Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I enjoyed this wrap up to the Crimson Moth duology. It gave the answers needed after the first book, and I found the wrap up to be satisfying.

It was clear it was the same world and characters. It was a bit repetitive, but the pacing was good due to the many ‘action’ sequences. Gideon and Rune’s thoughts about “does s/he like me, does s/he not” were a big part of this one, and much of the conflict could’ve been solved with clear communication. I would’ve liked them to have those conversations and work on the trust aspect but alas, it was not what happened. Their wrap up felt a bit rushed.

Fans of romantasy, books with witches, and books that give you a fun read will enjoy this one.

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli

This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025! Having enjoyed the first in this duology, I had high hopes that this one would cement it as amazing and wipe any doubts from my mind. Because although I enjoyed the first, I didn’t love it.

Unfortunately this one fell in the same category. So much potential, fantastic storyline and unique world of magic and witches. But it just never sparked. There was something missing - might have been the lack of an amazing setting, some more descriptive writing would have helped I think. Plus the main characters relationship felt a bit like a ping pong match (I hate you/I love you, I can’t stay/I can’t stay away etc) and I grew a tad tired of them.

Still, I can appreciate why this series is loved, it’s probably a mood thing and for some reason I just didn’t click with it. So many of my like minded bookstagrammers did so I am definitely in the minority here. Thank you to @wednesdaybooks for my early copy!

💛 Rebel Witch by @kristenciccarelli

🩸 “Love doesn’t sully you,” she said. “Love purifies you.”

🪡 If this was weakness, he wanted to be weak. If this was sin, let him be damned to hell. Kissing Rune was like a realignment. There was before, when everything was off its axis. And there was after, when everything was steady and right.

💛 This book picks up right where Crimson Moth leaves off. The ending of Crimson Moth was brutal, and I think we’ve all been ready for answers. Trust me- You will get them!

🩸 The chemistry between Gideon and Rune is really the star of the show here. There’s forced proximity, one bed, fake relationship, betrayal, jealousy, and so much more. They have become one of my favorite book couples. This duology did enemies to lovers SO RIGHT. 👏🏻

🪡 As I mentioned in the graphic, you will not be bored! This book is so action packed. I had to force myself to put it down and go to bed, otherwise I would have been up until 2AM finishing this.

Do you ever have a book that you're committed to loving no matter what?

The Heartless Hunter was one of my favorite reads from last year and with the cliffhanger ending I have been dying for the next book. This books gets 5⭐️ for the vibes! Unfortunately, the plot wasn't quite there. I was not objective at all when reading this book, so I can't really give an objective review. I know I was willing to overlook pieces of the plot that I would normally be critical of because in my head I had already decided to love this book no matter what. A lot happened in this book. Maybe too much. The pacing was a little all over the place and the plot jumped around quite a bit. It wasn't what I expected but I did devour this book in one sitting.

I received an eARC of this book from Wednesday Books and NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This is such a great continuation of the series! I really enjoyed the politics of the two enemy sides fighting for power, with Rune and Gideon caught in the middle of it. It had great tension, and I was entertained all the way through.

I loved seeing Rune and Gideon's relationship grow too. They both have some great character growth separately that helps them become closer together. However, they stayed enemies for a little too long in this book for me. I wanted them to trust each other a lot sooner than they did.

Overall, this is such a great, witchy duology. I'm so glad I read it! I think so many people will love this conclusion.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, Wednesday Books, for the arc!

Content: one open door scene

It's not very often that you can say book 2 of a series is just as good as book 1. But in this case, it definitely is! This had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! While there were times I was frustrated with the main character, that was intentional on the authors part. I really enjoyed the writing and story - this would be a great older YA and a wonderful anyone book!

"You get the world you're willing to fight for."

In the much anticipated conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, Ciccarelli brings us along a cross-continental adventure filled with a will-they-won't-they romance between a witch hunter and a witch.

This was a solid sequel, expanding the world, developing the relationships, and revealing hidden backstories. I was pleasantly surprised by how much tension there was left to squeeze in the romance after where book 1 left off.

Well, that was fun! The final installment in The Crimson Moth Duology did not disappoint. Rune and Gideon were back at it again and I had a blast following along in the -are they going to kiss each other or kill each other- saga. This was a perfect bingeable Valentine’s Day read and I am so thankful for the digital ARC wish granted by @netgalley and @stmartinspress!

