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!

"Dive into the captivating world of 'Heartless Hunter' by Kristen Ciccarelli, and buckle up for a wild ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish! In this enthralling romantic fantasy, Ciccarelli weaves a tale of danger, secrets, and an irresistible game of cat and mouse between a witch and a witch-hunter.

As the aftermath of a devastating revolution unfolds, witches find themselves hunted and persecuted, and Rune, our fearless protagonist, must navigate a treacherous world while hiding her true identity. What ensues is a thrilling dance of deception and desire as Rune, masquerading as a socialite by day and the Crimson Moth vigilante by night, gets entangled with the charismatic witch hunter, Gideon Sharpe.

The story unfolds against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and a richly imagined history, keeping readers hooked with every twist and turn. Ciccarelli masterfully crafts a narrative that is both tender and fierce, exploring the complexities of love in a world where being a witch is more dangerous than ever.

Rune's journey, filled with risks and sacrifices, becomes an emotional rollercoaster, leaving readers rooting for her against all odds. The dynamic between Rune and Gideon adds an extra layer of intrigue, making the stakes even higher as they navigate a world where love and danger collide.

'Heartless Hunter' is a thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology, promising readers an intense and unforgettable continuation. If you crave a story that's as adventurous as it is romantic, Kristen Ciccarelli delivers a tale that will sweep you off your feet. Get ready for a heart-pounding journey where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch is falling in love."

Heartless Hunter had me turning the pages. This one is definitely for those who enjoy a broody love interest with dark hair. While I found the story enjoyable enough to flip through it in a matter of two sittings I never really fell in love with the romance presented here. But I believe a lot of fans of enemies to lovers will really like this one. There's build up, there's suspense, and enough action to keep one entertained. The author does a good job of balancing the cat and mouse situation between the MC's.

I'm not sure how anybody could expect me to go on living completely unfazed by this book, when in truth I AM completely fazed and it will most likely be my personality while haunting my dreams for a while.
Heartless hunter is a story loosely based off of an old tale, "the scarlet pimpernel". Witches vs witch hunters, romance and tragedy. This book gets dark and it goes deep in all of the best ways, capable of making you feel tingles and drops from your heart to your belly and then some. Rune is an elite socialite by day, and the crimson moth by night saving witches from the blood guard tasked to purge them. She works alongside her makeshift family made up of her childhood best friend Alex (who's brother Gideon is literally the captain of the blood guard), and Verity, a girl bonded to Rune over losing her family once the reign of witches had fell.
Included is a sort of, kind of love triangle that made me scream and throw my kindle because WHY DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO CHOOSE THE BOY THAT LITERALLY WANTS TO KILL THE FMC... I mean I KNOW why, we all know why. It's just, it's always the guy best friend who would literally die for the girl that always gets overlooked for the reckless and ruthless. This time it made my heart hurt because he's so sweet, buuuuuut it was a necessary evil. Because Gideon, the blood guard tasked to capture the crimson moth is truly a hunter in every way and this makes his relationship with Rune slightly frustrating but more so romantic and heart racing.
This book has perfect banter, fake relationship but real feelings, enemies to lovers, slow burn, made me cry in a scene or two, a buildup that will make you lose your mind with excitement, and the most suspenseful game of cat and mouse. The magic is interesting as well, seems so far that no witch has more power than the other and it all depends on who wields the most knowledge....and blood. The characters are all intriguing and lovable, neither one of them are upstanding and righteous citizens (they're all a little morally gray) but it makes things feel more real.
I want to give the heartless hunter 5 stars but the ending shattered my heart and I just can't bring myself to do it. There needs to be some justice for that. Also Rune was so blinded by her mission that she was annoying with her decisions sometimes. So really it's a 4.5 Gideons vow at the end still has my boots shaking
Thank you NetGally, St. Martins press, and Kristen Ciccarelli for this ARC, in return are my honest opinions.

Ok I see Book One, raise you to Book Two bc I need to know what happens.

Leans into the Scarlet Pimpernel, which is an interesting premise to start a YA series on, but it works. There's still some muddiness I have (ie it seems the Queens were horrible and deserved to be dethroned but were all witches? That's not really touched on, with the exception of of their wealth).

