“I may not know Rune Winters, but I know the Crimson Moth, and she is no caged thing.”

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
Release date: February 18th, 2025
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Age rating:17+
Spice:Ch 71 pages 406-410

Thank you and Netgalley for this arc. Guys this book was EVERYTHING! It has everything I love from a romantasy, it was incredible. I was hooked the entire time. This brought me out of the reading slump I’ve had since the beginning of February and I’m so happy. I laughed, I cried, and I screamed. I binged this book in one day. I sat down and didn’t do anything for four hours it was SO GOOD! The plot was interesting and fast paced. The twists that happened were so good. I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. The character are amazing and I love them so much. Rune and Gideon *insert me screaming into a pillow* I love them so much. They are everything to me. Their relationship was a true enemies to lovers and I ate it up. The tension and banter between these two was just incredible. They had me blushing, giggling, and kicking my feet. Like I’m pretty sure my family was wondering if I was okay. I also cried at one point, and other times I had to fight the urge to cry like guys I just can’t it was so good. This book had me throwing my kindle I’m not even joking, something would happen and I’d just throw my kindle onto my bed far away from me. I’m going to go so I don’t ramble for thirty minutes so please go read this duology! It’s so good and perfect if you’re in a romantasy mood!

A swoony conclusion to the duology. Luna and Gideon are embroiled in the ultimate cat and mouse game. Will he get the revenge he swore she deserves or will she successfully get Cressida back on the throne. As they say best laid plans go awry and soon both Luna and Gideon find their priorities changing as they realize they must work together to defeat a greater enemy. While the conclusion definitely felt a bit rushed, overall this was a quite the romp. I loved the back and forth between Rune and Gideon. Readers won't be disappointed.

4.5⭐️

This duology is about Rune Winters, a witch hiding in plain sight as an “air-headed” heiress. But Rune is also none other than the notorious Crimson Moth, a vigilante rescuing other witches from the Republic. Gideon Sharpe is a witch hunter tasked with catching the Crimson Moth. When he suspects Rune Winters may have information on her whereabouts, he pretends to court her, leading to a deadly game of cat and mouse.

This was such a great conclusion to the series! I really enjoyed Heartless Hunter, so I was excited to read the sequel and I actually ended up loving this one more. I love the tension and angst between Rune and Gideon, and their banter had me entertained from the first chapter. I am really happy with the direction the book took and I highly recommend this duology to anyone who loves YA fantasy books. I am sad that this series is complete, but I am excited to see what Kristen Ciccarelli writes next.

What to expect:
🖤 YA Romantasy
🖤 Enemies-to-Lovers
🖤 Witch x Witch Hunter
🖤 Forbidden Love
🖤 Slow burn

Thank you to Kristen Ciccarelli, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“What kind of girl falls for someone who despises her very nature? Who wants her dead?”

I loved Heartless Hunter (a/k/a The Crimson Moth) and with the way that book ended I was so worried about where the story was going to go and how Rune and Gideon were going to find their way back to each other (if that was even possible).

Without spoiling anything, I can safely say that this book was another roller coaster of emotions. I screamed and cried at the ending and even said to myself, “There’s no way it ends like that, right?!?!?!”. Well, luckily there were still 10 pages or so to go and things in fact did not end like that. 👍🏻

I was able to guess the plot twist easily. I’m not sure if it was obvious because the author definitely could have chose to not go that route, but when thinking of the overall picture, it made sense that that was the outcome.

Rune and Gideon served some of the best enemies to lovers that I’ve ever read! Kristen’s writing is superb and you are really drawn into the story. If you loved book 1 in this duology, I have no doubt you will love this one just as much!! ♥️

Rebel Witch releases February 18, 2025 and while I know that’s a long time from now, I promise you it is worth the wait!

Thank you so much St. Martins Press/Wednesday Books for an advanced reader copy! I loved this story so much and I’m hoping this is not the end of reading about this world. Give me alllll the spin-offs @kristenciccarelli!

Rebel Witch is a fantastic conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, bringing all the tension, betrayal, and impossible choices to a gripping finale. Rune and Gideon’s dynamic is electric, filled with love, hate, and everything in between as they navigate a world that’s stacked against them. Kristen Ciccarelli does an amazing job writing these characters, making you feel every ounce of their struggle and emotion. The stakes are high, the action is intense, and the romance is just as deadly as promised. I absolutely loved this book and thought it wrapped up the story perfectly!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4.75 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review!

Rebel Witch is the sequel to Heartless Hunter and follows the story of Rune and Gideon, a witch and a witch hunter faced with an impossible choice!

