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A review by marie_mn
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
I wanted to love it, I really did..
But after thinking it over, I don’t think I’ve enjoyed it that much. I didn’t hate it, but it had so much potential and fell kind of flat for me. I’ve realised that I often don’t like these popular books and I think it’s because my expectations are so high before even starting the book that it can only lead to disappointment (and also because some of them are just bad, sorry not sorry).
So it started out well, I really loved how we just jumped straight into the story. It was nicely paced, with short chapters, which made it an easy read.
I loved that this was a story about witches. The magic system was interesting and a bit more nuanced than simply ‘having magic’ and being able to do just about anything with it, so that was great, too.
But while I loved that the story didn’t force a lot of information on you in the beginning, I started to wonder when the world building would begin and honestly, I’m still wondering.
What I struggled with the most though was the romance.
The relationship between Rune and Gideon never felt genuine to me, it felt forced and made me kind of uncomfortable. I think this would have worked so much better had it been a real slow burn. Like if they had continued to dance around each other while they were trying to achieve their respective goals and had only started to get closer towards the end or even in the sequel when they’ll maybe work together.
Because at this point, why would Rune fall in love with him? He embodies everything she hates and works against, like he literally hunts and kills witches and thinks they are the embodiment of evil. He wants to kill her. Like what?
I somewhat get it from his POV, he thought her to be a spoiled little rich girl but then got to know her better realising it was just a façade. But Rune, yeah no, I just couldn’t take it seriously.
There just was not enough build up for me, also considering Gideon was a SA victim and was very obviously traumatised. Like, I’m sorry, him still thinking about what Harrow said to basically pressure him into sleeping with Rune WHILE they’re about to have sex just ruined that whole moment for me. It didn’t feel meaningful when he had to convince himself that he actually wanted it.
Also don’t get me started on dramatic love declarations immediately after sex, like you’re confusing a good time with love, guys, it’s not the same.
Something I realised towards the end, wasn’t Rune supposed to be this rebel leader or whatever who’s saving witches left and right? Well, I would have liked to see it.. Like she didn’t save one witch in this whole book about her saving witches.
So yeah, seems like it once again wasn’t for me..
But after thinking it over, I don’t think I’ve enjoyed it that much. I didn’t hate it, but it had so much potential and fell kind of flat for me. I’ve realised that I often don’t like these popular books and I think it’s because my expectations are so high before even starting the book that it can only lead to disappointment (and also because some of them are just bad, sorry not sorry).
So it started out well, I really loved how we just jumped straight into the story. It was nicely paced, with short chapters, which made it an easy read.
I loved that this was a story about witches. The magic system was interesting and a bit more nuanced than simply ‘having magic’ and being able to do just about anything with it, so that was great, too.
But while I loved that the story didn’t force a lot of information on you in the beginning, I started to wonder when the world building would begin and honestly, I’m still wondering.
What I struggled with the most though was the romance.
The relationship between Rune and Gideon never felt genuine to me, it felt forced and made me kind of uncomfortable. I think this would have worked so much better had it been a real slow burn. Like if they had continued to dance around each other while they were trying to achieve their respective goals and had only started to get closer towards the end or even in the sequel when they’ll maybe work together.
Because at this point, why would Rune fall in love with him? He embodies everything she hates and works against, like he literally hunts and kills witches and thinks they are the embodiment of evil. He wants to kill her. Like what?
I somewhat get it from his POV, he thought her to be a spoiled little rich girl but then got to know her better realising it was just a façade. But Rune, yeah no, I just couldn’t take it seriously.
There just was not enough build up for me, also considering Gideon was a SA victim and was very obviously traumatised. Like, I’m sorry, him still thinking about what Harrow said to basically pressure him into sleeping with Rune WHILE they’re about to have sex just ruined that whole moment for me. It didn’t feel meaningful when he had to convince himself that he actually wanted it.
Also don’t get me started on dramatic love declarations immediately after sex, like you’re confusing a good time with love, guys, it’s not the same.
Something I realised towards the end, wasn’t Rune supposed to be this rebel leader or whatever who’s saving witches left and right? Well, I would have liked to see it.. Like she didn’t save one witch in this whole book about her saving witches.
So yeah, seems like it once again wasn’t for me..