I really enjoyed this book. I liked that it dealt with witches and I really enjoyed the characters but I was so sad when Alex died and that Verity turned out to be Cressida but they were good twists. I’d definitely want to read future books in this series so I hope the next one isn’t too far away!

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books, for my free digital copy for review!

Where to start? The magic system was unique but if I had to hear about Runes blood source one more time I think I would yak. Also using her friends blood too. Barf. I had to push past. Loved the scars etc.

The romance. Rune and Gideon deserved each other they were both in it for the wrong reasons and I didn’t buy their “love”. So much waffling about on Gideon’s part about knowing his brother Alex loved Rune but he was gonna fake court her anyway and it was a ruse but then it wasn’t. Idk. Scumbag and I didn’t like him. Didn’t like Rune either. She was pig headed and had her head so far in the friend zone sandbox when it came to Alex.

Plot: I don’t understand how three tyrannical rulers caused a genocide of literally every witch who committed no crimes.
Alex was the only good character and they did him so dirty.

Thanks to NetGalley for the pre release! I really enjoyed this enchanted witch tale & am excited to see what happened next with Rune!

Soo I think the book is good but just wasn’t my cup of tea. It has good romance in it & character development, and it wasn’t one of those “easy to guess how the story plays out”

Thank you to Kristen Ciccarelli, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of the first book in the Crimson Moth series!

This book has been a stealth favorite of mine so far this year! I loved everything about it - the magic, the espionage, the enemies to lovers. In my mind, I imagined the world as a combination of early 20th century England combined with a Russian Revolution/Salem Witch Trials social environment. The dual POV story telling kept me engaged with each of the MCs and at the edge of my seat as the tension grew higher. I also was completely shocked by the ending and found myself crying unexpectedly during the last 20 or so pages. The whole book was devoured in a single sitting in which I barely moved from my seat. I absolutely cannot wait to recommend this book after it is published, and have already marked the second book as want to read ASAP!

You can expect: magic, rebellion, witches, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, friendship, historical-fantasy vibes, cliffhanger.

I've been having a little bit of trouble forming my thoughts on this one, but I'm going to go for it anyway.

I think the strongest aspect of this story were our character's backstories. They added quite a bit of nuance to our protagonist and love interest that would have been lacking otherwise. This book is so strongly focused on the romance that I felt that their roles (as vigilante witch and witch hunter) weren't quite lived up to in the plot. I don't know that I felt much chemistry between them in any case. I felt that this book read a little young, which is fine, I just think I would have preferred more world building or higher stakes or something. The reveals were also fairly obvious as well as the one character death. I think because of this, I didn't like the ending and don't think I'll be continuing on with the series.

I would still recommend this books to Romantasy readers who are more into romance than plot. Readers of Rachel Griffin in particular, because of the witchy aspect of the book. I know quite a lot of people really enjoyed it and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have read it, thank you.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books, for my free digital copy for review.

Witch against Witch Hunter—a showdown I eagerly anticipated, and it didn't disappoint. The narrative promised by the blurb unfolds beautifully, delivering even more than expected.

The depth of world-building is captivating, unveiling a rich history of witches and humans intertwined with revolution. The author's imaginative creation of witch lore is both unique and enthralling. Rune, our heroine, is a character whose journey is compelling to follow. She's not just fighting for a cause; she's navigating the turbulent waters of personal challenges that test her resolve. And then there's Gideon, her counterpart, whose strength and complexity make him the perfect foil to Rune. Their journey from enemies to lovers is charged with tension, making each moment between them intensely satisfying.

The Crimson Moth series opens with this spellbinding tale, immersing readers in a world where witches and witch hunters weave a story of intrigue, power, and romance. Each chapter keeps you hooked, eager to discover what lies ahead. Truly, a fantastic voyage into a realm where magic and conflict dance in a delicate balance.

In this heart-pounding retelling of the classic Scarlet Pimpernel story, Rune is a witch in a world determined to extinguish all witches. Forced into a double life, Rune plays at a carefree life amid the ruling class while secretly working to save witches from burning at the stake. When she decides to falsely court witch hunter Gideon Sharpe, she's drawn into a cat-and-mouse game where her fate, as well as her heart, is in peril. The author nails the breathless enemies-to-lovers feel. After devouring this romantasy, fans will be clamoring for a sequel.

I absolutely loved the magic system, and world of this book! The complexity yet predictably of the characters! I did figure out the twist pretty early on, but it didn’t make reading the story any less fun! I will absolutely be reading the next book! I cannot wait to see what happens next!!! If you love witches, enemies to lovers, betrayal, or intricate magic systems you should absolutely read this book!

Overall Score: 3.5/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Character Development: 3.5/5
Ease of Reading: 3.5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 3.5/5

The Heartless Hunter was a really good, quick, easy read. The plot was compelling and I enjoyed that the book was written from two POVs. I love a good book about witchcraft and the witchcraft in this book felt soooo unique! The casting scars were such a beautiful and interesting way to explain the magic of the world.
I liked Rune, and she was quite clever. Gideon was really broody and I LOVE a broody MMC.
I wasn’t bored at all throughout the book, but I was a bit confused at times.
There were a few things that didn’t make much sense to me and I don’t know if it was down to the way things were written or a lack of consistent imagery in the book.
The civilization in this story doesn’t appear to use technology of any kind- including electricity. But there is a specific reference to electricity in the book that made me think maybe the author forgot this? And the way in which the characters discuss some things (especially university) feels very modern despite a possibly Victorian setting? There are some terms that just felt very out of place and took me out of the story.
I really annoyed the enemies to lovers in this book, but it felt a bit forced sometimes and felt kind of icky on Gideon’s side at some points.

