This was a fast read for me. Enemies to lovers, witch and witch hunter? Yes please! So happy to get to read this during the fall season. This is sure to be a hit in the romantasy readers circles.

First, thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of this book! This book had so many of my favorite things: enemies to lovers, an amazing and well designed magic system, high stakes cat-and-mouse type action scenes, and a climactic plot twist! I thought that the magic system and major plot points in this book were really original, unlike any fantasy I have read thus far. I also liked that the romantic building scenes were fresh (measurement scene, ocean scene: iykyk) and did not rely on the usual subtropes. The main female character was also a total badass! **SPOILERS(?)** I loved the complexities of her personality and how on one hand she had this materialistic facade that most people saw, and on the other this vigilante disguise, and how at times she couldn't tell who the real "her" was behind all of the masks. In some ways, I feel like this made her super relatable to any reader who has questioned the different "fronts" they may put on in certain situations in their own life.
My only con, and this is mostly just a personal preference and totally my own opinion, is the point of view seemed a little convoluted at times; it was multiple POV, and captured the characters' inner thoughts/feelings, but was told in third person. I felt like there was a bit of distance put between me and the characters with this, which may not have happened if it was strictly first person. Besides this, it was a great book, and hooked me from the start! Already can't wait for the second book, and will be looking to read more from this author in the future! :)

This book had one of the best executions of a cat vs. mouse chase that I have encountered. The moments between Rune and Gideon where each of them omits information to subtly manipulate the other were very entertaining and had me at the edge of my seat. I also enjoyed how each of the leads was likable in their own ways and had motives that fit the characters. Additionally, I enjoyed the split POVS because I felt like they each had something of importance to add to the characters. This is especially true in regard to the plot twist and the illustration of how both Rune and Gideon were affected separately. In terms of negatives, this book did not seem to have many. A few of the chapters were very short to convey how the characters felt at certain moments, which felt slightly unnecessary but did add context to said situations. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would like to read subsequent books and other works by the author.

Thank-you to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for this awesome book.

Enemies to lovers is my fave, add in fantasy, witches, a witch hunter, and lots of banter and you have me hooked. The book gave me SJM vibes. The world and characters were amazing.

Fell in love with this story in chapter one! Am excited for the next book!!

While it took me until about 20% to get really invested in this book, I ended up thoroughly enjoying it and really could have read this in one go if I’d had the time!

Heartless Hunter follows witch, Rune Wintersea, and witch hunter, Gideon Sharp, as they each attempt to seduce the other into spilling deadly secrets! This felt like a pretty well done enemies to lovers trope, though I will say, they fall for each other very quickly. However, the tension between them as they’re fighting falling in love and trying to each do their duty to their respective causes keeps that enemies to lovers energy flowing well! Rune aggravated me at times, but overall I enjoyed her and her dedication to saving her fellow witches. Gideon is a complete cinnamon roll and no one will change my mind on that. He’s a babe, and I love him.

The world felt well developed without it being too overwhelming or taking away from the story. I still have some questions about certain things, but I know there’s more to come regarding the world and magic system in the next installment.

There are quite a few side characters and we get some background on them and how they play into our MCs stories, but a few felt a bit hollow could have been more well rounded. I also wasn’t a fan of <spoiler> the love triangle. I mean, Alex is Gideon’s brother and Rune’s best friend and I knew immediately where things were going. I was just so ticked off that Rune went with it at the end of the book… iykyk </spoiler>…

The ending!!! Y’all. I was big mad at that ending. Haha! Seriously, the last few chapters had me holding my breath and when I read the last page?! No! I was not okay with that cliffhanger. I had an idea of how things were going to play out and things did follow that path, albeit with a twist I didn’t see coming. Basically, I need book two immediately!!

One quick note, there is some on page spice/steam (which I’m here for, okay?). However, given the context and details <spoiler> (basically, Gideon is told to seduce Rune to check her for witch marks. They are both consenting and both aware that the other is using sex to serve a purpose but they both are in love and wanting to give their relationship a real shot at the time so it isn’t completely as a means of spying on the other.) it does makes me consider this an upper YA or NA book. I’ll be clear, I don’t know what this book is currently marketed as, but I would class it as NA.

Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for the complimentary arc. All opinions are my own.

