Review: The Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth #2)

The Rebel Witch, Book 2 in The Crimson Moth duology by Kristin Ciccarelli

Published By: Magpie
Publication Date: February 27, 2025
Date Read: March 15, 2025
Genre: YA – Fantasy / Romantasy
Source: Bought
Format: E-Book
Pages: 400

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The highly anticipated sequel to The Crimson Moth.

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.

In Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.

“Live in the darkness too long, and eventually you won’t recognise the light.”

I honestly cannot put into words just how much I adored every single moment of The Rebel Witch. Now, I am not a binge reader. I never have been. But the moment I finished The Crimson Moth, I was dying to get my hands on The Rebel Witch. And I started it the day it released. It took me a while due to limited reading time, but my god this book was everything. The angst. The heartbreak. The love… I just want to re-read the entire duology all over again. I think this may be my favourite duology of all time. It was just absolute perfection.

The Rebel Witch picks up right where The Crimson Moth left off, with Rune having escaped with the evil witch queen Cressida. Gideon feel betrayed and wants nothing more than to destroy them both, but when he finds himself face to face with Rune again, he just can’t do it. And so they enter into a tenuous agreement to help each other. But can either of them trust the other?

I adored everything about this book. It was absolutely superb. From the very first page, I couldn’t put it down. No words can describe my absolute love for Rune and Gideon… even if they are both ridiculously stupid at times and I wanted nothing more than to reach into the book and bang their heads together. I just love their dynamic and while a lot of their issues could have been solved with an honest conversation, I honestly understood why there was so much mistrust and miscommunication between them. Usually I am a hater of the miscommunication trope, but honestly this is how you do it well! It just made the tension that much more exciting.

Kristin Ciccarelli is officially an auto-buy author for me. I’d already fell in love with her writing back when I read The Last Namsara (if you haven’t read it go read it immediately!), but there is just something otherworldly about this series. I don’t know what kind of substances she wove into the words of this series, but I am ADDICTED! I cannot wait for whatever she writes next, as I know I will just devour it.

The Rebel Witch is honestly one of the best romantasy books I’ve read this year. It’s honestly fantastic. One thing I love about this duology is that although the romance is front and centre it is so slow burn, and full of angst. I love everything about it. The character development and growth that happens in this book is on another level. The journey both Gideon and Rune go on is incredible. Although this is definitely a romantasy book, the thing I loved most about it, is that journey of findings out things are not always what they seem, and finding the bravery you fight for what is right and a better future, not what you have always thought was right. I feel like that message is always poignant, but now more than ever. It really hit home, and it just made me love this duology even more.

This book was just… sensational! I know I’ve said it already, but I really mean it when I say cannot put into words just how much I adored every single moment of it. This entire duology is just magical! In my opinion, it’s leagues and leagues above all the other romantasy series I’ve read to date. Kristin Ciccarelli is my new romantasy queen and I will be going back and reading her entire backlist (there’s only 3 for me to read) after this. It was just THAT good! If you haven’t read this series yet, let this be your sign to do so… IMMEDIATELY! You won’t regret it!

“Aren’t you sick of the hate? Those are easy, Harrow. What’s difficult is refusing to harden your heart despite having every reason to. Despite knowing the odds are against you.”