Name: Heartless Hunter
Rating: 4.126470588235295 (85 reviews)
ISBN: 9781250866905

Kristen Ciccarelli

In a world where witches face persecution, Rune leads a double life, masquerading as a socialite during the day and transforming into the vigilante known as the Crimson Moth by night, and forms a complicated alliance with the witch hunter Gideon Sharpe, blurring the lines between love and danger.

The Crimson Moth: Book 1

Heartless Hunter

Ashley Denktas

I’m actually so surprised by this book’s reputation. Did I read all - yes. Did I enjoy it at a baseline as just a story to go through without critically thinking about anything - yes. Did I think it was peak - no. I felt the plot felt very predicable, the end did have a twist but there was so much foreshadowing it felt like it ruined the reveal. Additionally, no one talks about how Rune has sex with Gideon, then the next day runs to his brother and agrees to marry him. Then he dies and never knows the two people who were in his live basically hurt him - but its fine because he will never find out! I’m not giving a bad review for characters who don’t have a clear moral compass. It was a bit odd the entire plot Gideon’s coworkers are like “sleep with the girl!” But ya know it’s not my story to tell. If this genre is something you like maybe you’ll like it more, but this isn’t on the top of my favs.

Nmamsinachi Eze-Solomon

She uses her period blood. (yes, no hi, no hello) I was so thrown off when I realized it. I think the author, just hinted at it in a sentence and hoped we'd look over it, but dang the way my head reared back when I realized that her next cycle meant her next period. And how exactly did that girl even catch the blood? Actually, never mind, don't answer that. Anyways, at the beginning of the book I don't know whether this was on purpose or because of PTSD from my previous books, but I really thought Alex was going to do something evil at the end of the book. Like full out betray Rune and be working with his brother from the very moment he knew or something idk, but VERITY???? Like not Verity Verity, (she's dead?? like ikr) but CRESSIDA. Boyyy the way I was PISSED. Like Alex, you had ONE JOB in this goddamn book and you couldn't even do that right before you decided to die. I don't care what anyone tells me Alex literally sympathized with his brothers abuser and his sister's and parent murderer. Even if he "didn't know", you didn't see the state of your brother while he kept sacrificing himself to those boxing rings? I'm actually spiraling but I'm still not over Verity being Cressida, or Cressida using Verity's identity. Like brooooooooo. I'm not gonna get on Gideon rn, imma save that for the next book, because that boy is pissing me all the way off rn (even though its justifiable) No because it clicked to me that Verity was not who we thought she was when she started to get unnecessarily angry at herself for trying to sell rune out to a bunch of suitors idk but it seemed soooo fakee. well anyways everyone has their opinions and this is mine xo

michelle

<blockquote>”I'm in love with him. Instead of getting Gideon Sharpe out of her system tonight, Rune had gone and gotten herself addicted. The hunted had fallen for the hunter.”</blockquote>

Was looking for a romantasy fix and I got it. While whatever was going on between Rue and Gideon was dull I was not bored. 

debra reads

Knowing this is the first of a two-part story, I loved the characters, pacing, tension, and hint of sweet chili spice. I enjoyed following the MCs’ development an a classic but well-done enemies-to-lovers journey. Excited to read Rebel Witch.

Alexa Nota

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! "A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, played out against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and bloody history. I couldn't look away." - Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Champion of Fate Enemies-to-lovers doesn't get more high stakes than a witch and a witch hunter falling in love in bestselling author Kristen Ciccarelli's latest romantic fantasy. On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is. Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe - a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution - who she can't help but find herself falling for. Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting? Kristen Ciccarelli’s Heartless Hunter is the thrilling start to The Crimson Moth duology, a romantic fantasy series where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch...is falling in love. “Enchanting and deeply romantic, Heartless Hunter drew me in with the first sentence and left me breathless by the last. A story that unfolds like a spell, and one that is destined to capture your heart.” - Rebecca Ross, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divine Rivals

This is one of my favorite books I have ever read. The story telling the plot twist that just kept coming at the end. Gideon and Rune grow with each other throughout this book. I’m starting the second immediately hoping for the same feeling book one brought. 

Sydney Cantwell

This book was an easy, addictive read. However, critique:

This book was an easy, addictive read. However, critique:

It NEEDED to decide between YA or Adult. The use of swear words was just so forced. The characters are 18 and 21? It would have been okay and even made more sense if they were 21 and 24. It would have been fine.

