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Author: Kristen Ciccarelli
The Crimson Moth #1
First off, this book has two titles when searching on Amazon. The Crimson Moth and Heartless Hunter. So if you are wondering if you are grabbing the correct book, yes you are. Both are the same. And both have very exquisite covers.
The Crimson Moth is also available on Kindle Unlimited. Kindle Unlimited is a great place to try out any book series for a monthly cost. Sign up: HERE So worth every penny.
I purchase the The Crimson Moth book edition, so I will be referring to The Crimson Moth going forward.
I also just reviewed Rebel Withch, the next and final book of the Crimson Moth trilogy! Check out my Rebel Witch: Honest Book Review [HERE]
Honest review without Spoilers
If you are looking for a TRUE enemies to lovers fantasy romance book, The Crimson Moth is it. The story set up of the main characters really shows why these characters are enemies. Not, we don’t like each other but quickly fall for each other type story. No, they are both two steps away from murdering each other.
This book also reminds me of Once Upon a Broken Heart, the story is super creative but not overly complicated to follow. I thoroughly enjoyed the magic system of this world, it was simplistic and not overly complicated. You quickly understood how it works and it wasn’t hard to follow.
My favorite part is that this story takes place in what is considered “high society.” Normally I haven’t been gravitating towards a historical fiction setting, but this did it very well that it added to the story but did not take over it. Also, this book was really inspired by the Salem Witch Trials, so you got to see in some aspect what it was like to be hunted down.
I love Rune, our FMC, being sort of a vigilante Batman figure in this story. When you read the story, you understand why she is so willing about saving other witches. I love how strong Rune is in this story and what she does for survival for her and her fellow sister witches.
Gideon is a complicated character and I love it. Throughout the story it is revealed why he is so adamant about hunting and killing down the witches that you can’t help but understand where he was coming from. Unfortunately throughout the story, his trust is taken advantage of quite a bit.
My favorite part about this fantasy romance is that it is high stakes and angsty enemies to lovers romance. They are both attempting to play each other in this cat and mouse game but slowly start to fall for one another.
Don’t get me started on the ending. It was epic and a great segway to the conclusion of the duology Rebel Witch which is coming out in 2/18/2025. The wait, is super painful. I need to know.
⚠️⚠️Spoilers Ahead⚠️⚠️
First off, it is super sad that Rune had to give up her grandmother so she herself wouldn’t be accused of being a witch or someone who is associated/harbers witches. It really painted a bad eye to other witches and made her look like this hero in high society.
I really love the high stakes in this, the cat and mouse game that they played with each other. Especially when Gideon gave false information to Rune to prove that she is the Crimson Moth. It is intense and I was constantly wondering when Rune will be truly found out.
Rune had two friends Alexander and Verity who knew her secret and helped her sneak out witches that she saves. I love how both of these side characters are pivotal to the story and how it unfolds at the end.
Even though I love the chemistry of our main characters, I don’t understand that if this is “high society,” why does Rune have no problem being alone or naked in front of this guy? Rune quickly realized that Gideon was doing this to find casting marks to accuse her, but for it being a regency setting, it felt slightly improper.
There was a bitter sweet love triangle in this. Between Gideon and Alexander Sharpe. Very loyal to each other but also in love with the same person. I love seeing a bond like that. But I am surprised that Alexander helped Rune so long without truly feeling bad about going behind his brother. When Rune started getting closer to Gideon, that’s when Alexander’s jealousy started flaring up and things started to go downhill from there.
It was a little strange for Gideon to be this intense witch hunter, but still in the side, do gown design and tailoring. But as the story goes on, you start to understand why he is so adamant about getting rid of the witches. It is sad of the abuse that he went through and the tragedy that he went through with his parents as well.
Because of the situation that Rune is in, she can’t cut herself for fresh blood, but has to use period blood and her friends blood as well. Sort of gross but I understand that desperate times call for desperate measures.
Loved both side characters. The ending for both of them was quite shocking.
First off….Verity. Wow. Closest friend to Rune and she was all along the Sister Queen. The one who abused Gideon and caused mayhem in this world. I am shook and can’t wait to see how this unfolds in the next book. She is painted to be cruel and I wonder if she has changed at all or is going on a revenge streak.
Second, Alexander dying was not expected. My heart. So sad, especially since Rune was realizing that she was willing to marry him and run away to safety with him. She saw that there was love deep down and she can accept her life with him. Then he was RIPPED away cruelly. Ahhhh
This was such a good book that I can’t wait till the second book of the story.
