Review: A bewitching young adult romantasy that I couldn’t tear myself away from! 

 

“Heartless Hunter” follows Rune Winters—a witch vigilante known as the Crimson Moth—as she courts Gideon Sharpe—a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter—to gain the intel she desperately needs to rescue her kind from being purged. Gideon loathes Rune, but when he learns she might be connected to the Crimson Moth, he pretends to court her right back. They are each other’s deadliest enemies, but what if they can’t help falling in love? 

 

This was one of the easiest five star ratings I have ever given. It checked every box for me. Ciccarelli brilliantly crafts a captivating game of cat and mouse between witch and witch hunter, their intense chemistry slowly unfolding against the backdrop of a magical, regency era inspired world. The high stakes surrounding their situation only heightened the tension, leaving me completely enamored! 

 

Rune is a crafty, selfless, and courageous fmc. She meets her match in Gideon, who is equally cunning and determined. His character is definitely more closed off at the start. I loved watching Rune get him to open up, thereby blurring the lines of the game they are playing with each other. Both characters are equally compelling and I enjoyed alternating between their perspectives. The short chapters really quicken the pace and further invested me in the story. 

 

The romance in this book was everything I wanted it to be a more! Ciccarelli weaves all the best tropes—including fake dating and enemies-to-lovers—into her storyline. I am a huge fan of romantic gestures and this book has so many, all of which made my heart pound. The minimal spice hit just right for me as a person who gravitates more towards closed door romance! I would definitely categorize this book as upper ya. 

 

I really enjoyed Ciccarelli’s world-building. It isn’t too dense and is modeled after the regency era, so I felt like I could orient myself fairly quickly. Her magic system is simple at the outset, but gets more complex as the story progresses. 

 

The mystery subplot added another layer of intrigue that kept me hooked. Though I started to catch on closer to the end, some elements still caught me by surprise. I NEED to know what happens next and cannot wait to get my hands on “Rebel Witch” when it hits shelves!