Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli Book Review

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 Heartless Hunter 

(The Crimson Moth #1)

By Kristen Ciccarelli 


Published Year: 2024

Page Count: 410 pages 

Medium Used: Kindle Scribe 

Genre: Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy, High Fantasy, Witches, Witchcraft, Witch Hunters, 2025-read. 

Rating : 4.25/5 





I finished this book under two days. It felt so easy to read and connect with the main characters. I could sympathize with Rune for her vulnerabilities and applaud her for her bravery. I could understand what drives Gideon to hunt her kind and put them to death. The pacing is fast and the world building is flawless. Only towards the end, I thought the author took logic into her hands and twisted it so that it ceased to make much sense. At one point, Gideon wishes Rune to be the Crimson Moth so that it would be more of a intrigue and romantic challenge for him. But when he finally learns the truth, he doesn't hesitate to surrender her to death. Alex,Gideon's brother and Rune's bestie one moment feels like taking Rune's side and the next, Gideon's. It was utterly confusing! A couple of twists were predictable too. 


Gideon Sharpe is a Witch Hunter. For him, hunting witches and ridding the world of witches is personal and a retribution. Witches use blood for their magic. They usually make cuts on their bodies and when they channel that blood to magic, the cuts/scars turn silver. Once, they used to flaunt and parade their scars with pride. It was the time of Sister Queens/ Rosebloods who were a trio of three witch sisters who ruled ruthlessly and cruelly. A revolution overthrew their rule and Gideon with his brother Alex played major part in killing them. Rune is a young witch who has learnt of a way to perform magic without making scars on her body. She had handed over her grand mother Kestrel Winters to the authorities for being a witch. Everyone thinks she is loyal to the new government, the New Republic. But Gideon and his partner Harrow suspect otherwise. They wonder if she is the Crimson Moth who has been releasing imprisoned witches and shipping them off the island. They also suspect that it is the Moth who has been brutally killing and draining blood from the bodies of Blood Guards. As the duo - Gideon and Rune - set their eyes on each other, each trying to outwit the other - She wants classified information from him and he wants to confirm if she is the Crimson Moth - they fall in love. When the truths about each become apparent to the other, they pull out some rather juvenile reasons and explanations to part ways. Their enemity or love hate relationship endures into the next book in the series and I am eager to see how it spins! Cool read. 



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