Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli Book Review

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 Rebel Witch 

(The Crimson Moth #2)

By Kristen Ciccarelli 


Published Year: 2025

Page Count: 464 pages 

Medium Used: Kindle Scribe 

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Adventure, Magic and Sorcery, Witches, Witchcraft, 2025-read. 

Rating : 3.5/5 





I usually take a detour between books of a series but with this Crimson Moth, I liked the first one well enough to pick up the second one right away. This book started on great promise for me but then got to the point of me desperately trying to not DNF it. The romance angle between the lead pair, Rune and Gideon, felt distracting and after a while, I had had enough. This is one of the main drivers of  the narrative and I felt exhausted with all the repelling misunderstandings and attracting sexual tension between them. They were alternately drawing towards and away from each other - I know it makes for some high octane drama but it is just not for me.  In this book we see their non committal, suspicious bonding evolve into trusting and selfless love. 


The other important thing is Cressida - the evil witch -  from book 1 who is revealed to have been alive is now trying to resurrect her dead but preserved elder sisters back to life. In order to do that, she needs to sacrifice one of her blood relatives and very conveniently, her step sister Rune is alive and within reach. Naturally, both Rune and Gideon want to prevent this from happening and they stay one step ahead of her through out. Only problem, the twists are utterly predictable. I could see the end much early on. I am still giving this a good rating because it has some surprise moments and cherished dialogues. The first 30 percent of the book is very good. Then it sank into endless monotony.  There is more magic in this book than the first part and I liked it. 


Coming to the story, picking from where book 1 ended, Alex is dead in the stead of Gideon. Rune and Cressida, with the other rescued witches, run away to the Continent. Rune has beguiled and ensnared the Prince of Umbria, Soren, so that with their betrothal and marriage, he can swear his armies to Cressida's cause. But Gideon enters the fray and steals away Rune back to Cascadia. They learn that Cressida is trying to bring her dead sisters back to life by sacrificing her blood relative. They set out on an adventure to find out the location of Cressida's sisters and the identity of her blood relative. On the run, they each come to the other's rescue, risking each other's life in the process and that solidifies their bond. I liked how there is not much cringing smut. The sex scene between them felt "clean" and undisgusting. The ending is not a shocker. It is not even a surprise at that point. It was super predictable - for me atleast. 

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