The twist at the end is earned, I hadn't quite figured that entire thing out but I had guessed something was up and the clues are there so you're not blindsided. I still have questions about Harrow.

There's betrayal everywhere, and mostly to the two ppl who thought they were doing the right thing. And the villain is truly vile. And one characters sacrifice was strategic for a few plots to move ahead and remove a block.

Anyway, it's an interesting story and I'm def ready for more.

In a land where witches are hunted, you have Rune, who is a witch in hiding, and Gideon who is a witch hunter, and captain of the guard. Gideon is desperately seeking to find the Crimson Moth, a criminal who has been setting imprisoned witches free. When a witch named Seraphine is captured, Rune is determined to set her free and to do that she needs to get close to her enemy Gideon to seek out any information to help free her.

I enjoy enemies to lovers stories and this was an entertaining one. Rune is hiding the fact she is a witch, but also that she is the elusive Crimson Moth who is helping to free imprisoned witches. In order find out where Seraphine is being held Rune must get closer to Gideon. At the same time Gideon is starting to suspect that Rune may be a witch in hiding and in order to confirm his suspicions Gideon must get closer to Rune. Both seek out a fake courtship with one another to find the information they need. It was fun to see Rune and Gideon both pretending to have an interest in one another and as time passes seeing their pretending grow into something real, where the lines get blurred and neither realizing it until it's too late and they have fallen for one another.

Rune was a strong character and has a strong desire to help as many witches escape as possible. Helping Rune along the way are her friends Verity and Alex. Alex, who is Gideons brother, has always looked out for Rune knowing that if caught he would be punished as a witch sympathizer, and seen as a betrayal to his brother. Alex was a sweet character, and I loved his steadfast protection of Rune.

Gideon hates witches and as you learn more of his backstory you can see why he hates them so much and wanted to see the witches punished. I enjoyed watching Gideon pretend to court Rune and see him start to doubt his suspicions and grow closer to Rune.

This was a fun, quick read filled with action, some suspense and romance. With twists along the way and a fast-paced thrilling ending with a sad death, and an interesting revelation that leaves me eager for the next book in the series.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of this fun book. I really enjoyed the cat and mouse storytelling of this book, but with the twist of the mouse having a secret. Kristen was able to write characters that were enjoyable in this easy flow book. If you like fantasy with some high stakes, enemies to lovers, then I think you will enjoy this book.

𝙍𝙪𝙣𝙚 𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙. 𝘼𝙣 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙝𝙪𝙢 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚. 𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙨.

"𝙄𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙧𝙩 - 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙪𝙨?"


This book sunk it's teeth in me from the first page and wouldn't let go. Wow.

So good! Edged with tension and thrill, dipped in seduction. I thought the story was extremely well written, paced perfectly - exhilarating and compulsively readable. I was so emotionally invested I was sobbing my face off by the end.

ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR BESTIES! Releases 2/20/24━☆・*。
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Dual POV
Enemies-to-Lovers
Best Friend’s Brother
Fake Dating
Vigilante
Suitors
Witch & Witch Hunter
Regency Aesthetics

This is the ultimate game of cat and mouse but it’s not just their lives at stake, it’s their hearts. Rune and Gideon play the a most captivating, alluring and tension laced game - She is a witch and only a few trusted people know, he is the cruel witch hunter, merciless murderer.

Once ruled by three witch Queen's, after the revolution 2 years prior the island is now under a regime governed by blood guards.

Rune was raised by her grandmother who is a witch, both of her parents had died when she was very young. Someone close to them had turned them into the blood guard and revealed that Rune's grandmother was a witch. Rune having not come into any witch powers at the time (around 16 years old) and her grandmother knowing they had no time for them both to escape pleaded with her to give her up and claim no knowledge of her being a witch. This would also keep Rune safe from being purged as a witch sympathizer. She obviously didn't want to do this but as her grandmother made her swear- she followed through and had to bare witness to her grandmother's execution.

Over the next two years Rune continuously tried to make up for her feeling of failure to save her grandmother and set out to save every single other witch possible from being purged- she became the crimson moth. Playing the part of a vain and silly girl, who only cares about money and fashion. In reality, she uses her position to gain insight and knowledge to help fellow witches escape.

