This ended up being everything I hoped for after reading the synopsis and hearing everyone rant and rave about it. Unfortunately. I think I was entering my romance era, so it wasn't a 5 star read for me but I think that's a me problem and definitely not a book problem.

This is me pleading with Netgalley and St. Martins Press to forgive me for taking so long to read and review this ARC. This is one of the best books I’ve read all year! I was absolutely sucked in from the very start and I’m now begging for and ARC of the sequel lol.

I’m very much in love with Gideon Sharpe. This heartbreaking enemies to lovers tale is one for the ages. Told in dual POV, we meet Rune Winters a witch hiding in plan sight from none other than her future love interest and wanna be jailer, Gideon Sharpe. They have some of the best banter and chemistry I’ve ever seen. The connection is there from the beginning. These two are meant to be. Two sides of the same coin. This story had me absolutely kicking and screaming the whole time, also sobbing at that ending. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. I’m sure it will be just as electric as Heartless Hunter.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Heartless Hunter is a fantasy romance novel that I loved! It follows Rune who is a witch and Gideon who is a witch hunter. There are some obvious enemies to lovers and I ate it up. By day Rune is society's most envied socialite and by night she is the Crimson Moth who saves captured witches. I loved Rune as a main character because she knows how to handle herself but she also has a lot of self-growth she works through. Gideon's goal for the past 2 years is to capture the Crimson Moth. Gideon has suspicions that Rune is the Crimson Moth but once he gets to know her better by fake courting, he is more confused than ever. I loved the romance in this book because both characters are trying to get closer to each other for the wrong reasons but then you get to watch them turn it into something real. I enjoyed that they were both such distinct people with important pasts that have shaped them. I loved the setting of this book as well because of the regency vibes and the society hierarchy. I am absolutely counting down the days until the sequel comes out because the ending of this book was crazy. Rebel Witch is officially my most anticipated book of 2025!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review!

Eeeekkkkk! I loved this book so much, I cannot wait to see how this series continues. There was twists and turns and things that I never thought would happen. But i enjoyed it so much 🥰🥰

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this one! It’s a fairly traditional enemies-to-lovers setup, and there’s not anything super out of the box, but I was shocked by how invested I got in Rune and Gideon’s relationship (I know – JAY getting invested in STRAIGHT PEOPLE?). There were also a few elements that I particularly enjoyed.
First, despite this being a YA romantasy, there’s actually a shocking amount of complexity and nuance that gets conveyed. We’re introduced to a world in which witches are brutally hunted and executed, which of course sets the reader up to side with Rune, the witch in hiding. But as the book goes on, it becomes very clear that the revolution that overthrew the witches was very much justified. The story does a really good job of showing the ways that privilege can change rapidly and how people can be talking about two entirely different things without even realizing it when it comes to power dynamics.
Spoilers on this one!
Another thing I thought this book approached really well is allowing a male character to have been a victim of sex abuse. This is not something that comes up often at all in books period, and in this instance it does an interesting job in terms of changing power dynamics around throughout the book. Of course I will always defer to the opinion of survivors, but I appreciated the way the subject was approached.
Spoilers end.
And finally, like I mentioned above, the relationship was just very sweet and lovely. Two very messed up people learning from one another and making each other better – until they really don’t. I’m genuinely excited for the sequel.
This would be very close to being a full five star read, but there was one thing I couldn’t get over. There was very little diversity of any kind in this book. If I remember correctly (I may have missed some descriptions) the characters are overwhelmingly white, and there are no queer characters at all that I remember. Now, not all books have to be extremely diverse, and there can certainly be reasons for certain fantasy worlds to be more or less diverse. But it’s always odd when we see a highly unequal world in one specific regard – witches vs. humans in this case – but don’t see any inequality mentioned in any regard. It didn’t seem like any thought was even given to the way other power dynamics might play out in this world, which was really disappointing. Even so, really enjoyable, just needed a bit more to get pushed into the five star range.

