Let’s start with the things I liked about this book:

I thought the world building and blood magic system was really cool. The whole idea of being “The Crimson Moth” at night & a socialite by day.

Now the things I didn’t like as much:
I did not buy Gideon as the love interest. I was expecting a lot more banter and scheming between them but only got that maybe one time in the mine. I didn’t really see how they both suddenly went to loving each other, it didn’t feel like a smooth transition. Gideon also reminded me of serial killers who are traumatized in their youth who then go on to murder woman “because” of it… which doesn’t necessarily make me like him as a love interest.

I also would’ve loved to see Rune as the Crimson Moth more, we only get that one time in the whole book.

Despite all that I do really think the next book in the series has a lot of potential so I’ll be continuing the series when it comes out.

Rune Winters is a witch in hiding. After the fall of the Sister Queens, most powerful witches in history, witches are being hunted and purged. Fighting in memory of her grandmother, Rune becomes The Crimson Moth, a vigilante saving fellow witches from the Blood Guard and helping them escape the island. In order to get information on the whereabouts of a powerful witch, Rune will need to court a witch hunter, Gideon Sharpe. Believing Rune is an aloof socialite, Gideon plants clues to catch The Crimson Moth and soon suspects they are one and the same.

Heartless Hunter was alike to Bridgerton with witches and a slightly gothic background, featuring the popular romance trope enemies to lovers. Although I liked the setup and atmosphere, it was very repetitive and slow paced at times. Especially in the first half in regard to different spells and blood magic, very simple system to follow so it didn’t need to repeat as much as it did.

Like many YA novels, this book doesn’t develop to include many characters that are older than the demographic, it seems like the government is ran by young adults. I found many themes problematic. Witches are presented as female only, a menace to society making them out to be evil and dangerous (ie. to men), at the same time the only way for them to use their magic is by self harm.

I wished there was more world building overall, it was very small and the romance felt forced. I didn’t think Rune and Gideon had chemistry or characteristics to make them stand out amongst the plethora of Romantasy novels on the market currently. The book was disjoined making it seem like two different novels from the first half to the second, ending in a lot of chaos and violence.

Trigger warnings: self harm + scars, blood magic (a lot of talk about blood), death

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy to review.

I could not put this book down— it completely stole my heart, and I’m dying for a second already! I love both Rune’s and Gideon’s characters so much, and I love the gray area found in the warring backdrop of this plot. I love that the battling sides weren’t so black and white, and I love how the book caused me to question which side I was on as we learned more and more of the lore. And the twist at the end— wasn’t expecting that at all.

I think this is going to be a popular book once it releases! A game of cat and mouse between a witch and a witch hunter, Heartless Hunter was a fun fantasy ride with characters and story I can’t wait to keep reading about. Both Rune and Gideon were written so well. I loved getting insight into their backstories and seeing their dangerous relationship grow. The magic system here was really interesting and I liked getting little descriptions about the different levels of spells throughout the book. The pacing was pretty steady. There was a lot of action and events happening to keep things interesting. The big twist I definitely didn’t see coming and it was such a cool one. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the series!
CW: murder, violence, mentions of addiction

Thank you to Wednesday Books for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the chance to read an ARC of Heartless hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli. The author has been on my TBR list, and I am so happy I started with Heartless hunter (Crimson moth #1) I was totally drawn into the book at the very beginning. The main character Rune, is a witch, hiding in plain sight as a frivolous socialite during the day, and witch vigilante, the Crimson moth at night. Standing in her way is Captain Gideon Sharpe, who vows to eradicate all witches. As Rune and Gideon enter in a subtle game of cat and mouse, will both of them fall into the dangerous trap of love?
I was really intrigued by the world building of the YA fantasy; how casting magic has a price, and the love triangle between Rune, Gideon, and Rune's best friend Alex, who is Gideon's younger brother. There are some fabulous twists, and I can't wait until the 2nd book comes out.
While this is described as a YA, I feel it is more for older teens.

Wow wow wow this took grip of my fantasy heart and stole it. This book is SO good! I couldn’t put this book down - a strongly recommended read! I need a physical copy the moment it comes out - need me a physical trophy!!!

3.5 stars

A quick and enjoyable YA. While I thought the plot and twists were predictable, I liked the back and forth between the two main leads. The love triangle was trite, but (spoiler) the ending sort of resolves it. I am looking forward to the sequel.

