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The Ruinous Love Trilogy #1
Butcher & Blackbird
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.
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.
360 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30,564 reviews
September 5, 2023
ICONIC, AMAZING, OUT OF THIS WORLD, INCREDIBLE….I could go on and on. The most perfect dark rom com. I have really enjoyed the other books I have read by Brynne Weaver but she really out did herself with this one. When I read the trigger warning I was only mildly concerned, mostly because I genuinely thought one of the main characters was going to be a cannibal, and I can happily say do not worry because that is not at all the case lmfao. The “not so accidental cannibalism” was actually a very funny addition to the book. Rowan, the MMC, had a lot to live up to with a name like that and I can fully say that he did. His witty nature and overall character was 🥹🫶🏼🥹🫶🏼🥹🫶🏼🥹🫶🏼🥹 MY MAN WAS OBSESSED. And Sloane, I loved that she was a bad bitch but also had normal people anxiety hahahahah.
December 21, 2023
i want what they have…
“you’ll love me someday” ROWAN DO YOU WANNA GET WIFED UP AND HAVE KIDS AND LIVE ON THE BEACH WITH OUR 3 CATS OR SOMETHING ???!!! 🫣
they way he was so patient with her. the pining, the angst, the rivalries, the games, the years of longing and hoping she might feel the same way when she felt the same way since you laid your eyes upon her…god they were destined for each other !! when i tell you that i would run through a wall for that man… 🏃🏻♀️
when he named the restaurant **you know what it is** and permanently reserved a spot for her…MY HEART DISCHARGED FROM ITS ARTERIES!! 🫀
this man was so goofy and obsessed with her. i only want dark romcoms written this way bruv 🦟🦗🦟🦗🦟🦗
something about these two were so evanescence 2003 coded and i ate that shit up 🧍🏻♀️
“you’ll love me someday” ROWAN DO YOU WANNA GET WIFED UP AND HAVE KIDS AND LIVE ON THE BEACH WITH OUR 3 CATS OR SOMETHING ???!!! 🫣
they way he was so patient with her. the pining, the angst, the rivalries, the games, the years of longing and hoping she might feel the same way when she felt the same way since you laid your eyes upon her…god they were destined for each other !! when i tell you that i would run through a wall for that man… 🏃🏻♀️
when he named the restaurant **you know what it is** and permanently reserved a spot for her…MY HEART DISCHARGED FROM ITS ARTERIES!! 🫀
this man was so goofy and obsessed with her. i only want dark romcoms written this way bruv 🦟🦗🦟🦗🦟🦗
something about these two were so evanescence 2003 coded and i ate that shit up 🧍🏻♀️
February 6, 2024
I LOVED this book. I love any book that combines murder and romance but the fact that they're also serial killers! I knew I was going to love this one. This book combines gory murder, comedic relief, an at sometimes absurd plot, and a sweet romance so well. Very very excited to read book 2!
March 21, 2024
3.75/5
Accidental cannibalism you say? Hmmm I don’t think-
But the hero is a serial killer with a golden retriever energy who is a chef by day and is obsessed with the heroine?
Give it to me.
I never expected to be soo obsessed with this book. It was supposed to be a dark romantic comedy, and I ate it up. In one sitting. It’s about two notorious serial killers, Sloane and Rowan, who organized an annual murder competition, during which the two met every few months to kill their chosen victim. It sounded so good that I had a hard time believing it could turn out to be anything other than amazing. And, I was right. It was amazing.
Let’s get to the point though. Meaning, the main characters. The best part of the book. The spoilers also start here.
Rowan Kane, aka my new obsession. Seriously. I'm pretty sure I have a new type - a serial killer with a golden retriever energy who looks like your typical tall, dark and mysterious, who drives a motorcycle, has tattoos, and, who also owns popular restaurants where he is the chef. Restaurants that he named after the heroine, and where he has a booth reserved forever just for her. Ah, how I love fictional rich men.
This man was also insane, crazy and a bit nuts. Yes, I know these words basically mean the same thing, but as you read, you'll see that they all describe him perfectly. It still doesn't change the fact that he was hot and I want him. Who doesn’t want a crazy comedian who is obsessed with you? The best part is that most of the time he wasn't even trying to be funny, but what he said was so unserious that I end up laughing anyway.
It was so out of nowhere that I laugh.
Skskksjsjsjsk he made a deal with some kid to bring Sloane groceries so he could help her cook over the phone. Despite standing secretly outside her house.
And he calls her 'love'. That should be enough to love this man.
And he blushes. *screaming*
*SCREAMINGGGGGG*
For safety reasons, because I know that for some people, including me, it’s important. He was celibate from the moment he first saw her and became obsessed. Four years. The fact that he fangirled over her when he first met her was also incredibly cute. Yes, cute. A grown man can be cute. However, this only applies to fictional men.
Moving to our heroine, Sloane. I loved her, she was smart, funny and had crazy ideas. Who cares if she was a serial killer? At least she was hot doing it. Killing terrible men and not getting caught? A girl can only dream.
This book is a perfect example that you can write a dark romance with two serial killers whose relationship is based on friendship, not lust. It took them four years to finally be together, and I liked that they were friends during these years. Best friends even. Rowan has been sure about them, about what they could be and what he wanted, and he was patiently waiting for Sloane to catch up. The best part is that he hasn't been a hoe all these years. The man was so obsessed that he only wanted her. As he should.
Finally, about the "Accidental Cannibalism" and "Not-So- Accidental Cannibalism", which brought me to this book even though I was quite terrified of what it might turn out to be. The first thing happened during one of their kills when Rowan unknowingly ate the meal their victim had made for them. You know what it was. The second situation? That would be too much of a spoiler, so I'll just say that none of them consumed it. Thankfully.
Overall, I'm happy I decided to read it because I was quite skeptical at first. I can't wait to read Rowan brothers' books. There are a lot of hints as to who they will be paired with and I just can't wait.
The Ruinous Love trilogy
1. Butcher & Blackbird 3.75/5
2. Leather & Lark tbr 2023
3. Scythe & Sparrow tbr 2024
Accidental cannibalism you say? Hmmm I don’t think-
But the hero is a serial killer with a golden retriever energy who is a chef by day and is obsessed with the heroine?
Give it to me.
I never expected to be soo obsessed with this book. It was supposed to be a dark romantic comedy, and I ate it up. In one sitting. It’s about two notorious serial killers, Sloane and Rowan, who organized an annual murder competition, during which the two met every few months to kill their chosen victim. It sounded so good that I had a hard time believing it could turn out to be anything other than amazing. And, I was right. It was amazing.
Let’s get to the point though. Meaning, the main characters. The best part of the book. The spoilers also start here.
Rowan Kane, aka my new obsession. Seriously. I'm pretty sure I have a new type - a serial killer with a golden retriever energy who looks like your typical tall, dark and mysterious, who drives a motorcycle, has tattoos, and, who also owns popular restaurants where he is the chef. Restaurants that he named after the heroine, and where he has a booth reserved forever just for her. Ah, how I love fictional rich men.
This man was also insane, crazy and a bit nuts. Yes, I know these words basically mean the same thing, but as you read, you'll see that they all describe him perfectly. It still doesn't change the fact that he was hot and I want him. Who doesn’t want a crazy comedian who is obsessed with you? The best part is that most of the time he wasn't even trying to be funny, but what he said was so unserious that I end up laughing anyway.
"his gaze remains trapped on the trail of tiny white worms heading my way. When his eyes lift from the floor, they meet mine with an eager smile. “Want to get lunch?”
It was so out of nowhere that I laugh.
"As he collects his bike, I ask him what he’s going to do with all this cash, and he tells me he’s saving for a PlayStation. Before he goes, I give him an extra two hundred bucks."
Skskksjsjsjsk he made a deal with some kid to bring Sloane groceries so he could help her cook over the phone. Despite standing secretly outside her house.
"Rowan’s reply is immediate.
Hold tight, love. I’m coming."
And he calls her 'love'. That should be enough to love this man.
“You’re beautiful, Rowan.”
This time, it’s my turn to blush."
And he blushes. *screaming*
"Do you really think I just like you when I framed a drawing you left for me on a scrap of paper you tore from a notebook? The one I hung it in the kitchen so I can look at it every day and think of you? Do you think I just like you when I tattoo it on my skin?"
*SCREAMINGGGGGG*
"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."
For safety reasons, because I know that for some people, including me, it’s important. He was celibate from the moment he first saw her and became obsessed. Four years. The fact that he fangirled over her when he first met her was also incredibly cute. Yes, cute. A grown man can be cute. However, this only applies to fictional men.
Moving to our heroine, Sloane. I loved her, she was smart, funny and had crazy ideas. Who cares if she was a serial killer? At least she was hot doing it. Killing terrible men and not getting caught? A girl can only dream.
“Just…hold…still…” Sloane says, gritting out every word over the man’s garbled cries.
��I’d say it would hurt less if you stop struggling, but that’s a total lie.” The man screams again and I turn my head toward the sound."
This book is a perfect example that you can write a dark romance with two serial killers whose relationship is based on friendship, not lust. It took them four years to finally be together, and I liked that they were friends during these years. Best friends even. Rowan has been sure about them, about what they could be and what he wanted, and he was patiently waiting for Sloane to catch up. The best part is that he hasn't been a hoe all these years. The man was so obsessed that he only wanted her. As he should.
