I read this in a singular slow day at work and I am not calm. This made me unhinged. I was giggling and kicking my feet, I was close to crying.

Rune is a witch living in a kingdom that executes them. Two years ago, the New Republic killed her grandmother on charges of witchcraft after Rune honored her dying wish—to turn her in to save herself. Ever since, she’s been hailed as a hero, but no one knows that she’s secretly the Crimson Moth, a witch who has been rescuing others like herself from the Blood Guard under the cover of night. She’s aided by her best friends, Verity and Alex.

But there’s a massive thorn in her side: Gideon Sharpe, the captain of the Blood Guard in charge of capturing and executing witches—and Alex’s older brother. When Gideon begins to suspect that Rune may be the Crimson Moth hiding in plain sight, and Rune realizes that Gideon knows valuable information about the prisoner she’s trying to break free, the two pretend to court each other in order to draw out one another’s secrets. But the more they get to know each other, the more feelings start creeping in.

Chaos ensues. This is YA Romantasy at its finest.

Now, I’m picky about love triangles as a whole and brothers fighting over a girl is one of my most loathed romance tropes, so I was wary as soon as I realized that was going to be a thing. But as you learn more about Gideon and Alex it becomes painfully clear that there are WAY bigger issues driving them apart than a girl, which made me less bothered by them both pining for Rune. Another small issue I had was that the plot twist became a little too obvious a little too early, but that didn’t stop it from still packing some punch.

My main ick/disappointment with this book was that there was a character pressuring another to sleep with someone which is already yucky enough by itself but that person being pressured was also a SA victim. I feel like the author could have gotten to the same end result another way and it left me with a weird feeling especially since this is a YA book. So that’s probably something to be aware of if you’re sensitive to SA-related content and thinking about reading this.

Overall, this was a fast-paced page turner that I couldn’t put down! I hope that this will be one of the most popular YA Romantasy books of 2024. (On that note, I think this is being marketed as YA, but it’s definitely on the spicier end of YA…so do what you will with that information)

The ending has me extremely impatient for book two and this one isn’t technically even out yet :,) Massive thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Alexis, dare I say you did not disappoint me, this book was utterly addictive.

"She was drowning, and he was air. She hadn't even realized how much she needed him until he was gone."

Much like the way I needed this book.

Was this it perfect? I wouldn't say so, but i didn't care even one bit, once I started I couldn't put it down.

Heartless Hunter gave me Serpent&Dove vibes with its own spin of the classic forbidden witch x witch hunter romance.
Both MCs, Rune and Gideon, are SO smart they read through each other's lies like it's nothing, playing a very dangerous game of cat and mouse. The tension created by that fact and that they suspect each other is so, soooo delicious, I couldn't read fast enough.
Watching them trying to outwit each other kept me at the edge of my seat.

"Im afraid you'll be the end of me, Gideon." And then, much more quietly: "Maybe you already are."

I have only a few quibbles with this otherwise super addictive and fast-paced fantasy-romance.
The first is the world building was a little lacking, though if I had the map in the arc it'd have been better but nevermind that, I'll be rereading this once I get my special editions. Also I'm still not sure what time period the story is supposed to take place in, it is a fantasy world but a character mentions "dollars" which really threw me off.

Regardless, the characters were well fleshed out and complex and as always loved the dual POV. The romance was top tier, the tension and chemistry - off the charts.

Dangerous, sexy, dripping in opulence, dark tale of forbidden romance and magic with enemies to lovers and morally grey characters — this has everything I love.

Need the sequel yesterday.

Eternal gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
All quotes are from an advance copy and may differ in the final publication

This book really grew on me! I would give it 3.5 stars if I could, but I’m rounding up to 4.

The world building is intriguing, the writing is visceral and very sensory. I did want to know more about the broader motivation and history that led to the inversion of the social order and the persecution of the witches,—more of the class dynamics and societal politics the book hinted at. Hopefully we get more backstory in the next book!

I loved the tension between Rune and Gideon, and the way they complemented each other- they don’t even realize how similar they are in their secret and undeserved self loathing, their grit and determination, their earnest, brave hearts. And I thought their connection built very organically. I loved the interiority of it, how they tricked themselves into being vulnerable with each other. I did not love the brother love triangle aspect, however, and I wish Rune had taken Alex less for granted. I really want to know more about Alex’s involvement in the Crimson Moth endeavors and whether he had hidden knowledge of what is revealed at the end of the book.