Gideon is captain of the blood guards. He was once held victim to a witch, who made him fall in love. As a result, he became a joke and a punching bag to the locals. He truly felt he was not worthy of even living. Taken under the wing of a man who becomes a second father to him as well as a mentor - he takes all his self-loathing, hate, fury, etc and turns it into pure rage towards witches to root them out and kill them so that no one will ever have to live under witch rule again- because of course he believes them all evil.

As Rune and Gideon each play their roles, the fall into the biggest trap of all- love. Will love win or will betrayal?

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kristen Ciccarelli and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Heartless Hunter is an enthralling tale of intrigue and pursuit, where a witch and a witch-hunter engage in a thrilling game of cat and mouse. Set against a backdrop of opulence, concealed secrets, and a dark and bloody history, this novel captivated me from start to finish.

Rune Winters has two identities, the pretty socialite and the crimson moth. When a witch her gran wanted her to find is captured, she must try to find information to save her, even if it means pretending to court with Gideon Sharpe, famous witch Hunter. Will they both be able to resist the undeniable attraction to each other whilst both playing each other?

If you’re a fan of witch and witch Hunter romance with a dash of spice, you’ll love this one! I love the unique take on the witches in this story and how they utilize their magic and the found beauty behind it.

I loved that we got both point of views of our main characters, Rune and Gideon. The insight of their backstories was nice, I really enjoyed the depth in how their past shaped them into who they are. I loved all of their interactions too, especially the beach scene! I am eager to see what happens in the next book.

Witches, witch hunters, parties, plotting, romance and secrets, plus more, if you love all of those things, I recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the arc!

Wow wow wow!!!!

I have an inkling this is going to be a top Fantasy book of 2024!!!!

Did I only request this book from NetGalley because it said Rebecca Ross recommended it? Yes.

Did it disappoint? Absolutely not!!

It definitely gave my Divine Rivals vibes but make it witchy. I loved it!!!

And the end 😟 I need more!

Enemies to lovers ✔️
Romantasy ✔️
Witches ✔️

It has it all and I am already excited for what’s to come with this duology!!

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

4.5/5

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC.
What a beautifully written story! Filled with socialites, witches, witch hunters, magic, romance, intrigue, and wonderful characters. It will bewitch readers as soon as they begin reading it. I’m really looking forward to the next book!

I enjoyed this novel. It was a good read, with some plot twists, romance, and adventure. The author weaved an interesting tale about witches and the people without magical abilities. Rune has been hiding the last 2 years, having remorse and regret for what she did. To try and ease the guilt, she saves witches from death, but cannot save them all. With her friends Alexander and Verity, they devise plans to save the witches. Both know Rune's secret, but someone suspects Rune and they task Gideon to find out. Gideon is Alexander's brother, who played a role is removing the witches who were in power. Rune and Gideon decide to play each other, trying to find out information from other, forming a pretend courtship. What happens when those pretending become real? What happens when they learn things about the other that could change their perspective? Ends on a cliffhanger and looking forward to the next novel. I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a Netgalley ARC of this novel for review, with thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press.

This novel, very much in the Teen/YA category, is the first of a duology. All the important ingredients to intrigue young readers are there from the start. There is a clever, courageous and beautiful female protagonist, Rune Winters; a devoted friend, Alex Sharpe, who would like to be more than that; and his dashing brother, Gideon, a bad boy who is sensitive, good at heart, but rigid and prone to misunderstanding and being misunderstood. This is a love triangle in the classic sense: both young men are besotted with Rune, both hold in their true feelings about Rune and bigger matters. They are suspicious of each other but never open up a frank discussion. In the end, their inability to communicate causes much pain for all three. In this, Rune is complicit. By going back and forth with each of them, she is never really honest with either. If this is basically a cat-and-mouse game, the mouse torments as much as the cat. This also inspires something of a love-hate with each character on the part of the reader.
The story contains enough witchcraft of both good and evil varieties to fulfill the promise of its title. Under the centuries-long reign of three wicked Sister Witches, Gideon became known as “the witch’s whore” because he was “taken” by the youngest and cruellest of them, Cressida Roseblood, who essentially enslaved him, branded him with her rose and thorn insignia, inflicted such pain on him that he became a laudanum addict, and all-in-all forced him to serve her every whim on penalty of having his little sister and his parents die painful deaths. He was eventually saved by Nicholas Creed, the leader of a band of rebels plotting to overthrow their rule by murdering the Sisters.