Heartless Hunter masquerades as a moth when really it's a viper poised for attack with its venomous fangs. The twists are stunning, the character dynamics are ripe, and best of all, the star-crossed love between a witch and her hunter is absolutely devastating. I wept, I shrieked, I couldn't contain my feelings. The twists are impeccable and plentiful. When you think Ciccarelli finally rests, she rips your heart out one last time and cuts straight to your core.
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Deception runs deep in Heartless Hunter, the newest romantic thriller from Kristen Ciccarelli. Best part of this one? Rune Winters, our heroine witch, has attached herself to the hunters. Can she seduce the captain of the guard to gain his secrets? You'll be shredding this one apart to find out, my friends.

The next book can't come fast enough. I don't know how I'm going to survive the wait.

Thank you to Wednesday books and NeyGalley for an advanced copy to review.

Undoubtedly, this seems like a great start to a fantasy romance. A perfect addition to add to my ‘fav reads’ shelves. Can't wait enough for the next instalment already!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for this advanced copy! You can pick up Heartless Hunter on February 20, 2024.

This was one of the easiest 5 stars I've given out in a while. I loved the Scarlet Pimpernel feel of it, the way the characters interacted with one another, the world, the plot twists, everything! I couldn't believe how quickly I tore through this book and didn't want it to end.

The background we learn about the island and the witch vs. witch hunter conflict engaged me from the get-go. I loved the different roles Rune played, and how we see so much vulnerability from her amid clever deceptions and daring escapes. The magic was super fascinating yet simple to understand, and I love how often Rune DIDN'T rely on magic to slip away from her foes.

And don't even get me started on the romance. Gideon and Rune had me feeling EVERYTHING, all at once. The tension and build-up was immaculate. The vulnerability and opening up tugged my heartstrings. The betrayal and ultimate anger felt earned, not predictable. This YA book felt more romantic than the spiciest of smut novels, and I just want to see more interaction between Gideon and Rune (especially after that ending!).

The worst part of all this is that the book itself won't come out for months, and then we'll likely wait several more months for a sequel. I need answers ASAP, and I'm already looking forward to diving back into this witchy adventure. 10./10 would recommend!

Heartless Hunter is a regency story about a high society witch named Rune who lives a secret double life . Outwardly she is infamous due to the events of her grandmother's death and her social status. Behind closed doors, however, with the help of her two best friends Alex & Verity, she is the one and only Crimson Moth, saving witches from death.

Plans are going well as they get closer to fulfilling her grandmother's dying wish when officer Gideon puts a thwart in her plans. In order to fix this issue Rune comes up with a new plan, one that could risk not only her identity but everything they have worked hard for.

The longer this plan is in place the more her heart is entangled and the more she begins to question everything, by the time the puzzle pieces fit will it be too late ?

Heartless Hunter is the second book I've read by Kristen Ciccarelli, while it has a more playful tone it is every bit as enjoyable. I read it pretty quickly, the chapters were fun and to the point.

I give this one two or three chilli peppers out of five for spice, there aren't many steamy scenes but chemistry between Gideon and Rune is SO good.

The characters were well written, especially the villain. My heart was not ready for that ending, it hurt so much.

Heartless Hunter has a love triangle, dual points of view, and perfect for those who love the new adult genre . I look forward to reading the next book in the series !

Short synopsis: During the day, Rune hides her magic and pretends to be a socialite attending parties and looking for a suitor. But at night she becomes a vigilante determined to save the witches from being purged.

My thoughts: What a fun cat and mouse chase between witch and witch-hunter! I loved the deception and back and forth. It was perfect to have POV from both Rune (the witch) and Gideon (the witch-Hunter) I think it helped the reader to connect with both sides and see where they are coming from.

The love triangle story was done well and honestly had me rooting for both brothers. I think they both had great qualities for different reasons. I also loved how the magic worked in this, it took hard work and blood which left casting marks, and the bigger the spell the worse it was for the witch that cast it.

I did see the big twist coming, but it still came with such a big bang! Now I can’t wait for book 2 to see what happens next!

Read if you love:
- Magic and witches
- Love triangle
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow burn
- Cat and mouse chase
- Regency timeline

Thank you to Wednesday books for an early copy of this! pub date is Feb 20, 2024

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: fantasy, witchy books, dual POV, enemies to lovers, cat and mouse chase

This review has been posted on Goodreads as of 9/24 and has been posted to my book blog and Instagram as of 10/5.

