5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: fantasy, witchy books, dual POV, enemies to lovers, cat and mouse chase

This review has been posted on Goodreads as of 9/24 and has been posted to my book blog and Instagram as of 10/5.

The book opens in a kingdom that has recently undergone a revolution to rid the country of witches. This included not just the witch queens, but every witch, rich or poor, young or old, in the entire country. All practice of magic, even mundane, is forbidden, and the Blood Guard hunts down any witches who escaped the initial purges or who had been too young to have powers at the time. It's an interesting setup and I liked that we got a peek into multiple layers of a society that's clearly still in transition and that, especially toward the end of the book, feels like it might be about to change again.

Rune lives and moves in the upper echelons of this society and we get to see how the aristocracy views witches and the easy way with which they change allegiances as needed. Rune is also a witch, and so we also get to see the terror and fear that witches are living under after the revolution. Gideon is the son of a tailor and lives on the 'other side of the tracks,' so to speak, and we get to see how not a lot has really changed for that group either. He is also a captain of the Blood Guard, and we get insight into how he and people he loved were personally terrorized by witches prior to the revolution, hence why he and others are so determined to stamp them out. I liked the two different viewpoints and do wish that circumstances hadn't prevented Rune and Gideon from talking about it more, because I think there could've been some very interesting conversations from both sides rather than just Gideon talking to Rune about his experiences and Rune talking to other people about hers. I definitely think this'll come up again in book 2, and I look forward to the dialogue they'll open on the topic then.

The witches themselves only have a few categories of spells, but lots of spells within those categories. In order to utilize any of the spells though, witches need blood. Fresh blood, either from themselves or someone else, is best and allows for more powerful and potent spells, but fresh blood drawn for magic results in silver scars. Pre-revolution, a lot of witches would have special artists draw their blood so they could have specially patterned scars--Rune's grandmother had nautical-themed scars. Older blood can also be used, though it tends to only be for weaker and more mild spells, but post-revolution is often the best option. Rune herself uses blood she and Verity collect from their periods. The most powerful category of spell, Arcana, requires blood taken unwillingly and was theoretically forbidden prior to the revolution, but a couple characters have stories that contradict this, hinting at a darker underside of the witch queen's regime.

Something I think has room for interesting development in book 2 is views on witches. At the time of the book, and during the revolution, witches and witch sympathizers are arrested and executed. However, the best way to tell if someone is a witch is if they have silver scars. As mentioned above, however, witches can, willingly or unwillingly, use other people's blood, which gives that person silver scars. Gideon and others are aware of this, but there's no indication that they make an effort to sort through whether someone with silver scars is a witch, sympathizer, or victim, meaning it's likely they're punishing victims just as much as perpetrators (or "perpetrators"). I think this, along with witches who don't harm others, are going to come up as a point of contention in book 2, and I look forward to seeing how it's solved.

As for characters, Rune is living two different lives. One is as a vapid socialite without a thought in her head. During the revolution she denounced her witch grandmother, sending her to the gallows. Her other life, however, involves cunning strategy and Rune works to locate and smuggle other witches out of the country to save them from persecution. She's obviously haunted by what happened with her grandmother, and is determined to do everything she can to both absolve herself of it and to prevent anything like it from happening again. Beyond her double life, we also get to see Rune with her friends, Verity and Alex, the latter of whom is Gideon's younger brother. I liked seeing Rune with her friends, either all together or 1:1, because it was a moment when she could let her guard down and we got to see a little more of her true self.

Gideon is a dedicated member of the Blood Guard who helped lead the revolution. He's pretty much the opposite of Rune in every way, except in that they both think they're doing the right thing for their people. He's very gruff and abrasive, and I wasn't sure I'd be a fan of him at the beginning, but he has hidden depths. A lot of his motivation stems from what happened to his family prior to the revolution and a still-current desire to keep his younger brother, Alex safe. Gideon has a bad past with witches, which definitely makes him and his motivations more sympathetic.

