This is an intriguing fantasy series for anyone who loves main characters on opposite sides of a revolution. The motivations of these characters is starkly clear, and they will they/won’t they certainly tugs at the heart strings and it’s quite sexy, this battle of wits. I also like the clear magic system. This is definitely going to be an intriguing series that I probably haven’t seen something like since Bone Witch or Shadow and Bone.

As a trigger warning, there are depictions of violence and off-page sexual abuse of a male character.

There were a few parts I found hard to believe/understand character motivation. However, I really can’t delve into that without giving away the ending.

I also found it strange that no one suspected a person called Rune of being a witch, and I think the name Verity is just ruined by CoHo.

Thank you Netgalley, St Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for allowing me to read and review Heartless Hunter! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kristen Ciccarelli does it again! Heartless Hunter is a new favorite of mine and I know it'll definitely be a new favorite of yours in February 2024.

"Instead of getting Gideon Sharpe out of her system tonight, Rune had gone and gotten herself addicted. The hunted had fallen for the hunter."

Rune Winters is a witch hiding in plain sight. Gideon Sharpe is a witch hunter who has been hunting the Crimson Moth. They've been playing an ongoing game of cat-and-mouse for two years. Gideon suspects Rune to be the Crimson Moth or in works with them. Rune, in the cover of darkness, as her vigilante persona Crimson Moth, saves witches from the clutches of the Blood Guard, a witch hunting group led by Gideon Sharpe, and smuggles the witches to safety. When something goes wrong one night, Rune is desperate to retrieve intel she needs by pretending to be interested in Gideon, little does she know he is doing the same with her by pretending to be infatuated by her to find out if she is the culprit of recent murders. As they become closer, the lines between pretend and real begin to blur and their hearts are ensnared in lies and truths.

First off, the cover is gorgeous and truly eye-catching. Secondly, I was and still am enchanted by Ciccarelli's storytelling. I needed the sequel yesterday and I'm so sad I have to wait even longer to find out what's going to happen next to Rune and Gideon and the witches, and to Laila and Harrow.

I could have read a hundred more pages of Heartless Hunter. I wanted to learn more about Harrow and Laila. I wanted to read more on Rune being the Crimson Moth. I wanted to explore the different districts and read more about Gideon and his past. I did not want the story to end and darn did it end when things were finally hitting the fan. I truly enjoyed the pacing, the character development, and the world-building. Kristen Ciccarelli is an author I always look out for, especially after I fell head over heels in love with Edgewood and The Last Namsara trilogy. Her writing is enticing, her storytelling is enthralling, it always keeps me hooked to the very end.

If you enjoyed Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis, Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf, and Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin, you are in for a wild, and deliciously dark ride.

#SMPInfluencer

4.5 🌟 Holy cow. This was so good! I went into this book with no expectations and was surprised at how much I loved it! This heart racing story may have saved me from a possible reading slump. The story had me on the edge of my seat, gasping, and covering my mouth in shock of all the twists. I am so happy I got an ARC of this considering it doesn’t come out till February of 2024, but am so upset I have to wait even longer for a sequel! I loved Gideon and Rune’s back and forth game. Their chemistry was unmatched. This book was almost 5 stars for me, but some things kept me from bumping up my rating I wasn’t a fan of the slight love triangle in the story. It kind of just felt like yet another obstacle keeping Gideon and Rune apart and complicating things more. It also confused me a bit what time period this might be set in. There is mention of carriages and horse riding but also drug addiction, guns, and boxing matches. I understand those things can all coexist at the same time. However, it just felt off to me having elements that seemed in another time period and then having more modern elements that could very well be in our own world. Despite all that, I am excited to read the next one whenever it comes out!

I'm really into fantasy lately as I patiently wait for Iron Flame! Authors build such cool worlds and the characters are usually fully fleshed out. In this book, our main characters were fully fleshed out, but I wanted more depth for our side characters as they usually are just as important if not more in achieving the final goal or battle.

