4.5 ⭐️

Thank you Wednesday Books for the gifted physical and digital copies. Thank you PRH for the gifted audio copy.

Rebel Witch
Kristen Ciccarelli
Publishing Date: February 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧 Narrator: Grace Gray 🎧

One of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it did not disappoint! I absolutely adore this duology.

Rune and Gideon, witch and witch hunter, are back and we start up shortly after the first book’s conclusion. The tension is thick and the burn is slowwwww as these two try to navigate the current state of things. They are enemies, or at least trying to be, when they are forced to work together to accomplish a common goal. There is action, betrayal, backstabbing, hostages, stowaways, one bed 🔥, fake marriage, and of course ✨ magic ✨

I won’t say much else as everyone should experience this duology for themselves. If you were a fan of Heartless Hunter (aka Crimson Moth) you will surely be a fan of its conclusion. Totally binge worthy but I didn’t want it to end!

🎧 I read this one tandem with my eyes and ears. Grace Gray did a fantastic job narrating. You can’t go wrong with either format here!

Rune Winters has been on the run since Gideon Sharpe, the man she loved, revealed who she was and delivered her to enemy hands. If Rune wants to survive, she must ally herself with Cressida Roseblood, the witch who intends to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to witches… and to prevent this from happening, every witch must die. When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, they pair together to accomplish their goals.

REBEL WITCH makes a fantastic sequel to Heartless Hunter, picking up where its predecessor left off. It’s told in dual POV, alternating between Rune’s, a witch, and Gideon’s, a witch hunter, perspectives. Both of the main characters are intriguing and well-written. I couldn’t get enough of either of them. The romance is swoon-worthy and, at times, bittersweet. I loved the push and pull that occurs in this cat-and-mouse relationship.

The plot is fast paced, filled with action, deception, secrets, and lies. There’s ample amounts of political tension and witchy magic. It took me a long while to be convinced that this novel would truly complete this duology but by the end I was satisfied. The ending is well done, although there is one aspect of it that felt a bit too open of a conclusion; nevertheless, it ends nicely with no loose ends.

Needless to say, I’ll be keeping my eye out for whatever Cicarreli writes next!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars!

I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book, but it was still a nice conclusion to the duology. The first two parts of the book had a little too much lusting in my taste (particularly from Gideon), but I did enjoy the third act, as we get to see action from other supporting characters. I would have liked more, but of course, the series is focused on Rune and Gideon. The romance was also better towards the end, in my opinion.

This one started off so strong for me. I was absolutely loving the enemies-to-lovers vibes at the beginning, with Rune and Gideon coming fresh off the betrayals that ended the previous book. It even has a couple other tropes I love in the beginning, too. But then something happened about midway through, and I felt like all of a sudden things were being rushed. I think I actually would have liked this better if it had been split into a trilogy instead of this duology, so some parts of the plot could be explored more. The second half pacing does not slow down, though- only speeds up, so I at least didn’t lose interest. But I wasn’t quite a fan of how everything played together so perfectly towards the end.

If you loved the first book, I think you’ll still love this conclusion to the series. (I feel like I might be an outlier here!) It’s still a fun read that I would recommend to other romantasy fans.

What an exciting conclusion to the Crimson Moth/Heartless Hunter duology!!! I went into this one with very high hopes and it did not disappoint!!

I don’t want to give too much away since this is the second book in the duology and I don’t want to spoil anything for those who haven’t read the first book - but I loved the way the main characters were brought back together after the cliffhanger ending of The Crimson Moth (or Heartless Hunter depending on if you have the American or European versions).

The characters in general were great. I really enjoyed how multifaceted the main characters, Rune and Gideon were. Their relationship is often described as enemies to lovers but they’re not really - maybe rivals would be more accurate? Though I’d describe them as two people who are clearly in love but forced to be enemies due to circumstances out of their control who need to decide whether to put themselves or their lover first.

The world building was also good. It was political without weighing the reader down with a complicated system to try and comprehend- it was a unique world with a unique magic system that was very straightforward and easy to follow. The pacing was also great with a good balance between character development and action to move the plot forward. I couldn’t put it down!

Overall, I couldn’t recommend this duology more. If you’re a romantasy girly and you haven’t picked this up yet - what are you waiting for?!?!

Rebel Witch, the stunning conclusion to Kristen Ciccarelli's latest duology, is an absolute masterpiece that had me spellbound from start to finish. After attending the author's release party signing and spending a magical night buddy reading with friends, I can confidently say this series exemplifies everything I love about reading.

