Thank you SMP for sending me an early copy of Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth. )
I absolutely devoured this book! I was drawn in from the very beginning. (Now I have like 5 copies of this book... Because I am obsessed!)

This books is real Enemies to lovers! High stakes! Fake Courting! Secret Identities!
I have been waiting so long for a book just like this! It had everything Ive been looking for and so much more.
The characters actually had so much depth to them. I couldn't put this down!
For sure one of my favorite reads so far this year!

I could see fans of serpent and dove devouring this. I loved the FMC (not so much the MMC) but super excited to see where this story goes.

I was very excited for this book due to the summary and also seeing recommendations from sources with similar opinions. However, as I was reading this book, I struggled to stay interested. When I was 50% through, I realized nothing has actually happened. This book is very much focused on the trauma the 2 main characters have and an already established relationship. I saw comments saying this was a slowburn, and while you could say that, it is not the type of slowburn I go for. They already know each other and feel physical attraction, I didn't feel like I was watching them fall in love, rather just lusting after knowing each other for years. The book was also very predictable, which surprised me. I'm not sure why I expected it to subvert expectations but it did not.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli — 5 stars!

This story was a delicious whirlwind! Filled with lots of mystery and daring adventure, I was hooked from the beginning. Definitely a must read for anyone who enjoys enemies to lovers, commentary on human rights, women’s issues, witchcraft, magic, love and heartbreak. This one will keep you guessing and surprise you!

Rune is a vigilante witch who is on a never ending mission to free captured witches. Gideon is a witch hunter sworn to end the lives of any witches and condemn sympathizers to a life of poverty. Gideon’s brother is Rune’s best friend, who has always been there to protect Rune’s secret of being a witch. Witches are outlawed, anyone discovered as being a witch is killed — but it wasn’t always the case. Only two years prior did the revolution that brought an end to the reign of witches come about. And one of the witches murdered was Rune’s own grandmother. Rune managed to keep her life because she reported her Grandmother to the hunters, it was the only way she could protect herself from being accused of witchcraft herself or of being a witch sympathizer; after all, why would a girl report her own family if she was also a witch or sympathized with them? Well, it’s a complicated and twisted tale that weaves together the horrific past with this barbaric present. Filled with determination to free witches from the fate of death, Rune moonlights as The Crimson Moth. And Gideon is on the hunt to take her down, once he uncovers the identity of his evasive foe.

Available now!

First of all, is this cover not amazing. I loved this story. Rune's sidekicks Alex and Verity are so great. Her chemistry with Gideon is out of this world. I am a big fan of witches and magic. The end had me in tears so many times. It ends with Rune in quite the dilemma that I just do not know how she is going to get out of.

This spellbinding book took me on an adventure and didn’t stop even at the very end. Absolutely loved meeting Rune and seeing her journey to save witches to atone for her betrayal and death of her grandmother. Gideon has a sordid past that hunts him everyday and works to rid the island of the very beings who stole his family from him. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the next one!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you want to read a generic and predictable enemies to lovers romantasy that feels like a poor man’s SJM novella? Do you want to read about a size kink so much it’s practically an Ali Hazelwood book?

Pre-reading:
On this episode of Samantha reads ya fantasy against her will because she wants to be like the other girls and also it’s a book box pick.

I think all versions of this cover are hideous. I think it’s very dumb that books have different titles in different countries.

Thick of it:
It’s giving nazi Germany.

Why the illusion of a donkey if you own a horse?

Oh, she’s adopted? Can’t wait for her to be the chosen one/missing princess. (Ask me again in book two.)

The Crimson Moth is the worst superhero name. The Crimson Chin, however-(There’s a Saltburn period joke in here somewhere.)

Why hide bloody sheets? Why not burn them?

Lol Gideon from Maeve, but I still only think of the Criminal Minds guy

Rhys and Amarantha I’ll bet. (I swear I just open books. I don’t even read blurbs. I’m just like this. It’s horrible.)

It reminds me of TOG- specifically the costume party in the novella where she dances with Dorian.

I’m kinda bored. They’re being dumb. Like obviously she’s involved if she owns the ships.

What about like a bloody nose? Or like needles? Leeches? You can def get blood without scars.

When does she have time for fashion to be her specialty?

Why does the Fairyloot cover have pink hair if she’s strawberry blonde? Did we run out of characters in the email to the artist?

