this was a perfect conclusion to the duology! i loved every single second of it! theres not too much i can say without spoiling book one, but i enjoyed how the story and relationships continued in this book! im sad i had to say goodbye but im excited for whataver kristen comes out with next!

Well, this book was EVERYTHING! The perfect continuation of the Crimson Moth, which as you know leaves you in a huge cliffhanger and all the mysteries are resolved in this book.

We follow Rune and Gideon's adventures, feeling the tension between both of them while they all try to trick and outsmart the other one. We are also given more information about some of the other characters we were introduced to in book one.

The political development that goes on at the same time definitely adds to the book, giving you the chance to understand two very political views and all the consequences of supporting either of them, and how maybe there's a middle ground that should be achieved.

The writing is addictive, the story is written in a way that won't let you put the book down until you're done and even then you'll keep thinking about the books days later.

The Crimson Moth and Rebel Witch are definitely the perfect duology. If there is a fantasy romance you're going to pick up, let it be this one.

Thank you SO MUCH NetGalley and HarperCollins for giving the chance to review this book ahead of publication, I can't be more grateful!

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest opinion!

I have been looking forward to reading this book since last April, when I read the Crimson Moth and truly loved it: the characters, the plot twists, the secrecy, got me hooked almost from page one. It has been a pleasure to be back with Rune and Gideon, once again torn apart by events, fate, their pride and their prejudices (Gideon would be an excellent Mr Darcy): the development of their relationship is a bit of a bumpy ride but I was there for it.
What I wanted from book two, apart from the romance to be fully developed, was a bit more insights on the worldbuilding and I found it lacking. While in book one the setting didn't need to be fully fledged - yet, I would have liked more depth regarding the culture and customs before and after the revolution - The Rebel Witch needed more details on Cascadia's history and mythology. Some twists felt convenient while others couldn't be fully understood because of the writing style that does not indulge in descriptions and digressions, even when it should. The pace is fast, the writing is a real page-turner, keeping you constantly on edge but eventually it does not suffice in making certain scenes feel actually relevant.

Do I recommend this duology? If you're looking for well-developed characters, romance, slow burn and actual enemies to lovers, this story is for you; if the fantasy plot is what matters most to you, the second book may disappoint.

I was really looking forward to this book as I did enjoy The Crimson Moth but sadly I fear this did not live up to my expectations.

We find Rune caught between a rock and a hard place. Wanting to save her fellow witches left behind but having to work for Cressida, a witch whom she hates.
Gideon and Rune having to form a rocky truce to work together and save both their skins and stop Cressida’s master plan for regaining the throne.

Unfortunately with this book the romance became the main focal point and the plot became secondary. A good 30% of the first half of the book had a bunch of cliched romantasy tropes thrown at it - forced proximity, fake marriage and one bed. The romance and angst also became very repetitive. The same conversations seeming to be had all the time and I felt myself losing interest.
The writing style is very easy to read and we get short chapters to keep the pace moving, but everytime it started to pick up with some action, it was slowed down for more flirtations. It took over half the book before they got on with their mission and then many parts were somewhat anticlimactic. The last 10% redeemed the story slightly but still left an underwhelming aftertaste.

As always reading is subjective and if you enjoyed the first book and other series such as the Powerless Trilogy by Lauren Roberts, you will more than likely love this. Sadly for me this was a disappointing conclusion to a duology that had so much promise.

Thankyou to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

My review is on Goodreads already and will be posted to my instagram page on 21/11/24

I inhaled the first book, The Crimson Moth, and with The Rebel Witch, while I enjoyed our starting and ending point and a few moments along the way, it ultimately fell short for me. The angsty back and forth between Rune and Gideon's feelings started to get repetitive and I would have loved to see Rune use more strength and intelligence to solve her problems rather than relying on her looks.
The book did pick up in the second half and this is where I started to enjoy myself again. Things were quickly wrapped up, but despite that I still thought it was a good ending.
I would rate this 3.5 stars, but I've rounded it up to 4 here.
Thank you so much to HarperCollins UK for the arc via NetGalley and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on the book.

