THAT. WAS. SO. FUCKING. GOOD! *screams*

I knew I'd love this, I just knew. Rebel Witch is just as good as, if not better, than its prequel, Crimson Moth. My only gripe is that it's over. I wouldn't say no to books for the other characters though, Kristen, hint hint wink wink.

I just absolutely adore Rune and Gideon. Its the kind of adoration that makes my heart swell for them one moment and then makes me want to smack their heads together the next, because HELLO, are you two stupid? Can you not see how you feel about each other?

Ugh.

So fucking good. *chefs kiss*

This was just as amazing as the first book, and I loved every second. I almost read it in one sitting, and when I wasn’t reading I thought about it.

I love the chemistry and tension between Rune and Gideon, and I felt so heartbroken for all the setbacks that happened. The book had so many twist and turns that just had me absolutely hooked.

I loved this duology and would definitely recommend it one of my favourites!

Yesss!! This was amazing!! I’m so in love with it
Since the first one this is one book I’ve been most excited about this year and it really didn’t disappoint
The cat & mouse was perfect. I couldn’t put it down
5 stars all round
Fantastic characters brilliant story love hate relationship
The ending was perfect I couldn’t imagine better
Couldn’t recommend more
Will be one of the top books of 2025

The heartless hunter duet is a shining gem amongst the current romantasy fatigue.  Whilst it didn't reinvent the wheel, and is full of much-loved tropes, I found this to be much more fun and well plotted than some similar huge releases in the past few years.  This second installment wastes no time in kicking off the drama,and it doesn't let off until the very end. Rune and Gideon are both well developed characters with their differing motivations clear, and their enemies-to-lovers storyline is SO much fun - anyone seeking a banterous, push- and- pull dynamic would eat this up. That being said, towards the end of this book, there are some very tender and genuine moments between them where they reckon with what their future might hold, and I really appreciated seeing this side of them. 

I'm very excited for this book to come out and to see everyone's reactions. 

Thank you to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

5 stars - Upper YA fantasy sequel.

Spoilers for book 1!

At the end of book 1 Verity is exposed as Cressida Roseblood, the witch queen thought to have been killed by Alex. Rune managed to flee with Cressida and Seraphine from the blood guard who want all witches dead but Rune does not wholly agree with Cressidas plans. Gideon wants to seek revenge on Rune and Cressida for the death of his brother Alex. The Rebel Witch picks up shortly after these events, with Gideon hunting Rune and finds her engaged to a prince, who is handing Cressida his army to take back their city. Without spoilers, events happen and Rune and Gideon come up with an uneasy alliance ultimately planning to betray each other.

Absolutely loved this sequel - I reread book one before starting which helped to refresh my memory on certain events and characters and would recommend. The twists and turns this story takes is an emotional rollercoaster - I was kicking and giggling my feet at some points then next thing I had to put the book down as I was so stressed as to what was happening. Tears were nearly shed! Much higher stakes than the first book.

I adored the relationship between Rune and Gideon - although at times frustrating, knowing each others point of view, I could understand why they felt the need to do what they did. They both strengthened throughout the book individually and as a couple.

The only point I would make is I felt the ending was slightly rushed - I got to the last 10% of the book and a major plot line still wasn't tied up and I feel as though this could have happened slightly earlier or more pages added to the book. I could of happily read this as a trilogy though so I may be biased!

I loved the intensity of this book—it was like a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. The dynamic between Rune and Gideon was everything I wanted: angsty, complex, and deeply personal. Their push-and-pull relationship kept me on the edge of my seat, especially as they were forced to team up despite their lingering mistrust. The dual POVs worked beautifully, giving insight into both characters’ struggles and perspectives.

The pacing was excellent—there was always something happening, but it never felt rushed. The vibes were dark and romantic, with just the right balance of action and character development. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, and the ending left me emotionally wrecked (in the best way). This is definitely a series I’ll be thinking about for a long time. If you’re into enemies-to-lovers, morally gray characters, and high-stakes fantasy, this duology is a must-read!

I GOT AN ARC!!

Where the first book was a solid 3.5 stars, the rebel witch was definitely needed to round up the duology to 4 stars.

This one was so much fun. It started from a whole new angle which was such a thrill. This made the entire book far more interesting and ensured the stakes were MUCH higher. The angst, the burning desire, the hate, the humour - every single chapter was filled with all of those and more. Everything you’re looking in an enemies-to-lovers trope? It’s right here.

I do feel like the ending was slightly rushed. But the book felt quite long beforehand and a few situations were repetitive. Also, a few aspects were predictable, the hints were slightly too obvious. So when revelations were made, I was like “I knew it” but not in a surprising, kinda knew it, it’s been confirmed way, but more of a “not surprising, i knew it” way.

This duology is definitely one for getting out of reading slumps and just having pure fun while picking up a book :)

“Because I was stupid enough to fall in love with a witch hunter .Stupid enough to hope he might love me back.”