How does he have two hours to make a flower? I thought he was late to her party. He’s late and he spent two extra hours making a flower? What do you mean.

Oh, she’s got little hands? This is giving Ali Hazelwood with the size difference fixation, but also I have that kink so carry on.

Why is no one questioning her name? Rune-like that’s literally a magic symbol. And they’re like oh yeah, she’s not a witch. What do you mean?

His parents are named Sun and Levi. What do you mean.

What do you mean what connected these things? Obviously revenge, you dumb whore.

A piney boy

She might be worse than Hazelwood with the man is big mentions.

This is a little rushed in the romantical depot for me.

I feel like maybe it’s the baby sister murdering everyone as like a vampire? I dunno something undead.

Oh lol, never mind. Not the sister. Definitely an undead Verity.

Get a bucket and a mop 🎶

It’s better than I expected, but I want it to be faster.

I’m a little confused what era this is supposed to take place in because it seems like it’s supposed to be Victorian maybe, but she’s allowed to wear pants and go around without a chaperone. But then they’re also courting each other and have dance ribbons. I think it’s all just vibes and not historically correct which is fine by me, but pretty sure others will ding it for that.

I mean yeah men have domestic violence too, and yay rep, but like submissive tortured dudes do not do it for me.

How does the water not wash-oh okay lol. (Give the book a chance before you get snarky, Samantha.)

Oh, really incredible that blood can recognize consent and intent.

This reads so much like an SJM book.

It’s sitting at about a three for me right now. The world-building is a little janky, but if it can win me over with the romance, I’m down.

Oh cool, so girlypop is like definitely Seraphine’s daughter then. (Ask me in book two.)

That is not a horse, but like you know, I’ll let it fly. How much Zelda has the author played? Or like The Witcher?

Like obviously Alex is gonna betray her.

Is Charlotte gonna become an actual character? We keep bringing her up. (Not in this book at least.)

Lol, that bitch is undead for sure.

How do you not know poor people exist. Like be so for real.

OK, so Alex definitely didn’t kill Cress, and she’s still alive. Hmm, what other undead thing do we just have lying around this plot? I’m positive I’m right, so I’m bored.

I wonder if the girlies read this like oh what a romantic moment they’re having. He’s stripping bare before her. And Sam’s just over here like he’s still following Harrow’s advice. What a fucking slimeball.

Jesus, that is a violent death.

kittiwake

Who is this Harrow bitch, a Kindle Unlimited girlie? She is very invested in them boinking.

I don’t know. The book isn’t working for me. It’s too repetitive. I’m not into the romance because they’re both dumb. Everyone’s dumb in this book.

The book just contradicted itself. It said she cursed the sister with an arcana spell, but then it just told us that a majora spell is inflicting a deadly disease. So which is it.

Of course, it lasts till midnight, fucking Cinderella shit.

I think Verity/Cress is the little sister that died, and the sister queens used their magic blood to bring her back to life and it corrupted them even though it was for an initially selfless reason, but now Cress has just been rotting alive since they’re dead.

By the transitive property-They are the worst detectives.

cogent

I think I’m just bored because I’ve read this plot so many times so I’ve already guessed what’s gonna happen and I’m just like waiting for it to happen. I don’t care about the romance.

I think this book is going to end on a cliffhanger and to be continued me, and I’m just not in the mood.

And Sam’s like it’s literally just Verity. I’m so bored.

Isn’t there another book I read that was like stupid bunny? It’s like almost this exact quote (It’s Beach Read)

Stairwell oral is not very YA of you

subsume

Is it a bird? Is it a kestrel? Is she grandma’s gay lover? (Sigh, ask me in book two.)

Post-reading:
Yeah, this didn’t work for me. I don’t wanna hate books. I want to like books again, okay? I crave a book hangover like nothing else.

This reads like the poor man’s SJM. And with how much I’ve been disliking her books lately, it may as well just read like straight SJM. So I understand why the girlies are eating this up. Except I’m a a Dorian, Eris, Pollux girlie so you can throw me out with the trash. Which is to say, I like my heroes with some major bite to them.

And homeboy, Gideon, he ain’t it.

So if you give me a generic fantasy plot that I can guess the second I open the book and you don’t give me a romance to get invested in, what else is there for me to enjoy? I don’t think the book is that poorly written. I think it’s fine. I want so much more than fine. The world-building is janky. The magic system has gaping plot holes. And listen I’ll suspend my disbelief that horse whistles work if you give me some payoff for doing that. There’s no payoff here. There’s YA style wishy-washy inner monologues that are grating to read and so repetitive. The author talks about the size difference between the characters so often that this may as well be an Ali Hazelwood book.

