Butcher & Blackbird: The Ruinous Love Trilogy

For the past year, everyone has been talking about Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver , especially the audio version. I don’t usually read dark romances, but I love romcoms. This is a dark romcom! I was intrigued. Butcher & Blackbird was probably the #1 TikTok book for the past year, and some of the other big Booktok books I read were total letdowns. But I still had high hopes. I am so happy to say that Butcher and Blackbird lived up to the hype. It was like nothing I’ve ever read before, which is definitely part of the appeal. The story was fun, but it was the personalities that made the book. Sloan and Rowan are both serial killers. They each kill the bad serial killers that the police can’t catch, but make no mistake, they LOVE the killing. Even though they have sometimes gone after the same guy, they have never met. When they finally do, it's at a murder scene that’s become a bit...shall we say... dicey for Sloan. Sloan, “the orb-weaver” plucks her victims’ eyeballs out and turns her crime scenes into intricate web-like art exhibitions made from flesh and body parts. Rowan aka Butcher has been a big fan from afar but meeting her in person had him instantly falling for her. Their banter was so amazing! I know it’s weird to say about a serial killer, but Rowan was adorable. He was so sweet and romantic! Yes, I said that. Yes, I know he's a serial killer. What can I say? I'm a sucker for the sweet ones. These two are complete psychopaths (as are their friends and family who we will read about in the next two books) and they were so much fun! I don’t read or watch horror at all, and some of this was pretty gross, but because of the humor, it was never too much for me. "Rowan rests the handle of the ax against his shoulder and huffs before giving me a wink. “Getting revenge for hurting my girl, of course." Likes: •It’s so unique! •Laughing while gagging. •How can I fall in love with a serial killer? •Rivals to lovers. •Though he had insta-love, she took a while to catch up so it was slow-burn. •But once they started burning…holy moly it was HOT. •I loved that it pretty much ended with an HEA. It’s called a trilogy, but each book features a different couple. •He was so sweet, and I loved how much he loved her. Dislikes: •The timeline jumps. •I would have liked to get to know them on a deeper level. The Narration: OMG, this is one of the best narrations I have ever listened to. It’s full duet, so Lucy Rivers and Joe Arden had full-on conversations with her voicing the female parts and him the male. I am sure I wouldn’t have loved Butcher and Blackbird as much if I just read it, the narration made it so much better. The Down & Dirty: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver isn’t perfect, but I can totally understand the hype around it. It’s unique, it’s dark, it’s funny, it’s raunchy, it’s gory, it’s romantic, and it’s hot AF. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend the audiobook. But make sure you listen to the trigger warnings. They are no joke, but they also made me laugh. “accidental cannibalism” anyone? I am so happy Leather and Lark,(book two) is out because I’m not ready to leave this world.

I saw a lot of hype for this book and heard the audio reviews were amazing so I had to dive in. I think it was good but not the spectacular book I was reading about. I felt like the audio got too OTT for me and it took me awhile to get sucked into this world to be honest. I usually can finish an audiobook of this length in less than 5 days but I kept putting this down and going to other audiobooks in between because it wasnt holding my attention. I felt like it might have been better for me reading rather than listening to it. I thought the idea was so farfetched but the author did a good job bringing so much detail to this complicated story she weaved without overdoing it. I loved the intricacies of her kills and her set-up/how people find the scene after she leaves. She thinks of everything and leaves breadcrumbs that no one figures out haha. I liked the different people they encounter and take out, the competition was hilarious. I was confused how the whole eating someone thing was going to be thrown in and couldnt stop laughing at that scene when it happened hahah. I mean don’t get me wrong, my stomach flipped and I was sickened by the idea of it but it was funny to see our MC try to warn him and he was so drugged(since he wasnt paying attention like she was!) and was definitely not coherent haha. I won’t give more away but that evil they took out and his way of killing was done well (in terms of the details, the awesome little mini story/confrontation). I also liked the banter between the characters and how shy they both got haha. She was so awkward but so was he, they were a cute couple and no one would suspect serial killers! I also liked some of the side characters in this one and we get to learn more about 2 of them in their story coming this summer! I will be picking that up, hopefully audio is around the same time as the ebook and paperback release! I also enjoyed the steam once the two finally got together 🔥 and the vulnerable and adorable intimate moments were just a good. ALSO THE TATTOO!!! IYKYK I think again for me, what took away from me giving this a 5 stars was some of the storyline felt too broken up, with the time jumps and the bouncing all over the place with their internal monologues, kinda gave me whiplash in a couple chapters. Also again it took me several tries to get into this one, when I was really looking forward to it. I would sill recommend this book and will be reading book 2 but give the caveat that this can be disjointed and take into consideration the subjects. I rarely have TWs that mess with me (this didn’t have anything I had an issue with) but this one can be gruesome with describing the murders, almost assaults/people trying to kill them too haha, etc. I did enjoy the humor, most of the jokes hit the mark and had me giggling. Narrators gets a 4/5 from me. Like I mentioned before there were a fair amount of scenes I thought the two main characters were over the top and overdid it. I did think they did a good job with the awkward social skills, the emotions felt right, and the way they described the kills/staging the scene, and about each other was so meticulous and cute (never thought I would talk about them and call them cute haha). I think the male narrator did a good job with the accent and personalities but he is not the best person in real life and it’s hard for me to listen to him and not think of what he did. Not punishing the author at all for it, just giving a heads up to readers/listeners! I may have to read this before book 2 comes out, as a refresher, and try to see if I feel differently without the narrator or not. A follow-up update will be done closer to book 2’s release 😍