It's clear that both Gideon and Rune catch feelings despite their best efforts. Both have reasons to be wary of the other, but over the course of the book begin dropping their defenses and letting each other in. We get a deeper look at their backgrounds over the course of this and, as mentioned above, I can definitely see the potential for them finding a middle ground. Their romance is fairly sweet, and I liked that Gideon made her things and that Rune clearly appreciated and treasured those things.

Alex is complicated. He's clearly loyal to Rune, he knows she's a witch and has been helping her Crimson Moth schemes. However, he's also loyal to Gideon and basically refuses to spill Gideon's secrets (the Blood Guard's, sure, but not Gideon's). This does create tension at times with Rune. It's also clear from the get-go that Alex is in love with Rune, and while he's sweet and seems to want the best for everyone, a part of me feels like he's also a character that doesn't totally understand Rune. Sure, he's been at her side helping her Crimson Moth activities all this time, but he also wants them to move to the continent when he takes back up his musical studies, which is pretty antithetical to what Rune is trying to do.

Verity is a non-witch who lost two her two older sisters to the witch purges during the revolution, making her sympathetic to Rune and witches in general. Along with Alex, she helps Rune plan and enact the Crimson Moth's activities. Verity knows a lot more about magic than Rune since Rune's grandmother hadn't started teaching her when she died, but Verity's sisters allowed her to sit with them while they practiced. She's able to help guide Rune and encourage her in different spells.

Harrow is a somewhat mysterious character that I would like to know more about. She's Gideon's informant, but I don't think she's on the Blood Guard. I don't totally trust her motivations though and it feels like she's not really on anyone's side. Not the witches, not the non-witches, just her own. I'm interested in seeing how things play out with her in book 2.

Laia is another socialite who runs in Rune's circle but is a Blood Guard. Like Gideon, she has a story of her/someone she care about being abused by witches prior to the revolution. Her dad was a leader in the revolution and remains an influential person under the new government (which they don't actually talk about too much. I'm unclear if it's a military regime now or a council or democracy or what).

It became pretty clear around the 25% mark that a specific character was going to die before the end of the book. I figured it would be around or after the 75% mark, but still wasn't sure how it was going to come about. Along with the cat-and-mouse with Gideon and Rune, there's a secondary mystery about who is killing Blood Guard members, which then escalates to attacks on raids and even a party Rune is attending. I had some suspicions at the beginning, but ended up switching who I thought it was about 50% of the way through, after another key piece of information was provided, and ended up being right. The mystery was still interesting even after I figured out the who because I couldn't quite figure out the how. There were some hints earlier on about this character, but it wasn't until later that I realized the severity of the deception, I just thought it was a minor one, lol.

I'm conflicted about where Rune is at the end of the book. On the one hand, I feel like her hand was kind of forced and there wasn't really anything else for her to do. On the other hand, I don't love where she ended up and feel like she's going to be stuck in that situation for a bit until she can either find a way out of it cleanly or something major happens to upset the way things are working and she's able to slip away (or she'll get arrested, but I don't really see that happening). I am definitely looking forward to seeing her and Gideon having an in-depth discussion about....everything.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and thought it was action packed and had a good amount of romance. Gideon and Rune are coming at things from opposite directions, and I found them both to be sympathetic. I'm eager to see what comes next for them and the other characters!

I could not put this book down. I really enjoyed it! The story was fairly unique and I thought the characters were all really interesting. There are a couple big twists towards the end that I was unable to predict. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series and am sad that I might have to wait a while, given that this one doesn't come out for another 4 months!

OH MY GOD. I can’t even find the words to describe how much I loved this book, nevertheless, I hope I will be able to express the richness of this book. Before going into it I did have high standards, I almost expected to find a repeat of the same story that has already been told a million times. I am glad to say, I was incredibly wrong.

