I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm so obsessed with this book that I don't know what to do with myself! I still haven't calmed down, and I don't think I ever will, so I might as well convey my deep love for this book.

You might read the summary and think, "Oh witch and witch hunter romance, I've read it before" but trust me, YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS SIZZLING ROMANCE!!! This book is so nuanced and tackles different themes in a profound way. No character is one-dimensional nor infallible.

Rune is a shallow heiress by day, witch smuggler and savior by night. I loved how she struggled mentally to fulfill both roles, and I especially loved how, towards the end, she realized that all she's ever done is just that: fulfill these two roles. She doesn't know who she really is beneath that facade and her cause. And I REALLY loved how Gideon challenged her privilege, because apart from her suffering and her saving witches, she is privileged. Words can't describe how I loved this nuance, that the author didn't give us a perfect, infallible, savior on a white horse but a girl just doing her best in a cruel world.

Gideon, my beautiful big and traumatized brute. He's definitely not heartless by the way. Yeah, what he's doing isn't right, but after what he's been through, after watching witches mentally torture and absolutely ruin his family, anyone would hate the witches. His beliefs aren't based on propaganda but on pure, raw, unfathomable pain. He's strong physically and mentally because he survived and protected Alex all his life. He constantly puts the public's and Alex's safety ahead of his. And his internal struggle and non-existent self-worth and self-esteem will make you cry.

The romance is SIZZLING! Their chemistry has a life of its own! Nothing felt rushed or forced for the sake of storytelling. This is a true and beautiful enemies-to-lovers romance, the one we all deserve! I loved and swooned and laughed and screamed at their scenes!!!!

The plot was interesting and I was so immersed, so INTO everything that I didn't have the time or brain cells to make predictions about what will happen, and that doesn't happen often. I can't shut off my brain like that, but this book made it possible. I loved and had fun while reading the entire book from first to last page.

The voice is compelling and addictive and you can't escape it once it grips you, and it does grip you on the first page. Unputdownable!

One of my favorite reads of all time. So obsessed that I can't see the way out.

I read this in 24 hours. I hadn't read a book so fast in a long while.
But I had a hunch it couldn't have been different with "Heartless Hunter" for it has the best of the tropes!! (ei.: hidden identity, outsmarting the rich, enemies to lovers)
And these were done in a very engaging and fresh way! Rune is a character you cheer for from the begginning. And knowing her cause and reasons, you are unsure how her romance with Gideon will play out, and you even cheer for someone else for a while :x
There's a thin line to walk when writing an enemies to lovers trope. Sometimes, the romance becomes sudden, when, in my opinion, there needs to be an element of slow burn since the characters have a reason to be enemies. Kristen Ciccarelli did this very well... both Rune and Gideon did not let their masks fall suddenly. There were cracks that started showing and the pull slowly became stronger. And things became grey and we the readers nervous to know how their predicament would end...

All I will say is that I am thoroughly looking forward to the second book :)

To the world, Rune Winters is an insipid socialite with her eyes set on finding a husband. But that persona is only a cover-up for her real identity – the Crimson Moth. With the government hunting down witches to purge them from the country, Rune uses her own magic to find and save as many magical women as possible. Only her two best friends, Verity DeWilde and Alex Sharpe, are aware of her secret life, and both companions do their best to cover for Rune as she tries to balance her dual identities.

While Alex may be Rune’s best friend, his brother, Gideon Sharpe, is a lead witch hunter and one of the greatest threats to anyone with magic. But when Rune needs to discover the location of a captured witch before she’s put to death, she’ll have to cozy up to Gideon to gain inside information. Gideon has his own agenda – to determine whether Rune knows anything about the Crimson Moth. While they’re both busy pretending to enjoy someone they despise, real feelings accidentally develop. Will duty to their respective missions override attraction?

This book was so good! Every chance I got I would sneak in as many pages as possible. Filling up on gas? Read. Waiting for kids at school pick up? Read. I’m so glad to know there is another book coming, because I was left wanting more. The characters were very well written – it was difficult to root for one side or the other as more background information was revealed. Romance, magic, friendship – this book is sure to be a big 2024 fantasy hit!

I loved the world building here. The setup is incredible and I was fully on board with the plight of the witches and the character conflicts. There was a lot that happened at the end and I'll just say that I wish it had been NA in genre or adult, and being YA possibly did this story a disservice. 4 stars for world building. I wish characters, love arcs, and details had been fleshed out, but I think the author did an amazing job setting it all up.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Forbidden Love
Enemies to Lovers
Witches and Witchy Vibes

Look, I love this book. I am incredibly annoyed that I read this early, because I really really REALLY need book two with an ending like that. There were so many twists and turns, and every single time I began cringing because I could see what was going to happen next, an explosion of fireworks in a different direction surprised me, if you get my drift.

Rune is a witch, in a world where it’s a death sentence to be one. By day she’s a wealthy, ditzy socialite, but by night she rescues witches from the clutches of the New Republic and its famed Witch Hunter, Gideon Sharpe.

To save an important witch however, Rune must purposely stick herself in the dangerous clutches of Gideon Sharpe, and what ensues is nothing short of spellbinding.

I cannot recommend this book enough, and I cannot wait to get back to this world in Book 2!

Heartless Hunter was awesome and I couldn’t put it down. Believe the hype! Loved the writing.
It’s an enemies to lovers trope which is one of my favorites. The witches have been outcast and are being ruthlessly hunted because of how dangerous they are. The blood guards were tearing the town upside down, picking them off one at a time. This was an exciting read that had all my favorite things. It had great chemistry and romance oozing suspense. I highly recommend it and can’t wait for book 2!
Thanks St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

A fantastic start to a new slow burn, enemies to lovers fantasy romance. Perfect for fans of Serpent & Dove! This follows a witch and a witch hunter fake courting to get information out of each other and then they eventually fall for real. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the superior fantasy trope is witch/winter hunter. So I knew this was going to be a hit for me.

