Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60217777-rebel-witch?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=7exA6aSY7q&rank=1
Instagram review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFIIiLgIwCc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

We will also be covering this book for Season Two of our podcast - episode set to launch on March 25th.

In my review of Heartless Hunter, I had said that I thought the book was better suited for a new adult audience as opposed to YA. I didn’t feel that in this book, it very much reads like YA, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The book is what it is marketed to be, but I didn’t feel the complexity in some of the emotions and situations come through as much here as I did with Heartless Hunter.

So, was this sequel exactly what I was hoping for? No. Am I sad this is over? Very much so. Still, with that said, I very much enjoyed this book! Kristen Ciccarelli - please write a prequel or something, anything else as I very much still want to live in this world!

Favorite quote: ”I may not know you Rune Winters,” he whispered, his mouth an inch from hers. “But I know the Crimson Moth. And she is no caged thing.”

We see both Rune and Gideon pressed to impossible limits while trying to fight for what they believe to be right. The banter between the two was fun and enjoyable, and kept me turning the proverbial e-page well into the night. I love that we see how far both Rune and Gideon will go for each other and their love.

My (personal) biggest criticism of this book is that the miscommunication between Rune and Gideon goes on for a loooong time, and then boom, we’re at the end of the book. Overall, I felt the ending was rushed and would have liked to have seen more significant stakes to the conclusion than all of the dialogue we get between the two. Recognizing this is probably a personal preference for me but I was very much invested in the world-building aspect of this fantasy, and I would have liked this story to include more of that and what that meant for our characters.

A few notes (with spoilers) on why this sequel felt a little dissatisfying for me…

· I couldn’t reconcile how “advanced” Rune’s spells had become in the two months since we left her in Heartless Hunter. In that book, she is still struggling with spells like “pick lock,” but then suddenly, she is an expert and casting much more complex spells in that short period of time. Even if Seraphine was helping her, it doesn’t seem like enough time to gain all the knowledge she has in this book. I would have liked to hear more about how Seraphine or even Cressida helped her with her magic – since it plays such an important part in the book.
· With that said, I personally disliked the two-month time jump. It felt like a lot happened in those two months and I feel like so much is left out. I think I would have rather gotten less of the miscommunication with Rune and Gideon and more of what happened in that period. Or honestly, I feel like there is enough that this could have been three novels! What was Rune’s relationship like with Cressida during that period? Did Cressida already distrust her? I mean, she’s been her best friend as Verity for a long time now, it seems that there would be some level of trust between the two. What changed that? What was Rune’s relationship with Seraphine like during this timeframe, given what we learned about Seraphine later?
· Cressida plays a major role in this book and the actions of the characters, but funny enough, what we don’t get is a lot of Cressida. She is only present in a few scenes, specifically the conclusion of events, and overall, it felt all too easy to easy of a victory over her. I would have liked to see a lot more conflict here and the lengths to which this new Cascadian army would have to go to defeat Cressida.
· Who is Antonio? Rune comments that he had a scent to him – can’t remember what, but that is usually the indication of a witch.
· Lastly, and maybe most of all… I feel like we never see Gideon give a full declaration to Rune of his love. We see it as the reader through his chapters, and he shows it when he leaves her the note in the boat, but I was hoping for more of a proclamation of love and his feelings.

Thank you so much for the advance copy of this book!

The Crimson Moth duology is everything. One of my favorite fantasy/witchy stories of all time.

Even though it was a YA fantasy it gave true enemies to lovers. The chemistry between Rune and Gideon was everything I wanted, and the action just kept coming. I ate it up. I'm beyond glad that this sequel lived up to the hype of the first book for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5 ⭐️

THIS BOOK. I devoured it and it left no crumbs. I re-read Heartless Hunter on audio a couple weeks before diving into Rebel Witch and I loved revisiting this world before seeing how Rune and Gideon would handle being enemies once again.

I absolutely love that Kristen thrusts us right into the action and has our protagonists pitted against each other once again. The enemies to lovers dynamic really shines and I thought the romance was so so so good in this one.

I think one of my favorite aspects of Rebel Witch is Rune’s vulnerability. I think in a lot of YA/NA books, we see the “chosen one” with their literal and figurative armor and they head off undeterred to burn the world down. Rune, however, shows a level of humanity and vulnerability that I really appreciated, and it added a lot of depth to her character.

Rebel Witch was a great mix of old and new characters, new settings, and a fast-paced story. I absolutely loved it.

AHHHHH OH MY GOD I LOVED THIS STORY SO MUCH!

In a nearly perfect finish to this duet, I fell hard and fast for this story once more. There was adventure, hope, romance, sacrifice, hurt, betrayal, questioning of oneself and what matters, and found family.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the eARC via NetGalley and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook! These are my honest thoughts!

