Oh my goodness!!! This one was quite the ride!!! The premise of this book really call out to me and it ended blowing me away!

Heartless Hunter is a novel where Rune is a witch and Gideon is a witch hunter. In this deliciously paced cat-and-mouse novel, you are at the edge of your seat the entire time! There’s action, political intrigue and a slow-burn romance with tension that sparks off the pages! I can’t wait for the next installment of the Crimson Moth series to be here!

My favorite romantasy of 2024!!

This enthralling kickoff of a fantasy story that masterfully blends romance and intrigue. Set in a world where the once-dominant witches are now persecuted, the story follows Rune, who plays the part of a socialite by day but by night becomes the Crimson Moth, a savior of witches. Her life gets complicated when she starts courting Gideon Sharpe, a notorious witch hunter, to protect her secret. The intricate dance of deception between Rune and Gideon, coupled with their unexpected emotional connection, makes for a riveting story. Ciccarelli's storytelling is captivating, drawing readers into a world of danger, magic, and forbidden love. This book is a must-read for fans of fantasy and romance alike, leaving me eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

By day, Rune is a popular young socialite who loves to party and gossip. But by night, she becomes the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues others of her king from being captured and killed by the Blood Guard who hunt witches. When she doesn’t make it to one of rescues in time, she decides to get the information on where the witch is being held from the best source possible – by seducing Gideon Sharpe, the Captain of the Blood Guard. Gideon hates the world of high society and wants nothing to do with a shallow socialite like Rune, but when he happens upon a clue in his search for the Crimson Moth that points to Rune, he decides to pretend to court her and find out the truth.

The first book I read by this author was The Last Namsara which was an absolute struggle to get through. But a couple of years ago, I picked up Edgewood, which sort of restored my faith in the author, so when I saw this book, I was less hesitant to try it. Plus, the premise of this book was giving me Serpent and Dove vibes so I absolutely had to check it out!

The plot was an intriguing one – an island that was once ruled by witch queens but where witches are now hunted and executed since a revolution deposed them and outlawed magic. It had its share of plot twists that were quite well done if a little predictable at times.

The world building confused me a bit as it seemed kind of Victorian starting out, but continuously included modern elements, particularly in terms of clothing and conversations, which made it a bit jarring. I guess there are no real rules when it comes to a fantasy setting, but consistency is always nice.

The magic system was an intriguing one but what I liked most about it was how well explained and logical it was. How the magic worked, its pros and cons, and its checks and balances were all clearly described and there were no instances of unexplained powers or convenient deus ex machinas.

The pacing of the book was excellent and it was very easy to get drawn into and follow along with the story. The fact that Gideon and Rune are playing the exact same strategy, lying to each other while also suspecting that the other is lying to them, trying to catch each other out in a lie, makes this a really fun cat and mouse game to read.

Rune and Gideon were both interesting well rounded characters and their arcs were fascinating to follow. The romance, while nicely written and a classic enemies to lovers, felt to me a little hasty for this plot. Rune seemed to keep forgetting that Gideon was actively trying to find proof that she was the Crimson Moth.

The ending was a complete rollercoaster with so many shocking twists – a few I saw coming but some definitely took me by surprise. I kind of wish the back and forth between Gideon and Rune could have gone on longer and that we got to see more of Rune’s exploits as the Crimson Moth since all of them took place off page and before the plot of this book began.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and I’m really looking forward to the sequel – I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Heartless Hunter is definitely going to be one of the stand-out books of 2024 for me! If you enjoyed Serpent and Dove or romantasy novels in general, I would highly recommend this book!

5 -⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I'm afraid you'll be the end of me, Gideon...Maybe you already are."

Heartless Hunter is the first novel in the new YA Fantasy Romance series, Crimson Moth, following Rune, a witch in hiding, and Gideon, a man determined to find the witch foiling his every attempt at capture. Two years ago a New Republic was born when revolution brought an end to witches in power. Now, witches are hunted with fervor and Rune, a darling of the republic, hides behind a facade. During the day she's a socialite but at night she is a vigilante known as the Crimson Moth, saving witches from the executioner's block.