“The problem with love is the more you try to destroy it, the stronger it becomes.”

I adored everything about the first book and oh my god that ending had me seriously screaming! I loved the emotions I went through and needed to know how the story of Rune and Gideon would continue after the betrayal and the reveals!

First off, the writing style for this duology is amazing! The way the books are written makes it super easy for me to get lost in the story and be truly emerged in what’s happening on the pages! It reads super quickly, is addicting from the very beginning and impossible to put down once you start. There was a slight lull in the middle where it started to become a bit repetitive, but luckily that was over quickly.

The plot is a bit more predictable that the first, but that didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy all that was happening! I loved the progression, the ups and downs and the build-up towards another ending that had my heart breaking in a thousand pieces!

Rune goes through a lot in this book and I did not expect her journey to be like this! She comes out so much stronger after all of it, even with the little hiccup in the middle. She is the Crimson Moth through and through and it was beautiful to see her journey back to herself. Gideon is slowly starting to question all he does and if he made the right choices and I loved seeing him unravel throughout!

Rune and Gideon are true soulmates in my eyes! Their chemistry, the passion and the pull between them is palpable and I loved every second of it! True enemies-to-lovers and amazingly written. I think the highlight of their love was actually shown at the very end! You’ll know what I’m talking about when you read it😉

The ending was EVERTHING I wanted from this book! It was heartbreaking and had me crying and screaming in the middle of the night when reading it! And then the little twist that had me pumping my fists came after that hahahahaha. It was the best and most satisfying ending to this duology!

Overall, Rebel Witch is a perfect sequel and a perfect example of what I love in romantasy books! I would highly recommend this duology for everyone who loves romantasy books, high stakes and enemies-to-lovers!

I’m not sure what I was expecting but this entire book took me by surprise.

It started off in a much different place than I expected after how the first book ended.

There was a lot of action but no real pay off. I was never worried about what the outcome would be, and never feared for any of the characters.

There were no plot twists that I hadn’t already seen coming.

The pacing was slow up. Even when there was a critical moment, there was no urgency from the characters or the writing.

Last but not least, the ending was too clean. I hate when it gets slapped with a big shiny bow and everything ends up being perfect.

I was hoping this sequel would be epic and satisfying, but it just solidified that this duology is not for me.

This book!!! I loved it so much. Could not put it down. The chase, the banter, the tension. It was all so delicious. It's everything I wanted and more for the sequel. The cat and mouse trope could not be better.
I loved the fact that Rune & Gideon were together for most of the book because that's what we want to see. Even if it was to try and unalive the other. The secrets were a bit predictable but loved it all the same. I was giggling and giddy the whole time during their adventure.
If you're a fan of "my wife" and "who did this to you" then you will eat this one up.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for granting my wish on this one. I could not be more thankful

This book has me as obsessed as the first book. The angst between Rune and Gideon is written in such a captivating way that it made me feel their longing for each other. I love that we get to see their internal struggle of fighting to protect the people they care about and doing what is right for each other. It had me truly internalizing their emotions. This book also has its fair share of deceptions and plans that have you wondering who is going to come out on top. It was exciting to read those parts. I love how their characters develop and how it adds to the growth of the plot. The world-building continues to be expanded upon as we learn more about the history of the island and see the world beyond it. There is so much I want to say about this book but I’m afraid I’m going to spoil it, so the last thing I’ll say is to add this to your TBR because it is a must-read.

Rebel Witch is the second and final book in the Crimson Moth duology. It wastes no time, and jumps right into fast paced action. There are plenty of plot twists that kept me guessing throughout the book. Rune’s character continued to be one of my favorites. She’s such a strong, intelligent, and calculating FMC. I also loved Gideon, and his stubbornness, in this book. The enemies to lovers romance that ensued was full of tension and was just so good. I could literally feel the yearning they had for each other at times! The ending did feel a little bit rushed to me, but overall it was a really enjoyable read!

I am so happy I got an ARC for this book because the minute I finished the Crimson Moth (and that brutal cliffhanger) I was able to jump right into Rebel Witch. I needed to know immediately what was happening. I have such a love/hate affair with cliffhangers because I love them, but I hate waiting for the next book!

Additionally, I have been loving duologies lately. It’s the exact amount of information I want. That first book to set everything up and a second book to pack it in.

The enemy to lovers trope was done so well with the witchand witch hunter forced to work together. Rune and Gideon had chemistry that was through the roof. It was absolutely undeniable. These books are so well done!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

@kristenciccarelli has outdone herself with the ending of her duology featuring Heartless Hunter and now the release of Book 2 Rebel Witch.

