Book Review: Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Young Adult(?), Enemies To Lovers, Witches, Fantasy Romance, Magic
Pages: 464
Format: Ebook
Rating:

Initial Thoughts

I immediately had to pick up Rebel Witch after reading Heartless Hunter. I didn’t have the physical copy, but nothing was coming in between me and this book. NOTHING. I would’ve cancelled plans. I would’ve called out of work. I would’ve committed unforgivable acts JUST TO READ THIS BOOK. Do you understand the lengths I would’ve gone to?!

But, thankfully, all was well in the world. Libby had it available right away and I started reading it on Sunday.. My expectations were very high going into this since Heartless Hunter was a five-deer-star read. I needed answers. I needed resolution. And most importantly……

I needed GIDEON SHARPE.

The Plot (Spoiler-Free!)

Our story picks up two months after the battle at the New Republic. There is now a clear divide between the witches and humans, but in Umbria, witches live freely and hunting them is illegal. Rune, Cressida, and the other witches are there, trying to use the prince’s ships and soldiers to attack the New Republic.

In order to do this, Rune has to go back to her flirtatious ways, and get the prince to marry her in exchange for his ships and soldiers. But meanwhile, Gideon has a score to settle and it starts and ends with Rune. He’s determined to exact his revenge for her betrayals and deceit.

Rune is still the cunning witch she was in the New Republic, with even more developed magic. Agreeing to a temporary truce under the assumption they both share the same goal of establishing peace in the New Republic. Despite their new truce, they begin yet another cat and mouse game of trying to out maneuver and one up each other behind the other’s back. Somewhere along the way, their hearts are leading them to stop fighting each other, but internally it goes against who they are as a person.

What I Liked

GIDEON. SHARPE.

That’s it. That’s what I liked. Liked doesn’t even cover it, that’s what I LOVED. Let’s just take a look at some of my favorite quotes (not all of these are from Gideon though, but most):

• “You have no idea, the things I want to do to you.”
• Instead, he’d found this Rune. His Rune. A total mess.
• “How dare you touch her.” Gideon knew better than to open his mouth. But he couldn’t help himself. “At least she likes it when I touch her.”

Okay, these first three, are just from Chapter THREE.

Let’s continue:

• She was like a magnet sending the arrows on his moral compass spinning.
• If this was weakness, he wanted to be weak. If this was sin, let him be damned to hell.
• “You are far worse than a thorn in my side,” he said, his dark eyes gleaming at her. “You are a knife in my heart.”
• “Sometimes our paths must diverge from those we love. But if love is the highest power, our paths will converge again—if not in this world, then the next.”

So where do I start with what I liked? I liked that this was a very strong sequel, the pacing, because let me tell you something. I sat down with this book on Sunday to start reading, and when I checked where I was at, it was at page 161. It may not be impressive to you, but for meeeeee, that says something. I was transported to a world with witches, witch hunters, magic, spells, and romance.

The plot was compelling. It kept me on my toes, even if a few things were predictable (more on that below). I loved the returning characters who got bigger roles, the fresh dynamics, and the continued cat-and-mouse energy between Rune and Gideon, but with deeper emotional stakes this time.

Of course I loved the romance, it was definitely heavier in this book. I liked the progression of their feelings for each other no matter how hard they tried to fight it. I liked that we got to see a different side of Rune. While she was still strong, smart, and cunning, she was also vulnerable, afraid and insecure at times. We saw a lot of character development between Rune and Gideon. They are not the same people they were in Heartless Hunter.

What Didn’t Work for Me

As much as I enjoyed Rebel Witch, I do have a criticism, and that is the predictability of one of the supposed plot twist. In the beginning of the story, a mystery is introduced. And immediately, immediately, I figured it out. I mean it was so obvious. And then this was drawn out towards the end of the story and I just knew it the whole time so I didn’t have the suspense or build-up I was supposed to have.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely recommend this book and the duology as a whole. If you like fantasy romance / romantasy then this is a must read. Again, Booktok really hyped up the right series.

I never wanted to stop reading it, it took up all of the thoughts in my mind when I wasn’t reading. At work I was counting down the hours until I could read again. As I was reading, I didn’t want the story to end. This series gave me exactly what I want from a fantasy romance: obsession, emotional stakes, excellent worldbuilding, and characters I cared about deeply.

Thank you, Kristen Ciccarelli for giving me one of my favorite reads of the year, and maybe even of all time.