And then most damningly, but so typical for a YA is that everyone is so goddamn dumb about the mystery. How are any of these people employed? This book would’ve been over so much sooner if literally, anyone could pull their head out of their ass and be like correlation IS causation. Or if any of the villains grew a pair and were like we don’t need a fair trial. Let’s just murder some people instantly rather than trotting them out for holiday executions. What are you doing?

It’s such a fanfictiony plotline of you need to fake date to figure out if she’s a witch. Now you need to get her naked to figure out if she’s a witch. Now you need to fuck her to figure out if she’s a witch. Like fuck it, I’ll be on board with that cliché if the romance is good, but it’s not.

I think writing style and plot-wise this is firmly YA. The sex scene wasn’t quite YA so I would bump the rating up to new adult, but if you’re gonna get bumped up to new adult, give me a darker world and more dick. Otherwise, fade to black for the youngins.

Gideon reads like a diluted Rhysand which like yay for male rape victim representation because it’s very underrepresented, but also let’s do something a little more original and maybe have more commentary then he beat his addiction and he’s ready to love again because he met a blonde.

Rune is Mary Sue and overpowered and rocking some serious plot armor. What do you mean you don’t know poor people exist? She’s also just uninventive? Period blood is the only way you can think of to get blood? I don’t believe you.

Their romance felt rushed, and I never thought that they were a good couple for each other. The chemistry was really lacking. If your dream is to fight with someone every day just to keep things spicy, consider therapy. And as our Lord and savior, Miley Cyrus, once said I can buy myself flowers.

She’s not going on my do not read list but only just.

Who should read this:
SJM fans
YA enemies to lovers fans

Do I want to reread this:
No. And I don’t want to continue it but I will if the girlies want me to

Similar books:
* The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas-romantasy novella
* A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas-romantasy, male rape
* The Night Hunt by Alexandra Christo-generic YA fantasy, enemies to lovers
* A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft-generic YA romantasy, tailor character, enemies to lovers, addiction
* The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem-fantasy, enemies to lovers
* Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool-generic YA fantasy romance mystery, enemies to lovers
* Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare-generic political fantasy, enemies to lovers
* The Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis-generic YA fantasy, reads like SJM fanfiction, enemies to lovers, male sexual harasser
* Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin-witchy fantasy romance, enemies to lovers
* Forged by Blood by Ehigbor Okosun-generic YA fantasy, enemies to lovers, love triangle

WOW....not my typical style, but I AM HOOKED..... THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED

The Crimson Moth, a vigilante that frees captured witches, sending them to safety to avoid death.

Gideon, witch hunter who's great at his job.

Ruin, hides the fact that she's a witch. A socialite by day, but at night????? Only her 2 closest friends know her true identity, One happens to be Gideon's brother.

How will these paths cross? What choices will be made? Will Ruin continue to risk it all as the Crimson Moth? Will she be discovered? Can she save her grandmother's closet friend from the purge? Will she go for a love that's safe, or for a love that could risk it all?

This book has it all, mystery, fantasy, romance and a cliff hanger of an ending. All I can say is READ IT.....

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this advanced ARC copy to enjoy.

3.5 stars

I saw such high praise in advance of reading this one! But honestly, was left a little disappointed. It was a fun read and kept my interest, but a major plot reveal I clearly saw coming.

I did really enjoy the world building and our main characters. Rune is a great female lead struggling to balance guilt, a sense of duty, and her own desires. I loved the idea of witch and witch-hunter trying to figure each other out while keeping their own secrets. There was some great tension and build-up as we learn about the characters and they get to know each other.

Like I mentioned, I wasn't totally taken by surprise by some of the story, and that knocked down my enjoyment and rating a little. But I will still totally pick up part two when it comes out next year because I enjoyed it overall. It was also a pretty quick read for a 400+ page fantasy.

Read if you like:
Witchy magic
Cat and mouse games
Enemies to lovers
Dual POVs

I absolutely loved this book so much! I think it was so well written, the dynamic of Gideon and Rune was amazing and I need to know if they are going to kill each other or end up together by the next book. As a fan of enemies to lovers, I think this was executed so well and I loved the forbidden magic element of it. I just know I will need to get my hands on the second book as soon as possible.

