Book 2 in the Crimson Moth Duology - I am so so happy I was given an arc of this book from NetGalley! That’s how I read book 1 last year and I’ve been obsessed ever since!

This book picks up two months after the end of Heartless Hunter. (I’m also so happy I did a reread before this one!) Rune is already getting herself into a mess and Gideon cannot let her out of his sight whether because of love or hate, it’s a very fine line.

This book had some slow moments but I never felt bored. Some chapters were long and intense and some were short and right to the point. I had a *moment* on one page where I literally got goosebumps. I was invested!!

We got to see Rune more in action with spells this time around and I don’t know about anyone else but the Arcadia scenes were giving Titanic and I was here for it lol. We also had a lot of scenes with old characters and some new ones too!

We actually got a lil’ spicy this time around! Nothing too crazy but it was a nice change of pace after the constant run-ins with death lol.

Everything at the end kind of happened quickly but it was still a powerful ending to a fantastic series. I will forever love these books!!

Enemies to lovers once again proves to be one of the best tropes ever!! Add the witchiness to it and it’s an easy 5 stars for me! 😍

After rereading Heartless Hunter for the fourth time, I jumped right into Rebel Witch and devoured it. This is the perfect sequel. The tension between Guideon and Rune was superb and I couldn’t get enough. I am thinking of rereading it right now just because I want more of them. This was perfect, I love the twists, I love the conclusion. I loved everything about it.

I don’t even have words right now this was so fantastic. I’m literally so distraught that this story is over. I am so in love with this world & characters. I read this book SO FAST I literally couldn’t put it down. I dare say this was even better than book one?? But I love both so much AHHH I don’t even know how to go about my day after finishing this. I was giggling kicking my feet, blushing, then all of the sudden I was sobbing in this book. UGH I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF NOW THAT THIS IS OVER. Marry me Gideon Sharpe. This is being added to my list of all time favourite books.

Thank you thank you thank you endlessly to the publisher for the eARC - I am eternally grateful

Absolutely obsessed 🫠 I just had to know how the story continued and this did not disappoint! The tension and enemies to lovers was still there for most of the book and very well written 🤌🏻 Solid ending and would definitely read this series again! I just love Rune & Gideon so much

I'm still reeling from this book but I'll do my best to summarize my thoughts and feelings from it.

First of all, I thought this book was perfection. It was a rollercoaster of emotions and twists and I loved every single one of them! I was nervous that with the series being a duology, everything would feel rushed and we wouldn't get the most satisfying ending. I was so so wrong. Kristen did such an amazing job including all the necessary plot lines while also knowing when to skip additional fluff. I could've probably still used another chapter or two at the end, but I say that about every book I loved because I don't want to say goodbye to the characters yet.

Second of all, if you thought the tension between Rune and Gideon was thick throughout the first book, the chemistry and tension in this book is on a whole other level! Despite being enemies and Gideon hunting Rune down with orders to kill her on sight, there is a pull between the two of them too strong for them to ignore and ignore do they try. Do they end up together? Well, you'll just have to read this amazing sequel to find out!

Read if you like:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Will they, won't they
- "Touch her and die"
- Forced Proximity

There are two types of Romantasy: fantasy with a romance subplot and romance with a fantasy subplot. Rebel Witch definitely establishes this duology as the latter, and while it was fun, I wish a little more energy went into establishing the fantasy plot. The magical battle between good and evil was more of a setting and plot device as opposed to a focus.

That being said, I really enjoyed a lot of this book. A couple of my favorite romance tropes were utilized in the middle with absolute perfection. I was feeling giddy with the tension. But once the good vs. evil fantasy plot had to be wrapped up, I felt like all nuance was lost. A couple dues ex machina events occurred, and the lead characters had to act in unexpected ways to make the story work. Because the fantasy plot was so high stakes, I expected a little more to be necessary to resolve everything.

Overall I enjoyed it. If you’re a vibes reader, the vibes are definitely there.