Let’s start talking about the characters; our protagonist Rune, while on the outside she sheens like your typical run of the mill YA protagonist, she has depth and is well-rounded, something that is becoming more rare these days. One thing I really liked about her character was that she *is* like other girls, I enjoyed the fact that she didn’t fall into the”I am not like other girls” trope, she likes dresses and is feminine but that doesn’t take away from the rest of her character, she is not superficial nor an exagerares version of the badass female leader stereotype. I genuinely liked her, and I could see her personality indirectly in the writing; thanks to the author we are not told she is kind, it is implied through her actions, which is the best king of characterization. Another character I dearly loved was Alex; he just was such a sweetheart, really the perfect best friend. I could feel how much thought had gone into his character. I was just the little details about Rune and Alex’s relationship that made it seem so realistic and complex; it was not forced, they just flowed, like I think best friends are supposed to. Verity…….let’s just say that she is the cherry on top for the book. And there are also so many side characters that made an impact like Laila, even characters who Rune hated were shown to have emotion and interests. Just because out protagonist hated them doesn’t mean they are not as profound or as human as she is. And the male lead, Gideon, I will admit that I am not very fond of the hunter/hunted trope; so I was a little biased against him; but he surpassed my expectations; I will admit that he can be a charmer when he wants to. While he was not my favorite character, I did find myself rooting for them in the end and was very sad about the elements in their world that have put them against each other in the first place.

The plot: THE MOST AMAZING THING EVER. It drew me in like you couldn’t believe, I finished the book in a few hours. The world-building and the history that the island they lived in had, was nothing short of amazing. Reading this book was like seeing a debate that had speakers that were so good, that you couldn’t decide on which side you were in. Each side had very good and compelling arguments and I found myself switching sides almost every chapter. It got to the point were J just told myself to keep an open mind because if not I would get whiplashed. No one was innocent, everyone had secrets and their reasons for keeping them; and I think in the end no character was simple, no one was truly alone; everyone had Allie’s or people who thought like them which gave veracity to the claim that they were the right ones in the conflict.

I would recommend this book to any YA reader who wants a book that is fun yet still has depth; this book will not leave you hanging.

I want want to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me this copy of the book

I LOVED this book! It was such a fun, fast read and had all of my favorite things—enemies to lovers, secret identities, forbidden magic, friendship, mind-blowing plot twists!

Heartless Hunter is dual perspective and follows Rune and Gideon. Rune is a witch in a city where being one is punished by death. But instead of going somewhere safer or not using her magic, she risks her life to rescue other witches who have been caught by the Blood Guard. Gideon is the captain of the Blood Guard and has spent years hunting the elusive witch known as the Crimson Moth who keeps smuggling witches out of prison and out of the city (aka Rune). Rune needs inside information from someone on the Blood Guard, and Gideon suspects Rune may be the Crimson Moth. So what do they do? Start courting each other so they can get closer and play the other for information. The story takes off from there.

This book was intense and fast-paced. I couldn’t put it down! The characters are great, especially getting to see from both sides—the witches who have been hunted, and those who have been hurt by witches. The plot twists were fantastic, even the ones I guessed. There were a couple moments where I literally gasped out loud over something I didn’t see coming. And the ending! I need book 2 now!

If you like books about witches, the enemies-to-lovers trope, and magical realism/low fantasy, definitely check this one out!

Heartless Hunter is an action-packed, enchanting, enemies-to-lovers romance fantasy. I loved absolutely everything about this book: the world, the magic, the characters, the plot - EVERYTHING! In a world where witches are killed, Rune is forced to hide her magic and pose as a shallow, gossipy socialite during the day. However, at night, Rune rescues fellow witches and aids in their escape. Gideon, whose life was utterly destroyed by witches, is determined to see every last witch killed. He is especially determined to catch the Crimson Moth, the vigilante who is helping witches flee. In order to gain intel, Rune decides to pretend to court Gideon, and Gideon, who suspects Rune of being a witch, decides to court her back to find evidence. As the fake relationship goes on, each finds that they may have deeper (and real) feelings for the other.