The story starts out with the purging of a witch. The New Republic is the main world where this book takes place and witches are hunted. We get dual POVs from Rune and Gideon which I so dearly appreciated. I need to get into both main character’s heads to understand the choices they make and to better understand and appreciate the relationship that builds and builds. Our main character Rune Winters is a witch and is trying to save the other witches before they are hunted. This is an enemies to lovers trope as the love interest is a witch hunter named Gideon. It’s a slow burn here but ultimately does follow the enemies to lovers trope in a successful manner.

I’ve seen a lot of other readers say this book is for those who loved Serpent and Dove, so I will have to check that out next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli was so very good. I read this book in pretty much one sitting, I couldn't put it down. I cannot believe how long I am going to have to wait for book two!

I loved all the characters and finding out about why Gideon hates witches so much... Its honestly really heartbreaking, not sure that it warrants hating all witches... as there will always be bad people within groups...

I am hoping that Rune find some peace and helps to avenge "what happens in the end" and ends "that one person" (trying not to spoil this book for anyone)...

Definitely one of my favorite reads this year!!!

Equal parts thrilling and romantic, Heartless Hunter captivated me from the first chapter.

The power dynamic between Rune and Gideon shifted constantly as they engaged in an intricate, deadly game of cat-and-mouse that left me wondering at every turn who would gain the upper hand. Though it is clear from the outset that their unwavering loyalties make them fundamentally incompatible, the chemistry between them had me yearning for them to fall in love.

Kristen Ciccarelli has written an enthralling story that incorporates the type of romantic tension and ethical dilemmas that I crave in an enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy. Her approach to world-building is engaging and action-packed, and her characters are layered and relatable. I understand them even when I disagree with them. I find myself rooting for them even when their choices put them directly at odds with one another.

In this dark and dangerous world of witches, witch hunters, and blood magic, no one has a monopoly on the moral high ground. When the stakes are this high, trust is invaluable, and betrayal feels inevitable. The book is packed with unexpected twists and turns that kept me hungry for more. I couldn't put it down and finished the whole book in less than a day! Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and Serpent and Dove, Heartless Hunter is destined to be a bestseller and a favorite among lovers of the romantasy genre.

A witch, hiding in plain sight, undertakes secret missions to free other imprisoned witches but when she finds herself desperate for information she must pretend to court the deadliest witchhunter of all.

A fast-paced and well-plotted fantasy romance with ample surprises. I had a lot of fun reading this, I think it will likely appeal to a large portion of YA readers. Rune and Gideon are equally matched and their chemistry is easy to root for.

Poor Alex though, maybe a little too convenient what happened to him.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kristen Ciccarelli for allowing me to review this book.

Oh. My. Goodness.
Rune Winters is a witch in a world that kills witches, including her own grandmother. She plays the silly socialite, attending parties and flirting with eligible bachelors while in the shadows, she works to save others like her. Meanwhile, Gideon Sharpe is a relentless witch hunter whose life has been marked by tragedy at the hands of witches. He will stop at nothing to make sure every witch is eradicated from this world.
This is no contrived, shallow enemies-to-lovers story - there is danger, the life-and-death kind, if either Rune or Gideon falter, and they are both very well acquainted with death. The danger is not only to themselves but to others, the ones each is trying to protect from the other's work. One moment is all it takes for either of them to fail, and there are others working toward their own agendas. There is betrayal, longing, and magic, and it all works together to create a well-rounded plot and truly compelling leads.
It's funny that this is the second book inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel that I've read just this month, and while the first one was a disappointment, Heartless Hunter has it all. I highly recommend this first in a series - I knew there had to be a cliffhanger of some sort, but was not prepared for this one.

Witchcraft, espionage, betrayal, and a little romance combine to make Heartless Hunter a thoroughly enjoyable read. As Rune and Gideon's tale unfolds, an interesting world is being created. Their journey is captivating and I can't wait to hear what comes next!

I'd love to thank NetGalley and the publisher for making this book free so I could grab it and binge read it.

This book has the best build up, cat and mouse game, romance, enemies to lovers to enemies again I've read in a while. I was feeling those vibes, living for every moment the other had thought they outwitted one another only to suspect one another again and fall in love again.

I loved both of the characters and the pain both of them were going through and the choices they had to make and why they had to do what they were doing. It made their duplicity acceptable and the anguish when you realize they are so perfect for one another but they don't quite know it.