When a rescue goes wrong, Rune is determined to find answers and she locks eyes on Gideon Sharpe, a notorious witch hunter. He see Rune as this vapid upper class woman but when he finds a tie between the Crimson Moth and Rune's ships he needs to follow the trail.

Two people pretending to pursue each other for their own pursuits are faced with the reality there is so much more to each other and as the lines blurred they must decide what if...what if what they feel is real and what if the rumours are true...

THIS BOOK!

I remember distinctly getting to around the 60% mark and setting it down to squeal with glee. I had such fun.

Rune is this character of duality as she hides behind her facade. She feels a lot of guilt as a person thriving at a time when so many of her witches suffer. I found her intelligent but also naive when things turned personal. She has such layers to her characters and watching them be peeled back was perfection.

Gideon's story and journey stuck with me. From the breadcrumbs leading up to it down to his personality and struggle to move past it. He was a male main character that took the gruffness and rough around the edge vibe we love and provided a background that made everything feel so much more profound. I love getting his POV and watching him face his traumas was a thing of beauty.

This is a YA novel but I would put the spice at 1 spicy pepper out of 5 spicy pepper. There is spice but it isn't very detailed and it is a slow burn romance as these characters don't necessarily get along in the beginning but are trying for various reasons. The banter between them sold this romance as they fought their connection and the spice brought it all the boil.

"Beautiful heiresses might court common soldiers...but they don't marry them."
"Did you just call me beautiful, Gideon?"

In terms of world and story, I was drawn in right from the beginning. The way the lore is revealed is sprinkled throughout and mixed in with the character's back stories, which I felt added to the meaning. I felt it had grit, a dash of dystopian, and magic system blended beautifully. I felt the characters were real and imperfect in all the best ways and the mystery cat and mouse game added to the tension and angst. The romance had me giddy and the ending breathless as the angst hit an all time high. The ending is HIGH tension and while you expect most of the twist they still hit you where it hurts in all the best ways.

This was an absolute lovely read and definitely a favourite of 2024 so far!

Thank you for this arc Wednesday books!

I have found myself deeply invested in this fantasy world of witches and the powerful government who hunts them. So far, this has become my favorite read of 2024. You will find yourself caught up in the enemies to lovers, cat and mouse game being played by the crimson moth and the blood guard officer...its easily a game of wits between the two and its nearly impossible to pick a side. The history and magic woven throughout the novel are not only intricate and unique but also emotional and bloody. The injustice done on both sides is revealed from the very beginning and only gains momentum as the story unwinds. I'm really looking forward to the sequel and hope it debuts this year as well.

#HeartlessHunter:⁣
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Thank you @wednesdaybooks @prhaudio partner for my gifted copies.⁣
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I loved this magical place and the work they were in. There were so many different laws and regulations, I was enamored by it. I found Rune to be such a great FMC, and I couldn’t help but continue to cheer her one. She basically was living with Vigilante Shit Taylor Swift on repeat. I loved the ending and cannot wait to see Rune run this world. ⁣
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Audio was phenomenal. Grace Gay did such a good job. I was on the edge of my seat listening while driving (and it wasn’t because traffic is trash) just hoping Rune would be successful and not get caught. ⁣
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My biggest gripe is Gideon himself. The beginning I really liked him, but as the story went on, I couldn’t connect the two. I found it odd to go from one tip of the triangle to the other in less than 24 hours, but what do I know. I also had a few issues with how he wanted to prove Rune wasn’t a witch, when it was the same action that drove him to taking substances until he was incoherent. ⁣
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Overall, I really enjoyed Heartless Hunter/ Crimson Moth. I love a good book 1, so I am hoping for a good character arc in book 2. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Rune! Out now!⁣
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QOTD: What’s for dinner?

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with this arc!!

Loved. Loved. Loved!!! This was such a stellar YA romance book. I love when YA books lean into romance unapologetically, especially in a fantasy setting. Romance mixed with action mixed with heartbreak? Well that’s just a good fantasy series in the making. After reading Night of the Witch last year, also a witch vs witch hunter, I was desperately seeking another book that would hit similarly to it and this one really nailed the tropes being presented.