I couldn't put this book down. Both Rune and Gideon were excellent POVs. Both are well-developed characters; I really appreciated learning about each character's past. What both Rune and Gideon went through explained their actions and their choices. Alex, Rune's best friend and Gideon's brother, was another great character. I truly felt for Alex and the challenge he faced of loving both a witch and a witch-hunter and not wanting to take a side. Once again, Heartless Hunter has everything: action, politics, romance, magic, betrayal. I highly recommend Heartless Hunter, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

Read if you like:
❤️‍🩹 Enemies to Lovers
🤫 Fake Courting/ Dating
🔻Brother Love Triangle
🐴 Bridgeton Era
🧙‍♀️ Witches
🕸️ Well concocted webs of deceit

Synopsis: Rune poses as a daft socialite because at night she is the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante rescuing her kind. Alex is her best friend and helps her save the witches…but his brother Gideon is a witch Hunter. He is determined to catch the Crimson Moth and make her pay. Rune and Gideon play a dangerous game of cat and mouse to obtain information from each other, until their secrets explode.

My Thoughts: This story really has it all! Action, love, betrayal, magic, deception, little spice and because of this, I could not put it down. This is a duology and I already can’t wait for the next book in the series!!

Heartless Hunter
by Kristen Ciccarelli
Pub Date: 20 Feb 2024


On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe - a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution - who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s Heartless Hunter is the thrilling start to The Crimson Moth duology, a romantic fantasy series where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch...is falling in love.

5 ⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw this book on Netgalley, the premise was interesting and I thought it was perfect for the autumn. I never thought to love this book as much as I did!

Plot

Rune, a young witch in Kristen Ciccarelli's Heartless Hunter, turns into a vigilante following a disastrous revolution. She spends her evenings as the Crimson Moth, saving her race from being exterminated, while putting on the façade of a shallow socialite. When a rescue attempt fails, she makes the choice to court infamous witch hunter and revolutionary Gideon Sharpe. Gideon discovers that the Crimson Moth has been using her merchant ships to smuggle rebel witches out of the republic. He detests Rune's superficiality. Though he is aware of Rune's intelligence and tenderness, he questions whether she is the criminal he has been seeking.

The plot of the book was really good. While the book is slow, the cat-mouse game between Rune and Gideon was the best. The plot twist was interesting, but I discovered it in the beginning. The ending left me with my mouth open. I need the next book as soon as possible.

Characters

Rune Winters

Rune Winters is an amazing main character. She is smart, brave, intelligent, funny and sarcastic. She lives her life tormented by what happened to her grandmother and she does everything in her power to save the other witches from the purge.

Gideon Sharpe

Gideon is such a well written character. He is the Captain of the Blood Guard and is trying to catch the Crimson Moth for two years. He is also smart, intelligent, but can also be rude, cold and distant. The reader can understand why and why he hates witches so much. His past is not an easy one and he still has many scars because of it.

Alex Sharpe

Gideon's brother and Rune's best friend. Alex was such a sweetheart and loyal friend to Rune. He clearly loves her and wants what his best for her. He is a very supportive character. He also loves his brother, but they don't always see eye to eye. Alex, I really love you, but Rune belongs to Gideon.

Verity de Wilde

Verity was an interesting character. I don't know what to tell about her without give away some spoilers.

Writing

I really like the writing in this book. It was simple, but good and kept me engage the entire time while I was reading.

World-Building

I think the world-building was really well done. I love how the author explained the magic system and I really like the system in the book. I wish the author could try to explain more about some characters' past, but I'm sure the next book will show more.

Romance

The romance between Rune and Gideon was amazing. These two are definitely one of the best couples that I have read this year. Their cat-mouse game was really interesting and funny. I love how their relationship grew and developed during the romance. Their banter and their chemistry is amazing. I wasn't expecting that ending, so I really need the next book to see what will happen next in this relationship.

Final Thoughts

For the fans of Serpent and Dove, this book is a must read.

"Heartless Hunter" by Kristen Ciccarelli is a spellbinding tale of love, magic, and betrayal set in a world where witches are hunted and persecuted.

