So I finished one of my most anticipated sequels of 2025, even though it’s only 2024. What a life! I had a very good time with this book, even though it definitely has some flaws. What I still liked very much about Rebel Witch is the magic system and the general worldbuilding, particularly the post-Revolutionary France-inspired setting. The plot is pretty simple, I must admit, often to the extent that you can easily guess the plot twists. Yet, I liked how the author wrapped up the story in the end. I didn’t think it would be possible to do so smoothly!

As with the first book, my biggest issue in this one is the romance. There are elements in Rune and Gideon’s relationship that I think were done masterfully — the banter and pining, especially. But at the same time, I believe the whole "enemies" situation was extremely dragged out and based on miscommunication, which is something I hate in romance. I mean, given the events in the first book, it’s natural that Gideon and Rune wouldn’t trust each other at the beginning, but truly, this issue could have been easily resolved 25% through the book if only they were willing to talk to each other instead of being stuck in their heads.

Given the above, I was often quite frustrated with the characters while reading this novel. Yet, I was so invested in what would happen to them that I was truly hooked and finished the book in two sittings. It’s Not a perfect sequel by any means, but still a very enjoyable conclusion to a beloved romantasy duology. I easily recommend it to anyone who loves the genre.

I could not put this down, reminding me a lot of how I felt reading the first one. This sequel was everything I wanted it to be, with lust and betrayal and so much tension. Such a gorgeous ending to this duology and I can’t wait to see what Kristen comes out with in the future. New auto-buy author for me.

- “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.”
- “And you’re a wolf I can’t outrun,” she whispered, closing her eyes against his touch. “Not even in my sleep.”

5🌟
Ahh, what do i even say?
This was so perfect. I missed being in this world and with these characters so much that i just couldn’t put it down.

The enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers again was everything i hoped for! Gideon and Rune have such a special place in my heart. They are that type of couple that just makes sense: they complement each other perfectly and they really do bring out the best in each other. They are flawed, they fight, and make mistakes, and hurt each other, but that makes them so real and so so relatable. And that’s why I love them so much.

I also really liked the aspect of fear and wanting to put yourself first. Usually when reading books we always see characters choosing just the right way to handle things, that are at the same time very noble and sacrificing. But in this book, it was like a breath of fresh air to follow the character that was scared and unsure and wanted to save herself to have a chance for a normal life.

That was an amazing sequel, and it was the right way to end this story. I will miss Rune and Gideon immensely, but I am so grateful for getting a chance to know them and going on this journey with them.

I want to say huge thanks to Kristen for bringing this characters alive and making me remember why i love reading so much! Thank you thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing me with this arc (i literally couldn’t believe my eyes when i got approved).

— 5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I may not know Rune Winters,” he whispered, his mouth an inch from hers. “But I know the Crimson Moth. And she is no caged thing.”

📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 455 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Kristen Ciccarelli
⏳ 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡: Duology
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Magpie, HarperCollins UK
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 27 February 2025

What you can expect:
— Young-Adult Romantasy
— Third-Person X Dual POV
— Enemies-To-Lovers
— Witch X Witch Hunter
— Slow-Burn Romance
— Forbidden Magic
— Found Family
— Magical Mr. and Mrs. Smith
— Best Friend's Older Brother

𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
The Rebel Witch is the second and final instalment in The Crimson Moth duology by author Kristen Ciccarelli. To say this book has been one of my most highly anticipated reads since I read The Crimson Moth in December 2023 is putting it lightly... and I'm thrilled to say that this book is everything I had hoped it would be and more. Ciccarelli has masterfully delivered on the angst and sense of longing which has carried over from book one and I found myself unable to put this story down. I was enthralled by the fast-paced journey that we are thrust upon and found myself sitting on the edge of my seat as I anxiously awaited what would come next, and I was so eager to read the conclusion that I devoured this book and its contents within the day. The setting of the story evolves and expands into new territories in progression with the plot, and I really enjoyed joining Rune and Gideon on their tumultuous journey filled with deceit, suspense and yearning. The emotionally-driven character interactions tugged at my heart strings and left me feeling the same emotions as our characters throughout their respective journeys. The Rebel Witch delivers an emotionally compelling tale as we see exactly how far our main characters are willing to go when it comes to love and revenge... and the consequences they may be forced to face as a result.

𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
The Rebel Witch swiftly picks up with immediate suspense and intrigue as we see Rune and Gideon reunited for the first time after the heart-wrenching ending in book one. Both characters remain at odds and determined to be the one who comes out at the end as the survivor of their ordeal, and there's no telling who will be victorious by the end. Rune has delivered the ultimate betrayal by siding with the Queen of Witches, Cressida, on her quest towards reclaiming her throne and once again placing witches at the top of the societal hierarchy. Something I found really interesting was how there is far more to Cressida's ambitions that what we are initially believed to know and I had a lot of fun seeing the truth unfold. Despite being at odds, Rune and Gideon are forced to work together in defence against Cressida and somehow not kill each other in the process. I loved every part of the journey that the plot in The Rebel Witch takes us on and I admit that whilst some of the twists were easy for me to predict pretty early on... there were a few that left me audibly gasping as I put my book down to process what I’d just read. Rune and Gideon's love is far from an easy journey to follow... however the one's worth remembering very rarely are.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Rune Winters is a wonderfully empathetic and driven character who is unafraid to do the wrong thing for the right reasons. For far too long she has been forced to watch the unjust persecution of her fellow witches by a community of humans that let fear of the unknown drive their actions. There is as much good to be found within witchcraft as there is bad, and Rune is determined to save as many innocent lives as possible before there is nobody left to save. Even if by doing so means that her own life becomes forfeit. After the tragic loss that we see her face at the end of The Crimson Moth Rune is determined to bury those emotions deep and continue with the mission that she believes to be her life's purpose. Even if that means falling under the leadership of a fellow witch that she hates with as much venom she can muster. I really felt for Rune throughout her journey in this story as she is plagued with self-doubt and a lot of self-refection regarding her actions. She cannot be categorised as neither good nor bad, and the complexities of her character are what make her the most relatable for me. A lot of Rune's decision-making is driven by this ideal that she has no other option, however I loved seeing her growth as she began to acknowledge what she is truly capable of. Her torment and agony made me feel really emotional, however I enjoyed seeing good people band around her during difficult times to show Rune that she is not alone. Rune's intelligence is one of her greatest assets and I loved getting to read as she took control of many situations with the awe and respect of her peers. Secrets are unveiled as unexpected adversaries make their presence known, and Rune has to fight harder than ever if she wants to see the world that she hopes to someday live in. I was rooting for Rune's happily ever after from beginning to end, and despite how bittersweet it feels to know that her journey is now over... I just know that I will cherish Rune and her journey for a very long time. Hopefully forever.

Gideon Sharpe is as morally complex as they come and I could not be more in-love with his character. Known as the notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution responsible for the deaths of so many witches, Gideon has gained a fearsome reputation that he seeks to protect at all costs as his credibility is brought into question. Knowing the truth behind his hatred of witches helps the reader to better understand his reasoning and motivations for his unapologetic actions within the first book, however The Rebel Witch introduces a different side to Gideon as he finds himself feeling a conflicted array of emotions for a woman that was once his greatest adversary. The suffering that Gideon has endured at the hands of witches is unfathomable... and my heart broke for his character after he is forced to bear yet another loss on his shoulders. I really enjoyed seeing Gideon battle with his mind and his heart as both wanted entirely different things, and this is something we see present for much of the story. His commitment and loyalty are his greatest assets when rightfully utilised, and more than anything I just loved getting to know Gideon more as a person as opposed to his tragic backstory. Gideon is a sad and broken man who is capable of giving so much love and light to the right person. He desperately wishes for a partner who is also his equal. A partner that he can verbally spar with in jest whilst openly expressing his love and devotion in public without shame or belittlement. I was really proud of Gideon's character development throughout The Rebel Witch and I was thrilled to recognise the fire that we see within his character in book one make its return in book two. Gideon is unafraid to fight for the life that he wants for himself no matter the cost and it was a relief to see that he was not alone in his endeavour. All I hoped for and wanted for Gideon was for him to finally be at peace with his past and find it within himself to move forward with the life that he yearns for... and it's safe to say this his journey is emotionally gripping and yet, entirely worth the wait. Seeing his character flourish was the greatest reward I could have hoped for, and I truly believe readers will fall in-love with Gideon all over again as I have.

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
The relationship development between Rune and Gideon continues to flourish throughout The Rebel Witch whilst maintaining that familiarity that we have come to know and love from book one. There's nothing more delicious than the tension and angst between two characters who claim to want to kill one another whilst being utterly unable to stay away at a distance. The yearning and longing was written to absolute perfection and I felt as if I could feel the depths of their emotions through the very pages that I was rapidly consuming. It quickly becomes apparent how much hurt and distrust exists between the pair... so much so that you begin to question if they can find their way forward in the aftermath. The banter and wit between Rune and Gideon left me grinning in the midst of a severe and emotional plot which is no easy feat to achieve. Their dynamic added a lightness to an otherwise conflict-heavy tale and I personally found this to feel perfectly balanced. Rune and Gideon are polar opposites who simply should not work nor be able to function as a couple and yet, it's apparent that they have indeed found their perfect match within an enemy. Some of their scenes left me swooning and eager for more whilst others left my heart in shreds. One of my favourite aspects in their dynamic is despite desperately trying (and mostly failing) to outmatch and outwit the other... I adore how communication was still highlighted as a priority. They don't get it perfect every time as emotions run high and misconceptions are made, however in the end Rune and Gideon do a wonderful job as forging an unbreakable bond built on the hopes and dreams for a better future for all. Seeing them address their vulnerabilities with an open heart an mind was such a beautiful and tender feeling to explore, and I will forever cherish the love story between Rune and Gideon. How soon is too soon for a re-read because I'm simply not ready to be parted from them.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
The Rebel Witch was everything that I had hoped and wanted it to be, and so much more. There was anger and despair. Hurt and longing. Love and friendship. Growth and development. An epic love story surrounding two opposites who desperately wish to beat the odds stacked against them. The only thing I would look to change is a more extended conclusion... however that is potentially me just being greedy for more. Rune and Gideon hold my very heart in their hands and I'm more than happy for them to claim a piece to call their own. If you loved the first instalment of The Crimson Moth duology then be prepared to be swept away by its equally emotionally-driven conclusion upon its February 2025 release.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲.

