Book Review: The Crimson Moth Duology by Kristen Ciccarelli

 I recently closed the final pages of the Heartless Hunter and The Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli- and while I was pulled in by the spellbinding premise, the duology left me feeling... softly bewitched, but not fully enchanted.

From the first page, I was drawn to the bones of this world: witches hunted and hidden, rebellion woven into the very threads of their blood, and a dark empire ruled by cruelty and control. Rune, a sharp-edged witch masked in secrets, and Gideon, a golden soldier with shadows behind his smile, were the kind of characters I usually fall hard for.

And yet... the flame never fully took.

Their enemies-to-lovers arc burned a little too fast for my liking. One minute, there was hatred sharp enough to draw blood, and the next, an emotional leap into love that felt more like a spell cast off-page. I longed for more slow-burn tension, more earned softness between them before the sacrifice. 

Speaking of sacrifice, Rune's ending was undeniably powerful. A moth-winged martyr, her story curled around themes of love, duty, and resistance. But even then, I couldn't shake the echo of A Court of Thorns and Roses- it felt familiar, almost too familiar, and lacked the fresh sting I had hoped for.

Was it all bad? Not at all. The magic system was clever, the rebellion raw, and the concept of a missing sister to the evil queens absolutely dripped with gothic allure. It's a story cloaked in shadows, but it just didn't bind me completely. 

A tale of blood oaths and broken curses, heavy with promise- but for me, the spell unraveled before it fully took hold.

Tarot: The Hanged Woman

A card of sacrifice and surrender- perfect for Rune's journey. Her power came not from fighting, but from choosing to let go. It's a reminder that sometimes transformation requires stillness... and a leap of faith

Drink Pairing: Rose and Lavender Latte- floral, soft, a little bitter.... just like this read.