I absolutely loved this, and cannot wait for the second book. I loved the characters and the world and found the magic system really interesting. I had fairly high expectations going into this book, and I'm really glad that my expectations were met.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up. I liked the story, but I also feel like some plot points were a little too obvious and some things the characters said and did were very cliched. I also wanted to shake them and roll my eyes at them at times. I feel like this was very much trying to be Serpent & Dove, and it’s definitely not.

I do think it’s has a great magic system, and I am curious what happens in the next book. Wasn’t my favorite, but was still a good read.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli is a fantastic witch/witch hunter story. This book sucked me in with its magic and I loved Rune's cunning as the Crimson Moth. A vigilante witch trying to take down the elite, yes please! The romance is so swoon worthy in this enemies to lovers fantasy book. I read this in one sitting and I look forward to book two. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for my ARC copy.

Holy HECK I need book two YESTERDAY. I wish there was more spice but is it technically YA? So maybe that’s why. I haven’t had much success with reads that have blown me away this year, but this one has it all!!

I am completely enchanted by Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli! This enemies-to-lovers tale of a witch and a witch hunter is a captivating blend of passion and high-stakes adventure. Ciccarelli's world-building is nothing short of extraordinary, set in the aftermath of a brutal revolution where witches are forced to conceal their true selves.

The protagonist, Rune, is a mesmerizing character as she navigates her double life: a wealthy socialite by day and a brave vigilante known as the Crimson Moth by night. The chemistry between Rune and Gideon Sharpe, the infamous witch hunter, is absolutely electric. Initially using each other for information, their facades crumble as genuine emotions begin to surface. Gideon's evolution from despising Rune's facade to embracing her depth and compassion adds a beautiful complexity to their connection.

I have been immersed in duologies lately, and I am beyond grateful to have experienced this book early. The original concept, intricately developed characters, and heart-stopping moments kept me glued to the pages. I am eagerly anticipating the next installment in The Crimson Moth duology—I am filled with excitement to discover where the narrative will lead us next. If you crave romantic fantasy filled with intricate characters and mind-bending plot twists, Heartless Hunter is a must-read!

Ahhh I honestly don’t know how to start, this whole story was sooo amazing!! I really enjoyed so much of it, the banter and slow burn were so good! I literally devoured it so fast. It was really really good.

However there was something about it that didn’t make me love it, which is honestly so rare for me. I’m kind of sad but it sorta felt flat to me, like something was missing. Not only that but I realized that this is supposed to be YA? Even though it reads more like NA and I have a hard time with spice being thrown so blatantly into YA books.

I also spent literally the whole book being suspicious of the wrong side character!! That was a crazy twist.

Overall I’m excited to continue the series!

Another title I'm eager to purchase for my library's romantasy collection. This story will appeal to both YA and adult audiences, making it perfect for my collection. Can't wait for the next book!

HEARTLESS HUNTER is a book that suddenly a scene pops into my head, and I’m like, “Ohhh, that was so good!” But it’s not like the same two or three scenes; it’s most scenes in the book. Kristen Ciccarelli has written a book for fantasy lovers that you will not want to put down. I found myself wanting more and more, but then suddenly it was over and now I have to wait 😩

One of my favorite descriptive sentences to read about a book is “enemies-to-lovers doesn’t get more high stakes than a witch and a witch hunter falling in love.” Yes, please! There’s always so much angst. So much secrecy. So much pining. And HEARTLESS HUNTER has it all between Rune and Gideon. I lived for their banter, kindness, anger, snark, annoyance, and tension with one another.

What sets HEARTLESS HUNTER apart is its masterful execution of the enemies-to-lovers trope. It’s not a rushed ‘I hate you, well okay, I love you’ scenario. The book delivers on the promise of good YA angst and tension, leaving you craving more. This book knows how to keep you hooked, and I am here for it!

This was an excellent surprise of a new fantasy duology, and I can’t wait for book two!

Content warnings: self-harm to get blood for magic, familial death, grief, sexual assault

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an arc of this book!

Rating 4/5 Stars

Okay so I wasn't sure what I was going in to when reading this but I absolutely LOVED it! I couldn't put it down and pretty much finished it in one sitting. I need the next book ASAP. Kristen Ciccarelli is an incredible writer.

I cannot wait for the next book!! At first the book was slow going in the beginning as the world was being built but I’m glad I stuck with it as it became a page turner!!! I really didn’t expect the twist at the end of the book.

