This was such a highly anticipated read for me. I love the story behind this duology and really enjoyed the witch versus witch hunter aspect! It's a true enemies to lovers trope and the tension they built in book 1 was perfection!

It has a fantastic plot and I loved how the storyline played out between both books. I was skeptical, but it wrapped up beautifully in the end. (Even though I still think it could have been a longer series.)

While I did really enjoy book 2, I felt a bit disappointed in the way Rune and Gideons tumultuous relationship played out.

So much of the beginning of the book revolved around miscommunication assumptions that I just wanted to scream at them.

They went round and round with the same relationship issues so much that I found it hard to enjoy the plot because I was so frustrated with the romance.

Beyond the misscommunication, the pacing for me felt off. The first 70% of the book drug out and then so much happened in the last 30% that I couldn't see how they were possibly going to wrap all of it up.

They did, whew, but for me the last 30% could have been a bigger portion of the story.

Overall it's a fantastic YA fantasy duology that I still highly recommend to any fans of the genre!

I really enjoyed the first book but the second just felt unnecessary. Too many repeated plotlines or conflicts that felt drawn out. The chemistry between Rune and Gideon felt lackluster in this book.

Rebel Witch picks up a couple of months after the end of Heartless Hunter. It's been a while since I've read the first book, so I didn't remember exactly what happened, but that didn't affect my enjoyment of this follow-up. We're back with Rune and Gideon on opposite sides of a growing war. Rune is set to wed Prince Soren so he'll agree to give Cressida the army she needs to take on the Republic. But that's not what Rune wants so she has to find a way out, while also trying to stay alive with Gideon hunting her down. Will she be able to convince Gideon to work together against a growing evil? With Cressida wanting to resurrect her sisters and the Blood Guard hunting Rune, how is she going to stay alive?

I thought the novel was a little bit longer than was actually necessary, with some sections being kind of slow. A lot of new characters were introduced though, so everything had a reason to be there, and all the pieces came together at the end. I did see a couple of plot points coming from a mile away, and when one surprise happened, I actually said out loud "I knew it!". There's a lot of story in this one, and all the major plot points were tied up neatly at the end.

All in all, if you enjoyed Heartless Hunter, or like an interesting witch and magic story, then give this a read. Rune and Gideon have an interesting banter, and everyone has a part to play.

Thank you to @WednesdayBooks and @NetGalley for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

Rebel Witch is the conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, but unfortunately didn't live up to the thrill of the first book.

The story picks up shortly after the conclusion of Heartless Hunter, with Rune assisting her new Queen in forming an alliance. Both Rune and Gideon are still wrestling with their feelings, despite being enemies once again.

Throughout this novel, Rune and Gideon continue to find their way to each other, constantly on the verge of killing one another but never able to actually go through with it. They both make excuses as they team up and convince themselves they'll turn on each other when it's absolutely necessary.

This back and forth between loving and hating got old fast, and it felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again. While the last 10-15% picked up in pace and resulted in a satisfying and exciting conclusion, the remainder of the book moved too slow and was too annoying to enjoy.

Witch versus witch hunter meets enemies to lovers and the cycle continues.

I will be a Rune and Gideon fan until the end of time. As much as this one it pitched as YA, the romance and the violence was strong and kept me engaged till the last page. The plot twists and little surprises were so well done. I can’t recommend this duology enough.

REBEL WITCH is one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it did not disappoint. Full of action, enemies to lovers romance, and a continued interesting magic system, I think this book was worth the wait and is a great conclusion to this duology.

I really enjoyed everything about this novel. Taking place a few months after the end of Heartless Hunter, it plops you right in the middle of the action. And with it, readers see the consequences and ramifications of the ending of the previous novel.

The author does an amazing job of keeping up the angst between the characters of Rune and Gideon and having them navigate their roles as witch and witch hunter. Like the last book, they try to outwit, outmaneuver, and manipulate while also simultaneously grappling with their feelings for one another. And while this character development is happening, their world is in utter chaos as they fight for what they believe is right, even as it pits them against each other time and time again. That is a difficult balance to maintain, and the author does it flawlessly. The writing, the pacing, the romance is all done to perfection.

Overall, this book is well written, engaging, and delightful. It is an amazing follow up to the previous novel and I truly loved it. I think it is worth the read and is definitely one that is worth your time

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Heartless Hunter was a standout for me last year. I saved my arc of Rebel Witch to start 2025 off right. And it was a great choice.
I love the world and the magic. I’m so glad Rune and Gideon didn’t spend too much time apart. The push and pull between these two was so good. Enemies to lovers perfection.
I can’t wait for my preorder to come in so I can reread.