Finally, about the "Accidental Cannibalism" and "Not-So- Accidental Cannibalism", which brought me to this book even though I was quite terrified of what it might turn out to be. The first thing happened during one of their kills when Rowan unknowingly ate the meal their victim had made for them. You know what it was. The second situation? That would be too much of a spoiler, so I'll just say that none of them consumed it. Thankfully.
Overall, I'm happy I decided to read it because I was quite skeptical at first. I can't wait to read Rowan brothers' books. There are a lot of hints as to who they will be paired with and I just can't wait.
The Ruinous Love trilogy
1. Butcher & Blackbird 3.75/5
2. Leather & Lark tbr 2023
3. Scythe & Sparrow tbr 2024
January 20, 2024
It took far longer than I'd like to admit to realize that this book was going nowhere near my favorites list (a fact I’ll credit solely to the wonderful audio performance from Joe Arden and Lucy Rivers). A shock, as I’m sure you can imagine, since it’s literally about SERIAL KILLERS who play a MURDER GAME together and fall in love along the way. But it finally hit me around the ¾ mark that I’d rather get my eyeballs plucked—nay, gouged—out, than continue to be subjected to Butcher & Blackbird’s unconvincing chemistry, shallow characters, and disjointed timeline.
Dissatisfying as a romance and horror novel, alike. RIP my hopes and dreams of ever finding a good crossover between the two genres.
Dissatisfying as a romance and horror novel, alike. RIP my hopes and dreams of ever finding a good crossover between the two genres.
May 2, 2024
Oh boy! I can say three things firstly:
-This stimulating, scorching, action-packed, mind-bending, heart-pounding, intelligent, and highly entertaining novel, seamlessly blending thriller, mystery, dark comedy, and erotic romance genres, has become my new addiction, making me want to scream my adoration for it from the rooftops!
-I've undoubtedly found another auto-approved author, and I can't wait to read more from Brynne Weaver and the "Ruinous Love Trilogy" books! Especially seeing the bonus part of Lachlan and Lark’s story has increased my appetite and pumped up my excitement!
-Unfortunately, the author has ruined orzo pasta and ice cream for me for a long time! I will definitely be passing on those meals!
This book has an unusual plot revolving around two serial killers who compete with each other to finish the job of their targeted evil. Yes, they are like vigilantes, cleaning the world of the most malicious human beings, even though both of them also enjoy the blood, turning crime scenes into art exhibitions to feed their violent fantasies.
Sloane, the orb weaver, a.k.a. "Blackbird," finds her path crossing with Irish charm, dangerous, charismatic Rowan, a.k.a. Butcher when she accidentally locks herself with her latest prey in a cage for three days in the Louisiana summer. Rowan unleashes her and comes with a proposal that intrigues her, just like the man who tells her the rules. Their attraction is palpable, wild, animalistic, and barely controllable. They decide to play an annual game to hunt their targeted victims by choosing them around the most dangerous monsters hiding in human clothing. Their blossoming friendship and attraction lead them to places they could never imagine.
Will they be each other’s destruction, or are they just a match made in hell, destined to find their own kind of bloody, highly eccentric, stimulating, sensational happily ever after?
Wow! Just wow! My mind is ready to explore! This book is entertaining, smart, unputdownable, and those steamy, naughty scenes definitely set the chapters on fire! They're absolutely hyperventilating! The cliffhanger at the end made me scream and crave the sequel urgently! This chaotic, hilarious, a little gory, but extremely exciting book was everything I needed! I couldn’t recommend it more!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Zando for sharing this unique novel’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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-This stimulating, scorching, action-packed, mind-bending, heart-pounding, intelligent, and highly entertaining novel, seamlessly blending thriller, mystery, dark comedy, and erotic romance genres, has become my new addiction, making me want to scream my adoration for it from the rooftops!
-I've undoubtedly found another auto-approved author, and I can't wait to read more from Brynne Weaver and the "Ruinous Love Trilogy" books! Especially seeing the bonus part of Lachlan and Lark’s story has increased my appetite and pumped up my excitement!
-Unfortunately, the author has ruined orzo pasta and ice cream for me for a long time! I will definitely be passing on those meals!
This book has an unusual plot revolving around two serial killers who compete with each other to finish the job of their targeted evil. Yes, they are like vigilantes, cleaning the world of the most malicious human beings, even though both of them also enjoy the blood, turning crime scenes into art exhibitions to feed their violent fantasies.
Sloane, the orb weaver, a.k.a. "Blackbird," finds her path crossing with Irish charm, dangerous, charismatic Rowan, a.k.a. Butcher when she accidentally locks herself with her latest prey in a cage for three days in the Louisiana summer. Rowan unleashes her and comes with a proposal that intrigues her, just like the man who tells her the rules. Their attraction is palpable, wild, animalistic, and barely controllable. They decide to play an annual game to hunt their targeted victims by choosing them around the most dangerous monsters hiding in human clothing. Their blossoming friendship and attraction lead them to places they could never imagine.
Will they be each other’s destruction, or are they just a match made in hell, destined to find their own kind of bloody, highly eccentric, stimulating, sensational happily ever after?
Wow! Just wow! My mind is ready to explore! This book is entertaining, smart, unputdownable, and those steamy, naughty scenes definitely set the chapters on fire! They're absolutely hyperventilating! The cliffhanger at the end made me scream and crave the sequel urgently! This chaotic, hilarious, a little gory, but extremely exciting book was everything I needed! I couldn’t recommend it more!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Zando for sharing this unique novel’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
November 21, 2023
I LOVE THESE TWO PSYCHOPATHS 😭😭😭
November 9, 2023
absolutely horrendous book.
September 7, 2023
"Sloane.
I can't lose you."
"Then you'd better kiss me."
✔️ Dark romcom
✔️ Friends to lovers (they're both serial killers)
✔️ Reverse grumpy x sunshine
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Only one bed
✔️ He falls first and hard
✔️ Touch him/her and die
Well that was a WILD ride and so fun. Although I expected a lot more cause the hype got to me.
I liked Rowan and Sloane. Their banter was EVERYTHING. Their dynamic with each other was so well built. The way Sloane opened up to him and the way Rowan was always rooting for her, waiting for her and just loving her was so beautiful to read. Both of them were so protective towards each other, going to lengths for each other and never giving up, I loved that. As individuals too they shined. One did not overpower the other and was quite balanced.
The action bits were quite vividly described which I did have an issue with at one point in the book. There's a lot of gore. A LOT. In fact, more so than the spice. I was not so much invested in the plot or what they did as much as their romance which is why this is a three star read for me.
These might be just me issues but once I read about Sloane's genital piercing, I just wasn't able to ignore it during the spice. Sorry 😂🙈 Another thing am not appreciative of was that there was a lot of swearing in this. I don't mind how much one swears but using God's name in vain got to me...
The ending was quite good and explosive. I like Lachlan a lot, he was probably my favorite character so I'll look forward to his book. Overall, a decent read.
There's a long list of TW, so please check it out before reading. This book might not be for everyone.
~•~•~
Serial killers and romance? Intrigued. Very intrigued. Let's goooo
I can't lose you."
"Then you'd better kiss me."
✔️ Dark romcom
✔️ Friends to lovers (they're both serial killers)
✔️ Reverse grumpy x sunshine
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Only one bed
✔️ He falls first and hard
✔️ Touch him/her and die
Well that was a WILD ride and so fun. Although I expected a lot more cause the hype got to me.
I liked Rowan and Sloane. Their banter was EVERYTHING. Their dynamic with each other was so well built. The way Sloane opened up to him and the way Rowan was always rooting for her, waiting for her and just loving her was so beautiful to read. Both of them were so protective towards each other, going to lengths for each other and never giving up, I loved that. As individuals too they shined. One did not overpower the other and was quite balanced.
The action bits were quite vividly described which I did have an issue with at one point in the book. There's a lot of gore. A LOT. In fact, more so than the spice. I was not so much invested in the plot or what they did as much as their romance which is why this is a three star read for me.
These might be just me issues but once I read about Sloane's genital piercing, I just wasn't able to ignore it during the spice. Sorry 😂🙈 Another thing am not appreciative of was that there was a lot of swearing in this. I don't mind how much one swears but using God's name in vain got to me...
The ending was quite good and explosive. I like Lachlan a lot, he was probably my favorite character so I'll look forward to his book. Overall, a decent read.
There's a long list of TW, so please check it out before reading. This book might not be for everyone.
~•~•~
Serial killers and romance? Intrigued. Very intrigued. Let's goooo
September 16, 2023
GUYS IT FINALLY HAPPENED!!!!!! i finally found a good serial killer book after mindfuck!!!!!!😍🤩🥰😻🌷💞🕸️🔪⛓️🪓💣⚰️
so i don't think i'll be writing a review anytime soon because this was an experience and i'm left speechless🤫
but seriously i can't recommend this to any of my friends (maybe to you edith 🫣 i know you'll enjoy this😌) because it was disgusting, horrifying and sometimes a little traumatizing.
and i loved every second of it 🖤
◾ "Before you came along, something was missing. You, Rowan. You were missing. You made it safe to feel seen."
◽ Sloane is the only person in the world who can look at my monster and find a friend. And I know she needs a friend just as much as I do. Maybe more.