୨⎯ 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒔 ⎯୧
rating: 3.75
plot: 4
characters: 3.5
writing: 3.75
romance: 3.75
spice: 1.25
narration: 4

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“You are everything I thought you were,” she told him.
“And you,” said Gideon, voice quiet, “are nothing at all like I imagined you’d be.”

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°•*⁀➷ what to expect
witches + witch hunters
enemies to lovers
brothers love triangle
fake dating/fake courting
best friends brother
cliffhanger
forbidden romance
dual POV

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°•*⁀➷ the plot
this was a solid enchanting story! Rune is a witch in secret, donning a mask of a vibrant and social girl in public so no one would suspect her of being The Crimson Moth and rescuing all the witches being captured before their public execution. Gideon is a witch hunter determined to track down The Crimson Moth.

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°•*⁀➷ the characters
𝜗𝜚 rune: i loved Rune but feel like her character was more described than shown… we were told how awesome and fierce Rune was but literally only saw one scene where she was. the rest she was seen as a regular girl flirting basically. i wanted more show than tell!! i really hope we get to see her show her fierceness in book 2!

𝜗𝜚 gideon:
i enjoyed his POV, he had instincts about Rune from the beginning but still found himself drawn to her in ways that had nothing to do about the Crimson Moth and he was eventually so weak for her. i’m even more ready to see him in book 2, i know he’ll be pining.

𝜗𝜚 alex:
he deserves better. it was so painfully obvious he was crushing on rune from the start and despite how amazing his friendship was with her. there is only one big issue i had with his character and it’s what he didn’t go through with. it cost him everything…

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°•*⁀➷ the writing
it was pretty easy to follow and made for a quick read too. i found that the characters weren’t written as well as they could have been. they were flawed and their actions didn’t match up with how they were described to be. there was a lot of saying and not enough showing, a huge pet peeve of mine in books because I love seeing characters become who they're told they are. I was so hyped to see Rune be a cute little witch hunter that's actually top notch badass and yet there was only the water scene where we saw a glimpse of that. I wanted to see more.

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°•*⁀➷ the romance
I really enjoyed the romance, the slow burn!! the enemies to lovers!! when they finally caved!!!! but then we have the 3rd act that just annoys me every time with a ridiculous scene to mess things up and it could've went better, at least a better excuse or something. the way Gideon was starting to pine after her even though he still thought she was the crimson moth!!

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°•*⁀➷ the narration
the narration was so good, I usually like for there to be two narrators for a female and male dual POV but the narrator did a great job in differentiating between the characters and giving them their own narrating voice, it made the reading experience a lot better and easier to follow.

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°•*⁀➷ in conclusion,
I am so excited for the second book in this series, there's a lot of hope riding on it since its just a duology but I have a feeling Gideon is going to surprise us!!!!

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ᯓ ᡣ𐭩 do i recommend? —yes!! absolutely, i am already so impatient for the sequel, im glad it’s just a duology because i couldn’t bare waiting more years for a series to finish.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

spoiler thoughts....
he just made her a dress because she mentioned not having one to wear!!!!! JUST LIKE HERE YA GO! WITH HAND SEWN FLOWERS! EXCUSE ME SIR WHAT!

just gonna say I had a feeling about her, seemed suspicious since we met her.

Romantasy isn’t a large slice on my reading genre pie chart, but I liked the idea of the witch/witch hunter angle and a vigilante rescuing witches. I fell into this immersive world from nearly the first page. Witches have been hunted and killed for years. Rune witnessed the brutal death of her witch grandmother after turning her into the authorities. Even though it’s what her grandmother instructed Rune to do in order to survive, her guilt hasn’t lessened. She now uses a shallow socialite cover to hide her identity as a witch and The Crimson Moth. After rescuing the witches, Rune has the means to smuggle them out of the republic. Despite her clever cover, Rune is at the top of Gideon’s suspect list.