What makes this book particularly special is how Ciccarelli weaves an enchanting narrative that completely immerses you in her imaginative world. The storytelling is both powerful and intimate, creating an experience that reminds me why being a reader is such a precious gift - we get to live countless lives through the creative vision of talented authors.

This duology is, quite simply, pure magic. A stellar 5-star read that I cannot recommend highly enough.

Review to come across my socials!

OH MY GOSH THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!! I love this duology with all my heart 😍 It’s so easy to read and has such beautiful prose. The characters are amazing and the romance oh my gosh is so good! Rune and Gideon will forever have my heart. The rollercoaster of emotions was crazy and I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book! I read this with one of my best friends and we were screaming the whole time! I honestly don’t even know how to articulate how good this series is. I wish it had been longer but I’m very satisfied with the ending as well. I can’t wait to see what Kristen writes next! I also need to read her backlist ASAP.

If I were rating on vibes alone as a regular reader, I would rate this one 4.5 stars. It's entertaining, the story is unique, it's very romantic with lots of slow burn tension. However, as an ARC reader who read this not only for enjoyment, but for critique purposes? I can't honestly rate it above a 3-3.5.

When I reread my review of Heartless Hunter (which I also read as an ARC) I found that many of the execution issues I had with that novel are present in this one. The pacing is all over the place, and it really started to drag before we left the first act, and throughout the second. The chemistry between the two main characters, Gideon and Rune, is able to flourish here, because Alex is no longer in the picture, but I still don't understand why these two fell for each other in the first place. The plot is a mess. Instead of constructing the dam (plot) piece by piece before filling the lake so that the flow of water (narrative) is smooth; the dam was built into an existing lake and constructed of pieces that are different shapes and sizes, so the water leaks like a sieve.

One of my main issues with Heartless Hunter is that there is no explanation at all for the main conflict: bad witches versus innocent humans. The reader isn't told why the witches decided to go full-on evil one day. We still don't know after reading the sequel. We do find out that there were seven goddess witches who created the world (not sure why this is relevant overall, but ok), and that they entrusted magic to witches (for reasons?), and then some of those witches decided to go off script from the goddess's plan. But we still don't know anything about what prompted the witches to do this in the first place. What was the original end game?

Also, and as in the first novel, events would occur and the solutions appeared without any foreshadowing or back story leading the reader up to them. For example, Seraphine and her true nature. Cressida's resurrection scheme. Gideon's curse. The way Cressida's sisters were disappeared off the face of the earth. There was a a lot of world building as the world was being destroyed. So while the climax was awesome, it felt like an island unto itself (pun intended) because there was no groundwork for it in the narrative.

The best part of the novel is Gideon. Rune is fun, but I have to admit she frustrated me by the end. Ultimately, their interpersonal conflict in this novel relies almost entirely on the miscommunication trope. The fact that they don't truly trust each other until the third act, and therefore were constantly second guessing each other's motives and plans, became a truly belabored point. I think that this also contributed to the pacing issue because Gideon and Rune were caught in this never-ending cycle of who's on first.

The thing is, though, I really did enjoy this read. I just had to content myself with plot points all over the place like in a pinball machine. But because I wanted to see how Gideon and Rune got together, and I wanted the good guys to win, it was satisfying by the end, even if the resolutions were too tidy and simple given how high the stakes were supposed to be.

Thank you SMP/Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication. All opinions are my own.

The Rebel Witch is a high-octane conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology that masterfully blends suspense, near-captures, and a tension-filled romance into a narrative that will leave you breathless.

Rune Winters is on the run and caught between the man she once loved and the ruthless forces who all want something from her. She must navigate a world where loyalties shift as quickly as the wind. The close calls amplify the stakes, creating a pulse-pounding narrative in which survival is never guaranteed and ensuring that every page crackles with tension.

The relationship between Rune and Gideon Sharpe continues but is scarred by past betrayal and regret, but an undeniable connection between them refuses to fade. Gideon struggles between duty and his feelings for Rune. Their complex relationship is complicated by Cressida, whose ambitions to restore the witches to power force decisions for Rune and Gideon that blur the lines and explore the high price of love.

Overall, this book delivers a finale that is full of double-crosses, forbidden romance, and adventure. It was like a race from the beginning to the last page, never letting up. I could not put the book down. The book was a satisfying end to the storyline. With high-stakes romance and suspenseful adventures, this book is a chef's kiss.