The primary conflict is between the witches and those who despise all witchcraft. After overthrowing the sisters, Creed becomes the Good Commander and makes Gideon the Commander of the Blood Guard mandated to “purge” the land of all witches. These are the “Heartless Hunters” of the title. There is a lot of blood and blood imagery in this book, both red and black, associated with the conquerors (humans) and the conquered. Things are much more complicated than good versus evil, however, because the winning side is as despotic and cruel as the side that was vanquished so that the Republic of the Red Peace could rise. To begin with, Rune Winters was the adopted grand daughter of Kestrel Winters, who was herself a rich and powerful witch. When the Good Commander issues an edict in which he declares the streets will run with witches’ blood, all witches must either give themselves up for purging or their entire families will be purged; “Nan” persuades a devastated Rune to denounce her. She urges Rune to find her “oldest friend,” Seraphine Oakes, who had fallen out of favour with the Sister Witches and had been expelled.

So Rune goes on as a wealthy, charming and deliberately silly heiress who is really a double-agent of sorts: she plays stupid and “normal” while picking up “intel” about who is on the Blood Guards’ list. By night, she becomes Crimson Moth, who shepherds witches in hiding to safety, usually a few minutes before the Blood Guards pounce. She manages to keep the love of Alex, who is her best friend and foremost helper, alongside another mortal, Verity De Wilde, and also entices Gideon, who seems hell-bent on making her expose herself and purging her too. But is she really seducing him for the information the Crimson Moth needs? And is he playing his own game?

None of the main, or even the secondary, characters, is purely good or evil, which is far more interesting than otherwise. Many of them play multiple intersecting roles. Sometimes this is confusing, but for the most part, it adds to the suspense. The world-building is also well-done, with the characteristic ambiguity about where and when the story takes place. There are hints suggesting Victorian England, but also suggestions of both medieval and modern times. Likewise, age is a vague concept: Rune is entirely believable as a teenager, and at times her age is alluded to (I put her at 18). The brothers are often referred to as “boys,” but are better defined as young adults, perhaps early twenties. On the whole, this works, but it can be confusing too. Nan calls Seraphine her “oldest friend,” yet she is later described by Rune as a “young girl”. The ending effectively sets up the conflict that will take centre stage in the second book.

Who ends a book that way?? I almost gave this 4 stars because that ending made me so angry but the rest was just so good (protect Gideon at all costs I’m begging). The pacing was quick and the stakes were so high I was constantly on edge. Enemies to lovers where they both try to manipulate the other? Sign me up. This is great for fans of Serpent and Dove!

It's been a while since I've had this much fun reading a book.
The enemies-to-lovers trope is a favorite of mine, and in this book, it takes a fascinating twist. Just when I thought the characters might find common ground, the story throws them back into enmity, keeping the tension high.

The plot twists and reveals are both enjoyable to see unravel.
The characters in this novel were enjoyable to read as they tried to outsmart each other.
While the worldbuilding and magic system initially took some time to fully grasp, the effort was well worth it. The intricacies of the world and its various magical elements required patience, but once everything clicked in my brain, that was it for me.
I will be looking forward for the next installment of this series!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Heartless Hunter was a fine romantasy - but was very, very YA, and at times it felt a bit too juvenile.
It’s been a long time since I read full-on YA, and perhaps I have outgrown the genre a little (gasp, no!), and, while this one was very well written, I was a bit bored. I think it really takes something “just a bit more” in the YA genre to catch my attention at this point and this one just wasn’t it.
I love anything witch related and the characters are well done, but the emphasis on the brooding, cat and mouse romance between the enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies somewhat exhausted me. Everyone was a bit broken in some way or another, but the most interesting backstory, the one surrounding our male MC wasn’t fleshed out enough for me. I think there was a lot of missed potential in the initial book, although I hope things pick up in the next installment.
And to be very honest, nothing really happens, all the while everything is happening. If that makes any sense.
I don’t think this series is for me. Although I am sure it will become an obsession for those fully into pure YA.