Rebel Witch will be released on February 18 and I know readers will delight in the conclusion of this tale!

Thank you, Wednesday Books, St. Martins Press, and Netgalley, for the advanced copy.
I’m just a girl standing here screaming how much I loved this book!
Please note that this review is spoiler-free for both books in the duology, but the books absolutely need to be read in order.

With the world-building (and my emotional investment) well established in the first book, we return to an even higher-stakes conflict told in the alternating POV of Rune and Gideon.

Immediately, everything I loved about 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 has returned, and then some. The tension, the banter, fast- paced action filled plot, their cat-and-mouse dynamics as they try to outmaneuver each other while denying their ever-growing emotional connection—the complicated nature of their relationship is intoxicating—I couldn't help but binge this book!

I found myself smiling at Ciccarelli's clever plotting. She left us tiny breadcrumbs, and I ate them up! However, the twists had me stressing over how things would turn out.

The romance here felt even more anguished, with the multiplying, innumerable forces pulling them apart. This is true enemies to lovers, and it is delightful. This is YA/NA with some suggestive but nondetailed moments, which really allowed their emotional connection to shine.

Their relationship only added to the political strife centering the fantasy plot. I enjoyed learning more about the witches and their magic, and the ruling dynamics were easy to comprehend. The added layers in the second book made sense and helped drive the plot.

Overall, this delivered everything I could want in a conclusion and then some! I loved both books so much!

I just completely vibed with this book and cannot wait for you all to experience it!

A great follow-up to Book 1 - a lot of will they/won't they which got a teeny bit repetitive, but overall a fantastic romantasy novel. Would highly recommend to fans who don't want any open-door scenes. Would definitely read more of this author.

A deadly game of secrets, betrayals, and feelings unfolds in the stunning conclusion in the duology featuring a witch and a witchhunter caught between their lies, secrets, and the undeniable love between them... if only they weren't trying to kill each other and betray each other at every turn. Picking up where the first book left off, Rune is forced to join forces with Cressida, the very witch who tortured and abused Gideon, in order for Rune to try and regroup and find a way to save the other witches despite how much she dislikes Cressida. Gideon is recovering from Rune's betrayal and the fact that his brother died... and had been engaged to Rune, the witch he turned in and nearly killed... but also the very woman who stole his heart and crushed it. Gideon's new mission is to find and kill Rune or be labeled a witch sympathized and killed. When Gideon spots Rune again and they come to face one another... things get out of hand and Rune is forced to decide whether to save Gideon from Cressida's grip and face punishment or go along with it... and it's an easy chose for her because despite how much she hates to admit it, she still loves Gideon despite the fact that he tried to kill her. After rescuing Gideon, he tells her Cressida's true plans...that Cressida is determined to resurrect her two evil witch sisters but that means Cressida has to find the last remaining blood relative and kill her to go forth with the resurrection. Neither Rune or Gideon want that to happen so they must find a way to work together to stop Cressida.... but that means trying to trust each other and evade capture from both sides... and the fact that they both are hurting from their betrayals of each other yet yearning to be together. I loved this book and this series altogether. The romance, the tension, the angst, it was such a beautifully written fast paced story. The ending was perfect. I loved how much romance was in this one but also how much healing both Gideon and Rune had to do, they were perfect for each other. This was such an enchanting series that grabbed me from the very first page until the last. It was such a thrilling read and the way Kristen writes is so good. I truly couldn't get enough of this series and can't wait to see what Kristen writes next!!!

Release Date: February 18, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[arc review]
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Rebel Witch releases February 18, 2025

This story takes place two months after the events in <i>Heartless Hunter</I>, with Cressida teaming up with the Umbrian prince to secure an army, and Rune attempting to locate the fourth Roseblood heir in order to stop the resurrection of Cressida’s sisters.

If you’re looking for an enemies-to-lovers duology with forced proximity, one bed, and faking a marriage, then this fits the bill. Personally though, I found that Rune and Gideon were too wishy-washy as characters and read like they were in a constant state of having an identity crisis.
Was she the shallow aristocrat? Or the rebellious witch who could challenge Gideon?
Did they want to commit to betraying one another while using seduction as a way to gain the upper hand? Or were they stuck second guessing their feelings, succumbing to their insecurities?
I honestly expected the main characters to have had a more established and definitive sense of self at such a late stage in the story.
The alternation of Rune and Gideon’s chapters became repetitive, and I wish there would’ve been a third pov from the opposing side (i.e. Cressida) to provide more dimension.