Thank you, Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books, for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Absolutely did NOT disappoint!! What a duet. Will for sure be a top read of the year 🖤 the two MC never left you bored. This is type of romantasy that keeps you foaming at the mouth and staying up late.

Thank you to St Martin's Press for sending me an advanced e-book of Rebel Witch in exchange for my review.

Rune Winters is back and if you recall how Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth #1) ended then your remember we are standing at a cliffhanger of epic proportions.

If you have not yet read Heartless Hunter please stop here as I do not want to spoil anything in that book for you.

Rune has escaped from the island after it was revealed that her friend Verity was actually Queen Cressida disguised and she is now ready to take back the New Republic from the Blood Guard by any means necessary.

Rune is angry and hurt from being betrayed by Gideon and is ready to help get revenge on the Blood Guard as well, but at what cost? Is she really ready to sacrifice innocent people in order to bring back the reign of the cruel witch queen?

I loved this conclusion. It is exactly what I needed in a part two of this story. We have enemies to lovers, hidden identity, who did this to you, touch her/him and die tropes and it was so beautiful. I am sad to leave this world behind and I kind of hope there are future books set in this world because it was so magical.

Rebel Witch is now available at your local book seller or library

"How dare you touch her."
"At least she likes it when I touch her".

"You've pretended to be in love with her before. You can do it again. But there was that voice inside him again, small and insistent, begging to differ: how much did you really pretend?"

"Of all the boys in the world, why did she have to fall in love with one who could never, ever love her back?"

"It was so unfair, the way a single touch from him made her ache for more."

"I'm doomed, she realized. Gideon Sharpe will be the death of me."

"Live in the darkness too long, and eventually you won't recognize the light," he told her. "You'll become like the monsters you hate."

"The problem with love is the more you try to destroy it, the stronger it becomes."

"Because for the first in her life, she was completely herself. And that was worth everything. Even dying for."

I knew "Rebel Witch" was going to put me through it. From start to finish, the back and forth, the will they, won't they, the high-stakes fantasy was an addicting read. As much as I wanted to binge this one, I told myself to simply enjoy the ride and to not force the experience. Knowing this is the last book in the series, I wanted the chance to spend more time with Rune and Gideon. And yes, they put my emotions through it and the twists and turns were wild, but damn, this book was worth the wait.

My only beef is that the duology came to an end and now I have to live my life pondering what comes next for these fiercely wild and loveable characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review

3.5 Stars!

I just really love Rune and Gideon ok??

If you loved The Heartless Hunter, I have a feeling you’ll enjoy its sequel. This book had one of the strongest and fast paced openings of any sequel I’ve read. There are tropes and moments sprinkled throughout the story I think dedicated romance readers will adore, yet perhaps find slightly predictable but no less satisfying. I found the second half to be less structured and wish some of the storylines and characters that suddenly became important had been introduced sooner, and that we’d had a less abrupt ending. I also found the heroes to be stuck in situations (that they got themselves into ) where they managed to get out from with just a bit too much luck and mercy from potential antagonists, over and over. This is still a solid forbidden romance and magical duology, and if it’s right for you, I think you’ll enjoy it.

This was a cute ending to the duology. I’ll admit it took me a minute to get into it as the beginning was slow, but afterwards things picked up. I think it would have been better off if the author had shortened the beginning and expanded on the ending. Overall though it was highly entertaining and the romance was enjoyable (although I’d say some of the descriptions bordered on new adult and not YA). Rune and Gideon’s relationship and growth as individuals was well done throughout.

The perfect ending to an amazing series! I'm almost always disappointed in sequels to books that I absolutely loved. This one was everything I could want and more! I was ready to run back into this story from where it left on such a dramatic cliffhanger. Rune was so sure she made the right decision even though she sacrificed all she loved, and we see how her mind has changed with a mirror situation towards the end of the book. Rune grew as a character and when she lost herself, Gideon helped her. One of my favorite quotes

"I'm afraid I wont be able to put her back together."
"You can't put her back together. Only she can do that."

