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

the year long wait for this book was torture but it was hell worth it for this conclusion. I will recommend this duology for all time because it deserves all the freaking stars!

This had banter for days, the tension and YEARNING between Rune and Gideon was literally everything. It was full of action and super fast paced with high stakes and just utter perfection. I loved it even more than the crimson moth. I just adored it and will definitely see myself rereading this duology in the future!

✨romantasy
✨enemies to lovers
✨witch and witch hunter

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦, “𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.”

5 ⭐

“It might look like weakness on the surface. But in truth, it’s tougher than steel. Love can’t be controlled. Love can’t obey unjust laws. Love will always oppose tyrants.”

Holy moly... This whole series was 5 ⭐ for me, both books. Phenomenal!

I absolutely love Gideon & Rune so much. I wish this book didn't have to end though, I'm quite sad it's over.
Hopefully there will be more stories set in this world as I'd love to see more of Harrow and Bart as well.

The writing, the tension, the magic and the world building were written so perfectly. I honestly need more, as soon as possible.

This was a brilliant book and a great end to a fantastic duo. The way everything ties in and comes together seamlessly, I couldn't picture a better ending for my characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the arc!

🌟✨/5

If I took a shot for every time a character's life was saved just because the person responsible for shooting them dead took too long, I'd be quite drunk indeed. Besides the fact that this was a quick read and I could laugh at how ridiculous the romance was, I don't have positive things to say about this book.

One thing I noticed immediately was that the lack of tension (not the romantic kind lol) and a sense of danger was missing. Heartless Hunter's flaws heavily outweighed the positives but it kept me at the edge of my seat during some scenes, I'll give it that. Rebel Witch is entirely unserious. From lovemaking during a heist to Rune declaring that she wants three children with Gideon while in danger, this has a plethora of eyeroll inducing moments. I hate it when authors cause lovers to become enemies for the sake of a cliffhanger, because the way they reunite in the sequel is never emotionally compelling and feels forced.

Tropification of books is getting on my nerves a lot these days, and Rebel Witch is no exception. The scene with the teeny tiny one bed which is not enough to accommodate them both because of how big and tall Gideon is sent me into a fit of rage I still haven't quite recovred from. Even enemies to lovers can be done well sometimes but the one bed trope is irredeemable in my eyes. There are also the usual 'Who did this to you?' scenes that are cheesy and not at all swoonworthy. Also, Rune and Gideon went from 'enemies' to lovers so fast that it never felt like they were enemies at all. Can we please normalise not building books around tropes??

Rebel Witch is almost 500 pages long but most of the plot felt like the author was just trying to reach a specified word count. The climax itself doesn't even last for 20 pages. There were a lot of convenient moments because of which it never felt like the characters were in actual danger.

You might be thinking (especially if you've read some of my previous romantasy rants) why I keep reading these books. Well, if there's one toxic trait I have, it's that sometimes I need to know how a series ends, especially if a majority of the bookish community has jumped on the hype train. I sometimes subject myself to these atrocities for... experimetal purposes. After this, I don't think I'll be reading any more books by this author. I suppose I'd recommend this to romantasy fans😐

This is exactly how sequels should be written!

I was nervous going into this book after waiting so long for it, worried it wouldn’t live up to the hype. But OMG—it didn’t just meet my expectations; it completely shattered them. The writing was stunning, the banter was top-tier, the tension was palpable, and the REVELATIONS? Absolutely mind-blowing. So many major things happen to Rune and Gideon, and I devoured every second of it.

This duology was phenomenal, and the hype is so well deserved. Everyone needs to read this!

The Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli, the conclusion to the Crimson Moth duology, left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. After the intense cliffhanger of the first book, I was expecting a whirlwind of action and high stakes, but what I got felt more like a lukewarm simmer. It's a shame because "Crimson Moth" had so much potential, with its forbidden romance and the tension between a witch hunter and a rebel witch. Unfortunately, "The Rebel Witch" didn't quite live up to the hype.

