anh's Reviews > Heartless Hunter

3.5 stars

“The hunted had fallen for the hunter.”

This was a really fun read that I couldn’t put down. The writing is super easy to follow, making it the kind of book you just want to binge. I kept telling myself “just one more chapter,” but before I knew it, I was several chapters ahead. It’s definitely the kind of story that keeps pulling you in. However, I’ll admit that the last 20% of the book left me a bit underwhelmed.

Set in a world where witches are hunted after a revolution stripped them of their powers, Heartless Hunter follows Rune, a witch who spends her days pretending to be a superficial socialite and her nights as the Crimson Moth—a vigilante rescuing her fellow witches. When a mission goes wrong, she decides to fake a romance with Gideon Sharpe, a tough witch hunter, to throw him off her trail. As they spend more time together, Gideon starts to see there’s more to Rune than he originally thought, and despite their differences, they find themselves drawn to each other. But with Gideon hunting witches and Rune secretly saving them, their relationship is full of tension and danger. It’s a fast-paced mix of action, romance, and tough choices in a world where love could literally cost them everything.

Rune- she is one of those protagonists you can’t help but root for. She’s tough, smart, and completely in control of her own fate. What I really loved about her was how unpredictable she was. She had a sneaky, clever side that kept me on my toes, and I loved seeing her outwit everyone. Of course, she makes some questionable choices along the way but they felt real—like things she would actually do, given who she is. Her drive and determination were admirable.

Gideon- he is such a layered character, and I found myself torn between loving him and getting frustrated with him. His motivations made sense, even if they made me crazy at times. Once you learn about his backstory, you really start to understand why he acts the way he does, and it’s hard not to feel for him. But the moment that completely won me over was when he made Rune a dress and handcrafted flowers for her. I don’t care that it was part of his plan—it was just such a sweet, thoughtful gesture that totally stole my heart.

Rune & Gideon-The chemistry between Rune and Gideon was amazing! The tension between them had me hooked, and their romance was equal parts sweet and exciting. The back-and-forth, the betrayals, the longing—it was all super addictive. I was so invested in every scene. That said, their relationship did feel a little like insta-love. It’s billed as an enemies-to-lovers story, but their connection developed so quickly that it didn’t feel as earned as I would’ve liked.

Alex- deserves so much better!

The first part of the book was really engaging, but I have to say the plot twist was pretty predictable. I saw it coming from a mile away I feel so smart, and by the time it happened, I didn’t get the shock I was hoping for. That being said, the pacing stayed fast enough to keep me interested, even if I wasn’t completely caught off guard by the twist.

The writing was solid—it definitely kept things moving, but I was hoping for a bit more. It was easy to read, and the story was fun, but I found it a little too simple in places. I was expecting more depth, especially when it came to the fantasy elements. There were some cool ideas, like witches using blood for magic and the scars left when blood is used in spells, but overall, the fantasy world felt a bit underdeveloped. I would’ve liked to see more exploration of that side of the story.

The love triangle, though? Honestly, it felt a little random. I’m not a huge fan of love triangles in general, and this one didn’t feel like it added much to the plot. It seemed kind of forced, and it kind of annoyed me. The only thing I did appreciate about it was that I didn’t see it coming which I guess was the point, but still…

Despite a few things that bothered me, I genuinely enjoyed this book. It’s fast-paced, fun, and packed with just the right amount of romance and tension to keep you hooked. If you’re looking for a quick, engaging read, this one is definitely worth picking up. It’s not perfect, but it’s an entertaining ride from start to finish. I’m diving into Rebel Witch very soon because, while I predicted the plot twist, that ending was criminal wtf!!