When I say I AM SOBBING

WHAT!?!?!?!

I wasn’t expecting any of that and I am HURTING for it. This is why I have a love hate relationship with arcs, although I am IMMENSELY grateful to have been approved for this one.

I need to have this book released and book 2 in the works like yesterday cause that ending??

NO

I REFUSE.

This was SUCH A GOOD book. The concept, the worldbuilding, the relationships, the TWISTS WHAT?!

I need more.

That’s it.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an arc of this book.

I will say that if you like Serpent & Dove (at least book 1) you'll probably like this one as well. It's really about the same level of interesting things happening and romance as S&D. However, there are definitely are a few differences.

I think the main difference is that it definitely feels a bit more enemies -- I guess I have no idea how to explain it. When I was reading it I was really getting S&D vibes. But it was good enough on its own and I'm definitely invested for the second book.

I think the major thing that I kind of wished about this book was that -- it's hard to explain. I felt like something was missing and I don't know what it was but like it's a solid four star read for me. I was really invested but I have no idea how to explain why I felt like something was missing. Or maybe it was just so similar to some other books I've read about witch hunters and witches that it just it just didn't give me what I was looking for.

I really enjoyed our main character. Rune, I thought she was really intriguing. I definitely liked her arc in this book. I think that there was one part towards the end I was kind of unhappy with but overall I really did like her arc.

This book definitely is very on the end of morally gray and what's good versus evil like what side is good? What side is bad yet at the same time it was done in a way that you kind of still - there's a side you want to root for.

I thought the book was really well written. It was really easy to get into it flowed and it was a dual point of view book. So our two main characters Gideon and Rune both had chapters in this book and we kind of get two points of you so it was kind of interesting to see that.

Overall, I think this was a really solid first entry and a new witch hunter witches enemies to lovers YA series. Although it definitely had some more little more, I wouldn't say it's explicit spice. It's definitely not as as tame as some other YA books. So just before warned about that it's not closed door.

I think the thing that most about this book is that I really wished some of the side characters were a little bit stronger. I felt sometimes they were left behind for the main characters and that they didn't add too terribly much to the book. I feel like this really plays into the end of the book as well. Just that I think things would have been much better at the end of the book if the side characters were stronger.

I am very excited for the next book in the series, so I am looking forward to it!

From page one, this gave me Serpent & Dove vibes. I mean, c’mon. A witch and a witch hunter falling in love and damning the consequences? I’ve read this story before.

But honestly, that basic principle is where the similarities end. I was hooked on this story and Rune and Gideon from there very first page, and I was wholly unprepared for just how much I would love this book.

First, our girl Rune. Living in plain sight as a witch, the infamous Crimson Moth who has spent the last few years setting free her fellow witches when the Blood Guard captures them to save them from the purging. She’s fiercely loyal to her cause, and she’s such a badass. Some of her antics had my heart in my throat, terrified she was going to get caught. But she’s so damn clever that it was impossible for the hunters get their hands on her.

Gideon is my new book boyfriend. A sexy, grumpy hunter who hates witches with every fiber of his being even though he’s falling for one? Say. Less. Gideon has been hurt deeply in his past because of the witches, and he’s on a mission to track down the Crimson Moth and put an end to the witch rebellion once and for all.

These two together—fated. Despite everything working against them, it was impossible for them to resist the pull.

This book was full of adrenaline, heart, grief and trauma, and twists and turns that’ll keep you guessing until the very last chapter.

The characters in Heartless Hunter are well-developed and with great, individual personalities. It was a great storyline and was well written, but honestly, it wasn't my cup of tea. I can see this being a hit with so many readers.

A delicious witch x witch-hunter romance with so much swoon and intrigue. If you liked romance dynamic in Serpent and Dove, you'll love Rune and Gideon. There is something so perfect about an enemies to lovers witch/witch-hunter romance and this book fulfills on the trope so well!

Heartless Hunter follows Rune, a witch whose whole world changed when she was forced to make a heart-wrenching decision in the aftermath of a revolutions. Witches were once the most powerful rulers and now they're ruthlessly hunted. Rune must hide what she truly is and not what she portrays – a vapid socialite. In reality, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who saves witches from being murdered. Everything is going fine until a rescue goes wrong and she decides to gain intel to fix her problem by wooing the handsome and notoriously ruthless witch Hunter, Gideon.

What follows is an incredible tale of secrets, bloody history, cat and mouse dynamic, and steamily swoony romance as Rune and Gideon dance around each other with ulterior motives that could wind up with one of them dead. Or, in love.

