Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by rafafinhass
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
adventurous
dark
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Maybe I'm totally biased when it comes to Kristen Ciccarelli, but the truth is that I really like her writing. And it brings me immeasurable pleasure to see her getting the recognition she deserves.
The Iskari trilogy is one of my favorite fantasy trilogies, and I even got to know the author because I was so in love with the books a few years ago.
I'm immensely happy to know that her writing is still as good (if not better) than her first books.
Heartless Hunter is super interesting and hooks you from the first page. One of Kristen's greatest strengths is knowing how to write conflicts and tension that carry you through the entire book. It was like that in The Last Namsara, and it continues in Heartless Hunter.
One thing I also really like is how she works the background and depth for all of her main characters. I remember Asha being super complex, and I think Rune is the same way. I deeply love the way she writes her FMCs and misunderstood female characters.
And I like that she touches on very feminine subjects.
The fact that Rune, a witch, uses menstrual blood is very interesting to me. Not only because there is still a stigma surrounding menstrual blood but also because of the meaning.
Compared to her first book, I think Rune and Gideon are much better developed than the characters in The Last Namsara, although that book is also without flaws regarding this.
I think Heartless Hunter is a much darker book by Kristen, and even though it is YA, I still think it has a great atmosphere. The burden that Rune and especially Gideon carry is out of this world. The things they have both been through... I kinda can't get over Gideon's fucked up story and how strong he is for a 20 year old.
I can't explain it, but the gray and heavy atmosphere lasts throughout the book. I can feel the melancholy and oppression in the pages.
This book is much more refined than the author's previous books, and I love this evolution. I remember not liking how the miscommunication plot was handled in The Caged Queen, and I think she improved a lot on that here.
Everything is very consistent, and you can perfectly understand each choice the characters make.
There are no flaws or holes in the story that could diminish its value.
If I had to say something that could be improved, I would say that Gideon and Rune's first real interaction is very quick. I think Rune feels trapped by Gideon's charm too quickly.
Still, I can't give this story less than 5 stars.
It's a dark YA full of revolution, rage, action, espionage, betrayal, and a love formed by hate.
It's also a story about forgiving and accepting past mistakes without letting the hurt consume you. Like other stories by the author, it's a book that moves towards a resolution to accept who we are, even with our flaws and seemingly unredeemable traits.
The Iskari trilogy is one of my favorite fantasy trilogies, and I even got to know the author because I was so in love with the books a few years ago.
I'm immensely happy to know that her writing is still as good (if not better) than her first books.
Heartless Hunter is super interesting and hooks you from the first page. One of Kristen's greatest strengths is knowing how to write conflicts and tension that carry you through the entire book. It was like that in The Last Namsara, and it continues in Heartless Hunter.
One thing I also really like is how she works the background and depth for all of her main characters. I remember Asha being super complex, and I think Rune is the same way. I deeply love the way she writes her FMCs and misunderstood female characters.
And I like that she touches on very feminine subjects.
The fact that Rune, a witch, uses menstrual blood is very interesting to me. Not only because there is still a stigma surrounding menstrual blood but also because of the meaning.
Compared to her first book, I think Rune and Gideon are much better developed than the characters in The Last Namsara, although that book is also without flaws regarding this.
I think Heartless Hunter is a much darker book by Kristen, and even though it is YA, I still think it has a great atmosphere. The burden that Rune and especially Gideon carry is out of this world. The things they have both been through... I kinda can't get over Gideon's fucked up story and how strong he is for a 20 year old.
I can't explain it, but the gray and heavy atmosphere lasts throughout the book. I can feel the melancholy and oppression in the pages.
This book is much more refined than the author's previous books, and I love this evolution. I remember not liking how the miscommunication plot was handled in The Caged Queen, and I think she improved a lot on that here.
Everything is very consistent, and you can perfectly understand each choice the characters make.
There are no flaws or holes in the story that could diminish its value.
If I had to say something that could be improved, I would say that Gideon and Rune's first real interaction is very quick. I think Rune feels trapped by Gideon's charm too quickly.
Still, I can't give this story less than 5 stars.
It's a dark YA full of revolution, rage, action, espionage, betrayal, and a love formed by hate.
It's also a story about forgiving and accepting past mistakes without letting the hurt consume you. Like other stories by the author, it's a book that moves towards a resolution to accept who we are, even with our flaws and seemingly unredeemable traits.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail