Kristen Ciccarelli has once again cast her spell upon me. Ciccarelli’s books transport you into a new world where the characters instantly enchant you and become your friends. Heartless Hunter is a romantic, high-stakes fantasy full of twists and turns that will leave your heart in tatters.

Enemies-to-lovers fans, this is your book. Gideon and Rune are mortal enemies. Gideon is a famous witch hunter with one goal: to catch the Crimson Moth. Enter Rune. Rune masquerades as a shallow socialite by day and saves witches as the Crimson Moth by night. She and Gideon find themselves playing a deadly game of cat and mouse. Both know they are playing the other to gain information for their own goals. Only the lines continuously get blurrier. Is this a game? Are the feelings fake or real?

I cannot scream enough about this book. PLEASE READ IT. It has everything fantasy lovers want: romance, magic, witches, angst, and intriguing characters. Ciccarelli took a classic story idea, a witch and witch hunter falling in love, and made it her own. Gideon and Rune are great characters with a lot of depth. I was rooting for them the entire time.

Ciccarelli knocked it out of the park with Heartless Hunter! I could talk about it all day. I couldn’t read the book fast enough. I had to know what was next–and now I DESPERATELY need the sequel. This book is perfect for fans of Serpent & Dove and The Winner’s Curse.

Rune, forced to betray the woman who raised her, is forever on a quest to help her own kind survive the ongoing purge, chasing an endless penance she can never repay. Desperate times push her to seduce Gideon, captain of the Blood Guard, for valuable intel. He’s a man who is both terrifying in his deadly capabilities and alluring in his mysterious dangerous demeanor.

Gideon, too, has his own personal mission, forever on a quest to kill those who represent all that he thinks is evil in the world. He is single minded in his devotion, hell bent on finding the elusive Crimson Moth who has been saving witches right under his nose. When he’s pointed in Rune’s direction that she might be the culprit, he has no choice but to seduce her to find the truth.

What unfolds is a fast paced game of cat and mouse, where both Rune and Gideon try to entrap the other. The fear, the suspicion, the anxiety and worry amplify as these two try to achieve their goals, unable to stop revealing small bits of their past trauma, shedding the facades they’ve both put up to survive.

This is a fantasy world with witches and magic, fraught with danger and dark themes all with a twisty enemies to lovers plot overlaid with a subtle triangle dynamic. Points for Rune being a heroine to root for. Points for the lovely portrayal of both these two trying not to fall for the other but unable to resist the inevitable. Points for equally building a case for each to stand on regarding why they do what they have to do.

Admittedly, I’m very hard to please, and I was continuously and pleasantly surprised that Ciccarelli created two strong characters, each with their own values and understandable convictions in what they think is right, and despite knowing the other is the enemy, they can’t help but fall for the other. Neither was naive, neither went into things blind, nor did they fumble in trying to fit a plot point. I completely appreciated that despite Rune and Gideon being adversaries, the author made me hope for a better outcome for both, regardless of whether they ultimately find that happiness with each other or apart.

Overall, I applaud Ciccarelli for the propulsive and compelling writing. I loved the alternating POV’s showcasing Rune and Gideon’s internal struggles and insecurities as both dig themselves deeper, lying through their teeth (until they aren’t), all for what they believe is absolutely necessary.

Be forewarned. This ends on a cliffhanger, and what I look forward to the most is how the author is going to find peace for Rune and Gideon as the emotions and vulnerabilities and intimacy shared were basically annihilated by the end of this book. There is an unscalable mountain of issues for both to overcome, and I’m hopefully confident that Ciccarelli can pull it off. I’ll be here waiting impatiently for the conclusion!

I loved this book, the hunted and the huntress, his brother caught in the middle. I had a hard time putting this book down. I can't wait for the next one.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli is an intriguing novel about a young witch who secretly saves witches from those who wish to kill them off. Witches used to rule the city, and when they were overthrown, all known witches were eventually seized and killed as witches were deemed evil. Rune is now the Crimson Moth, secretly saving witches after turning her grandmother in as one. Her best friends, Alex and Verity secretly assist her while Alex’s brother Gideon is a leader of the guard seizing witches after being tortured by one. When Rune tries to get information from Gideon, he is trying to get proof she is helping witches. While they work against each other, pretending to fall for one another, will it lead to love?


