Rebel Witch Summary: Magic & Forbidden Love | Kristen Ciccarelli
TL;DR: The Witch, The Hunter, and The Throne
Rune Winters, the Crimson Moth, has one chance to save the witches of the New Republic: marry a prince she does not love.
Gideon Sharpe, the hunter who once betrayed her, arrives in Umbria with orders to kill her.
Neither expects the mission to fail before it begins.
This book is a fast-paced romantic fantasy about two enemies forced into a fake marriage.
They must cross a divided world, rescue a captive seer, and face a witch queen who wants to resurrect her dead sisters.
The story concludes with a sacrifice, a resurrection, and the fall of two oppressive regimes.
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Who Is Rebel Witch For?
This book suits readers who enjoy young adult fantasy with a heavy romantic focus. Fans of enemies-to-lovers dynamics, fake marriage plots, and secret royalty reveals will find familiar elements.
The story is fast-paced and built around alternating perspectives between Gideon and Rune.
Readers who prefer dark, high-stakes dystopian settings with magical persecution may connect with the world.
The book also works for those who like dramatic sacrifices, resurrection magic, and endings where oppressive regimes are overthrown.
It is written for a teen audience but contains violence, torture, and romantic tension.
Rebel Witch Summary: The Full Story
Warning: Spoilers follow.
The story opens in Caelis, the capital of Umbria.
Gideon Sharpe infiltrates Larkmont Palace during Rune Winters’ engagement celebration. He corners her in a powder room, but Queen Cressida Roseblood interrupts before he can pull the trigger.
Cressida captures Gideon and brands him with the True Love’s Curse. The curse causes him physical agony whenever he touches Rune.
Rune negotiates for his release by manipulating Prince Soren Nord. Ava Saers, Cressida’s scar artist, then binds Gideon with magic and forces him to attack Rune.
Rune kills Ava and escapes with Gideon. They hide in a cleaning closet and use a blood spell to become invisible. Gideon flees the palace while Rune returns to her fiancé’s bedroom to maintain her cover.
Gideon learns that another assassin is on the way.
He tracks Rune to a wedding dress shop. Rune proposes a truce. If Gideon helps her rescue the captive sibyl Aurelia Kantor, she will break her engagement and destroy the alliance. Gideon agrees but plans to arrest her later.
They board a passenger steamship called the Arcadia. To avoid detection, they pose as newlyweds. Onboard, they meet Abbie Redfern, Gideon’s former flame, and William, a spy working for Spymaster Harrow. The fake relationship starts to blur.
At a party, Rune’s disguise begins to fade. Gideon kisses her to protect her identity. The curse activates, and he pulls away in pain. Rune believes he is disgusted by her. William later attacks her in the cargo hold. Gideon intervenes and blackmails William into lying to Harrow.
Rune overhears Gideon’s plan to betray her. She decides to betray him first.
In the New Republic, Blood Guard soldiers arrest Gideon. Noah Creed gives him two days to deliver Rune or face execution. Gideon returns to his apartment and tells Rune they must rescue Aurelia’s daughter, Meadow.
They infiltrate a guarded house. In a library, Gideon explains the curse. They kiss, and he shakes with pain. They rescue Meadow after a gunfight. During the battle, Rune sees a vision of a future with Gideon and their three children.
Rune escapes with Meadow. Gideon surrenders and is taken to Blood Guard headquarters. He convinces Laila Creed to release him.
Rune uses Aurelia’s blood to cast a summoning spell at an ancient stone circle. Gideon witnesses the spell and realizes that Rune herself is the missing Roseblood heir.
Gideon gives Rune a head start to escape on Alex’s sailboat. He draws the soldiers away and is arrested for treason. Noah sentences him to death.
In Umbria, Aurelia abandons Rune to protect Meadow. Rune finds a note from Gideon and learns of his sacrifice. She returns to Larkmont to find a way to break the curse. She discovers it can only be broken by the sacrificial blood of the victim’s true love.
Cressida catches Rune and whips her. During the whipping, Rune uses her own spilled blood to reverse the curse. Seraphine stops Cressida from killing Rune by revealing that Rune is Winoa’s daughter.
Rune wakes on a ship. Witches and Prince Soren’s army are attacking Cascadia’s harbor. Cressida claims the throne. Laila rescues Gideon from prison. Soren corners Rune and tries to assault her. She shoots him dead and escapes using his blood.
Rune and Gideon reunite at Wintersea House. Noah ambushes them, but Laila lets them flee. Gideon is shot protecting Rune. She heals him with his own blood. They take shelter at Bart Wentholt’s summer home and begin planning a revolution.
Harrow reports that Cressida is traveling to the Crossroads gorge. Rune, Gideon, Seraphine, and Antonio ride to stop her. They find the bodies of Cressida’s sisters under a protected whirlpool.
Cressida arrives with her army. To prevent Cressida from using her blood for the resurrection spell, Rune presses Gideon’s gun to her own heart. She begs him to shoot. Weeping, Gideon pulls the trigger.
As Rune dies, she draws protective marks on his cheeks.
