Thank you Netgalley and Publishers for this eARC

I absolutely loved Crimson Moth, I was hooked from the first page and I couldn't put it down. The writing was full of vivid description and the world created really captured my imagination. The storyline itself was brilliant I loved the arc and the way it all played out. The characters themselves were fleshed out and even the "bad guys" were created with a complexity that you shared your empathy with all the characters. I loved Rune she was strong and fierce, she was the perfect main character and I loved her relationship with Verity and Alex. Gideon I also loved, I loved his backstory.
I was surprised with the twists and turns of the novel it certainly went in a different direction to where I thought and It was absolutely fantastic.
I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating:2/5
YA fantasy just doesn't seem to work for me anymore. The Crimson Moth/Heartless Hunter is a house of cards that relies solely on the same old overused tropes. As a seasoned fantasy reader, nothing in this book was surprising.

First of all, the characters have no personality. Nothing made them stand out. This book just spoon-feeds everything to the reader instead of letting them experience it for themselves. Gideon Sharpe is the blandest love interest ever. He is tall and handsome and brooding and has a dark past. There. That's his entire personality(basically like any other romantasy mmc, but even worse, if that's imaginable. There was no chemistry between the two mcs, which is why the 'love' between them did not seem believable. I just couldn't care about them. There were....certain things about the 'romance' that made me feel uncomfortable. This book should be classified as NA. There were also some events and plot twists that didn't make any sense. The climax was the only redeeming quality of the book, but then the ending employed one of the most overused cliffhanger, that is the two mcs getting separated by betrayal.

So....yeah. I did not have a good time with this. If you enjoy tropes like enemies to lovers, hidden identity, witches and witch hunters, you'll probably enjoy this. I was disappointed and will not be reading the sequel.

Thankuou to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, Magpie for a free e-arc in exchange of an honest review.

WOW! I have LOVED a YA book as much as this in an extremely long time! This was pure perfection to me for a fantasy romance!

-Enemies to lovers done right
-Dual POV
-Strong magic system
-Morally grey (everyone)
-Loved all the characters (that your mean to like)
-So many questions and great twist at the end

I am now DESPERATE for the second book!

I will post my review when allowed to to my instagram (readinglikeitsmyjob)

This was so addicting! I had trouble putting this book down, it was a tense game of cat and mouse for pretty much the whole book and I just couldn’t stop reading. Mixed in with delicious romance full of tension and chemistry & an intense plot, this is a book to keep your eye on.

This book had:
✨enemies to lovers
✨witch x witch hunter
✨forbidden magic

There were so many twists and turns during this book and I found the blood magic really interesting and well developed. The only reason this book isn’t 5 star is the world building. I found the setting really detailed but I was confused on when the book was set.

Apart from the addicting action and the romance, this book dealt with a lot of serious topics, such as, domestic abuse, physical and sexual abuse and i found these themes potrayed really raw and authentically.

Overall I really enjoyed this read and I was left crying and begging for more (legit need book 2 rn) and I’m excited for how this story will develop in book 2.

”She was drowning, and he was air. She hadn’t even realized how much she needed him until he was gone.”

"Im afraid you'll be the end of me, Gideon." And then, much more quietly: "Maybe you already are."

I’m so glad I got the chance to read and review this book as an ARC, because this is a story that is definitely going to make a splash in the fantasy community! the writing is incredibly compelling, the story captivating and the magic system original and unique.
I fell in love with all the characters, with their goals and fears, precisely because they were very well portrayed and easy to root for.

“Your laugh is like a fuse,” he said. “It lights you up.”

the story focuses on Rune and Gideon, a witch and a witch-hunter, that through a series of circumstances begin fake-courting each other for their own gains (I loved that neither of them was aware the other was also looking to gain something from the courtship!). Rune is such a complex character, it was refreshing to witness her resilience and determination to risk her life for her fellow witches. the chemistry between her and Gideon is palpable from the start and it managed to keep me on the edge of my seat every time they interacted!

“Rune,” he said, pupils dilating. He looked hungry suddenly. Like a man who hadn’t eaten in years. “Less talking.” He’s going to kiss me, she realized. And the scariest thing was, Rune wanted him to.

she is not motivated to do the right thing because she’s “the chosen one” and the task fell into her lap - she decided for herself to do what was right. it was also really fun to see how Rune was able to outsmart and outwit Gideon at almost every step!
it both scared and excited me to see Rune and Gideon get closer and closer, mostly because it was far more dangerous for Gideon to learn the truth about Rune than vice versa. the reason for Gideon’s deep hatred towards witches and their power was understandable, and that’s why I found myself rooting for both of them at the same time.

