I'll do this one short and sweet because this is book 2, and I don't want to spoil anything if you haven't read the first book yet. Let's just say that book 2 lived up to the anticipation for me.

After the ending of book 1, I was eager to see how things would go from there. It started right away with lots of angst, action and high stake situations. This second instalment was full of betrayals, forced proximity, a heart melting slow burn and even one of my favourite tropes that I did not expect to see there, but I was so here for it.

The tension and push and pull between Rune and Gideon was absolutely delightful. I liked seeing them having to interact and fighting this attraction between them. It was chef's kiss. The story kept me on my toes at all times, and even though I did guess some of the plot twists, it was still delectable, and I enjoyed every second of it.

This is a must-read duology for any fan of fantasy and especially if you enjoy a true enemies-to-lovers trope because it is well done in this one!

Huge thanks to RaincoastBooks and WednesdayBooks for my copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Just as good as the first one! Very suspenseful and exciting from the first page. What I really loved about this one was Gideons character growth, and development.. the love story between the two characters was so sweet and also infuriating at times, but definitely a must read !

I finished heartless hunter then immediately went into Rebel Witch and then finished half of it in the same sitting. This series is super addictive and I really feel for anyone who had to wait for the sequel to come out. To me this is a real potato chip series, while it's no literary masterpiece that will change your life, it is full of super delicious empty calories. I think it helped that I had low expectations going into the series so I was pleasantly surprised while reading. I really enjoyed the side characters and that each of that actually had something to contribute to the story. Although I expected the twist I thought it was still well done and fun to read.



Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this e-ARC that I chose to read and review

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review (which I am late at giving!).

What a great sequel! I am a huge fan of duologies because they aren't as long of a wait to finish the series and you don't risk the second one being more of filler or not as good.

Rebel Witch does not disappoint. I loved the dynamic still between Gideon and Rune. The enemies-to-lovers was still as strong as ever in this book. The tension was...yes. As much they both felt betrayed by the other, it was impossible for them not to understand the others motives and ultimately work together. Despite his anger towards her, Gideon always had that pull that he couldn't get away from. He would do anything to protect and help Rune. And Rune...she is so strong willed, but even she can't resist how she feels about Gideon.

The plot was fast paced and picked up right where it left off. I was dying to know what happened after the cliffhanger from book 1 and book 2 did not disappoint.

Highly recommend both books!

Thank you to St. Martins Press for letting me review the second book in this duology. I liked it, however at times felt like the story was rushed but then felt like there were lulls, which is odd. I truly enjoyed The Crimson Moth and thought about it all year looking forward to this one. It gave me Powerless vibes at times so kind of felt like I was reading a story I had already read... However, the last 25% of the book was a slam! It really was going to be a 3 star for me then that ending got it right back up to 4 star for me. Thank you!! I look forward to reading future Kristen Ciccarelli books!

Rebel witch gave everything that heartless Hunter gave and more. I'm so excited to be back in the world set by Kristen Ciccarelli.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

I didn't like this one as much as the first one. I did end up enjoying it but I'm glad it's just a duology and there aren't more because I don't think I could continue with it.

I’m OBSESSEDDDD! And so sad that this was a duology because that means it is over. This book had me in a chokehold and I wish I could read it endlessly. The angst! Ugh!
After events in the first book, Gideon and Rune are separated only to reunite when he attempts to assassinate her. Instead they fall into another truce of sorts, as they can both help each other. Again though, both are so capable of betrayal that they neither fully trust each other. There’s also the important point of the fact that they are in love with each other but don’t believe the other feels the same, and instead chalks it up to some act.
So it leads to a lot of angsty conversations that had tears blurring my vision and my heart wrenching. I did feel like we got more of them in this book, and I particularly enjoyed the one bed trope and basically the entire ship sequence (once you read, you’ll get it); so much happens in this book though that honestly that part feels like a lifetime ago.
Long story short— these two keep each other on their toes and are a match made in heaven— or hell given how much ruckus they cause. But they make my heart soar and I loved these two books so very much.

Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours for the copy of Rebel Witch! Be sure to check out their website for the rest of the tour.

This was the perfect epic conclusion to the Crimson Moth series. I ATE. THIS. DUOLOGY. UP. Like seriously, it will forever be one I recommend, one I reread, and one I think about often. Kristen Ciccarelli is a genius, and I can't wait to read every single one of her future books!!!

The Crimson Moth duology 🖤

I’m not the biggest fantasy reader, so when I come across a books in the genre I like, I always want to share!

This duology is fantasy, but super accessible to those of us that don’t read a ton of fantasy books. Plus, the series has got it all! Read if you like the following ⬇️

🧙 witches
🔪 war/battles
🌹 bad*ss female protagonist
❤️‍🔥 enemies to lovers
🐱 cat and mouse stories
🪄 magic

loved this series!

Rebel Witch didn't suffer from the sophomore slump and is a fantastic conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology! Definitely a fun fantasy series for those who love fantasy, witchy reads and romantacy!

Rebel Witch was a fantastic follow-up to Heartless Hunter.
I flew through this and it was just so fun, the pacing in Kristen's books is unstoppable.
I appreciated the level of stakes and the collaboration between the characters while still maintaining the enemies to lovers.
The ending was satisfying and gosh, duologies are just never enough but yet I can't argue that they aren't often my favourites!