The is one of my favourite romantasy duologues and for once book two is even better than the first. The action is high-stakes throughout and this made for a suspenseful read I just couldn’t put down! The pacing is brilliant as well meaning I didn’t even feel like I was reading at times. I’ve taken a while to wait to write this review, this was to see if I was still as obsessed a few books later and I am! No read has compared since. The characters are amazing. We have our vivacious crimson moth and our complex witch hunter. The back and forth nature of their relationship never gets old. The angst, yearning and outwitting is a delight to read. I absolutely loved how she compared everyone else to Gideon and obviously no one can compare. Though heavy on the romance the plot is also great with the political and power plays. There was nothing I didn’t enjoy, some twists may have been more obvious but there is plenty of peril and drama to keep you guessing until the final pages. Definitely a series I will reread. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

This is the perfect sequel to Crimson Moth! All the tension; all the miscommunication; all the trust issues; all the passion and all the forbidden romance merging into one and creating THE sequel of sequels!! I couldn’t put this book down, even if I wanted! It had a hold on me! I think this was even better than the crimson month! Loved it! Could not put this down and if you’re loved Crimson Moth, you are in for a ride!

The book continues from the Crimson Moth, following on with the enemies to lovers theme. I was rooting for them all the way through. I loved that the characters were relatable and realistic.

The ending wrapped everything up with no lose ends although it felt a little rushed in the last 30 pages.

I enjoyed it but didn't love it, so 4*s.

Will keep an eye out for future books from Kristen Ciccarelli!

It’s over, it’s actually over! I’m devastated that this series is finished but my god, what a ride it is! This had me on edge the entire way through. Incredible, and fully deserving of 5 stars

this series truly brings me so much happiness. an enemies to lovers with magic and plot twists??? yessssss. gonna order a hardback copy for my shelf <3

I feel so honoured to have read this book as an ARC.
I felt like Rune herself had enchanted me as I could not put this book down.
I loved the tension, the chemistry, the devotion.
Such a beautiful enchanting read. I am so very sad this is only a duology as I need to know more.
I loved the pace of the book and wish it had been longer! It ended far too quickly for my liking and I cannot wait for the hardback to be in my hands next year!
Beautifully written and utterly charming. I love everything about this book.
Thank you NetGalley for approving me to read this as an arc.

Probably one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, I was so excited to get accepted for an advanced copy.

This was everything I wanted and more from the sequel to The Crimson Moth - it had all the chemistry I loved between Gideon and Rune, as well as some of my favourite tropes (only one bed? Hell yes!)

I can't tell you how much I loved it, only that it took me 4 hours to read the whole thing because I didn't want to stop!

Thank you HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read, quite frankly, one of my most anticipated reads of 2025!
5 stars is not enough for this book, if I could give it 100 I would! The Rebel Witch had me hook, line and sinker from the first page and I DEVOURED it in less than 48 hours. I loved the fact we jumped straight into a reunion between Rune and Gideon, there was no waiting around for them to come together. The banter and attempted hatred back and fore was perfectly written, and the yearning and tension was next level. Gideon trying to fight his feelings but constantly pining after Rune’s touch? Had me kicking and squealing with every page! A lot happened in this book and for some people I can see how it could be considered fast pace but everything just worked for me, I wished it was longer! Although I predicted the twists, they were so expertly written it didn’t even matter. The way Rune and Gideon constantly fought for each other and their relationship was heartwarming, but also heart wrenching (the last few chapters had me in hysterics). I am so sad this duology is finished, but it sits at the top of 2024 reads together. Absolutely loved it from start to finish!