Butcher & Blackbird is book one of the Ruinous Love Trilogy. I’ll admit that I was a bit hesitant to read this book due to all the hype that it has received on social media. Turns out, it was well-deserved! I can’t say that I’ve ever read a book quite like this before. There was laughter, suspense, mayhem and spice. I’ll even admit that I cried twice. Don’t judge me! Also, I would like to point out that I didn’t physically read the book – I listened to it via Audible. I never listen to audiobooks so this was unusual for me. The narrators crushed it! Honestly, it’s the best I’ve listened to. I quit listening because there were times that I didn’t get the right vibes between the narrators and the characters (if that makes sense) but this was on point! Please read the following tropes and triggers. If the tropes don’t get your attention, the triggers absolutely will. Please read on to find out why I’m giving this book FIVE STARS and FIVE SPICE! Tropes include: serial unalivers, grumpy sunshine, he falls first, rivals to friends to lovers, dark romcom, touch her/him and die, forced proximity, one bed, hurt/care, dual POV, spice. Triggers: eyeballs and eye sockets, amateur surgery, skin ornaments, chainsaws, axes, knives, scalpels, accidental cannibalism, not-so-accidental cannibalism, questionable use of mummified corpse, lobotomized manservant, ill-advised use of kitchen implements, detailed smexy scenes, with roughness, praise, butt stuff, toys, hand necklaces, spitting, dom/sub, piercings, references to parental neglect and child abuse, parental loss (not depicted), references to child smexual assault (not in detail), and due to the nature of the serial unalivers, unaliving and general chaos. When I read, I am interested in the point of view (POV), the plot, and the spice. I prefer dual POV, I don’t want a predictable or bland plot, and I like my books HOT! This story is told from first-person dual POV by the female main character (Sloane) and main male character (Rowan). There isn’t a single element of their personalities that you miss here. These two are very well-written and their chemistry and banter is fantastic! The story is suspenseful, fun, and quite emotional at times. It really is the embodiment of a dark romantic comedy. The plot was in no way predictable. Even with the evolving relationship between Sloane and Rowan, from rivals to friends to lovers. . . I was always guessing. That relationship is also to blame for the tears I shed! I’m not going to dive into a plot summary because I feel that the blurb/synopsis does a great job of conveying what you need to know. I’m also not into spoilers! THE SPICE! I’m going to just say it – all the emotional twists and turns were 100% worth it to get to the spice. I loathe a slow burn, but this was such a good book I don’t even know that I noticed I was being consumed by the flames until I was on fire. I would do it all again. This book as the hottest spitting scene that I’ve read to date – in case anyone is interested – and everything else is perfection. If it’s on your tbr – move it on up!!!

