Obsessed!

As soon as I finished book one, I was desperate to find out what happened, and I'm so grateful to have been approved for an ARC for The Rebel Witch. Rune and Gideon are end game.

There's tension, there's angst, there's enemies to lovers, there's a whole lot of action. It's such a well written book with a brilliant ending.

The yearning for each other and the fact it's a forbidden love had me kicking my feet and doing a little happy dance. I especially love the jealousy that came out with both of them. How they were prepared to still go against each other despite having such strong feelings.

Is it too soon for a reread?!

I would recommend this to everyone!

Brilliant! I loved this one just as much as the first! Couldn’t put it down. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

I absolutely adored The Crimson Moth, but I never expected to love the sequel even more—and yet, here we are. Rebel Witch had me completely hooked; I devoured it in one sitting, overwhelmed by all the emotions it evoked.

The story dives straight into the action, with a fast-paced plot that keeps you on edge, mirroring the relentless danger faced by the characters. Cressida is a standout as a villain—pure evil with intricate secret plots that create a palpable sense of terror. She’s brilliantly written and elevates the stakes throughout the story.

Rune and Gideon’s dynamic is the heart of the book. Themes of trust, self-doubt, and love are woven seamlessly into their journey. While miscommunication plays a significant role, it never feels overdone or frustrating. Their character development is stunning, and watching their relationship grow was truly rewarding.

My only minor gripe? I wanted more groveling from Gideon to fully address the fractured trust between them.

Overall, Rebel Witch is a phenomenal sequel that wraps up the story beautifully. It’s thrilling, emotional, and utterly satisfying—an unforgettable conclusion to a fantastic series.

With the last book being better than what I thought it'd be, my expectations going into this one may have been a tad too high. I definitely got way too caught up in the worldbuilding and forgot this was a romantasy.

The major focus of the story was solely on getting Rune and Gideon back together, which sort of disappointed me. I mean, they still had good banter, and the complex witch and witch hunter dynamic was going strong here, too, if not more since the betrayals from the last book makes their beef personal now. But the fake marriage ploy, the petty jealousy / possessiveness, the countless misreading of each other's intentions leading to so much miscommunication, I was not jelling well with any of it. I really forgot how - for lack of a better word - painfully hetero romantasy is until side queer characters were brought into the story and made me think what this story/world would be if queerness was at the fore front, instead.

The romance taking center stage really watered down the elements I adored from the first book. The exploration sexism and politics are still there but not as important as Rune and Gideon's relationship angst. So many plot threads introduced were solved way too quick, and the themes of persecution of women felt more like dressing for the romance drama rather than core messages for the readers to think on or relate to. I think my enjoyment from the first book came from its potential, but with the duology ending here, anything I thought I saw was probably just me wanting something that probably wasn't there.

All in all, I'm sad and disappointed. I don't think I'll be reading Ciccarelli's other works in the future, but I'll still say Heartless Hunter / The Crimson Moth was a fun read while it lasted.

As far as second books in series go, I am pretty happy with this one! The Rebel Witch continues the turmoil filled love story between Rune and Gideon in a way which is true to the first book and ends this duology in a satisfying way.

While there are some things in this book that weren’t my fave (pacing, predictability), I still really did enjoy this and think the author did a great job of continuing this story and ending it in a way which I think a lot of readers will appreciate.

With this second book I confirm my opinion on the duology of “The Crimson Moth”: these books are excellently written and the execution is very good, but this surplus of “prepackaged” tropes and the way the story unfolds makes the book improbable and surreal, dampening the reader’s enthusiasm to find his favorite characters again.

I will certainly read more by Ciccarelli but I hope that they will be less “packaged” products for a certain type of audience and more genuine (not that one should exclude the other).

In the enchanting sequel to Crimson Moth, Ciccarelli once again captivated me with the relationship between Rune and Gideon. Like some i dislike when an author relies on miscommunication for tension, the trust issues and betrayals between Rune and Gideon are grounded in a well-defined reason, allowing for a more authentic emotional journey.

While certain plot points were relatively easy to predict, this did not detract from the enjoyment of the story. Instead, it felt more like a welcomed comfort, guiding me through a narrative that continually surprises in other ways.

One aspect that continues to shine in this sequel is the unique magic system that was introduced in the first book. The creative possibilities within this world are vast, and I found myself yearning for more innovative spells from Rune. While the spells used throughout the book are engaging, a greater variety in spell casting would have added an additional layer of excitement and depth to the magical experience.

Overall, this book serves as the perfect sequel, skilfully balancing character development with a rich narrative. It’s refreshing to see a series that doesn’t necessitate high-stakes scenarios or an extended saga to keep readers invested; instead, it masterfully embraces the charm of a concise duology. Fast becoming my favourite, this novel proves that sometimes, less is indeed more. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates character-driven stories set in uniquely crafted worlds.

