Dissatisfying Conclusion
I quite enjoyed the first book in the Crimson Moth duology (Heartless Hunter). But I found this sequel Rebel Witch to be rather lackluster. The things that made the first novel engaging and original to me were absent in this one, and it read like yet another stereotypical romantasy.
A Brief Summary
Rebel Witch picks up not long after the events in Heartless Hunter. Rune has allied herself with the witch queen Cressida and pledged herself to marry the prince of another land in order to secure his army and fight against the Republic.
Meanwhile, Gideon Sharpe, ever the witch hunter, vows to fight for the Republic and ensure every witch dies, including Rune.
But when Rune makes him an offer he can’t refuse, Gideon has to decide if he can put aside his feelings for her to accomplish dangerous goals.
What I Liked
- Worldbuilding and setting
- Likable protagonists
- Writing style
What I Liked Less
- Predictable
- Trope-heavy
- enemies-to-lovers
- forced proximity
- “one bed”
- fake marriage
- chosen one
- Constant miscommunication and deceit
- More language
- Heightened, more present/constant sexual tension/content
- Unnecessary side characters (I did not feel like they served the plot. They felt “token” and, thus, ineffective to me)
Content Concerns
Like The Heartless Hunter, Rebel Witch is an adult romantasy, and it’s not geared toward teenagers. There is more swearing (including F-words) and more sexual content. This remained primarily inexplicit until one scene at the end.
The chapter is easy to skip, and it’s obvious that it’s coming. However, for those looking for closed-door/no-spice reads, I couldn’t recommend this one.
There is also some violence.
Final Thoughts
While I like Ciccarelli’s writing and I enjoyed the first novel, Rebel Witch only gets three stars from me. The overall read was okay, but I was distracted by the constant tropes and found myself disinterested at times because it was too predictable.
Once again, romantasies leave me conflicted. I think I’ll take a break on them for a while.
If you want a strong romantasy that I will always recommend, check out Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross!
Content Rating: Moderate
due to F-words, chapter with sex scene, and violence
Copyright Kristen Ciccarrelli and Wednesday Books. Image from Amazon.