I liked Rune and Gideon. Both are portrayed with flaws and admirable qualities. Rune is clever, stubborn, determined, and a little oblivious to what’s happening right in front of her at times. Gideon is charming, strategic, and protective, but also wears blinders in certain situations. As the son of tailors, I adored that he also sewed. Their “courtship” begins with both characters planning to use each other – Rune to get information about locations of captured witches, and Gideon to determine if Rune is actually a witch and The Crimson Moth. Considering Gideon’s tragic backstory, it’s no wonder he’s made it his life’s purpose to rid the world of witches. Unfortunately, he doesn’t understand they’re not all the same. I’d hoped for more scenes with Rune as The Crimson Moth would be included. Seeing her outmaneuver the guard would be enjoyable.

Alex adds another layer of conflict. As Rune’s best friend, he’s aware of her identity and has aided the Crimson Moth for years. But he’s also the younger brother of Gideon, who’s completely unaware of Alex’s actions. Talk about your tense situations. The twist at the end was something I’d guessed around the midpoint of the book, but that didn’t prevent me from flipping the pages as quickly as I could. I wouldn’t say the story ends with a cliffhanger, but it’s chaotic and an exciting starting point for book two.

Heartless Hunter is a loose retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel and features themes of love, friendship, betrayal, and revenge. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy the enemies to lovers trope, a game of cat and mouse, and stories full of conflict.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I enjoyed Ciccarelli's work, but I felt like I had already read the book the whole time. The characters were okay, but I did not feel like the female and male leads had any chemistry or should ever be together.
I did like the twists in the plot, and admit I cried a little bit at the end.
Overall, readers that enjoy fantasy will probably find something to like in this book



Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own and did not affect my review in any way.

When I saw that this was loosely based off of The Scarlet Pimpernel, I was so very intrigued! Heartless Hunter started off strong and didn't let up with its pacing. There was a lot of intrigue, action, and romance interwoven on every page. The worldbuilding was easy to follow and I liked the borrowed elements from sci-fi in this romantasy book (specifically, when the Blood Guard would call people "Citizen," I really liked that). The magic system seemed unique, considering the scars and orders of magic based upon this. I wish we had had more time with Verity and Alex as the main trio of friends, but with Gideon closing in on his relentless search for the Crimson Moth, I knew the time was fleeting. Rune plays quite a difficult game of cat-and-mouse with Gideon and this created a lot of razor sharp moments between them. I liked their chemistry and how they were open with one another. However, I do think this is more New Adult or Adult than YA specifically, just based on some of the details in the spicy scenes. I love scenes like that, but consider this as not quite YA considering the level of detail included.

I definitely guessed at the twists coming but I was still satisfied and intrigued by where the story went. Overall, I think the ending sets us up for a rather exciting sequel!

This book has some of my favorite tropes - a vigilante female lead and an enemies to lovers plotline. I highly recommend this book to fans of From Blood and Ash.

"Isn't that the point of art–to tame the monsters in us?"

In Heartless Hunter, you get the story of Rune Winters and Gideon Sharpe. Rune Winters, a witch and the Crimson Moth, lives a double life, one being in the public eye, and one in the shadows, protecting other witches. When a rescue attempt goes wrong, she's forced to change tactics and tries to court Gideon Sharpe, a famous and unforgiving witch hunter. One caveat? He's the brother of her best friend.

I absolutely loved Gideon and Rune's dynamic in Heartless Hunter. The push and pull, the danger, the seductive dance of light and dark; it's a fantastic love story. And the added detail of witches? All the more better.

I wanted a more deep dive into the fantasy, the lore, the history. Not just the witches, but more details of what happened. I felt it more focused on Gideon and Rune, the romance, the build-up, and none of the fantasy details.

Enemies to lovers to enemies is superior and I will forever die on this hill.

And that twist? So good.

Okay, and that ending is NOT FAIR.

tw // blood, death, death of parent

Absolutely fantastic read! I adore Kristen Ciccarelli's writing style, and the depth she's able to give her characters is incredible. The pacing, the storytelling, and the worldbuilding were so well done, I can honestly say I have no complaints. I'm so excited to get my hands on the next book!