The writing was simple and not overly complicated which made for an easy read but wasn’t super compelling or entrancing. I think it’s a great YA Read but just fell a little short for me. I will still recommend to friends because I know tons who will love it but this story just wasn’t necessarily for me!

WOW WOW WOW!!! I am totally hooked and cannot wait for the next in the series 🥰 I almost never am blown away in fantasy stories, but this one GOT ME!

Rune + Gideon = enemies to lovers and I loved it!!!

Intensity, romance, thrilling action, TWISTS!! Oh I cannot recommend enough!

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in review for an honest review. 🫶

4.5 Stars!!

A wonderful compelling start to this duology!

As per the blurb, it hasn’t been long since witches were bloodily and brutally deposed from their exalted position. Once held in awe and revered, their abuse of their power inevitably heralded a revolution, and many have been killed and many still hide. This is a world divided, and we find our heroine Rune caught in the middle.

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!

Thank you to the author and St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for a honest review posted on Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6256977349

This story had it all, action, suspense, and a love triangle. As I read this, I was a little thrown off by what should be triggers in this book. I wasn't prepared and it was slightly unnerving. IMs. Ciccarelli did keep the story flowing and it was apparent that any of the characters would be in danger before the end.

I just finished this and my jaw is dropped, tears rolling down my cheeks. What a roller coaster ride!
Absolutely loved the unique take on magic. The love triangle. Enemies to lovers. The twists and turns. My God!
10/5 stars. Loved this!

This was an anticipated read for me in 2024 - I’m so happy to be given an ARC copy from NetGalley!

I really enjoyed this book! The Heartless Hunter is centered around how a family know as the “Queen Witches” ruled the town and were purged due to a revolution by the republic. Witches were considered to be dangerous and unpredictable. Now two years later, Rune Winters who had to turn in her own grandmother to the republic is now revenging her death by being the “Crimson Moth”. The moth is rescuing witches who are captured by the Blood Guards. Enter - our MMC: Gideon.

What is better than a blood guard hunting the crimson moth and the crimson moth being hunted - it’s a match made in magic!

We have enemies to lovers, magic, deceit, betrayal, and more! I found myself wanting to keep reading this and to know what happens next! I think the world building could have been elaborated on more and the ending felt rushed, but I did enjoy and will be reading the sequel!

4 ⭐️

This was really good! The pacing felt consistent the whole way through and I really appreciated that the stakes were high for the characters. They were all morally grey, which I happen to really like—especially in fantasy. I also enjoyed the magic system. The signatures left by spells and the nuances of how magic works was very interesting and was explained clearly. The definitions from magical law at the beginning of some chapters were helpful but I’m glad they were sparse to avoid a “too much information”/textbook feel. I hope that the consequences of the darker magic in practice (related to the main characters) is explored more in follow-up book(s). The romance storyline was great too. Rune and Gideon had such great chemistry and I really do love the “bad boy brother” trope. There was some great tension and both heartwarming and heartbreaking moments. The dual POVs really benefited the development of the characters and story in this one—I’m glad we saw things from both Rune and Gideon’s POV. I loved the little plot twists, they really kept things interesting!

One thing that did confuse me was the setting, but maybe that’s just me. I had a tough time determining what sort of time period I should be picturing. I thought I caught one mention of electricity but the rest was gas lamps and candles. These details made me picture a sort of 1800s Europe type vibe, but the dialogue felt more modern (especially the cursing). I have no issue with mixing the two, it just made it tricky for me to place the setting. Overall I really liked this. It was a quick read for me and was easy to understand. I look forward to reading the sequel(s)!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was expecting a bit more of a lighthearted romp but what I got was a more heartstring tugging story. While I found some parts very predictable I really enjoyed this Enemies to Lovers story. I enjoyed the build up, the love and the inevitable denouement. The world here is build around the turmoil after a revolution. The main character is a hunted witch, whose survivor guilt drives her to try to rescue her fellow witches before they are executed. She sets out to seduce the head witchhunter as he sets his sights on her as well. Parts of this are very predicable, but the magic system, while cringe, is an interesting component. Can she rescue herself and others and still love this deeply broken hunter or will he find out about her abilities and betray her to her death. Let's just say the ending stuck with me for a while and I look forward to the next book in this series. Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book and write an honest review.

Wow, what a chokehold this book had on me for 48 hours while I raced to finish it. Definitely will be a top contender for romantasy of the year and it’s still early 2024!

Rune Winters is a witch and only her two closest friends know the truth. In homage to her late grandmother, she becomes the Crimson Moth and fights to save others from persecution.

Gideon Sharpe has a complicated history and is now the leader of an army working to find and kill any remaining witches in hiding.

In a far-fetched sort of strategy, the two begin to court each other but intentions get blurred and feelings change. While initially I couldn’t sense the chemistry, their relationship evolved and I had that heavy pit in my stomach by the end.

The characters are complex, the emotions strong and the last 30% of the book gripped me, laundry left unfolded, kids left unfed because I couldn’t stop. When can we expect book 2?

5⭐️ and a thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. I will absolutely order a physical copy once the book releases to add to my permanent collection to read and share with friends!

I was addicted to this book from the second I began reading it. I love a good enemies to lovers trope and this did NOT disappoint. There was great world building and was very different from other fantasy books I have read (in a good way). I loved the witches, the tension and the entire storyline.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of Heartless Hunter.

This is an amazing series starter. This is a true enemies to lovers, secret identity, love triangle with high stakes and spy work. The action scenes were well described and the romance was deeply felt. Ack, the angst of the two developing feelings while also either knowing or suspecting that the other is playing the same game...so good.

The ending left me hungry for the next book. This is initial entry feels like a tiny, mere beginning of what the author has planned.

This is for older teens in the YA category but will easily appeal to fans of adult fantasy. Get in on this series from the start!