I enjoyed Rebel Witch, even though it didn’t quite live up to Heartless Hunter for me. It was still a fun read overall, especially getting to see more of Rune and Gideon.
Rune came across a lot less confident in this one, though she’s still quite brave and fiercely loyal. I appreciated how determined she was even when things got tough. That said, she did spend a lot of time in her own head, overthinking everything. There were definitely moments where I wished she’d just speak up instead of thinking in circles.
Gideon had his moments too. He’s still the closed-off, broody type, but you can see how much he cares about Rune. I didn’t feel quite as drawn to him this time though, some of his choices were a bit confusing and it didn’t always feel consistent. Still, I liked seeing more of his softer side.
The romance was a bit rocky early on, there was a LOT of miscommunication and going back and forth but it settled more towards the end and felt a lot stronger. When they finally let their guards down, it was nice to see their connection come through.
The first half of the book felt quite slow and a bit scattered. I found myself waiting for things to really click into place. But the second half was much more engaging when the pacing picked up, the stakes felt higher and I was more invested in what was happening. I just wish we’d seen more of Cressida and felt a bit more immersed in the wider conflict, especially considering the setup from book one.
Even with its flaws, I’m glad I finished it. It wrapped things up in a mostly satisfying way, and I did enjoy being back in this world.
⭐️ 3/5 not perfect, but still an entertaining follow-up with characters I enjoyed spending time with.