5⭐️♾️

I am SO sad this series is over, I loved this book as much as the first one. Gideon and Rune have a true place in my heart and the ending was everything I wanted

“How often do you dream of me, Rune?”

I will recommend this series to anyone who will listen !!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of this book!

"Rebel Witch" was the perfect ending to this duology. I loved the first book, but this one beat it 10 times over. I enjoyed the overall message of the story as well as our main two characters, Gideon and Rune. I love the push and pull between the characters as well. The idea that all they want is peace and to feel safe, but have to oppose each other due to the world they live in. I appreciate how the author planned and plotted things out. There were funny moments, heartwarming moments, and very intense thriller/actiony moments. My favorite thing, though, was how much this book absorbed my attention. It's been a while since I've read a page-turner like this one. I finished it in one day. Every chapter ended perfectly, and the stakes kept rising and rising until the very end. I liked that things were planned out from the first book too, so I can go back and look for little things here and there as well. I loved how, now that witches are at war, we get to see more spells and how terrifying they could be. Also, I hate the villain (hide their name for now to avoid spoilers for anyone reading the 1st book), which is great because she is... well, a villain.

I think my favorite thing overall though was definitely the conflict our two characters dealt with. The yearning and genuine love shared between the two was honestly the thing that kept me reading most. I kept wanting to see how they would figure things out and their reasons for being at war with themselves felt genuine too. It made sense to me why they both fought for what they did because it was literally life or death on the line for every choice they made.

The only down side was that the book was a bit predictable at times (especially near the end, but I don't know if that's just because it is or if it's because I've read so many books now I know what cues to look for). But even despite it being predictable at times, this has solidified itself as one of my top 3 favorite book series. I can't wait to read it again and again in the future.

Thank you Kristen Ciccarelli for writing one of my favorite books. <3

Thank you to the publisher for the arc!

It’s not a secret that I loved The Crimson Moth, so much I had to end 2023 with that book (even though I still had plenty of time to read another book). Ever since I finished the first book, I wanted to read the sequel. And trust me, it did not disappoint. It was… I can’t even find a word to describe it.

We are maybe a few weeks after the end of the first book, Rune and Cressida are in Umbria to win over its prince, who could lend Cress an army. Because she still wants to get back her throne and she’s willing to go to war for it against the Blood Guard. But this isn’t the only thing she plans, so Rune and Gideon have to team up to stop Cress, no matter the cost.

The scales are balanced this time, as both Rune and Gideon know the truth about the other. This is why I wasn’t a fan of calling The Crimson Moth enemies to lovers. While Rune knew exactly who Gideon was, for a very long time he could only guess. And there's a huge difference between knowing and suspecting something. Now they are truly enemies, who hate each other. Well, almost. They express their hatred multiple times, yet it’s extremely clear to everyone, but them, that they are very much in love. Thus the tension in the book was unmatchable. They constantly try to outwit each other, and while Rune is mostly successful, she should not forget that Gideon is the best Blood Guard captain for a reason.

We also got a bunch of backstories in the book. Besides Harrow, Seraphina we also learn the truth about Rune’s parents. If you’re like me and spent the first book wondering why her grandmother raised her, you’ll get all the answers. I loved this part, but I have to say Seraphina’s backstory was my favorite.

I know I said in my previous review that I don’t like Gideon. Well, I’m taking everything back, I absolutely love him. I don’t know what happened, but it’s true. He tried so hard to live by the rules, but he couldn’t deny his love for Rune (he tried). He did everything he could to save her and give her the freedom she always wanted. Even if it meant they’ll never see each other again.

Rune was still a mastermind, but sometimes she felt off? I mean it’s understandable, her oldest friend, the person who loved her despite everything was murdered by someone who pretended to be her friend who’s now forcing her to cooperate in her scheme to get back the throne. I’m pretty sure, we all would feel off. We still got glimpses of the deadly smart witch who saved others, but mostly she just wanted to go somewhere far away. I can’t blame her for wanting peace and freedom after everything. I think out of the pair, she had a harder time accepting her feelings. Gideon was sending her to death without a second thought once he learnt she’s a witch, so forgiving this was hard. And we cannot forget that Alex loved her, so she felt like betraying him by loving his brother. It was complicated for sure!

We also got to meet some new characters, mostly from Gideon’s past. Including an ex-girlfriend, and yes Rune was jealous. Oh and may I mention some of my favorite tropes made an appearance? Aka only one bed and forced proximity. Along with the jealousy they made some chapters really interesting.