There’s a twist at the end that I think the author does a great job disguising, and it made me really intrigued for the next book. I hope she can do justice to the complexity of what Rune will now have to deal with- her growing abilities, her history with the untrustworthy new leader of the witch uprising, and her unresolved and deeply complicated relationship with Gideon (and all of his compounded trauma.) I’m definitely riveted and ready for book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

“Heartless Hunter” by Kristen Ciccarelli is the first installment in a new romantic fantasy series centered around witches. This was such a fun start to a series, and ended on an action-packed cliffhanger. I enjoyed reading about the main characters, Rune and Gideon, and their friends and family; they had good chemistry, despite some of the situations they were shoe-horned into. Although some of the twists and plot devices were predictable, the pacing was propulsive and the stakes were high enough to keep me entertained. Hopefully, there will be additional world-building in future installments, since I came away from the story with questions. I’d definitely recommend this for fans of the romantasy genre.

This definitely gave me Serpent and Dove vibes. I usually go more for fantasy with a little romance sprinkled in. This is my first time going with equal parts fantasy and romance and boy am I glad I did. I loved the slow burn romance and the enemy to lover troupes that were done so beautifully! The magic system had me so enthralled in wanting to know everything about it. Overall this book has made me a fan of this genre.

"Heartless Hunter" weaves a spellbinding tale that is both dangerous and regal, with a touch of romance that adds a captivating allure to the narrative.

In a world where survival for witches is uncertain, Rune, a young witch, takes on the perilous task of rescuing captured witches from execution. Accompanied by her sidekicks, Alex and Verity, Rune operates as the elusive Crimson Moth, skillfully avoiding capture by the formidable Bloodguard. As she embarks on a rescue mission, Rune finds herself entangled with Gideon Sharpe, the skilled witch hunter of the Bloodguard. What begins as an attempt to gather information turns into a courtship, and soon, suspicions arise on both sides about the true identity of the Crimson Moth.

This story unfolds as a thrilling double cat-and-mouse game, where the intricate dance of deception and genuine emotions becomes a delight to witness. The anticipation builds as secrets hover on the brink of revelation, true feelings teeter on the edge, and relationships hang in the balance.

The characters in this tale are truly exceptional. Gideon and Rune, with their likable personalities, engage in a captivating play of wits and emotions. Despite a significant secret between them, their honesty adds depth to their dynamic. Alex, another character who makes a significant impact, is endearing, and his presence is felt even when he's not in the spotlight.

The world-building in this story is a standout feature, evoking a Bridgerton-esque era and portraying magic with vivid detail. The unique and well-described use of magic adds an extra layer of enchantment to the narrative.

A fast-paced plot keeps the reader engaged, with minimal downtime and a constant urge to flip to the next page. The story unfolds seamlessly, ensuring that the reader remains on the edge of their seat throughout this captivating adventure.

There are so many fantasy romances out there it's hard to know what's really worth your time. But take it from someone you don't know (lol) this one is worth a shot. It's a slow burn, witch and witch hunter (so it's enemies to lovers👀👀) that's guaranteed to give you all the feels!!

This is the only booktok-esque book I've genuinely enjoyed.

All right, friends, if I'm sticking with the CAWPILE rating system, this would be a three-star read. But I had the best time of my life reading this, so I'm bumping it to a four.

Heartless Hunter is a good time. It's not trying to be the next VE Schwab or RF Kuang in terms of writing and world-building, but it's so much FUN. This was a true enemies-to-lovers and had so much tension and banter I was taking laps in my wheelchair. Our main characters are angsty, hormonal, your typical broody hero and tough girl, and I ate it up. The whole book is watching them circle each other and try to expose each other's secrets without exposing themselves. Ciccarelli added my favorite tropes, but not in an annoying way. They flowed in the story and were just shy of being too tropey.

Ciccarelli must have taken a master class with Rick Riordan about cliffhangers. Everything went downhill quickly, and even though I knew it was coming, the betrayals at the end still made me squeal. Safe to say, I need the next book. This was the best New Adult I've come across in a while.

Read this if you are looking for something you don't want to think too hard about but is still really enjoyable. Enemies-to-lovers, angst, betrayals, lies, and high society. Thank me later.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! It was addicting and I felt like I couldn’t put it down. I read it in 2 days, which is crazy for me!