4.5 star rating - Heartless Hunter is the first in the new Crimson Moth series about a witch in hiding and a witch hunter, taking place on an island two years after a revolution overthrew the witch sister queens. This is an upper-YA/new adult novel written in 3rd person/dual POV, with the characters between 18-20 years old and open door, low description spice. Perfect for those who enjoy a best friend's older brother love triangle, fake courtship, secret identities, blood magic, gaslamp fantasies. The romance develops slowly, with both of the main characters starting a courtship to uncover the other's secrets, but finding out they have more in common that they first realize and reluctantly falling during their cat-and-mouse game. There are some exciting twists, and you're never really sure who can be trusted. The book ends on a small cliffhanger with the plots mostly resolved, and I can't wait to see how it picks up in book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin Books for providing this eARC for my honest opinion.

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Rune is a witch hiding in plain sight, and she is also the Crimson Moth, who is helping witches escape to safety. The Crimson Moth is being hunted by the Blood Guard, led by Gideon, who is the brother of Alex, her best friend and conspirator in her Crimson Moth missions.

Rune decides to get close to Gideon for information and Gideon decides to court Rune with his own secret intentions. Enter fake dating without calling it as much and high-stakes action as they try to put their individual missions before the palpable attraction between them.

The thing I love about fantasy is that when a publisher promises “enemies to lovers”, I know they’re going to actually be enemies. And Heartless Hunter is a great example of that. A romance between a witch and a witch hunter? Yes. Undeniable attraction but he also wants to imprison you for existing? Yes.

I had so much fun reading this and bullying, I mean influencing, friends to read it and tell me all their thoughts as they hit the twists. I will be impatiently waiting for book two because that ending was EXCELLENT.

This book has:
- twists that made me gasp
- enemies to lovers romance that made me swoon
- action galore
- an ending that left me begging for book two in the best way

I devoured this book !!!! It was so good ! I highly recommend this book to all the Enemies to Lovers fans ! I read this in less than 48 hours, that's so much I was invested in this story.

Thank you so much @wednesdaybooks for this digital ARC for an honest review.

This book is an ode to the Enemies to Lovers fans out there ! The rivalry, the hate, the slowburn, the way they each think they are manipulating the others, the way each of them isn't sure if the other one is lying or telling the truth, it was just spectacularly written !

The characters were amazing. Strong but flawed and the dual point of view makes you fall in love with each of them and you just can't choose your favorite. Each point of view is valid.

Add to that, Witches, witch hunter, rebellion, love triangle in a Regency era setting and you have every ingredient to fall in love with this story.

Read if you love ;

✨ Enemies to Lovers ;
✨ Witches ;
✨ Rebellion ;
✨ Spying ;
✨ Love triangle ;
✨ Slowburn ;
✨ Regency Era.

*I received this book free from the NetGalley on behalf of St. Martin's Press.*

The synopsis for this book definitely does it justice. Heartless Hunter is an adventure that drew me in from the beginning. 

Rune is a heartbroken woman who had to watch her grandmother be purged, and in the two years after, she'd led a double life. One as a gossiping socialite who liked to attend parties, in order to get the intel needed for the other...the witch, who hid her identity to help save herself and other witches from being purged as well. 

Gideon lost his family to the witch queens, all except his little brother, Alex. He'd almost lost himself too, until the uprising. He'd helped to slay two of the queens, the youngest one his brother went after. Gideon was a witch hunter now, and he was after the Crimson Moth. He thought she was a killer who rescued witches. But he had it all wrong. The killer and the rescuer were two different people.

Alex had been friends with Rune for a long time. He discovered she was a witch the same night she did and instead of turning her in, he helped her. He didn't believe all witches should be killed. He helped her to save them. Of course, she loved him like a brother, and he was in love with her. When Gideon started courting her, he knew there had to be an ulterior meeting, but she wouldn't listen.

Rune tried to use Gideon for information, and Gideon tried to discover Rune's secrets to see if she was the Crimson Moth, but as secret personas fell away they both fell hard for one another. Though, when you've survived what they have it doesn't make trusting an easy thing, especially when jumping to conclusions is much easier.

