Heartless Hunter: The Crimson Moth: Book 1

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 10,778 ratings

Price: 1.99

Last update: 06-27-2024


About this item

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

"A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, played out against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and bloody history. I couldn't look away." - Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Champion of Fate

Enemies-to-lovers doesn't get more high stakes than a witch and a witch hunter falling in love in bestselling author Kristen Ciccarelli's latest romantic fantasy.

On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe - a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution - who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s Heartless Hunter is the thrilling start to The Crimson Moth duology, a romantic fantasy series where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch...is falling in love.

“Enchanting and deeply romantic, Heartless Hunter drew me in with the first sentence and left me breathless by the last. A story that unfolds like a spell, and one that is destined to capture your heart.” - Rebecca Ross, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divine Rivals



From the Publisher

Heartless Hunters Kristen Ciccarelli
Heartless Hunters Kristen Ciccarelli Kendare Blake quote
Heartless Hunters Kristen Ciccarelli Rebecca Ross quote
Heartless Hunters Kristen Ciccarelli Rachel Gillig quote
Heartless Hunters Kristen Ciccarelli Emily Thiede quote

Top reviews from the United States

Jessica Ann
5.0 out of 5 stars Review by: @jamsworldofbooks
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
➼「“???????????????? ???????????? ???? ????????????????, ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ????????????????????????. ???????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????, ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????, ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????.”」

|This is one of the most captivating stories I have read in a very long time. And it is also the ultimate enemies to lovers, a witch and a witch hunter, delicious!|

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ -- Songs that make me think of this book.
????ʀᴜᴇʟʟᴇ - ɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴏꜰ sᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ
????ꜰʟᴇᴜʀɪᴇ - ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʀ
????ʜᴏᴢɪᴇʀ - ɴꜰᴡᴍʙ
????ʙɪsʜᴏᴘ ʙʀɪɢɢs - ᴅᴀʀᴋ sɪᴅᴇ

➼「“???????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????.”」

╰┈➤???????????? ????????????????????
This story follows Rune, who at first glance looks just like any other wealthy socialite, except she has a secret that she is hiding from everybody except her two closest friends, she is a witch. In a land where being a witch is a death sentence. Gideon, is a witch hunter and has been looking for one witch in particular, the Crimson Moth, who has been freeing witches they have caught and making them disappear. The crimson moth, who happens to be Rune herself. This is an ultimate enemies to lovers tale set in a renaissance period.

╰┈➤???????? ????????????????????????????????.
I was enchanted by this story from the first few chapters. I loved the world building and the time period the book is set in. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat and that plot twist near the end? While I had my suspicions, it was still shocking to actually find everything out. The chemistry between Rune and Gideon is SCORCHING and it was such a well done slow burn. The friendships between Rune and Alex and Rune and Verity I absolutely adored. That cliffhanger? Shut up and give me the next book right now. The sobs that exited my body those last few chapters. This book is a masterpiece and I will be unwell until the next book is in my hand.

➼「“???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????.”」

✩???????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????????✩
????Third person pov
????Dual pov, Rune and Gideon
????Renaissance period
????Enemies to lovers
????Slow burn
????Witches and witch hunters
????Suspense and plot twists

Overall, if you love witches and love a good fantasy book with tension, angst, and twists and turns, you will love this book!

➼「“???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ????????????????,” ???????? ????????????????. “???????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ????????.” ????????????????’???? ???????????????????? ????????????????????????????. ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????.”」
Customer image
Jessica Ann
5.0 out of 5 stars Review by: @jamsworldofbooks
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
➼「“???????????????? ???????????? ???? ????????????????, ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ????????????????????????. ???????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????, ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????, ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????.”」

|This is one of the most captivating stories I have read in a very long time. And it is also the ultimate enemies to lovers, a witch and a witch hunter, delicious!|

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ -- Songs that make me think of this book.
????ʀᴜᴇʟʟᴇ - ɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴏꜰ sᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ
????ꜰʟᴇᴜʀɪᴇ - ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʀ
????ʜᴏᴢɪᴇʀ - ɴꜰᴡᴍʙ
????ʙɪsʜᴏᴘ ʙʀɪɢɢs - ᴅᴀʀᴋ sɪᴅᴇ

➼「“???????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????.”」

╰┈➤???????????? ????????????????????
This story follows Rune, who at first glance looks just like any other wealthy socialite, except she has a secret that she is hiding from everybody except her two closest friends, she is a witch. In a land where being a witch is a death sentence. Gideon, is a witch hunter and has been looking for one witch in particular, the Crimson Moth, who has been freeing witches they have caught and making them disappear. The crimson moth, who happens to be Rune herself. This is an ultimate enemies to lovers tale set in a renaissance period.

╰┈➤???????? ????????????????????????????????.
I was enchanted by this story from the first few chapters. I loved the world building and the time period the book is set in. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat and that plot twist near the end? While I had my suspicions, it was still shocking to actually find everything out. The chemistry between Rune and Gideon is SCORCHING and it was such a well done slow burn. The friendships between Rune and Alex and Rune and Verity I absolutely adored. That cliffhanger? Shut up and give me the next book right now. The sobs that exited my body those last few chapters. This book is a masterpiece and I will be unwell until the next book is in my hand.

