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novel_nibbles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, and War
dani_reis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Self harm and Fire/Fire injury
mysticserenity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
readsbylou's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Violence, and Police brutality
Minor: Addiction, Child death, and Fire/Fire injury
colorcrystals's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Sexual content
soniajoy98's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship
mdal26's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
perkdd's review against another edition
- 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
”She was drowning, and he was air. She hadn’t even realized how much she needed him until he was gone.”
The Heartless Hunter is a cat-and-mouse duet that will have you hooked from the start and I truly hope it receives the hype it deserves in 2024 because this book had me internally SCREAMING on all parts and ends on such a flawless cliffhanger. If you enjoyed Bridgerton and like reading bout witches, this book is for you because it is a perfect mix of the two.
Kristen Ciccarelli creates a story that surrounds two MCs with a dual POV, Rune Winters, and Gideon Sharpe. Rune is a ditsy socialite by day and a witch vigilante who protects witches from being captured and purged by night. Gideon is a witch hunter within the Blood Guard set on purging witches and finding the bane of his existence, the Crimson Moth. Finally, Gideon discovers intel of a merchant ship that smuggled two young witches out of the New Republic and it leads him to none other than Rune. The two MCs decide to court each other to use the other to their advantage. Rune, to use Gideon's position for intel to help her protect her identity and save more witches, and Gideon for wanting to catch the Crimson Moth. But what happens when the facade becomes real?
I am normally not one for YA novels, but Ciccarelli manages to write the book in a manner that does not make it feel as though it is shallowly written for high schoolers with cringy spice scenes that most YA novels have. My rating for spice level is 2/5 but I enjoyed the slow burn of The Heartless Hunter and hope to see more in the second book.
"It shocked her out of her stupor. Rune was no longer the mimic spider, luring her victim into a trap. She was inside her own trap . . . about to be devoured by her prey."
I wholeheartedly believe that Gideon Sharpe will be a 2024 favorite when it comes to morally grey boyfriends because he is a character that you will love to hate, but also want a happy ending for when you discover more and more about him. This enemies-to-lovers trope is such an unexpected but welcomed plot that keeps you on your toes and I am here for it. I also appreciated how many layers Ciccarelli gave the characters, rather than making them one-dimensional. The banter was exceptional and I was constantly on the edge of my seat from how fast-paced this book is. The amount of unexpected twists and turns leave you wanting more, especially the ending.
The Negatives: I do agree with other reviews that mention how the worldbuilding could have been better, but I am desperately hoping we will see more within the next book. Ciccarelli focuses a lot on the characters, but I needed more in the plot because I have many questions. Specifically, why is it that witches are being purged only in the New Republic but live in harmony with others in Caelis? Are they truly accepted in other parts of the world? What are the power dynamics like among witches? Why mention Rune's merchant business but not explain what it entails? My only other qualm with this book is that it seems to lack diversity. Again, hopefully, this is something we will see within the second book, but I wish there had been at least some.
All in all, I do strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantasy novels and witches. I truly hope that Ciccarelli receives the hype and success she deserves from this book because it is such a wonderful story that I did NOT want to put it down and read the entire thing in one sitting. This book is dark, emotional, tense, and still manages to give you hope. I am thoroughly excited to see what comes next for Rune and Gideon!
Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
camiandkitread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War