In this captivating fantasy novel, readers are introduced to Rune, a young witch who has had to conceal her true identity in a society where witches are persecuted. By day, she masquerades as a socialite, but by night, she becomes the Crimson Moth, a vigilante witch who rescues her kind from being purged by witch hunters. When one of her rescue missions goes awry, Rune decides to court Gideon Sharpe, a notorious witch hunter loyal to the revolution, in an effort to gain crucial information and throw the hunters off her trail. However, as she gets closer to Gideon, she finds herself falling for him.

The world-building in "Heartless Hunter" is rich and immersive, drawing readers into a society where magic is both feared and coveted. Ciccarelli paints a vivid picture of a world in upheaval, where the balance of power has shifted, and witches must hide their abilities to survive. The tension between the witch hunters and witches is palpable, and the stakes are high throughout the story.

The characters are well-developed and multi-dimensional, particularly Rune and Gideon. Rune is a compelling protagonist who grapples with the weight of her secrets and the dangers of her double life. Gideon, on the other hand, is a complex character torn between his loyalty to the revolution and his growing feelings for Rune. Their slow-burning romance is one of the highlights of the novel, and readers will be rooting for them despite the obstacles in their path.

The plot is filled with twists and turns, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover the mysteries of this world. Ciccarelli's writing is lyrical and evocative, adding depth to the story's atmosphere and emotional resonance.

Overall, "Heartless Hunter" is a mesmerizing and enchanting fantasy novel that combines romance, magic, and political intrigue. It's a thrilling start to The Crimson Moth duology that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. Kristen Ciccarelli has crafted a world that feels both magical and perilous, making this book a must-read for fans of romantic fantasy.

The cat and mouse build up is top tier! Enemies to lovers romance back to enemies has me whirling. I can’t wait for the next book!! Granted that there will be another!

"Dive into the captivating world of 'Heartless Hunter' by Kristen Ciccarelli, and buckle up for a wild ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish! In this enthralling romantic fantasy, Ciccarelli weaves a tale of danger, secrets, and an irresistible game of cat and mouse between a witch and a witch-hunter.

As the aftermath of a devastating revolution unfolds, witches find themselves hunted and persecuted, and Rune, our fearless protagonist, must navigate a treacherous world while hiding her true identity. What ensues is a thrilling dance of deception and desire as Rune, masquerading as a socialite by day and the Crimson Moth vigilante by night, gets entangled with the charismatic witch hunter, Gideon Sharpe.

The story unfolds against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and a richly imagined history, keeping readers hooked with every twist and turn. Ciccarelli masterfully crafts a narrative that is both tender and fierce, exploring the complexities of love in a world where being a witch is more dangerous than ever.

Rune's journey, filled with risks and sacrifices, becomes an emotional rollercoaster, leaving readers rooting for her against all odds. The dynamic between Rune and Gideon adds an extra layer of intrigue, making the stakes even higher as they navigate a world where love and danger collide.

'Heartless Hunter' is a thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology, promising readers an intense and unforgettable continuation. If you crave a story that's as adventurous as it is romantic, Kristen Ciccarelli delivers a tale that will sweep you off your feet. Get ready for a heart-pounding journey where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch is falling in love."

Heartless Hunter had me turning the pages. This one is definitely for those who enjoy a broody love interest with dark hair. While I found the story enjoyable enough to flip through it in a matter of two sittings I never really fell in love with the romance presented here. But I believe a lot of fans of enemies to lovers will really like this one. There's build up, there's suspense, and enough action to keep one entertained. The author does a good job of balancing the cat and mouse situation between the MC's.