◾ “I would kill for you, and I have. I would do it again, every damn day. I’d turn myself inside out for you. I would die for you.”
so i don't think i'll be writing a review anytime soon because this was an experience and i'm left speechless🤫
but seriously i can't recommend this to any of my friends (maybe to you edith 🫣 i know you'll enjoy this😌) because it was disgusting, horrifying and sometimes a little traumatizing.
and i loved every second of it 🖤
◾ "Before you came along, something was missing. You, Rowan. You were missing. You made it safe to feel seen."
◽ Sloane is the only person in the world who can look at my monster and find a friend. And I know she needs a friend just as much as I do. Maybe more.
◾ “I would kill for you, and I have. I would do it again, every damn day. I’d turn myself inside out for you. I would die for you.”
April 19, 2024
Mr. & Mrs. Smith plus Dexter with a little Silence of the Lambs thrown in for extra seasoning.
4.5 stars rounded up.
This book is not for the faint of heart, or stomach. It’s about two serial killers who fall in love while playing in hunting and killing competitions. They are psychopaths, they are tortured souls, this is dark; brace yourself for that. But outside of the morbidity and gore, this was a cute and sweet, slow burn. How did this author do that? How did she make us root for two murderers, watch them play with their victims brutally and without conscience and feel swoony at the romance of it? I dunno, scientists need to look into this.
So if you like cool banter, sweet (but psycho) characters, funny side characters and can handle or embrace very dark content, then try this. It’s a hoot.
It doesn’t get full five stars because the time jumps got really annoying to me and I wanted more time of them actually together and I think certain scenes were jumped over that I wished were included. Oddly, the accidental cannibalism worked with the plot so no deductions for that. 🥩
***edited to remove mention of the narration in light of recent allegations. I stand with victims.
4.5 stars rounded up.
This book is not for the faint of heart, or stomach. It’s about two serial killers who fall in love while playing in hunting and killing competitions. They are psychopaths, they are tortured souls, this is dark; brace yourself for that. But outside of the morbidity and gore, this was a cute and sweet, slow burn. How did this author do that? How did she make us root for two murderers, watch them play with their victims brutally and without conscience and feel swoony at the romance of it? I dunno, scientists need to look into this.
So if you like cool banter, sweet (but psycho) characters, funny side characters and can handle or embrace very dark content, then try this. It’s a hoot.
It doesn’t get full five stars because the time jumps got really annoying to me and I wanted more time of them actually together and I think certain scenes were jumped over that I wished were included. Oddly, the accidental cannibalism worked with the plot so no deductions for that. 🥩
***edited to remove mention of the narration in light of recent allegations. I stand with victims.
September 13, 2023
4.75 ⭐️ THIS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO BUSINESS BEING SO GOOD????????
new fav trope unlocked: rival unalivers falling for each other!!!!
the way it was hilarious.. had me kicking and screaming. but also SO CUTE?? he was so patient. they were so in love the entire time. the slowburn. THE SPICE HELLO????
i ate this up. truly. now i need the rest OF THE SERIES IMMEDIATELY!!!
i’ll never look at cookies and cream ice cream the same.
“you’ll love me someday” 😭
new fav trope unlocked: rival unalivers falling for each other!!!!
the way it was hilarious.. had me kicking and screaming. but also SO CUTE?? he was so patient. they were so in love the entire time. the slowburn. THE SPICE HELLO????
i ate this up. truly. now i need the rest OF THE SERIES IMMEDIATELY!!!
i’ll never look at cookies and cream ice cream the same.
“you’ll love me someday” 😭
March 14, 2024
4.25 ⭐️ This book was a riot that I couldn't put down!
We're not normal people. We are monsters. But if we're monsters, we'll thrive in the dark. Together.
Summary:
Sloane and Rowan are great at what they do - murdering serial killers. When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between these two, they decide to have a friendly competition. Each year, they'll meet up to hunt for the most dangerous monsters in the country. Winner gets the kill. Year after year they meet up for this game, 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?
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ dark rom-com
✨ serial killer MCs
✨ a gruesome meet cute
✨ annual ‘hunting’ game
✨ friends to lovers
✨ he falls first and hard
✨ witty banter
✨ nursing back to health scene 🫶
✨ 4/5 🌶️ (praise, cock warming, rough sex, choking, spitting, dom/sub, genital piercings)
✨ HEA
✨ dual POV
✨ TW: murder, gore, cannibalism, child sexual assault (past), parental loss (not depicted), parental neglect and abuse (past). Check the author's TW before reading.
My Thoughts:
This was a delight - a weird, fucked up delight. 😂 It's a very original story, and regardless of all the trigger warnings above, it’s actually incredibly fun and comical. I don’t know how the author managed to write a gore filled rom-com about serial killers but she KILLED IT! (pun intended)
*I’ve also listened to the audiobook and OMG is it amazing!!! The narrators do an incredible job!*
Update: Due to the serious allegations against Joe Arden (who voices the male narrator), Brynn Weave no longer supports/promotes the audiobook, nor do I. So instead, please support Brynn by reading the book.
I absolutely adored the MCs: Sloane and Rowan. These two are such interesting characters with some obvious trauma that's led them to become killers, but what I love most is that they see each other for exactly who they are and instead of being afraid or wanting the other to change, they embrace all of it and love those parts. They honestly make such a cute couple and hey, I condone their killings since they only target terrible serial killers. It's not like they're hurting innocents.
Also, the fact Rowan has a table permanently reserved for Sloane at his restaurant after meeting her one time melted my heart! Talk about obsessed.
I adored the found family/family relationships in this story. Sloane has her best friend Lark and Rowan has his two brothers who are fully aware and supportive of their killing hobby. I totally didn't expect this and found it very endearing. There's something special about relationships where they see all of you, the good and the bad, and they love you regardless.
The smut SLAYED! Not only are there a lot of spicy scenes but they were filthy and kinky. Rowan is very dominating in bed and takes just as much as he gives. I also think it's badass that Sloane has 🐱 piercings.
I saw the twist coming but it was still entertaining. I buddy read this with a friend who didn't see the twists, so it may not be that obvious. But I promise you, regardless of if you catch it or not, you'll love the end. It's riveting and will have you at the edge of your seat!
There were only two things I didn't like:
1. I wish we got a bit more background into Sloane's past besides vague mentions of what happened to fuck her up. We can gather there was SA at the boarding school she went to with Lark, but I wasn't 100% sure, so I thought there needed to be a bit more specifics and insight into Sloane's feelings about everything that happened (including killing the teacher).
2. Sloane repeatedly says "you're the worst" to Rowan and it becomes a sort of catch phrase, which would have been fine if she didn't say it around 10 times throughout the story. Definitely overkill.
Overall, this was an entertaining book and I'd 100% recommend it if you can handle the trigger warnings. It's similar to the Mindf*ck series by S.T. Abby because of the whole female serial killer but it has a much lighter tone and a lot more laughs. I have no idea what's in store for Lark and Fionn in book 2 but I cannot wait to find out!
Favorite Quotes:
"I didn't gouge them out, Butcher. I plucked them. Delicately. Like a lady."
_______
"You know what they say, Blackbird. 'It's all fun and games until someone loses and eye.' And that's where the real fun begins."
_______
“That woman you were watching…?” My fingers tighten around his throat as he desperately nods. “She is mine.” I’m sure he begs. But I don’t hear his pleas. They’re fucking useless words that won’t save him now.
_______
I refuse to lose her. Sloane is the only person in the world who can look at my monster and find a friend. And I know she needs a friend just as much as I do. Maybe more.
_______
He knows my darkest secrets. I know his. We can be monsters, and maybe we don’t deserve the same things that other people do. Happiness. Affection. Love. But I can’t seem to stop the way I feel when I look at every facet of Rowan, from his brightest light to his deepest, most dangerous dark. Maybe I don’t deserve it for the things I’ve done. But I want it. I want more with him than what I’ve got.
_______
Sloane bleeds into every thought. When we're apart, her absence is an entity. I worry for her. I dream of her. And yesterday, I almost lost her. Killing bounds us together, and it's a compulsion neither of us can live without. This need, and now this game between us, consumes me as much as she does.
_______
Every time I think of her, my heart reminds me I'm not as dead on the inside as I thought after all.
_______
"You're all the best things to me, Sloane. No matter how many bruises are in your heart or on your skin."
_______
"How do you still have the energy to take the piss out of me?"
"I always have the energy for that. Your suffering is my number one priority."
_______
"Before you came along, something was missing. You, Rowan. You were missing. You made it safe to feel seen. Safe to play on our terms. Safe to have fun, even though our fun might not be everyone's idea of a good time."
_______
“Pick a safe word. Do it now.”
I swallow. Hard. “Chainsaw.”
He huffs a laugh, a burst of warmth against my core.
“How fitting, love. Now be a good girl and find something to grab on to…” he says, then passes one long, slow lick over my center. “...Because I’m about to destroy you.”
_______
I told her I'm no angel. I don't think she believed me. But she's about to discover that I'm the devil she never knew she needed.
_______
She's everywhere, in every drop of my blood, in every spark of thought, and I want to fucking destroy her for it. To shatter her just like she's broken me. Because she brings me to my fucking knees. I want to ruin her so that she's mine, my beautiful disaster. My wild creature. My goddess of chaos.
_______
"I would kill for you, and I have. I would do it again, every damn day. I'd turn myself inside out for you. I would die for you. I don't just like you, Sloane, and you fucking know it."