I picked up this book partially because of the hype and partially because of the whole "Cannibalism?? Murder?? Hardcore Spice??" angle people were taking towards this. I understand that many consider this book pretty disturbing. It does handle some pretty intense themes. The content warnings are there for a reason, trust me. But also, if you're thinking this book is going to be an absolute raunchy gore-fest, it's not that bad.* I went into this wanting to be disturbed. *If you're someone, like myself who read fanfiction in the late 2000s and early 2010s, none of this is going to get to you. It's pretty tame compared to a lot of the fanfiction I've come across and read. Now Butcher & Blackbird does manage to capture that fanfiction-like charm. It's cringey and weirdly place, but I love it for that. I think the two biggest issues I have with the book are the pacing and the interesting character "development". The pacing is "loosely" two chapters are a year. This is very loose, and the timeline does get a bit messy as Rowan and Sloane begin to see each other more. As they develop their relationship, everything moves too fast. I'm a lesbian, I get fast moving relationships. However, moving in and then promptly naming your restaurant after your "couple name" is insane, even for serial killers. Similarly, there was no character development. Rowan was an obsessive fan boy with a hot head and a protective streak. Sloan started out with two very distinct sides of herself: her Normal Side and her Serial Killer side. Eventually both of these sides seemed to disappear to have Sloan's personality meld with Rowan's. There was a point in the book I had to go back to the start of the chapter to make sure that I was reading Sloan's POV and not Rowan's. They do not grow as individuals, they grow into an amorphus amalgamation of a couple. But hey, at least they do it together. I was going to give this book a flat four. However, the epilogue and the bonus content really killed me. It was too cringe, even for a book filled with cringey dialogue. I've read some abhorrent shit, including most of the squicky stuff in this book, and I guess I draw the line at Dragon Onesie Spice RP.

The Rundown: Two "moral" murderers cross paths and in their rivalry find friendship.. and love. The only problem is that in their business, danger is always lurking. Likes: I absolutely love Sloane and Rowan. Both are murderers.. skilled killers, but are so cute together. Sloane is strong, smart, a total "black cat". Rowan is a total golden retriever, but will go feral for her, plus he is Irish. The banter, the murders, and the overall story was fun and interesting. Dislikes: I wish that there was more history or back stories given. Also, the trilogy is focuses on the Kane Brothers, yet Sloane seemed to be the spotlight. The Sum Up: Overall, this book was a good read. It definitely opened me to the world of "dark romcom", which I find enjoyable. The story, characters, and interesting events of the book really captures you. I've laughed, grimaced, and gagged while reading this book, it it must have been a good read.

When I'm already cackling before I've made it past the CW and dedication, I know I'm in for a good time. This was an unexpected delight, mixing humor, gore, and spice for an extremely bingeable read. It took no time at all to hook me in, and I ended up devouring it in one sitting. I loved that the (anti)hero was a cinnamon roll sweetheart/boy obsessed who was also intense and very, very dangerous. I loved that the (anti)heroine was all fire and competence, taking her dark past and turning it into something that worked for her. They saw pieces of themselves reflected in each other, and bonded in a way they wouldn't with anyone else. There's a ton of dark, gruesome content, but there's also an incredibly playful feel and tons of lighthearted banter. The banter! Yeah, the chemistry was immediate and palpable. This deliciously dark romance won't be for everyone, but it's certainly a one-of-a-kind, entertaining experience. The story follows Sloane, a serial killer who goes after bad guys. Her life experiences have lead her to this place, and it works for her. After running into some trouble on her latest mission, Sloane encounters Rowan. He's also a killer with a similar mindset, and the two find themselves developing an unexpected friendship. Though they're both attracted right away, neither wants to make any missteps - the results could be deadly. So they form a friendship and competitive dynamic, staying connected over the course of several years. Until something shifts. I've seen this book all over the place and I enjoy a dark rom com once in awhile, so I went into this knowing very little about the story. I recommend doing just that. At its heart, this is a great slow burn to SIZZLE, friends to lovers romance with plenty of darker elements. You'll know within a few pages if the story is too dark for you, and you'll also get a feel for Weaver's sense of humor. I loved it! Not sure what that says about me, lol, but this was quite the ride. I loved that it played up some of the traditional romance tropes (particularly the "he falls first" vibes), while also being wholly unique. It works because of the romance at the center of it, and the fact that both characters are just so easy to like. Rowan was adorable with his pining for Sloane, and it was easy to see all the ways they were perfect together. If I've got one complaint (is it a complaint, really?), it'd be that I actually wouldn't have minded a longer length. There are a lot of quick time jumps, and I'd have loved seeing more of their connection during those times. It was such a fast and fun read though, and the bingeable quality is a major part of the appeal. I can't wait for the next two installments, which revolve around Rowan's brothers. This was a fantastic introduction to this new-to-me author's work! Audio note: Duet narration alert! I actually didn't realize it was duet-style when I started listening, so imagine my glee when that kicked in. The narration brought the story to life, and was absolutely an enhancement to the reading experience. Lucy Rivers always does a great job, and she is quickly becoming one of my favorites. But Joe Arden steals the show here - he does an Irish accent for Rowan that gives the character so much personality. He also delivers several outstanding moments of internal spiraling from Rowan that really impressed me. The runtime (about 9 hours) was perfect for bingeing in a single day, which is exactly what I did. I can't recommend this one for the office - not only are there many dark moments, but the spice is pretty intense. It's a slower burn that turns into a full-on sizzle, so the back half is filled with heated scenes. Definitely recommended in the format though!