Also, inspired by one of my favorite classic literature books? Be still my heart! Making the girl the Scarlet Pimpernel character was great as well.

While I usually rate down for books that have so-so world building (not really sure on what the witches *do* or why they exist per-se, and what their end-game is), I'm going to keep the book at a 5 star when the next book comes out. If that book ends up not really giving more depth to the witches I'll knock it down a star. But, for now, I'm riding this wave and I NEED book two to come out like I need air. Gideon's vow had me SHOOK.

WOW WOW WOW WOW! I don't even know what to say or what to think or WHAT TO FEEL!! But my heart is SHATTERED! That ending was BRUTAL. Like rip my heart right out of my chest brutal. I am in shock. I knew it was coming. I saw it coming. But it hurt like a B.

*deep breaths* Now let me try to form an official review:

This was so stinking addictive! I couldn't put it DOWN! It gave me so much anxiety and had my heart racing. It's quite the cat and mouse game. We've got an undercover witch trying to rescue other witches and a witch hunter... you can just imagine the tension! This was so good!! I was so completely invested.

There is a love triangle and it killed me a bit (okay alot) because half the time I found myself rooting for the other guy. I mean... how can you not? He's SO PRECIOUS AND SWEET! I adored him. Don't get me wrong I really loved Gideon and felt for him with his heartbreaking past plus they had great chemistry. But gosh the other guy was just something else to. (The bathroom scene 😭) It was a tough one. People who don't love love triangle may struggle a bit with this one.

The overall storyline was so intense and great. I did see a lot of the big twists coming but it still was wild. It gave me major the Serpent and Dove meets The Bridge Kingdom vibes but yet different. It's sexy (but not over the top which I appreciated), addictive and one hell of a ride.

The ending tho. I can't even process it. It makes me wanna give it 3 stars cause it upsets me so much BUT this story was definitely great and deserves more stars. But I am DYING for the next one but also so scared. Like I'm almost too scared to read it cause I'm worried about the major anxiety it'll give me. This is one I'm definitely going to be thinking about. I would definitely say this feels like an adult romance which I loved getting from this author! Her writing style is great! Now I'm gunna go sob into my pillow!

tl;dr
A volatile romance with great cat-and-mouse moments, and plenty of drama.

Thoughts
It's rare that a book promising cat-and-mouse delivers quite as well as this one. Usually you only get a bit of banter before the kissing starts, but there are some real twists and deceptions locked up in this one, and I loved it. (Don't worry, there's also kissing.) Anyone looking for conflicted leads with angst and internal hurts will find plenty here to go around. The chemistry between Rune and Gideon is volatile, with a dash of spice, and a really believable enemies-to-lovers(?)-to-enemies(?) roller coaster relationship. World building is effective, with rules about the use of magic explained with quick, but consistent strokes. Author's notes mention The Scarlet Pimpernel (a personal favorite) as a light inspiration, and I can totally see the spaces where it peeks through. I will say that I have never seen a character marked for death so obviously as [Name Redacted], and when they died I found myself somewhat relieved that it finally happened so I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. Recommended reading for fans of morally gray, complex relationships, hunter vs. hunted relationships, and a splash of dark fantasy.

"Heartless Hunter" by Kristen Ciccarelli sounds like an enchanting and high-stakes romantic fantasy novel that promises a captivating blend of magic, suspense, and forbidden love.

The book's premise, set in a world where witches have been persecuted and hunted, immediately draws readers into a realm of intrigue and danger. The main character, Rune, who hides her true identity as a witch while moonlighting as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante, presents a compelling and multifaceted protagonist. Her dual life as a socialite and a defender of her kind adds depth to her character.

The introduction of Gideon Sharpe, a witch hunter, as her love interest creates a complex dynamic of enemies turned lovers. The tension between Rune and Gideon, who are on opposing sides of the conflict, promises a thrilling and emotionally charged romance.

The description hints at a plot filled with twists and turns, as Rune and Gideon find themselves entangled in a web of deception, trust, and betrayal. The moral ambiguity surrounding their actions adds layers to the story, making readers question who the true heroes and villains are.