I loved Rune and Gideon's romance and I was obsessed with the dynamic between the two. Witch and witch-hunter enemies to lovers romances are so top tier!! Rune was such a strong main character who is really cunning and duplicitous while having a huge heart. Gideon was so misunderstood and as much as I loved him, man did he frustrate me with his witch hate! But overall, those two are such strong characters and I loved the growth and betrayals they experienced and caused. Alex is a sweetheart and I loved the dynamic he had with Rune for the most part. Same with Verity, her best friend who helped her on the missions and saving witches. The cast of characters is really good in this one!

Okay, that ending was sooooo heart-wrenching. I cannot even. No spoilers but wow to the two major twists!! Was not expecting either at all and I will not be getting over either anytime soon.

I loved the world and cannot wait for the sequel as it seems like it might focus more on the witch's and that's what I felt was slightly lacking from this first book. While I loved the introduction to the magic system and witches in the first book, I did want more so I'm really looking forward to the direction the sequel appears to be going in. But what we did see of the world and the magic was super interesting and I loved the twist on blood magic and revolution.

Overall, this is a really strong first book in a new duology and I definitely think it deserves all the hype it's getting! Check it out when it releases in Feb!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing and ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Kristen Ciccarelli, Netgalley, and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the eARC. Much appreciated!

I do feel like I say this with a lot of YA these days--especially these days, particularly in the last six or so years--but this had potential that was simply not realized. Either by the author who doesn't yet have the skill, or by the publisher/editor who did not let her. YA has several edges over Adult--it's often more carefree, fast-paced, and charmingly romantic, but this one fell flat in one big angle where it could have excelled in.

Worldbuilding.

The world simply wasn't built enough for a rich, imagined world, and YA is often bogged down with expectation--that it has to have a certain amount of romance (it doesn't; I know plenty of teens who are fine without a strong romantic core), that it has to be paced in such a manner to keep a teen's attention (understandable, but slower burn stories are absolutely important), that readers are only capable of worldbuilding as an aesthetic rather than a function. That is a big part of how it fell flat for me.

HEARTLESS HUNTER had so many great concepts--enemies-to-lovers, witches, vigilantes--that were not fully realized within the book. A lot of it felt toned down for an YA audience, with several Adult themes, whereas I felt if it had been a proper Adult novel, all these concepts mentioned above could be dug into more deeply to enrich the narrative. I suspect, also, that several readers are going to have issues with the SA storyline, which needed to be examined more thoroughly in order to be respectful. I'm not saying these issues cannot be explored in YA (they should) but I don't feel the author had the skill or nuance to handle it correctly for a YA audience. I would be very reluctantly, as a librarian, to recommend this to a teen looking for a a respectful, honest, or raw depiction of SA in a fantasy setting.

The romance also did not feel as authentic as it should've, and I stand by my opinion that enemies-to-lovers is the hardest trope to pull off correctly.

Overall, I don't think this is a bad book, and I hope the author keeps developing their skill, but ultimately, this is a "been there, done that" sort of story where that's been done better elsewhere. I have rated this book three stars (closer in my head to 2.5) because I thought the prose was solid and the potential is clearly there. I hope this series truly flowers in its sequels!

I finished Heartless Hunter in one sitting.

I've been reading snippets of the Heartless Hunter in Ciccarelli's newsletter for the past couple months. I've been excited for this book ever since she announced a loose The Scarlett Pimpernel retelling. I loved The Last Namsara and I was really looking forward to returning to Ciccarelli's fascinating characters and intriguing world building.

Heartless Hunter is told from both Rune and Gideon's POV. It's a duelling romance and both POVs are really well done. The shifts in perspective as they tell different parts of events along the timeline are beautifully done. Gideon and Rune are both reeling from intense personal trauma from events precipitating and surrounding the revolution. Politically, they're at two opposite extremes, but personally, they're working towards the same goal. I can't wait to see how they both continue to grow in the sequel.

The romance was really well done. Both Rune and Gideon have desires and goals outside of their attraction, which maintains them both as well-fleshed characters. They both enter their courtship hoping to get closer to the other for information, guarding secrets, motivations, and their late night activities. Neither of them lose sight of their original goals as their bond deepens and the lines between right and wrong continue to become blurred. It's beautiful to watch the relationship progress between these two incredible self-aware and motivated characters.

The foreshadowing in this is absolutely brilliant and I can't wait to see how those threads are resolved in the sequel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars

I was really excited for this book, I mean...it's witch x witch hunter enemies to lovers what's not to like about that premise? Ultimately this book fell really flat for me. The fantasy plot had a lot of potential, but wasn't built out enough. Meanwhile too much time was spent on the romance, but I didn't feel a true connection between the main characters.

The FMC I really vibed with, her story was compelling and I thought her character was at a good development stage. I'm excited to see how she grows in book 2. The MMC was kind of okay? I didn't think a lot of his decisions made sense but he wasn't...bad?

