Book of The Month discussion

A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, played out against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and bloody history.

On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe - a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution - who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s Heartless Hunter is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch...is falling in love.

12 chapters / 25%

(view spoiler)[ it seems silly to assume Alex doesn't have feelings for Rune that they are truly like "brother and sister" but maybe I'm wrong

I like Verity although I'm sad she doesn't have family to help her

the world of witches was explained quickly and I'm good with that. I hope we don't have anymore loooong paragraphs dumping info again lol (hide spoiler)]

33 chapters / 58%

(view spoiler)[ their push and pull - I can't imagine this ends well
I'm kind of sad she doesn't like Alex. he's been there for her through all of this. and she picks the one boy that was mean to her and would love to kill her. yikes

I wonder why he didn't seem more injured after being stabbed in the leg. I wonder why she didn't see it when they went swimming

I'm not sure who else is killing these other people and taking the blood but it doesn't seem to be her (hide spoiler)]

48 ch / 82%

(view spoiler)[ I'm still sad that she chose Gideon over Alex. I still like Alex more, he would have cherished her for exactly who she was

I assume that Cressida (or whatever her name is! lol) is either the maid (which I doubt) or her friend. I assume her friend is really Cress's cover and that's why she doesn't have any family or friends. I mean, where does she go all day long? But curious that she seems to also have a following
are the witches rising up? (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done

(view spoiler)[ that was pretty good
I think it gave enough hints to know who Verity was but wow, I didn't expect Alex to die - although I guess it makes sense, since we needed Rune to leave

I was surprised by Gideon's parting words - and that they were a lasting shot at Rune and not Cressida. I would think he'd hate Cress above all but maybe not.

I'd definitely read book 2 (hide spoiler)]

I finished this book about a week ago, I absolutely loved it I couldn't put it down. I thought it might have ended differently but I see the plot for book 2. As a add on book for this month I chose when I'm dead from October 2023. I'm looking forward to March books.

I loved this one too!!
and oooh, I have When I'm Dead too, just haven't quite pushed it up my TBR to get it it! hopefully soon! I have such a backlog I'm trying to get through

and yet AND YET, I'm so excited for March books! 😂🤣