All Things Halloween Review - Rebel Witch

Rebel Witch (Crimson Moth, # 2)

By: Kristen Ciccarelli

Publication: February 18, 2025 by Wednesday Books

464 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A WITCH...
Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.

A WITCH HUNTER...
Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by joining forces with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE...
When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.

In Kristen Ciccarelli's Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.

I listened to Rebel Witch on audio. It is the second book in the Crimson Moth series and is a true enemies-to-lovers book. Rune is a witch during a time when witches are hunted. More specifically, hunted by Gideon. He was hurt by a witch who trapped and tortured him. He has been searching for the Crimson Moth, whom he suspected to be Rune. He pretended to court her in hopes of unmasking her. Yet he began to develop feelings for her. Rune knew Gideon was trying to find the Crimson Moth. So she knew he likely wouldn't actually want to be with her if he learned the truth of who she is. Yet, she has always had a crush on Gideon. And getting to know him better didn't help that at all. In the end, Gideon and Rune are both betrayed by the other by the time we start this second book.

Cressida was one of the queens of the previous regime before witches began to be hunted. She is supposed to be dead. But she is the one who trapped and tortured Gideon, and she wants him back. Yet she was posing as Rune's best friend and ultimately saved Rune's life. Rune is now trapped and indebted to her. Cressida is using Rune in a marriage alliance with another kingdom in order to get an army to take back her own, with plans to resurrect her sisters. Rune has got to get free of Cressida and this marriage alliance. Despite saving dozens of witches, Rune is ready to find somewhere she can simply survive. She takes a chance on Gideon not being able to kill her and ties her fate to his. Gideon must redeem himself. He was fooled by Rune once before, and he can't let himself be fooled again.

Rune and Gideon have to depend on each other to survive. Both are traitors. Both are being pursued by others. And both have betrayed the other. How can they trust each other? Will feelings win out, or will one or both of them realize they simply cannot trust the other? Rebel Witch was a great conclusion to this duology. It answered all of my questions. I wanted to keep listening when I was forced to put it down. Even still, I managed to finish it in two days before we started back to school after Christmas break.

Rebel Witch was a thrilling ride. I enjoyed the stakes and the hills and valleys. I might have even teared up once. I can't remember specifically. I didn't highlight any quotes since I listened to this one. But I rooted for Rune and Gideon the entire way, and I wasn't disappointed. Rebel Witch gets 4 Stars. Have you read or listened to Rebel Witch? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween Review - Heartless Hunter

Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth, # 1)

By: Kristen Ciccarelli

Publication: February 20, 2024 by Wednesday Books

406 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Witches

Source: Borrowed from the elibrary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--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 The Crimson Moth is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch… is falling in love.

Historically, I don't have a good record with books that feature witches. Something about this subgenre of the fantasy realm I just find unappealing. In this case, I didn't mind it too much.

Rune is the witch in question. And this world requires blood to complete spells. Most witches use their own blood to work magic. But dark magic is done by those who take blood from others not freely given. The worst is if someone is killed so their blood can be used in some kind of spellwork. This kingdom used to be ruled by witches. But they turned dark and now witches are hunted down. It's a case of one bad apple (or three) spoils the whole bunch. Rune has been working in secret to get other witches to safety. But she was unable to do so for her grandmother. Her grandmother was exposed as a witch and Rune had to turn her in to the authorities in order to turn suspicion away from herself. It broke her heart to do so, and ever since, she's had to play a role to keep up appearances.

Gideon is a witch hunter. He has been burned (literally) by a witch who lost herself to dark magic. And so he takes the stance of all witches being evil. He's suspicious of Rune, but everything seems to be working in her favor and not against her as he originally suspected.

Rune takes on the idea of courting Gideon as a means of getting his suspicion off of her. And Gideon takes on the task of courting her to get close enough to see if she is a witch or not. But you can guess that the relationship between these two end up getting complicated.

There was a twist that wasn't really a twist if you ask me. But that's okay.

Listening to this on audiobook was a fast listen. I listened while I was working on painting a sign for my daughter's 10th birthday. The sign took longer than I expected, but I didn't mind at all since I was able to keep listening. The narrators did a great job. Because it was an audiobook, I don't have any quotes to share.

Heartless Hunter gets 4 Stars. This might be my favorite witch book to date. I just don't usually enjoy this subgenre. I want to see what's going to happen next. Have you read or listened to Heartless Hunter? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.