And without spoiling anything there is a subplot of SA happening to one of the main characters, who then is basically goaded into sleeping with the other main character for messed up reasons. And that is never discussed or analyzed. Just a bit off. The ending felt extremely rushed and thrown together.

Overall I enjoyed parts of this book and think it could be a good start to a series. I'd like to see more plot development and world building in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Heartless Hunter is a fantasy/paranormal romance where witches once again fall victim to hunters. The witches were once on top but the people overthrew them and now the witches are hunted. Rune is an empty-headed, gossipy socialite by day but by night she rescues witches from death under the guise of the Crimson Moth. Needing inside information, Rune behind a pursuit of the captain of the witch hunters, Gideon. Gideon is in pursuit of the Crimson Moth and clues lead to Rune. Deception leads to real feelings and Rune and Gideons story screams heartbreak and no happily ever after. Action filled and a little dark, the story breaks your heart but eaves you wanting the next chapter in Rune and Gideon’s story for a unique and addictive new fantasy series. My voluntary, unbiased and non mandatory review is based upon a free review copy from NetGalley.

4.5!
I needed this book after reading Serpent & Dove. I really enjoyed the plot and the story, but was weary to continue the series since there were soo many negative reviews on it.
Heartless Hunter follows Rune who poses as a rich socialite during the day while becoming the infamous Crimson Moth at night. After a revolution witches were deemed as the New Republics new enemy and all wtichkind who are found are 'purged'. Rune finds herself in a precarious situation when she attempts to save a witch and she has already been arrested by the most famous and most successful witch hunter in the New Republic. Gideon Sharpe not only is the most famous witch hunter but he also happens to be Rune's best friends brother. Rune's only option becomes to get close to Gideon and get as much information as she can to save someone important to her and her past all while attempting to be more clever than Gideon.

The world building was easy, great, and well explained. I didn't find myself disliking any one character an exceptional amount. Definitely excited for the second book!!

Heartless Hunter is enemies-to-lovers done well! I enjoyed how both the FMC and MMC had legitimate reasons for being on opposing sides. Gideon has a lot of trauma related to witches in power, and he’s not just a witch hater for no reason. Rune hates seeing others of her kind who are innocent being punished for the sins of a few, so she becomes a witch vigilante called the Crimson Moth. I really got immersed into the story and could not stop reading. The magic system is really unique as well. I kind of want Rune to develop casting scars now, and I’m interested in what kind of designs she would choose. I’m really excited for book two! It’s going to be one of those books that I am anxiously anticipating! I will definitely be purchasing this book for my own collection. The cover is stunning!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Kristen Ciccarelli for an eARC of Heartless Hunter!

The world building and the character motivations were rich and immaculate okay 😭 there's a lot of depth to both MCs, any I loved the slow burn exploration of that over the course of the book

I loved it. I did not see any of the twists and turns at the end coming. This is loosely based on the Scarlet Pimpernel which I have been wanting to read so maybe I will pick it up soon. So Gideon is a witch hunter. The witches used to rule but there was an uprising and now the witches are in hiding. He is trying to find the Crimson Moth. Rune is the Crimson Moth and she has been helping witches flee to safety. Rune's best friend is Gideon's brother, Alex, who helps her help witches. Rune decides she needs to get close to Gideon so she can get intel from him. Gideon thinks Rune might be a witch so he decides to get close to her to figure out if she is a witch or not. They start to fall in love but Gideon knows that his brother has loved Rune for a long time and it will crush him if Gideon gets close to Rune. Obviously chaos ensues. I could not put this book down. I loved the love story part with Gideon and Rune. I loved them together. I saw it is a duology so at least it is just one more book to finish the story. I hope the second book comes soon.

-"You are not the things that happened to you, Gideon."
He wished that were true. "None of us can escape our pasts."

-If I didn't have to hide myself, she thought, who would I be? Who was the real Rune Winters? Not the socialite. Not the Crimson Moth. But the person deep down inside her. Rune had been playing a part for so long, she couldn't remember.

Oh my word! I DEVOURED this book in one day it was so good. Kristen Ciccarelli does a fantastic job weaving intrigue and tension between the characters. It is not often that a reader gets a full view of the reason a character is morally grey or villainous, but with Gideon there is vivid accounts of his backstory. The cat-and-mouse game between him and Rune is perfectly executed. It is the right amount of friction and desire--I could not get enough. Ciccarelli does a great job explaining the magic system, using numerous characters to provide the necessary knowledge to the reader. It can be difficult to write duel POVs and ensure that the voice of each character is brought through, but Rune and Gideon's POVs were distinctive and showcased their strengths and weaknesses.

My only draw back is that I was often confused at the setting of the story, it felt like a very Victorian setting but then certain things, like the choice of dress and undergarments, didn't quite fit that mold. I know that this is built more in a world of it's own, but it still threw me off sometimes.