It’s a dark and whimsical story of witch vs witch hunter, with forbidden love, socialites, balls and beautiful gowns, enemies to lovers back to enemies, friends to possible lovers, and hidden identities galore. With a side of murder mystery and true crime. It was giving gothic Bridgerton meets Jack the Ripper meets the Salem witch trials 👏🤌🏻

There was the most delicious, tension filled slow burn 😮‍💨 featuring a pained MMC who thinks he deserves nothing (my favorite) He is hunting the FMC and trying to uncover her secret identity. They become trapped within a tangle of deception, lust and longing. When their true feelings start to come to the surface and make them wonder if they truly are enemies, the story takes a wild turn and the ending had me shook. Major cliffhanger that made me very sad that there’s no release date for book 2 yet 😭

I had no idea what to expect going into Heartless Hunter. I mainly picked it up because of the cover and having enjoyed the author’s previous works. This is truly an enemies to lovers, cat and mouse, outsmart each other YA fantasy. Our MC, Rune, is a witch hiding in plain sight, and she’s trying to help other witches escape being purged from their island. Gideon is a witch Hunter bent on catching her. They end up involved among high society, but neither is truly as they seem. The tension in the story is top notch, and I couldn’t stop reading. Some of the scenes were pretty sexy for YA. The ending is kind of bonkers and definitely leaves you yearning to know what will happen next. Fun and exciting from start to finish.

I would like to start off by saying thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for being generous enough to lend me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Heartless Hunter" has me hooked and dying for more. This is a page-turner that blends excitement, forbidden romance, and intriguing world-building seamlessly. The author's ability to weave these elements together creates a narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. Prepare for a fast-paced adventure featuring a witch and a witch hunter that will take your breath away.

The slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance between the two main characters is electric. Despite danger, their love story is a compelling force that keeps readers turning the pages. There is something incredibly vivid and thought-provoking about the world that the author has created.

This plot is filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing and eager for more. The unpredictable nature of the story adds a sense of excitement and keeps you guessing.

As satisfying as the ending is in itself, it leaves the reader knowing the characters have many more trials to overcome. I look forward to seeing where the author takes these characters in the future, as it's a brilliant setup for an exciting series.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for the ARC of this book. all opinions are my own.
Due to the current SMP boycott, I will not post my thoughts on this story until the concerns are addressed. At that time, I will be happy to post my full review.

"Heartless Hunter" by Kristen Ciccarelli is a solid fantasy read with vivid world-building and imaginative storytelling. While the plot is engaging, some pacing issues and predictable elements slightly detract from the overall impact. The characters are well-crafted, but a bit more depth could enhance the emotional connection. Despite these points, fans of the fantasy genre will find enjoyment in the richly imagined universe Ciccarelli has created.

Overall I thought this book was a super fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed getting both perspectives of the witch/witch hunter. The plot was very fast paced. The characters were relatable and well developed. The biggest negative for me was that the major plot twist was predictable. I think I figured it out within the first 25% of the book. It was still very enjoyable and the ending of the book definitely set up nicely for a sequel. I’ll definitely look forward to continuing this series

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and Wednesday Press for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of “Heartless Hunter: The Crimson Moth: Book 1” by Kristen Ciccarelli. Rune is a secret witch forced to pose as a vapid socialite by day to protect her alias and true intent. At night, she is the Crimson Moth, an avenger who attempts to free incarcerated witches. Rune's best friend and protector is Alex; however, his brother, Gideon, is hell-bent on persecuting all witches because one devastated his life when he was younger. Rune and Gideon play a cat-and-mouse game and pretend to court each other. Unfortunately, things go awry, and danger is right around the corner.

Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. The novel's end packed a wallop, and now I anxiously await Book 2 for a resolution. "Heartless Hunter" is a story of action, magic, passion, and betrayal. The chemistry between Rune, her friend, Alex, and his brother, Gideon, was off the charts. I was pleasantly surprised that this book, which has a publication date of February 20, 2024, was so engaging.

Dangerous, regal, romantic: these are the first words that came to mind when I came to review this book.

Small summary: From the very beginning, we are shown a world where survival for witches is no guarantee. Rune, a young witch, is trying her best to rescue captured witches to keep them from being executed. Her two sidekicks, Alex and Verity, are there to help her, but Rune does the actual rescuing and is the elusive Crimson Moth that the Bloodguard can't seem to catch. Stuck on a rescue, Rune decides to get close to Gideon Sharpe, the Bloodguard's best witch hunter, to gain information, but Gideon starts to court Rune in hopes to find information about the Crimson Moth. And as they get closer, Gideon starts to suspect Rune IS the Crimson Moth, and she knows it too.

