The Rebel Witch is a book I’ve been eagerly waiting to read since last year. Yesterday, I finally picked it up and finished it in one sitting! It’s that fast-paced. At least for me, because I needed to know the ending.

The story picks up right after the cliffhanger from The Crimson Moth. I’ll avoid spoilers, but Rune Winters is determined to save as many witches as she can while on the run. On the other hand, Gideon is focused on protecting the New Republic and eliminating all witches. In their high-stakes game of cat and mouse, the lines between ally and enemy blur and darker dangers begin to surface.

This sequel did not disappoint! It’s packed with emotion, intrigue, angst, secrets, and love. Rune Winters might just be one of my favorite characters right up there with Jaenelle from Anne Bishop’s The Black Jewels series. She’s brave, courageous, and absolutely unforgettable.

That said, I did find some of the miscommunication repetitive, and I wish the ending had slowed down a bit. But overall, this duology will always stand out as a favorite.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and St. Martin’s Press for the copy!

TW: Blood, violence, self-harm, torture

4.5⭐️
Oh my, this was just such a fun time.
This is the long awaited sequel to Heartless Hunter, and it did not disappoint.
It picks up with Rune on the run to establish Cressida as queen so the witches will be safe from the witch hunters.
Gideon is again searching for Rune, to kill her, and stop Cressida from becoming Queen again. Of coarse that’s not all there is between these two. 🤭
I do think the writing just needs a bit more to it, it seems a little bland in some places. But other than that, I loved it so much!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review! I felt so lucky.

Rebel Witch begins shortly after the events that concluded book 1 with Rune and Gideon once again in a game of cat and mouse, trying to outwit the other.

To start with what. I liked. I really enjoyed how Rune was always 3 steps ahead. I felt the fire that was the Crimson Moth in the first installment of this duology. Though, I felt that this was lost about a third of the way of the story. I also enjoyed expanding on the world of witches and learning more of their lore. I also enjoyed watching Rune and Gideon's relationship evolve, but the constant "I want him/her, I can't have him/her" and the "we can't be together, they don't want me" wore on me.

What I didn't like. The first half of this book felt like a completely different book than the second. There were a lot of plot points and it caused pacing issues in the middle of the story. I don't know how so much could happen but it still feel like nothing was happening. The ending also felt incredibly rushed and anticlimactic for all the build up that this book brings. With the amount of back and forth, I expected an epic battle, but was left going oh okay. I also felt like there were too many new characters introduced who were nothing more than a way to conveniently move the plot along.

Ultimately, I thought the series was fine and it ended in a way that made sense. However, I was left wanting more. Those who like romantasy books will more than likely eat this up, but that I'm coming to realize just isn't me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rebel Witch

A fun, witchy read. Rebel Witch has everything you'd look for in your typical romantasy.

Classic enemies to lovers with plenty of cat and mouse, because of this, there is plenty of miscommunication to go around. All understandable, of course.

We spend time in two different places and travel between but because the focus is the romance the setting doesn't much matter.

The side characters are where its at and I loved the addition of the new ones. They brought some new intrigue to the story and it paid off.

Heartless Hunter was my first read of the year and it was AMAZING.
I was so excited that I had the second book as an arc waiting for me as soon as I finished.
This is a tough one. Was it good? Yes. Was it better than the first one? Definitely not.
Heartless Hunter, to me, was such a unique concept, and the cat vs mouse game was executed so well. However, with the sequel you lose that aspect, so I was really hoping for something new and unique.
Same as the first book, I saw the twist coming. One time: maybe I'm just smart 🤓😂 Twice: Okay maybe its a little too obvious.
This definitely was a continuation and conclusion of Rune and Gideon's story, with lots of adventure and action, but for me it didn't hit the same way as Heartless Hunter.
It was also a much slower start, and wish that more of the book was spent on the conclusion as it felt a bit rushed.

I enjoyed the characters and overall enjoyed the series and story.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me an early copy.

I loved crimson moth and was so excited to receive rebel witch. The betrayal at the end of book 1 had me PUMPED to read this. And read it I did. The tension, the romance!? Ugh this was even better than book 1.

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Kristen Ciccarelli’s “The Rebel Witch” is nothing short of a literary masterpiece. This breathtaking tale is a triumph of storytelling, weaving together magic, rebellion, and raw emotion in a way that grips your heart and refuses to let go. From the very first page, I was swept into a world so vividly realized that it felt like stepping through a portal into another reality.

The main female character, Rune Winters, is a force to be reckoned with—fierce, flawed, and unapologetically human. Ciccarelli writes with such depth and nuance that you can’t help but root for her, cheer for her victories, and ache for her losses. Her journey of self-discovery and defiance against impossible odds is nothing short of inspiring, making her one of the most memorable heroines I’ve encountered in recent fiction.