The whole thing about Gideon needing to sleep with Rune was ridiculously convenient. And then you reach the end of the book and you think of how these people are basically sleeping around within the same groups it's so weird.

I will be reading the sequel though.

Simple, easy read. Finished in a sitting. Enemies to lovers meets my best friends brother is the one for me. Slow burn-ish. Series set up which I never love but I’ll still probably read the second because I’m a sucker for a book with the yearning. Predictable plot.

TW: mentions of emotional and physical abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, murder, death of family members. 

Abigail F

Simple, easy read. Finished in a sitting. Enemies to lovers meets my best friends brother is the one for me. Slow burn-ish. Series set up which I never love but I’ll still probably read the second because I’m a sucker for a book with the yearning. Predictable plot.

TW: mentions of emotional and physical abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, murder, death of family members. 

one of the reasons this isn’t a 5 star is bc i thought the fmc would be more badass? given her reputation as the crimson moth. i expected more action ig? but it was mostly her just flirting with gideon which i loved don’t get me wrong but i wanted more of the crimson moth aspect. i also did guess one of the plot twist but the other one really did get me 😓 overall i really enjoyed this one, i hope the second is even better

millie

4.25⭐️

one of the reasons this isn’t a 5 star is bc i thought the fmc would be more badass? given her reputation as the crimson moth. i expected more action ig? but it was mostly her just flirting with gideon which i loved don’t get me wrong but i wanted more of the crimson moth aspect. i also did guess one of the plot twist but the other one really did get me 😓 overall i really enjoyed this one, i hope the second is even better

The only good thing about this book was that it ended and it can hurt me no more.

P.S. Please get Gideon to a therapist and give him some decent friends, he has been through enough.

Isidora Vatali

The only good thing about this book was that it ended and it can hurt me no more.

P.S. Please get Gideon to a therapist and give him some decent friends, he has been through enough.

It only isn’t a 5 star because I guessed every plot twist. I normally hate the “I’m something you hate but you don’t know and then you’re going to find out and feel incredibly betrayed” ploy line, but in this book it was so well made, I loved it 

Sílvia

it took me long to read bc i have an anxiety but im happy i finally finished, i know no idea how they next book will be but i can’t wait to read it.

surprisedly an easy read, and somehow each character got a tragic ending. i don’t know how the romance will recover in the next book. very on my toes

debbie <3

it took me long to read bc i have an anxiety but im happy i finally finished, i know no idea how they next book will be but i can’t wait to read it.

surprisedly an easy read, and somehow each character got a tragic ending. i don’t know how the romance will recover in the next book. very on my toes

issa

This book was something that I have never read before and I am OBSESSED with this world and plot. The first half was definitely slow but it picked up and got so so good. I did not expect the ending at all, but I can’t wait for book 2!! 

Zoe Katherine Clyde

this is more of a romance sets in fantasy world than the usual fantasy with a tiny (if not nonexistent) romance subplot i have read. i usually read romance for plate cleanser after reading too much fantasy, but after reading this turned out i enjoyed reading romance where the stakes are much higher. i love this and i cannot wait for rebel witch 🧙‍♀️

hana

I enjoyed this and will read the sequel. I liked the premise, the writing, and the romance. The only thing that bothered me was the handling of Alex, but I can't put a finger on it. 

Sephirra

incredibly captivating, heartbreaking and left wanting more just in time for the second book. you truly sympathize with the main character and feel as though you were just as betrayed as she was.

amada ♡

This was an amazing book filled with all the tension and other worldliness that I think of when I think of a Witchy Read.  Ciccarelii has written an Enemies to Lovers romance that truly sets the bar for what can be done with this trope, especially when blended in with the Brothers Best Friend subtrope. With World building this vivid and detailed I cannot wait to see how the author will build on this for the nxt book. 

Thank you St Martin's Press and Net Galley for sharing this arc with me! 

Susan Dara

This was an amazing book filled with all the tension and other worldliness that I think of when I think of a Witchy Read.  Ciccarelii has written an Enemies to Lovers romance that truly sets the bar for what can be done with this trope, especially when blended in with the Brothers Best Friend subtrope. With World building this vivid and detailed I cannot wait to see how the author will build on this for the nxt book. 

Thank you St Martin's Press and Net Galley for sharing this arc with me! 

I haven’t been entranced by a book craving to finish it so I can know how it ends since ACOTAR. This book keeps you on edge the entire time ! Plus a witch and witch hunter romance story ?! Enemies to lovers ?! I mean how could I not want more ?! I’m so ready for book two! 

