Heartless Hunter: The Crimson Moth: Book 1 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Heartless Hunter: The Crimson Moth: Book 1

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2024

78%

WISE Score

4.4

Amazon

A high-stakes 'Romantasy' where the magic is illegal, the romance is 'steamy,' and the guy you're dating is literally trying to execute you.

Heartless Hunter: The Crimson Moth: Book 1

book

2024

78%

WISE Score

4.4

Amazon

A high-stakes 'Romantasy' where the magic is illegal, the romance is 'steamy,' and the guy you're dating is literally trying to execute you.

4.4

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Screenwise Verdict

Heartless Hunter is basically 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' but with magic and more brooding. It’s a top-tier pick for the current 'Romantasy' trend, offering a story that’s as much about political intrigue as it is about pining.

It’s not 'brain rot'—it actually asks some tough questions about prejudice and survival—but it’s definitely written to be an addictive, high-drama entertainment piece. If your teen is into Sarah J. Maas or Rebecca Yarros, this is their next obsession.

Age Fit

Best for ages 14 and up. It hits that 'upper YA' sweet spot where the themes are darker and the romance is more intense than your average middle-school read.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's a dark fantasy centered on deception and a 'steamy' enemies-to-lovers romance. While it features a hero saving others, the backdrop is a bloody revolution and a protagonist living a double life of lies.

Imaginative

The magic system involving blood and scarring is a gritty, original touch. The world-building around the Republic of Red Peace and the social dynamics of 'vapid' socialites vs. secret vigilantes is compelling.

Safe

Standard for mature YA. It contains 'steamy' romantic tension and descriptions of violence/blood. It's perfectly safe for the 14+ crowd, but too mature for younger kids looking for a light fairy tale.

Enriching

Offers strong themes of systemic oppression, the ethics of revolution, and the complexity of finding humanity in your 'enemy.' It pushes readers to look past surface-level labels.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The 'cat and mouse' tension between a secret witch and a witch hunter is genuinely gripping.
It avoids the 'perfect hero' trope by giving both leads messy, conflicting loyalties.
The world-building feels fresh, especially the cost of magic and the post-revolutionary political setting.
It’s a fast-paced page-turner that actually delivers on the 'enemies-to-lovers' promise.

⚠

What to Watch For

The romance is described as 'steamy,' which in modern YA means heavy tension and suggestive scenes.
Violence includes descriptions of a bloody revolution, executions, and scarring.
The moral ambiguity might be frustrating for readers who prefer clear-cut good vs. evil.

Conversation Starters

"If you were Rune, could you actually fall for someone whose job is to hunt your kind?"
"Is Gideon a villain for following the law, or is the law itself the villain?"
"What do you think about the magic system—is power worth the physical price the witches pay?"
"Why do you think Rune chooses to play a 'vapid socialite' as her cover? Is it effective?"

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