The writing was just as captivating as the first, it was beautiful. I’m not saying I was crying at the end, but it definitely had an emotional closure. I wanted to savor this book as much as possible, because I didn’t want to let go of these characters, but I still flew through it in 2 days.

I have to say what I said with The Crimson Moth: read it, you won’t regret it.

3.75 stars, because of my attachment to this world and its characters.

If you know me, you know Crimson Moth is one of my favourite books. I’ve recommended it to everyone I know, and I held onto this ARC for months because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this universe and its characters.

Unfortunately, The Rebel Witch didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The plot felt repetitive, and Gideon’s character felt out of character, he was???? which made him feel like a lacklustre male protagonist. Rune, who deserved so much better, also felt uncharacteristic from the midpoint of the book until nearly the end.

The pacing was slow and uneventful, and the climax fell flat. I couldn’t help but feel that the plot had so much more potential, and the major moments could have been more impactful. By the end, I found myself thinking, Is this really it?

That said, I wish the author nothing but success and appreciate the world they’ve created. At least I’ll always have the first book to revisit and treasure. For now, I’m off to wallow in my feelings.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK for the digital arc.

I absolutely loved this finale. Both books in this series are fast paced and a lot of fun. I read this one in 24 hours as I couldn’t put it down, particularly because I love the characters.

this was the absolute perfect conclusion to ‘The Crimson Moth’ duology! I’m going to miss this world SO much.

there are so many elements that made this sequel great - the plot, the characters, the diversification of locations, and the fact that the various conflicts within the story were completely natural and not at all forced. and having this story cover 2 books instead of 3 as is so often the norm with fantasy series was the best possible choice.

the book starts off right where the previous one ended, when the betrayals are still fresh and the desperation high. from the beginning, I appreciated the fact that Rune and Gideon were almost always in the same place at the same time. because of this more or less constant proximity, their unique dynamic had the space to shine and evolve.

in terms of the plot, it is incredibly engaging and fast-paced because either Gideon or Rune (or, sometimes, both at the same time) often found themselves in mortal danger. the stakes are even higher here than in the first book, and I also loved how the main characters had to make tough decision throughout the story, had to decide who the real enemy was.

I would say that my favourite part of this book was the romance. it is nothing short of swoon-worthy. I have to admit that I was unsure about Gideon and how his character was going to be shaped after what happened in the first book, but my worries were for nothing. Kristen Ciccarelli is excellent at writing loveable male leads. and the way Rune and Gideon navigated their feelings and shifting alliances made it very difficult for me to put the book down.

all in all, I highly recommend this book and this duology as a whole!

Absolutely no words. I laughed, I cried, I kicked my legs. One of the most anticipated sequels that did not disappoint me at any point.

The pacing of this book was so steady and ramped up the tension in all the right places. It was so easy to slip back into this world and be consumed by the characters and the world. A few twists I didn't see coming, and an ending that made me very happy.

5 stars. I loved this ending to the duology and it will be one I reread for years to come.

Usually, if I love the first book in a duology, the second one will disappoint me. This one didn't. I hesitate to say that it's better than the first one, but it comes really close.

I got right back into the story. It helped, that this book immediately started with some action. And while the ending of Heartless Hunter looked quite grim for Gideon and Rune, I was very glad that they didn't spend the first half of this book without meeting each other.
I can also say that there isn't some easy making up with the two of them either, so they'll work together for the rest of the book.
I loved their relationship. In a way, it's similar to how it was in the first book, but it's also very different due to their history. Technically, there is a lot of miscommunication - but considering their past, it makes sense that they can't simply talk about their feelings. Gideon still believes that Rune seduced and misled him to get Cressida back, while Rune can't risk getting betrayed by him again. There is no trust between them. And that leads to a delicious amount of angst and pining.
The way they scheme and try to figure out how to work together was fantastic. I loved both their development.

I was also happy about the other characters. Some get more of a back story and I was surprised to see multiple of them play bigger roles in this book. I hadn't expected it, but I was glad to get some more depth.

The plot itself was great. I especially loved that there wasn't one easy fix that took way too long for them to notice. Instead, every plan brought some new horror and everything that could've been a good solution went utterly wrong, for one reason or another. There were betrayals and new alliances and even more betrayals. Even though we get both POVs once again, this book really kept me in the dark about their true intentions. In a way, it was obvious that Gideon and Rune would end up together (and don't come at me for spoilers, this is Romantasy after all), but I was still terrified for them.

There were two revelations overall that I didn't really see as plottwists as they were quite obvious to me, but I wasn't bored or frustrated by that. Instead, I couldn't wait to see what would come of it. And both of them turned into fantastic plot points.

The only thing I'd slightly criticize, is the ending. It was great, don't get me wrong, but I would've expected something a bit more epic. It worked well and it made sense, but I would've liked more of it. I also wish that there had been more explanations about a certain situation and that we had gotten to see more of the aftermath, but that's only nitpicking.