The book opens in a kingdom that has recently undergone a revolution to rid the country of witches. This included not just the witch queens, but every witch, rich or poor, young or old, in the entire country. All practice of magic, even mundane, is forbidden, and the Blood Guard hunts down any witches who escaped the initial purges or who had been too young to have powers at the time. It's an interesting setup and I liked that we got a peek into multiple layers of a society that's clearly still in transition and that, especially toward the end of the book, feels like it might be about to change again.

Rune lives and moves in the upper echelons of this society and we get to see how the aristocracy views witches and the easy way with which they change allegiances as needed. Rune is also a witch, and so we also get to see the terror and fear that witches are living under after the revolution. Gideon is the son of a tailor and lives on the 'other side of the tracks,' so to speak, and we get to see how not a lot has really changed for that group either. He is also a captain of the Blood Guard, and we get insight into how he and people he loved were personally terrorized by witches prior to the revolution, hence why he and others are so determined to stamp them out. I liked the two different viewpoints and do wish that circumstances hadn't prevented Rune and Gideon from talking about it more, because I think there could've been some very interesting conversations from both sides rather than just Gideon talking to Rune about his experiences and Rune talking to other people about hers. I definitely think this'll come up again in book 2, and I look forward to the dialogue they'll open on the topic then.

The witches themselves only have a few categories of spells, but lots of spells within those categories. In order to utilize any of the spells though, witches need blood. Fresh blood, either from themselves or someone else, is best and allows for more powerful and potent spells, but fresh blood drawn for magic results in silver scars. Pre-revolution, a lot of witches would have special artists draw their blood so they could have specially patterned scars--Rune's grandmother had nautical-themed scars. Older blood can also be used, though it tends to only be for weaker and more mild spells, but post-revolution is often the best option. Rune herself uses blood she and Verity collect from their periods. The most powerful category of spell, Arcana, requires blood taken unwillingly and was theoretically forbidden prior to the revolution, but a couple characters have stories that contradict this, hinting at a darker underside of the witch queen's regime.

Something I think has room for interesting development in book 2 is views on witches. At the time of the book, and during the revolution, witches and witch sympathizers are arrested and executed. However, the best way to tell if someone is a witch is if they have silver scars. As mentioned above, however, witches can, willingly or unwillingly, use other people's blood, which gives that person silver scars. Gideon and others are aware of this, but there's no indication that they make an effort to sort through whether someone with silver scars is a witch, sympathizer, or victim, meaning it's likely they're punishing victims just as much as perpetrators (or "perpetrators"). I think this, along with witches who don't harm others, are going to come up as a point of contention in book 2, and I look forward to seeing how it's solved.

As for characters, Rune is living two different lives. One is as a vapid socialite without a thought in her head. During the revolution she denounced her witch grandmother, sending her to the gallows. Her other life, however, involves cunning strategy and Rune works to locate and smuggle other witches out of the country to save them from persecution. She's obviously haunted by what happened with her grandmother, and is determined to do everything she can to both absolve herself of it and to prevent anything like it from happening again. Beyond her double life, we also get to see Rune with her friends, Verity and Alex, the latter of whom is Gideon's younger brother. I liked seeing Rune with her friends, either all together or 1:1, because it was a moment when she could let her guard down and we got to see a little more of her true self.

Gideon is a dedicated member of the Blood Guard who helped lead the revolution. He's pretty much the opposite of Rune in every way, except in that they both think they're doing the right thing for their people. He's very gruff and abrasive, and I wasn't sure I'd be a fan of him at the beginning, but he has hidden depths. A lot of his motivation stems from what happened to his family prior to the revolution and a still-current desire to keep his younger brother, Alex safe. Gideon has a bad past with witches, which definitely makes him and his motivations more sympathetic.

It's clear that both Gideon and Rune catch feelings despite their best efforts. Both have reasons to be wary of the other, but over the course of the book begin dropping their defenses and letting each other in. We get a deeper look at their backgrounds over the course of this and, as mentioned above, I can definitely see the potential for them finding a middle ground. Their romance is fairly sweet, and I liked that Gideon made her things and that Rune clearly appreciated and treasured those things.