Right upon release, the cover of this book came crashing onto my radar—it felt like it was everywhere! And while I liked the cover, with its Monster High vibes and I would normally snag it right up just based on that, I didn’t; in fact, I actively avoided and dodged. Any book with that much hype scares me more than a family meal with the Manson clan. For months, I'd pick it up, feel a tug, and put it back everytime I entered a store with books. Even if the cover wasn’t enough, the plot should have had me taking whatever train, plane, or automobile necessary to get to the closet bookseller and purchase two copies just for good measure: Butcher & Blackbird follows two main characters who are everything we shouldn’t want to be—serial killers, with prolific body counts and depravity alongside ritual. After a chance meeting between the two over “orzo pasta” in a cage next to a dead body, they take things a step furthet and head for some food. Over some breakfast post-kill, the two agree to compete a year later against each other to see who can kill a mark known only to Butcher’s brother, Lachlan. In a book following just one, but two serial killers whose senses of humor are as sharp and dark and dangerous as their Damascus knives and web constructions, one would expect a cautionary tale or two main characters who are impossible to identify with in a world such as a serial killer’s and who are, at best, morally gray and partly likeable as people. Two strikes for me: hype and horror with heroes I hate. I resisted for months. Until yesterday, when I decided the orzo-shaped bug up my butt about this book needed removal. I went in with high hopes but low, low expectations. Those expectations are wrong. So, very, wrong. All of them. Wrong. Somehow, Weaver weaves a web of narrative that strikes the perfect blend between tender humanity, traumatic terror, humor so black and bleak it returns to hilarity, and the most human of moments felt by characters who should be the least human of any narrative work. As Weaver develops the friendship between the work’s two MC, Rowan and Sloane, everything about it feels relatable and just so darn sweet—it’s couples goals whether Rowan and Sloane are eating in 3 in Coach or killing in what can only be described as a Texas Chainsaw inspired locale. Across the 350+ pages, I fell deeper and deeper in love with both the individual characters of Rowan and Sloane, and with their love itself. This is the equivalent of a horror hug from the snuggliest of scary-seeming-monsters. If Legends and Lattes had serial killers in modern day with a lot more snark and smut and serial slays and a splash of gore added, you’d have Butcher & Blackbird. Who knew horror could be so cozy, and serial slaying so safe and snuggly? I am now eagerly awaiting the June 4th release of part two, Leather and Lark. On a final note, this is my 3 dark romantisty read, and I'm seeing a trend that's fascinating me. In both the Cat and Mouse (Haunting Adeline and Hunting Adeline, by HD Carlton) and in Butcher & Blackbird, we get strong, vulnerable, and resilient women who take the abuses and transgressions of life and channel them to move on and become these bada%$ warrior women who fight for the voiceless victimized who cannot speak not stand for themselves. While viewed by many as just smut, these types of books have the potential to do incredible collective trauma healing work surround women's issues of SA, assault, and violence. So read all the smut you love , because you may be healing the traumas of yourself, your community, and your ancestors!