I just had no idea what was going to happen in book two, as book one left off on quite the cliffhanger. This story was so much more than I could have imagined.

Rune has spent her whole life hiding her identity from the world, and to not spoil what happens at the end of book one, she finally gets to live life out loud, but on someone else's terms. She escapes, and then she ends up back where she doesn't want to be. And in the meantime, Gideon has to figure out the complexity of his own feelings surrounding witches, particularly the one who killed his family and the one he has fallen in love with. They're so different, and yet, he's stuck on the fact that they're both witches. Rune has been trained to protect herself from others finding her weaknesses, but that just doesn't apply to Gideon AT ALL. He somehow gets behind every shield and between every crack in her armor. She needs him. And that makes her feel even weaker.

These two spend a lot of time not saying what they need to, out of fear or duty, and that makes this story even more compelling. They both make sacrifices that the other person may never know. They both carry secrets that could hurt the other, but that ultimately protect.

This book brings me back to the dystopian YA universe that I loved so much in my teenager years. I appreciate it so much because Rune, Gideon, and friends are strategic and smart; they aren't afraid to do a scary thing because they know something good and right will come from it. We need more examples of this in the world, and this book gives you perspective for more than two sides of a revolution. And the hope of what it feels like to fight for what you truly believe in.

This audiobook was fantastic! I did both Heartless Hunter and Rebel Witch via audio with Grace Gray was phenomenal! She played the full cast of characters so well!

All-around, 5 stars. Sad it's over (lol).

If you were obsessed with Heartless Hunter like I was, this conclusion will not disappoint. Rebel Witch picks up shortly after the conclusion of Heartless Hunter. Our favorite witch and witch hunter continue their game of cat and mouse.

The pining and yearning in this series is some of the best I’ve ever read. At the same time, there is no sacrifice to the story or world building, it remains as rich and interesting as book 1.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rebel Witch will be available February 18! Plenty of time to read Heartless Hunter and not wait for the concluding novel! Thank you to @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks for providing this ARC for review.

4.5 stars

Rebel Witch was SUCH a good follow up to Heartless Hunter and conclusion to the duology. I’m disappointed there won’t be more after this one though. The romance was sooooo good, I love them together. The fantasy and witchy elements were just as good as the first book, if not better.

Rebel Witch definitely wasn’t a disappointing follow up to the first book and I would highly recommend it, and this duology in general!

Thank you St. Martins Press & Wednesday Books for my copy of this!

I'm doing it, I'm giving Rebel Witch 5 stars because I simply have not been able to stop thinking about this wonderful book!! REBEL WITCH IS A TOP ROMANTASY BOOK OF 2025!! If you haven't read the Heartless Hunter duo, what are you doing?? I know this will be the top of my list and honestly a contender of my top TOP books of 2025, I loved it that much. This is now one of my favorite YA romantasy series of all time :) THIS MAY HAVE MINOR SPOILERS FOR HEARTLESS HUNTER (but I tried to keep at a minimum).

Rebel Witch picks up right where Heartless Hunter left off and starts with a BANG!! Gideon has just betrayed Rune when he found out that she is a witch and he thinks she has tricked him into falling in love with her. Gideon and Rune are right back at hating each other and trying to get revenge. Rune is trying to just adjusted to her new life, living with her grief, and trying to live freely as a witch. Gideon is back in the Republic and will do anything to hunt down the Crimson Moth and kill her.

This book was ACTION PACKED!!! Honestly, the entire book flew by! I am so so impressed with how Kristin managed to write a duology with so much world-building, an in-depth plot, and really developed characters. I was in my toes the entire book. I could predict how I thought something was going to go and then was COMPLETELY thrown off. The tension and ANGST between Gideon and Rune throughout literally the entire book was just romantasy and enemies to lovers UNMATCHED. They hated each other, they secretly loved each other, they hated each other again, they thought they couldn't trust the other. But at the same time, they way that they showed up for each other, to protect each other was so pure. ALSO, there was fake-dating and sharing a bed!?! It made the tension 100x better. really loved the story of the 3 witch queens in this book and how it wove into the greater story. The ending was CRAZY and beautifully written, I genuinely cried (lol).

I listened to this book on audio mainly and it was such an incredible experience!! The narrator is Grace Gray and I have absolutely LOVED the way she narrated both books in the series. She managed to make the book even more fast paced and intense, while also making the tension and longing between Gideon and Rune stand out. I would 10/10 recommend listening to the audiobook with this one, I simply didn't want to stop listening!! Thank you to Penguin Random House Audio and Wednesday Books for the free book and ALC!!