4.25 out of 5. I'm giving you fair warning here, I was an absolute fan of this enemies to lovers tale, but a hater of the total cliffhanger ending. Having to wait until the second installment comes out to know how the stories of Rune and Gideon are going to play out its going to be torture. If you want things to go smoothly wait until the second book comes out and read it one after another. If you are a masochist like me, then dig in and lets discuss. Because it really is a smart book. I really liked the depth of both characters. They have to paly so many roles that their depths are wonderful to read. I did foresee the twist a bit before hand, but it still was a very smart way to take the story and throw everything for a loop. I really enjoy books when its not so clear who you want to root for, and trust me by the end of this that is how you will end up. Also the ending - tissues, so many tissues, that's all one can say without ruining it.

It's been a while since I've enjoyed a fantasy book this much! Heartless Hunter is perfect for fans of romantasy, morally grey characters, enemies to lovers, great banter, and dual povs. The fast pace of this book made it so easy to lose myself in this incredible story. The writing was imaginative and descriptive. And that cliffhanger of an ending left me so excited for the sequel!

Thank to you the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli was a fun read that fit right into my witch-loving heart.
Heartless Hunter is book one of a true enemies-to-lovers fantasy series about a witch (Rune) and a witch-hunter (Gideon). It’s as interesting as it sounds. Somehow, Ciccarelli gets you rooting for both the witches and the witch hunters, which feels impossible. I completely understood why Gideon hunted witches (wrong though I still believe it to be.) I found Rune to be believable and lovable, and Gideon to be grumpy and cold but with complexities that don’t make him straight-up annoying (such as a habit of sewing flowers to woo a certain woman).
The cons are few and far between. I would say that Gideon’s tragic backstory reminded me of quite a few other grumpy and cold male protagonists in romantic fantasy novels, which didn’t thrill me. Alex, Gideon’s brother, felt a little too flat and I wasn’t enthralled by the ending. I was invested in the story and in the characters, but not too a life-altering point. I will definitely read the second book because I found the first to be enjoyable and well-written, to say the least.
4/5 stars. Thank you to Kristen Ciccarelli, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Rune said she was more ache than girl, I felt that. I was not expecting to be so captivated by this story & these characters. I’m utterly heartbroken. The writing, the imagery, the delicious foreshadowing and tension. THESE CHARACTERS MAN. The stakes are just so high & how dare it end like this. And someone pls tell my sweet & sad & tormented baby boy Gideon that if he stitches one more silk flower I may just combust.

4.5⭐️

**big big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley the eARC, I’m sorry I don’t have my ish together enough to have read this before the pub date but I am grateful nonetheless**

A fast paced romantasy that was engaging and easy to read. It has the feel of new adult though it's marketed more as YA. Will they won't they? tension, good chemistry between characters and rich world building. Overall a pretty good read

This book got me out of my romantasy slump! There were some aspects of it I found incredibly predictable, and I think I'm in the minority when I say I want her to end up with the *other* love interest option. I also think this would have been better as an adult/NA fantasy, rather than a teenage/children's fantasy. But it was fast, fun, easy to read, and sucked me in! I'm excited for book two.

A true enemies-t0-lovers tale, this romantasy transports the reader flawlessly. I was immediately immersed into this incredible world, with characters that were dynamic and flawed. Some books are just beautiful cover to cover, this is one of those books.

I absolutely LOVED this book! For some reason, it reminded me a lot of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn novel. The world building, character development, and layers of conflict felt similar and pulled me right into the storyline. The tension and attraction between Rune and Gideon is wonderfully written, the witch angle is original, and the ending packs a hard punch to the gut! I can't wait for book 2. I will be definitely be pre-ordering my copy.

A witch hunter vs a witch. A classic story line with a love triangle twist. The only issue is that I didn’t enjoy the love triangle. It was a love triangle with two brothers who were “opposites” but one had been in love with her for a long time and I felt like some of the points in the book she was using Alex… I think I would have enjoyed it more if she was just honest about her feelings or hell… told Alex what was happening.

I loved Gideon and if there hadn’t been a love triangle I think I would have loved this book a lot more. He’s tragic and he has an interesting backstory. I liked his chapters more than Runes.

But there were some parts where there felt like there was no reaction by the main character. Like when he gives Rune the flower he made like his father used to do for his mother. I don’t know, it just felt like it should have been a bigger thing than it was made out to be?

I think a lot of people will like this one though. The writing is good, the dialogue is good, and the story flows nicely.

I think for me it comes down to this book being YA and a love triangle between brothers that lowered my rating so much.

EARC provided by Wednesday Books.

2.5 stars
I’ve tried a few times to finish this book. I picked up the audiobook to see if it would help with the final push. The narration was good and I was finally able to finish so I could review. I won’t be continuing with the series as I didn’t connect with the character interactions or the world building.