A review by jo_cbooks
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Oh my word! I DEVOURED this book in one day it was so good. Kristen Ciccarelli does a fantastic job weaving intrigue and tension between the characters. It is not often that a reader gets a full view of the reason a character is morally grey or villainous, but with Gideon there is vivid accounts of his backstory. The cat-and-mouse game between him and Rune is perfectly executed. It is the right amount of friction and desire--I could not get enough. Ciccarelli does a great job explaining the magic system, using numerous characters to provide the necessary knowledge to the reader. It can be difficult to write duel POVs and ensure that the voice of each character is brought through, but Rune and Gideon's POVs were distinctive and showcased their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses.

My only draw back is that I was often confused at the setting of the story, it felt like a very Victorian setting but then certain things, like the choice of dress and undergarments, didn't quite fit that mold. I know that this is built more in a world of it's own, but it still threw me off sometimes.

The fact that this story is loosely based on another called The Scarlet Pimpernel has alas added yet another book to my TBR as I love comparing and contrasting works that brought inspiration.

*Thank you St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review*
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