An incredible YA fantasy duology that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the genre. Anyone who likes 'Divine Rivals' or 'Serpent & Dove' will adore this one; I have no doubt. After the events of the first book, the tension is palpable as Rune finds herself struggling to survive and play a part she wasn't prepared to play. The chemistry between Rune and Gideon Sharpe is still electric. Their cat-and-mouse dynamic—brimming with witty banter, palpable longing, and the thrill of forbidden love—had me utterly absorbed. Every interaction between these imperfect, realistic characters feels genuine, and their emotional journey is as satisfying as it is intense.

The duology is not only a tale of danger and magic but also a story of growth and redemption. Rune and Gideon’s evolving relationship captures the heart of the story and delivers moments that made me sigh with relief and squeal aloud when they finally found common ground. The intricate character work and the richly imagined world leave a lasting impression, making this a standout addition to the romantasy genre.

That said, I did have a couple of veeery minor quibbles. I found it frustrating that the 'future hopes' for the characters are reduced to a narrow focus on children—a trope that felt like an easy reach and limited their individual goals. It made me roll my eyes. Additionally, the twist at the end didn’t quite land for me; I didn't believe it for a second. Despite these minor issues, Rebel Witch remains one of the most incredible YA romantasy duologies I've read.

Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours and the lovely author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for granting my wish for an ARC! 🫶🏻

My babies 😭🥹 Rune and Gideon overcoming all the obstacles 🤍

Not gonna lie, the one spicy scene surprised me in the best way possible. Kristen, you have my utmost respect for keeping me on this journey with virtually no spice! The tension is so delicious and well written that I didn’t even miss it.

I love these two characters with my whole heart. And their whole band of misfits.

Also, can we get a spinoff of Bart? What about Harrow? 🥺

I absolutely loved this duology of the Crimson Moth. Rebel Witch was the perfect ending to this story. Sadly I wish it wasn’t because I would love to have more Gideon and Rune. This book was the perfect mix of dislike of one another, angst and fiery chemistry. How could Gideon and Rune not be end game?! I ate it all up and I’m so grateful for the early copy. I had pre ordered my hardcover months ago and she is beautiful. My only complaint is that I want more. I will forever be in love with these characters.

Picking up right where the first one left off, Rune is betrothed to Prince Soren to guarantee Witch Queen Cressida gets her army to take down the New Republic. Gideon is still hunting Rune. Shocking to no one, they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Yearning and witch battles galore.

Thoughts: The yearning be YEARNING. For being YA, the tension between Gideon and Rune is immaculate and done better than a lot of adult romances. Highly recommend reading this duology for the romance alone.

Although the sexual tension was excellent, the pacing was a bit off for me. The first half felt like not enough was happening besides some lovely tension. Since this is only a duology, I was worried the wrapping up of the plot would be rushed or unfulfilling. The plot did resolve in a satisfying way but everything happened so quick it felt like the stakes weren’t that high.

Even though I really did love it, I feel like there needed to be ~100 more pages to build out the tension of the fantasy plot. The romance was impeccable but everything else felt thrown in and wrapped up way too quickly.

Such a wonderfully written duology. The character development was expertly written.
I enjoyed this book and will miss continuing with the series. Wonderful and thank you for the ARC

I started Rebel Witch right after I finished Heartless Hunter, hoping the second book would be better. Alas, I disliked Rune right from the start. I found her still lacking, and I hated her lack of compassion for Gideon. Sure, they were supposed to be enemies but her supposedly having fallen in love with him made that hard to digest. I found her feelings lacking in depth. Sure, she redeemed herself shortly after but I still found her weak.
I found Gideon’s feelings for her also lacking in depth as the story progressed. All the hatred and hurtful words between the two of them got old real fast. I spent three-quarters of the book feeling frustrated. The word-building was still sadly lacking.
That said, the plot twists were slightly better in this second book, though some of the scenes felt unnecessary. However, I did like the last couple of chapters and the ending.

4.5 stars.

I love, love this duology. The execution from book 1 to book 2 was so well done. I love the character growth and how the plot moved along, never dragging.