I found the resolution to the cliffhanger of the first book surprisingly quick and anticlimactic, the very first scene between Rune and Gideon raised alarm bells that the inherent conflict between them would be solved by tropes rather than by real character growth, and that pretty much happened. The tension that had been built up in the first book seemed to dissipate almost immediately, leaving a void that the rest of the story struggled to fill. While the book is fast-paced and easy to read, which is a definite plus, the plot felt predictable and lacking the Crimson Moth intrigue and action of the first, all culminating in an end that was neither surprising nor earned. I did appreciate the exploration of the characters' internal struggles and the conflict between their love and loyalties, but I needed more depth to that, more time, it kind of felt middle-bookish with an abrupt ending, rather than the final book.

Ultimately, "The Rebel Witch" felt like it missed an opportunity to deliver a truly impactful conclusion. The elements that made the first book so engaging—the forbidden romance, the high-stakes plot, and the complex characters—felt diluted in this sequel. While it's not a terrible book, it's definitely a disappointing follow-up. I'd give it a solid 3 out of 5 stars. If you enjoyed the first book, you'll still find some enjoyment here, but depending on what you most liked about the first, maybe temper your expectations. For me personally, it just didn't deliver the fire I was hoping for.

I enjoyed the first book but unfortunately, this sequel wasn't the best. Twists happened for shock value (I kept guessing them all), characters made stupid decisions that made zero sense just to drag the narrative, the romance felt lackluster, the characters felt very surface-level compared to the first book. This felt like such a mess, after the 30% mark I couldn't wait to finish the book because it just felt so boring.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

4.5 stars.

This series was so good as a whole. I had such low expectations going into the whole thing due to assuming it was YA (because of how its been marketed) and I don't read much YA fantasy anymore. Low and behold, this definitely reads more New Adult. A lot more mature than I anticipated, there was the odd scene where I rolled my eyes, but overall, read so much more older than I was expecting.

I love Rune and Gideon, and the route this second book takes was great. I definitely see myself rereading this series and enjoying it even more upon reread. Such a lovely surprising series and I'm so glad I allowed the hype to get under my skin. Very worth it.

I’m so sad I didn’t love this tbh. I LOVED Crimson Moth and gave it 5 stars, so I was SO looking forward to the sequel. Unfortunately, I think it was way too drawn out. The pacing was so slow and the book in general was just SO repetitive. How many times can you state that she’s a witch and he’s a witch hunter and that’s why they can’t be together blah blah blah. The main plot points could have been cherry picked from this and added to the first book to make it a standalone. Womp womp.

I don't know how to stress HOW GOOD this was, but I loved it. Gideon and Rune like 😫😍😭 The yearning!! All the emotions. This was fast-paced in the BEST way, with such high stakes that kept me reading. It was a great mix between fantasy and romance, and just overall such a fulfilling duology. LOVE.
I thought the plot was a little messier (maybe because it was in fact, fast-paced) compared to The Crimson Moth, BUT the ending and everything else was so satifying that it really didn't bother me at all.

This duology was my introduction to Kristen Ciccarelli, but from here I'll be definitely checking out her new works!

4.5/5

A thrilling sequel to Crimson Moth. I adore a duology and this was executed perfectly. Fast paced although slightly predictable at points, it was such an enjoyable read.

I really loved "The Crimson Moth" so I couldn't wait to read the second book in this duology.
So much tension, so many emotions between the characters. Rune, the witch who saves other witches and Gideon, the witch hunter that lives to give the witches justice for what they did to him and all other human.
This. This is real enemies to lovers, Kristen Ciccarelli really nailed that and I loved the first half of "The Rebel Witch" as much es the first book.
But sadly, it lost me then, because it needed way too much time for Rune and Gideon, to trust their gut and each other. Sometimes they acted not logical to me.
The whole thing that happened in the last maybe 15% of the book: This. This was what I wanted to read and I really wish, Kristen Ciccarelli would have taken more time for this part of the plot und shortened the things before.
Also some details in this book really let me question, if this is really Young Adult.

All in all, I liked book one way better, but I got the ending I hoped for and that makes me happy.

Some books capture your heart, some books leave you breathless… and then there are books like The Rebel Witch, which do both. As the thrilling conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, this novel delivers everything I hoped for—high-stakes magic, heart-stopping romance, and twists that kept me glued to the pages.

