The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli

The following is my book recommendation for the Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli. This is a completed duology. The two books referenced here are Heartless Hunter and Rebel Witch.

Live in the darkness too long, and eventually you won’t recognize the light.

Heartless Hunter

Witches have gone from powerful rulers to outcasts hunted for their forbidden magic. Rune Winters is a high-society socialite. She is also a witch vigilante known as “The Crimson Moth” who rescues persecuted witches.

Captain in the elite witch-hunting force, her nemesis Gideon Sharpe is hell-bent on catching the Crimson Moth. Blaming witches for the brutal murders of his family, he will not rest until every last witch is purged. He uncovers signs that the Crimson Moth is using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle witches. Gideon begins courting her in hopes of uncovering the truth.

As the two weave their deceptions, chemistry and tension surface. She realizes Gideon is more than a ruthless witch hunter, and he realizes Rune is more than a shallow socialite. Yet, heartache and betrayal lie around the corner as secrets unravel.

Rebel Witch

Following the explosive events of Heartless Hunter, Rune is now a fugitive. She is forced into an uneasy alliance with the exposed witch-queen, Cressida Roseblood. Cressida plans to overthrow the Republic and restore the reign of witches, and Rune is a key part of her plan.

Gideon refuses to let the Republic fall and is still hell-bent on destroying witches. His Enemy Number One is Rune. They’re forced into a dangerous partnership, though. As loyalties shift and morals are questioned, both Rune and Gideon realize the feelings they buried might still be alive. Together, they thwart plots, unravel new mysteries, and wrestle grief.

This duology ends with both risking everything they’ve fought for to earn the thing they both believe they’re unworthy to have: each other.

From the start, the Crimson Moth duology had me in a chokehold. Ciccarelli’s world-building is top tier. The high stakes of her world is apparent from the start. The story takes place in the aftermath of a rebellion. The witch-ruling Roseblood “Sister Queens” were ruthless and selfish. The New Republic, with its Blood Guard, overthrew the sisters. Now, witches and witch-sympathizers are hunted and purged.

Queue Rune Winters — quite possibly my favorite vigilante FMC ever. Adopted by her grandmother, Rune is a wealthy aristocrat and secretly a witch. She hides her identity by appearing as a frivolous, shallow socialite. She “gave up” her grandmother for witchcraft rather than be branded a sympathizer. This event shapes Rune’s guilt and secret mission.

As the plot developed, the tension around my heart only grew stronger. And I am a sucker when it comes to nail-biting suspense and a fast-moving storyline.

What did I not like!? This duology is a solid 5-star rating for me. Ciccarelli is a mastermind for her intriguing world-building, tension-filled romance between characters, and oh-no-she-didn’t plot.

The Crimson Moth world is one-of-a-kind. Witches used to have power and prestige; now they’re hunted. The magic system is blood-letting, and witches mark their own flesh to tap into their power. Those marks leave casting scars. Once highly esteemed and artistic, these scars now give evidence of witchcraft and lead to death. New witches discover their magic upon their first period… a painful discovery in more than one way. The moral ambiguity between these two books left me with that thrill of a giant roller coaster — and I didn’t want to get off!

Both main and side characters are top-notch as well. As I said, Rune climbed my FMC ladder to take her place among the top tiers. Rune’s use of her inherited wealth and social status to maintain a facade is brilliant. Her intelligence only solidifies as you learn of her lack of casting scars and operations to smuggle witches out of the New Republic. Plus, throw in a tragic backstory and mysterious origin? I am a thorough Rune Winters fan from here on out.

This FMC does not overshadow the brooding MMC, though. Gideon Sharpe is everything you want in a morally gray love interest. He is obsessed with the Crimson Moth’s in the worst way, which leads to a lot of deception and double-agency.

However, for as many times as I may have wished to strangle Gideon, I also hold a special place in my heart for him. Especially when he allows his gentle, artistic side to show. The maintenance of his credibility with the Blood Guard while grappling with his growing feelings for Rune was the ultimate tension-builder. Ugh!

All of this resides in a fast-moving, high-stakes plot. I was on the edge of my seat and audibly gasped as each new betrayal and unmasking happened. Every time I’d catch my breath, a character would (again) have to sacrifice a piece of themselves to achieve a goal. It was a wild ride. And I loved every second of it.

I have been vocal on my dislike for miscommunication tropes. The Crimson Moth duology is packed with miscommunication. But you know what? It didn’t bother me one bit. The miscommunication was central to the story and allowed power dynamics to escalate to the finale. Ultimately, the power struggle brings about the best possible outcomes: Rune grows into her role, Gideon moves past his hatred and hurt, and the fate of the New Republic and witches is altered.

The Crimson Moth will be on my mind for the foreseeable future. Reading slump? I hope not, but I won’t be surprised…

Overall, I could not have asked more from this series. The first book ended with a cliffhanger that made me change my TBR schedule and move straight into the second book. And I am so glad I did! The finale resolves the major conflicts and ties up all threads. The power structure in the world also shifts, with witches and non-witches finding a new future together. Most importantly, the final choice between love versus duty is answered.

WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO A FRIEND?

Sigh. I wish I could forget Heartless Hunter and Rebel Witch simply so I could re-read them for the first time again. I highly, HIGHLY recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantastical worlds, enemies-to-lovers narratives, and a whirlwind of deception, ruthless ambition, and lusty tension.

Have you read this book? Find me on Instagram @wordsandash and comment on my post there so we can discuss more! (Please do not reveal any spoilers in the comment section here in case other readers still have this book on their #TBR.)

Find Heartless Hunter and Rebel Witch on Amazon.
Find Heartless Hunter and Rebel Witch on GoodReads.
Find my book reviews on GoodReads.

My Rating System: Curious as to how I rate my book reviews? View my 5-star system classification here. (ARC’s are rated differently, but you can see those differences here as well.)

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.