(3.5 Stars rounded up!)

After LOVING Heartless Hunter, I was so beyond ready for the conclusion in Rebel Witch!

While I found Heartless Hunter to be great, I found Rebel Witch to be just good. I'm happy where we leave these characters, but was frustrated how we got there.

Immediately following the events of book 1, this book picks up off where we left these characters in precarious positions with a war brewing.

My overall thoughts:
- I found the first 50% of this book to be a slog. Although I'm happy to be back with these characters, it's a lot of down time and traveling to get them all back together again. The second half saves this book A LOT! We get introduced to interesting characters, more action, less predictability, and it feels like we' re BACK!
- Given this is a YA/NA book and some obvious plot reveals in book 1, I expected some predictability, but found the entirety of the book to be easily figured out. So many hints. SO much foreshadowing. It wasn't that the reveals weren't fun and cool, but they were so obvious and less exciting.
- Rune feels DIFFERENT. She's less sure of herself and just not who I remember from book 1. She relies heavily on those around her and the previous advice others give her. I wanted her to come out guns blazing and we got sparks but a much more subdued FMC. A few other characters felt different than book 1, but we'll chalk it up to growth!
- Good or bad, that ending was wrapped up QUICK!
-It's still FUN! Yes, it's a slower, more predictable read wrapped into a nice little bow, but it still has great moments, great tension, and fun new lore and characters introduced.

No doubt fans of book 1 will love the conclusion! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I just finished this book, and wow, it was quite the ride. First off, a heads-up: if you haven’t read the first book, you really need to. This one picks up right where the last left off, so diving in without that context will probably leave you confused.

Emotionally, this book packs a punch. The author does a great job of creating rich, layered emotions that make you feel connected to the characters. Speaking of characters, they felt a lot more three-dimensional this time around. I found myself more invested in their journeys, especially Rune and Gideon. Their angst and longing were beautifully portrayed, keeping the tension high throughout the story.

The romance was a slow burn, with minimal spice. Even the one or two open-door scenes were more about the emotional connection than anything explicit. If you’re looking for heavy steam, this isn't your book. But if you love deep, emotional connections, you’re in for a treat.

Like the first book, the magic system was another highlight for me. It’s unique and well-thought-out, adding an intriguing layer to the narrative. The author’s take on witches feels fresh and different, making it even more compelling to read.

Now, on the downside, some of the problems the characters faced felt a bit repetitive. There were moments when I thought, “Haven’t we been through this already?” But honestly, it didn’t detract too much from my overall enjoyment.

The book is action-packed and fast-paced, keeping you on the edge of your seat. The dual perspectives of Rune and Gideon added depth, making their struggles and growth more poignant.

The character development was spot on, especially towards the end. Rune and Gideon’s journey from enemies to allies to something more was heartfelt and felt authentic. And the banter! They had so much chemistry, it made the relationship maybe the most engaging aspect of the story.

This book, with its mix of action, romance, and unique magic, is perfect for fans of romantasy. If you enjoyed the first book, prepare to love this one. It's the perfect wrap up to this duology, which has carved out a special place in my heart. I rate it a 4.5 out of 5, rounded up to 5 since fractions aren't possible on NetGalley.

So, if you’re into emotional, character-driven stories with a touch of magic and a good dose of angst, give this book a shot. It’s a wild, emotional journey that’s well worth your time.

Thank you so much to st Martin’s press for this digital ARC.

I just want to say I was screaming, crying, throwing up the entire time. It was everything I wanted and more and now I don’t know what to do with myself 🙃

Crimson Moth was your classic enemies to lovers, cat-mouse romantasy that was fun and entertaining but OMG Rebel Witch was simply phenomenal. I just love it so much when the sequel is better and Rebel Witch kept me on my toes from start to finish.

" "You are far worse than a thorn in my side. You are a knife in my heart". His voice was low and dangerous....."And you're a wolf I can't outrun" she whispered."