An absolute PHENOMENAL conclusion to this duology. Duologies can be very hit or or miss but this one was such a hit. The pacing is absolutely perfect and kept my attention the entire time. The romance is one of my favorites of all time. The tension and the yearning is to die for!!

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

Am I too old for this type of YA? I don’t know. There are so many YA fantasies that grip me and pull me into the story and endear me to the characters. Unfortunately this was not one of them. I enjoyed Heartless Hunter/Crimson Moth on my first read through last year. I really enjoyed the cat-and-mouse dynamic between Rune and Gideon. It made for a fun read, and kept my attention through the whole book. But Rebel Witch just took a huge dip in enjoyment for me. Firstly, how many times can two people be captured and somehow escape in the course of one book? And how many sea voyages (and I use the word voyage loosely, as there was no real time spent on the actual voyage) can they take? Secondly, there was so much Deus ex Machina going on in this book. Our dynamic duo would seemingly be in peril to coincidentally be saved by something, or someone, at the last minute. So. Many. Times. It made the stakes feel very low. Lastly, the bickering, I-hate-him/her-but-they’re-also-so-hot back and forth was cringe and exhausting. It did not make me root for these two characters to get back together. Ultimately, this was a miss for me.

This was a fun YA fantasy with depth, a captivating magic system, and very well executed romantic storytelling. What more can you ask for in romantasy?

Ahhhh! What a great duology! This was an exciting and satisfying conclusion to the Crimson Moth series.

I really enjoyed Rune and Gideon's chemistry and relationship. Enemies-to-lovers with a slow burn is my preferred romance trope, so Rune and Gideon's dynamic played right into what I love. Their story was great in book 1 and I fell for them all over again here!

I really enjoyed the plot and the journey this story took us on. It wrapped in a pleasurable way. The story, the magic system and the world we got to see more of in this book was highly enjoyable! The only complaint I have for the plot, and the book in general, is the ending felt a little anti-climatic. This is probably my own fault. When you have pre-conceived ideas or expectations, one is often a bit let down when they don't come to fruition. As we came to the end, I was expecting more of a battle, something a bit bigger. As it became more and more clear that a big, intense moment wasn't coming with each passing page, I felt a bit disappointed.

Regardless, this was a strong conclusion to this duology. I highly enjoyed this series and would recommend to fans of YA fantasy!

The second book in this duology is so exciting with both characters constantly going back and forth between trusting each other and stabbing the other in the back. Coming from opposite sides in their country's ongoing civil war, each of them has reasons for why they fight on the side they have chosen (hint, hint: otherwise they die!). The stakes are so high and their love is both forbidden and cursed, so the angst is high as well. Sacrificial love (for each other, for their homeland, for their families' memories) is a theme in the second half of the book that really stayed with me. I really enjoyed the magic in these books and the final solution to the ongoing problems surprised me in the best way.

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli is a gripping and emotionally rich conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology. Picking up right where Heartless Hunter left off, the story plunges readers into a high stakes struggle between magic and tyranny, led by Rune, a powerful witch, and Gideon, a conflicted witch hunter. Their reluctant alliance unfolds through fast-paced action, sharp dialogue, and beautifully tense moments that deepen both the plot and their relationship. The slow-burn romance between them is handled with subtlety, making it a standout element that complements the book’s darker themes.

Ciccarelli’s world-building is immersive, expanding on the lore and magic system introduced in the first book while exploring deeper themes of trust, redemption, and the cost of resistance. Her prose is lyrical and evocative, elevating even the quietest scenes to something powerful and memorable. Rebel Witch is not just a satisfying sequel—it’s a testament to how fantasy can be both thrilling and deeply personal. Fans of character-driven fantasy and emotionally charged storytelling will find much to love in this captivating finale.

This was a great follow up to the first book! While it wasn't as good as the first, it was still very enjoyable.

ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || REBEL WITCH [thank you to PRH Audio + Wednesday Books for my #gifted copies!]

Title: Rebel Witch
Author: Kristen Ciccarelli
Genre: YA Romance/Fantasy
Format: audio
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Narrator: Grace Gray
Narration: ★★★★★

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
Dare I say that this is a second novel in a duology that was even better than the first? The first “scene” in the restroom so-to-speak just kept me on the edge of my seat and reading more + more because I had to know what was going to happen!

Which is basically how I felt the entire book.

Picking up essentially right where the first book left off, we got to see the tension and, honestly, love between Rune and Gideon even as they tried to fight it off on opposites sides of a disastrous war between witches and humans. I loved that, even though they were ticked off at each other, they still risked it all to keep the other unharmed. Even at great personal peril.

While I (and I’m sure many other fantasy readers) guessed the “twist” in this book, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment or watching the events play out! In all honesty, with this being a duopoly, I still wasn’t sure what kind of ending we’d end up with. Was Ciccarelli just going to pull at my heartstrings? MAYBE. You’ll just have to read to find out if I was satisfied or left in a world of despair.

If you’re looking to toe into the fantasy waters, I feel that this would be a great place to start. It’s only two books and the world-building wasn’t overly complex and it was easy to follow. Pick it up, what are you waiting for? You don’t even have to wait for book two — IT’S ALREADY HERE.

🎧 I wish I’d listened to more Grace Gray before this book because WHAT A DELIGHT. She did such a great job of capturing the emotions and keeping me in the moment of the story. I even listened while at the gym, and her keeping me hyped through action-packed moments definitely helped me make it a little longer. Highly recommend this format if audio is your thing!

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 4.25
# of Hours:
Pub Date: February 18, 2025