_______
I know I'm not a normal person, but I don't feel like a monster. I feel like a weapon. The final justice on behalf of those who can't speak, delivering punishment for those who don't deserve clemency.
_______
"You have never been unlovable. You were just waiting for someone who will love you for who you are, not for who they want you to be. I can do that, if you let me."
_______
"You might be a psycho, but you're my psycho, and I'm yours. Got it?"
_______
We're not normal people. We are monsters. But if we're monsters, we'll thrive in the dark. Together.
Summary:
Sloane and Rowan are great at what they do - murdering serial killers. When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between these two, they decide to have a friendly competition. Each year, they'll meet up to hunt for the most dangerous monsters in the country. Winner gets the kill. Year after year they meet up for this game, 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?
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ dark rom-com
✨ serial killer MCs
✨ a gruesome meet cute
✨ annual ‘hunting’ game
✨ friends to lovers
✨ he falls first and hard
✨ witty banter
✨ nursing back to health scene 🫶
✨ 4/5 🌶️ (praise, cock warming, rough sex, choking, spitting, dom/sub, genital piercings)
✨ HEA
✨ dual POV
✨ TW: murder, gore, cannibalism, child sexual assault (past), parental loss (not depicted), parental neglect and abuse (past). Check the author's TW before reading.
My Thoughts:
This was a delight - a weird, fucked up delight. 😂 It's a very original story, and regardless of all the trigger warnings above, it’s actually incredibly fun and comical. I don’t know how the author managed to write a gore filled rom-com about serial killers but she KILLED IT! (pun intended)
*I’ve also listened to the audiobook and OMG is it amazing!!! The narrators do an incredible job!*
Update: Due to the serious allegations against Joe Arden (who voices the male narrator), Brynn Weave no longer supports/promotes the audiobook, nor do I. So instead, please support Brynn by reading the book.
I absolutely adored the MCs: Sloane and Rowan. These two are such interesting characters with some obvious trauma that's led them to become killers, but what I love most is that they see each other for exactly who they are and instead of being afraid or wanting the other to change, they embrace all of it and love those parts. They honestly make such a cute couple and hey, I condone their killings since they only target terrible serial killers. It's not like they're hurting innocents.
Also, the fact Rowan has a table permanently reserved for Sloane at his restaurant after meeting her one time melted my heart! Talk about obsessed.
I adored the found family/family relationships in this story. Sloane has her best friend Lark and Rowan has his two brothers who are fully aware and supportive of their killing hobby. I totally didn't expect this and found it very endearing. There's something special about relationships where they see all of you, the good and the bad, and they love you regardless.
The smut SLAYED! Not only are there a lot of spicy scenes but they were filthy and kinky. Rowan is very dominating in bed and takes just as much as he gives. I also think it's badass that Sloane has 🐱 piercings.
I saw the twist coming but it was still entertaining. I buddy read this with a friend who didn't see the twists, so it may not be that obvious. But I promise you, regardless of if you catch it or not, you'll love the end. It's riveting and will have you at the edge of your seat!
There were only two things I didn't like:
1. I wish we got a bit more background into Sloane's past besides vague mentions of what happened to fuck her up. We can gather there was SA at the boarding school she went to with Lark, but I wasn't 100% sure, so I thought there needed to be a bit more specifics and insight into Sloane's feelings about everything that happened (including killing the teacher).
2. Sloane repeatedly says "you're the worst" to Rowan and it becomes a sort of catch phrase, which would have been fine if she didn't say it around 10 times throughout the story. Definitely overkill.
Overall, this was an entertaining book and I'd 100% recommend it if you can handle the trigger warnings. It's similar to the Mindf*ck series by S.T. Abby because of the whole female serial killer but it has a much lighter tone and a lot more laughs. I have no idea what's in store for Lark and Fionn in book 2 but I cannot wait to find out!
Favorite Quotes:
"I didn't gouge them out, Butcher. I plucked them. Delicately. Like a lady."
_______
"You know what they say, Blackbird. 'It's all fun and games until someone loses and eye.' And that's where the real fun begins."
_______
“That woman you were watching…?” My fingers tighten around his throat as he desperately nods. “She is mine.” I’m sure he begs. But I don’t hear his pleas. They’re fucking useless words that won’t save him now.
_______
I refuse to lose her. Sloane is the only person in the world who can look at my monster and find a friend. And I know she needs a friend just as much as I do. Maybe more.
_______
He knows my darkest secrets. I know his. We can be monsters, and maybe we don’t deserve the same things that other people do. Happiness. Affection. Love. But I can’t seem to stop the way I feel when I look at every facet of Rowan, from his brightest light to his deepest, most dangerous dark. Maybe I don’t deserve it for the things I’ve done. But I want it. I want more with him than what I’ve got.
_______
Sloane bleeds into every thought. When we're apart, her absence is an entity. I worry for her. I dream of her. And yesterday, I almost lost her. Killing bounds us together, and it's a compulsion neither of us can live without. This need, and now this game between us, consumes me as much as she does.
_______
Every time I think of her, my heart reminds me I'm not as dead on the inside as I thought after all.
_______
"You're all the best things to me, Sloane. No matter how many bruises are in your heart or on your skin."
_______
"How do you still have the energy to take the piss out of me?"
"I always have the energy for that. Your suffering is my number one priority."
_______
"Before you came along, something was missing. You, Rowan. You were missing. You made it safe to feel seen. Safe to play on our terms. Safe to have fun, even though our fun might not be everyone's idea of a good time."
_______
“Pick a safe word. Do it now.”
I swallow. Hard. “Chainsaw.”
He huffs a laugh, a burst of warmth against my core.
“How fitting, love. Now be a good girl and find something to grab on to…” he says, then passes one long, slow lick over my center. “...Because I’m about to destroy you.”
_______
I told her I'm no angel. I don't think she believed me. But she's about to discover that I'm the devil she never knew she needed.
_______
She's everywhere, in every drop of my blood, in every spark of thought, and I want to fucking destroy her for it. To shatter her just like she's broken me. Because she brings me to my fucking knees. I want to ruin her so that she's mine, my beautiful disaster. My wild creature. My goddess of chaos.
_______
"I would kill for you, and I have. I would do it again, every damn day. I'd turn myself inside out for you. I would die for you. I don't just like you, Sloane, and you fucking know it."
_______
I know I'm not a normal person, but I don't feel like a monster. I feel like a weapon. The final justice on behalf of those who can't speak, delivering punishment for those who don't deserve clemency.
_______
"You have never been unlovable. You were just waiting for someone who will love you for who you are, not for who they want you to be. I can do that, if you let me."
_______
"You might be a psycho, but you're my psycho, and I'm yours. Got it?"
_______
May 19, 2024
some spoilers!!
5🌟’s
who wants to go on a haunted treasure hunt with me? this book has so many twists and turns and guess what I loved it anyways so why not come along with me to find all the “clues” to this treasure hunt!
treasure map
🏁🗡 (the competition) ➡️
🏨🏃 (the sneaky wall scene) ➡️
🍳👀 (him stalk cooking) ➡��
👅🍽 (human flesh eating/ making eyeball ornaments) ➡️
🍦🤢 (ICE CREAM!!!) ➡️
💗🤭 (lovey scenes) ➡️
💍👌❌ (the ending <333) AKA the “SUPRISE”
🗡first place🗡
🏁⚔- the competition
“You know what they say, Blackbird. It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. And that's when the real fun begins.”
let the hunt BEGIN! our first stop is the competition where rowan proposed that they have one to compete against one another and see who can kill the most ppl! 😲 talk about wild already and we just started but i mean rowan is fine as ever so i mean spending more time with rowan doesn’t sound like a problem to me plus it wasn’t even really a competition they were just doing whatever like if u wanted an excuse to flirt with each other u dont need no competition to do it! 😏
and the competition leads us onto the next clue….🚶♀️
🗡second place🗡
🏨🏃- the sneaky wall scene
this was one of the wildest scenes!! sloane was ‘getting herself off as she described it’ and some pervert was watching her while she was in her room and jacking off and i was like OMG! 😭 and ofc rowan was right there like a peeping tom watching her too and he sees the other guy and dude went all ninja turtles and banged the lamp against the wall like he was michelangelo with the nunchucks im not judging sloane at all im just saying those peeping toms should have never been there in the first freaking place!! 🤨
🗡third place🗡
🍳👀- him STALK cooking
“I have food, Rowan.” (Sloane)
“Good for you. I think that qualifies you as a fully fledged adult.” (Rowan)
halfway through we come across the ‘him stalking cooking island’ where u find out that rowan was up here outside stalking her and sending groceries to her house for her to cook food and he would call her and talk her through how to cook the food which was so sweet but also kind of stalkerish but i'm all for it bc rowan is hot is as hell!!! 😜
and as fun as it would be to talk about rowan all day unfortunately we are coming across the “death drop” soon….💀
fourth place
👅🍽- human flesh eating/ making eyeball ornaments
when i tell you im so grossed out like i couldn’t eat for a whole day every time i read this book! for those who don’t know sloane and rowan went to this dinner party to kill a guy and they got drugged and rowan passed out but sloane ended up torturing the guy rowan woke up later and sloane told him that he choked on a ‘human’s ass’ like she had to scrape it off his tongue 🤢 im going to be sick!! and then ontop of that girl was cutting out human ornaments remind me not to visit them for any feasts, holidays or anything this is enough to make u drop dead! 🪦
And if thats not enough “snake drop” pit is approaching…..🐍
fifth place
🍦🤢- ICE CREAM!!!
