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Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
The Crimson Moth #2
Rebel Witch is a gripping and emotionally layered conclusion to Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Crimson Moth duology. Or also know as the Heartless Hunter sequel.
With high political stakes, a complex love romantasy story, and richly imagined world-building, this Crimson Moth sequel delivers a almost satisfying follow-up. But not without a few hiccups along the way.
Rune Winters returns with the weight of rebellion on her shoulders and a broken heart thanks to Gideon Sharpe—the man she once trusted who now stands on the opposing side once again. Forced into an alliance with Cressida Roseblood and a strategic marriage to Prince Soren, Rune must navigate a world where every move could mean the end for her people or the end of The Republic.
Meanwhile, Gideon grapples with his loyalty to the Republic and his lingering feelings for Rune. Their push-and-pull dynamic is electric throughout this fantasy romance, but it did eventually felt repetitive by the time we reached the second half of the book.
We get to see more of this magical world and rebellion in this second book. It builds beautifully on what we saw in The Crimson Moth, and the stakes feel appropriately higher. However, my biggest critique, and one I’ve felt in other series like Ruthless Vow—is with the duology format itself. I’m just not a fan of two-book arcs. It often feels like the author tries to squeeze too much plot and resolution into the second book, leaving some emotional beats and world-building underdeveloped. Rebel Witch definitely suffers from this in the final act. The climax and resolution were rushed, and I wanted more time with several side characters, the arching conclusion and the aftermath of major events. This really could’ve been a trilogy.
That said, this was still a compelling and rewarding read to Rune and Gideon’s romance story. If you enjoy fantasy romance with rebellion, betrayal, redemption, and enemies to lovers trope, this duology is absolutely worth picking up.
If you’re new to the series, check out my earlier review of The Crimson Moth. You might also enjoy my Ruthless Vow Honest Book Review and my guide to Fantasy Books for Readers Just Starting Out for more recommendations in this genre.
Let me know your thoughts—did you love the ending or wish it had more time to develop? Drop a comment or check out my Crimson Moth review if you’re new to the series!
⚠️⚠️SPOILERS⚠️⚠️
Warning: This post contains major spoilers for Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli. If you haven’t read the book yet, hop over to my spoiler-free review first!
Let’s talk about that whirlwind of a finale in Crimson Moth duology. While the book hit a lot of the emotional and romantic marks I was hoping for, there were definitely some areas where I felt it didn’t quite land—and I think it’s worth diving deeper into the “why.”
First off, the Rune and Gideon dynamic. I loved the emotional tension between them throughout the book. The betrayal, the guilt, the push and pull—it had me rooting for them despite everything stacked against them. That reunion scene where they finally admitted their feelings? Gorgeous. But here’s the thing: their reconciliation felt too fast. After everything they’ve been through—the lies, the war, the bloodshed—I needed more of a rebuild of their trust and relationship. I wanted to see them process, forgive, and actually talk through the damage before jumping into a future together.
And honestly? The constant miscommunication was exhausting. So much of their conflict hinged on what wasn’t said or what was misunderstood—and that trope, while effective in small doses, felt overused here. The back-and-forth whiplash of “I love you but I might have to kill you” between the POVs got frustrating fast. It made their relationship feel stuck in a loop at times, and I kept hoping for one solid, honest conversation to break the cycle.
Another major moment that felt a little too quick? The fake engagement to Soren and how fast that entire political plotline wrapped up. I appreciate how Rune used her engagement and her womanly powers as a power move, but Soren basically disappears from the story after a few key scenes. I needed more fallout from this character, more political messiness, and definitely more closure with the side characters like Cressida.
And let’s talk about Rune’s big reveal—from the Crimson Moth to queen! Her arc had so much emotional and political weight. She went from a hunted rebel to someone that was a hidden heir. Which was a extremely predictable plot point in this book but I felt it made a great plot in the story. Her evolution should have been the centerpiece of a truly epic conclusion. It just didn’t get enough space to fully unfold unfortunately. The pacing, especially in the final act, didn’t allow key moments to land with the depth they deserved.
Rune ultimately gave up her own life—her freedom, her power, and the chance at a peaceful future Gideon—to protect her people from ever being weaponized by Cressida again. By preventing from being used to raise other terrible witches back to life, she made the ultimate sacrifice. It was a quiet, heroic moment that underscored just how much she had grown from the Crimson Moth into a true queen. Since the beginning as the Crimson Moth, she was willing to do whatever it took to protect fellow witches. With the final act, not only the witches she protected but also the humans as well.
Rune’s final choices, and especially the resolution of her relationship with Gideon, felt like they were fast-forwarded past the emotional depth they deserved. After everything they endured—the betrayal, war, magical trauma, and years of longing—we’re given only a brief glimpse of reconciliation before the story wraps. It was jarring to go from such high-stakes emotional turmoil to an epilogue that implied healing without showing us the journey. Their reunion lacked the raw, vulnerable conversations that would’ve made their love story feel truly earned. It felt like we were promised a storm and handed the aftermath, without witnessing the clearing of skies in between. I am glad they got their happy ending, but I wanted more of our epic beloved enemies to lovers couple.
We also never really got to see the aftermath of the revolution. What did the New Republic actually become after the Blood Guard and Cressida were taken down? How did the power vacuum shift? What role does Rune play going forward beyond wearing the crown? There was so much potential for a rich, layered conclusion that explored the cost of rebellion and the burden of leadership—but those threads were left largely unresolved.
Honestly, reading the Crimson Moth duology reminded me a lot of how I felt after reading Ruthless Vows. That duology also promised high-stakes emotional payoff and deep worldbuilding, but the limited two-book structure forced everything to wrap up too quickly. I’m not generally a fan of duologies for this exact reason—they often feel like a trilogy that’s been crammed into two volumes. Rebel Witch had all the ingredients for an unforgettable finale, but like Ruthless Vows, it didn’t quite stick the landing because it simply didn’t have enough time.