I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to pick up the sequel when it comes out ♥️

I devoured this book!
This is a YA romantasy about a witch who decides to seduce her best friend's brother (who is a witch hunter for the government) so she can get the information she needs to save other witches.
By day, Rune Winters is a vapid socialite, but by night she is the Crimson Moth, a vigilante who rescues witches from the government.
The world is set two years after a rebellion killed the corrupt witch queens and magic was outlawed, but really this book is about a love triangle between a girl and two brothers - although can it be called a love triangle when only one of the brothers has a POV? Alex is Rune's best friend and helps her conceal her secret identity as the Crimson Moth, whilst Gideon is determined to stop the Crimson Moth and kill all witches. When Gideon finds evidence tying Rune to the Crimson Moth he decides to seduce her to find the truth, whilst she decides to seduce him to find out where he is keeping the latest witch he has captured. Both Gideon and Rune spend the book trying to trick, trap, and manipulate each other, but also slowly getting closer together as their feelings get messier and messier.
The plot twists were predictable and I solved the main mystery about 60% of the way through, but I still really enjoyed this book and it was a fun YA romantasy. I can't wait for book 2!

Rating:♾️/5
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Tropes: Slowburn, forbidden romance
Release Date: 29 February 2024
Inspired by: The Scarlet Pimpernel

“She was drowning, and he was air. She hadn’t even realized how much she needed him until he was gone.”

A fast paced adventure that will keep you captivated from the very start! The Crimson Moth (also known as Heartless Hunter in the US) follows a witch and a witch hunter in a thrilling romantic fantasy where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch, is falling in love.

As Eva (@enchanted_bookworm) said in her review, it might be a bold statement, but I am pretty sure The Crimson Moth will be my favorite read of 2024!

The Crimsom Moth is an immersive read accompanied by an enchanting writing style that had me sitting at the edge of my seat the entire time.

The character development was flawlessly done, offering an amazing insight into the individual character motives and deceptions, along with everything these characters have faced in the past!

The romance between Rune and Gideon was pique enemies to lovers that will have you swooning, giggling and kicking your feet in the air!

The ending was intense, it felt as though my heart was being ripped out piece by tiny piece, leaving me a sobbing mess that spent half an hour after finishing the book staring at the wall willing the tears to stop streaming down my face.

*A huge thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins and Kristen Ciccarelli for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! It is much appreciated!

Let's start at the end. Picture this: me, sitting on a bed, staring at the wall for 15 minutes straight, trying to figure out what the hell I'm supposed to do with my life.

I know this is the first book I read this year, and is a pretty bold statement, but The Crimson Moth could be my favorite book of the year. It's in my top 3 books ever, so I think that says enough.

The plot is absolutely fantastic - dark, intense, and nerve-wracking. Once you start reading, you can't stop. It consumes you in the best possible way, and you can't stop thinking about it.

The characters? Perfection. Both Rune and Gideon are morally grey, with their own vulnerabilities, fears, and agendas. Enemies to lovers at its finest, tension that steals your breath and makes you anxious to the point where you have to stop, take a deep breath, and call your best friend for a little therapy session.

The ending destroyed me. Yes, for anyone asking, I think it is as brutal as Divine Rivals, and you'll definitely need a week or two to fully recover from it (possibly more, if fantasy is the only genre you read).

I know this review is a bit all over the place, and the amount of superlatives might seem a bit suspicious, but I promise you, The Crimson Moth is worth every single one of them, and I cannot recommend it enough.

4.75⭐️ Witches. Witch hunters. Enemies to lovers. Slow burn romance. Realistic magic system. Hidden identity.

This book was full of adventure, intrigue and its twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. I could not put it down!

In a world where witchcraft has been outlawed and is punishable by death, Rune must hide in plain sight if she’s to survive. Having seen too many witches die she lives an aristocratic life by day and saves her fellow witches by night.

Gideon spent years tortured by a witch queen before he was part of a human uprising that managed to kill all the witch queens and take back the power to begin purging their country of all witches and witch sympathisers.

Witch and witch hunter need each other to continue the work that they both so passionately believe in, and begin courting in the hopes that secrets are revealed to aide their causes. Is it possible that they are truly falling for each other, or is the desire to find out what the other is hiding confusing things?

There was so much to love about The Crimson Moth:
- the characters were multi-dimensional (one could argue that all of our cast of characters were all beautifully flawed and morally gray) with real back stories which motivated them, genuine connections, and clear goals that we could get behind.