The tension and chemistry between Rune and Gideon was simply off the charts, like they genuinely wanted to kill each other and yet those feelings, haha! The author truly did justice with their epic romance and it was enemies to lovers perfection IMO. The plot was solid, there was action, tension, a few spectacular twists and an absolutely incredible ending!

This duology is going to be at the very top with my YA fantasy favorites, and I can't wait for the author's next book!

The magical duology comes to an epic end. Thank you to Wednesday books for my gifted copy! I loved this book just as much as the first. It's suspenseful, romantic, and action-packed.

The suspense was heart-pounding and stressful, with twists galore. The romance was tension-filled, angsty, and had me giggling. 😆 Kristen Ciccarelli has romance writing perfected. I adored Gideon and Rune.

My only gripe was that I wished the book was longer, which is the best complaint to have. I wanted more detailed action scenes and political discussions. I need more from this author! I cannot wait to see what she does next. I think she has the potential to create a detailed adult fantasy romance and I'd be the first pre-order (!!).

Wow! ALL. THE. STARS. this book was the perfect conclusion to a book I fell in love with so hard & fast earlier this year. I don't want to say too much to give anything away but I think everyone will be pleased & satisfied by the ending. I loved the journey everyone took in this one & of course the romantic tension was just perfect. Can't say enough nice things about this one - if you loved the first book, you're gonna love this one too!

So good! Fast pace and nail-biting!I loved that there is more of a vulnerable, yet unreliable, side of Rune and Gideon. The waterfall scene 🥺 Gideon still has that nonchalant arrogant attitude about him, but see it slowly turn around. Rune’s walls are up, but allows her heart to let up bit by bit. I did think that the cat mouse chase started to feel redundant (which made me start to lose interest). However, when the plot and unreliability of the characters thickened I was reeled back in! The plot and story telling is phenomenal. Enjoyed the supporting characters. Similar to book one, it’s on the steamier side of YA. The revelation(s) is a little bit predictable, but doesn’t take away from the story. The last few chapters were heart stopping. Loved it!

I cannot believe I got an early ARC of this! Thank you Wednesday Books!

With that being said… 4.25 stars from me.

The first 40% was the back and forth of the relationship. I always dislike this in books, it just dragsssss for me. But at the 60% mark when drama and war picks up- I was living! The ending was phenomenal! Couldn’t put it down!

4.5⭐️

The first book in this duology, it's nothing revolutionary. The plot is very generic and your topical "there's two kinds of people (think rich and poor or magical beings vs those who aren't, with enemies to lovers and they shouldn't be together or sometimes it's a girl between two brothers" kind of plot.

But even though the plot wasn't unique, I do appreciate how the author added her own unique touches (making the FMC a witch and the mmc a witch hunter, adding the fake dating and the touch of regency era). That book to me is the perfect example of how you can take inspiration from another popular book to make your own, without having to copy and paste every single detail from the original, which is a very common issue.

Anyways!! This sequel!!! FANTASTIC!!!!! This one did felt like a book of its own. It was very action packed compared to the first one (that one was more chill) I mean, the main couple couldn't catch a break. I loved this one and couldn't put it down. The romance was sooooo good and I loved every second of it. Also if you thought that they were enemies in the first book, just HOLD ON!! The writing was very easy to follow (same as the first one) which is expected since this is YA.

But anyways!! I loved this so so so much!!! Highly recommend

A phenomenal conclusion to the Crimson Moth duology! Fast paced, kept me hooked, and loved getting to see all the characters coming together in this book. The last half felt like it flew by, but not in a bad way, and somewhere around 85% I was convinced we were actually getting a trilogy, but it ended very nicely and didn’t feel rushed at all.

I was admittedly very nervous that Rebel Witch wouldn't deliver on the same level as Heartless Hunter but it did that and MORE!

I adored this duology so much, it's well-rounded in the best way. The Crimson Moth series gives romance, enemies to lovers to enemies to...., suspense, heartbreak, just everything masterfully put together to tell an incredible story unlike any other I've read.

Thank you SO much Netgalley and Kristen Ciccarelli for my copy of this amazing eARC.

