Name: The Rebel Witch
Series: The Crimson Moth #2
Author: Kristen Ciccarelli
Publisher: Magpie
Format: Hardback
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Noted Tropes: Lovers to Enemies, Rebellion
Steam or Spice: Steam
Rating:
Synopsis: Goodreads
A WITCH…
Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches―something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.
A WITCH HUNTER…
Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with Cressida―the witchwho made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die―especially Rune Winters.
AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE…
When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. And now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.
Review:
The Rebel Witch is the conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology (Book 1: The Crimson Moth (Heartless Hunter if you’re in America)). There will be spoilers below for The Crimson Moth, but any spoilers for The Rebel Witch will be hidden. Onto the review.
I understand why everyone who got an early copy /who were in locations with an earlier release date, raved about this! Where do I begin? Oo, I know!
I love this duology – it didn’t usurp The Shepherd king duology as my favourite but it’s still brilliant – but I wanted to bang Rune and Gideon’s heads together on more than one occassion. With love obviously, because honestly regardless of how frustrated I got with them, I love them. Both as individual characters and as a couple (both romantically and as partners in hijinks for lack of a better phrase).
I am not someone who will complain of a predictable plot if I was having a good time while reading it. So believe me when I say that even though The Rebel Witch did have a predictable plot it was still brilliant. And even though I’d describe the plot as predictible – Kristen still had me in tears at one point! Not to mention for as much as I was able to guess ahead of time in terms of the plot, Kristen still threw a twist in there that whilst I had been expecting in some form… I figured out way too late (until it was practically told on the page). So she still has some surprises in there for us!
After the loss of Alex in The Crimson Moth, and the reveal of Verity’s true identity, I thought that the found family aspect of this duology was over… Ciccarelli said I think not and worked to show us a new family. This group didn’t land as the best found family ever by any means, but I loved watching the different people rally together and form this family.
In the end, the vibes from The Crimson Moth carried over to The Rebel Witch and I had a brilliant time with it. I loved the main characters – villains too (that curse!!! IYKYK) – and I feel everything was wrapped up in a way that made this duology very satisfying to read. I wasn’t left with a thousand questions that made me think this was a bad duology, and for that I am very grateful. L:ike I’ve said, I’m trying to read more duologies so that I’m not constantly reading long series!
I’m very happy with a solid 5 star rating for The Rebel Witch. I don’t feel it was as good as The Crimson Moth, which was almost 6 star territory. This duology did something that not many duologies and standalones manage for me – they left me satisfied! Together, they make a brilliant duology with excellent characters, vibes and a good plot! Easy 5 star rating.
“Love can’t be controlled. Love can’t obey unjust laws. Love will always oppose tyrants.”
Reading With Tyler 
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