Brianna Hickey 

Love it so much! The second one needs to be out ASAP ❤️

Sydnee Alexander

millena

i literally don’t have words to describe how much i loved this book

✨Every time Gideon looked at the young heiress, she reminded him of the sea: steal-your-breath beautiful on the surface, with the promise of untold depths beneath.

✨He’d spent the last two hours making it for her, feeling slightly ill as he sewed every petal. Roses always brought the painful memories rushing back. But Harrow’s advice—to woo Rune—kept ringing through his head, and his mother could never resist the silk roses his father used to make her after they argued.

✨The smile that bloomed across her face did something strange to his insides.

✨P.S. My plan is to win you over so you’ll keep making me dresses forever. P.P.S. Let me know when it’s working.

✨The sight of him was like coming home.

✨IT WAS UNNATURAL, THE way he wanted her. Like nothing else in the world mattered more than bringing her upstairs, peeling her out of those riding leathers, and guiding her down to the bed. Like nothing mattered more than her.

✨I’m in love with him. Instead of getting Gideon Sharpe out of her system tonight, Rune had gone and gotten herself addicted. The hunted had fallen for the hunter.

✨“You’re afraid of something,” he said. “Tell me what it is.” She bit down on her lip. Gideon wanted to close the gap between them, take her face in his hands, and tell her he’d protect her. But he held himself still. “You,” she whispered. “I’m afraid of you.” His heart sank like a stone. “Me?” She backed up a step. “The way you make me feel is …” She hugged the bundle of clothes tighter. “I’m afraid it’s something I could get used to. Something I could need.” She shook her head. “I’m afraid you’ll be the end of me, Gideon.” And then, much more quietly: “Maybe you already are.”

✨“What if we fight all the time?” “I’d rather fight with you than do most other things.”

✨“I don’t have long. But you … you have a whole life ahead of you. Rune. I want you to live it.”

✨Even if they could survive this, she’d lost everything. Everyone knew what she was. Gideon wanted her dead. And now Alex …

✨Only one thing was certain. Gideon would come for her, and when he did, Rune would be ready.

Mariaaa

✨Every time Gideon looked at the young heiress, she reminded him of the sea: steal-your-breath beautiful on the surface, with the promise of untold depths beneath.

✨He’d spent the last two hours making it for her, feeling slightly ill as he sewed every petal. Roses always brought the painful memories rushing back. But Harrow’s advice—to woo Rune—kept ringing through his head, and his mother could never resist the silk roses his father used to make her after they argued.

✨The smile that bloomed across her face did something strange to his insides.

✨P.S. My plan is to win you over so you’ll keep making me dresses forever. P.P.S. Let me know when it’s working.

✨The sight of him was like coming home.

✨She was drowning, and he was air.

✨IT WAS UNNATURAL, THE way he wanted her. Like nothing else in the world mattered more than bringing her upstairs, peeling her out of those riding leathers, and guiding her down to the bed. Like nothing mattered more than her.

✨I’m in love with him. Instead of getting Gideon Sharpe out of her system tonight, Rune had gone and gotten herself addicted. The hunted had fallen for the hunter.

✨“You’re afraid of something,” he said. “Tell me what it is.” She bit down on her lip. Gideon wanted to close the gap between them, take her face in his hands, and tell her he’d protect her. But he held himself still. “You,” she whispered. “I’m afraid of you.” His heart sank like a stone. “Me?” She backed up a step. “The way you make me feel is …” She hugged the bundle of clothes tighter. “I’m afraid it’s something I could get used to. Something I could need.” She shook her head. “I’m afraid you’ll be the end of me, Gideon.” And then, much more quietly: “Maybe you already are.”

✨“What if we fight all the time?” “I’d rather fight with you than do most other things.”

✨“I don’t have long. But you … you have a whole life ahead of you. Rune. I want you to live it.”

✨Even if they could survive this, she’d lost everything. Everyone knew what she was. Gideon wanted her dead. And now Alex …

✨Only one thing was certain. Gideon would come for her, and when he did, Rune would be ready.

Jillian Roberts

Throughly enjoyed this book. There were a few times where the plot and its twists were predictable, but overall it was a great storyline. The characters were realistic and well written and the romance made my heart ache. If you like YA fiction, it’s the book for you. Eagerly awaiting book two!

Heartless Hunter The Crimson Moth: Book 1

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