If the cat-and-mouse game in a fantasy romance setting, with a blood magic system, and morally grey characters is your guilty pleasure, then this post is for you! Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli is a young adult romantasy, with a true-enemies-to-lovers trope, interesting world-building, high stakes, and, of course, a love triangle. Catch up with the details in our Heartless Hunter summary before we proceed with the characters’ breakdown.
Stay on the dark side of fantasy books by reading our summary of One Dark Window, or delve into the true gothic territory with the most romantic Wuthering Heights quotes, and synopsis. If you want to travel to South Italy, and meet the Princes of Hell, then the Kingdom of the Wicked summary is waiting for you.
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Without further ado, let’s proceed to a Heartless Hunter character guide, but be aware of spoilers!
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A socialite by day, and a vigilante by night, Rune plays a dangerous game of pretences and seduction to obtain information from the elites of the New Republic and save the hunted witches. Having turned in her Nan as a witch, our Scarlet-Pimpernel-like heroine managed to get accepted into the circle of patriots, and undoubtedly a supporter of the Red Reign.
She is resourceful, loyal, and justice-driven. To hide herself from the Blood Guard that mercilessly hunts down witches and purges them, Rune uses only her menstrual blood to cast spells. Every time a witch uses her blood, the cut becomes a permanent cut on her skin. That is how the witch hunters are able to identify witches. Rune, though, has none!
A little note: Magic works through blood, and depending on the way that blood is acquired, the stronger the spell is. For example, the most powerful, dark spells require blood taken without consent…
Her mission as the Crimson Moth is to save as many witches as she can to redeem herself from turning her Nan in. She struggles with her identity, as she has to appear an innocent, and shallow socialite, while she hates the very men that hold her life in their hands.
Her arc is one of growth, sacrifice, and reclaiming her inner power. And she has more to fight for in book two!
Under the Good Commander’s influence, Gideon escaped from a self-destructive lifestyle to become a Captain. After he lost his family and nearly himself during the Sister Queen’s Reign, he initiated a rebellion against the witches by killing the witch queens with his younger brother. Now, he is a dark force to be reckoned with; ruthless, cunning, and unforgiving. He is so obsessed with capturing the Crimson Moth that he will court the socialite he despises the most to obtain information; Rune Winters.
Hearing from his informant that the run-away witches use Rune’s ships to escape, Gideon has to inspect her closely—naked-wise closely. You guessed it, he is looking for scars on her body. As he tries to expose her secret identity, though, he exposes his heart to her, too. He discovers that she is a clever, compassionate, and understanding woman for whom he can easily fall. Except, he does not trust her… When it comes to duty versus desire, for Gideon Sharpe will always be the former.
A lot of backstory here, bookworms, do not judge him just yet! Also, there is always the next book for his redemption.
Alex is the only family Gideon has left, and their bond is strong. Nevertheless, that did not stop Alex from befriending Rune and staying by her side since an early age. And developing feelings for her… Unreciprocated-love vibes—or not?
Alex was there the first time Rune bled black, her transition to a witch, and chose to keep her secret, and in time to become her confidant, helping her save witches. Alex has only one request in return: that Gideon be left out of the game. When Rune starts courting his brother, Alex distances himself, but at last he finds the courage to confess his feelings and ask her to move away with him.
Rune’s best friend, Verity, is a biology student who ran away from home when her mother turned in her older sisters for practicing magic. Verity works closely with the Crimson Moth, saving innocent witches from the Blood Guard.
Rune gives her gowns and expensive jewels to help her integrate with the elites and extract information from them. Verity cares for her friend’s future and love life, so she has prepared a list of potential matches, but her criteria do not match Rune’s. If she is to be married, then it will be with the most influential subject, who has access to the Blood Guard’s intel.
Every court needs its queen bee, and Cressida wears the crown effortlessly—entitled, dangerous, and sharp-tongued. She’s the perfect mirror of the world Rune is trying to burn down: polished on the outside, rotten beneath.
But Cressida isn’t just a mean girl trope—she’s a warning. Her manipulation, status obsession, and cruelty are what privilege looks like when left unchecked. She wields charm like a blade and isn’t above cutting those closest to her if it keeps her in power. Especially when Gideon’s attention starts to stray… Yep, the backstory we were talking about earlier. Thank God there is a summary explaining it all!
Nan is the quiet force that holds Rune together when the world feels like it’s crumbling. She’s the maternal figure Rune never had—part healer, part mentor, and full-time emotional anchor.
Her memory brings warmth to an otherwise brutal world, grounding the witch rebellion in old knowledge and soft strength. But don’t mistake her gentleness for weakness, Nan knew when to light the candle and when to let it burn the house down.
In Heartless Hunter, every relationship pulses with stakes—emotional, political, and magical. Whether it's Rune and Gideon circling each other like fire and oil, or the hidden alliances woven through the witch rebellion, power dynamics shape everything.
Rune and Gideon are the ultimate enemies-to-lovers slow burn. He hunts witches; she is one. Their connection is laced with suspicion and forbidden longing. As they edge closer, their romance becomes more than attraction—it’s a battleground of control, vulnerability, and shifting loyalties.
But it’s not just romantic tension driving this romantic fantasy book. Rune’s double life forces her to constantly read the room: pretending submission to the Blood Guard while secretly working to tear their empire down. In contrast, Gideon’s struggle is internal—torn between what he’s been taught and what he feels. Their dynamic isn’t just about who holds the sword; it’s about who dares to trust first.
And you get to experience everything from both sides thanks to the double POV narrative!
Published by Wednesday Books, the first book in The Crimson Moth series follows an intense enemies-to-lovers romance, where love and betrayal go hand in hand. This YA fantasy duology ends with Rebel Witch, the thrilling continuation of Heartless Hunter, after a twist no one expected. Make sure you have the second book added to your Amazon cart, Goodreads, or any alternative TBR because you will need to keep reading/ It is Booktok approved!
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The themes explored in Heartless Hunter are power, identity, loyalty, sacrifice, and forbidden love. Rune and Gideon both hide a dangerous truth during their cat-and-mouse game, which leaves them prone to heartbreak.
Yes, there is a love triangle in Heartless Hunter between Rune and the Sharpe Brothers. Alex has always been in love with Rune, but only confessed at the very end. On the other hand, Gideon and Rune pretend to be interested in each other for their own gain and end up falling in love. When everything goes south, Rune accepts Alex’s marriage proposal and agrees to run away with him after they save Seraphine, Nan’s old friend.
Nikki Sheryee insists that she’s “up to no good” whenever she’s in the company of books. Armed with a degree in English Language and Literature, she wields the power of words like a mischievous wizard. Her lifelong dream? To be the editor who sprinkles magic dust on manuscripts! To Nikki, a book is more alive than a caffeinated squirrel on roller skates. Readers nurture it, cuddle it, scold it, and occasionally challenge it to a duel! But in the end, a book does its own thing, pulling at our heartstrings and revealing our inner human-ness. Nikki’s favorite pastime? Well, it’s none other than the noble art of daydreaming! And she wears her daydreamer’s badge with pride, sharing this delightful delusion with the crème de la crème of her friends.