This was a really good first book in a series. I wish the characters were a bit more developed and their behavior was frustrating at times, but I really enjoyed reading this story and can’t wait for the next installment.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was addictive. I loved this book from beginning to end. I loved the enemies to friends to lovers trope. I loved the conflicts and angst between the main characters that build up.
With Rune, our FMC, I love the layers with her. She puts on a facade for the outside world, when in reality she has so much depth and desire to do better in her world. Gideon, much the same, peels them back with negative intent, but I love that we get to see this shift in him over time!
I only went with 4.5 because I am EAGER for book 2 and felt a few loose ends in book 1 that left me frustrated but in the best way! I loved this book, and am greatly looking forward to the next!

I know the year has barely started, but this may very well be my favorite read of the year! This book is a fast paced game of cat and. mouse, I could hardly put it down once I started. I seriously woke up in the middle of the night to read. It was easy to get invested in every character. I cannot wait for book 2!

Who loves a good enemies to lover.. I do I do! And who loves when it involves witches.. ooh me, me! Because let’s be honest, I wish I could be a witch 😆.

Rune spends her life as a Crimson Moth, a witch who rescues her kind. But one night a rescue goes wrong and now they are sent on her path. Gideon is a proud witch hunter. He loathes them and loves helping to purge them from this world. He starts to suspect Runes ships are how they are escaping and soon he realizes Rune is so much more.

I loved this story! I especially loved the banter between Gideon and Rune. Any book where the banter is on cue, makes it just so much more and this one didn’t disappoint in that category. They shouldn’t be together and they both hate their kind, but some intense connection makes it hard for them to look the other way. It’s slow burn that grows more and more. The characters themselves are also complex and deep and real.. it’s almost like they are and we’re just watching through a box. I also enjoyed the magic system, I also love that it’s complex but not hard to follow like some other stories are.

The story is a quick, “I don’t want to put down” read. It was enjoyable and reminded me why I love fantasy books. I really can’t wait for the next story Kristen gives us!


***gahhh internal gushing***

I think this could definitely be Booktok’s newest YA romantasy obsession!

For fans of Powerless, Stacia Stark, and Serpent & Dove, this book has:
- witches in hiding because magic is punishable by death
- Enemies to lovers
- He designs and sews her a ball gown! 😍

The beginning of the book took some time to get into, but once I understood the world, it was really fun.

The “twist” at the end was a bit predictable, and there was a love triangle which I don’t like, but it was resolved by the end of the book.

I love that this is only a duology. Can’t wait for the next one!

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫: When I saw this cover, I knew it was going to be an epic read. Something about the moth on the front just begged me to pick it up and devour it. The colors told me it was going to be a heartbreakingly beautiful story. The overall vibe of this cover is one of the best I’ve ever seen, and after reading this book I can say it feels cohesive. Kudos to the cover design artist and to whomever had the vision! I needed to do that shout out because I love this cover that much.

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: Kristen, you destroyed me. You wrote a book that I simply inhaled. I fell in love with the characters, main and supporting, and then you left me with a cliffhanger at the end so heart wrenching that I cried. It’s been a while since I’ve had a book hangover, but this is going to stay with me.

Our main characters are Rune and Gideon, but Alex and Verity are very important side characters, along with Laila, Nicholas Creed and Harrow. I have incredibly mixed feelings about the Blood Guard versus the witches, and which group is better, because, let’s face it, there’s no right here. There are two wrongs and we need the lesser of two evils. But which is it? I dare say that a teenie tiny bit of the plot is political. Just a little.

Rune and Gideon’s relationship… dang. Sometimes they felt older than their young adult status in this book. The tension written is palpable and watching their relationship progress through the pages was tragically beautiful.

I cannot wait for the next book. I will be waiting for the Crimson Moth to return. And when she does, I will be ready for her.

I loved this book. It was so easy to fly through, which says a lot about a book in my opinion! The characters were layered and true enemies to start, with distrust and intrigue shading their every move. But also tons and I do means TONS of chemistry and tension. Witch vs witch hunter?!…yes please and thank you. Scarlet Pimpernel vibes mesh with a gritty world that still has it’s sweet characters. (Alex!) It was so well done I cannot wait for the second one to see what happens next.

I adored this book! I love books about witches and magic and this book was very well put together. It’s got magic, romance (🌶️🌶️😏), witches, betrayal, and mystery.