Short Synopsis:
Rune is an heiress. She’s spends her days wearing fancy dresses and hosting parties for the elite. But her nights? She spends as the Crimson Moth - rescuing fellow witches from the witch hunters. She lures suitors to use spells to get information. Until she tries it on Gideon- her best friends brother and captain of the witch hunters.

My Thoughts:
I was so captivated by this story. I loved how complex the characters are. Rune is smart and clever and kind and a terrific FMC. Gideon was a unique perspective. I loved how complicated his POV was.

The love triangle in this had me TORN. It was so well done. And I loved the push and pull of the romance. I was fully absorbed and cannot wait until book two!

Read if You Like:
❤️ Romantasy
❤️ Witches/Magic
❤️ Enemies to Lovers
❤️ Best Friend’s Brother
❤️ Cat and Mouse games
❤️ Forbidden magic

Are you in the market for a sizzling romance with a touch of mystery and cat and mouse? Then this would be the book for you. This book is beyond addicting and the characters are lovable. You will not be able to put this book down!

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

From the characters, to the world building, to the enemies to lovers --- I enjoyed this book very much. The story kept me turning page after page! I did predict a few things early, but honestly I'm good at that haha. It's a curse sometimes! Thank you for this arc read.

Thank you to Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Rune is a witch hiding in plain sight as a socialite who seemingly hates witches. Secretly, she is also the Crimson Moth - a vigilante who rescues other witches from being purged. Rune finds herself entangled with Gideon Sharpe while trying to rescue a witch. Gideon is a witch hunter loyal to those wanting to eradicate all witches.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it has been awhile since a YA fantasy story has captured my attention and not let me down with the plot. I will admit that I guessed one of the twists fairly early on, but that did not decrease my enjoyment at all. I liked the dual POVs and the slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance. I am already eager to read the sequel. Overall, 4/5 stars and I would recommend picking this one up.

Wow. That’s all I can say for this book. A whole new take on witch/human world with a craftful enemies to lovers. You can tell how much time the author put into this novel to make it seamless. I loved all the small details and plot twists that just dug into your heart. The romance is also top tier and I hope we see a lot more of it in the next book. I felt like a little girl reading this I was so excited and couldn’t put it down. Definitely recommend to anyone who loves romantasy, action packed fantasy, enemies to lovers, found family, and lovers who help heal each other from trauma. Thank you netgalley and Kristen Ciccarelli for this ARC, I think you may be one of my new favorite authors!

Wow. Rune and Gideon sucked me right into their story and I could not stop reading. The characters, the world, and the enemies-to-lovers storyline were all well developed and I appreciated the depth of the characters and their relationships to each other. I saw the twist coming but thought it was well executed, and can’t believe I’m now going to have to wait until the next sequel. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC of this fantastic new series! The story was completely engrossing! I loved the characters and the plot was super intense throughout. It was a hard book to put down! The only negative of this book is it ends on a huge cliffhanger and the next book isn't even out yet! Definitely would recommend to lovers of fantasy or a good story! I'm not huge into fantasy and I still was addicted. One of my top books this year for sure.

What a book! Brilliant and twisty romantic fantasy with a killer ending ... Can't wait for the sequel, and will be recommending it to everybody!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy

Words can't describe how much I enjoyed this book. It has fantastic world building and a magic system that makes sense, is fair, and doesn't produce an "all of a sudden" super powerful witch out of nowhere. The romance is slow, until it's not. That's maybe the one part I didn't enjoy as much, is that the romance between the leads was a little quick. They both start pretending to like each other to infiltrate and get information, but it seems like the first kiss and they're besotted. I would say this book is spicy-ish, two chilies out of five.

I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel!

I could not put this captivating story down! 'Heartless Hunter' is a thrilling adventure following a daring protagonist, Rune, as she conceals her clever mind and witch identity behind her ditzy socialite persona. She's the highly sought after Crimson Moth, a vigilante freeing witches by night, and witch hunter Gideon can't wait to end her - if he can discover who the Crimson Moth really is.

An intriguing game of cat and mouse between the witch and witch hunter ensues, and the line between enemies and lovers begins to blur in this dangerous, high-stakes world where all magic has a cost.

Ciccarelli's dark, tense world and story-telling will keep you enthralled from start to finish! The intense, excruciating ending left me desperate and begging for more of this addictive tale.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Wednesday Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! A review of this title will also be posted to my Instagram closer to the date of release.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Prepare for a fast-paced adventure that will take your breath away. This is a page-turner that blends excitement, forbidden romance, and intriguing world-building seamlessly. The author's ability to weave these elements together creates a narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.

The forbidden romance between the two main characters is electric, giving me goosebumps with each stolen glance. Their love story is a compelling force in the midst of danger, making it impossible to put the book down.

The world-building was awesome. The author has crafted a unique and immersive world that is both vivid and thought-provoking.

With unexpected twists and turns, the plot keeps you guessing and hungry for more. The story's unpredictability adds an element of excitement and ensures that you're never quite sure what will happen next.

The ending, while satisfying in its own right, leaves you with the knowledge that the characters have many trials to overcome. It's a brilliant setup for what promises to be an engaging series or sequel, and I can't wait to see where the author takes these characters next.

In this book, you'll find a delightful mix of adventure and romance that will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment. Highly recommended for those who love a fast-paced, thrilling read with a touch of forbidden romance.