I had high expectations for this sequel and even though I enjoyed it, I wasn't wowed or blown away by this one.

I liked the dynamics and back and forth romance between Rune and Gideon, but the overall plot was lacking somehow? It's still a very smooth and action-packed read but I don't feel like anything groundbreaking happened. I do feel like a lot happened and was explained but at the same time I never really felt intruiged? The end had me amazed for a minute but then it didn't because of course the obvious thing happened (you'll see when you read it).

Overall an enjoyable read but I hoped for a little more.

2.75 but rounded up to 3.

Firstly thank you for the ARC, as always, I'm very grateful.
I was really looking forward to this one after giving The Crimson Moth a solic 4 stars earlier in year year. Unfortunately, the sequel didn't live up to this for me.
All opinions are my own.

Some of the difficulties I had with the book:
1-In the first 30/40% there was so much emphasis on Rune being small and petite and how Gideon towered over her. I think this must have been repeated about 8 times and it felt like overkill for me.

2-the constant references to Rune being "a girl". She is a woman, she is doing woman things and the book is a romance. I don't want to be romanticising a girl. This is a small thing but it really bugged me.

3- the miscommunication trope. It felt like groundhog day between Gideon and Rune. Can they trust each other? Are they going to betray each other? Do they understand the others intention? It was this on a rinse and repeat cycle and it got quite tedious. I understand that this is a romantasy book, but the romance was too heavily featured and it took away from moving the plot forward.

4- speaking of plot, the main part happened in the last 5%? It felt rushed and an afterthought. We've spent so much time toing and froing on the romance side that I felt the plot was really hindered. The ending and subsequent conclusion felt like an afterthought.

Its not to say that I didn't enjoy the book at all because I did. I think the magic system is really interesting, the way the world's are set up and the politics of the book. I also enjoyed the writing style. But ultimately, I didn't feel as interested or captured by this one as I did the first.

I enjoyed this one so much more than the first, which isn’t to say the first wasn’t good, it’s more that this one just really grabbed my attention and held it. Though I did spend the first half wishing Gideon and Rune would just get over their damn selves. Gideon is a self-righteous zealot for a little while there, but he gets it together, I’m glad to say. These two could skip a whole lot of pain if they just learned to use their words and communicate! Still, where’s the fun in that?

The Rebel Witch is a fast paced read, filled to the brim with action and it’ll keep you engaged throughout each chapter. It’s a perfect end to the duology and to Gideon and Rune’s story.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins U.K. and Kristen Ciccarelli for gifting me this eARC.

3,5 ⭐

While I loved the first book for the banter and action, I found this one to be longer than necessary. I love the main characters, but I wish there was more development on the MMC side!

One of my favourite reads of the year - The Crimson Moth (aka The Heartless Hunter) - Fairyloot February YA book edition shown.

The ending of The Crimson Moth left me realling and I was desperate to get my hands on the sequel - to only find it's released next year. Lucky for me Harper Collins approved my request to read The Rebel Witch as an eARC.

Let me tell you now, Kristen Ciccarelli did not disappoint and this duology has quickly become one of my favourites.

Kristen has continued Ruins story in a beautiful manner. Picking right up where book 1 finished (all be it a few months later) getting you thrown straight back into the story.
You've got alternating PoV for Ruin and Gideon and reading as the witch tries to evade the hunter, and they both battle with the emotions they've come to have over the events of the last few months. It gives a more full view of both sides, making me understand each characters decisions, trials and tribulations as they fight for what they believe is right.

It was a fast paced read that left me wanting more and chambering to pick it up after work. Fighting myself on the need to finish vs the need to savour and extend my time with Ruin and Gideon.

Degintely add this duology to your TBR. With the The Rebel Witch coming out March 5th (in Australia)

Rebel Witch was an entertaining read with yet again beautifully executed dual POV. The plot overall was pretty simple and quite predictable but enjoyable none the less and I had a lot of fun with this book. Similar to Crimson Moth, there's plenty of banter, mystery, unexpected revelations and an ending that will surely satisfy everyone.

My biggest beef however was the romance. As adorable as it all was - the banter, the back and forth, the enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers, I wished they just talked to each other and be honest for one minute!!!!!! So much miscommunication, so many assumptions made, so much mistrust which is understandable but surely possible to overcome if they JUST TALKED to each other!!!! All this miscommunication led both characters to all the wrong choices over and over and over again.... I was screaming at my Kindle so much! 😄 However, Rune and Gideon are such likable characters that all was forgiven and I was so invested in their story that nothing would make me stop!!

Overall, a very enjoyable conclusion to a great duology!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was just perfect. Better even than the first one !
It has everything I could have ever wanted for this story and it is beautifully executed.

- And it got me out of a 3 months reading slump -

What to expect:
Enemies to Lovers
Forbidden Love
Forbidden Magic
Witch + Witch Hunter

I was so excited to delve back into this world, and it did not disappoint. I immensely enjoyed this book and found it to be the perfect ending to this duology.