The story picks up right where The Crimson Moth left off, pulling readers straight back into a world of witches, hunters, and long-buried secrets. Just when I thought there was nothing left to uncover, the plot took unexpected turns that made it impossible to put the book down.

At the heart of the novel is the dynamic between Rune and Gideon. Their relationship is one of my favorite aspects—rooted in tension, growth, and undeniable chemistry. What I loved most is that neither of them sacrificed who they were for the other. Instead, they evolved into their best selves together, making their journey all the more satisfying.

Beyond the romance, the book is filled with fantastic tropes: forced proximity (including two “only one bed” scenes!), enemies to lovers, and just the right amount of spice to complement the story. Every moment felt intentional, and the balance between action, magic, and romance was flawless.

But let’s be honest—I need more! While we get glimpses of the future, I can’t help but crave an extended epilogue or even a bonus novella showing the world they fought so hard to create. These characters have completely stolen my heart, and I know I’ll be rereading this duology many times.

If you’re looking for a cozy, witchy, and utterly addictive romantasy, The Rebel Witch (and the entire Crimson Moth duology) is an absolute must-read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tropes You’ll Love:
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ Witches & Witch Hunters
✔️ Slow Burn with Perfect Spice
✔️ “There’s Only One Bed” (twice!)
✔️ Twists That Keep You Hooked

I’ll be dreaming of a third book… but until then, I’ll just keep rereading this masterpiece!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC.

3.5 - rounded up to 4 stars
This book is the second book in the Crimson Moth duology and the cover art is stunning. I was SO excited for this book and really enjoyed being back with Rune and Gideon. This is such a fun romantasy read and even though I did prefer book one, I still really enjoyed this one. The chemistry between the characters is amazing and the storyline kept me engaged throughout. Loved this duology and highly recommend it if you love the romance and fantasy combo.

Literally a roller coaster from start to finish!

I was worried that them separating at the end of the first book was going to leave us with a window where they were apart which typically makes for slow reading - im looking at you Unravel Me.

But no! Literally, were in the same room in chapter one. Like this book did not mess around getting started and I was Here. For. It.

The pining was just top tier all the way through! Omg. The leg kicky tension was leg kicking. The fact that both of them were so in love with the other but assumed the other one had lied about their feelings. Like just bang it out guys and gals, it'll come up good in the end. Pun intended.

There was no slow moment either tbh, it was always go. I know some people don't like that but being an ADHD gal with a short attention span, I was hooked from start to finish.

The plot twists weren't super bombshell twisty, like you could see them unfurling almost but it was more like, okay I guessed that was going to happen but what the hell do we do about it?!

I miss Alex though. Like so much, it hurts my heart. I kept waiting for a bombshell that he wasn't actually dead but no 😭

Gideon and Rune served all the way though. I liked Rune going through her trauma and Gideon recognizing it in her and letting her work through it and figure out that she's not the afraid little girl, she never has been and he'll never see her that way. I love that she reminded him of what she's fighting for too.

Although, why didn't we come back to those visions she was having?! We're just glossing over it!? If there's another book I'm going to be furious and ecstatic at the same time 😂

Superb book, well worth the wait and I was so honored to receive it slightly early on NetGalley 💗

4.5/5 rounded up.

What an awesome book this was! I loved the first one, and was not disappointed. I loved seeing the characters again, and the world is just as good as I remembered. The writing really has a way of gripping me and not letting go. The only downside of this book is tht it felt like a lot of back and forth between places, which I understand in a way but it sometimes felt like a character was made to go back somewhere so it worked with the plot rather than it happening 'organically', hence why I knocked half a star. This didn't alter my reading experience too much, and I had great fun reading the book. It was difficult to put it down!

This hit me in all the feels and I'm genuinely sad that this book wraps up the duology - I would love to spend more time following Rune and Gideon’s adventures!

Everything about this was fantastic - the fast pace, the high stakes, the tension, the angst, the yearning, the chemistry - it was all so well executed, I ate it up and read it in one sitting.

My heart broke for Rune and Gideon throughout this book, seeing them work through their hurt and their internal struggles to come together at the end was tough but oh so satisfying. I teared up multiple times, particularly in the second half.

