Heartless Hunter: The Crimson Moth: Book 1

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

"A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, played out against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and bloody history. I couldn't look away." - Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Champion of Fate

Enemies-to-lovers doesn't get more high stakes than a witch and a witch hunter falling in love in bestselling author Kristen Ciccarelli's latest romantic fantasy.

On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe - a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution - who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s Heartless Hunter is the thrilling start to The Crimson Moth duology, a romantic fantasy series where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch...is falling in love.

“Enchanting and deeply romantic, Heartless Hunter drew me in with the first sentence and left me breathless by the last. A story that unfolds like a spell, and one that is destined to capture your heart.” - Rebecca Ross, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divine Rivals

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Published Feb 20, 2024

416 pages

Average rating: 7.98

1,169 RATINGS

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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Heartless Hunter: The Crimson Moth* is a gripping, fast-paced romantasy with a gothic, sensual vibe and a unique magic system, especially...

CeLynasings
Nov 16, 2025
10/10 stars
This book would be a great introduction to those looking to get into spicy books. It was light and tasteful with the romance. The twist and turns were very surprising and I love how the writer was able to build a world that seemed to already exist.
fromlizaslibrary
Apr 29, 2025
9/10 stars
Wow! This book was so gripping, I could not get enough! The story was fairly fast paced which was refreshing to not have a ton of lulling detail in a romantasy read. The world dynamic was intriguing and I hope we get more world building in the sequel. I also found the magic system to be an interesting one. Rune was a very likable FMC although I wish we got to see her in action more. I also enjoyed how she handled her own magic, albeit a little disgusting, I thought it was incredibly clever. Gideon grew on me throughout the book specifically during his POV chapters but overall I was very fond of him as our moody MMC. I did see some of the twists coming, but there were some revelations that surprised me at the end which I can always appreciate. I loved this book and I am glad we get a second book because I have not had enough of Rune yet!
Kristin Rose
Nov 01, 2024
8/10 stars
THE ENDING
krzyk8ee
Feb 21, 2026
6/10 stars
At first I thought this was just a regular fantasy with a little formula for a romance book. I enjoyed reading more about the witch part (not a theme in the books I've been reading lately) and really liked how they made the spells. There are parts that I really didn't like. (How "little" the FMC is but that's to be expected from a fantasy book), and how he goes after his brother's girl. (I feel like that's going against the code!) I felt her conundrum about having to wear different "masks". But OH! the plot twists!!! I actually didn't see them coming. But I did read it and listen (and in the audio version- she has an accent!) It ends with a cliff hanger so I'm sure I'll read book 2!
Sarah Hackbarth
Jan 30, 2026
10/10 stars
4.5 ⭐️! So fun, so good!

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