This book is an intriguing story that captured and held my attention through to the very last page. A page that left me wanting more. So much happens, there are murders, conspiracies, betrayals, secrets, and it's all mixed with love and romance. I cannot wait for the sequel.

I could not put this down! It was one of the best books that I have ever read and I wish it would have been longer. The characters have great arcs and it's great! The only part that I had an issue with is the blood, but I'm not that type of person anyways.

This book was pretty crazy!

It is told from two point-of-views, Rune and Gideon. Rune is a witch in hiding and Gideon is out to hunt down witches and those who sympathize with them. Each wants info and they only know of one way to get it by courting one another. It was a fun trope for this book especially when you add the enemies to lovers aspect! Their courting does start early on, but the pacing was really off for me and my interest wasn’t really piqued until about the 25% mark. I’m glad I stuck with it because it got a lot better and the action quickened its pace. At that point it was hard to putdown.

There is a bit of a love triangle and I did like it. It wasn’t overly crazy and when a love triangle has to do with brothers it is one of my favorite tropes! The only problem I had with this one was that the resolution came by the end of the book and it felt underwhelming.

The romance was good and slow. The courting helped with this. There is a lot I have to say about it because of the cliffhanger, but I will keep that to myself for now, haha. I’m not sure where any of it will go until book two but I am quite curious.

When it comes to the political intrigue I feel like its easy to see similarities between our own world. There are corrupt people on both sides and sometimes it is hard to see through it all. Lesser of two evils is definitely present and Gideon has to deal with this as a Captain Guardsman and having a past with the witches. His story is just heartbreaking and I really felt for him.

Overall, this was great! I can’t wait for book two!

I really enjoyed this book! It got off to a slow start, so I was a bit iffy at first, however it does pick up rather quickly. Loved the witch/witch hunter perspective and it goes to show that even though there are two opposing factions, neither one is inherently good or evil. A great "enemies to lovers" story with high stakes, twists and turns, Very well written. Will definitely read on in the series, as well.

I have not been this conflicted with a love triangle since The Hunger Games. This book was INCREDIBLE.

Witchy & magical plot ✅
Enemies to lovers ✅
Pining & passion ✅
Deception, lies & unexpected twists ✅
Ending that’s going to keep me up at night? ✅

Omg. I don’t think I have enough good things to say about this dystopian + paranormal witchy tale that’s full of action, twists, and fiery romance! I have never been so torn between love interests & I adored the main character Rune. She is clever, she is cunning, and she’s one bad witch! 🔥

Rune Winters is a witch hiding in plain sight in a world where witches are hunted and murdered. She not only hides in plain sight, but she is the elusive “Crimson Moth” who saves witches from being executed right under The Republics nose. When The Republic captures a witch that she promised her grandmother she’d save, Rune has to collude with one of The Republic’s biggest witch hunters and plans to make him fall for her in order to save that witch. Meanwhile he suspects she’s the Crimson Moth and he plans to make her fall for him. 😱

What ensues is a passionate & dangerous enemies to lovers tale that is unlike any I’ve read before. This is young adult & an absolute BANGER. I mean the twists at the end?! Blown away. I’m left with so many questions and I have no idea where the next book is going to take me, but I cannot wait for the sequel!

🎧 I listened to a lot of this on audio and Grace Gray was a joy to listen to!


Thank you Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and PRHA for free ARCs & ALC!

Heartless Hunter was such a good book! Rune and Gideon are both well-developed, compelling characters that left me feeling so satisfied in all of their interactions.

There is witty banter, sass, plots (and sub plots) as Rune and Gideon each try to outsmart the other and achieve their individual goals, while also trying (and faaaiiillllling) to not fall in love with each other. The secondary characters (I'm looking at you Alex and Verity) also not only help drive the plot forward, but also add levity and depth to the story.

Rune was such an amazing protagonist - she's a secret witch caught in a world where being a witch is punishable by death. Instead of using the protection that her grandmother gave her and living a life of luxury on her estate, she risks it all to save witches and try to fulfill her grandmothers last wish. The face she presents to the world is a mask she wears for protection, but underneath it she is a strong, fierce, spirited protector who is trying her best to better the flawed world she lives in for the witches still in the New Republic.

I also really liked the magic system Ciccarelli developed for her witches. It was a unique take on how magic is used, the effect on the body, and how it was turned from something of beauty to then identify witches when the witch queens were brought down.

This was my first read by this author and I instantly connected to the way she writes. It’s YA, so it’s all very easy to read. But even for YA, I felt that Ciccarelli’s very good at writing a story with both well-written plot and character development. It’s not always easy to do both.

Heartless Hunter was darker story about a man who hunts witches believing they’re all evil and a young woman, who saves her fellow witches, knowing they’re not all the evil that everyone believes them to be.

There was once a time when witch queens reigned and witches roamed freely; feared and revered all at the same time. However, after an uprising against the witch queens, there are new rules. The most basic: All witches, and their sympathizers, must be captured and killed.

For Rune, this started with the murder of someone close to her. And now she takes it upon herself to free those witches that are captured by witch hunter, Gideon.

Oh but things aren’t so simple. Rune, in her quest to find a missing witch, decides to get closer to Gideon to garner information. And this is where things get tricky. The two of them don’t always fully trust each other but that doesn’t mean that feelings don’t start to form.

I really enjoyed the build up of Rune and Gideon’s relationship and each of them being confronted with opposing viewpoints. Each of their prejudices are challenged by the other and it forces the two to grow, evolve. However, because this is a series, there’s quite the cliffy at the end and it served to leave me completely wanting more of their story.

The magic system was original and one of the things I liked most about the story. The characters are grey–just how I like them. I can’t wait to continue on with Rune and Gideon.

4🌟
1 🌶️

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli was a fast-moving novel of intrigue and slow-burn romance, with a side of a love triangle and betrayal. The magic system was unique, and how witches performed their spells was intricate and captivating. The story of the undercover witch, Rune, who is on a mission to save witches from the hands of the vicious Witch Hunters (who do some rather brutal and gruesome executions). The dynamic of the relationships between Rune, Gideon, and Alexander (brothers) is fraught with conflicting emotions, suppressed desires, and loyalty for a friend for years. All of this swirls around a society that seems to be caught in a strange also-steam punk time of aristocracy, poverty, class divisions, and promises of the "Goodfellow" for an equitable society, but that remains the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. Vaguely reminiscent of the Russian Revolution, where the ruling class was killed so that the people could "reign," the reality is never like the promises. In the midst of all this is the Crimson Moth, who can free witches and ship them off to safety. The crimson moth is the symbol left behind in her spells. It is a loose retelling of the Scarlet Pimpernel, but this book has left doors open as the adventure continues. This story building was complex, and I am curious to see where the author takes it beyond this point. The pacing was medium to fast, with surprises all along the way. I highly recommend this book.

(4.5/5)
This book hit all the must-haves on my romantic fantasy checklist: magic, slow burn spice, great character development, intrigue, and lots of angst. I took a half star away because the beginning was a bit slow for me, but it definitely picked up. This is definitely a fantasy with romantic elements and NOT a fantasy romance. But it's got a gothic vibe, which makes it feel a little more sinister, and I loved it!

The storyline is threaded with political intrigue and emotional tension between the characters - not just the MCs, but all of them. Secrets lurk around every corner and it's impossible not to let your mind get carried away, wondering who to trust and who may not be who they seem.

The last 15-20% of this book was an emotional whirlwind - some things I saw coming, and a few I did not. I couldn't have put the book down then if I wanted to, I was so emotionally involved and full of adrenaline. This book does end on a big cliffhanger, as this is part of a duet, but I am definitely looking forward to what's in store for the next one.

My thoughts are my own and spoiler free.

This book had me enthralled and it wasn’t just the narrator Grace Gray either, but she did do an amazing job at capturing the authors novel that I highly recommend if you like audiobooks to give this one a shot!
Back to the story, the character building, the romance, the twists and turns. I did not see this coming and I usually had a good sense of the what ifs. I’m blown away with the writing and flow of the plot.

I need book 2 ASAP.