I'm not sure how anybody could expect me to go on living completely unfazed by this book, when in truth I AM completely fazed and it will most likely be my personality while haunting my dreams for a while.
Heartless hunter is a story loosely based off of an old tale, "the scarlet pimpernel". Witches vs witch hunters, romance and tragedy. This book gets dark and it goes deep in all of the best ways, capable of making you feel tingles and drops from your heart to your belly and then some. Rune is an elite socialite by day, and the crimson moth by night saving witches from the blood guard tasked to purge them. She works alongside her makeshift family made up of her childhood best friend Alex (who's brother Gideon is literally the captain of the blood guard), and Verity, a girl bonded to Rune over losing her family once the reign of witches had fell.
Included is a sort of, kind of love triangle that made me scream and throw my kindle because WHY DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO CHOOSE THE BOY THAT LITERALLY WANTS TO KILL THE FMC... I mean I KNOW why, we all know why. It's just, it's always the guy best friend who would literally die for the girl that always gets overlooked for the reckless and ruthless. This time it made my heart hurt because he's so sweet, buuuuuut it was a necessary evil. Because Gideon, the blood guard tasked to capture the crimson moth is truly a hunter in every way and this makes his relationship with Rune slightly frustrating but more so romantic and heart racing.
This book has perfect banter, fake relationship but real feelings, enemies to lovers, slow burn, made me cry in a scene or two, a buildup that will make you lose your mind with excitement, and the most suspenseful game of cat and mouse. The magic is interesting as well, seems so far that no witch has more power than the other and it all depends on who wields the most knowledge....and blood. The characters are all intriguing and lovable, neither one of them are upstanding and righteous citizens (they're all a little morally gray) but it makes things feel more real.
I want to give the heartless hunter 5 stars but the ending shattered my heart and I just can't bring myself to do it. There needs to be some justice for that. Also Rune was so blinded by her mission that she was annoying with her decisions sometimes. So really it's a 4.5 Gideons vow at the end still has my boots shaking
Thank you NetGally, St. Martins press, and Kristen Ciccarelli for this ARC, in return are my honest opinions.

Ok I see Book One, raise you to Book Two bc I need to know what happens.

Leans into the Scarlet Pimpernel, which is an interesting premise to start a YA series on, but it works. There's still some muddiness I have (ie it seems the Queens were horrible and deserved to be dethroned but were all witches? That's not really touched on, with the exception of of their wealth).

The twist at the end is earned, I hadn't quite figured that entire thing out but I had guessed something was up and the clues are there so you're not blindsided. I still have questions about Harrow.

There's betrayal everywhere, and mostly to the two ppl who thought they were doing the right thing. And the villain is truly vile. And one characters sacrifice was strategic for a few plots to move ahead and remove a block.

Anyway, it's an interesting story and I'm def ready for more.

In a land where witches are hunted, you have Rune, who is a witch in hiding, and Gideon who is a witch hunter, and captain of the guard. Gideon is desperately seeking to find the Crimson Moth, a criminal who has been setting imprisoned witches free. When a witch named Seraphine is captured, Rune is determined to set her free and to do that she needs to get close to her enemy Gideon to seek out any information to help free her.

I enjoy enemies to lovers stories and this was an entertaining one. Rune is hiding the fact she is a witch, but also that she is the elusive Crimson Moth who is helping to free imprisoned witches. In order find out where Seraphine is being held Rune must get closer to Gideon. At the same time Gideon is starting to suspect that Rune may be a witch in hiding and in order to confirm his suspicions Gideon must get closer to Rune. Both seek out a fake courtship with one another to find the information they need. It was fun to see Rune and Gideon both pretending to have an interest in one another and as time passes seeing their pretending grow into something real, where the lines get blurred and neither realizing it until it's too late and they have fallen for one another.

Rune was a strong character and has a strong desire to help as many witches escape as possible. Helping Rune along the way are her friends Verity and Alex. Alex, who is Gideons brother, has always looked out for Rune knowing that if caught he would be punished as a witch sympathizer, and seen as a betrayal to his brother. Alex was a sweet character, and I loved his steadfast protection of Rune.

Gideon hates witches and as you learn more of his backstory you can see why he hates them so much and wanted to see the witches punished. I enjoyed watching Gideon pretend to court Rune and see him start to doubt his suspicions and grow closer to Rune.

This was a fun, quick read filled with action, some suspense and romance. With twists along the way and a fast-paced thrilling ending with a sad death, and an interesting revelation that leaves me eager for the next book in the series.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of this fun book. I really enjoyed the cat and mouse storytelling of this book, but with the twist of the mouse having a secret. Kristen was able to write characters that were enjoyable in this easy flow book. If you like fantasy with some high stakes, enemies to lovers, then I think you will enjoy this book.