Cressida’s magic ricochets off Gideon and strikes her. Seraphine reveals herself as the Ancient Wisdom. She uses Cressida’s blood to resurrect Rune. Cressida’s body burns to ash.
Three months later, Laila has imprisoned Noah. Gideon is named Commander.
Witch purges are outlawed. Antonio marries Gideon and Rune, who wear wedding scars instead of rings.
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Summary by Chapter
Warning: Spoilers follow.
This section provides a brief overview of each major part for readers who want to explore what is inside.
The book has three parts, an epilogue, and 78 chapters.
Part One: The Infiltration and the Newlywed Charade
Gideon infiltrates Caelis to assassinate Rune.
Cressida captures him and places the True Love’s Curse on him. Rune kills Ava Saers to save him. They escape the palace.
Gideon tracks Rune to a wedding dress shop. She proposes a truce. They board the Arcadia as a fake married couple. Rune’s disguise fails at a party.
Gideon kisses her and triggers the curse. William attacks Rune in the cargo hold. Gideon blackmails William. Rune overhears Gideon’s betrayal plan.
Part Two: Betrayal and the Shocking Revelation
Gideon is arrested and given a deadline. He and Rune rescue Meadow from a guarded house. Rune sees a vision of a future with Gideon. She escapes using Ghost Walker.
Gideon surrenders. Aurelia gets her daughter back. Rune casts a summoning spell. Gideon learns Rune is the missing Roseblood heir. He gives her time to escape. Noah sentences Gideon to death. In Umbria, Aurelia abandons Rune. Rune reverses the curse on Gideon during a whipping. Seraphine reveals Rune’s royal lineage.
Part Three: The Final Battle at the Crossroads
Rune rescues Harrow. She kills Soren in self-defense. Gideon and Rune reunite. Laila disobeys Noah and lets them flee. Gideon is shot and healed. They plan a revolution at Bart’s summer home. They learn Cressida is traveling to the Crossroads. Rune forces Gideon to shoot her.
Her protective marks cause Cressida’s magic to backfire. Seraphine uses Cressida’s blood to resurrect Rune. Cressida dies. Peace is established. Gideon and Rune marry.
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Characters In This Book
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Rune Winters | The Crimson Moth, a witch and the secret heir of Queen Winoa Roseblood. |
| Gideon Sharpe | A disgraced Blood Guard captain and witch hunter in love with Rune. |
| Alexander Sharpe | Gideon’s dead brother and Rune’s former fiancé. |
| Prince Soren Nord | An Umbrian prince betrothed to Rune in exchange for an army. |
| Queen Cressida Roseblood | A witch queen who wants to resurrect her dead sisters and retake her throne. |
| Seraphine Oakes | Rune’s mentor who is revealed to be the Ancient Wisdom. |
| Ava Saers | Cressida’s scar artist who binds Gideon before Rune kills her. |
| Noah Creed | The ruthless Good Commander of the New Republic. |
| Spymaster Harrow | The Good Commander’s spymaster with a secret history with Juniper. |
| Aurelia Kantor | A captive sibyl forced to find witches to protect her daughter. |
| Meadow | Aurelia’s toddler daughter rescued by Gideon and Rune. |
| Abbie Redfern | A revolutionary and former flame of Gideon who works as a spy. |
| Ash Singh | A revolutionary soldier aboard the Arcadia. |
| William | A crew member on the Arcadia and Harrow’s undercover assassin. |
| Laila Creed | Noah’s sister who deposes him and helps establish peace. |
| Felix | A young soldier trained by Gideon who helps free him. |
| Bartholomew Wentholt | An aristocratic heir who secretly aids the rebellion. |
| Antonio | Bart’s partner, a healer, and the man who marries Rune and Gideon. |
| Juniper | A gentle witch who heals Rune and is Harrow’s true love. |
| Bess | A loyal maid who helps care for Rune. |
If You Liked Rebel Witch, Try These Books
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli: The first book in the Crimson Moth duology that establishes the enemies-to-lovers romance and the original betrayal.
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin: A witch and a witch hunter are forced into a fake relationship and marriage with similar stakes.
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer: A fantasy with political rebellion, secret identities, and romance under a corrupt regime.
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen: A romantic fantasy about undercover infiltration and trust between enemies.
Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf: A girl is forced to win a prince’s heart while hiding her true monstrous nature.
Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson: A thief and a soldier from enemy kingdoms are bound together by impossible circumstances.
Story Snapshot: The Book at a Glance
- Genre & Subgenre: Romantic Fantasy / Dystopian Young Adult Fantasy
- Core Narrative Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, fake marriage, secret royalty, sacrifice and resurrection, forbidden love
- Tone & Atmosphere: Dark, romantic, high-stakes, and emotionally raw
- Primary Conflict: Overthrowing the Blood Guard and the Roseblood dynasty while navigating a cursed forbidden love
- Pacing Style: Fast-paced with dramatic twists and alternating action and romance
- ISBN: 978-1250866929
- Pages: 464
- Book Structure: Three parts, an epilogue, and 78 chapters told from alternating first-person perspectives
