'' REBEL WITCH '' : BOOK REVIEW

Rebel Witch By Kristen Ciccarelli. Kristen Ciccarelli's Rebel Witch arrives with the weight of expectation on its shoulders.

The sequel to Headless Hunter and the concluding part of duology loosely inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, it enters a space already thick with narrative promise.

The first book introduced readers to a carefully constructed world - an alternate 18th-century England and France, where magic is outlawed, resistance is underground and the line between survival and subversion is razor-thin.

Headless Hunter, while uneven and occasionally slow, had moments of genuine intrigue. Rune, the protagonist, emerged as a figure of quiet-resistance, navigating a society determined to erase her.

The novel built its world with care, layering atmosphere over a framework of political repression and magical inheritance. Its storytelling was inconsistent, but its mood lingered.

Unfortunately, Rebel Witch struggles to inherit that momentum. What could have been a satisfying conclusion to a thoughtful premise, instead, feels rushed, flat, and - most disappointingly - largely unengaging.

The novel picks up soon after the events of Headless Hunter. Rune is now fully embedded in the resistance.

Her evolution from reluctant observer to active rebel is understandable from a character arc perspective but, thematically, it undermines the ambiguity that once made her interesting.

In the first book, Rune's power lay in her ability to hide in plain sight, to subvert from within. That tension of being both insider and outsider - created a quiet urgency.

Here, that complexity gives way to direct confrontations and unambiguous declarations.

Rebel Witch is not a failure, but it is a disappointment. A compelling set-up rich with potential, is resolved in a way that feels more obligatory than inspired.

The idea remains relevant, but the execution lacks the nuance and emotional pull to make them resonate.

For those who enjoyed the quiet suspense of Headless Hunter, the sequel may feel like a step backward - louder, faster, but ultimately emptier.

The World Students Society thanks T.U. Dawood.