This sequel was fantastic! It felt like a totally different experience compared to the first book, which I gave 4 stars. But this one? It’s a solid 5. Way more action-packed, and the main couple couldn’t catch a break. The tension between them was off the charts. If you thought they had issues before, just wait—you’ll actually start wondering if one of them might take the other out!

The romance was so good! I couldn’t get enough of the banter and the back-and-forth. The pace of the book kept me glued, and it was impossible to put down. Every chapter had something going on, and I was constantly on edge, trying to devour it while not wanting it to end.

I don’t usually tear up when reading, but this book hit me hard in a couple of spots. It even gave me goosebumps. It’s rare for a sequel to be better than the first book, but this one did it for me. If you’re into fast-paced stories, intense romance, and characters outwitting each other at every turn, you need to pick this up!

I finished it! Y'all, even though I didn't fully love Heartless Hunter, I was still hoping the second book in this duology would be better. I felt the plot was very dragged out and I kept looking at how much I had left to go on my Kindle.

The majority of this book was Rune and Gideon going back and forth. Either with the inner monologue, trying to outsmart the other, or miscommunication. I get that they both used each other, but a conversation needed to be had earlier on instead of dragging this out for so called tension. That's not to say I didn't like the characters anymore, they just annoyed me at times.

The plot of this book is basically Cressida trying to get back her throne and her sisters. .We saw her for about 25% of this book and I was expecting her to have a bigger role than just being the villain of this story. I would have loved some backstory to see how she got this way.

As you can see, I had issues with this duology as a whole but mainly this book. I feel as if people who love this series for the romance would enjoy this more than me.

4.5⭐️

I LOVE this duology, and Rebel Witch definitely kept me hooked.

This book was so intense! I was not sure where the author would take it, so I was kept on my toes throughout. I love Rune and Gideon so much (even when they were stressing me out). I understand why they acted the way they did, so despite all the back and forth, I was always rooting for them <3

Without giving away too many spoilers, that ending had me in a chokehold! I almost wish the pacing had been a little different throughout the book, but overall I can’t complain.

Definitely read this duology if you are a fan of witch x witch hunter! This book had high stakes, found family, and political revolution all wrapped up in a romantasy package💫

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I devoured this book, this story took me out of my comfy bed and into its world and I fell in love with the characters. Rune is such a fierce character and I just loved her from the very beginning. The spoon did sort of get lost in the soup and some of the lines were blurred to a point where I felt like things were repetitive, but regardless of that I truly did enjoy the story. The romance and fantasy elements blended together really nicely!

There was a lot happening in this one. It moved very slowly for me, and in comparison to book one it was not as great. Rune is set to marry Soren and support Cressida, and Gideon is torn with his feelings for Rune, the Crimson Moth.

This one was a lot more about Rune figuring herself out it felt like, and there were so many moving pieces to everything that it made it really difficult for her to center herself. It was good, and it was a fitting end.

Ten out of ten! This book continued my expectations after how perfect the first book was. I felt like this book gave me such a better insight on Gideon. I also just love how powerful Rune is, yet can face her own insecurities as well. It makes her seem extremely relatable

How am I going to move on from this duology?

I am not someone who is usually able to finish a book in a day, but I flew through this book and didn’t want it to end. Similar to Heartless Hunter, Rebel Witch was fast-paced and action-packed. This book gave me everything that I could want from a sequel. I loved the witch/witch hunter dynamic between Rune and Gideon and this was a very satisfying conclusion to their story.

The Crimson Moth duology is romantasy at its best with witches, atmospheric world-building, and enemies to lovers. I can’t recommend it enough!

I absolutely loved this second book and conclusion to the Crimson Moth duopoly by Kristen Ciccarelli.

I live for fast action packed plots and this book delivered. We pick up right where we left off with Rune and Gideon and once the action starts it doesn't stop. There is so much to love about this book!

The tension and "will they won't they" suspense is high between Rune and Gideon in the perfect way. They continue to battle whether or not to trust each other and let their guards down. I also loved the layer building behind the plot. These two had several tasks to accomplish while also on a timeline.

