Rune Winters has been secretly helping witches like her escape capture and persecution ever since the New Republic ended the Reign of Witches. She evades suspicion while putting on a facade as a socialite, while hiding her true identity as a vigilante known as the Crimson Moth. After an attempted rescue goes wrong, she catches the attention of notorious witch hunter, Gideon Sharpe. He suspects Rune to be the Moth, while at the same time, she needs information from him to rescue a powerful witch. In their attempts to thwart the other, the two pretend to be courting. The closer they get however, the more it entangles them in a dangerous game that will put their loyalties into question and their hearts on the line.
This is how you do enemies to lovers. For a book that is considered YA, it is steaming with tension, both in romance and plot, with an ending that has me anxiously waiting for the next book. Rune and Gideon really are enemies and their motives for what they do are valid the more we get to know them. And yet, their undeniable attraction and the genuine connection that forms are what makes their relationship simmer until it boils over.
The writing is good as is the world building. There are grand balls, spells cast, surprising character reveals, and life threatening incidents that raise the stakes. The only part I got confused by is why there was a revolt against the witches before the start of the book. It begins to make sense as information is revealed, but I wish Ciccarelli delved into it some more.
Right now, this is my favorite romantasy. It’s a fast paced read that is well balanced between story and the enemies to lovers romance. And look at how gorgeous this edition is from Fairyloot. I’m obsessed!
