The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli

I picked up The Crimson Moth (also published as Heartless Hunter) as it was a nominee for the Goodreads Choice Award Readers of Young Adult Fantasy (2024) and found myself quickly immersed in the story of Rune and Gideon. Rune is the Crimson Moth, a young witch posing as a mindless socialite, because witches are purged after a devastating revolution. Gideon is a witch hunter, dedicated to eradicating all witches and their supporters, and is determined to find the Crimson Moth, who repeatedly releases witches that he has captured. When Seraphine, a witch that Rune’s grandmother told her to find, is captured, Rune sets out on a dangerous path, targeting Gideon as the most likely person to know where she is imprisoned. Meanwhile Gideon suspects that Rune is the Crimson Moth and decides to court her. Sparks fly!

Ciccarelli combines thrilling suspense with an enemies to lovers romance. Ably supported by Alex, Gideon’s music loving brother, Rune and her best friend Verity search for ways to find and release imprisoned witches, aware all the time that they could be caught and purged. Readers will be forced to continue reading long into the night to find out whether Rune can escape the traps that Gideon sets for the Crimson Moth, while battling her growing feelings for him. Meanwhile Alex her best friend, begins to show that he is in love with her and she is uncertain about her relations with the two brothers.

The Crimson Moth will tick a lot of boxes for young adult readers. There is magic and suspense, blood and violence, a love triangle and a shocking twist and cliff-hanger at its conclusion. They are likely to wait impatiently for Rebel Witch, the next in the duology. Meanwhile, Defy the night by Brigid Kemmerer, and Mask of mirrors by M.A. Carrick  would satisfy readers who enjoy fantasy with heroic young women fighting injustice.

Trigger warning: There is one spicy romantic encounter.

Themes: Witches, Magic, Romance, Persecution.

Pat Pledger