Heartless Hunter is a young adult fantasy romance novel featuring Rune, a socialite by day and a witch known as the Crimson Moth by night, and Gideon, a witch finder. Rune has made it her life's work to free witches from persecution. Gideon has made it his life's work to persecute as many witches as possible. While he knows Rune as the vapid socialite, he has no idea that she's actually the Crimson Moth that he's looking for. When he's tasked to hunt down the fabled Crimson Moth, the two start a game of cat and mouse that gets more and more lethal.

That premise!! So good. Witch meets witchfinder. I love it! And in practice it also didn't disappoint. I liked how Rune and Gideon were on fairly level grounds throughout the book. We see Rune struggling to hide her magic and Gideon trying to surprise the Crimson Moth, to no avail. I feel like sometimes in books like this one person is really highly above the other, which isn't as interesting to me. The romance progression was steamy! I found myself ignoring everything else that I had to do to see what happened. Andddd this book ended on quite a cliffhanger so I'm looking forward to the next one!!

Overall, I had a great time with this book! 4.5 stars rounded down to 4. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC of this book, my thoughts are my own!

Thank you to NetGalley, SMP/Wednesday & Kristen Ciccarelli for a digital galley of Heartless Hunter in exchange for an honest review.

First, I’m DYING for Rebel Witch after reading Heartless Hunter. I need it like I need air.

This was one of my favorite romantasies so far this year. I loved Rune & her courage. She is a vigilante witch who has to hide to escape death, but at the same time, she searches for other captured witches to free them, so that they may also escape their certain death. Gideon is the witch hunter tasked with hunting the “Crimson Moth” & delivering her fate. He is dedicated to this mission – no matter what. But then, he falls in love with Rune, not knowing she is the Crimson Moth.

Everything about this story was perfection. I loved all of the characters, the setting, the plot, the dialogue, the romance, the world building, the twists, the chemistry – EVERYTHING!

The one part that had me screaming was the extremely emotional & HUGE cliffhanger of an ending. I’ll be re-reading this soon as I impatiently await the release of Rebel Witch.

Like many romance/fantasy readers, I was searching for an epic romantasy and was hoping this would do the trick. Unfortunately, though the premise interested me, the writing and execution fell a little flat. What kept me going was the suspense of the ruse and the hope that it would get better. It didn't.

4.5 STARS (rounded up!)

Wowza! I was not expecting the turn of events. 🤯 Ciccarelli provides the reader a delectable game of cat and mouse. Rune is a witch hiding in plain sight. Her alter ego, the Crimson Moth, is responsible for rescuing other witches before they are purged. Gideon, the captain of the Blood Guard, wants nothing more than to catch the Moth. The two unwittingly court each other for his or her own benefit—Rune, to gain intel in order to save more witches, and Gideon, to attempt to uncover secrets in his search for the Moth. I blasted through almost half of this book in one day. It is definitely difficult for me to say more without revealing some spoilers. Wtf is going to happen in book two???

This book also made me feel seen as a police wife. People often make assumptions about Gideon solely based on his profession as captain of the Blood Guard. Even Rune, a witch herself, is quick to defend him; he is a man trying to do what he feels is right. Also, Rune’s upset when Gideon apologizes via telegram that he is going to be late because something came up… Oh, honey. You’ll get used to it. 😆

I recommend this for fans of the Divine Rivals duology. It was a thrill.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Rune appears to be a vapid society darling, worried only about the latest fashions and parties. But she also has a secret that she is hiding like her life depends on it. She is the witch the Blood Guard have been searching for, the one who frees other captured witches from imprisonment and certain death. The Crimson Moth.

I really enjoyed this fantasy romance, full of witchcraft, tension and subterfuge! I would have liked a little more information about the magic system, because that’s my personal preference, but it also makes sense in the context of the story that Rune does not have much information about it. Gideon’s character development was one of my favorites, and we love a morally gray hero. The love triangle was not my favorite, but not terrible either. It created the appropriate amount of tension. I loved the dynamic between Gideon and Rune, of enemies slowly coming to trust and confide in each other, but not being able to shed the role of enemy. The ending left my jaw on the floor, and I’m excited to continue the series!