This was such a highly anticipated read for me. I love the story behind this duology and really enjoyed the witch versus witch hunter aspect! It's a true enemies to lovers trope and the tension they built in book 1 was perfection!

It has a fantastic plot and I loved how the storyline played out between both books. I was skeptical, but it wrapped up beautifully in the end. (Even though I still think it could have been a longer series.)

While I did really enjoy book 2, I felt a bit disappointed in the way Rune and Gideons tumultuous relationship played out.

So much of the beginning of the book revolved around miscommunication assumptions that I just wanted to scream at them.

They went round and round with the same relationship issues so much that I found it hard to enjoy the plot because I was so frustrated with the romance.

Beyond the misscommunication, the pacing for me felt off. The first 70% of the book drug out and then so much happened in the last 30% that I couldn't see how they were possibly going to wrap all of it up.

They did, whew, but for me the last 30% could have been a bigger portion of the story.

Overall it's a fantastic YA fantasy duology that I still highly recommend to any fans of the genre!

I really enjoyed the first book but the second just felt unnecessary. Too many repeated plotlines or conflicts that felt drawn out. The chemistry between Rune and Gideon felt lackluster in this book.

Rebel Witch picks up a couple of months after the end of Heartless Hunter. It's been a while since I've read the first book, so I didn't remember exactly what happened, but that didn't affect my enjoyment of this follow-up. We're back with Rune and Gideon on opposite sides of a growing war. Rune is set to wed Prince Soren so he'll agree to give Cressida the army she needs to take on the Republic. But that's not what Rune wants so she has to find a way out, while also trying to stay alive with Gideon hunting her down. Will she be able to convince Gideon to work together against a growing evil? With Cressida wanting to resurrect her sisters and the Blood Guard hunting Rune, how is she going to stay alive?

I thought the novel was a little bit longer than was actually necessary, with some sections being kind of slow. A lot of new characters were introduced though, so everything had a reason to be there, and all the pieces came together at the end. I did see a couple of plot points coming from a mile away, and when one surprise happened, I actually said out loud "I knew it!". There's a lot of story in this one, and all the major plot points were tied up neatly at the end.

All in all, if you enjoyed Heartless Hunter, or like an interesting witch and magic story, then give this a read. Rune and Gideon have an interesting banter, and everyone has a part to play.

Thank you to @WednesdayBooks and @NetGalley for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

Rebel Witch is the conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, but unfortunately didn't live up to the thrill of the first book.

The story picks up shortly after the conclusion of Heartless Hunter, with Rune assisting her new Queen in forming an alliance. Both Rune and Gideon are still wrestling with their feelings, despite being enemies once again.

Throughout this novel, Rune and Gideon continue to find their way to each other, constantly on the verge of killing one another but never able to actually go through with it. They both make excuses as they team up and convince themselves they'll turn on each other when it's absolutely necessary.

This back and forth between loving and hating got old fast, and it felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again. While the last 10-15% picked up in pace and resulted in a satisfying and exciting conclusion, the remainder of the book moved too slow and was too annoying to enjoy.

Witch versus witch hunter meets enemies to lovers and the cycle continues.

I will be a Rune and Gideon fan until the end of time. As much as this one it pitched as YA, the romance and the violence was strong and kept me engaged till the last page. The plot twists and little surprises were so well done. I can’t recommend this duology enough.

REBEL WITCH is one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it did not disappoint. Full of action, enemies to lovers romance, and a continued interesting magic system, I think this book was worth the wait and is a great conclusion to this duology.

I really enjoyed everything about this novel. Taking place a few months after the end of Heartless Hunter, it plops you right in the middle of the action. And with it, readers see the consequences and ramifications of the ending of the previous novel.

The author does an amazing job of keeping up the angst between the characters of Rune and Gideon and having them navigate their roles as witch and witch hunter. Like the last book, they try to outwit, outmaneuver, and manipulate while also simultaneously grappling with their feelings for one another. And while this character development is happening, their world is in utter chaos as they fight for what they believe is right, even as it pits them against each other time and time again. That is a difficult balance to maintain, and the author does it flawlessly. The writing, the pacing, the romance is all done to perfection.

Overall, this book is well written, engaging, and delightful. It is an amazing follow up to the previous novel and I truly loved it. I think it is worth the read and is definitely one that is worth your time

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Heartless Hunter was a standout for me last year. I saved my arc of Rebel Witch to start 2025 off right. And it was a great choice.
I love the world and the magic. I’m so glad Rune and Gideon didn’t spend too much time apart. The push and pull between these two was so good. Enemies to lovers perfection.
I can’t wait for my preorder to come in so I can reread.