The fact that this story is loosely based on another called The Scarlet Pimpernel has alas added yet another book to my TBR as I love comparing and contrasting works that brought inspiration.

*Thank you St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review*

A book inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel? Umm, yes, please sign me up!

A new regime is in charge. Having overthrown the once-revered witches that were in charge, the people of republic now hunt witches and view even witch sympathizers worthy of death. The Book Guard patrols the streets searching for any witch in hiding and for the elusive Crimson Moth who rescues witches on the brink of execution. No one wants to find the Moth more than Gideon. When a hint of an idea is suggested to him, he hatches a plan to court Rune--a vapid socialite--in order to find out her secrets.

Meanwhile Rune--the Crimson Moth who masquerades as a vapid socialite--decides to court the most dangerous member of the Blood Guard--Gideon--in order to find out where they're hiding a witch with very important connections to her. What follows is an oh so fun game of cat and mouse filled with scheming and unseen twists and turns.

The characters are wonderfully built out and the world intriguing. And the magic system is a lot of fun. A lot of the enjoyment came when these three elements collided into heart stopping moments. This book is perfect for fans of books like Serpent & Dove. I, for one, cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment!

They seek her here, they seek her there,
Those Blood Guards seek her everywhere.

Many thanks to the publisher for an arc. All thoughts are my own. (Full disclosure: I will be buying my own hard copy the moment this hits the shelves!)

A deadly game of cat and mouse is played in a world where witches are hunted and no one is who they seem.

Heartless Hunter was one of the perfect books to start my reading year of with. I absolutely fell in love with the female main character, Rune, from the first page. If you like courtly type romances with a fake dating troupe set in a lush a vibrant world, this book is for you.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book is that the pacing felt absolutely perfect to me. I didn't find myself getting bored, but I also didn't feel like I was getting whiplash.

I already can't wait for the sequel!!!!

Rating 4.5, rounded up to 5.

Wow, I devoured this book! This novel transported me into a world reminiscent of regency romance with a twist of witchery, creating a captivating slow-burn enemies-to-lovers narrative that hooked me from start to finish. Set in a society where witches are ruthlessly hunted after a revolution that overthrew their queens, Rune, operating under the guise of the Crimson Moth, becomes a vigilante rescuing fellow witches from purges.

A twist in one of her rescues forces Rune to divert attention by entering a complicated courtship with Gideon Sharpe, a notorious and ruthless witch hunter. The dynamic between Rune and Gideon is the epitome of a well-executed slow-burn romance, though I craved a bit more banter and spark between them. The story avoids the trap of insta-love and maintains an element of unpredictability, keeping the tension alive with a constant hint of danger and excitement.

The plot strikes a commendable balance between romance and fantasy, with a particularly intriguing element being the exploration of blood magic. I appreciated the inclusion of blurbs at the beginning of some chapters, detailing different spells, their properties, and usage. The magic system is well-defined, featuring limitations and costs that add depth to the narrative. The choice of dual 3rd person perspective, grew on me, offering unique insights into the complex characters of Rune and Gideon. The characters in this tale are far from perfect, existing in a morally grey space filled with secrets. The entire cast contributes to the story's dark and fast-paced nature, navigating through numerous twists and turns.

I cannot wait to read the sequel to this book!

I didn't think I would love this book as much as I did. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down. Rune and Gideon were well developed characters. I loved both POV's in the chapters. Usually I'm bored with one POV but they were both well done. And that plot twist...I had no idea. This book had everything action, adventure. romance, politics, magic and betrayal. Excellent book and I cannot wait for the next in the series!!!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Likes:
-magic system
-enemies to lovers
-witches
-time period setting
-female main character

Nitpicks:
-should’ve been labeled as adult and leaned more into those adult themes
-a lot of the plot set ups were obvious
-a couple minor plot holes

Overall I loved this book and couldn’t read it fast enough. I can’t wait to receive it in a certain book subscription box

Rune Winters is one of the social elite on the island where the Sister Queens (Witch queens) were killed.and a new order and took control. All witches were hunted down to be purged by the Blood Council.

What they don't know is that Rune is searching for an old friend of her Nan's who is a witch. She is treading in dangerous waters as she navigates her life as a social elite in the new regime and her quest to find the witch. Only her best friends, Verity and Alex, know her secret. She decides that she needs to get close to someone in the know when it comes the the Blood Guard and their Witch hunts. Enter Gideon, Alex's brother, who has a reputation as one of the most ruthless witch hunters on the island. Is he the one Rune needs to get close to in order to get the answers she desires?

This book is beautifully written and starts off slow. However, a few chapters in the face picks up and doesn't stop. The suspense of Rune's quest and if she will succeed is as captivating as her love life. There is a bit of world building which is well done and adds to the depth of the story. It is in itself a love story and yet so so much more.