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frantically's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
nina and matthias walked so rune and gideon could run
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I was enthralled from page one and god, Rune and Gideon have my heart 🥹 these two, you guys!! This is fake dating/betrothal and enemies to lovers at its absolute finest
While the worldbuilding feels a bit weak at times, I loved the morally grey aspect of all it. Both sides are kinda...shit and while the eradication of witches is obviously wrong, we learn so much about the Witch Queens that it's kinda hard to root for them, too!
The ending was a bit too rushed for me (and I think Alex was boring lol) but I'm still so so ready for the next book hihi
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I was enthralled from page one and god, Rune and Gideon have my heart 🥹 these two, you guys!! This is fake dating/betrothal and enemies to lovers at its absolute finest
While the worldbuilding feels a bit weak at times, I loved the morally grey aspect of all it. Both sides are kinda...shit and while the eradication of witches is obviously wrong, we learn so much about the Witch Queens that it's kinda hard to root for them, too!
The ending was a bit too rushed for me (and I think Alex was boring lol) but I'm still so so ready for the next book hihi
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Violence, Sexual content, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence and Suicide
chasinggrace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Overall, I really liked this book. I was invested in the fake courting between two characters, rooting for the underdog, and anxious during the attacks. I was worried this was going to be a typical “two brothers and a girl” love triangle story, but it really was more than that. You truly come to understand each character’s motivations, why they are who they are today. By the last 20 pages, I was crying.
Now, there are a few things I would change. In the first 100 pages, the author repeats herself a LOT, with very similar sentence structures and identical descriptions (of a witch’s first bleed, of how Rune played into her Nan’s death, etc.) I found it annoying and it took me out of the story. Secondly, boxing? The way the characters speak and dress and transport themselves, this story takes place in the “past.” But boxing? With gloves, in a ring? This could’ve easily been a fighting ring or sparring, but boxing took me out of the story as well. It didn’t seem to fit.
Seeing as Rune and the witches have escaped to Cailis on the Continent, I’m excited to see what happens in book 2 as the world expands. My heart is BROKEN that this is now an Enemies to Lovers back to Enemies story, but I’m rooting for them. They just need to talk it out😭
Now, there are a few things I would change. In the first 100 pages, the author repeats herself a LOT, with very similar sentence structures and identical descriptions (of a witch’s first bleed, of how Rune played into her Nan’s death, etc.) I found it annoying and it took me out of the story. Secondly, boxing? The way the characters speak and dress and transport themselves, this story takes place in the “past.” But boxing? With gloves, in a ring? This could’ve easily been a fighting ring or sparring, but boxing took me out of the story as well. It didn’t seem to fit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Classism, Addiction, Body horror, Rape, and Sexual content
jordanog4's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Sexual assault, Violence, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gun violence
wanderingwitchreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Heartless hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli caught my attention with its stunning cover, drew me in with its enticing premise, and proceeded to capture me for hours with its brilliant plot.
What I loved
-Dual POV masterfully utilized
-Hunter X Hunted Trope (one of my favorites)
-Morally Grey characters abound
- The ending left me craving book 2 so intensely that I had to tell people about this
What didn't work for me quite as well
-I"m always nervous about worlds where magic is presenting as only being possible through working with blood due to concerns that it may tread to close to some stereotypes that have been wielded against real life oppressed groups.
-The miscommunication trope is applied in a really clumsy way
Who Would I recommend this book for
This Title is ideal for readers who liked the premise of Serpent and Dove but left reading it craving a more darkly realized witch and witch hunter story.
What I loved
-Dual POV masterfully utilized
-Hunter X Hunted Trope (one of my favorites)
-Morally Grey characters abound
- The ending left me craving book 2 so intensely that I had to tell people about this
What didn't work for me quite as well
-I"m always nervous about worlds where magic is presenting as only being possible through working with blood due to concerns that it may tread to close to some stereotypes that have been wielded against real life oppressed groups.
-The miscommunication trope is applied in a really clumsy way
Who Would I recommend this book for
This Title is ideal for readers who liked the premise of Serpent and Dove but left reading it craving a more darkly realized witch and witch hunter story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Self harm
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
heyjrodriguez's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death
sfdogmom's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
Good story. Would’ve liked this better if it weren’t YA. Just one 🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Genocide, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content
reads_with_em's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Despite the stilted attempts at world building, the predictability of every “twist”, and the whiplash I experienced from reading Rune and Gideon’s mental gymnastics routines, I generally had a good time. The magic system is super intriguing, and the ending seems to be setting up the potential for a banging sequel.
Listen, I’m a simple gal. If there’s one thing I love in an enemies to lovers romance, it’s whenthe lovers become enemies again at the end. These two did it in the stupidest way possible, but it still checked the box and I was entertained.
Listen, I’m a simple gal. If there’s one thing I love in an enemies to lovers romance, it’s when
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault
dani_reis's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This is NOT YA. Stop trying to normalize sexual content in YA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Torture, Blood, Classism, Death, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Minor: Self harm and Fire/Fire injury
amartin2085's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Booktoks next frenzy!
This is one of those books that will have you by the edge of your chair the entire time! The emotional rollercoaster that I just went on was insane! Watching Rune and Gideon trying to outwit each other, to them unknowingly falling for the other, and then to them going back to hating each other is what makes this a great enemies to lovers to enemies again book. I can't wait to see what develops between then in book 2.
I will say, Cressida wasn't a huge shocker, but oh.my.god. Alex? Alex?!? ALEX?!?!?!?! I wasn't a huge fan about Alex and Rune's relationship since Gideon won me over right away, but the way I got teary eyed at the ending😭 ugh my heart!!
This was almost a 5 star read for me, and honestly it might be in a days when I reflect more on the story, but I gave it 4.75 stars just because a few of the chapters felt a bit repetitive with Rune/Gideon wondering what they can get out of this/is this person just using me/do I do this to my brother. Otherwise, a really great book, and I can't wait to see what is waiting for our Crimson Moth next!
This is one of those books that will have you by the edge of your chair the entire time! The emotional rollercoaster that I just went on was insane! Watching Rune and Gideon trying to outwit each other, to them unknowingly falling for the other, and then to them going back to hating each other is what makes this a great enemies to lovers to enemies again book. I can't wait to see what develops between then in book 2.
I will say, Cressida wasn't a huge shocker, but oh.my.god. Alex? Alex?!? ALEX?!?!?!?! I wasn't a huge fan about Alex and Rune's relationship since Gideon won me over right away, but the way I got teary eyed at the ending😭 ugh my heart!!
This was almost a 5 star read for me, and honestly it might be in a days when I reflect more on the story, but I gave it 4.75 stars just because a few of the chapters felt a bit repetitive with Rune/Gideon wondering what they can get out of this/is this person just using me/do I do this to my brother. Otherwise, a really great book, and I can't wait to see what is waiting for our Crimson Moth next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
also_micah's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Death
Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Torture, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and War