Wow!! Phenomenal!! This sequel…it was everything! So, so good!! It was heartbreaking yet heartwarming and everything in between!

The story picked up where it left off and took off from there! I was instantly swept away in this fast-paced high-stakes cat and mouse game that had these two enemies dancing around each other.

It was thrilling, it was devastating, it was dark, it was beautiful, and it was just everything!

Rune and Gideon had a lot of soul searching to do in this one and the way they grew and journeyed was unforgettable.

The emotional rollercoaster along with the high-stakes made this book near impossible to put down once I started. This is an epic sequel you’re definitely not going to want to miss!!

Tropes in here and the series are; true enemies to lovers, morally grey characters, angst, pinning, witches, hunters, magic, danger around every corner, who did this to you, one bed, forced proximity, touch him/her and xx vibes, sacrifice, betrayals, lies, secrets, loyal friends, found family, action-packed, fake marriage, banter, and so much more!!

This book was just as good as Heartless Hunter if not better. It was nonstop action, angst and witching from the very first chapter. The pacing kept me fully engaged and I ended up binging this in like 6 hours. I absolutely loved this duo.

Romantasy • Magic • Enemies to Lovers
Expected Publication • 18 Feb 2025

Thank you @wednesdaybooks and @prhaudio for the complimentary e-book and ALC!

The witch and the witch hunter are back in this finale book in the crimson moth duology. And like a moth to a flame, these two are still very much enemies who can’t stay away from one another. Hello slow burn. ❤️‍🔥

They both fully intend to back stab one another… eventually. That’s what they’re telling themselves anyway. For now, they may have to team up.

There will be a fake marriage, a stowaway on a voyage at sea, magical disguises, a couple of competing love interests, a heist that takes the form of a hostage rescue situation, and a final showdown.

I won’t say more for those who haven’t read the first book, but I do think if you loved Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth in the UK), you will love the conclusion to this series! Extremely bingeworthy.

🎧 For my audiobook fans, this one is easy listening and a nice palette cleanser, Grace Gray’s British English accent is delightful 💕

I’m not sure if you remember me gushing over Heartless Hunter last year but I loved it so much I re-listened to it before I dove into this one and it solidified why I love this duology so much! Rune is back…trying frantically to save her own life. Gideon, the boy she used to deeply love, turned her into the enemies and now everyone would love to watch her demise. Gideon himself has a personal vendetta against witches and he is back with a vengeance trying to destroy all witches…including Rune. Except that would all be too easy if it went down like that. Rune makes an offer to Gideon he cannot refuse and what plays out is a battle between the two daily but their last loyalties and love shines through.

I feel like this was the perfect ending to wrap up these two books! If you are a fantasy lover, beginner or expert level I could easily recommend this to you all day long. In this book, there is a lot of jealousy, betrayal, back and forth feelings, loyalty, protection and all in the name of the game forced proximity. I loved how action packed it was, the world was absolutely perfect, the love was worth fighting for and I will say Kristen truly wrote two male characters (in book one) that I ADORED the exact same. It’s not often that happens so it’s worth mentioning. I truly cannot recommend these books enough! I just ordered my book of the month copy yesterday so she can sit pretty next to Heartless Hunter on my shelf. Sign me up for the next Kristen Ciccarelli book. I am ready.

The Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
Rating: 4.5 stars
Pub date: 2/18

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy!

Wow, The Rebel Witch was everything I wanted and more! Kristen Ciccarelli absolutely nailed the finale of the Crimson Moth duology, and I could not put this book down. Picking up right where Heartless Hunter left off, Rune and Gideon are stuck in a whirlwind of betrayal, heartbreak, and tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. They're sworn enemies now, vowing to take each other down, but fate has other plans, and the chemistry between them is unreal.

The forced proximity, the fake relationship, the jealousy, the betrayal—this book is packed with everything that makes romantasy so addictive. Rune is trying to survive in a world that hates her, while Gideon is battling his feelings for her while also hating himself. Every time Gideon said something self-deprecating, I wanted to give him a hug. The emotional tension is off the charts, and I was completely hooked on their push-pull dynamic. On top of that, the action scenes are so vivid, and the pacing is perfect.

If you love tension-filled romance, unforgettable characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing, you need to read this. It’s officially one of my all-time favorite series!