Takeaway: This story is a beautiful double cat-and-mouse game where it's extremely fun to watch them deceive and fall for each other. The whole time you are just waiting for the ball to drop, secrets to be revealed, true feelings to be exposed, and relationships to flourish or faulter.

What I loved: I loved the characters of this story. Gideon and Rune were likeable and I loved how they played with each other. And besides one glaringly big secret between them, they were surprisingly honest with each other. Alex was another character I really enjoyed. Although we don't see him the whole time, I really came to care for him like I did Rune and Gideon.

I really enjoyed the unique world. The way things were described made me think Bridgerton-ish era and the way magic was used was described pretty well.

Fast-paced plot. There really wasn't much down time in this story and that really kept me engaged and needing to flip to the next page.

What confused me: While I loved the 19th century, I felt that some things Rune did didn't necessarily fit the time period that was being described. I think we could use some more world-building and an understanding of how witches changed the era.

Two things at the end (vague for spoilers) left a wrong feeling with me. Gideon tells a coworker that he will do something to prove Rune's innocent or guilt and while I don't think he meant it, just the fact that he said he would at all makes me pause. The second thing has to do with what happened to a side character. It felt like it just happened to make things untangle easier in the long run, or to add more to the story. It just didn't feel like it fit.

Overall: my favorite YA Romantasy book of the year! I wish I already had my hands on the sequel and I will definitely be recommending this book. I'm excited to see how book two will play out and I think this book sets book two up so that it could be spectacular.

*Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the arc*

This book kept me guessing all the way up to the end. I loved the enemies to lovers aspect, with a little bit of a love triangle thrown in there too. This book definitely gave me Belladonna vibes but make it witchy. It was dark and mysterious which I absolutely loved and needed. The end left you wanting more and is a great setup for the next book. I cannot wait to see what Rune is up to next!

4.5 stars, 8.43 on CAWPILE

Thank you to netgalley for an arc for review!

I loved reading this book. I had such a great time. The magic system was well thought out and easy to follow, the tension in the world especially between the witches and the hunters was great too.
This story felt to me to be more romance, with that plot taking more of a place of prominence than the fantastical elements and plot, but I didn’t mind it.
This was truly enemies to lovers done right!!

While I did thoroughly enjoy the read, I didn’t give five stars because I did call the twist fairly early. I wasn’t sure if the author wanted that to happen or not.

Also the resolving of that … little issue…. was heartbreaking. Kristen, why??

Overall, very much enjoyed!

I really loved this one! Recently I've been avoiding YA fantasy, so I'd been wary of starting it, but now I hate myself for avoiding Heartless Hunter for so long. Because it was AMAZING! Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I read the entire thing in one sitting, which is saying a lot because I've been in the reading slump to end all reading slumps. Seriously, this was amazing. It was very reminiscent of Serpent and Dove, but that didn't bother me. I loved the dynamic between Gideon and Rune. Their chemistry was so tangible, so fiery. They were enemies to lovers done remarkably well. I didn't love the love triangle, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment. Really, my only problem with Heartless Hunter is that I have to wait a year for Book 2!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

A witch and the witch hunter, each thinking they are in control of a situation when neither is. The witches used to rule, but then there was a revolution and all the witches were killed, violently. The guard hasn't stopped hunting them down, though, and any they catch are killed immediately, no questions asked. This is the world Rune finds herself in when she comes into her powers, but she doesn't just hide out, thinking only of her own safety. She makes it her mission to use the wealth that was her grandmother's before she was dragged off and killed to help other witches escape before they, too, are killed. She is the masked vigilante who has come to be called the Crimson Moth. Gideon is the brother of one of Rune's best friends, and just happens to be the witch hunter who has been tasked with finding the Crimson Moth. They each start out using the other for information, but what happens when the feelings they are both feigning start to become real?

This was such a good book! It was a very quick read because I didn't want to put it down once I started reading it. The characters were well written and fully fleshed out, and the world building was phenomenal.

All in all, this was a great book and I can't wait to read the second book in the series when it comes out!

5/5 stars

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and Kristen Ciccarelli for the opportunity to read and review this ARC..