𝙍𝙪𝙣𝙚 𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙. 𝘼𝙣 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙝𝙪𝙢 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚. 𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙨.

"𝙄𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙧𝙩 - 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙪𝙨?"


This book sunk it's teeth in me from the first page and wouldn't let go. Wow.

So good! Edged with tension and thrill, dipped in seduction. I thought the story was extremely well written, paced perfectly - exhilarating and compulsively readable. I was so emotionally invested I was sobbing my face off by the end.

ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR BESTIES! Releases 2/20/24━☆・*。
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Dual POV
Enemies-to-Lovers
Best Friend’s Brother
Fake Dating
Vigilante
Suitors
Witch & Witch Hunter
Regency Aesthetics

This is the ultimate game of cat and mouse but it’s not just their lives at stake, it’s their hearts. Rune and Gideon play the a most captivating, alluring and tension laced game - She is a witch and only a few trusted people know, he is the cruel witch hunter, merciless murderer.

Once ruled by three witch Queen's, after the revolution 2 years prior the island is now under a regime governed by blood guards.

Rune was raised by her grandmother who is a witch, both of her parents had died when she was very young. Someone close to them had turned them into the blood guard and revealed that Rune's grandmother was a witch. Rune having not come into any witch powers at the time (around 16 years old) and her grandmother knowing they had no time for them both to escape pleaded with her to give her up and claim no knowledge of her being a witch. This would also keep Rune safe from being purged as a witch sympathizer. She obviously didn't want to do this but as her grandmother made her swear- she followed through and had to bare witness to her grandmother's execution.

Over the next two years Rune continuously tried to make up for her feeling of failure to save her grandmother and set out to save every single other witch possible from being purged- she became the crimson moth. Playing the part of a vain and silly girl, who only cares about money and fashion. In reality, she uses her position to gain insight and knowledge to help fellow witches escape.

Gideon is captain of the blood guards. He was once held victim to a witch, who made him fall in love. As a result, he became a joke and a punching bag to the locals. He truly felt he was not worthy of even living. Taken under the wing of a man who becomes a second father to him as well as a mentor - he takes all his self-loathing, hate, fury, etc and turns it into pure rage towards witches to root them out and kill them so that no one will ever have to live under witch rule again- because of course he believes them all evil.

As Rune and Gideon each play their roles, the fall into the biggest trap of all- love. Will love win or will betrayal?

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kristen Ciccarelli and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Heartless Hunter is an enthralling tale of intrigue and pursuit, where a witch and a witch-hunter engage in a thrilling game of cat and mouse. Set against a backdrop of opulence, concealed secrets, and a dark and bloody history, this novel captivated me from start to finish.

Rune Winters has two identities, the pretty socialite and the crimson moth. When a witch her gran wanted her to find is captured, she must try to find information to save her, even if it means pretending to court with Gideon Sharpe, famous witch Hunter. Will they both be able to resist the undeniable attraction to each other whilst both playing each other?

If you’re a fan of witch and witch Hunter romance with a dash of spice, you’ll love this one! I love the unique take on the witches in this story and how they utilize their magic and the found beauty behind it.

I loved that we got both point of views of our main characters, Rune and Gideon. The insight of their backstories was nice, I really enjoyed the depth in how their past shaped them into who they are. I loved all of their interactions too, especially the beach scene! I am eager to see what happens in the next book.

Witches, witch hunters, parties, plotting, romance and secrets, plus more, if you love all of those things, I recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the arc!

Wow wow wow!!!!

I have an inkling this is going to be a top Fantasy book of 2024!!!!

Did I only request this book from NetGalley because it said Rebecca Ross recommended it? Yes.

Did it disappoint? Absolutely not!!

It definitely gave my Divine Rivals vibes but make it witchy. I loved it!!!

And the end 😟 I need more!

Enemies to lovers ✔️
Romantasy ✔️
Witches ✔️

It has it all and I am already excited for what’s to come with this duology!!

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!