I loved this follow up Heartless Hunter! Honestly, it's debatable but I might say I liked this book even more than it's predecessor. Ciccarelli hits the ground running in the first chapter and does not let up, which is exactly what I want from a high-stakes duology like this. I also admire Ciccarelli for what she was able to do in two books, with a well thought plot, fleshed out characters, and a story that kept me reading late into the night. Definitely an author to watch. Excellent.

This was an amazing sequel to The Crimson Moth. It's so very rare for a sequel to be as good if not better than the original and Kristen did it! I had the best time being back in this world with Rune and Gideon. The sexual tension between them was palpable and so well written! This is a fantastic example of a YA duology that is written so well it suits both teens and adults.

3.75 stars. I really, really liked Heartless Hunter. And I was beyond excited to read the conclusion to this duology. The first half of this book was solid. Dropped you right into the story, no time to breathe, I was along for the ride. But past the half way point, this book became very rushed. Very, very rushed. New characters introduced that we are supposed to care for but get to spend no time with. Massive political changes that aren't properly laid out to contribute to the story. One of the reasons I loved Heartless Hunter is because Rune and Gideon were so damn clever. Like, truly, smart and quick and could adapt on a dime. This one it just felt like they got lucky over and over again. I missed the characters they were in the first book.

Overall I did not hate the book. And I think some people may love how quick this book moves. For me, I needed it to be a trilogy. Which is something I RARELY say.

Thank you Wednesday Books and PRHAudio for the advance copies.
I loved the thrilling chase and love/hate tension between Gideon and Rune in Heartless Hunter. Rebel Witch did not disappoint. The tension starts at the beginning of the book and the resulting anticipation continues through all of their adventures. This book is action packed and the writing is paced perfectly to keep the reader hooked without feeling rushed. Although the focus is Rune and Gideon, the side characters in this story were all really great. I did a mix of ebook and audio. I thought the narrator did a wonderful job. I recommend trying out this new adult romantasy duology. Rebel Witch will be available February 18.

Rebel witch by @kristenciccarelli
Pub date: February 18, 2025
Genre: Romantasy
Rating: 5 ⭐️

“𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒎𝒆 .”

Although I enjoyed Heartless Hunter (the first book), I believe the second book was stronger both in terms of plot and relationships. It’s such a fun and binge-worthy duology, and I’m glad I read the second book right away. I loved this series and highly recommend it, if you want to have a fun time!! 😝💃 I know I will see a lot of 5 stars reviews, once this book will be released!

Thank you so much @macmillanusa for e-Arc ⭐️. #rebelwitch #heartlesshunter

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the gifted ARC!

REBEL WITCH is the absolute perfect conclusion to the Crimson Moth duology, making this an all-around five star series for me. What I loved most about this book was the push and pull between Gideon and Rune in their enemies-to-lovers romance. While there was adventure with high stakes and lots of great magic, the romance really took the cake here. Highly recommend!

Loved this book! A wonderful follow up to the first in the series! The author wrapped up the story so well, and still left a margin for curiosity…like if Serphine was wisdom, why couldn’t she have interfered sooner? I definitely loved the sexual tension in this book, it kept me hooked to the story! I read the entire book in 7 hrs, and I thoroughly enjoyed Rune’s devotion throughout this book, and Gideon’s fierce leadership! One of my favorite scenes was when he first saw her in the bathroom, and couldn’t kill her. I enjoyed hearing each inner monologue, which made the pov chapters very rich! Truly, the ending made all my dreams come true. Sometimes the writing seemed a little stiff, but it will still very good!

eARC Review: Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
Pub Date: February 18, 2025

Wow, WHAT a finish to this duology!! I was invested from page one all the way until the end and didn't want to put it down. I actually read this over two early morning bouts of insomnia. While I recommend getting more sleep than I did, I regret nothing because I absolutely had to know what was going to happen next. The stakes are so high and the tension so delicious.

I just absolutely ate up the dynamic between Rune and Gideon - just full on obsessed with them and how much they wanted to hate each other but never really could. The moment where we get to see Rune's vulnerability and lack of confidence for the first time was really well done and helped to add to the complexity of her character. We also got to see really complex emotions from Gideon too - my heart literally hurt for him when Cressida had him in her grasp and when he realized what her curse does.

There were moments here and there that were somewhat predictable but that really didn't bother me. There were also a few moments that totally shocked me! The plot was super fast paced really the entire time. I often prefer duologies for fantasy books over trilogies because it feels like there's much less filler and it keeps me much more engaged with the story.

There's so much more I could say about this book but in the hopes of being brief-ish let me just say - I really really 100% recommend this duology and encourage you to pick it up ASAP!

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.