I definitely went into this book hoping I would love it more than I did. The concept was super interesting, but then Rune and Gideon's characterization and progression of their relationship took a nose dive, and there went any chance that a decent plot could happen through the book. Heartless Hunter tries its best to be intriguing and while it does have its moments, a lot of it just became tiresome and I could never pinpoint anything that could really keep me engaged. I do think I am going to pick up book 2, however, just to see how it ends. It's a duology and I do want to see where Rune and Gideon get up to next.

Thanks so very much to Netgalley and the publisher for kindly providing me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I do reviews on my main social media platforms and will be providing my full review there as I get through my TBR blacklist. Adding star rating as placeholder. Thanks again!

This. THIS! This is how you do Enemies-to-Lovers.
The novel is definitely heavier on the romance than plot, and I did call the twist a bit early, but OMG it was such a fun ride! Such a fast-paced one too! The world building was there but pretty minimal, but I was so entranced with the story I didn't even notice till I sat down to write this!

The romance was sooooo swoon-worthy.

This one is going to be on all the lists for iconic 'romantasys'. Mark my words!

Alas this was not for me. This is a young adult novel of a young witch who 'gave up her grandmother to the witch hunters to save herself' except she did it under duress, but now she's in with the popular crowd and just.... sigh.

I'm too old for this book, I think. It's the right book out there for someone, just not for me.

DNF @ 15%.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a free copy of "Heartless Hunter” by Kristen Ciccarelli in exchange for an honest review. This book is also published as "The Crimson Moth" in the United Kingdom. All of the following opinions are formulated on my own. Any quotes in this review should be cross-referenced with the final copy for any possible edits.

Overall rating:: 5 out of 5 stars

Favorite quote(s): You are not the things that happened to you, Gideon.”

My review: Heartless Hunter is a fantastic introduction to the Crimson Moth series. After a rescue gone wrong, witch Rune finds herself courting an infamous witchhunter named Gideon in order to throw them off the witches trail. What begins as an effort to get away from witch hunters, she is drawn in closer to Gideon. As the two of them court, Gideon realizes Rune is a witch and decided to play her at the game she created. This book is so fun and wonderful true enemies to lover story. The setting is so magical.

If you liked these, you will probably like this book:
- Serpent and Dove
-Bring me Your Midnight
- Bridgerton

Will I finish the series? Yes

Notable Themes, Elements, and Tropes:
- Courting
- True Enemies to Lovers
- Witches/Witch Hunters
- Forbidden Romance
- Dual POV
- Heartbreaking romance

I had taken a little break from reading fantasy, but I’m right back in my fantasy era after reading 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙃𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧.

My goodness this book!!!

I was hooked right from the beginning. I loved this magical world and the unique way that the witches performed their magic.

I loved the dual POV and it was executed perfectly. Gideon and Rune hate each other but try to use one another to gain intel all while trying to ignore their intense chemistry.

There was the perfect mix of action and romance. The story was captivating and I especially liked getting the backstory of the witches and the revolution.

This is a quick fast paced romantasy that you can’t help but be transformed into the pages of.

The twists and turns were plenty and that ending still has me shook.

The cliffhanger sets up the sequel perfectly and I’m itching to continue this series with 𝙍𝙚𝙗𝙚𝙡 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝.

If you’re a fan of fantasy, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, then you need to grab this book!

3.5
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli is an enchanting and thrilling fantasy romance that weaves together themes of love, friendship, betrayal, power, and courage. The story drew me in with its captivating plot and vivid world-building, making it an absolute delight to read.

One standout aspect is the intricate development of the characters and their relationships. The romance and the various dynamics at play are beautifully crafted, adding depth and excitement to the narrative.

However, I did have a minor issue with the portrayal of Rune. While she is introduced as an exceptional character with the potential to make a significant impact, her role as the crimson moth seemed somewhat narrow in scope. Throughout the story, her focus is primarily on a single witch, which felt a bit limiting. It would have been even more engaging if Rune had been shown saving others while navigating the constant threat of being caught.

Overall, despite this small critique, the book offers a compelling and immersive experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to seeing where the story goes next.