Alex is complicated. He's clearly loyal to Rune, he knows she's a witch and has been helping her Crimson Moth schemes. However, he's also loyal to Gideon and basically refuses to spill Gideon's secrets (the Blood Guard's, sure, but not Gideon's). This does create tension at times with Rune. It's also clear from the get-go that Alex is in love with Rune, and while he's sweet and seems to want the best for everyone, a part of me feels like he's also a character that doesn't totally understand Rune. Sure, he's been at her side helping her Crimson Moth activities all this time, but he also wants them to move to the continent when he takes back up his musical studies, which is pretty antithetical to what Rune is trying to do.

Verity is a non-witch who lost two her two older sisters to the witch purges during the revolution, making her sympathetic to Rune and witches in general. Along with Alex, she helps Rune plan and enact the Crimson Moth's activities. Verity knows a lot more about magic than Rune since Rune's grandmother hadn't started teaching her when she died, but Verity's sisters allowed her to sit with them while they practiced. She's able to help guide Rune and encourage her in different spells.

Harrow is a somewhat mysterious character that I would like to know more about. She's Gideon's informant, but I don't think she's on the Blood Guard. I don't totally trust her motivations though and it feels like she's not really on anyone's side. Not the witches, not the non-witches, just her own. I'm interested in seeing how things play out with her in book 2.

Laia is another socialite who runs in Rune's circle but is a Blood Guard. Like Gideon, she has a story of her/someone she care about being abused by witches prior to the revolution. Her dad was a leader in the revolution and remains an influential person under the new government (which they don't actually talk about too much. I'm unclear if it's a military regime now or a council or democracy or what).

It became pretty clear around the 25% mark that a specific character was going to die before the end of the book. I figured it would be around or after the 75% mark, but still wasn't sure how it was going to come about. Along with the cat-and-mouse with Gideon and Rune, there's a secondary mystery about who is killing Blood Guard members, which then escalates to attacks on raids and even a party Rune is attending. I had some suspicions at the beginning, but ended up switching who I thought it was about 50% of the way through, after another key piece of information was provided, and ended up being right. The mystery was still interesting even after I figured out the who because I couldn't quite figure out the how. There were some hints earlier on about this character, but it wasn't until later that I realized the severity of the deception, I just thought it was a minor one, lol.

I'm conflicted about where Rune is at the end of the book. On the one hand, I feel like her hand was kind of forced and there wasn't really anything else for her to do. On the other hand, I don't love where she ended up and feel like she's going to be stuck in that situation for a bit until she can either find a way out of it cleanly or something major happens to upset the way things are working and she's able to slip away (or she'll get arrested, but I don't really see that happening). I am definitely looking forward to seeing her and Gideon having an in-depth discussion about....everything.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and thought it was action packed and had a good amount of romance. Gideon and Rune are coming at things from opposite directions, and I found them both to be sympathetic. I'm eager to see what comes next for them and the other characters!

I could not put this book down. I really enjoyed it! The story was fairly unique and I thought the characters were all really interesting. There are a couple big twists towards the end that I was unable to predict. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series and am sad that I might have to wait a while, given that this one doesn't come out for another 4 months!

OH MY GOD. I can’t even find the words to describe how much I loved this book, nevertheless, I hope I will be able to express the richness of this book. Before going into it I did have high standards, I almost expected to find a repeat of the same story that has already been told a million times. I am glad to say, I was incredibly wrong.

Let’s start talking about the characters; our protagonist Rune, while on the outside she sheens like your typical run of the mill YA protagonist, she has depth and is well-rounded, something that is becoming more rare these days. One thing I really liked about her character was that she *is* like other girls, I enjoyed the fact that she didn’t fall into the”I am not like other girls” trope, she likes dresses and is feminine but that doesn’t take away from the rest of her character, she is not superficial nor an exagerares version of the badass female leader stereotype. I genuinely liked her, and I could see her personality indirectly in the writing; thanks to the author we are not told she is kind, it is implied through her actions, which is the best king of characterization. Another character I dearly loved was Alex; he just was such a sweetheart, really the perfect best friend. I could feel how much thought had gone into his character. I was just the little details about Rune and Alex’s relationship that made it seem so realistic and complex; it was not forced, they just flowed, like I think best friends are supposed to. Verity…….let’s just say that she is the cherry on top for the book. And there are also so many side characters that made an impact like Laila, even characters who Rune hated were shown to have emotion and interests. Just because out protagonist hated them doesn’t mean they are not as profound or as human as she is. And the male lead, Gideon, I will admit that I am not very fond of the hunter/hunted trope; so I was a little biased against him; but he surpassed my expectations; I will admit that he can be a charmer when he wants to. While he was not my favorite character, I did find myself rooting for them in the end and was very sad about the elements in their world that have put them against each other in the first place.

