THE CRIMSON MOTH: The Crimson Moth series (Book 1) by Kristen Ciccarelli

The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli is the high-stakes opening volume of a romantic fantasy duology that explores the dangerous intersection of power, deception, and forbidden attraction. In a society where witches have been reduced to hunted outcasts, Rune Winters maintains a dual existence: by day, she acts as a shallow socialite, while by night, she operates as the "Crimson Moth," a vigilante dedicated to saving witches from persecution. Her mission becomes increasingly precarious when she attempts to infiltrate the inner circles of the witch hunters by courting Gideon Sharpe, a formidable and unforgiving hunter loyal to the revolutionary cause.

The dynamic between the two is defined by mutual suspicion and hidden agendas; Gideon, who initially disdains Rune’s apparent superficiality, begins to infiltrate her life under the guise of courtship after discovering her involvement in smuggling witches. As the two protagonists engage in a complex game of cat and mouse, they find themselves drawn to the intelligence and hidden depths beneath the other's carefully constructed façade. Ciccarelli crafts a tense, atmospheric narrative that tests the loyalties of both characters, creating a compelling enemies-to-lovers story where the personal stakes are just as volatile as the political revolution unfolding around them.