The Crimson Moth was (and still is) my favourite book this year, and (the) rebel witch, my most anticipated release of next year. So you can only guess how much I screamed, when I got approved to arc for this book. Thank you so much for Harper Collins, Netgalley, and Kristen Ciccarelli <3 This truly was a dream come true. (and I also kept to keep all my organs :D which is a huge plus) I devoured this book in a day (and although I had to take few pauses between they were because of school (I seriously thought at one point if I should just go back home early just so I could finish this book))

the crimson moth was action packed romance with hot feeling and steamy banter, and this book was everything like it, and even more. We continue almost straight from where we were left in the crimson moth, and we go straight into action: with Gideon trying to kill Rune, before Rune manages to win an army for Cressida. So much happens, and then Gideon and Rune are once again being forced to trust each other. (but really they are just both waiting for the perfect moment to betray the other one). enemies to lovers just can't get better than this!!

This is just the kind of book I love and Kristen Ciccarelli is an amazing writer who brings this story and world alive with her words. Witch x witch-hunter is one of the best tropes inside enemies to lovers because at the same time when they are falling in love, everything is just so complicated, and that makes everything so much better when you're reading.

I loved the new characters we got in this book, but also that we learned so much more of the characters we already knew. I love the idea of casting scars, (and that Rune's are little silver moths). The world building is so beautiful that I would love to read more of this world, even though Rune and Gideon's story has now come to an end.

This book was the perfect ending to the crimson moth duology, and I couldn't have wish for more. I'm so thankful, I got the chance to read this before it is published, because I wasn't sure that I could wait any longer for this book. This was amazing. Perfect! 5 stars. <3

Thank you HarperCollins for the eArc of this title.

This was an absolutely perfect sequel (I finished it in a day!), I couldn’t have asked for anything more from this book. The writing was wonderful, Rune and Gideon, if possible were even more amazing than last time and the pacing made it absolutely impossible to put this book down. If you loved the Crimson Moth then you will absolutely adore the Rebel Witch.

give them their 3 kids and a house by the ocean with a nice sunset😭😭😭😭😭

i hv no words to describe this i ate this up so bad. crimson moth was my favourite book this year so reading this was truly an experience 😭❤️ the jealous moments were everything.

extremely good world building and very unique plot too. doesnt hurt that rune was an extremely likeable and well built character and gideon was WHEW. my man. the character development URGH I LOVE.

this book made me love the betrayal trope and enemies to lovers to enemies again like wow so good ate down. they could not catch a break this whole book was insane. although i did absolutely lose my mind when they both kissed someone else but hey!!! its for the plot😭😭

bless kristen ciccarelli for writing the best romantasy books ive read this year. thank you netgalley and harper voyager for an arc in exchange for an honest review🫶

A massively anticipated sequel and it did not disappoint! The story picked back up a short while after the events at the end of book 1 with Rune with Cressida and Gideon hunting her. It was very easy to slip back into the story with characters weaving in a recap of events previously. The writing style in the book is beautiful and so easy to devour. There was a nice pace to the events in the book and the development of the characters had such a nice arc. I love that this is a true enemies to lovers story and the chemistry and romance in it was to die for. Some of my new favourite book quotes have been found here. An extremely easy 5 stars and a perfect duology for those who love fantasy, romance and witches.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kristen Ciccarelli and Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read this advanced copy

Picking up a couple of months after the events of Crimson Moth, we find Rune unwillingly plotting with Cressida to take back their home with the support of Prince Soren.

Recapped via different characters, cleverly reminding you of the events of the previous book, this is fast paced and action packed and I physically could not stop reading.

This authors writing style is beautiful. It flows so smoothly and envelopes you into her world, her characters and their lives so beautifully. What really excels is how agonisingly perfect Rune and Gideon are as a true enemies to lovers storyline. There is so much hate between them, so much pain and strife, yet they are inexplicably drawn to one another in all the best, and frustrating ways. With, thankfully, absolutely NO miscommunication tropes!!

One of the easiest and fastest 5 star reads I’ve given this year.

I want to thank NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Kristin Ciccarelli for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. The review is my own opinion and I have given this freely.