Wow!! Phenomenal!! This sequel…it was everything! So, so good!! It was heartbreaking yet heartwarming and everything in between!

The story picked up where it left off and took off from there! I was instantly swept away in this fast-paced high-stakes cat and mouse game that had these two enemies dancing around each other.

It was thrilling, it was devastating, it was dark, it was beautiful, and it was just everything!

Rune and Gideon had a lot of soul searching to do in this one and the way they grew and journeyed was unforgettable.

The emotional rollercoaster along with the high-stakes made this book near impossible to put down once I started. This is an epic sequel you’re definitely not going to want to miss!!

Tropes in here and the series are; true enemies to lovers, morally grey characters, angst, pinning, witches, hunters, magic, danger around every corner, who did this to you, one bed, forced proximity, touch him/her and xx vibes, sacrifice, betrayals, lies, secrets, loyal friends, found family, action-packed, fake marriage, banter, and so much more!!

This book was just as good as Heartless Hunter if not better. It was nonstop action, angst and witching from the very first chapter. The pacing kept me fully engaged and I ended up binging this in like 6 hours. I absolutely loved this duo.

Romantasy • Magic • Enemies to Lovers
Expected Publication • 18 Feb 2025

Thank you @wednesdaybooks and @prhaudio for the complimentary e-book and ALC!

The witch and the witch hunter are back in this finale book in the crimson moth duology. And like a moth to a flame, these two are still very much enemies who can’t stay away from one another. Hello slow burn. ❤️‍🔥

They both fully intend to back stab one another… eventually. That’s what they’re telling themselves anyway. For now, they may have to team up.

There will be a fake marriage, a stowaway on a voyage at sea, magical disguises, a couple of competing love interests, a heist that takes the form of a hostage rescue situation, and a final showdown.

I won’t say more for those who haven’t read the first book, but I do think if you loved Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth in the UK), you will love the conclusion to this series! Extremely bingeworthy.

🎧 For my audiobook fans, this one is easy listening and a nice palette cleanser, Grace Gray’s British English accent is delightful 💕

I’m not sure if you remember me gushing over Heartless Hunter last year but I loved it so much I re-listened to it before I dove into this one and it solidified why I love this duology so much! Rune is back…trying frantically to save her own life. Gideon, the boy she used to deeply love, turned her into the enemies and now everyone would love to watch her demise. Gideon himself has a personal vendetta against witches and he is back with a vengeance trying to destroy all witches…including Rune. Except that would all be too easy if it went down like that. Rune makes an offer to Gideon he cannot refuse and what plays out is a battle between the two daily but their last loyalties and love shines through.

I feel like this was the perfect ending to wrap up these two books! If you are a fantasy lover, beginner or expert level I could easily recommend this to you all day long. In this book, there is a lot of jealousy, betrayal, back and forth feelings, loyalty, protection and all in the name of the game forced proximity. I loved how action packed it was, the world was absolutely perfect, the love was worth fighting for and I will say Kristen truly wrote two male characters (in book one) that I ADORED the exact same. It’s not often that happens so it’s worth mentioning. I truly cannot recommend these books enough! I just ordered my book of the month copy yesterday so she can sit pretty next to Heartless Hunter on my shelf. Sign me up for the next Kristen Ciccarelli book. I am ready.

The Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
Rating: 4.5 stars
Pub date: 2/18

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy!

Wow, The Rebel Witch was everything I wanted and more! Kristen Ciccarelli absolutely nailed the finale of the Crimson Moth duology, and I could not put this book down. Picking up right where Heartless Hunter left off, Rune and Gideon are stuck in a whirlwind of betrayal, heartbreak, and tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. They're sworn enemies now, vowing to take each other down, but fate has other plans, and the chemistry between them is unreal.

The forced proximity, the fake relationship, the jealousy, the betrayal—this book is packed with everything that makes romantasy so addictive. Rune is trying to survive in a world that hates her, while Gideon is battling his feelings for her while also hating himself. Every time Gideon said something self-deprecating, I wanted to give him a hug. The emotional tension is off the charts, and I was completely hooked on their push-pull dynamic. On top of that, the action scenes are so vivid, and the pacing is perfect.

If you love tension-filled romance, unforgettable characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing, you need to read this. It’s officially one of my all-time favorite series!

I loved this follow up Heartless Hunter! Honestly, it's debatable but I might say I liked this book even more than it's predecessor. Ciccarelli hits the ground running in the first chapter and does not let up, which is exactly what I want from a high-stakes duology like this. I also admire Ciccarelli for what she was able to do in two books, with a well thought plot, fleshed out characters, and a story that kept me reading late into the night. Definitely an author to watch. Excellent.