Thank you @netgalley and @kristenciccarelli for this advance copy of Rebel Witch, the conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology. This hits stores in February and while there are no spoilers for Rebel Witch there could however be spoilers for book one, please read ahead at your own risk.

The stakes have never been higher, love and betrayal collide in a battle for the fate of the Republic.

Rune is a fugitive, hunted by all sides after Gideon, the boy she once loved exposed her identity and handed her over to her enemies. To survive, Rune strikes an uneasy alliance with the ruthless Cressida Roseblood, a witch determined to overthrow the Republic and restore the Reign of Witches. But Cressida’s revolution demands Rune’s power, and the price may be more than Rune is willing to pay.

Gideon is determined to destroy every witch who threatens the Republic, starting with Rune. Her betrayal stings deeper now that she’s joined forces with the woman who scarred his past. To protect the fragile peace he fought so hard for, Gideon must stop Rune and Cressida before their plans ignite chaos. But when Rune offers him a deal that could change everything, Gideon is forced to confront the feelings he thought he buried long ago.

Bound by necessity, Rune and Gideon are thrust into an uneasy partnership, navigating perilous alliances and deadly schemes. As old feelings resurface, Gideon faces an impossible decision: sacrifice Rune to save the Republic, or risk everything for the girl who once held his heart.

While this was slower to start once I hit that sweet spot I couldn’t put it down. A great ending to a great duology. I love Gideon but Rune was the stand out bad ass female lead you want to read more of! Looking forward to reading more Fantasy in 2025.

This duology will forever hold a special place in my heart. The characters were just so flushed out - even though I constantly wanted to scream at them just to talk to each other dammit. I love how you get to see their struggles throughout the book and the eventual growth they go through.

The writing was also amazing! The chapters were short and so easy to read, once I started I couldn't put the book down. It was only by pure exhaustion that I had to put the book down a few times.

I also liked the plot. Yes some of the things were predictable but I was more here for the vibes than anything else. There was one thing regarding Rune that I should've seen from a mile but I was just so engrossed that when the twist came I was shooketh!

By far one of my most favourite series.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for sending me an ARC for my honest review!

Amazing conclusion to one of my favourite duologies ever! Rune and Gideon are the absolute IT couple and the forced proximity in this book ahd me gnawing of the bars of my enclosure, thank you so much for this ARC <3

The Rebel Witch was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025, and I can honestly say it went above and beyond all of my expectations!.

Continuing the story from the The Crimson Moth, we are thrown back into this fantasy world with an array of fascinating characters and a truly captivating storyline.

If you are a fantasy lover, then this is a book you need to read immediately, I couldn't put it down!

Rebel Witch was a fantastic sequel and a satisfying conclusion to a truly enjoyable duology. I absolutely loved the enemies-to-lovers-turned-back-to-enemies dynamic. It added so much tension and excitement. While I didn’t love Rebel Witch quite as much as The Crimson Moth, I thoroughly enjoyed getting back into this world and seeing where the story would take us.

It was fast-paced plot, packed with action, political intrigue, yearning, and just the right amount of angst. I especially appreciated that the characters weren’t separated for too long, which kept me fully invested in their journey. By the end, I was completely hooked and couldn’t stop reading.

Oh I’m absolutely obsessed with this!!!!

In this we follow Rune running away from the aftermath of book one and Gideon hunting her down in the streets of the continent, until one day due to unforseeable situations they are forced to work together to overturn the government once and for all.

This book was the perfect ending that I needed! Although I loved book one, I only gave it a four stars because I had some issues with it, but this??? No this was great. It was full of action, twists, angst and enemies to lovers in full force. Although I had already anticipated the plot twists and how this was going to end I loved my time reading it. It was so fun that I couldn’t stop reading it.

I loved the romance even if Rune and Gideon got on my nerves almost the entirety of the first half of the book, but nevertheless if I read an enemies to lovers it should be like this.

If you loved book one, I don’t see how you are not going to love book two.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

Admittedly, I didn’t love The Crimson Moth. But I definitely saw the potential, so I wanted to give the sequel a read. While I liked The Rebel Witch slightly more than its predecessor, it still didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Firstly, I just didn’t connect to the characters. They were fine, but they didn’t stand out to me at all. There was lots of tension and angst between Rune and Gideon, but the constant back and forth of their relationship eventually exhausted me. I was also disappointed that Cressida wasn’t as big of a part of this book as I had hoped. I wanted more of her backstory.

The plot felt very repetitive, and the second half of the book felt very chaotic and messy. I predicted a lot of the twists, and I was frustrated when other characters would conveniently show up to solve a problem that the main characters faced. The ending also felt very anticlimactic.

Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Fiction/Magpie for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would give it 6 ⭐️ if I could!!

Dare I say this was better than part 1? Bc I really think it was. I loved the tropes in this one and how we got more of Rune and Gideon than in The Crimson Moth. The ends they were willing to go to for each other was amazing and the end was perfect for this duology even if I was a little stressed where the story was heading for a while…
Absolutely ate this one up in like 2 sittings and was giggling at all the banter we got, the jealousy and the longing?! They were definitely both trying to deny their feelings just bc of what the other person is and what they did but it just made it feel more real.
I can not recommend this book enough and I really think it was perfect!

