Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Finale heavy on the romance, but still swashbuckling.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In REBEL WITCH: THE CRIMSON MOTH: BOOK 2, Rune has a plan to save witches from the Blood Guard. If she marries Prince Soren of Umbria, he promises to send his armada to help the witch queen Cressida reclaim her throne. There are a few problems with her plan: Rune abhors the possessive Prince Soren and fears Cressida will kill all nonwitches at war's end. Another problem: Gideon, the handsome Blood Guard captain, is still hunting her. When Gideon finds Rune in a palace bathroom, drunk and crying, Rune is lucky that he can't bring himself to shoot her. Gideon's hesitation may have saved Rune, but it has other dire consequences when he's discovered by Cressida. The witch queen who drugged and sexually coerced him for years marks him with a curse that causes pain when he touches his true love.
Is It Any Good?
The romance between the star-crossed main characters dominates this duology finale, but it delivers a witchy brew of adventure and intrigue as well. Expect all the forbidden kisses and fantasies and the slow wearing down of resolve between witch and guard who are duty-bound to betray each other. Yes, they must share a tiny cabin on a ship together, and yes, they pose as a married couple and have to grope each other in public for show—all standard forbidden-romance scenarios. But there's also a cruel curse, a crueler witch queen, a long-buried family secret, kidnappings and escapes, and a few near-death experiences. So Rebel Witch is moony-eyed, but still swashbuckling like the book that inspired it, The Scarlet Pimpernel.
A few embellishments would make the story even better, like more development of the minor characters, especially Prince Soren, Laila, Harrow, Juniper, and Seraphina. Prince Soren is an oversimplified villain. The other characters are intriguing and worthy of more pages. Rune and Gideon can't remake the world without these strong female characters any more than they can live in an unjust world bent on tearing them apart.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the three forbidden romances in Rebel Witch. Two couples are forbidden because witches and Blood Guard are sworn enemies. What prevents Bart and Antonio from being together? What is love's role in overcoming prejudice and family expectations in other books you've read?
Gideon says, "There's a better world waiting to be born. ... It will never arrive if we don't fight for it." When is rebellion a sign of a power grab, and when is it a sign of integrity?
Rune suffers debilitating fear after a near-death experience. How does that trauma affect her decisions? How does she find the courage to move past it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Wednesday Books
- Publication date : February 18, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 18
- Number of pages : 464
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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