What truly sets “The Rebel Witch” apart is its intricate world-building and its themes of courage, identity, and the power of choice. Ciccarelli’s prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid scenes that leap off the page. Every twist and turn feels earned, every revelation hits with emotional weight, and every moment is infused with a sense of wonder and urgency.

The magic system in this book is dazzlingly original, adding layers of intrigue and danger to the narrative. And the supporting cast is just as compelling as the heroine herself, with relationships that feel authentic and brimming with tension, love, and heartbreak.

Then of course there’s the relationship between Rune & Gideon. Enemies to lovers to enemies to…? No spoilers here but the tension that started in book one continues to build in book two & the couples continued to entertain and irritate me with their back and forth throughout the entire book.

Kristen Ciccarelli has truly outdone herself with “The Rebel Witch”. It’s a book that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place. A spellbinding journey of rebellion, resilience, and hope, this story will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

A stunning completion to this duology, “The Rebel Witch” is an absolute must read.. It’s a story that will captivate your soul and leave you yearning for more. Honestly it was so well done that it almost makes me sad this was a duology and therefore the last book in the series!

This sequel was everything omg!!! The first book blew me away and this one did not disappoint. The author writes fantasy in such a captivating way. My only complaint was that I wish it was longer!

The ending of the first book really left me wanting more and the anticipation was over the edge. The second book here was intense, the drama, action everything was crafted well i absolutely loved the story. The ending was chef's kiss 🤌

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for an early copy of this book! I didn't want to wait another MINUTE for this sequel!!! 💖
Ugh! This series is SOOOO good!!! I'm obsessed with this book! I usually am a lil meh with sequels sometimes but this book literally was MEANT to be!!! It picks up a tad bit behind where Heartless Hunter leaves off BUT MAN it's so action packed and the romance (yearninggg but with a heavy dash of misunderstanding). I just couldn't wait to read this book but I was also dying to see where it would go! I love that there were some plot movements that I just didn't see coming! Each chapter was almost like an episode of a show and the end of each chapter was kind of plot twisty/action packed and it made it so you just couldn't put the book down! It was a vicious cycle of "just one more chapter!" 😭 While I think the big plot twists were a tad predictable BUTTT the moment was still so powerful and well written that they still gave me goosebumps!!! 🤩 AND like my favorite YA enemies to lovers books, there is yearning and enemies to lovers AND the main characters not wanting to like each other but of course, they do! It's kind of hard to say how much I loved it without giving away any spoilers (because this book is definitely better without any spoilers) but I'm so happy that this book went the way it did but I'm also sad that this series is over! I will definitely keep an eye out for other Kristen Ciccarelli books from now on!

I liked it. I wasn’t obsessed. I think some people will really love it, especially if they read both books back to back. But I forgot enough from book 1 that I was confused for parts of book 2. And I felt like there was a lot of telling (vs showing) when it came to emotional and character development.

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Rebel Witch, one of my most anticipated reads of the year, the conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology.. while I enjoyed this book, I didn’t find myself as obsessed as I was with Heartless Hunter! Let’s dig into it!

I’ll start with the good—this audiobook was fantastic! The narration really brought the characters to life and made the tension between Rune and Gideon even more palpable! Both actors performed their roles beautifully!

Speaking of tension, this book had plenty of it between all the cat-and-mouse games, sharp banter, and lingering emotions uniting the two main characters! I also really appreciated their character growth and was ultimately happy with where Rune and Gideon character arcs wrapped up!

That said, some aspects of this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me personally! The back-and-forth in Rune and Gideon’s relationship, especially their deep distrust, dragged on longer than I would have liked. Some plot points felt a little too convenient a little *too* on the nose if you know what I mean! And while the final conflict had solid buildup, it was over way too quickly, making the resolution and final pages feel all too rushed…

Overall, Rebel Witch was an enjoyable read, just not as gripping as the first book. I missed the high-stakes drama and jaw-dropping twists of Heartless Hunter, but I was ultimately satisfied enough with how everything ended. If you loved book one, it’s definitely worth finishing the duology—just maybe go in with slightly tempered expectations!

I absolutely screamed when I got the arc for this one since I loved the first book. And the sequel is no different. I inhaled this book. This duet is everything and had the perfect ending.
🦋Enemies to lovers
🦋Witch x Witch Hunter
🦋Banter
🦋Close Proximity
🦋Action Packed
🦋Who did this to you
If you loved the first book, you are going to want to pick this one up!!!

Listen, getting over the fact that he handed her over to be Purged was TOUGH.

I eventually just had to let it go, or it would have ruined the rest of the book.