Furthermore, Gideon’s quick switch up from loyally participating in a genocide against witches, to then suddenly admitting that the New Republic has been ruling as a tyranny and him now wanting to live in a world as equals, was both laughable and disingenuous.
He’s not okay with the Republic’s authoritarian control and is hungry for something else? Where was this energy from him 50-100 pages ago?

So much of this installment consisted of me searching for a solid footing to land on, and it took way too long to get there.

Man I’m so conflicted on what to rate this book but it’s definitely way over a 4 ⭐️ read..

4.7-5 ⭐️

But Kristen really tied this whole series together and displayed it with a pretty bow by the end of it. I was at the edge of my seat the entire time and by the end- the plot twists were twisting and I did not see them coming at all.

I’m so excited for everybody to read this book and see everybodies opinions on it!

So sad to see this duology come to an end! 🦋🗡️

⚔️ Forbidden love
🩷 Book 2 in duology
⚔️ One bed
🩷 Civil war
⚔️ Angsty

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️/5
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5

I screamed out loud when I got my NetGalley email. I got Crimson Moth in a Fairyloot YA box and immediately loved the writing and the angst and the emotional torture. I have been excited for this conclusion for months.

And Kristen did not let me down. We start off after the explosive ending of Book 1 and my heart could barely stand the push and pull between these two. The torture Gideon felt? The betrayal Rune carried? I couldn’t put it down.

You ever ridden a roller coaster where you’re like.. WOAH! Loop! Alright almost over probably… ANOTHER LOOP! And then you think almost there and then all of a sudden you’re dropping from the highest highs and screaming your face off? That is this book. In the best way. It will take you on a ride. You will scream. You will gasp. And then you won’t believe you’re actually at the end.

I loved Rune and Gideon. I love imperfect main characters. The chemistry and angst and annoying amount of almost’s had me on the edge of my seat. You won’t regret finishing this duology.

But there are two characters I needed more info on?! Hello!!! Still, I absolutely recommend.

Thank you Kristen Ciccarelli, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced reader copy. This is my honest and unbiased review!

Fantastic sequel to Heartless Hunter. I was unsure how the author would keep the tensions between Gideon and Rune high for another entire book. I was pleasantly impressed with how she managed to do so without introducing conflict that seemed superficial or unnecessary. This book is full of unexpected twists, captivating suspense, and intense romance.

What an action packed conclusion! Gideon and Rune are two of my favorite loveable idiots.

So much happened in this book that it almost felt like multiple books, but not in a bad way.

I loved the pieces of the overall story that were laid in the first book coming together and the continuation of the pining.

Literally PERFECT. First of all, I absolutely adore the enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Rune and Gideon. It's honestly one of my favorite kinds of relationships in books—complicated😂 Their cat-and-mouse back-and-forth is just 🤌💋
Rune and Gideon’s arcs in this story are so impactful 🥹—and the twist!?? I audibly gasped.
I’m a huge fan of duologies—there’s something so satisfying about the two-book format. But with The Crimson Moth, I really wish there were more books in this series! The story is absolutely perfect, and the writing is fantastic.
I can’t wait to reread it over and over again! 🥰

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for granting my wish for this ARC!

4.5*

What a way to end a duology!!

I read this in one day because nothing could have torn me away from Gideon and Rune! This story was much more action packed than book one, the pace never lagged and the plot was constantly propelled forward by new obstacles.

The yearning, the pinning and the angst between Gideon and Rune was everything!! I loved how conflicted they were, how their witch hunter x witch dynamic made their relationship so tense and difficult to navigate. How much they secretly wanted each other, but it just wasn't that easy. The betrayals from book one weighed so heavily on both of them.. making every interaction overflow with tension and feeling. ATE IT UP!

I loved every second of this book!! A very satisfying conclusion.

I absolutely enjoyed this conclusion to the Crimson Moth Duet. I found myself unable to put it down and wanted to keep reading late into the night. There was something utterly refreshing about the writing and just ticked all my boxes for a great time. There was SO much great tension throughout the book and if anything I think I enjoyed this more than book 1. Loved seeing the characters grow and eventually get to that HEA we crave.

Holy smokes! I flew through this book! I got immediately drawn in. I was looking forward to this book and it blew my mind!