Omg. Omg. Omg.

This was a whirlwind of emotions. That last bit there had me thoroughly freaking out. I'm really hoping this isn't the end to the story because I love it so dang much. 😩 I honestly didn't expect to love these books as much as I do, but it's definitely up there in my favorites now! I can't say too much, or I'll just spoil the whole book, so just know it was amazing, and I still want more, and I'll leave you with this one quote. 🫢

"It's been an honor, Captain."

Big thank you to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday books, Netgalley, and Kristen for the e-arc. I have a new book boyfriend added to the roster. 🤐❤️‍🔥

I recognize that after feeling pretty medium on the first book (3 stars), I’m probably not the target for the second book and it shows in my rating. I wanted to love this and a lot of times the second book gets even better in fantasy series but this just wasn’t it for me.

It started strong, but as the story continued it felt repetitive and silly. I was cheering for rune and Gideon so this was a bit of a rollercoaster!

Thank you to St. Martins Press for the advanced copy!!

4.5 ⭐️ 0.5 🌶️
Picked up right where HH left off
Some parts were predictable throughout this book, but still very enjoyable and an easy read.

Overall I love the banter between Rune and Gideon is the best part!! You can definitely see where they are working through their trauma and ability to trust in this book.

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Who did this to you?
Found family
Unique magic
Witches and Humans
Forced proximity
Fake dating / fake marriage
Secrets and deception

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli is a thrilling continuation and conclusion to the Crimson Moth duology that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story picks up with Rune Winters on the run, having been betrayed by the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe. The stakes are higher than ever as Rune must ally with the dangerous Cressida Roseblood to survive and reclaim the Republic for the witches.

Ciccarelli excels in creating a rich, immersive world filled with magic, intrigue, and complex characters. The tension between Rune and Gideon is palpable, making their forced alliance both compelling and fraught with emotional depth. The enemies-to-lovers trope is handled masterfully, with their chemistry unfolding at a steady, engaging pace.

The plot is fast-paced and filled with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. Ciccarelli's writing is vivid and evocative, bringing the world and its conflicts to life. The high-stakes nature of the story, combined with the romantic tension, makes for a gripping read.

However, I found that the resolution was bit predictable, and a few secondary characters could have been more fleshed out. Despite these minor flaws, Rebel Witch delivers a satisfying and exciting conclusion to the series.

Overall, Rebel Witch earns a solid 4-star rating. It's a captivating read that balances romance, action, and fantasy elements beautifully, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

Rating this book 5 stars makes me so happy.

I literally screamed when I got the email with the ARC. 7 months early?! I’m honored and privileged and I’m gonna cherish this opportunity forever 🥲😂

This was my most anticipated conclusion to a duology and BOY, DID IT DELIVER. This was EVERYTHING I wanted. Did I predict most of it? Yes. But the execution? Perfection.

MINOR SPOILERS, if you consider tropes and out of context quotes spoilers, so proceed with caution 😙

Kristen gave us one of the best enemies to lovers, will they, won’t they, she gave us pining, tension, the forbidden love, forced proximity, fake dating, HOT anticipation, she gave us a F*CK IT moment 🥵 which, I must say, is my absolute favorite micro trope and I screamed when I read it. Kristen gave us EVERYTHING.

GIDEON “What the hell do you think you’re doing with my wife?” SHARPE, the man that you are 😮‍💨 could I be more in love with this man? The internal battle he’s constantly going through, having to choose between the woman he wants and his believes. The way he wants to protect her, at all cost, even if it puts him at risk 🥲

RUNE’S “TRUTH” SPEECH?! I was unwell. The way I gasped when she said THAT line. Screaming. Crying. Throwing up. I love her character. She had her moments when I was like “what the hell are you doing?!” but she redeemed herself every time.

“I know the Crimson Moth. And she is no caged thing.” The way he knows her 😭 even when he “hated” her, he always knew exactly what she wanted and what she needed. And he let her be herself, didn’t try to change her.

