Pages & Pressings

Book 1: Heartless Hunter 4/5 stars

Book 2: Rebel Witch 2/5 stars

Average rating:

MINOR SPOILERS

I once called this “Pride and Prejudice and witches” and I still stand by that. In the wise words of Avril Lavigne, “he was a boy, she was a girl. Could I make it any more obvious?” Except he was a witch hunter and she was a witch, and it is ever so complicated.

Duologies seem to be incredibly popular lately and I feel like it can only go one of two ways: it is done brilliantly, or it is done poorly. In this case, The Crimson Moth duology was done poorly. Not to say that I hated it, because I rather enjoyed the first book at least. The biggest problem this series encounters is that it really didn’t need a second book. This would’ve been an incredible book as a standalone with better editing.

I am here to lay the claim that the genre of these books are historical fantasy. The atmosphere was very heavily historical fiction with the familiar elements of fantasy. The Victorian-esque setting was incredibly romantic for the forbidden love to thrive, and it had me clutching my pearls as I would while watching Bridgerton. Forbidden not just due to the witch and witch hunter of it all, but from the class difference between the two protagonists-thus why I will call it historical fantasy.

Heartless Hunter had me thoroughly engaged and the writing was done beautifully. My deduction of a star was due to the “love triangle”, which in this case is one of my biggest pet peeves because it wasn’t actually a love triangle. It’s the same reason why friends to lovers doesn’t do it for me. To have a believable love triangle, we have to believe that there is love between the participants of the triangle. Nothing ruins the mood more after a confession of love than “you’re my best friend”. In this case there was really only one option which ruins the fun of feeling torn as a reader.

The second book was really a let down. It could’ve been condensed a considerable amount and would have saved me a lot of headache. The protagonists play cat-and-mouse through the majority of the book for something that could’ve been settled with a conversation or even fifty pages if we’re getting dramatic about it. Their miscommunication was cute at first, but then proved to be a huge annoyance. I understand the stakes are high and everything is complicated because they should be enemies, but it should’ve been clear that at some point they’ll have to come together to fight a common enemy. For two people who are clever and cunning, I find it hard to believe they didn’t put this thought together. Just because I understand why they did what they did doesn’t mean I had to enjoy it… because I didn’t.

As far as duologies go, this wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible. It’s stuck in literary limbo. I can only confidently recommend book 1 and maybe try to choose your own ending over reading book 2.