Kristen Ciccarelli is one of my top favourite authors and I knew this wouldn't disappoint. Heartless Hunter is the perfect fantasy romance and I am so glad I read it much sooner rather than later since now I want to preorder the finale of this duology. Rune is a character that I adore, she is cunning, smart, kind, and honestly one of my favourite FMCs as this time. Gideon took me a bit longer to warm up to, but once that scene at the beach.. yeah, that was a done deal just as it was for Rune. I especially loved the dual POVs you get and how both of them have such different paths, but you're really hoping for their paths to come together peacefully. I really hope Rebel Witch doesn't ruin me like this ending did. I did expect the ending a lil bit with some clues throughout the story, but it was still full of surprises and I cannot wait to see where book 2 will take me.

Wow, I am so late to the game on this one but what a fun ride it was! I REALLY enjoyed this book, the first in a duology, with the second coming out at the beginning of next year (which I cannot wait to read how this ends!). I really enjoyed reading a fantasy book about witches. I haven't dipped my toe into too much romantasy, but this is a very easy one to get into because of how well the world building is. I appreciate that the story is told in a way that we find out he information a bit over time, not just an information dump at the beginning. The story was one that wasn't difficult to wrap my brain around and it was super easy to follow. The chemistry between Gideon and Rune was great, and I didn't really mind the love triage with Alex as well. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story- don't want to get into it too much to give away spoilers. The ending for sure had me shook. Overall, very solid 4.5/5 star read! I CANNOT wait to get into the next one soon! Will definitely be recommending this to all my bookish friends.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books, and Kristen Ciccarelli for an e-arc of Heartless Hunter in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was a little hesitant going into this as the description seemed a bit generic. But I absolutely fell in love with these characters and the story. I got so swept up in the plot and the plight of these characters. I could really feel the tension between Rune and Gideon and how they struggled to come to terms with their roles and their relationship to each other.

Heartless Hunter had quite a few common tropes, but I didn’t mind how they were handled. It didn’t feel overdone or tired. I will be very interested to see where the story goes from here!

After I read this, I finally understood why so many people loved it. Romantasies can be hit or miss for me, and Heartless Hunter was one I liked, even if predictable. I guessed the who and what would happen while I was reading, but it was still an entertaining read. I did not put it down until I finished.

Rune is an interesting character, and she is fleshed out from her origin story to her present. Her best friend Alex, on the other hand, is less so. Despite his role in her life, he is one-dimensional, and it bothered me a lot. I liked him well enough as her best friend but did not get enough time to truly care about him. His role is limited to sort of popping in and out, helping her, or showing his displeasure at certain things.

The romance moved a bit quickly for me. One minute they were trying to use each other and then their feelings were growing overwhelming. Yay for romance but I wanted more development here.

I also wanted a bit more of the world building in terms of the politics. The government was touched on but could have been built more into the story considering how crucial it is to why witches are hunted.

I liked this one and am looking forward to the next book. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

Always first, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was so honored to get my most anticipated read of the year early… until I read it in one night and left myself with the torture of waiting AN ENTIRE YEAR for book two (hint hint to the ARC gods…)

Heartless Hunter follows Rune who by day is a haughty socialite, keeping her business solely in the parties she attends, and throws, hiding her secrets behind the masks she wears and by night… By night she's fighting for a cause that is not only personal-- it's illegal.

Enter Gideon, fierce and loathsome of the life Rune is pretending to live, he finds himself drawn to who she really is, when the masks slips and her true mind shows. But the closer they get the more he realizes that the truth of Rune is impossibly complicated.

Flirting by day and fighting by night Gideon and Rune keep the tension building until the very end…

AND THAT ENDING. That ending was torturous and landed this book in the very top spot of the year for me, absolutely worth the hype, the pedestal it held (for me) as most anticipated read of the year, and the five stars. Thank you Kristen Ciccarelli, you doll.

I really enjoyed this book, but one thing I couldn’t get past was how much of the magic system was just info-dumped rather than explained in context.

Witch and witch hunter falling in love but then there is also the witch hunters brother in mix. The world building was good and I see many people liked this story more than I did so please don't let my three stars stop you from reading this romantacy- I do feel that it should be for older YA and new adult instead of just YA as it gets pretty graphic.

Overall an interesting story with a fun concept and a solid cast of characters.
I’ve been a fan of Ciccarelli’s writing style for some time and she doesn’t disappoint in her execution.