While some of the plot lines felt familiar I liked how fresh and new this world felt. I loved the world building, the magic, and the fight for equality in power. This book has just the right amount of action, magic, and romance. I loved it and look forward to reading future books from this author!

Spectacular! I loved this so much. So much I want to say but do not want to spoil a single detail. I will say this is a must read, I didn't want it to end and i would have read it in one sitting if my kids would have allowed. This is the conclusion to the Heartless Hunter. It's epic and I ate it up. My favorite duology!

This one hurts to write but I didn’t love this. Heartless Hunter was an absolute favorite of mine but this book had far too much going on

I had such a great time with this series!!

I loved the characters, the world, the magic system- and we got to know them so much better this book!

This had me at the edge of my seat. It felt very high stakes and i never knew what direction it was headed. It was so action packed and the pace was constantly rolling- I couldn’t put it down.

I also really enjoy the romance in this! There’s so much tension and it’s true enemies to lovers. They constantly fight their love for each other and try to kill each other and are on opposite sides- it is just chefs kiss.

The ending was a very satisfying conclusion to a very fun duology.

"I may not know Rune Winters,' he whispered, his mouth an inch from hers. 'But I know the Crimson Moth. And she is no caged thing."

Summary: This picks up right where Heartless Hunter ended. Rune is on the run and to survive she must become an ally of Cressida Roseblood. Gideon, fooled by not one but two witches, is determined not to let his world be ruled by witches yet again. As their worlds collide once again, Rune offers Gideon a plan that he just cannot pass up. But when feelings they both thought were long gone come back to the surface, they each must make a choice...

I quickly fell in love with Heartless Hunter and after the end, I was desperate to get my hands on Rebel Witch. Kristen brought it!! I cannot put into words how absolutely incredible this book was. From the beginning, it had its hooks in me, and I struggled to put it down when real life came calling. From the Rune-Gideon banter to the action lurking around every corner, this book was the perfect conclusion to this duology. Do not miss out on this spectacular story! I cannot wait to have a physical copy of this book gracing my bookshelf for all to see because these books will be ones I'll return to time and time again.

Read if you like:
🗡️Witches/Witch Hunters
😻Cat/Mouse Games
🤩Enemies to Lovers

“Next time… you are going to tell me the entire plan up front”
“If I’d told you the entire plan up front, you wouldn’t have agreed to it”
“Exactly”
“That’s why I didn’t tell you”

Rebel Witch is an amazing conclusion to this incredible duology! It was everything I hoped for and more! I enjoyed both of these books so much and didn’t want either of them to end.

The story picks up right where Heartless Hunter leaves off. Rune has been outed as the Crimson Moth and aligned herself with Cressida Roseblood in order to take back the Republic. I don’t want to spoil anything so I won’t share more but I will say that this is a fast paced tale full of many twists and turns. If you are a fan of Heartless Hunter then I think you will absolutely love this one too!

Rebel Witch is a quintessential enemies to lovers story full of angst and considerable banter. Romantasy is the perfect label because Rune and Gideon are the heart of this book and their love story had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. If I have one complaint it would be that the push and pull of their love affair created a constant back and forth which felt stressful and even frustrating at times. I understand why things unfolded the way that it did though and if anything it just made me want to devour the story even faster.!

This conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology was full of tension, angst, emotional strife, and plot twists I should've seen coming... but did not see coming at all. It says a lot when an author can make you root for characters even when they are making some of the worst decisions, and Ciccarelli does just that. She tackles a few new tropes in this book, and they were executed extremely well and added more to the plot rather than just being there for entertainment.

I would have loved to see more of the characters wrestling with their thoughts and feelings together rather than falling into a few moments of miscommunication, but it made sense for that to be a conflict due to the nature of the plot. This duology has climbed the ranks to one of my new YA fantasy favorites and I am so excited to see what Kristen Ciccarelli does next. She's definitely made a new fan out of me!