I absolutely loved this, and cannot wait for the second book. I loved the characters and the world and found the magic system really interesting. I had fairly high expectations going into this book, and I'm really glad that my expectations were met.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up. I liked the story, but I also feel like some plot points were a little too obvious and some things the characters said and did were very cliched. I also wanted to shake them and roll my eyes at them at times. I feel like this was very much trying to be Serpent & Dove, and it’s definitely not.

I do think it’s has a great magic system, and I am curious what happens in the next book. Wasn’t my favorite, but was still a good read.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli is a fantastic witch/witch hunter story. This book sucked me in with its magic and I loved Rune's cunning as the Crimson Moth. A vigilante witch trying to take down the elite, yes please! The romance is so swoon worthy in this enemies to lovers fantasy book. I read this in one sitting and I look forward to book two. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for my ARC copy.

Holy HECK I need book two YESTERDAY. I wish there was more spice but is it technically YA? So maybe that’s why. I haven’t had much success with reads that have blown me away this year, but this one has it all!!

I am completely enchanted by Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli! This enemies-to-lovers tale of a witch and a witch hunter is a captivating blend of passion and high-stakes adventure. Ciccarelli's world-building is nothing short of extraordinary, set in the aftermath of a brutal revolution where witches are forced to conceal their true selves.

The protagonist, Rune, is a mesmerizing character as she navigates her double life: a wealthy socialite by day and a brave vigilante known as the Crimson Moth by night. The chemistry between Rune and Gideon Sharpe, the infamous witch hunter, is absolutely electric. Initially using each other for information, their facades crumble as genuine emotions begin to surface. Gideon's evolution from despising Rune's facade to embracing her depth and compassion adds a beautiful complexity to their connection.

I have been immersed in duologies lately, and I am beyond grateful to have experienced this book early. The original concept, intricately developed characters, and heart-stopping moments kept me glued to the pages. I am eagerly anticipating the next installment in The Crimson Moth duology—I am filled with excitement to discover where the narrative will lead us next. If you crave romantic fantasy filled with intricate characters and mind-bending plot twists, Heartless Hunter is a must-read!

Ahhh I honestly don’t know how to start, this whole story was sooo amazing!! I really enjoyed so much of it, the banter and slow burn were so good! I literally devoured it so fast. It was really really good.

However there was something about it that didn’t make me love it, which is honestly so rare for me. I’m kind of sad but it sorta felt flat to me, like something was missing. Not only that but I realized that this is supposed to be YA? Even though it reads more like NA and I have a hard time with spice being thrown so blatantly into YA books.

I also spent literally the whole book being suspicious of the wrong side character!! That was a crazy twist.

Overall I’m excited to continue the series!

Another title I'm eager to purchase for my library's romantasy collection. This story will appeal to both YA and adult audiences, making it perfect for my collection. Can't wait for the next book!

HEARTLESS HUNTER is a book that suddenly a scene pops into my head, and I’m like, “Ohhh, that was so good!” But it’s not like the same two or three scenes; it’s most scenes in the book. Kristen Ciccarelli has written a book for fantasy lovers that you will not want to put down. I found myself wanting more and more, but then suddenly it was over and now I have to wait 😩

One of my favorite descriptive sentences to read about a book is “enemies-to-lovers doesn’t get more high stakes than a witch and a witch hunter falling in love.” Yes, please! There’s always so much angst. So much secrecy. So much pining. And HEARTLESS HUNTER has it all between Rune and Gideon. I lived for their banter, kindness, anger, snark, annoyance, and tension with one another.

What sets HEARTLESS HUNTER apart is its masterful execution of the enemies-to-lovers trope. It’s not a rushed ‘I hate you, well okay, I love you’ scenario. The book delivers on the promise of good YA angst and tension, leaving you craving more. This book knows how to keep you hooked, and I am here for it!

This was an excellent surprise of a new fantasy duology, and I can’t wait for book two!

Content warnings: self-harm to get blood for magic, familial death, grief, sexual assault