4⭐️ brynne weaver is looking like the next ali hazelwood for me – a consistent 4-star romance that serves great as a palate cleanser/slump buster. brynne just goes much, much darker than ali. that said, if you love serial killers, spicy BDSM romance, and a healthy dose of comedy, brynne weaver is for you! this book had an excellent balance of humor, romance, tension, banter, mystery, and gross factor (necessary for this type of book imho). if you like to eat while reading, approach this book with caution; there are a few scenes that can definitely turn your stomach. it was still a great way to pass the time, and i intend to keep reading brynne weaver in the future. as a dark romance, some of the elements of this book might not be for everyone, so check the tags at the beginning to be sure this works for you; the tags are a dead dove do not eat situation – take them seriously. tropes: serial killer romance, rom-com, dark romance, friends to lovers, he falls first, touch him/her and die, dual POV, dark humor similar titles: great for readers who have a dark sense of humor and love spicy, k!nky romances. this book is near keri lake levels of darkness, but make it comedy instead. 4🌶️ another high spice rating for brynne. truthfully, some elements of the explicit sexual conduct in this book mandate a higher spice rating. THIS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE – CHECK THE TAGS!!! while some of the k!nky stuff isn't for everyone, the scenes are well-written and have a good amount of detail and length without feeling gratuitous or overpowering the story. they definitely pick up in the second half/final third of the novel, and those who want to skip the spice should be able to without missing any plot. cw: genital piercings, rough sex, warming, all holes used, toys, choking, & dom-sub interactions.

Physical copy + Audiobook ❤️ God-tier enjoyment tbh and the best way to consume an excellent book like this. Joe Arden and his "sexy gravelly Irish voice." Panty-dropper.😮‍💨 I love a story that can genuinely make me laugh, and this one delivered. Sloane has officially earned a spot as one of my favorite FMCs. The concept of a straight-up badass female people deleter getting all shy and cutesy around her crush, and not knowing how to be around him without blushing, is such an adorable concept to me and I ate it right up. And Rowan… 🥵 A man who is completely obsessed with his woman and backs it up with actions? The bar has been raised. Permanently. This book really had everything, spice, sharp banter, addictive side characters, plus that perfect sprinkle of angst and grovel to keep things interesting. Genuinely an amazing read.

How not to love, laught and cry with this two? OMG! I just love every page in this book. The chemistry between both, their dark sides, their kind of funny moments, the cookies and ice cream stuff (must say i saw that one coming, no pun intendeed). But I also love their “human” moments, their fears, the overthinking time that everyone has in their daily basis… and have to say that I didn’t see that “plot twist” coming. Can’t wait to read the next story. I’m bitting my nails to know about Lachlan’s and Lark’s stor!

I received the book, in amazing condition! And im almost done reading it. Thank you!

*Trigger Warning* The author effectively outlines potentially sensitive topics and content in the book. However, considering the theme of killers targeting killers, it's clear this story isn't for everyone. This dark romance novel was unlike any I've ever read! To be honest, I'm not even sure if there's another romance like it out there. It was a thrilling journey, and I was hooked from start to finish! Brynne Weaver's "Butcher & Blackbird" was truly captivating. Sloane, known as the Orb Weaver, is a killer who targets other serial killers. Unexpectedly, her path crosses with Rowan, the Boston Butcher, in a dangerous situation. Coincidentally, Rowan is also a killer of serial killers - what are the odds!? When these two meet, they discover an unexpected bond, a friendship that sees them for who they truly are, darkness and all. After their initial encounter, they meet annually for a deadly game where the first to kill a killer wins. But as they realize their feelings might run deeper than friendship, where does that leave them? Can these two dark souls find love? The smut scenes in this book are delicious. Our main characters are a little kinky, just enough to really make things interesting and steamy. Yet, also vanilla enough to be enjoyable to a broad audience. I hope this is the kind of content we continue to see through the other two books in this series. I love that Brynne also put a play list for each chapter!! I enjoyed that aspect and I normally a quiet reader but it really set the scenes!

I love Sloane and Rowan! My top 5 couple of all time! I love Sloane’s character so much. Such a badass. And Rowan… he’s just perfect.