And the rest of the book was GOOD.

I loved that they were together from (almost) the beginning.

I loved the redemption arcs.

I loved the nuanced characters.

I DID NOT LOVE all the times they were making out WHILE ACTIVELY BEING PURSUED.

My dudes. You. Do. Not. Have. Time. For. This. Shit.

I’m also weirdly glad it’s over.

It was a satisfying ending, and now I get to enjoy something else, instead of waiting for the next installment (I’m looking at you, Onyx Storm).

GIDEON AND RUNE NEED MORE BOOKS!

But seriously, I loved the first one and I think I LOVED this one even more? Friends to lovers, witches, fantasy and a plot that moves. WOW, what a read!

Definitely read book one first, but preorder this one right now.

Perfect ending. What a fab read!

4.5 stars

leaving off from book 1, gideon and rune can’t trust each other more now than ever. the tension. the angst. the forbidden witch x witch hunter. i’m supposed to hate you but i can’t. TOPPP TOP TOPPPP TIER!!! god i love them. the action was impeccable, i was on the edge of my seat the whole time. i now want to read any book this author writes bc i haven’t been so enthralled in a book in so long 😭🫶

I will be posting on socials closer to release day!

Star-crossed lovers, close quarters games of cat and mouse, celebrating in defiance of the end of the world. Rebel Witch closes the duology with all the witchy magic and repressed feelings we came to love, plus an extra helping of political maneuvering, that culminates in a rebellious last stand straight out of a war arc.

When the story begins, some time has passed since the first book, and I enjoyed how the mini time-skip set a whole new stage for Rune and Gideon to go toe-to-toe with different agendas under Cresseida’s rule. The distance has also allowed the once-maybe-lovers’ to separate their emotions from their need to survive, and so also re-opening the door for that juicy tension from when they first met. I mean, they aren’t really enemies, and if either one of them had just fessed up to themselves and stopped the “I guess I like you but we and this love are doomed uwu” act a lot of their problems could’ve been solved, saving lives and more time for the war arc (which was my favorite - it’s something about unlikely allies facing unbeatable odds, y’know).

This book takes on a lot of new things, maybe in part because the story has grown beyond the initial Scarlet Pimpernel parallels. I don’t know if there’s enough room for all the pining and these additional political dimensions, for example, and some pretty pivotal plot points came and went very quickly. I would’ve loved to sit more in those moments, particularly whenever Rune discovers new strengths within herself or is at odds with Cresseida. Pacing aside, I enjoyed the new narrative directions and the last quarter of the story deserves a whole book in itself.

I will never get enough of these two. I would follow them for all my days if I could. If only I could be their best friend. I am LITERALLY OBSESSED.

In "Heartless Hunter," readers thought the stakes couldn't be higher than a witch and a witch hunter falling in love but oh MAN did Kristen Ciccarelli prove us wrong or what in "Rebel Witch?!" The action-packed sequel to Ciccarelli's five-star romantic fantasy succeeded in cranking the heat up on the main characters--literally and figuratively.

Ciccarelli's duology is such a wonderful read because it's the rare romantasy that can pull off a romance AND world-building. Sure, it's got all the tropes that make a romantic squeal but it also has a unique magic system and an actual plot. I'm reticent to add much more to my review in case I accidently spoil even the smallest thing about this book.

If you haven't read "The Crimson Moth" duology, stop whatever you're reading and pick up "Heartless Hunter" now and make sure you check out "Rebel Witch" when it comes releases on February 18, 2025!

I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rebel Witch begins shortly after the events that concluded book 1 with Rune and Gideon once again in a game of cat and mouse, trying to outwit the other.

To start with what. I liked. I really enjoyed how Rune was always 3 steps ahead. I felt the fire that was the Crimson Moth in the first installment of this duology. Though, I felt that this was lost about a third of the way of the story. I also enjoyed expanding on the world of witches and learning more of their lore. I also enjoyed watching Rune and Gideon's relationship evolve, but the constant "I want him/her, I can't have him/her" and the "we can't be together, they don't want me" wore on me.

What I didn't like. The first half of this book felt like a completely different book than the second. There were a lot of plot points and it caused pacing issues in the middle of the story. I don't know how so much could happen but it still feel like nothing was happening. The ending also felt incredibly rushed and anticlimactic for all the build up that this book brings. With the amount of back and forth, I expected an epic battle, but was left going oh okay. I also felt like there were too many new characters introduced who were nothing more than a way to conveniently move the plot along.

Ultimately, I thought the series was fine and it ended in a way that made sense. However, I was left wanting more. Those who like romantasy books will more than likely eat this up, but that I'm coming to realize just isn't me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!