Recent Reads: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver  

Series: The Ruinous Love Trilogy #1

Publisher: Slowburn
Publication Date:  December 12, 2023

 

Format: Paperback
Source: Bought/Own

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Every serial killer needs a friend.

Every game must have a winner.

When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive—the friendship of a like-minded, pitch-black soul. From small town West Virginia to upscale California, from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country. But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love. Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves? Or have they finally met their match?

Butcher & Blackbird is the first book in the Ruinous Love Dark Romance trilogy of interconnected stand-alone dark romantic comedies. This dual POV novel ends on a HEA.

Review: 

I kept hearing about this book all over the internet and I had to pick it up to see if it was worth a read. It had me hooked from the beginning. It is a serial killer meets dark romance meets friends to lovers situation and I was here for it.  Sloan is a serial killer making her way through other serial killers when she gets caught in a trap while on a hunt - she meets Rowan, another serial killer who, interestingly enough, does something similar and he helps her out of a bind. From then on they have a yearly competition to figure out who is the next person they are disposing of... and eventually fall for each other. 

The female main character, Sloan, is strong, independant and funny. The male main character, Rowan, is funny, adorable and quirky, and cooks! We love a cook/chef situation. I liked them both. I loved the overall premise and plot, and I liked the overall flow of the read. Their banter was cute and fun and I really enjoyed all the gross,weird things that they could connect over. 

The other characters were also wonderful and I wanted to learn more about them, so I am glad that this series follows two others in the next book. 

I think what made this book everything, was the willingness to put it all out there. It is 2 serial killers falling in love ... while killing other serial killers... and being themselves. The author also popped in this lovely disclaimer at the start or the book announcing all the weird triggers you will experience. And "accidental cannibalism" is when I was like ... oh yea... let's go. 

So if you dig dark romance, witty banter, a challenge, and a he falls first plot, this one could be for you.