Heartless Hunter was one of my favorite reads in 2024 and it will be no surprise that Rebel Witch will be one of my 2025 favorite reads.

This book wrapped up the series so phenomenally. It brought me laughs, sadness, tears, and hope. I loved it! Follow Rune Winters as she finds herself again after being betrayed by the captain Gideon Sharpe, the man she loves. Rebel Witch and Witch Hunter, who fell in love amidst secrets.

If you love YA, fantasy, witches, some war… then this is the book duology for you! I loved both of them so dearly.

5 ⭐️s
.5 🌶️

Rebel Witch is available wherever books are sold tomorrow 2/18.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read and review Rebel Witch.

"The problem with love is the more you try to destroy us, the stronger it becomes"

This was a rollercoaster of emotions. The first bit was so frustrating because I just wanted them to TALK to each other. The tension is everything. I ate it up. The way they walked away and crashed back together time and time again. The slowest of slow burns. Like I said, playing with my emotions.

This was a fantastic end to the duology. I do wish the final showdown had been a bit ... More? Idk. It went so fast and felt a little anticlimactic. I'll probably re read it and change my mind, but first impressions and all that. There is so much here that I love but I don't want to spoil anything! Overall, awesome.

This sequel was a beautiful ending to a great beginning.

Runes inner turmoil with loyalty, trust, love, and lust was an enjoyable guiding force through this book.

Rune went from being under Cressida's thumb to finding her strength and cunningness again as the Crimson Moth, then on to dicovering herself as Rune Winters. Her relationship with Gideon was complicated from the beginning to the end, but I would not have wanted it any other way.

A worthy successor to the first book in this duology! Rebel Witch has the same strengths as the first book: the pacing is fact and snappy, the chapters are short in a way that makes me you want to keep reading, and the dual point of view is surprisingly satisfying; knowing what both love interests think doesn't ruin the story at all! In fact, it enhances it! The only real qualm I have with this book is the amount of miscommunication. Gideon and Rune have SO much trouble believing the other wants to be with them. And while I understand how it may be hard to believe when we're talking about a witch and a witch hunter, it sometimes felt forced for the sake of the narrative. Despite this, I plowed through this one and quite enjoyed the ride. If you enjoyed Crimson Moth/Heartless Hunter you will definitely enjoy this one!!

What a great conclusion to this duet! One thing that I found lacking in the first book was the romance, it didn't make me feel giddy and I wasn't as invested as I hoped. Rebel Witch is a whole other story. The romance in this book is absolutely fabulous!!! The tension, the angst, the banter delivered amazingly. Not only that, but the plot was so fun. This book was so action packed, it got me hooked from the first chapter. There was not one moment of boredom. I really liked the balance between the political intrigue and the romance. I do wish the author developped more on some of Rune's abilities that are briefly talked about. The ending felt rushed as well.

This duet is definitly one of my new favorites ya fantasies!

Rebel Witch was an action-packed, fast paced follow up for Heartless Hunter. As much as I don't like when authors drag out novels for no reason, I do feel like the only negative about RW was that the pacing was almost too quick. I would have liked to spend a little more time with the characters; however, if you enjoyed the first novel, the sequel does a great job of wrapping up the story all the while giving lots of angst and tension between Rune and Gideon as the story unfolds. I'm excited to see what this author has planned next.

Prepare for the second instalment of the Crimson Moth series to take the world by storm… an epic conclusion to the story that captured all of our hearts!

This was such a fantastic adventure and definitely the most exciting game of cat and mouse to ever exist! I absolutely loved how this story evolved - the stakes felt higher, the characters and relationships were so well developed and the tension between our favourite witch and witch hunter was deliciously PALPABLE! I was here for every minute of it…

I can’t wait for all of you to get your hands on this one! 😍

Thanks to @stmartinspress @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of one of my most anticipated reads of the year! SO FREAKING COOL!!

I was so so so excited to receive an ARC for this book.

This duology was so capitivating and I loved following Rune and Gideon's journey. Kristen Ciccarelli did so much justice to Heartless Hunter and where we left off with that story. I had a good bit of a gap between book 1 and reading this and it was such so well written it was like no time had passed.

Cannot recommend this enough - love love loved this story!!!

I really enjoyed Rebel Witch. Heartless Hunter was one of my top reads of 2024, and Rebel Witch was equally as good. It had a solid plot that came together nicely. I did feel that pieces of it felt a tad rushed.