I really enjoyed this book! Can't wait for the next one. I loved the romance and the characters, and the plot was super fast paced! I read this in one sitting.

This was one of my most anticipated 2023 releases, and it did NOT disappoint! I devoured this book within two days of starting it because I couldn’t put it down. “A steamy game of cat and mouse” indeed!

If you know anything about me, you know that enemies to lovers is my favorite trope. And this is one of the best ones I’ve read in a long time! There’s so many ‘enemies to lovers’ books where they’re barely enemies, and the enemy part ends way too soon. I am pleased to say, that does happen with this book! They are true enemies to the very end, and the romance has that glorious slow burn that I absolutely adore! I loved seeing them slowly fall for each other, against their will and against their better judgement. Even when they started to fall, they knew they were bad for each other, and still did things to betray one another. View Spoiler »

Rune and Gideon were both deceiving each other, and both suspected one another of deception. The whole time they were playing the game of cat and mouse, and it didn’t ever let up. You never knew which way it would go; because even though they clearly had feelings for one another, their ideals were resolute and completely opposite, so it was perfectly likely that either one of them could betray the other at any given time. It made for a very interesting, edge-of-your-seat read! I kept hoping they would choose each other, but their beliefs were deep rooted and unwavering. Which I actually appreciated! It made it more realistic that someone who feels so strongly about something would not be easily swayed.

It’s not very often that I enjoy books where the main plot point is romance, but this one did it for me! I’m not a huge romance fan, so it’s rare that a book that is mainly romance draws me in. Not to say that there isn’t anything else to this book – there is! I loved the world and the magic system, and thought it was cool that the witches used their blood to power their spells. That was how witches were identified: by their scars, because casting scars turned silver. I liked the concept that power comes with a price, because I can’t stand books where there is unchecked power with no cost.

I found the twists to be a little predictable, but I still enjoyed seeing how it all played out!

This book has some pretty strong Serpent & Dove feels and I definitely think fans of that book will enjoy this one! It didn’t have the hilarious banter Lou and Reid had, but I didn’t enjoy it any less for the lack of it. I felt as if Rune and Gideon had fantastic chemistry even without the banter!

Also, THAT. ENDING. HOW DARE YOU, KRISTEN CICCARELLI. I need the next book asap!

A Witch.
A Witch-Hunter.
Bloody Revolution.
Outkast of Witches.
Slow-Burn.
Forbidden Love.
Secrets.

Rune 🔥 Gideon - Romantasy New Favorite Couple!
This story is why enemies to lovers is the best trope.

Anxiously await Rebel Witch, publishing February 2025.

Thank you, Wednesday Books.

Heartless Hunter was a WILD ride and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I buddy read this with my friend and we kept sending each other “can you believe that just happened?!?!” texts.

The world building was impeccable and the magic system, while it made me squeamish, was so inventive and on the nose for a feminine rage story. The romance was HOT and full of tension and danger, not knowing if betrayal was coming at any moment.

Absolutely fantastic and I CANNOT wait for the sequel!! Please go read this book so I have more people to obsess over it with.

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

loved this romance and how the characters changed through the story. also loved the friends and all of the interesting things that happened during the story. loved the growth of the main character and all of her trials .

⭐️ 4.5
This was one of my most anticipated reads, and I’m not gonna lie, that was mainly due to the imagery of a Crimson moth, and the gorgeous specially editions of this book. There were parts of this book that were very hard for me to read… I don’t handle torture well or public executions. It kind of makes my stomach turn. I also was not prepared for how she collected supplies to cast her spells.

It actually took me longer to read this book than I had planned, because I had to keep stopping to collect myself. And I know for most this is the sign of a really good book, and I do really like this book, but I choose to read for a distraction from reality. Anyone reading this book should know that there are some very heavy scenes.

I will be reading the next book because I am invested in Rune’s story, and I want to see how this plays out. Both of the main characters, Rune and Gideon, have lost so much that, if this was reality, they would need years of therapy to overcome.

I loved everything about this book. It's a fantastic read and all of the characters sucked me in. I will definitely be reading more of this series!

Heartless Hunter: Crimson Moth Book 1
By Kristen Ciccarelli
YA Historical Fantasy
Wednesday Books
March 2023

In Heartless Hunter, first in a series, Rune has led a double life for two years. It began when she turned in her grandmother, a witch, during the purges and watched her execution. Now, she is a society butterfly, a party girl who is not too bright but who is amusing. Society doesn't know she is a witch.