The plot: THE MOST AMAZING THING EVER. It drew me in like you couldn’t believe, I finished the book in a few hours. The world-building and the history that the island they lived in had, was nothing short of amazing. Reading this book was like seeing a debate that had speakers that were so good, that you couldn’t decide on which side you were in. Each side had very good and compelling arguments and I found myself switching sides almost every chapter. It got to the point were J just told myself to keep an open mind because if not I would get whiplashed. No one was innocent, everyone had secrets and their reasons for keeping them; and I think in the end no character was simple, no one was truly alone; everyone had Allie’s or people who thought like them which gave veracity to the claim that they were the right ones in the conflict.

I would recommend this book to any YA reader who wants a book that is fun yet still has depth; this book will not leave you hanging.

I want want to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me this copy of the book

I LOVED this book! It was such a fun, fast read and had all of my favorite things—enemies to lovers, secret identities, forbidden magic, friendship, mind-blowing plot twists!

Heartless Hunter is dual perspective and follows Rune and Gideon. Rune is a witch in a city where being one is punished by death. But instead of going somewhere safer or not using her magic, she risks her life to rescue other witches who have been caught by the Blood Guard. Gideon is the captain of the Blood Guard and has spent years hunting the elusive witch known as the Crimson Moth who keeps smuggling witches out of prison and out of the city (aka Rune). Rune needs inside information from someone on the Blood Guard, and Gideon suspects Rune may be the Crimson Moth. So what do they do? Start courting each other so they can get closer and play the other for information. The story takes off from there.

This book was intense and fast-paced. I couldn’t put it down! The characters are great, especially getting to see from both sides—the witches who have been hunted, and those who have been hurt by witches. The plot twists were fantastic, even the ones I guessed. There were a couple moments where I literally gasped out loud over something I didn’t see coming. And the ending! I need book 2 now!

If you like books about witches, the enemies-to-lovers trope, and magical realism/low fantasy, definitely check this one out!

Heartless Hunter is an action-packed, enchanting, enemies-to-lovers romance fantasy. I loved absolutely everything about this book: the world, the magic, the characters, the plot - EVERYTHING! In a world where witches are killed, Rune is forced to hide her magic and pose as a shallow, gossipy socialite during the day. However, at night, Rune rescues fellow witches and aids in their escape. Gideon, whose life was utterly destroyed by witches, is determined to see every last witch killed. He is especially determined to catch the Crimson Moth, the vigilante who is helping witches flee. In order to gain intel, Rune decides to pretend to court Gideon, and Gideon, who suspects Rune of being a witch, decides to court her back to find evidence. As the fake relationship goes on, each finds that they may have deeper (and real) feelings for the other.

I couldn't put this book down. Both Rune and Gideon were excellent POVs. Both are well-developed characters; I really appreciated learning about each character's past. What both Rune and Gideon went through explained their actions and their choices. Alex, Rune's best friend and Gideon's brother, was another great character. I truly felt for Alex and the challenge he faced of loving both a witch and a witch-hunter and not wanting to take a side. Once again, Heartless Hunter has everything: action, politics, romance, magic, betrayal. I highly recommend Heartless Hunter, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

Read if you like:
❤️‍🩹 Enemies to Lovers
🤫 Fake Courting/ Dating
🔻Brother Love Triangle
🐴 Bridgeton Era
🧙‍♀️ Witches
🕸️ Well concocted webs of deceit

Synopsis: Rune poses as a daft socialite because at night she is the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante rescuing her kind. Alex is her best friend and helps her save the witches…but his brother Gideon is a witch Hunter. He is determined to catch the Crimson Moth and make her pay. Rune and Gideon play a dangerous game of cat and mouse to obtain information from each other, until their secrets explode.

My Thoughts: This story really has it all! Action, love, betrayal, magic, deception, little spice and because of this, I could not put it down. This is a duology and I already can’t wait for the next book in the series!!

Heartless Hunter
by Kristen Ciccarelli
Pub Date: 20 Feb 2024


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?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s Heartless Hunter is the thrilling start to The Crimson Moth duology, a romantic fantasy series where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch...is falling in love.

5 ⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw this book on Netgalley, the premise was interesting and I thought it was perfect for the autumn. I never thought to love this book as much as I did!