Witches are no longer welcome in the kingdom and have been systematically rooted out and brutally killed. Rune is more than she appears - vapid socialite to most, but witch rescuer to others. But has she bit off more than she can chew when she decides to try to ensnare Gideon Sharpe, the kingdom's most relentless witch hunter, into her social circle? Or will he instead ensnare her? Swoony scenes will steal your breath, while you wait for the trap to be sprung. Recommended for high school and up

🤍 Thank you for @wednesdaybooks the e-arc of Heartless Hunter by @kristenciccarelli ! 🤍

This. Book. It was dazzling, gritty, exciting, addictive, and romantic. Also, it was so much fun to read it with my book bestie @and.a.good.book!!!

Gideon and Rune were two such strong characters. A lot of darkness has defined most of their lives, shaping them into destined enemies.

But when they are together?! It was an explosion of angsty chemistry.

A witch and a witch hunter. What could go wrong?

If you love:
• enemies to lovers
• fake dating
• Scarlet Pimpernel retelling
• first in a duology
• so. much. tension.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: one open door scene
TW: blood, violence, death, physical and s*xual abuse (off page)

Heartless Hunter/The Crimson Moth was absolutely captivating from the first page to the very end.. Some of my quick thoughts:

- Ciccarelli's characters were so well flushed out, Our two main characters were equally cunning and clever, which made the Dual POV enjoyable to read. The cat and mouse game between the witch x witch hunter was absolutely addicting. Every time I thought one character had the upper hand on the other, the tables kept turning and turning.

- THE MAGIC SYSTEM. One thing I stan in fantasy books is a hard and well-thought out magic system. I liked that this one was so unique. (TW: blood, self-mutilation) The use of fresh blood and even Rune's menstrual blood was a little ick, but I liked the clear distinction of spells causing a different effect whether the blood was 1. fresh or old and 2. if it was given freely or forcibly taken. The witches also having distinct casting scars and signatures/smells really upped the stakes with them being hunted and purged.

- I agree with a lot of my fellow readers that this book may not have been placed in the correct genre. It definitely felt a new more NA than YA, in my opinion- especially with the traumatic history of Rune and Gideon and some of the subject matter. The amount of chemistry/angst though was just the right amount. 👌🏼

- The overall pacing of the book was pretty consistent- the last sentences of each chapter made it difficult to want to put the book down, which is always a great thing. The last 10% of the book really ramped up and hello?? that ending 🥹😮‍💨. I can honestly say I have no idea how the next book will unfold, but I'm here for the ride.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday books for the early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts/opinions. In solidarity with the SMP boycott, I will be withholding from posting my review on Goodreads and instagram until the demands of the boycott are met.

NO. NO I REFUSE TO BELIEVE ANY OF THE ENDING. NO THANK YOU PLEASE.

BRING ALEX BACK.

LET RUNE AND GIDEON LOVE EACH OTHER.

TELL VERITY/CRESSIDA TO BE NICE

4.5 stars for Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli!

This books had me hooked quickly. I loved the deception of Rune and getting to see the dual POV of how the main characters were attempting to manipulate and play off of each other. The plot had a great pace and the twist at the end took me by complete surprise. The world building in this was great and fairly straight forward, which I think makes it a great novel for new and seasoned fantasy readers alike . I am very much looking forward to the second!

I could not take this book seriously.

Immediately, I just had a problem with the characters, specifically the love "triangle" between Rune and the brothers. It was a half-baked idea and so extremely unwise and unlikely that Rune would trust Alex with literally anything when she knows how loyal he is to Gideon. Why does she not marry him and then use the intel she could get from him? At one point, it's stated that it would be "impractical" for her to "freely glean" information from him. I'm sorry: In what world does that even make sense? I'm supposed to believe that Gideon is such a ruthless bad boy (at 20, mind you) from his (mishandled) traumas and yet Rune, who was forced to turn in her own grandmother in order to carry on her underground witch rescues, isn't made more ruthless by her own trauma? And yet she has no idea how Alex feels about her but will string him along for help with her witch rescues? How cruel is that??? The emotional stakes are absent.

So many tropes and nothing interesting done with them. And with a name like 'Rune' how is she not suspect no. 1 for the Crimson Moth?

This one was not for me.

This captivating and enchanting romanticy is stunning. I couldn't read this fast enough! But now I'm left hanging waiting for the next book!! I need the next book to know what happens next!!! I loved Ruin and Gideon's story. Loved this so much this is going on my to keep shelf!
I just reviewed Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli. #NetGalley
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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.

The storyline was interesting, especially the nuances with the witchcraft and the consequences of spells. There were some tropes I also enjoyed. This was shaping to be a 5 star read until I got to the 85% section and then the main characters made a slew of decisions that were perplexing and disappointing.

