Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli is the second book in The Crimson Moth duology. The series is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance featuring a witch and a witch hunter on opposing sides of a brutal ideological battle.
*this review contains spoilers for Heartless Hunter, the first book in the series*
Rune Winters and Gideon Sharpe are on different sides of an impossible situation. Gideon wants to put an end to all the witches in the New Republic and Rune will do anything to see her fellow witches survive. After a crazy plot twist and a horrible betrayal at the end of the first book, Rune and Gideon are reeling as witches in the New Republic are captured and killed at an alarming rate and the Republic itself is going too far. Fueled by trauma and heartbreak, Rune and Gideon are left to sort out what truly matters.
Rebel Witch subtly and seamlessly infuses the important plot points of book one into the writing of the first few chapters, which is incredibly helpful for those of us who never remember to do rereads. At no point in this story was I left reeling or confused, which is always welcome in a richly developed fantasy like this one.
Rebel Witch is, by my definition, both a fantasy and a romance. This is certainly a love story, and that is not something that should be used to diminish it. As far as the romantasy space goes, though, this book is very low on the spice scale. There is a sex scene, but it is not graphic or physically detailed, instead focusing more on the emotional gravity of the moment.
The story is written from dual perspectives, which serves to highlight how truly star-crossed these two are. There is so much hurt between them, but so much fiery chemistry too. Rune and Gideon embody enemies-to-lovers at its peak with all kinds of intensity and tension, heightened to impossible levels by circumstance.
Said circumstance involves a Shakespearean level of tragic misunderstanding at play between the two of them. In combination with the deadly backdrop of the war between the witches and the witch hunters, it makes for a deeply suspenseful story. Rune and Gideon, both incredibly clever and (rightfully) unbelievably angry, spend the vast majority of the book in grave peril and it will keep readers ravenously flipping pages.
The writing in Rebel Witch is beautiful and descriptive, but also fast paced and easy to read. It’s a spectacular balance. There are some seriously tear jerking moments, but have faith because this story has the most perfect ending.
I’ve had so many five-star reads already this year that it’s starting to seem like I’m just tossing them out like Mardi Gras beads, but I can’t help it if the authors of 2025 keep consistently putting out absolute bangers. Rebel Witch is perfect for both YA and adult readers, with a plot that will have your heart racing from start to finish. 10/10 recommend this gorgeous fantasy.
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