Finally a story where the heroine has to fix herself and not have a prince come help her save herself. I really appreciate Gideon overall in this book. This story was was about him as much as it was about Rune. He is the biggest cinnamon roll for Rune and wants to make the world a better place or her. The man can pine while hating the love of his life like no ones business. He really comes into his own and the emotional depth this character has just shows how truly talented this author is.
This world is interesting and keeps you engaged for sure. I didn't feel like I was getting lost or that the story was just constantly about pining for one another. I felt like we had a fully developed plot that also had a love story. In fact, you can argue that the their love story took a bit of a subplot during the middle. I appreciate the plot twist and the adventure I had while meeting new characters and older ones in new light. I wanted the heist along with the love and I felt like there was a good balance. All of that to say, if you loved the first book you will be so happy to continue the story and feel like the end leaves you with enough to be satisfied. While also opening the door for new opportunities with characters. I really hope Ciccarelli continues to write because you can tell this is her passion!

Happy Pub Day to the highly anticipated sequel to Heartless Hunter!

Rebel Witch was a great sequel to book one!
I love that the author didn’t keep our love interests apart for most of the book which I was worried about with the end of book one. Luckily we still get to keep the enemies to lovers vibes.

The yearning and forbidden love had me giggling and kicking my feet plus the jealousy on the boat was top tier.
The plot was fast paced and made it a quick enjoyable read! I think the action was balanced well with the tender moments of the story. I really enjoyed it!

This Tuesday is feeling a lot like a Monday so tell me something GOOD!

Thank you @stmartinspress for my advanced copy! Rebel Witch is out now!

I absolutely LOVED this and I’m so sad it’s over! I loved Heartless Hunter and somehow Rebel Witch was even better! I went through all the emotions and can’t wait to read it again. ❤️

⭐️ ya fantasy
⭐️ enemies to lovers
⭐️ cat and mouse
⭐️ slow burn
⭐️ ”my wife” 🔥
⭐️ Who did this to you?

rating: 5 stars
Twisting and addicting, Rebel Witch was everything I wanted and more from The Crimson Moth finale.

First of all, this book is ACTUALLY enemies to lovers. Rune and Gideon, the witch and the witch hunter, actually hate one another and are constantly confused by their attraction. Picking up not too long after the first book concludes, they’re eventually forced to pair up if they want a chance at their individual goals, and the slow burn is rekindled.

I enjoyed this book a whole lot more than the first! Heartless Hunter wasn’t bad, but something in Rebel Witch was electric. I never knew what was coming and was completely engrossed. We explore more of the magic system, dive deeper into the politics, there’s more tension and yearning….Kristen Ciccarelli wove together such an engaging story. I like the way it read quickly, but at no expense to the plot or character development. It felt like a new adult romantasy, so if that’s what you’re after, look no further.

Thank you Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“You are far worse than a thorn in my side…You are a knife in my heart.”
In the romantic conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, Rune and Gideon are once again at odds with each other. Rune is on the run from the Republic after Gideon exposed her as a witch. She’s forced to ally with Cressida Roseblood, the cruel former witch-queen who tormented Gideon. Cressida needs Rune if she wants to take back the Republic, but Gideon is determined to right his wrongs and defeat them both. He was deceived by Rune, and he is prepared to kill her in order to protect the world he built. However, Rune approaches Gideon with a deal that could benefit them both. They have to work together to accomplish their goals, and Gideon starts to realize his feelings haven’t disappeared. Now, he’s forced to choose between the girl he loves and the world he’s fought so hard to protect.

Rebel Witch is the perfect sequel to Heartless Hunter. It has been a long time since I have read a fantasy book that took my breath away, but Rebel Witch did. The Crimson Moth duology is one of the best YA fantasy series I’ve read in years. Oftentimes, books are marketed as enemies-to-lovers and slow-burn romances, but they fall short in execution. However, Ciccarelli makes you wait for it. Rune and Gideon were completely at odds at the beginning of Rebel Witch, and even when they worked together, there was this dark cloud of betrayal hovering above the two, waiting to rain down on them. I could feel the tension and yearning as if I was standing right next to them, which is the hallmark of a remarkably well-written romance. Both Gideon and Rune recognized the reasoning behind each other’s actions, even when they didn’t 100% agree with them. I felt like this was so important and ensured that they fell in love with the other’s true self, not an idealized version of them. I do wish the ending had been lengthened because the resolution seemed to happen quite fast. Other than that, I thought this novel was a masterpiece and a must-read for anyone searching for the perfect YA fantasy romance.

LOVE,LOVE,LOVE. Literally no notes. I am obsessed with this series, and I was so excited to get the ARC just days before release!!!

Thank you Netgalley for making my dreams come true!!!!!!