery that ends up sneaking up on you because the author was so sly in planting hints throughout the book. This is definitely a book that may make you want to reread to see if you can find all the hints.

I ended up enjoying this book a lot more than I expected based on the synopsis. I felt like the tension and romance reminded me a lot of The Jasad Heir but less enemies to lovers and more fake dating and adversaries to lovers adjacent. I’m having a hard time categorizing which tropes this book has because it is such a unique take on a fantasy romance. If you are tired of the typical romance tropes and are looking for something with some tension and intrigue, this book is for you!

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Wednesday for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

So thankful to have received this netgalley arc because I ate this book up. I felt the story was well constructed, the magic system was explained well, and the pacing was good.
I cared about the characters, and the will they won’t they game between Gideon and Rune. The reveal at the end broke my heart and actually shocked me.
I really appreciate when a book can invoke emotions and I’m glad to say that this one certainly did.
4/5 stars