The tension and chemistry between Rune and Gideon was so good in this book. The only reason book 2 didn’t get a full 5 stars was that I guessed one of the “twists” pretty early on and I thought the random Laila POV chapter at the end was a little odd.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This sequel was incredible! I loved the first book and had high hopes for the sequel and it did not disappoint. This book took off immediately and I was hooked from the very beginning. The plot was fun and compelling, the character development was so good and I just had an amazing time reading this book. I have already recommended this series to friends and I will absolutely keep doing that. I cannot wait to see what else this author writes!

I was honored to have received an ARC edition of "Rebel Witch" from NetGalley. Here is my truthful and whole hearted review of the novel.

"Rebel Witch" by Kristen Ciccarelli is a stunning sequel that absolutely lives up to the magic and intensity of its predecessor, "Heartless Hunter." As the highly anticipated continuation of the story between the witch and the witch hunter, this book delivers everything I could have hoped for and more. From the very first page, Ciccarelli pulls you back into her beautifully crafted world, where tension, romance, and magic collide. I loved seeing the evolution of the characters, especially the relationship between the two main leads. The way their love story develops, from enemies to allies to something far more powerful, is written with such depth and nuance that I found myself cheering for them every step of the way. The plot itself was a perfect balance of action, romance, and character development. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and I found myself constantly craving more of this world and its rich lore. Ciccarelli has a way of weaving complex emotions into every scene, making it impossible to put the book down.

What really stood out to me, though, was how well "Rebel Witch" tied up the threads from the first book while setting up a satisfying and fulfilling conclusion. It was the perfect sequel and a fitting end to a story I’ve come to love. The pacing was spot-on, and the emotional payoff was absolutely worth it.

I gave "Rebel Witch" 4 stars—it's a truly fantastic book that left me feeling satisfied. If you loved "Heartless Hunter", this sequel is not to be missed!

I liked this a lot better than the first book, because it felt like Gideon and Rune were more equals in this one. Honestly my biggest problem with it was that the ending felt totally out of left field. I liked the characters we were given in the last like 100 pages a lot, but we barely get to know any of them. The fact that it took maybe a hundred pages for Rune and Gideon and the lot to basically solve racism was so ridiculous. What this book needed in my opinion was to actually be a second book in a trilogy. It would've been such a strong third book if we stopped this one on the way back to the island with Rune, and then the third book is all about saving Gideon and Rune overcoming her fear and the two of them forging this alliance with everyone.
I do still think this was a fun time and i did enjoy reading it. I just wish we were given more time to have a fully fleshed out series. I do still love Rune though. A Rune girlie forever.

Wow this book was amazing. What an epic conclusion to this phenomenal duology.

The most steamy game of cat and mouse. I was hooked and glued to my book every night. This book was like a symphony in a continuous high. The stakes were so high that I felt I couldn't breath or I would implode. There were so many times I felt like we were barely dodging a bullet, just for a new twist to come up.

Rune & Gideon were so perfect. So fierce but at the same time so gentle and precious. Their romance, banter, tension and chemistry was just marvelous. Oh Gideon, you truly saved the day.

My favorite phrase: <i>"You are far worse than a thorn in my side. You are a knife in my heart"<i>

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for granting me early access to this amazing book!

Rebel Witch is the perfect conclusion for the Crimson Moth Duology by Kristen Ciccarelli. The pacing, dialogue and character arc follow through was everything I had hoped for after falling in love with book one and I will certainly be buying a physical copy for my home shelf.

* As a sequel and duology conclusion this story is best read by those who have already read book one , Heartless Hunter ( crimson moth in the uk)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!

This was one of my favorite reads of the year! I can't even tell you how much I loved it! The perfect ending to a duology. It was just *chefs kiss*.

Rune and Gideon are so wonderful and angtsy and I just didn't want this story to end. Their relationship is tense and snarky and sweet and full of longing.

There a plot twist (which I kinda saw coming but I don't mind) and the story just pulls you along. I can't say too much without spoilers but if you love Romantasy and witches this duology and this book are a must read! I can't recommend it enough. I'm sad its over and I want more but at the same time the ending was perfect.

