The Crimson Moth #1 | 4.5/5
Please note there could be spoilers in the review, either in the paragraphs or quotes cited within the book.
"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"
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli is a fantasy and young adult series, with a enemies to lovers storyline. I believe it’s just a duology but don’t quote me on that!
After a deadly revolution, witches have become outcasts and fallen to the power of their common rulers. Rune Winters is a witch, and to help other witches she plays the part of the Crimson Moth while portraying a lawful citizen of the New Republic. Searching for a particular witch, Rune chooses to play a dangerous game with the loyal witch hunter, Gideon Sharpe, to gain information. However, Gideon is playing a game of his own by courting Rune to gain intel on the Crimson Moth; when he learns the mysterious vigilante has been using Rune's ships to aid witches in leaving the new Republic.
Review
I loved all the characters within this book and could relate to both protagonists (Rune and Gideon) with their motives for past and present actions. It is a slow-burn romance, with the premise that both characters require information from the other. There is a lot of push and pull between the facade they are both betraying and their true feelings. I loved how we got to see the history between both characters, as it helps provide further context to the story. Also, I love it when books provide the point of view from both sides of the romantic interests. You can feel the emotion between both and pulls you more into the storyline.
I do recommend this book to anyone who loves the enemies-to-lovers trope and enjoys the ride of a slow-burn novel. If you love witches, unexpected twists, and a ballroom/historical atmosphere, I think you would enjoy this book.
I wish, at some point during the novel, we got a glimpse of how Rune adopted the Crimson Moth persona. Meaning, that we could have seen her first save of witches and understand what truly went on during the two years before current times. I think it could have added more to Rune’s early, and hurried, development after the passing of her grandmother.
With that being said, I am surprised this book is marketed as a young adult novel and not an adult novel as it betrays content of abuse, drugs, and other more adult content. So please be warned when picking this book up if you are interested.
Last thought, I noticed that all the witches mentioned in this book, are female. It was probably intentional and important in the storyline but I thought there should be some male witches/warlocks or mention of them. Though, since they're not integral to the events of the book, it's not required to enhance the book. It doesn’t change my feelings about the book but I wanted to mention it.
Favourite Quotes
"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." p.42
"'Maybe you're right' she stepped around him, lantern in hand, and unlatched the white gate at the garden’s edge. Stepping into the meadow beyond 'One of us thinks ourselves too good for the other. But its not me.'" p.205
“He looked down to find their fingers entwined. When he glanced back, her eyes held a storm so fierce it took his breath away. 'You are not the things that happened to you, Gideon.' He wished that were true. 'None of us can escape our pasts'". p. 212
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