The writing was once again fantastic, I couldn't put it down.

Overall - huge recommendation for this series! I really really enjoyed reading it.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this felt like it took 5 years to finish omg, I was so excited for this but it was just…meh. Everything felt far too easy, and honestly seemed like a completely different author to the first one

Thank you Kristen Ciccarelli, HarperVoyager and Netgalley for giving me a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

It’s not often that a sequel manages to be as strong and compelling as the first in the series. The Rebel Witch was a FANTASTIC follow up to The Crimson Moth. I reread The Crimson Moth in preparation for reading The Rebel Witch and I was worried about how Kristen Ciccarelli would continue the tension and romance between Rune and Gideon after the betrayals in the closing chapters of The Crimson Moth, I wasn’t sure how I or Rune could forgive Gideon for sending her to her death.

The Rebel Witch was everything I wanted, it was tense, it was compelling - I was desperate for to see how the story would develop and how it could possibly be a happy ending for Rune and Gideon and the warring world around them. The ‘enemies to lover’s’ trope was completely believable and I honestly wasn’t sure if either one would end up killing the other, unable to forgive each other for all of the betrayals rather than accepting their true feelings for each other and finally be together.

Kristen Ciccarelli’s writing is so captivating, there are so many beautiful quotable scenes that I find myself going back to. The story is woven in a way that I was desperate to get to the end but wanted to savour every touch, every word between Rune and Gideon. This is truly one of the best ‘romantasy’ duologies I have read. It was the PERFECT balance between the fantasy adventure and the torturous love between the main characters.

The way Gideon talks about Rune and his internal conflict between his feelings for her and his loyalty to the blood guard was just beautiful:

“She was like a magnet sending the arrows on his moral compass spinning. Making him forget who he was and everything he’d commit himself to”

I loved the new locations introduced - the travelling on the ship had some of my favourite scenes between Rune and Gideon. The jealousy and the yearning was perfection. Here is where we also met some new characters that at first I was unsure of and how the dynamics would change, but these characters were necessary for some of the BEST scenes of yearning and frustration between Rune and Gideon.

Both of the main characters had real character development throughout this book - neither were the same person that we left at the close of The Crimson Moth. I loved seeing Rune find herself as a witch and learn the strength and power she had within herself. I loved seeing Gideon question everything he thought he believed in and learn to forgive himself for his actions, grieve his brother and accept his feelings towards Rune all whilst discovering his ability to lead the world to a better future for both sides of the revolution.

The book was fast paced in a great way - it was easy to devour the story. With plot twists at every turn and no happy ending easily in sight it made for a fantastic, emotional entertaining read.

I was a mess during the penultimate chapters, whilst I knew it was inevitable - Rune and Gideon were always the Witch and the Witch Hunter after all I was not prepared for how emotional I would be. I could feel my heartbreak a long-side Gideon, I was as devastated as he was. This book broke me and put me back together in the best ways.

When I read a book that has me feeling all the emotions, kicking my feet with joy over the romance, fearing for their lives, feeling the tension and betrayal alongside the characters thats when I know I’ve read something truly special.

This story was everything.

I loved reading the Crimson Moth so I was so excited to read Rebel Witch, and it 100% did not disappoint!

I thought this was the perfect ending and is definitely one of my favourite series! It was very fun, the chemistry was undeniable between Rune and Gideon and it was just everything I wanted in book 2 and more! It picks up at a great point after The Crimson Moth and so much happens in this book, I just loved it! I also think I prefer book 2 to book 1 which I did not think was possible!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for letting me read this book early!

“You are far worse than a thorn in my side,” he said, his dark eyes gleaming at her. “You are a knife in my heart.”

Huge thankyou to Harper Collins, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC ♥️

It took a little while to get into the actual plot, where there was considerable action.. but when it got down to it.. it was unputdownable!

The cat and mouse theme between Gideon the witch hunter and Rune winters the Witch, was electric. The politics, betrayals, enemies to lovers theme, and magic system in this series is absolutely brilliant. highly Recommend!

𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 5✩

𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
This book is a perfect conclusion to this duology, delivering a fast paced, high stakes story brimming with tension. Watching Rune and Gideon battle with their feelings for each other while trying to reach their very different goals was extremely entertaining. Their electric chemistry, filled with longing and vulnerability, keeps you rooting for them even when their paths seem irreconcilable. The world building continues to impress, with new layers of magic, lore, and danger that expand on the foundations laid in the first book. Ciccarelli’s writing is both engaging and unpredictable, with twist that will you keep you guessing until the very end. If you already can’t wait for this sequel get even more excited because this was AMAZING!