We began November with a bang because the book I’ve just read and I know, not everyone will agree because it has mixed reviews but I actually enjoyed reading this book. The book I’m talking about is ‘The Crimson Moth’ by Kristen Ciccarelli.

It’s a book where witches are hunted upon by the blood guard, in the eyes of the guards, all witches are bad and need to be taken care of. If you are a witch sympathizer then the same fate awaits you.

Our FMC (Female Main Character) in this book is Rune, Rune had to do the impossible; She had to report her grandmother to the guards. Why? Rune and Kestrel (her grandmother) got intel that the blood guard thought they were both witches, but only Kestrel was one. But if they found out Kestrel was a witch and Rune didn’t report her, that would’ve made Rune a sympathizer and so her grandmother ordered her to report her so Rune could live a full and happy live.

The thing that happens when witches get caught is horrible. Because they don’t want any witch to be resurrected, they purge the bodies. Which means a body gets drained of all blood and then it gets burned. Rune had witnessed this with her grandmother which is heartbreaking. She still has to pretend she hated her grandmother even though she really loved her very much. Her mission since reporting her grandmother? Get as much witches to safety. With a very successful shipping company, she can get them somewhere undetected. Alex, who has been her best friend for about 7 years is the one that gets them on board and to safety.

Alex is a musical genius and such a kind soul. With his parents and sister dead and his brother being one of the blood guard, Alex tries to stay on neutral ground. Rune only has one other friend, Verity. Verity lost his sisters to the purge, her mother turned them in. Just after Kestrel was purged, Rune got her first monthly rule, the give away that you are a witch is when the first time it colors black and that is exactly what happens to Rune. So, she is a witch but has no one to explain everything to her. Well, Except Verity. She’s not a witch but has been hanging around with her sisters whilst they studied.

Gideon, Alex’ brother and head of the Blood Guard is hunting the crimson moth, a witch that has been helping other witches escape but also one that has been dropping guard bodies. The bodies with very nasty wounds. Why? Because you need blood to cast spells, the fresher the blood the better. But if you use your own? Your scars from where you made a cut will turn silver which will always be a dead giveaway that you’re a witch.

Gideon is at his wits end, because Harrow keeps telling him that she thinks Rune is the moth, but to know for sure he has to court her, a shallow girl that only thinks about how she looks. But courting isn’t enough, he has to get her naked to search every inch of her body without her knowing he’s searching for something. Little did he know Rune’s actually pretty smart and beautiful.

The end is excruciating; I can’t wait to start the last one today.

This book is a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐,5 stars!