so… never will i be able to think the same about ice cream especially cookies and cream like who thinks that up and dude was eating it by the container FULL!!! 🤮 I just want to cry!! why are they doing this to us!! those who don't know there was ice cream that was eaten that had semen in it and sloane had the nerve to say what an interesting substitute to salt! the grave digger is on speed dial! ☎️ the snakes are biting and more and more i am dying
almost to the end….someone pls come help us!!! 😭
sixth place
💗🤭- lovey scenes
“You're beautiful to me.” (Rowan)
“You are all the best things to me, Sloane. No matter how many bruises are in your heart or your skin.” (Rowan)
“I would kill you, and I have. I would do it again, every damn day. I'd turn myself inside out for you. I would die for you, Sloane, and you fucking know it.” (Rowan)
almost to the SURPRISE!! despite the most disgusting scenes ever rowan and sloane found some way to win me over all their scenes (mostly) were so good and i was giggling and kicking my feet and screaming in my pillow 🤭
bonus- a mini hut to get bottled water and sun hats to block out the sun that is melting us to death AKA…
the spicy scenes 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥- 5 STARS Y’ALL!! 5 STARS!!! Rowan is a tiger in the sheets as they say! there was one scene where they had sex and dude was wearing a dragon suit! I CAN’T!! cmon on now dude and they were both turned on by the costume this crazy book…….. and then ontop of they had the nerve to say..
"Maybe we should do the pirate costume next time.” (Sloane)
“You be the pirate, I'll be the parrot.” (Rowan)
HELP! 😩 ik they weren't time traveling to freaking kindergarten to play dress up and dollies and then ofc the safe word was chainsaw how fitting for the book 🤣
And finally we made it to the END/SURPRISE…. 🥳
SURPRISE!!!!
💍👌- the ending ❌ (as they say x marks the spot)
“Did you just propose on a napkin with a ring you stuffed in a guy's eye hole?”
HE PROPOSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was literally throwing a whole party, screaming, yelling, giggling AHHHHH!!!!! And then dude went an proposed with a ring in someone’s freaking eye socket talk about so romantic 💀 and they say romance is dead but i will definitely be going to the wedding!! 🔔🔔 who wants to be my plus one?! 💕
oh and i forgot to mention about crazy butcher guy who almost broke up rowan and sloane which i would have had to hunt him down he thought he was slick but guess what thats why he ended up in the predicament he did!!
🗡last thoughts🗡
definitely recommend in fact im changing my rating to 5 stars bc i remember how much i loved this despite the “extra stuff” 😬 i just wanted to do a rant review bc this one feels like it needs one and here my initial thoughts in the beginning about this was that i thought it was a dark romance music book hahaha i need to banned from judging books on what the cover looks like bc boy was i way off 🤣 but i definitely recommend dont take my review as reason not to read it pls bc genuinely the romance will overpower it all! and u best believe i will be reading the next one!! 😋
5🌟’s
who wants to go on a haunted treasure hunt with me? this book has so many twists and turns and guess what I loved it anyways so why not come along with me to find all the “clues” to this treasure hunt!
treasure map
🏁🗡 (the competition) ➡️
🏨🏃 (the sneaky wall scene) ➡️
🍳👀 (him stalk cooking) ➡��
👅🍽 (human flesh eating/ making eyeball ornaments) ➡️
🍦🤢 (ICE CREAM!!!) ➡️
💗🤭 (lovey scenes) ➡️
💍👌❌ (the ending <333) AKA the “SUPRISE”
🗡first place🗡
🏁⚔- the competition
“You know what they say, Blackbird. It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. And that's when the real fun begins.”
let the hunt BEGIN! our first stop is the competition where rowan proposed that they have one to compete against one another and see who can kill the most ppl! 😲 talk about wild already and we just started but i mean rowan is fine as ever so i mean spending more time with rowan doesn’t sound like a problem to me plus it wasn’t even really a competition they were just doing whatever like if u wanted an excuse to flirt with each other u dont need no competition to do it! 😏
and the competition leads us onto the next clue….🚶♀️
🗡second place🗡
🏨🏃- the sneaky wall scene
this was one of the wildest scenes!! sloane was ‘getting herself off as she described it’ and some pervert was watching her while she was in her room and jacking off and i was like OMG! 😭 and ofc rowan was right there like a peeping tom watching her too and he sees the other guy and dude went all ninja turtles and banged the lamp against the wall like he was michelangelo with the nunchucks im not judging sloane at all im just saying those peeping toms should have never been there in the first freaking place!! 🤨
🗡third place🗡
🍳👀- him STALK cooking
“I have food, Rowan.” (Sloane)
“Good for you. I think that qualifies you as a fully fledged adult.” (Rowan)
halfway through we come across the ‘him stalking cooking island’ where u find out that rowan was up here outside stalking her and sending groceries to her house for her to cook food and he would call her and talk her through how to cook the food which was so sweet but also kind of stalkerish but i'm all for it bc rowan is hot is as hell!!! 😜
and as fun as it would be to talk about rowan all day unfortunately we are coming across the “death drop” soon….💀
fourth place
👅🍽- human flesh eating/ making eyeball ornaments
when i tell you im so grossed out like i couldn’t eat for a whole day every time i read this book! for those who don’t know sloane and rowan went to this dinner party to kill a guy and they got drugged and rowan passed out but sloane ended up torturing the guy rowan woke up later and sloane told him that he choked on a ‘human’s ass’ like she had to scrape it off his tongue 🤢 im going to be sick!! and then ontop of that girl was cutting out human ornaments remind me not to visit them for any feasts, holidays or anything this is enough to make u drop dead! 🪦
And if thats not enough “snake drop” pit is approaching…..🐍
fifth place
🍦🤢- ICE CREAM!!!
so… never will i be able to think the same about ice cream especially cookies and cream like who thinks that up and dude was eating it by the container FULL!!! 🤮 I just want to cry!! why are they doing this to us!! those who don't know there was ice cream that was eaten that had semen in it and sloane had the nerve to say what an interesting substitute to salt! the grave digger is on speed dial! ☎️ the snakes are biting and more and more i am dying
almost to the end….someone pls come help us!!! 😭
sixth place
💗🤭- lovey scenes
“You're beautiful to me.” (Rowan)
“You are all the best things to me, Sloane. No matter how many bruises are in your heart or your skin.” (Rowan)
“I would kill you, and I have. I would do it again, every damn day. I'd turn myself inside out for you. I would die for you, Sloane, and you fucking know it.” (Rowan)
almost to the SURPRISE!! despite the most disgusting scenes ever rowan and sloane found some way to win me over all their scenes (mostly) were so good and i was giggling and kicking my feet and screaming in my pillow 🤭
bonus- a mini hut to get bottled water and sun hats to block out the sun that is melting us to death AKA…
the spicy scenes 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥- 5 STARS Y’ALL!! 5 STARS!!! Rowan is a tiger in the sheets as they say! there was one scene where they had sex and dude was wearing a dragon suit! I CAN’T!! cmon on now dude and they were both turned on by the costume this crazy book…….. and then ontop of they had the nerve to say..
"Maybe we should do the pirate costume next time.” (Sloane)
“You be the pirate, I'll be the parrot.” (Rowan)
HELP! 😩 ik they weren't time traveling to freaking kindergarten to play dress up and dollies and then ofc the safe word was chainsaw how fitting for the book 🤣
And finally we made it to the END/SURPRISE…. 🥳
SURPRISE!!!!
💍👌- the ending ❌ (as they say x marks the spot)
“Did you just propose on a napkin with a ring you stuffed in a guy's eye hole?”
HE PROPOSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was literally throwing a whole party, screaming, yelling, giggling AHHHHH!!!!! And then dude went an proposed with a ring in someone’s freaking eye socket talk about so romantic 💀 and they say romance is dead but i will definitely be going to the wedding!! 🔔🔔 who wants to be my plus one?! 💕
oh and i forgot to mention about crazy butcher guy who almost broke up rowan and sloane which i would have had to hunt him down he thought he was slick but guess what thats why he ended up in the predicament he did!!
🗡last thoughts🗡
definitely recommend in fact im changing my rating to 5 stars bc i remember how much i loved this despite the “extra stuff” 😬 i just wanted to do a rant review bc this one feels like it needs one and here my initial thoughts in the beginning about this was that i thought it was a dark romance music book hahaha i need to banned from judging books on what the cover looks like bc boy was i way off 🤣 but i definitely recommend dont take my review as reason not to read it pls bc genuinely the romance will overpower it all! and u best believe i will be reading the next one!! 😋
April 4, 2024
i need the second book immediately. 😭❤️
ps. don't eat while reading this book.
ps. don't eat while reading this book.
March 23, 2024
3.5🌟
I disturbingly enjoyed this (read it in one sitting) but I cannot forgive the author for the cookie & cream ice cream 😭 it’s ruined for me now
———•
Pre read ; It’s about time I jump on the train with this one
Canadian author = sign me up ✅
I disturbingly enjoyed this (read it in one sitting) but I cannot forgive the author for the cookie & cream ice cream 😭 it’s ruined for me now
———•
Pre read ; It’s about time I jump on the train with this one
Canadian author = sign me up ✅
April 10, 2024
3.5 - Okay this was an interesting one! I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did. I listened to it on Audible and rather than it being just a narrator reading the book to you, it’s more of a production with the narrators kind of being like “actors.” I’ve also never listened to a spicy book so that was definitely interesting, but overall a fun read
April 1, 2024
This book is perfect, I don’t even know what to say. 5+/5 literally no notes. The audiobook is even better, probably one of the best I've ever listened to.