This book picks up shortly after the first and we are thrown back into this world and it's action packed from the get go. I don't think I once found myself bored with the storyline as there was constantly so much going on and getting the dual POV of both Rune and Gideon really made the story flow quickly.

We see both Rune and Gideon struggling with their decisions and feelings, and thankfully they are not kept apart for large portions of the story. The tension and chemistry is so electric between the two and present throughout the whole story and it's completely delicious! There is so much growth in their relationship and we get to see how they handle their obvious distrust for one another and their hurt over what happened in the past. As well as their inability to stay away from each other while also wanting to kill each other just makes the story so addictive. Now, picture all of that, mixed with a fake relationship, forced proximity, major jealousy and betrayal? Their relationship and back and forth completely stole the show.

Overall, this was such a perfect ending to this beautiful and addictive story and it's example of an enemies to lovers relationship has to be one of my favourites, allowing us to experience their incredibly angsty journey in defying the odds their up against. I really recommend picking up this book upon it's release in February 2025!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this early review copy.

I didn't think the Crimson Moth could be beaten but MY GOD, this topped it.

I am absolutely obsessed with Gideon and Rune. This book was full of pure hate, love and passion. This is how enemies to lovers should be done.

I love how character driven this series is, the moments between Gideon and Rune were just everything. And the side characters really stood out in this book, there is betrayal, sacrifice, and bonds formed. This book also has so much more plot development than the Crimson Moth! There is so much tension and excitement, I physically could not put it down.

And the ending had me crying and swearing and completely on the edge of my seat.

PHENOMENAL.

The Rebel Witch delivers an action-packed finale to The Crimson Moth duology, but for me, it didn’t quite capture the gripping intensity of the first book. The story picks up with Rune on the run after Gideon’s betrayal, forced into an uneasy alliance with Cressida Roseblood. Rune’s struggle to balance survival with the growing weight of her choices creates an intriguing moral complexity, though at times her decisions felt repetitive.

The tension between Rune and Gideon remains a highlight. Their dynamic is layered with unresolved feelings and mistrust, as Gideon wrestles with his hatred for witches and the part of him that still cares for Rune. While their interactions are compelling, the emotional stakes didn’t hit as hard this time around, feeling more like a slow burn without the payoff of The Crimson Moth.

The larger conflict—Cressida’s plans to reinstate the Reign of Witches versus Gideon’s determination to protect the Republic—raises the stakes, but the pacing occasionally falters. The middle section felt bogged down by prolonged political manoeuvring, which dulled some of the urgency. However, the action scenes were as thrilling as ever, and the climax delivered a satisfying resolution to the central conflict.

While The Rebel Witch didn’t keep me as hooked as its predecessor, it’s still a solid read for fans of the series. If you enjoyed the first book, you’ll want to see how it all ends, even if the journey isn’t quite as spellbinding this time around.

Big thank you to Net Galley & Harper Collins for the advanced copy.
I have been dying to read this as Crimson Moth was one of the best things I have read this year!

This book is all action, and it’s got everything I love in it, there’s betrayal, who did this, misunderstandings, revolution!
And so many wholesome moments! 💜

The pacing is really good, it kept me hooked and i really couldn’t put it down!
I do wish there had been more magic, There’s quite a lot of the same spell and I found the whole magic system so interesting so would have been good to see more.

I’m not usually a highlighter but particularly loved this quote from Gideon

“Instead he’d found this Rune, His Rune. A mess”

Adorable. He just gets her.

A perfect end to this duology, all of the banter and tension I loved from the first book continued on into the second and wrapped up the plot perfectly!

This was everything I wanted and more from the second book in this duology.
We pick up shortly after the end of book one and we are thrown straight back into the story.
I adore Gideon and Rune, I haven’t been this emotionally attached to characters for a long while. And it’s not just them all the side characters are fully fleshed out and I loved them too seraphine, Harrow, Laila just all of them. And hated the ones I was meant to hate too, Cressida is an incredible villain, so much so that even though she doesn’t get much page time in person just the mention of her is enough.
This is a duology that I know I will read again and again. The writing is beautiful, the characters and world building are great, I could picture it playing out like a movie in my head.
I can’t wait to see what this author puts out next!
I think I loved this one even more than the first.

I'm so disappointed in this series. I really thought I was gonna love it, but sadly it was just average.

I feel like across both books there are some really solid plot points and the characters are good enough that it could've been a really excellent series, but the execution was a bit poor. For example, in this book there were some big reveals (no spoilers, don't worry), which I feel like should have happened in the first book because it meant that this book was trying to do too much, and then the reveals felt so obvious because there wasn't really enough build up to them in my opinion.

I also found that the pacing was off. There were parts of this book which felt quite dull and repetitive and then the big finale happened in the LAST 25 PAGES!

It was fine, but I just expected so much more because of all the hype surrounding this series.

Love has never been so deadly. You’ll find the stakes are even higher in this epic conclusion to this romantic fantasy series where a witch and a witch hunter are met with an impossible choice. Everyone wants her dead. Gideon Sharpe revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands who want her dead. Rune Winters deceived him. Now she’s betrayed him again by allying herself with the witches who made his life hell.