The love declarations were everything. Also, I don’t know how Kristen managed to make closed door romance that hot but she definitely did just that 😮‍💨

The ending was perfect. A great conclusion to the story. The book was action packed, I wasn’t bored for a second, the chapters were often short and I could not put this down!

Oh man, how sad I am to be done with these characters!!

What a wild and emotional end to Rune and Gideon’s story. Rebel Witch took me on a breakneck journey through love, heartbreak, war, and magic.

The scenes between Gideon and Rune were, as always, electric. I could feel the tension sizzling off the page. Their quips and banter is unmatched. I adore how these two just fit together so perfectly, so well matched not despite their differences but because of them. Their romance was so EARNED and fought for.

As an end to the story I quite liked how things wrapped up, though the pacing was perhaps a bit TOO action-packed. It would have been nice to sit with all of our characters a bit more between the last few chapters and the epilogue. (Which is just me being selfish and wanting more time with them to be honest.)

Still, a stunning conclusion for my favourite witches and witch hunters!

First off, if you haven't read Heartless Hunter yet, the first book in the duology, stop what you're doing and order it (it's currently on KU!). I got it as my February BOTM and absolutely loved it. I was dying at the cliffhanger it left the readers on, so I just about screamed when I got an ARC for Rebel Witch.

Rebel Witch picks up a few weeks after Heartless Hunter ends. I don't want to say too much because the release date is still months away, but I think I actually liked this one more than Heartless Hunter! In the first book, Gideon and Rune are playing cat and mouse for the majority of the book. I really enjoyed how in Rebel Witch, they had to work together as a team, despite being enemies. It gave LOTS of forced proximity and tension. I ate it right up, and literally could not put the book down. This duology has scratched the Powerless itch for me, and has been one of my favorite fantasy reads of the year!

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc! I can't wait to get a physical copy for my shelf in February.

Rebel Witch picks up right where we left off in Crimson Moth and as always Kristen knocked it out of the park. Kristen skillfully hints at significant plot developments while ensuring there are some surprising twists at the end. And let me tell you when you get to this twist, you will be feeling ALL THE EMOTIONS. There is one quote from this scene that I wish I could share with you all but you'll just have to read it to find out. Evil laugh.

🦋 Reveals and Secret Identities
🦋 Enemies to Lovers
🦋 Betrayal
🦋 Second Chance Love
🦋 Slow Burn

Rune is still hurting from the recent death of her best friend and trying navigate the this new world where working for either side could get her killed. Her heart still yearns for the Blood Captain but she knows that was all fake, they were both playing each other to get what they wanted. But why can't she stop thinking about him when all he wants to do is kill her? Secrets and hidden identities revealed that might give them and this new world a chance. When given the opportunity to make change, all Rune wants to do is run far away from the threat of war. Can she be the Crimson Moth again? Is the fight worth it?

Please do yourself a favor and read this book when it comes out! I hope you love it as much as I did.

WOW! This is an epic conclusion to this duology and is filled with the same palpable enemies to lovers banter as Crimson Moth. I flew through the first half of this book and was locked in once Gideon and Rune were locked on the ship together. I think this was a necessary development to tie them together after the events of Crimson Moth. This is a duology I think I will find myself picking back up time and time again to step into this lush, challenging, dark, but romantic world the author has created!

I did find the twists in this book very predictable, but I also didn't find myself too upset about seeing the twists coming.

There were just a few things that stopped me from being about to rate Rebel Witch 5 stars like I did Crimson Moth. I thought the first half of the book was incredible, but when we got to the back half, I felt like I lost some of the fire I have expected out of Rune. I know she was broken down, but it almost seemed too apathetic and then there was a transition back into caring, without enough internality for me to see how she got there. I also found Rune's jump to wanting to get married a little rushed, I think I would have liked to have only seen that in the epilogue. There wasn't as smooth of a transition out of enemies to lovers/steamy banter into the lovey dovey attitude towards the end of the book. I kind of wish the author had still made them lovers, but kept some of the snarky banter to make it feel more natural.