The witches have been overthrown and any witch that is found, is executed. Rune Winters, a witch, tries to rescue as many as she can and smuggle them out before they are caught by the Blood Guard. Enter Gideon, a Blood Guard Captain who is hunting for the witch smuggler. In order to throw him off her trail, Rune pursues Gideon and allows him to court her. However, the intentions of both her and Gideon are not what they seem. Gideon is using her to uncover who the Crimson moth is and he is hot on the trail. Their romance is either going to be epic or deadly.

Overall, I loved Gideon’s character. He has the troubled past that shaped him into who he is. He protects those he loves, fiercely. I loved the dual POV because you can really get to know Gideon, from himself and his persona.

Rune’s character seemed too predictable at times but she was still a great FMC. I loved her double life and seeing her maintain the facades. She and Gideon have the same ferocity of their opinions which make them absolutely 🔥 together.

Thank you to NetGally and Saint Martens Publishing for providing me with an ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This was amazing. I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did - I seriously read this in one day. And that ending?!? I will be first in line to read the second book once it gets announced. I need to know what happens next. I love the cat and mouse game between our mc’s. I love a powerful and strong fmc! I can’t wait to see how Rune develops next. This book had everything you want in a fantasy. Please give us book two asap!!!! ❤️ is it too early to say this is a top read of the year? Idc I’m saying it anyways

Rune lives in a world where it's dangerous to be a witch. The last witch queens were overthrown and the country is going through a giant purge led by Witch Hunters. She must pretend to hate witches in order to survive, but she secretly helps them escape to freedom as the Crimson Moth. In order to help her cause by gaining information Rune finds herself trying to court the handsome revolutionary Gideon Sharp, but he is also trying to figure out her secret identity to expose her.

This is a great romantasy to add to your reading list, especially if you enjoy enemies-to-lovers storylines or reading about a world with witches using blood magic. I enjoyed the magical element and how well thought out it was - the scars witches covered themselves in sounded strangely beautiful. The romance aspect was really good, I thought the banter between Gideon and Rune was great. And honestly, I didn't know who to root for when it came to Rune's soulmate. The enemy she's attracted to, or the guy with a stronghold as her best friend. The characters are really flushed out well. Rune is honestly a badass socialite who throws killer parties and keeps up with the latest fashion by day, and sneaks out at night to lead escapes through sewers. There was a major plot reveal that I guessed early on but that didn't make the story any less enjoyable, and I still wasn't sure how it was going to end. In fact, I can't wait for the second book in the duology to come out, I will definitely be continuing! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my opinions.

I was so impressed with this book. Rune is a witch in a place where witches are killed so she has to hide her magic. She hides in plain sight and tries to save other witches while simultaneously leading a double life as an upstanding citizen. Her best friend, Alex, is the brother of Gideon who is one of the top witch hunters. Rune and Gideon try to play each other by “faking” mutual attraction while Gideon tries to uncover Rune’s secrets and she tries to get info from him to help her save more witches.

The plot was unique and the characters leapt from the page. Rune is a tough and brave FMC and Gideon is the perfect blend of brooding bad boy.

I loved that we got to see the reasons why Rune and Gideon each feel the way they do about witches and magic. The author did such a fabulous job of unraveling their pasts and letting the reader see the impossibility of their relationship.

The ending felt a little rushed to me but didn’t detract at all from the overall book. I am absolutely on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book.

What a fantastic beginning to a duology, and I hope that there will not be a long wait for book 2! I was not prepared to enjoy this book as much as I did, it truly has it all--romance, action, suspense-- everything I want in a romantasy.

The characters are intriguing, and the romantic tension between Rune and Gideon made the fact that they were also sworn enemies so much fun! The twist late in the book was unforeseen, and while I was not completely happy with the ending, it certainly left me anxious to read the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the digital ARC of Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli. The opinions in this review are my own.

Heartless Hunter took me totally by surprise and my just be my new favorite obsession. A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, yet its SO MUCH MORE.

I fell in love with Rune, I fell for Gideon, and I love how their story unfolds.Throw in the brother of the witch-hunter, who is in love with the witch, and a dear friend that supports Rune through all of her schemes, and this really just sucked me in. I just cannot wait until the next book because I need to know there they all go from here!