Overall, "Heartless Hunter" appears to be a spellbinding tale of love and magic set against the backdrop of a world in turmoil. It explores themes of identity, prejudice, and the power of love to bridge seemingly insurmountable divides. Fans of romantic fantasy and forbidden love stories are likely to find this novel an enthralling read, and I look forward to discovering the depths of Rune and Gideon's relationship in this duology.

As of recently, each new book I pick reaches all the way up in my favorite reads and knocks the others back down—especially in the fantasy genre. This one is no exception: it deserves a thousand stars. And its second installment is needed, like, yesterday. I devoured it in one sitting. It’s action-packed and intricate. The love story is like no other, and complicated and tangled in more ways than one. (And do we mention both main characters’ background story? Those who say “the struggle is real” clearly haven’t read this gem of a book yet.) The premise was very promising, but I must say I was not expecting to love this story so much. Kristen Ciccarelli did a phenomenal work at crafting multilayered, flawed, and hurting characters into a plot where tension grows more palpable at each page.

Thank you so, so much to the author and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy. I can’t wait for the sequel!

Rating - 3.5 stars

I would like to thank Wednesday Books for providing me with an advanced copy of Heartless Hunter.

Heartless Hunter begins strongly with the purging of a witch, immediately immersing us in the New Republic, a place where witches face hatred and are hunted. This book has several concepts similar to popular romantic fantasy stories, but that didn't reduce my enjoyment. Rune Winters, a witch hiding in plain sight, is on a mission to rescue her fellow witches. Her love interest, Gideon Sharpe, serves as her antagonist, being a witch hunter. I found their progression from enemies to lovers to be engaging and found that it stayed true to that trope.

However, I would have appreciated more in-depth characterization of the supporting characters, as certain aspects of their storylines did not resonate with me. I also had reservations about how some of these storylines unfolded. On a positive note, I recognized the book's thoughtful handling of issues related to abuse, although I believe there were several other key themes that could have been further explored. My disappointment stemmed from how these themes were ultimately resolved.

In summary, Kristen Ciccarelli demonstrates a skillful storytelling style that kept me engaged in the plot, despite the presence of some predictable twists.

This book is a wonderful game of cat and mouse, perfect for fans of Dance of Thieves and Serpent & Dove.

In a world where merely being a witch is a crime, Rune Winters does what she can to save the witches from slaughter to atone for her past. The Crimson Moth is a desired vigilante who Gideon Sharpe will do anything to capture. But when the lines are blurred between what is the task at hand and what is developing, both characters find themselves in hot water.

I absolutely loved the dual POV in this book, making me fall for both the hunter and the hunted. The author did an excellent job at cultivating grief through her words which drives the characters’ actions.

I was sobbing by the end, for many reasons, but in part because I didn’t want my journey with them to end. I know it is some time until the sequel but I can’t wait!!

The storytelling of this book is beautiful. I did not want to put it down. I wish the MC had been a stronger female lead, and not reliant on a man to give her meaning, especially given the themes of the book. Other than that, I loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Wow wow wow.
First of all, enemies to lovers as a witch and witch Hunter I was sold immediately.
But also this was just an excellent book altogether. Great magic system & world building & character tension.
Chefs kiss.

I told myself to wait to read this until a little later because there's still a long way until the release but I couldn't stop myself. I just knew deep down I'd love this book.

Rune is a witch who needs intel to help hunted witches escape prosecution. Gideon is a witch hunter who needs to find the vigilante helping witches escape. The both need to use each other get what they want. It's a true enemies-to-lovers romance. Rune and Gideon truly don't like each other in the beginning, but they must put aside their differences and pretend to court each other to gain trust and learn each other's secrets.

I finished this book in two days. If you loved Serpent & Dove, I HIGHLY recommend reading this. Also, readers who love fake-dating or enemies-to-lovers will also enjoy Heartless Hunter. There's mystery, action, deception and very fast-paced. I have no doubt many readers will fall in love like I have. The worst part is waiting for the second book which is going to be torture.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

This book was absolutely enthralling. I was sucked in right away. The characters are so well crafted and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. The magic system is very well done and I enjoyed learning more about it. The romance was also incredible and the ending destroyed me. This book is perfect for fans of the Serpent and Dove series or any fantasy romance in general. My only issue is that now I have to wait so long for book 2!