- the magic system was one we’ve seen before, blood magic witchcraft but it was accessible to many with clear guidance on its use and had consequences for misuse. This made it believable and shared the power rather than keeping it only to a ‘chosen one’.

- the story was full of adventure which flowed seemlessly, the action was always purposeful and just when we thought we knew what was about to happen, we were thrown in a different direction.

I cannot wait to read the sequel to this fantastic book!

This book... THIS BOOK?

Okay so,. where do I even start? This book is exactly what I wanted and more. For those of you holding out for it... it's so worth the wait.

This is my first book I have read by Kristen Ciccarelli and I am definitely going to be picking up her other books after finishing The Crimson Moth.

This could quite easily be my favourite book of 2024 (and we are only in January). It's beautiful, slow burn enemies to lovers, deep and interesting characters with the perfect balance of a cat and mouse aspect.

Rune was a great FMC, we hear a lot about her as The Crimson Moth and we also learn a lot about her throughout the book. She will do anything to save her fellow witches and even if that means putting her in the arms of her enemy; Gideon.

Gideon is a witch hunter and after he suspects Rune as The Crimson Moth he decides to court her in a game of cat and mouse. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, so I won't go into a lot of detail but if you like morally grey characters who are real, flawed and not in any way perfect... this book is for you.

The romance in this book is to die for, the dynamics between Rune and Gideon change really fast and each touch made me giddy.

The magic system deserves it's own award, it's very complex compared to a lot of other systems I have read about and there is hard limits for what can be done, which is interesting.

The only downside to this book is that there wasn't a lot of world building, but if you can get past that you are in for a fun time. This book had me hooked and once picked it up, I devoured it.

I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series and will definitely be purchasing a finished copy of the book.

I have never read a book as unique as this. Witch x Witch Hunter? As someone whose favourite character in The Vampire Diaries was resident witch Bonnie Bennett, this book was right up my street! It was enemies to lovers excellence, and the plot twists kept me wanting more. I cannot wait for what’s to come next.

I have read so many amazing books lately so I was not expecting this to be yet another 5 star read!
Rune is a vigilante witch, hiding in plain sight after the uprising, helping to free other witches from the purge. Things take a twist when she needs intel so begins to court Gideon, a notorious witch hunter who is closing in on discovering the identity of the Crimson Moth.
This book had me hooked from the first chapter. The world building was perfectly done, with bits of information drip fed throughout the first few chapters but without information overload!
I loved that we were given parts of the story but some was held back. I was convinced I knew what the plot twist would be but the surprise at what actually happened was so much better!
And the enemies to lovers is so well done- the history, their reasons to hate each other and their reservations build up the perfect tension between the two characters!
I went into this book thinking it was a standalone and I am so glad it’s not! I need more!!!!
I highly recommend giving this book a read and I have a feeling it’s going to be very popular!!!

⭐️ARC REVIEW⭐️

🦋The Crimson Moth🦋 By @kristenciccarelli

🌟Review🌟

I really enjoyed this story. The concept was brilliant and had me engaged from the get-go. I loved the ideas for the magical system throughout this book it was new and intriguing. The story is written in dual POV from Rune (FMC) perspective and Gideon morally grey (MMC). I enjoyed both of these characters and their complexities. They have both suffered loss, trauma, and self blame and it was really interesting to see how each of them tried to cope with and heal from it in different ways. I also really loved how relatable Rune was as a character. I would describe the romance as slow/medium burn and I'm really looking forward to where the relationship goes in the next installment.

I struggled to rate this book because, whilst I really enjoyed the story and the overall concept, I did feel there was a fair bit of filler information that wasn't really necessary and would have been better had there been a bit more depth and explanation surrounding the main plot points and more exploration of character relationships and emotions. There were points it felt as though rather than experiencing it through the character we were just being told. In addition, certain areas felt a bit rushed, which for me did hinder the connection to some characters. However, overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and I strongly believe the next book will be fantastic. The cliffhanger has set up for great potential for book 2. Therefore, I do recommend reading this series and I look forward to book 2

This book was a lovely surprise! The fmc is really well done, likeable and relatable. A great take on witches and magic that lends a heavy morally grey cast over everything and everyone. The tension between Rune and Gideon was delicious and raw. Full of angst, determination and a desire to heal, this action packed plot really delivered. This felt fresh and different and I adored the honest brutality of the world building and the constantly challenged prejudices. The ending was heart wrenching and I'm very much looking forward to where this will go!
Thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review.

I devoured this book! It was my first read of 2024 and it has started the year the off great. Beautiful story telling, witches, a good amount of romance and I cannot wait for the next book!

I requested this book on Netgalley because of the title and especially the cover. I am a suckered for a pretty cover. But I went in absolutely blind. And found a book about witches and witch hunters, of which I fell in love with the story immediately.
The writing is great, flows easily, and keeps you hooked from the first page until the last. An enemies to lovers back to enemies, and I hope to lovers some time in the next book, perfectly executed. It's been a while since I shipped a couple so hard, and I don't think I could handle them not having a happy ever after.  Gideon and Rune have fantastic chemistry and powerful stories and personalities, all shades of grey, and fill with quite a bit of trauma.
The twist at the end doesn't catch you unprepared. They show you glimpses, and you are waiting eagerly to see what the characters will do when it's get revealed.
One of the things I liked the best was the magic system. It has rigid rules, and there are dire consequences for using it as it shouldn't.
A fantastic read that you should read if you like romantasy, enemies to lovers, witches, revolution, evil queens, and morally grey characters.

4⭐️

I really enjoyed this! I feel like the first half held a lot more promise than the second half of the book, I kept waiting for it to give me ~more~ but it never quite got that oomph. Instead, everything went to shit and the miscommunication trope ruled supreme—which worked well bc enemies to lovers, but was frustrating at times. For a book where so much happened, it feels like it was a bit slow.

I’m intrigued to know where the story is going next and will pick up the next book probably.

This book was Amazing!! I fell in love with writing and the characters so much, one of my top 5 reads this year. Thank you for the arch.

— 5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❝You are an actor, she reminded herself. And this is a play.
But which character was she—the heroine, the villain, or the fool?❞

📖 | 400 pages
👤 | author Kristin Ciccarelli
🏢 | publisher Magpie, HarperCollins UK
📅 | release date 29 Feburary 2024

What you can expect:
— Young-Adult Fantasy Romance
— First Instalment In A Duology
— Third-Person POV
— Dual POV
— Scarlet Pimpernel Inspired
— Enemies-to-Lovers
— Slow-Burn Romance
— Witch X Witch Hunter
— Forbidden Magic
— Magical Mr. and Mrs. Smith
— Best Friend's Older Brother

This book had me on the edge of the seat the entire time I was reading. I honestly never knew what to expect from this book as it is my first read by this author and to say I am thrilled is an understatement. The Crimson Moth is effortlessly seductive and enchanting with its compelling writing style and immersive dialogue which keeps you hooked from beginning to end. The consistent pacing, easy-to-follow world building and eye-widening plot twists left me unable to put the book down as I was enraptured and enthralled in Ciccarelli's story-telling. I am delightfully surprised by just how much I loved The Crimson Moth as I anxiously await the release on the second instalment to this spellbinding duology.

The Crimson Moth was unpredictable in the best possible way. As the story begins to truly unravel and more truths are brought to light, you truly begin to question the morality of right and wrong. Rune and Gideon both have their own reasons for being on opposing sides, not that they know at the time, and it was really interesting to delve into their personal history to better understand not only their characters but also what purpose they serve. Rune's secret vigilante life was interesting to follow as we watch her struggle to separate both versions of herself in her mission to save innocent witches from being hunted. I struggled to personally pick a preference on who's side I would choose to be on as both characters had valid reasons for their actions. It was hilarious to watch as Rune and Gideon tried to deceptively undermine one-another whilst trying their best to keep hating one another, and honestly hate-to-love compliments the enemies-to-lovers trope so well. The development of the relationship between the pair was flawlessly explored as we are offered a deeper and more intimate insight into the wants and needs of both characters. Gideon's trauma came as such a heart-breaking surprise to me and yet was a necessity to truly understand him. I'm really glad that The Crimson Moth is a dual-POV book and I can honestly admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the point-of-view of both Rune and Gideon.

The Crimson Moth is the emotional investment of 2024 for all readers of Fantasy Romance. Utterly unputdownable and thrilling to the end, this book has cemented itself as a favourite of mine and I cannot wait to have my heart broken all over again in future re-reads as I anticipate the release of the conclusion to this addictive duology.

Thank you to Magpie and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

5⭐️

Holy smokes this book is one of my favourites from this year!!

The Crimson Moth is an addictive tale with enemies to lovers, witches and witch hunters, lies, love, tension, and deceit.

I was not ready for this book to end - I’m anxiously waiting for the next one!!