Plot

Rune, a young witch in Kristen Ciccarelli's Heartless Hunter, turns into a vigilante following a disastrous revolution. She spends her evenings as the Crimson Moth, saving her race from being exterminated, while putting on the façade of a shallow socialite. When a rescue attempt fails, she makes the choice to court infamous witch hunter and revolutionary Gideon Sharpe. Gideon discovers that the Crimson Moth has been using her merchant ships to smuggle rebel witches out of the republic. He detests Rune's superficiality. Though he is aware of Rune's intelligence and tenderness, he questions whether she is the criminal he has been seeking.

The plot of the book was really good. While the book is slow, the cat-mouse game between Rune and Gideon was the best. The plot twist was interesting, but I discovered it in the beginning. The ending left me with my mouth open. I need the next book as soon as possible.

Characters

Rune Winters

Rune Winters is an amazing main character. She is smart, brave, intelligent, funny and sarcastic. She lives her life tormented by what happened to her grandmother and she does everything in her power to save the other witches from the purge.

Gideon Sharpe

Gideon is such a well written character. He is the Captain of the Blood Guard and is trying to catch the Crimson Moth for two years. He is also smart, intelligent, but can also be rude, cold and distant. The reader can understand why and why he hates witches so much. His past is not an easy one and he still has many scars because of it.

Alex Sharpe

Gideon's brother and Rune's best friend. Alex was such a sweetheart and loyal friend to Rune. He clearly loves her and wants what his best for her. He is a very supportive character. He also loves his brother, but they don't always see eye to eye. Alex, I really love you, but Rune belongs to Gideon.

Verity de Wilde

Verity was an interesting character. I don't know what to tell about her without give away some spoilers.

Writing

I really like the writing in this book. It was simple, but good and kept me engage the entire time while I was reading.

World-Building

I think the world-building was really well done. I love how the author explained the magic system and I really like the system in the book. I wish the author could try to explain more about some characters' past, but I'm sure the next book will show more.

Romance

The romance between Rune and Gideon was amazing. These two are definitely one of the best couples that I have read this year. Their cat-mouse game was really interesting and funny. I love how their relationship grew and developed during the romance. Their banter and their chemistry is amazing. I wasn't expecting that ending, so I really need the next book to see what will happen next in this relationship.

Final Thoughts

For the fans of Serpent and Dove, this book is a must read.

"Heartless Hunter" by Kristen Ciccarelli is a spellbinding tale of love, magic, and betrayal set in a world where witches are hunted and persecuted.

In this captivating fantasy novel, readers are introduced to Rune, a young witch who has had to conceal her true identity in a society where witches are persecuted. By day, she masquerades as a socialite, but by night, she becomes the Crimson Moth, a vigilante witch who rescues her kind from being purged by witch hunters. When one of her rescue missions goes awry, Rune decides to court Gideon Sharpe, a notorious witch hunter loyal to the revolution, in an effort to gain crucial information and throw the hunters off her trail. However, as she gets closer to Gideon, she finds herself falling for him.

The world-building in "Heartless Hunter" is rich and immersive, drawing readers into a society where magic is both feared and coveted. Ciccarelli paints a vivid picture of a world in upheaval, where the balance of power has shifted, and witches must hide their abilities to survive. The tension between the witch hunters and witches is palpable, and the stakes are high throughout the story.

The characters are well-developed and multi-dimensional, particularly Rune and Gideon. Rune is a compelling protagonist who grapples with the weight of her secrets and the dangers of her double life. Gideon, on the other hand, is a complex character torn between his loyalty to the revolution and his growing feelings for Rune. Their slow-burning romance is one of the highlights of the novel, and readers will be rooting for them despite the obstacles in their path.

The plot is filled with twists and turns, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover the mysteries of this world. Ciccarelli's writing is lyrical and evocative, adding depth to the story's atmosphere and emotional resonance.

Overall, "Heartless Hunter" is a mesmerizing and enchanting fantasy novel that combines romance, magic, and political intrigue. It's a thrilling start to The Crimson Moth duology that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. Kristen Ciccarelli has crafted a world that feels both magical and perilous, making this book a must-read for fans of romantic fantasy.

The cat and mouse build up is top tier! Enemies to lovers romance back to enemies has me whirling. I can’t wait for the next book!! Granted that there will be another!