"Hold tight, love"
Stars: 5+/5
Spice: 4/5
Tropes:
- he falls first and hard
- one bed
- hurt/comfort
- friends to lovers
- "touch her and die"/"she's mine"
Butcher and Blackbird is indulgent and decadent, reading it feels like eating chocolate cake. It has serial killers and gore mixed with rom-com mixed with kinky smut scenes. It starts off hot and just ramps up from there. The writing style in B&B pushes right up against the edge of being cheesy, in the best way. If you like a fun rom-com and you don't mind some violence and gore, you have to read this book.
Brynne made two absolutely adorable serial killers for us to get to know throughout this story. Sloane is such a badass and a little bit of a psycho, while also being lovable and relatable as a character. Rowan is an absolutely dreamy, overprotective, deeply caring MMC and his little irish accent really just takes him into perfect book boyfriend territory. There are several long time gaps in this story, which I am really grateful for. It allowed for their relationship to grow in a way that felt natural and believable. I'm always a fan of giving the two MCs a lot of time to get to know each other before it gets spicy.
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.
My only complaint with this book is that it treats time and money as unlimited resources for our MCs. Sloane and Rowan always had the cash and time off to do anything they wanted or needed. I understand why this is done for ease of story, but it is just one spot where I feel like I had to really suspend my disbelief and just roll with it.
Finally, the audiobook. I cannot say enough good things about this audiobook. Both of the VAs delivered beautifully, their acting was lovely and they just did a great job. The quality of the recording is fantastic, there's no weird background sounds or other technical issues with the audio itself. What really makes the audiobook stand out is the duet style of the reading. The actors each read all of their own voice lines, as well as their own POV chapters. So, when Sloane has a chapter it is still Joe Arden speaking the Rowan lines, instead of Lucy Rivers trying to do a Joe Arden voice. This was my first experience with a duet style audiobook and I was genuinely so blown away and so happy while listening to it. It is a nice middle ground between a regular style audiobook and a full graphic audio experience. I think I prefer it over either of them and I desperately hope that more authors take the time to get their books narrated this way. I cannot stress enough how much this added to the listening experience.
Something to note, there is a pretty important bonus chapter at the end of Butcher and Blackbird, my copy of the audiobook did not include this chapter. I don't know if it is in some versions and not mine or if you need a print copy to get that chapter. If you only listen to the audiobook, make sure to find a copy of skullduggery.
"Hold tight, love"
Stars: 5+/5
Spice: 4/5
Tropes:
- he falls first and hard
- one bed
- hurt/comfort
- friends to lovers
- "touch her and die"/"she's mine"
Butcher and Blackbird is indulgent and decadent, reading it feels like eating chocolate cake. It has serial killers and gore mixed with rom-com mixed with kinky smut scenes. It starts off hot and just ramps up from there. The writing style in B&B pushes right up against the edge of being cheesy, in the best way. If you like a fun rom-com and you don't mind some violence and gore, you have to read this book.
Brynne made two absolutely adorable serial killers for us to get to know throughout this story. Sloane is such a badass and a little bit of a psycho, while also being lovable and relatable as a character. Rowan is an absolutely dreamy, overprotective, deeply caring MMC and his little irish accent really just takes him into perfect book boyfriend territory. There are several long time gaps in this story, which I am really grateful for. It allowed for their relationship to grow in a way that felt natural and believable. I'm always a fan of giving the two MCs a lot of time to get to know each other before it gets spicy.
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.
My only complaint with this book is that it treats time and money as unlimited resources for our MCs. Sloane and Rowan always had the cash and time off to do anything they wanted or needed. I understand why this is done for ease of story, but it is just one spot where I feel like I had to really suspend my disbelief and just roll with it.
Finally, the audiobook. I cannot say enough good things about this audiobook. Both of the VAs delivered beautifully, their acting was lovely and they just did a great job. The quality of the recording is fantastic, there's no weird background sounds or other technical issues with the audio itself. What really makes the audiobook stand out is the duet style of the reading. The actors each read all of their own voice lines, as well as their own POV chapters. So, when Sloane has a chapter it is still Joe Arden speaking the Rowan lines, instead of Lucy Rivers trying to do a Joe Arden voice. This was my first experience with a duet style audiobook and I was genuinely so blown away and so happy while listening to it. It is a nice middle ground between a regular style audiobook and a full graphic audio experience. I think I prefer it over either of them and I desperately hope that more authors take the time to get their books narrated this way. I cannot stress enough how much this added to the listening experience.
Something to note, there is a pretty important bonus chapter at the end of Butcher and Blackbird, my copy of the audiobook did not include this chapter. I don't know if it is in some versions and not mine or if you need a print copy to get that chapter. If you only listen to the audiobook, make sure to find a copy of skullduggery.
January 14, 2024
AN HONEST-TO-GOD 5⭐️ BOOK
The chemistry is explosive.
The romance will make your heart squeeze painfully.
The banter will have you giggling and kicking your feet.
The one-liners and screwball scenarios are laugh-out-loud hysterical.
If you, like me, have a super dark sense of humour, you’ll love this.
I cannot wait to read the rest of this series when they’re released (in 2024 and 2025 🫠)
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeJGEAUx/
The chemistry is explosive.
The romance will make your heart squeeze painfully.
The banter will have you giggling and kicking your feet.
The one-liners and screwball scenarios are laugh-out-loud hysterical.
If you, like me, have a super dark sense of humour, you’ll love this.
I cannot wait to read the rest of this series when they’re released (in 2024 and 2025 🫠)
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeJGEAUx/
March 24, 2024
3.75 stars
❝Something caught your eye, pretty boy?❞
❝Yes,❞ he says, his voice pained. ❝God, yes, Sloane. All of you.❞
This is truly a nice serial killer romcom. All the reviews were right about this thing. The banter was kinda cozy and funny. I enjoyed reading it, and it's good to get out of a slump too. It wasn't exaggerated or long, just perfect.
• Rowan found Sloane in a cage where he found out she's the 'orb weaver', the serial killer he's obsessed with. They both hunt down serial killers, so Rowan suggested a yearly game to hunt them down!
Now, I was actually surprised because i thought they'd be together after a year or something, or meet every day, but that didn't happen, and they were actually friends for 4 years before confessing their love. The friendship built gradually, and it was quite fun to read their scenes. Rowan was literally the gold retriever in this relationship 🤭
❝No one competes with Sloane. She just hasn’t realized it yet.❞
Sloane was the type who acted like Rowan's flirty behavior was disgusting and ew, while on the inside, she was screaming!!!! 😭 Ahh so real!!! But one thing I didn't like was how Sloane's past wasn't in detail. It was just told randomly and not even in detail, just little snippets!
I loved when he called her 'love' 🤭 It's my favorite nickname!!!!
How fitting, love.
Hold tight, love.
Take my hand, love.
One more thing, love.
I didn’t quite catch that, love.
The story is interesting, and I did enjoy it. The ice cream and cannibal scenes were truly so freaking gross, and the fact that on the exact day my mom bought some ice cream. 😭
I thought David might be the nicer one, but nope! I'm excited for Lark's and Lachlan's book now and more so for Fionn and Rose's!
❝Something caught your eye, pretty boy?❞
❝Yes,❞ he says, his voice pained. ❝God, yes, Sloane. All of you.❞
This is truly a nice serial killer romcom. All the reviews were right about this thing. The banter was kinda cozy and funny. I enjoyed reading it, and it's good to get out of a slump too. It wasn't exaggerated or long, just perfect.
• Rowan found Sloane in a cage where he found out she's the 'orb weaver', the serial killer he's obsessed with. They both hunt down serial killers, so Rowan suggested a yearly game to hunt them down!
Now, I was actually surprised because i thought they'd be together after a year or something, or meet every day, but that didn't happen, and they were actually friends for 4 years before confessing their love. The friendship built gradually, and it was quite fun to read their scenes. Rowan was literally the gold retriever in this relationship 🤭
❝No one competes with Sloane. She just hasn’t realized it yet.❞
Sloane was the type who acted like Rowan's flirty behavior was disgusting and ew, while on the inside, she was screaming!!!! 😭 Ahh so real!!! But one thing I didn't like was how Sloane's past wasn't in detail. It was just told randomly and not even in detail, just little snippets!
I loved when he called her 'love' 🤭 It's my favorite nickname!!!!
How fitting, love.
Hold tight, love.
Take my hand, love.
One more thing, love.
I didn’t quite catch that, love.
The story is interesting, and I did enjoy it. The ice cream and cannibal scenes were truly so freaking gross, and the fact that on the exact day my mom bought some ice cream. 😭
I thought David might be the nicer one, but nope! I'm excited for Lark's and Lachlan's book now and more so for Fionn and Rose's!
December 23, 2023
Oh my god. 4.5⭐️
(THIS. FUCKING. AUDIOBOOK. JFC.)
(THIS. FUCKING. AUDIOBOOK. JFC.)