She also is the Crimson Moth, the secret witch who rescues other witches and sends them off their island to safety.

And her grandmother? She knew they would both be executed if Rune didn't turn her in, so urged her to do so and save herself. Rune mourns her every day.

The deception is getting more difficult, but Rune has to continue. She's worried about finding her grandmother's best friend, a witch her grandmother told her to find. Rune thinks she is on her trail, but it's not certain. And the blood guards, the military that captures and kills witches, is more determined than ever to find the Crimson Moth.

Captain of the guards is Gideon. He has special reasons to hate the witches and want to end the Crimson Moth's sabotage of his quest. One of the most powerful witches, Cressida, youngest of a trio, made him her plaything. She even branded him with a rose, the same spell signature that appears every time she cast her magic.

Gideon's parents were exquisite dress designers and seamsters who were engaged to work only for Cressida's family. Their clothing is legendary and unattainable. As a teenager, Gideon moved into the palace to help them keep up with the work. Cressida soon took him to her bed, tortured him and threatened to kill his last remaining sibling after his little sister and mother were driven mad and killed by her.

His younger brother, Alex, killed the witch to save his brother.

Alex is one of Rune's two best friends. He is a talented musician who yearns to go to the mainland to study and compose. They have known each other most of their lives, and have always looked after each other. Rune's other best friend is Verity, a medical student whose sisters, who were witches, were executed. They are Rune's trusted companions, who help her with plans to save the witches who remain.

What Rune needs most is information. How best to get it? Why, get Gideon to court her and spill his secrets.

What Gideon needs most is information. How best to get it? Why, Rune seems suspicious. He will court her and get Rune to spill her secrets.

Kristen Ciccarelli has crafted a twisty, intriguing story of crossed loyalties and conflicting goals in which Rune and Gideon begin to question their beliefs and hatred of each other. The anticipation as they discover their attraction is portrayed as well as any romance. That it is an integral part of the story about the battle between the surviving witches and the authoritarians who now control their island makes the stakes even higher.

Toward the end of the story, several surprises are revealed that fit into the narrative perfectly and make things even more perilous. The end of the novel sets up the next book as a must-read, to discover what happens in their society and to see whether Rune and Gideon will, or can, have a happy ending.

Ciccarelli has taken the basic premise of The Scarlet Pimpernel and enriched the story with the gender change of the main character and her love story, to craft an adventurous fantasy. Rune's story involves romance, friendship, loyalty and questioning the old ways and the power structure that replaced it.

This is superb storytelling and it's going to be terrific to see what happens next.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

...............Why am I such a sucker for enemies to lovers?

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli is a YA fantasy novel that has all of booktok's favorite tropes. On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is. Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe - a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution - who she can't help but find herself falling for. Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

This is what Serpent and Dove THOUGHT it was going to be. But wasn't (mostly due to the disappointment that was Blood and Honey). The magic is cool, the romance is swoon-worthy, and it's witches and witch hunters. What else could you ask for?

This is an incredibly gripping story of a game of cat and mouse between a witch and a witch-hunter, set against a backdrop of a tumultuous history with nods to the classic The Scarlet Pimpernel.

The aftermath of a devastating revolution has left witches, once powerful rulers, reduced to outcasts hunted ruthlessly for their waning magic. Rune must conceal her true identity while navigating a society where witches like her are persecuted. By day, she plays the role of a vapid socialite, but by night, she transforms into the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante saving her kind from purges. She's Batman but for witches.

When a rescue mission goes awry, Rune has to devise a plan involving Gideon Sharpe, a notorious and unforgiving witch-hunter loyal to the revolution. And her best friend's estranged brother. As Rune and Gideon engage in a complex dance of deception and attraction, their paths become intertwined in unexpected ways.

The emotional depth of the narrative is a standout feature. The cat-and-mouse dynamic between the leads with their trauma and complex pasts coupled with the exploration of different facets of love, adds depth to the storyline. The characters' reasons for being on opposing sides are well-developed, creating a compelling and layered narrative. This isn't black and white and readers can understand and feel for both parties.

The twists in the plot are impactful and add to the overall intensity of the story. I was highly engaged and invested in the fates of the characters. I have so much anticipation for the continuation of the series. This is shaping up to be one of my top books for the year.
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Holding my review due to the SMP boycott until there is movement on the concerns of bipoc readers.