This sequel has solidified The Crimson Moth duology as one of my all-time favourite series. I feel I might need to reread sooner rather than later because my heart hurts right now saying goodbye to Rune and Gideon. 🦋✨🌙❤️

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Since finishing The Crimson Moth, I've been eagerly anticipating the continuation of this duology, and I can confidently say this book did not disappoint—if anything, it might just be my favourite of the two!

I really appreciated the new settings introduced here which added depth to the world-building. It was also fantastic getting to know some characters better, while meeting new ones who brought fresh energy to the story. The dynamic between the two main characters is particularly compelling, as we witness their internal struggles and the emotional tension between them, all while they find themselves on opposite sides of a war.

While some aspects of the plot may be predictable, there were plenty of surprising twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. I found myself holding my breath, waiting for everything to go wrong at any moment!

In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this conclusion to a brilliant duology. I’m left hoping for more stories set in this world—there’s so much more to explore, and I can’t wait to see where the author takes us next!

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for this eARC to review.

“Love is the real enemy of the regime, and that’s why you despite it.”

One piece of advice when you’ll start reading The Rebel Witch: clear your schedule. Once I opened the book, I had to finish it. That’s how addictive this second part is.
The story starts 3 months after the end of The Crimson Moth / Heartless Hunter. Like in the first book, characters’ arcs are great, especially Rune’s. She’s still on her path to discover her identity, above being a witch or an aristocrat. She has to overcome a lot during this second part (I don’t want to spoil, but OMG who the author captured her feelings and reactions so well!!), but her path is so worth it! Gideon’s evolution is a bit more “introverted”, but great too, and I think I loved him even more than in book 1 as he planted seeds of doubt inside Rune’s mind. (I don’t mention the aesthetics and WB here but they’re just as good as in book 1)
The enemies to lovers dynamic is great in this one too, and makes them have A LOT of cognitive dissonances about their beliefs/ideals (I loved that SO SO MUCH), and who is the person they love. This makes them think, evolve, question everything: their feelings, their identity, their cause, and… the system.
Like in the first book, the Revolution and its consequences are discussed a lot. What is important? The person who has power? People? The system? When do you have to speak out? How can you make a difference? Can you improve people’s life durably or is it an utopy?
I loved the many twists and turns, betweens plans, treasons and sacrifices, making this read as much tense as it was romantic but also meaningful. One of my favorite reads of these last few months!

Thank you to the author and to Harper Collins / Magpie for granting me my wish on netgalley!
My opinions are my own.

★★★★★

𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧…
✨ witch x witch hunter
🗡️ cat & mouse game
✨ true enemies to lovers
🗡️ angst & mutual pining
✨ forced proximity
🗡️ conclusion of the series

I’ll skip the synopsis today to keep this spoiler free…

𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨…
I really enjoyed The Crimson Moth but oh my goodness The Rebel Witch is another level 😭

I won’t say too much so as not to spoil anything, but the cat & mouse game continues (LOVE), only this time it is paired with so much angst and pining 😮‍💨 (also love! 👏🏼)

We get a lot more relationship development between Rune & Gideon in this book, which is the only thing I thought was missing from The Crimson Moth! The forced proximity is perfect for forcing this upon them, but also they know they cannot trust the other and it made my heart hurt a lot 😭💔

I absolutely loved the dual (3rd person) pov - it means that we truly get to see how both characters are torn between doing what they believe to be right and their heart 🥲 I liked Gideon in TCM but absolutely loved him in this - especially towards the end when Rune needed him more than ever 👏🏼😭

Lastly please don’t let the fact that this is YA deter you from reading it - I almost did and I would have missed out on a new favourite! 🌟

An amazing conclusion to this story, I love Gideon and Rune's relationship, the witch and witch hunter duo continues to fascinate me.

The ROMANCE!!! friends this has been it, I'm still squealing from the tension and love of these characters.

I can't say too much, because the way I am I might unintentionally drop a spoiler, but I can tell you that it all worked, I love duologues.

While some may consider the story to have parts that may be too convenient or predictable, I loved how they worked, I devoured it so with that I say it all.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.