Heartless Hunter Review—An Enemies-to-Lovers Romantasy Fueled by Blood Magic & Betrayal

My biggest mistake was getting this duology before a Stuff Your Kindle Day spree (which pushed it way back on my reading list) and promptly forgetting about it. That is, until a friend on Threads reminded me it was on my TBR. One glance at the cover and I dove in, not expecting just how hard this book would grip me. Within a few chapters, I was completely hooked.

This is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy that actually delivers on the promise of that trope. It’s angsty, dark, and simmering with tension. And I loved every minute of it.

At a Glance

The Vibes: Dark, Dangerous, and Deliciously Tense

At first, I wasn’t sure how to feel about Gideon. He’s cold, calculating, and everything you expect from a witch hunter—but Kristen Ciccarelli knows how to build a character. Slowly, deliberately, she peels back the layers until you're not sure if you're supposed to hate him or fall for him. By the time the real tension between him and Rune kicks in, I was fully invested.

This story gives you:

✔️ Political intrigue 

✔️ A morally grey cast

✔️ Blood magic that actually feels dark and dangerous 

✔️ A slow unraveling of secrets 

✔️ And a romance filled with longing, betrayal, and breathtaking tension

Rune and Gideon are intellectual equals and emotional mirrors—both brilliant, both determined, both broken in different ways. Watching them try to outwit each other while their emotional connection deepens is pure enemies-to-lovers gold. And let’s not forget Alex, whose quiet steadiness adds a whole different kind of ache to the love triangle. 

A Richly Imagined World

Ciccarelli has crafted a world that feels lived-in and layered. The blood magic system is unique and eerie, with real cost and consequences. You can tell how much care went into the history, the tension between witches and witch hunters, and the politics simmering beneath the surface.

Even better? The twists are sharp and satisfying. They don’t come out of nowhere—there’s foreshadowing—but you’ll only realize it after the reveal. It’s the kind of clever plotting that makes you want to reread with new eyes.

Themes & Tropes

🧙‍♀️ Witches & Witch Hunters

🎯 Cat-and-Mouse Dynamic

🔥 Enemies to Lovers

💔 Forbidden Romance

🩸 Blood Magic

🤐 Secret Identity

⚔️ Betrayal & Revenge

🧭 Morally Grey Characters

🔀 Love Triangle

🎭 Dual Masks & Hidden Agendas

One of my favorite Quotes

"Gideon was her perfect rival; a deadly enemy to outwit. Without him, Rune could only be half of her full potential. It was why, deep down, she wanted him to come for her. She ached for the challenge of him. She needed to finish what lay unfinished between them."

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a new adult romantic fantasy that brings all the angst, slow-burn danger, and devastating longing of a true enemies-to-lovers story, Heartless Hunter delivers in spades. With a beautifully layered world, a fresh take on blood magic, and a central romance that’s as emotionally complex as it is swoon-worthy, this one had me on the edge of my seat.

The ending took me by surprise. I was ready for heartbreak and I suspected somethig was going on with Alex, but I was expecting something completely different. Actually, I was telling my friend that recommended me this duology, that I was expecting this to be Alex's villain origin story. It's not. By the end of it, I was heartbroken but in a very different way.

This book doesn’t just check the boxes—it owns them. I’m fully invested in Rune and Gideon’s story and can’t wait to see what book two holds.