I love a good enemies-to-lovers story, but what really stood out in Rebel Witch was the respect between the characters, even as they fought on opposite sides. Watching them dismantle a broken system and then learn to work alongside people they once hunted? So powerful. The writing felt mature and immersive, and the themes of leadership and change really stuck with me. The love story was so selfless. They loved each other so deeply but still understood the need to fight for justice and sacrifice. Such a satisfying conclusion to the duology!

So great!! I loved book two in this series and I loved getting more Gideon in this book!! First witchy book I have truly enjoyed. Def more ya than I think people are promoting but still great

If you loved Heartless hunter, I think you will love Rebel Witch! The back and forth dynamic with Rune and Gideon continues in this one. I know some can be put off by that, but I ate it up! I don't want to say much more because this is book 2, but the second half of the book is where it's at for me! The overall plot was what I am looking for in a world like this. I did see the twist coming a mile away, but it didn't make me love the book any less. And there were some really beautiful little moments toward the end that just really touched my heart. If you were into the first installment of this series, and are looking for more of the same vibes and dynamics, then I think you'll love this is much as I did. (If Rune and Gideon's relationship annoyed you in Heartless Hunter, you probably don't want to pick this one up.)

Personally, this was my favorite of the duology.

This book did not disappoint! I loved the first book so much and have been dying to know how the story ends after the cliffhanger, and this was definitely worth the wait!

Rune Winters is on the run, and the only way for her to survive is by joining forces with the wicked Roseblood Queen. Gideon, betrayed, must protect the Republic by killing all witches, including the woman he loves, Rune. But after a fail assassination attempt, Gideon and Rune strike a deal to accomplish a mutual goal. As they spend more time together it becomes apparent that their feelings for one another have not faded. Gideon must make the difficult decision of sacrificing the one person he loves to save the Republic, or let the world burn for a chance at love.

Although I did find this book more predictable than the first, I felt like this one had a lot more depth and character development. Rune and Gideon make the best pair, they match each other’s ambition and passion for doing what they believe is right.

There is sacrifice, betrayal, discovering one’s self, and embracing forbidden love.

This is a duology I would happily recommend to anyone who loves fantasy with a great plot and equally great romance.

“If this was weakness, he wanted to be weak. If this was sin, let him be to hell. Kissing Rune was a realignment. There was before, when everything was off its axis. Then there was after, when everything was steady and right”

I absolutely loved this. This book had so many twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Gideon and Rune’s banter was perfection, and I absolutely loved Gideon’s character arc in Rebel Witch. This was the read I needed to get out of my slump! I truly cannot say enough good things about the Crimson Moth series, such a heartwarmer🤗

I was also fortunate enough to get this book a week early as an ARC and truly the notification made my whole day!

Tropes:
🦋one bed
🦋who did this to you
🦋enemies to lovers
🦋star crossed lovers/forbidden romance
🦋witch and witch hunters
🦋politics
🦋magic
🦋jealous MMC

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the e-Arc. My opinions are being left voluntarily.i read and loved book1 I was soooo excited for book 2 and man what a phenomenal book. Absolute perfection. I loved the plot the mcs it was a compulsive read and kept me flipping the pages wanting more. I am excited for what the author does next.

5/5☆

This is one of those books that I'm struggling to review, it was too PERFECT. ❤️😭 If I thought The Crimson Moth/Heartless Hunter was good, this one was somehow even better?!!?! It was epic and intense! I had my heart in my throat the whole time and I devoured it in a few hours.

So this is what I have been missing from Fantasy books lately. Non stop action, heists, angst, yearning, near death experiences... THIS BOOK KEPT MY ON MY TOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH. 😭😭🫶🫶🫶

There was no dull moment, no opportunity for me to hit pause or get distracted like it hapened lately with other books. I was screaming, crying, despairing, kicking my feet and holding my breath at every turn of the page. Rune and Gideon are perfect and I loved that this time around, we got more time with them together (as opposed to constantly fighting each other from the other side of their little war). There was that too, but when they united their forces, at the beginning still testy and beligerent, but more intense, loving and accepting as time moved on and they fought side by side and confronted their pasts and enemies, they got more in sync and obsessed. Or maybe that was just me lol, obsessed with their dynamic and the constant tension. Regardless, I ate it up and it better be a NYT bestseller by next week or else.

Thank you for the early copy SMP ILY