3.5 rounded down for goodreads and netgalley.
It was a rather anticipated release of mine and overall, it was not disappointing. It is a solid follow-up to a book that I enjoyed reading a few weeks ago. The pace is satisfying and there’s not a lot of slow moments. Some reveals were interesting. Beware though, this is not a young adult book but a new adult because of some sexual content. That disappointed me a little bit, I think the book would have been better with some fade-to-black scenes instead of on-page scenes. And as long as there’s sexual content in a romantasy novel, it can’t be a young adult for me. Young adult romantasy is safe and smut-free.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This is why I love romantasy!!! One of the best romantasy duology in my opinion. The worldbuilding, the characters, the tension, everything about this was perfect. Fast paced and filled with so much action. Betrayals you won’t see coming. Kept me on the edge of my seat. The romance had me giggling and kicking my feet constantly. The tension was everything. Definitely seeing myself rereading it once it has been released!!

I don't even know where to begin with writing this review other than this was everything I could have hoped for and more. Reading this felt like coming home, an ode to everything I love in a fantasy book: heart stopping romance, tension, plot-twists that leave your heart racing and bucket fulls of action. This book took me to the edges of a cliff and left me breathless until the very last page.

In this heart racing sequel, Rune and Gideon, a witch and witch-hunter, find themselves on opposing sides, both vowing to betray one another one last time. A fragile truce is born from shared interests, forcing the two to work together very close in proximity. The stakes are higher, the tension is greater and neither knows if they can ever fully trust each other. There's confusion, there's hurt, there's betrayal, but at the same time there's undeniable yearning, tension and chemistry. My heart broke for Rune and Gideon reading this. The hurt they both went through, the choices they both had to make and the feelings they had to navigate in order to simply fight to be with one another was devastating at times and euphoric at others. I'm so glad they got the ending that they deserved.

I haven't read a sequel that has made me feel this way in a while. Rune and Gideon deserve the world and have my entire heart. I might know the ending to their story now, but I cannot wait to revisit this world Kristin Ciccarelli has created again and again. This is a story that will stay in my mind and heart for a very long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVoyagerUK for providing me with an early reading copy, you have my endless thanks and gratitude (and trauma for the tears caused reading this).

Thank you so much Netgalley & HarperCollins UK, for giving me this early copy of The rebel Witch , I SCREAMED SO LOUD when I got the email with the approval .

A captivating finale to a highly addictive and entertaining duology. In the wake of a dramatic betrayal in Heartless Hunter (2024), a witch and a witch hunter are again embroiled in a high-stakes struggle to outwit each other, further complicated by their deepening, conflicting feelings.

Kristen Ciccarelli you did it again , you smashed this out the park and I don't want to give too much away as this book isn't OUT YET BUT THIS WAS A WILD RIDE . Rebel Witch is outstanding and I loved every second of it . 10/10

TOP BOOK FOR 2025 I am calling it now

I need a physical copy as a trophy ASAP .

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The tension between Rune and Gideon was flawlessly executed, and the pacing was fantastic. There were certain elements to the plot that felt a little convenient and underdeveloped, but it wasn't enough to detract from the story. I'm excited for KCs next project!

AHHHHH Rebel Witch by @kristenciccarelli was the absolute perfect conclusion to The Crimson moth.
I always seem to judge how good a book is by how quickly I finish it since I'm such a slow reader, I finished this book in 2 and 1/2 days.

SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1 BELOW

Crimson moth left me on the edge of a cliff begging to know what will happen to Rune and Gideon after the death of Alex and the exposure of Cressida.
Rune and Gideon are separated by land and love, but he is still the witch hunter and she the witch. In order to prove his loyalty, Gideon must kill the Crimson Moth, but can he do it? Will he choose the side of the Republic or will he choose love.

Kristen's ability to write sexual tension into words on a page is superior to any other book of this caliber. It's SO. GOOD. Any the plot twists?!? Ugh. So good. I'm so sad it's over... I could read about Rune and Gideon indefinitely.

Be sure to pick this one up when it publishes February 27, 2025!!

I read this entire thing in just over a day. This and the original crimson moth both flowed very well and were great reads. Both 5 stars and I’ll be looking forward to anything else from this author.
Great timings in book and nothing dragged at any point.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy, all opinions are my own.