If you like The Discovery of Witches, you'll definitely love this!
5 Stars for sure!

Pub Date: 20 Feb 2024

Right out of the start gate, Heartless Hunter will grab your attention and keep you invested the whole way through, right to an ending that has you begging for more. The author has managed to start the story knee deep in action while alternating chapters between Rune and Gideons POV. The back story is trickled in so the reader has a good understanding of events that lead to current day, while causing you to emotionally connect and invest in both the hunted and the hunter. Throw in a brother and a best friend and you’ve got a great cast of characters to take you on this wild ride.
While I don’t typically find myself drawn to YA fantasy, I devoured this book in 2 sittings.and easily recommend this magical book to a wide audience.
I will be not-so patiently waiting (and first in line) for book 2 of the Crimson Moth. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions expressed are authentically my own.

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤 ℍ𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣
𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝗰𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶
The Crimson Moth - Book One
Romantic Fantasy
Teen & YA
Pub Date: February 20, 2024

Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs
The Crimson Moth saves witches from certain death. Gideon’s goal is to get rid of all the witches. The witch hunters search for those who have escaped by hiding.

The Crimson Moth hides in plain sight. When witches are captured, she finds a way to save them. Gideon is determined to find the Crimson Moth. He is a witch hunter who is ready to do whatever it takes for the Revolution.

Both are willing to fake romantic interest in each other for their cause. But…are their feelings fake?

Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs
Heartless Hunter really reeled me in. The plot reveals itself at the perfect pace, dictating a fake attraction that might turn into more.
Rune is one brave gal, pushing aside any fear to help the witch community. I love how she covers her ‘behind the scenes’ life by acting the part of a young socialite. She is fabulous at playing this part, quite the actress, if you will.
Gideon messed with my mind. Do I like him? Do I dislike him? He’s certainly conflicted and so am I.
If you like witchy stories, this is a good one. It doesn’t go into detail about witches but revolves around them.

💕Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ebook for me to read and review.

Heartless Hunters by Kristin Ciccarelli had me hooked from page one. This one kind of snuck up on me, because as interesting as the book sounded to me, it was one of those books that far exceeded what I thought to expect and ended up being one of those books I couldn’t put down, and yet didn’t want to end because I just needed more of it. More of the story, more of the world, more of the characters.

I loved the characters. The two point of view characters, Rune and Gideon, were both compelling and instant favourites that I just needed to know more about. I couldn’t decide who’s point of view I loved the most, and the author succeeded in making me want both equally, which meant when there was a shift, I was never unhappy to see the character change and became equally invested in both sides of the story and what was happening for them. Both were also useful for the opposing sides of story they each had to tell, one the witch, one the witch hunter and successfully filled in gaps on the story that would have otherwise been missed. Suffice it to say I was enthralled by both characters and loved getting the inner thoughts and feelings, as well as perspectives of each. Particularly as it helped to fill in backstory and each of their reasons for their beliefs and doing what they do to accomplish what they believe is right, though opposing.

Beyond that, let’s be real, I am a huge lover of the enemies to lovers trope. And what greater enemies than a witch hiding her identity and a witch hunter trying to seek out and purge the rest of the witches. I can’t stop coming back to how hooked I was by this book for so many reasons. There was Gideon’s past that was often hinted at but not completely explained for a good chunk of the book which I could make assumptions about but not truly know the extent of it. I wanted so desperately to dive deeper into his story and the origin of why he hated witches so much. There was the burning chemistry between Gideon and Rune as they fought to outwit one another, despite not knowing what the others true intentions were. And how valiantly they fought the idea of having real feelings for one another while pretending to court to get information out of each other. I mean, what’s worse than having real feelings for a witch when you’re a witch hunter and vice versa?

And the way the book ended has me more than ready to get my hands on the sequel. It’s going to be a brutal wait because there are so many things that need answers and so much potential for everything to go wrong for the characters. I will definitely be picking up the sequel to Heartless Hunters as soon as I possibly can.

OK OK I LOVED THIS!

* enemies to lovers
* fantasy romance
* with & witch hunter
* slow burn
* cat & mouse game

so much tension. so much angst. so much banter... so. many. emotions.

twists. turns. secrecy. I really didn't see some of it coming towards the end.. and the ENDING. gahhh I just... how long do I have to wait for book 2?!

Rating: 4.5 stars!