My frustration with the ending is overpowering my thoughts on this book. I’m at 3.5/5 stars. I feel like I’ll still read the next book as I’d like to see how this ends. I’m really hoping things can be redeemed as I think this will be amongst the most popular fantasy books of the year.

A witchy game of cat and mouse? Yes, please! This was a really decent fantasy however I don’t know if I personally would classify this as YA.

In a world where witches are deemed out to be purged from their society, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth. A witch vigilante that rescues other witches, only when a rescue goes awry, she decides to get close with the enemy for intel.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book, well written in my opinion. The story was a bit hard to get into at first as I didn’t think it started off real strong but I did come to really love this cat and mouse game. Enemies to lovers is always fun! I enjoyed Rune’s chapters over Gideons but I don’t really have a specific reason other than I liked Rune’s character more. Gideon was not a good person and I disliked his character entirely. The chapters are decent and the story, once it picks up, flows nicely.

There’s more romance as the story evolves and there is a bit of a love triangle, kind of. While not the best witchy book I’ve read, it was still interesting and I’ll probably read the sequel.

3.5 stars

Heartless Hunter starts strong and introduces a young witch who is plotting and actively rescuing other witches in her society! I absolutely loved the tropes in this book! We saw enemies to lovers, cat and mouse, witch and witch hunter, and fake dating (or are we really dating?) and love triangles! Would absolutely recommend!

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review, and all opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!


The Crimson Moth is just as good as the stunning cover leads you to believe, and the cover is so gorgeous. This book is about a young witch who had to endure a horrible choice to keep herself and other witches safe when the Blood Guard takes over her town, slaying witches and their sympathizers. Rune, the main character, pretends to be a carefree socialite, loyal to the Blood Guard, while keeping her identity as the Crimson Moth, Witch Viggalantie, a secret. However, that secret is at risk when she ends up falling for Gideon, a ruthess witch hunter. 


I loved this book!! The writing was excellent. It was engaging from the first page, and the characters were likable and flawed in realistic ways. I found it to be a very quick read that I didn't want to put down, and I will be very quick to order the sequel when it comes out. I loved the twist at the end, and I think they wrapped up most of my questions while leaving a good amount left for the next book. I definitely recommend this book and can not wait to get a physical copy! 4.5/5 stars!

This was so good! I love a good witch story and this one is top notch! It has dark, spooky vibes. You get the perfect amount of hints for the secrets along the way. I felt it was paced really well.
Rune was a great FMC. I loved that she never was completely fooled. She was very good at playing her part.
Gideon was almost perfect too. I think he was equally intelligent but he lets people manipulate him and his thoughts. I can’t wait for him to start thinking and choosing for himself!
This book is a true Enemies to Lovers and I loved it so much! It was really great having a dual pov too because you can sympathize with both characters and both sides of this fight. This book hooked me from the beginning and I never fully knew what was going to happen next which is the best! I loved how the whole ending came together too. Enemies to Lovers to Enemies again. Yes! I love it and I can’t wait for the next installment! Also, the cover of this book is perfection to me. I love everything about this book 🖤
5/5 Highly Recommend if you want a good enemies to lovers, witch fantasy! So so good!

Thank you St Martins, Kristen Ciccarelli, and Netgalley for the eARC!

WOW 4.8/5 stars

I am still processing this book! I really really enjoyed this story, the characters, the twists and turns!

Plot:
It was a little slow to get into, the first 10% was a build up, but BOY after that - we took off and it was a never ending cycle of secrets, lies, and plot twists. I mean the ending alone had my mouth drop - literally drop.

Magic system/ world building:
The witches magic was SO cool. It was quite complex for what read like a YA book. But not hard to follow. Written well.

Characters:
MFC - UGH to die for. I loved reading her POV. She was such a likeable character. She was secretive, but sensitive, thoughtful and had critical thinking skills. A little impulsive at times, but with such high emotions and the trauma history, it all worked.

Our MMC Gideon - I liked him, a lot. He definitely had the most back story and I am interested to see where the story is going for him. HE'S A HURT LITTLE BABY and I just want to hold him. The author wrote him so well, morally grey on the softer side.

Side characters - I just wanted a DASH more about them, but when I got to the end, I understood why we didn't get as much as I hoped for.

The Love Triangle- Just a LITTLE bit was missing for it to be a true love triangle. But I felt the pull the MFC was feeling.

Overall - This was a fantastic read and I highly HIGHLY recommend fantasy readers to put this on their TBR !!