➼「“???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????.”」

✩???????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????????✩
????Third person pov
????Dual pov, Rune and Gideon
????Renaissance period
????Enemies to lovers
????Slow burn
????Witches and witch hunters
????Suspense and plot twists

Overall, if you love witches and love a good fantasy book with tension, angst, and twists and turns, you will love this book!

➼「“???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ????????????????,” ???????? ????????????????. “???????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ????????.” ????????????????’???? ???????????????????? ????????????????????????????. ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????.”」
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image
Kaitlin
4.0 out of 5 stars Wow. Pleasantly surprised! Such a good book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2024
4.5 stars! I kept seeing this book pop up in my recommendations but I held off since it’s not a complete series. I’m glad I went for it. Finished it in 2 days!

This book was an easy read, I loved the characters and the ending was pretty good. Although I did guess the twist early on- still, many things happened that surprised me.

I usually hate love triangles. I think this is because they are mostly done so poorly, like the author forces it on you just to have one. However, in this book it works, and I actually found myself unsure of who I’d want to choose if I was Rune. Although it gets resolved in the end, I thought the author did a great job with it.

Spoiler:

My one complaint and the reason I took off half a star is that I wish we had gotten Gideon’s pov when he snuck into Rune’s house and found out she was a witch. I know why the author did it (so we didn’t see Rune walking into a trap) but I feel like it was a pivotal moment that we were left in the dark on, and I would have liked to have seen his initial reaction to it. Especially since it would have been heartbreaking for him! Even as a flashback would have been nice, but all we got was a stone cold Gideon once Rune walks into the trap and it almost seemed out of character how he had absolutely no emotion.
Melanie
5.0 out of 5 stars “She was drowning, and he was air.”
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024
Tropes:
✨ Slow Burn
???? Witches
✨ Magic
???? Love triangle
✨ Enemies to Lovers
???? Tragedy
✨ Dual POV

•Rune was faced with a heart wrenching decision that changed the course of life as she had known it. Now she’s made it her mission to save her and her kind from the same fate, but she’ll have to do so in secret, so her true identity stays hidden.

•Gideon has watched all that he’s cared for be ruined at the hands of witches, and now… he hunts them.

•A cat and mouse game ensues and unexpected revelations are exposed. Hate and love, magic and death. A beautifully wicked story unfolds!

“She’s was drowning, and he was air.”

“The hunted had fallen for the hunter”

This is book one of the Duology.

???? A top 2024 read for me! What a beautifully tragic, brilliantly written - epic … twisted, love story! I need more. I immediately pre-ordered to second book.
Customer image
Melanie
5.0 out of 5 stars “She was drowning, and he was air.”
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024
Tropes:
✨ Slow Burn
???? Witches
✨ Magic
???? Love triangle
✨ Enemies to Lovers
???? Tragedy
✨ Dual POV

•Rune was faced with a heart wrenching decision that changed the course of life as she had known it. Now she’s made it her mission to save her and her kind from the same fate, but she’ll have to do so in secret, so her true identity stays hidden.

•Gideon has watched all that he’s cared for be ruined at the hands of witches, and now… he hunts them.

•A cat and mouse game ensues and unexpected revelations are exposed. Hate and love, magic and death. A beautifully wicked story unfolds!

“She’s was drowning, and he was air.”

“The hunted had fallen for the hunter”

This is book one of the Duology.

???? A top 2024 read for me! What a beautifully tragic, brilliantly written - epic … twisted, love story! I need more. I immediately pre-ordered to second book.
Images in this review
Customer image
JennaReads
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written and the plot is too good!
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2024
This book is incredible. It’s action packed and has a bit of romance. The romance part is sweet and also intriguing, it’s like watching the Bridgertons if they had no shame. The world building is so rich and beautiful and the entire plot will just suck you in from the very beginning. Gideon is dark and broody, mysterious as well. The polar opposite of his brother Alex, who is definitely the Colin Bridgerton in this book lol he’s sweet and respectful and would give the world for Rune. Rune is a witch in hiding and is trying to save her fellow witches under the guise of a vigilante that the blood guard,Gideon is obsessed with finding. One day Gideon starts to suspect Rune and pulls out all the stops to try and prove she is the Crimson Moth but this girl is good at playing this game and she’s trying to stay a step ahead of him. There’s an incredible plot twist which made me audibly gasp and I didn’t see it coming. But this ending is one heck of a cliffhanger and now I’m going to obsess until I get book 2! Absolutely brilliant!
Elizabeth
5.0 out of 5 stars Good story, emotions, can’t wait . . .
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
Oh no! I picked a book where the sequel isn’t already released. Not until February 18, 2025!! ????????

I’ve been reading lots of books lately. Most have been ho hum. It’s been hard to find something good . . . DNF the book I read before this.

Romance in this book isn’t smutty, forced, rushed, or unconvincing. While there is romance, it is subtly in the background most of the book.

Good story. Easy read. Emotional. Stayed up too late reading. Finished in two days.

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