When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse the two pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. They’re forced into each other’s company and realise the feelings they had for each other aren’t as dead and buried as they thought. Now they face a terrible choice: sacrifice one to stop a monster taking back power or watch the world they fought so hard for burn.

A perfect ending to the duopoly. A fast paced plot that will leave you on the edge of your seat, a searing romance that will leave you breathless and stakes so high you’ll do anything just to watch this world fight not to burn. There wasn’t a single moment that wasn’t beautifully written and well thought out by the author. You may guess the ending but that won’t make it any less brutally realised. Will forever recommend this duology.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐔𝐊 | 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐅𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐩𝐢𝐞) 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐥 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐲 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐜𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢

I was excited to read the second installment to this series. I devoured the first book and enjoyed this one just as much! The pacing was great and i never found a dull moment. I love a book that can grip me from the beginning until the very end and this was one of those stories. I was unable to stop once i started. I didn't feel like i was reading but rather watching a film with how easy the words and plot was flowing. I know a book has truly gripped me if i get to that stage so it was a no-brainer that this would be 5 stars for me.

The tension between Rune and Gideon was sizzling. Their inner conflict of choosing between love and hate was portrayed well and to be honest, who wouldn't fall for Gideon? I know i would. This series is my new favourite and i'm glad i decided to pick it up. Overall, it was a fun read and had a perfect witch x witch hunter duo.

I would like to thank harper collins and netgalley for allowing me to read an e-arc of this book. I'm truly grateful.

Having eagerly anticipated the conclusion to this duology, I was thrilled to see that Rebel Witch not only met but exceeded my expectations. After finishing The Crimson Moth, I wondered if the second book could maintain the same intense momentum, but I was pleased to find that it did so effortlessly. The pacing remained sharp and engaging, sustaining the suspense right up until the final pages.

One of the most satisfying aspects of this installment was the deeper character development, especially for Rune and Gideon. Both characters experienced meaningful growth, with arcs that felt earned and natural. Their evolving relationship was handled with a great deal of care and consistency, which I greatly appreciated.

While I initially thought the narrative might stretch into a third book, especially given the emerging dynamics of the found family theme, the story wrapped up in a way that felt both conclusive and rewarding. It works beautifully as a duology, offering a sense of closure without leaving any lingering questions.

In the end, Rebel Witch is an exhilarating, fast-paced read, full of twists and emotional depth. It’s a series I’ll undoubtedly revisit in the future, and one that will stay with me for quite some time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

From start to finish this book is fast paced and high stakes which I love. A true enemies to lovers - something I will always be on board with. I loved this! I think everyone needs to read book 1 so they can read this as soon as it’s released!

I will be hyping this biology up to everyone!

4/5 stars 1/5 spice

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the e-arc.
This review contains spoilers for book one: The Crimson Moth, but is spoiler free for The Rebel Witch.

"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒌𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕."

First of all let me say that I love Gideon, always have. This is a story of self discovery and learning to trust again. Just like the first book, Kristen she has such a magical ability to make you feel so many emotions in the way she writes character interactions and inner dialogue.

“𝑰𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒌. 𝑰𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏, 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍.”

The book starts two months after the ending of The Crimson Moth and gets right into the action. My overall thoughts: This was a good story that was fast-paced but didn’t flow as nicely as The Crimson Moth because the storyline had more aspects to incorporate (the first part of the book is set in a new location, there is a lack of honest communication between Rune and Gideon, there are new characters).

Regarding the miscommunication in this book - there was a lot of it between Rune and Gideon due to their current situation i.e. how book one ended (enemies to lovers back to enemies) and their overarching opposing priorities (Cressida being back in power is the only way Rune can keep witches safe, versus, Gideon cannot let Cressida return to power because she will be a tyrant). They both still have feelings for one-another but the other doesn’t know they both feel the same way thus neither of them are fully honest. Whenever they are about to be fully honest they remind themselves of their opposing goals and decide against it- this circles for a good 60% of the book. Personally I understand why this was realistic and needed to happen but I can imagine some readers may find it frustrating.

There were some moments that felt slightly out of character, mostly Rune, and I was questioning why certain things unfolded the way they did or why characters were making the choices they did. I feel all of my questions were eventually answered as the story unfolded, however sometimes I didn’t fully agree with the 𝑤ℎ𝑦.

The ending was very fast-paced, and although I guessed what would happen, it was still enjoyable. I do wish the last 80% of the book started sooner- this would have meant that the ending was more drawn out and had more depth.

There were some popular tropes that appeared towards the end that may have felt included for the sake of it? But this is only a minor point.

Finally, the book ends with a three months later epilogue that gives us just a little peak into where Rube and Gideon and the political system of the island ended up after the events at the end of the book.

Overall, this book was enjoyable but book one will forever be my favourite.

Bookstagram: @larslovelettertobooks

I did enjoy this book HOWEVER, the first one was way better imo!!! i found that a lot of the plot points that happened got resolved so quickly and conveniently and I would of liked them to of been drawn out a little longer.. and it was very predictable. But it was a fun romantasy read perfect for this time of year tho!