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Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth, #2)
by Kristen Ciccarelli (Goodreads Author)
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Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli is a captivating and satisfying conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology. The story picks up with Rune, a fugitive witch, and her uneasy alliance with Cressida Roseblood, as they work together to reclaim the Republic. Their path crosses once again with Gideon Sharpe, a determined witch hunter, and their complex relationship evolves in unexpected and intriguing ways.

Ciccarelli does an excellent job of balancing high-stakes action with emotional depth. The tension between Rune and Gideon is palpable, making their slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance both gripping and heartfelt. The character development shines, with both protagonists confronting their pasts and evolving as the plot unfolds.

The world-building is solid, with a richly developed magical system and political intrigue that keeps things fresh. The pacing is quick, and the twists and turns throughout the book will keep you hooked.

Overall, Rebel Witch delivers a thrilling and emotional conclusion to the series. It’s a must-read for fans of romantic fantasy, and its strong character-driven story and intense action make it a standout.

DNF @ 44%
I am SO sad, but this just didn’t hid the spot for me. Unfortunately I am just underwhelmed, it didn’t feel like anything was really happening - and when it was, it felt so unnecessarily slow and repetitive. I loved the first book but unfortunately the series will end there for me in my mind 😩💗

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.

Thank you so much NetGalley for this arc! You know I LOVE me some enemies to lovers and this hit the SPOT.

I am literally in love with this book - I think I may actually prefer it to the first, which I did enjoy also. I absolutely loved the ending and although I did guess some of the things that were going to happen I was very happy that they did!

I loved all the characters and that the side characters did so much for the story line at the end. I love a happy ending for a duology where everything is wrapped up neatly.

Thanks so much for the arc!

This book wraps the duology in a nice little bow. There are twists and turns, heartbreak and romance. Rune is just as amazing a character in this book as she was in the first and I really enjoyed this one a lot more as the characters felt like they had a lot more agency in their situation.

Rating: 4.5⭐️

This is the second book in the Crimson Moth duology. We follow witch Rune and witch Hunter Gideon as Rune is on the run, having allied herself with the evil witch queen Cressida.

💚 Likes 💚
- I love Rune and Gideon as characters! As with the first book, their chemistry and connection was very convincing and they worked well together.
- Loved the plot! Great twists and turns throughout the story.
- Subtle foreshadowing and clues, it was fun trying to connect the dots and guess what was going to happen throughout the book.
- Cressida is a great villain! She’s the perfect vicious, evil queen
- I loved the new characters we got to know.

💔 Dislikes 💔
- The inner monologues were a little repetitive in the first 50%
- The epilogue was unnecessary and I’m not sure it necessarily fit with the character?

Overall I thought this was an incredibly strong conclusion to the duology! I think this is a definitely a series I will be rereading again in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

thank you to netgalley and kristen ciccarelli for granting my wish for this e-book arc!!

this was amazing. i absolutely loved every single second of it. when i began to read this i was in a bit of a reading slump so it took me quite a while to get hooked. but as soon as i did, i finished it within two seconds.
i loved how we got an insight on the actual magical spells (in my opinion, a bit like harry potter) and it was really interesting.
seeing the tension between gideon and rune- outstanding.
i really did love this book!
thanks again!

Thankyou so much @netgalley @harpercollins @kristenciccarelli for the opportunity to read the rebel witch honestly I was so happy my wish was granted.

Everyone knows how much I ordered the Crimson moth so couldn’t wait to read the next book and it did not disappoint it was everything I wanted and more. A powerful story of love, honour and fight. It was a rollercoaster of pure emotions reading the relationship between Rune and Gideon you felt every word and every scene play out with the characters. O need a Gideon in my life. An enemies to lover story done right.
The side characters to this story can not be overlooked they all played a crucial part in this story.
As soon as I opened this book I couldn’t put it down.
This was easily a 5 star read from me and more insane didn’t want this to end.

This duology has me hooked! The Crimson Moth was a fun read, but I needed a little more from it—and The Rebel Witch delivered. T

Rune and Gideon’s chemistry is everything. Their dynamic is intense, filled with tension and longing, and I loved how their relationship evolved alongside the high-stakes plot. While some twists were predictable, that didn’t take away from the enjoyment—this was fast-paced, addictive, and exactly what I wanted from the finale.

If you love YA fantasy with romance, rebellion, and powerful character dynamics, this duology is a must-read!

A true enemies to lovers, fake dating with raw emotion and conflicting feelings throughout. I loved to progression of the characters and relationships in book two. I loved that it took us straight back into the chase, thrusting Rune & Gideon right back into each others lives, continuing to tangle them together in a series of lies, except this time the rest of the world is witness to their deception and not eachother.
The desire for each other despite the hatred sizzling beneath the surface kept me reading and wanting more, the inner monologue running through both of them added extra depth and feeling that just keeps you praying they get their happy ending.
I really enjoyed how much more magic there is throughout this book since Rune is now openly herself, and her flutter of moth scars is just a beautiful touch 🦋

Stunning end to a stunning duology.

I absolutely loved this book. I was happy to be back in this world again. I love the characters and was happy with how this duology ended. I think I loved the Crimson Moth a little more, but still gave this 4.5 stars. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

This book made up for the original atmosphere in book one in the form of the devotion both of these had for each other; the main characters were written so well, so deeply layered, that I was completely hooked from start to finish. The Rebel Witch is a satisfying finale to this wonderful duology, and I already want to turn right back to page one and experience it all again.