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐲. 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡, 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫."

One of my most anticipated releases of 2025 and I got my hands on the arc (thank you NetGalley). The Crimson Moth was one of my favourite reads of 2024 and The Rebel Witch did not disappoint either. Kristen Ciccarelli knows how to write a good romantasy; the enemies to lovers was done right and the plot was not lost due to the romance aspect of it all.

The Rebel Witch was the perfect conclusion to this duet and I cannot wait for any future releases of Kristen (I'd read her grocery list if she'd let me).

Now, excuse me while I continue sobbing and letting Gideon and Rune live in my head rentfree for the foreseeable future.

The Rebel Witch is the perfect conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology. Kristen Ciccarelli transports us straight back into the thick of the action and having Rune and Gideon back feels like a nice warm (slightly stabby) blanket.

The pacing was just right, I did find the first 20% of the book a bit slow and hard to get into but once things kicked off I couldn't stop myself from reading. I am utterly obsessed with Gideon's development throughout this series, and each twist and turn was perfectly calculated by Kristen for maximum enjoyment. Rune and Gideon were not kept apart for long - this (and the forced proximity) immensely.

Just when I thought I knew what would happen, the story sends you flying another way. I would have liked to have had Alex brought up in conversation more, Rune and Gideon seemed to tiptoe around the subject of him.

Overall, a highly engaging, delicious sequel - one that many readers will devour.

This is the one I've been most excited to read after what feels like forever. Reading *Crimson Moth* first, *Rebel Witch* was totally worth the wait.

I cannot put into words how this book made me feel; it had me in a chokehold at so many points. Tears were shed, frustration felt, little dances of happiness performed—just all the emotions.

If you loved the first book, you will 1000% love this one. It gave us everything we needed from Rune & Gideon's story and more. There were so many moments where the plot twists were unexpected, and I just loved the ending so much.

Honestly, this is one of the best duologies I have ever read. I'm so excited to see some character art for this story, as I have so many beautiful images in my mind.
Roll on all the special editions!♥️

Thank you, author, NetGalley, and publisher for letting me receive an early ARC copy. I am forever grateful.🙏

I was very lucky to receive a copy of this book through Net galley.

As a sequel it lived up to the first, starting with enough action to keep the story going.
Normally with squeals I don’t like the addition of new characters unless the series is going to be more than one book, but the additions of some new faces really helped the character’s development.

Rune:
Was amazing again, staying the smart FMC she was in the first book but still having a lot of learning and emotional growth to do.

Gideon:
I really enjoyed his inner monologues, he had a lot to work though.

Overall I really enjoyed both books and through this one carried on the story well. 3.5 stars

𝗦𝗜𝗫 𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦 *ੈ✩‧₊˚

I didn't think I would be finding a new favourite book this soon in to the new year but, alas, here we are! I can say with full confidence that this is tone of the best sequels I have ever read and already know it will make it on to my "top reads of the year" list!

𝗜'𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲｡

I first read The Crimson Moth in March 2023 and was instantly obsessed. I re-read it as my first read of January this year, quickly remembered why I loved it so much, and immediately dove in to the sequel that is The Rebel Witch. This thing happens to me regularly where I am severely dissapointed by my most anticipated reads, but Kristen Ciccarelli did not dissapoint, and she severely outdid herself and surpassed my expectations with this sequel. I didn't think it could beat The Crimson Moth, but, I was so very pleasently surprised that it did.

The book picks up around 2 months after the events of The Crimson Moth if I remember correctly, and we are very quickly sent straight back in to the thick of the plot, with action and suspense in every chapter. It was just impossible to put this book down, I read it in two sittings - and that's only because I had to sleep!!

Rune and Gideon have my entire heart. This is a true enemies to lovers situation and honestly I spent a lot of the book wandering how they could ever be anything other than the former as it was also so forbidden! The slow burn and the angst between the characters was delicious and their chemisty was undeniable, and I ate up every single page and interaction between them.

It's hard to review a sequel without spoilers, but I can say that I have never felt so immersed in a story. There were characters I loved, characters I loved not so much, it had more twists and turns than a cheap garden hose, deceit, betrayal, I never quite knew where the story was going and it truly kept me on my toes. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough but didn't want it to end all at the same time!

Hands on my heart, I have never quite felt so tense and anxious while reading a book in my entire life. The ending finished me off good and proper, I needed to take a minute before finishing it at one point because my heart was literally breaking in two!

Just perfect. I cannot believe this was only a duology because I would happily read a dozen more books surrounding these characters.

 ✨ 𝙁𝘼𝙑𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙄𝙏𝙀 𝙌𝙐𝙊𝙏𝙀𝙎 ✨

"𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥?"

"𝘎𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥; 𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘭. 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘜𝘯𝘺𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨."

"𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘙𝘶𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴."

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵."

"𝘖𝘩 𝘙𝘶𝘯𝘦..."
"𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴."
"𝘕𝘰. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦."