I adored this book! I absolutely loved the dark and witchy vibes. Very well written and a world I can't wait to return to :)

Dark and beautiful! This book takes you into a realm of dark love and witches. Its grips your mind and takes you into the world where magic is not as simple as you think. The characters have been thoroughly thought through, and it shows on the page with every movement and situation they go through this book. Definitely took my interest and took me to a completely another world. If you’re a fan of romantasy this is definitely a book. I would recommend to you.

I have to say I really want to do a special edition for this book….when the next in the biology comes out all I can say is keep your eyes out…

This could quite possibly be the most enemies to lovers situation ever. Gideon is trying to track down and identify the Crimson Moth, a witch rescuing other witches from execution from right under his nose. Rune is exactly that witch. Hiding in plain sight, and putting on the performance of a lifetime, she uses her status and social circles to get information to save her fellow witches. She needs a suitor who is a reliable source, and who better than the head Witch Hunter himself? Gideon needs to infiltrate higher society to uncover the truth and Rune seems like the perfect way in. They’re both using each other but this quickly turns into something more. The tension between these two, despite the caution they both try to use, and their rightful suspicion of each other, their chemistry can’t be denied. I was totally hooked on this, needing to know what would happen between these two star crossed lovers with years of animosity between witches and witch hunters. Rune has her mission, and Gideon has his, but would they let love change that? That right there is the question and I’m not going to tell you.

There are some pretty big plot twists in this book and an ending that will shake your foundations. But there’s also the tenderness of developing feelings, unrequited love, betrayal and more. Rune is a brave and conflicted vigilante, riddled with guilt from her past. The world she lives in is cruel and dangerous but everything isn’t as it seems and there are two sides to every story. The character development, the relationships between the characters, and the plot were all fantastic and this is definitely going to be a hit new fantasy read. I can’t wait to see where the story takes us next!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for allowing me to review this early because WOW!!

If you love a slow burn/enemy to lovers kind of vibe, then this book is for you! I was drawn in immediately and I couldn’t put it down! The entire book was a game of deception/cat and mouse and I was here for it! I loved the chase and the constant guessing. The tension was WILD and the chemistry between the two main characters was so intense.

Whilst I’m so glad I got to read this early, I’m screaming that I’ll have to wait a little longer for the sequel! THAT ENDING. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

A gripping enemies to lovers(to enemies?) romantasy that met all my expectations and then some. I cannot wait for the sequel!

Thank you for the opportunity to give my honest opinion on this book.

I loved it. It was one of those books you can’t put down. I had it devoured within 2 days.

The plot with detail of the witches and their practices was well laid out and easy to follow. The twists and turns kept you always wanting to read ‘another page.’ The ending, well I did not see that coming. Perfectly left for the next book which I will certainly want to read.

5 stars from me and I can not wait to see where this story ends.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

4.5 stars rounded to 5

I sat down planning to read a few chapters of this book yesterday and ended up finishing it in a matter of hours because I got so sucked in immediately!

Rune Winters - our extremely headstrong, reckless and brave witch FMC, who is an air-brained socialite by day, and an underground rescuer of witches by night.

Gideon Sharpe - captain of the Blood Guard, famed witch-hunter and broody MMC who has more reason than most to hate witches.

When the two collide in a scheming, double-crossing, dangerous liaison - sparks fly.

If you're looking for:

- high stakes enemies-to-lovers
- witches, magic and revolution
- dangerous secrets
- gorgeous dresses, calls and operas

Then this book is for you.

The ending? I'm actually mad I'll have to wait so long for the sequel!

My only gripes were:

- that this book is being billed as YA when it reads very much more NA - especially the romance.
- that I have some questions regarding where Rune gets her blood from..........

I'm not a fantasy reader normally, but a sucker for witches! This one really impressed me and made me want to try more fantasy novels, which is a huge compliment to the authors writing! I liked the way it was straight to the point without pages and pages of explanation and world building, we just got stuck in! Great entertaining read

I really enjoyed this book! Fantasy romance with witches/witch hunters was right up my street. I thought the characters were well written and complex, and the slow burn enemies to lovers was delicious. The plot was fast paced and kept me reading. I knocked off one star as I felt the world building could have been fleshed out a little, but I’d still highly recommend this book to fantasy romance readers! I will certainly be picking up the next book!

I loved this book ,it had abit of everything enemies to lovers then kinda back maybe ? Some action .
I adore Gideon ,he is one of the sweetest people and Rune is his match ,I can't wait for the next book,this kept me reading and I read it so fast.
The characters are amazing the magic system has its own uniqueness,all in all love it

This was spectacular. I have a particular fondness for the scarlet pimpernel and a witchy retelling is just perfection. This was tightly plotted, perfectly paced, and the romance was believable. I loved the “knot” that Ciccarelli had given the main character. Sometimes in fiction, the motivation of the main character doesn’t make any sense, but what happened to Rune’s grandmother fits beautifully with Rune’s story and why she is the way she is. The characters in this were especially well-rounded and realistic. Even Rune, who is, ultimately, only a teenager is not presented as a fierce, strong, unbeatable warrior the way that you see in some YA stories. Yes, strong. Yes, fierce. But realistically so, which I really appreciated. I never wanted this book to end. I loved it from start to finish.

***Spoilers***
The ending was excellent, bittersweet, and fit well with the tone of the book. However, I didn’t love it, because I want a happy ending. This is not, exactly, what I would define as happy. Rune loses people. It is clearly open for a sequel, which I am now desperate to read, because I HAVE to know what happens next.
***Spoilers over***

This is, without a doubt, one of my top books of 2023.

I just couldn’t put it down. You’re drawn in from the first page and then you realise it’s 3am and you’ve forgot to eat and sleep! Gorgeously written with a bit of everything.

Rune spends her nights as The Crimson Moth - a masked avenger who rescues witches from the grip of the witch hunters who have worked against her kind since the Revolution. But by day, nobody knows about her masquerade. Until one of the hunters begins to suspect her, and a tumultuous enemies to lovers relationship begins to form ...

I was totally gripped by this book right from the start. I loved the world building, which really put me in the middle of the slightly gothic atmosphere. I adored the characters and thought the plot was perfectly paced for a good amount of tension. Completely adored it!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The moment I started reading I could not put the book down. The Crimson Moth was fast paced with the best slow-burn enemies to lovers romance I've read in a while, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Gideon and Rune have great chemistry, and that shone through the book. Gideon is dreamy and the perfect love interest. Although I normally don't enjoy books with minimal world building, the book was so action packed that I honestly didn't mind. I can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.