Love, love, love! A perfect ending to this amazing series. I absolutely loved reading The Crimson Moth and The Rebel witch, it was the perfect enemies to lovers with incredible yearning. 4.5 stars highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this duology overall. I thought this book tied up all that needed to be addressed.

The pacing of the book was engaging and did not feel dragged out. I appreciated the expansion of the setting and the different layers to side characters. The characters in this book compared to the first felt more multidimensional and “human”.

I found that sometimes the book became too “tropey” and also did a lot of telling not showing. I prefer when authors can subtly highlight their message without having to overly explain every concept/idea.

While I did like the first book more, I found this to be an excellent second installment. I am excited to read what the author publishes next.

The writing and the story made this book so easy to devour. It’s fast paced and filled with all the action, excitement and romance I was hoping for!

My heart not only ached for both Rune & Gideon but was screaming at them too. Watching each plan/scheme unfold or fall apart as they fight against their true desires. Each torn by their past and loyalties. It has the perfect balance of tension, love, miscommunication and banter. I loved it.

I can’t even begin to explain the ending. I know to some it was obvious what would happen but not for me. It wasn’t until just before I realised and that’s when the tears came. Oh, my ancients! It tore my heart out. It was heartbreakingly sad but so beautiful.

Again, the descriptions are mesmerising. It’s so easy to be right there with them, be it on the train or at Wintersea, no matter where the action took place I could envision it all.

I have a love/hate relationship with epilogues. They can be hit or miss and, for me, this didn’t really add anything.

I’m so blessed I got an arc of both The Crimson Moth & The Rebel Hunter and now can’t wait for the FairyLoot edition of TRH to go pride of place next to TCM. 🦋❤️

Thank you so much, Harper Collins UK, for the arc. It was incredible.

4.5 stars

“I may not know Rune Winters, but I know the Crimson Moth. And she is no caged thing.”

Rebel Witch is the sequel to Crimson Moth, continuing the story of Rune and Gideon, a witch and witch hunter. The book picks up right where Crimson Moth left off, throwing us straight into the action from the very first page.
I (of course) remembered very little from the first book, so I was quite confused at first. And of course I would highly recommend rereading the first book, but you don’t have to!The author does an amazing job of easing readers back in, and within the first few chapters, we’re right back on track without it feeling like an info dump.

I really enjoyed Rebel Witch! Rune and Gideon are back to being enemies but how long can they keep up the act? Do they truly hate each other, or are they just two idiots hopelessly in love?
Their banter and back and forth were so much fun to read. And while there were plenty of moments when I wanted to shake them for being frustrating, I couldn’t help but forgive them in the end! The romantic tension is intense, but despite that, they remain individuals fighting for a greater cause. Both have been through so much, and I truly appreciated their growth in this book.
While the book is enjoyable, fast-paced, and easy to read, with the bonus of short chapters, the overall plot felt a bit predictable. Even though the book moves quickly, it still felt a bit too long, as if some middle chapters could have been cut without much impact.(Maybe an unpopular opinion, but sometimes I think authors shouldn’t be afraid to write standalones!)
That said, I really enjoyed the ending, the big finale! It was packed with plot twists (I gasped multiple times!), heartbreaking moments, and one scene that almost made me throw my kindle across the room. Hands down, one of the best conclusions to a book series I’ve read in a while.
Overall, Rebel Witch was the perfect sequel with a truly satisfying conclusion. If you're looking for a true enemies-to-lovers romantasy that will keep you on the edge of your seat with its twists, banter, and swoon-worthy romance, this one is for you! I’m definitely curious to see what Kristen Ciccarelli writes next.

The Rebel Witch is the epic sequel to The Crimson Moth and the final book in this magical duology. After the betrayals and reveals at the end of the previous book, Rebel Witch sees our main characters separated and scared. Rune is on the run from the witch hunters, and the boy she loves. Forced to make difficult choices for her survival, she allies herself with the ruthless Cressida who plans seize power for the witches- no matter the cost. Meanwhile Gideon has to make a decision- does he destroy the woman he loves to save the world, or let the world burn just to protect her?

Although I didn’t love this book as much as The Crimson Moth, I think that it does a great job of continuing the story and creating a satisfying ending. Without all the lies, secrets and intrigue that dominate the first book, this story focuses more on action, magic and world-building. This makes the story much more plot heavy which I do appreciate, but I also missed seeing Rune and Gideon pit their wits against each other in every chapter. Thankfully they aren’t apart for too long!

Like in the first book, I found some of the plot points, like identity reveals and betrayals, a bit predictable. But that doesn’t stop it from being a very entertaining book! There is plenty of magic and romance as well as angst to keep you reading.

Brilliant sequel! I have loved this duology! Gideon and Rune are fab main characters, the angst! So much miscommunication though, but in a good way! I will definitely read more by this author!

This was everything that I wanted in a sequel and more!!

I was obsessed with book one and this continued into book two- I love the MCs and their complicated dynamic and relationship. They started off in a difficult place (to say the least), yet the yearning was still ever present.

The writing keeps you hooked, and the plot was just *chef’s kiss*

This is still one of the best YA series out there, and I’m so excited to see what the author does next!

It was a perfect ending to close out this duology.
Short chapters, amazing dual-POV and characterization, the plot in some moments is a bit predictable but it was a very fun ride.
I can't wait to read more books by Krista Ciccarelli.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperVoyagerUK for providing me with this ARC!

This is such a great sequel to Rebel Witch!

The banter and romance is still amazing and the plot was so good. Just a little sad because I guessed one of the plot twists.

Overall, this is a great romantasy duology.