October 28, 2023
3.5⭐️ “You have never been unlovable. You were just waiting for someone who will love you for who you are, not for who they want you to be. I can do that, if you’ll let me.”
so for starters, the smut was crazy good 🥵 I loved the idea behind this book! not that killing is justified irl even if the victim is the worst person on earth 😩 two serial killers meeting and falling in love, what are the odds right?
I felt the biggest issue was that they met too soon in the story, literally on the first page. It was cool that they had heard of each other's works since they moved in similar circles, so to speak. But it took out a lot of opportunity with regards to how the plot could have been utilized.
also, I know it was a bit long distance in the beginning at some points but their personalities or lives fused together too quickly.
I don't know about you guys but I don't like it when villains get romantically involved and then stop being villains especially when it's half of their character build-up and I didn’t appreciate Sloane forgetting her work and playing house so Rowan can decide when she needs to go back home so he can fully focus on his restaurant (wdym? like did he also forget he has a dark side job which his whole personality is based on 😔)
***
I'm ready for the accidental cannibalism I was promised 💀
so for starters, the smut was crazy good 🥵 I loved the idea behind this book! not that killing is justified irl even if the victim is the worst person on earth 😩 two serial killers meeting and falling in love, what are the odds right?
I felt the biggest issue was that they met too soon in the story, literally on the first page. It was cool that they had heard of each other's works since they moved in similar circles, so to speak. But it took out a lot of opportunity with regards to how the plot could have been utilized.
also, I know it was a bit long distance in the beginning at some points but their personalities or lives fused together too quickly.
I don't know about you guys but I don't like it when villains get romantically involved and then stop being villains especially when it's half of their character build-up and I didn’t appreciate Sloane forgetting her work and playing house so Rowan can decide when she needs to go back home so he can fully focus on his restaurant (wdym? like did he also forget he has a dark side job which his whole personality is based on 😔)
***
I'm ready for the accidental cannibalism I was promised 💀
February 14, 2024
”You were missing. You made it safe to feel seen. Safe to play on our terms. Safe to have fun, even though our fun might not be everyone’s idea of a good time.”
i thought i didn’t like romance audiobooks but Joe Arden had me second guessing myself😍🪭. both narrators absolutely delivered in this and 90% of my enjoyment came from the 10/10 audio. this book was so hilarious and so much fun. i know they’re serial killers and there’s a lot of blood and gore but i adored the romance. Sloane and Rowan are psycho soulmates and i loved their relationship🥹. the ending sort of lost me with the plot tho, cause if im being fr i was mainly focused on the romance more than anything else lol. i loved the side characters too and i’m looking forward to reading Lachlan and Larks book.
“I would kill for you, and I have. I would do it again, every damn day. I’d turn myself inside out for you. I would die for you. I don’t just like you, Sloane, and you fucking know it.”
Sloane is definitely the more insane one out of the two, but i could see why she acts how she does based on the trauma in her past. Rowan still matched her energy tho and i loved how down bad he was for her. that man worshiped everything about her and we love to see it❤️🔥. the slow burn, restaurant, tattoos and all their text messages?! kill me now cause im in love. this was the perfect book to buddy read and i was so entertained the whole time. can’t wait to read book 2 with you Daniella💕.
“Maybe I was right. We’re not normal people. We are monsters. But if we’re monsters, we’ll thrive in the dark. Together.”
i thought i didn’t like romance audiobooks but Joe Arden had me second guessing myself😍🪭. both narrators absolutely delivered in this and 90% of my enjoyment came from the 10/10 audio. this book was so hilarious and so much fun. i know they’re serial killers and there’s a lot of blood and gore but i adored the romance. Sloane and Rowan are psycho soulmates and i loved their relationship🥹. the ending sort of lost me with the plot tho, cause if im being fr i was mainly focused on the romance more than anything else lol. i loved the side characters too and i’m looking forward to reading Lachlan and Larks book.
“I would kill for you, and I have. I would do it again, every damn day. I’d turn myself inside out for you. I would die for you. I don’t just like you, Sloane, and you fucking know it.”
Sloane is definitely the more insane one out of the two, but i could see why she acts how she does based on the trauma in her past. Rowan still matched her energy tho and i loved how down bad he was for her. that man worshiped everything about her and we love to see it❤️🔥. the slow burn, restaurant, tattoos and all their text messages?! kill me now cause im in love. this was the perfect book to buddy read and i was so entertained the whole time. can’t wait to read book 2 with you Daniella💕.
“Maybe I was right. We’re not normal people. We are monsters. But if we’re monsters, we’ll thrive in the dark. Together.”
April 28, 2024
4.5/5 *ੈ✩‧₊˚
(i'm redoing a bunch of ratings because i don't know what parasite was in my head when making these decisions)
This book combines love and murder in a light-hearted but also I would die for you way. I was skeptical how much I'd enjoy this because of the graphic sex scenes, but it wasn't too prevalent and I honestly ate it up. I would say this is a romance, not a thriller.
If you love serial killers and the idea of them getting into a weird twisted relationship that everyone around them finds the cutest thing ever, this is for you. The book is more relationship driven than plot driven, which usually I'm not okay with. This relationship was so much fun though and I was so invested that it didn't bother me too much, and there is a pretty big plot twist for all you thriller fans.
Warning - this book has a list of content warnings longer than the terms and conditions of any website so make sure you check those.
︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶⠀୨♡୧⠀︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶
જ⁀➴ The banter, the dynamic of all the relationships is just fun. I enjoyed the dialogue of our two main characters Sloane and Rowan so much that I would audibly gasp at how cheeky he is and jump up and down when she would finally blush. It's not just them though. Sloane and Lark, also a giant favourite. Girlhood to me is their relationship. Lachlan as well? IN LOVE.
Maybe I have issues.
જ⁀➴ The premise of the plot is fun and enticing, but is not the main focus. The whole point is that they have this game/competition to see who can kill their mark first, but honestly that really faded into the back of the story for me. It wasn't completely irrelevant and still provided us with shocking, dramatic and grotesque moments that move the characters along. It gives us plenty of moments for our characters to explore their own serial killer ways in front of each other. Just don't expect there to be shocking twists or necessarily high stakes. If you've read a lot of thrillers, this will probably read more like a romance to you.
જ⁀➴ There's a bit of spice. Chapters duration of spice. It goes on for a while and if you love that, this would be your jam. I think for me the fact that there was only a few of them worked for me, I'm not the biggest spice reader but this still gave me butterflies. Please check the content warnings before you read this - I can't stress this enough!
જ⁀➴ Would I recommend this? If you like dark and twisty - YES. This was my second 5 star read of the year, both of them dark and twisty. Both utterly hard hitting. I might have a type. I will be reading the next book in this trilogy Leather and Lark when it comes out!
︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶⠀୨♡୧⠀︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶
⋆˙⟡♡ post-reading
my 2nd 5 star read of the year ladies and gentlemen - I did not expect this one at all! I think because I expected this to be a thriller and not a romance romance, I wasn't expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. RTC!
⋆˙⟡♡ pre-reading
is this going to be absurd as everyone says? probably. am i going to enjoy serial killers falling in love? yes. yes i am.
"You know what they say, Blackbird. 'It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye,"
(i'm redoing a bunch of ratings because i don't know what parasite was in my head when making these decisions)
This book combines love and murder in a light-hearted but also I would die for you way. I was skeptical how much I'd enjoy this because of the graphic sex scenes, but it wasn't too prevalent and I honestly ate it up. I would say this is a romance, not a thriller.
If you love serial killers and the idea of them getting into a weird twisted relationship that everyone around them finds the cutest thing ever, this is for you. The book is more relationship driven than plot driven, which usually I'm not okay with. This relationship was so much fun though and I was so invested that it didn't bother me too much, and there is a pretty big plot twist for all you thriller fans.
Warning - this book has a list of content warnings longer than the terms and conditions of any website so make sure you check those.
︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶⠀୨♡୧⠀︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶
જ⁀➴ The banter, the dynamic of all the relationships is just fun. I enjoyed the dialogue of our two main characters Sloane and Rowan so much that I would audibly gasp at how cheeky he is and jump up and down when she would finally blush. It's not just them though. Sloane and Lark, also a giant favourite. Girlhood to me is their relationship. Lachlan as well? IN LOVE.
જ⁀➴ The premise of the plot is fun and enticing, but is not the main focus. The whole point is that they have this game/competition to see who can kill their mark first, but honestly that really faded into the back of the story for me. It wasn't completely irrelevant and still provided us with shocking, dramatic and grotesque moments that move the characters along. It gives us plenty of moments for our characters to explore their own serial killer ways in front of each other. Just don't expect there to be shocking twists or necessarily high stakes. If you've read a lot of thrillers, this will probably read more like a romance to you.
જ⁀➴ There's a bit of spice. Chapters duration of spice. It goes on for a while and if you love that, this would be your jam. I think for me the fact that there was only a few of them worked for me, I'm not the biggest spice reader but this still gave me butterflies. Please check the content warnings before you read this - I can't stress this enough!
જ⁀➴ Would I recommend this? If you like dark and twisty - YES. This was my second 5 star read of the year, both of them dark and twisty. Both utterly hard hitting. I might have a type. I will be reading the next book in this trilogy Leather and Lark when it comes out!
︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶⠀୨♡୧⠀︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶
⋆˙⟡♡ post-reading
my 2nd 5 star read of the year ladies and gentlemen - I did not expect this one at all! I think because I expected this to be a thriller and not a romance romance, I wasn't expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. RTC!
⋆˙⟡♡ pre-reading
is this going to be absurd as everyone says? probably. am i going to enjoy serial killers falling in love? yes. yes i am.
February 11, 2024
3 stars
Call me a cynic, but every time they met I’d find myself thinking that they’re just luring each other till one of them kill the other. I truly believed that one of them secretly intended to kill the other. Like come on they’re both serial killers who lure and deceive other killers so they could kill them, how could they possibly trust each other???? Why wasn’t that at least a point of discussion? I waited for that to be the final reveal. Or at least the third act conflict? But nope, they had to go and fell in love instead.
Call me a cynic, but every time they met I’d find myself thinking that they’re just luring each other till one of them kill the other. I truly believed that one of them secretly intended to kill the other. Like come on they’re both serial killers who lure and deceive other killers so they could kill them, how could they possibly trust each other???? Why wasn’t that at least a point of discussion? I waited for that to be the final reveal. Or at least the third act conflict? But nope, they had to go and fell in love instead.
April 3, 2024
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would 😭
April 8, 2024
4.5/5 ★'s
This book was a blast! I don't know if I would have tried it under normal circumstances, so I'm very happy I did.
This gave off a lot of Bride of Chucky vibes for me. It was a murderous, fun, dark romance.
The main characters were a joy to read. Sloane is so awkward in the best way at times and Rowan is just a goofball.
Their chemistry is off the charts too. When they get spicy, they get spiccccyyy.
I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings before jumping into this book because the list is longgg! Given what the book is about it makes sense.
For my true crime self, it wasn't too much. But some might not have the stomach for a few scenes....
Also, I think I speak for all of us when I say I can't even think about ice cream. Never again.
Some parts of the story weren't totally included, making it a bit unrealistic. But with that Bride of Chucky vibe I mentioned earlier, it still worked for me!
All and all I wouldn't have minded this book being a bit longer. But I can't say I was disappointed!
I am very excited about the next addition in June! The anticipation is going to kill me.
If anyone knows similar books, I need them ASAP! I already miss it.
This book was a blast! I don't know if I would have tried it under normal circumstances, so I'm very happy I did.
This gave off a lot of Bride of Chucky vibes for me. It was a murderous, fun, dark romance.
The main characters were a joy to read. Sloane is so awkward in the best way at times and Rowan is just a goofball.
Their chemistry is off the charts too. When they get spicy, they get spiccccyyy.
I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings before jumping into this book because the list is longgg! Given what the book is about it makes sense.
For my true crime self, it wasn't too much. But some might not have the stomach for a few scenes....
Also, I think I speak for all of us when I say I can't even think about ice cream. Never again.
Some parts of the story weren't totally included, making it a bit unrealistic. But with that Bride of Chucky vibe I mentioned earlier, it still worked for me!
All and all I wouldn't have minded this book being a bit longer. But I can't say I was disappointed!
I am very excited about the next addition in June! The anticipation is going to kill me.
If anyone knows similar books, I need them ASAP! I already miss it.
January 14, 2024
2.5 stars
Honestly, no amount of mental fortification within my capability would have prepared for this book🧍🏾♂️
The way I skimmed the last chapter and the epilogue. That's how fast I wanted to be done with this book. I want to be done with the review just as fast so let's get into it, shall we?
I've said it before, when the side characters and their 2 seconds of screentime captures more attention than the mains, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG. And yes it may be me with the expectations but come on! INSTA LUST?! You've already lost me before I decided to even brace myself for the ride. The plot seemed promising but I'm sorry this just didn't do it for me.
I kid you not, her tits were mentioned more than the serial killings and that shouldn't bug me but it did! It was 60% romance, 38% her tits and 2% of the serial killings. WE GET IT! YOU HAVE GOLD STAR TITS, SLOANE. YAY YOU!🥹
Onto the characters, You can't see me but I'm banging my head hard on my wall that's how much I love them🤗 to the point of self-inflicted pain.
Rowan- Go him! I'm rooting for him and Sloane. He was incredibly sweet to her. Yay. But I couldn't, for the life of me, stand being in his head. When someone says "golden retriever serial killer" just know it's a hoax. I hated it there. He wasn't treating Sloane like the bombass serial killer she was and it peeved me. SHE WAS SOMETHING BEFORE YOU. She can handle herself. And this girl will allow him oh. It's me that will be shouting in my room that she's okay on her own. "I'm so worried about you" this "her tits made my stuff stretch" blah blah blah freaking blah. I get her hair strand is enough to turn you on. Show me GORE, BLOOD. My goodness. I'm getting so irritated. So quotesthat made me cringe to the point I was questioning my existence
The delicate column of her throat shifts beneath my bloody palm.
“Rowan,” she whispers.
“Mine.”
Just for context, he was referring to her not the "prize" they were after as I initially thought. Romantic
A growl vibrates through my chest as I double my efforts to pack, even though I know it won’t get me on a plane any faster.
With no context, a lot of his POVs seem like he's a werewolf in heat.
"He tosses me a wink and starts to gather the unused ingredients onto the tray."
He just touched his stuff that was inside her and he didn't wash his hands. I'm not eating at his restaurant thanks!
And this son of a gun, looked down on this girl. He gave her a clue to something and never expected her to get it🧍🏾♂️ It was just irritating to read how he wanted to protect her by not allowing continue their game. I'm just so irritated.
He's good in bed tho from the glimpses I caught. I didn't want to read too much in case I started liking him so yeah...
Sloane- A slap to correct her head. Her character lacked depth. "It scratched an itch" that's all we got from the "why" she did this (this is the first time I'm feeling this. I feel so advanced) I expected more from your character, babygirl. You fell my hand so bad😭 Lana from the mindf*ck series set the bar so high, you fell on your face trying to reach it. So much potential, wasted. I didn't understand either of you and I was okay with that. I didn't want to. Ever. My sanity had never been better. Just be happy okay boo? But like please stand up for yourself. Your mouth has non-sexual purposes too.
I press a kiss to his chest and settle my cheek above his heart. “Yeah. I guess I am.”
--
GIRL, STAND UP😭
“Something caught your eye, pretty boy?” she asks.
Those lips. That dimple. That fucking smirk.
Anytime she called him this 24/7 365 then she'd be like "don't let this get to your head"
“Pow, pow, pow,” she says in a staccato rhythm. Her grin spreads before she lowers the weapon to her side. “Just kidding.”
--
Loving her rn because this was the kind of unhinged I signed up for. Didn't get it but we move.
One of things the author did right? I hated the man more. So cheers 🥂
I'm happy I'm done with this.
_________
I heard he eats people. I don't know what kind of mental state I should put on going into this🧍🏾♂️
I'm already scared🤭❤️
Honestly, no amount of mental fortification within my capability would have prepared for this book🧍🏾♂️
The way I skimmed the last chapter and the epilogue. That's how fast I wanted to be done with this book. I want to be done with the review just as fast so let's get into it, shall we?
I've said it before, when the side characters and their 2 seconds of screentime captures more attention than the mains, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG. And yes it may be me with the expectations but come on! INSTA LUST?! You've already lost me before I decided to even brace myself for the ride. The plot seemed promising but I'm sorry this just didn't do it for me.
I kid you not, her tits were mentioned more than the serial killings and that shouldn't bug me but it did! It was 60% romance, 38% her tits and 2% of the serial killings. WE GET IT! YOU HAVE GOLD STAR TITS, SLOANE. YAY YOU!🥹
Onto the characters, You can't see me but I'm banging my head hard on my wall that's how much I love them🤗 to the point of self-inflicted pain.
Rowan- Go him! I'm rooting for him and Sloane. He was incredibly sweet to her. Yay. But I couldn't, for the life of me, stand being in his head. When someone says "golden retriever serial killer" just know it's a hoax. I hated it there. He wasn't treating Sloane like the bombass serial killer she was and it peeved me. SHE WAS SOMETHING BEFORE YOU. She can handle herself. And this girl will allow him oh. It's me that will be shouting in my room that she's okay on her own. "I'm so worried about you" this "her tits made my stuff stretch" blah blah blah freaking blah. I get her hair strand is enough to turn you on. Show me GORE, BLOOD. My goodness. I'm getting so irritated. So quotes
The delicate column of her throat shifts beneath my bloody palm.
“Rowan,” she whispers.
“Mine.”
Just for context, he was referring to her not the "prize" they were after as I initially thought. Romantic
A growl vibrates through my chest as I double my efforts to pack, even though I know it won’t get me on a plane any faster.
With no context, a lot of his POVs seem like he's a werewolf in heat.
"He tosses me a wink and starts to gather the unused ingredients onto the tray."
He just touched his stuff that was inside her and he didn't wash his hands. I'm not eating at his restaurant thanks!
And this son of a gun, looked down on this girl. He gave her a clue to something and never expected her to get it🧍🏾♂️ It was just irritating to read how he wanted to protect her by not allowing continue their game. I'm just so irritated.
He's good in bed tho from the glimpses I caught. I didn't want to read too much in case I started liking him so yeah...
Sloane- A slap to correct her head. Her character lacked depth. "It scratched an itch" that's all we got from the "why" she did this (this is the first time I'm feeling this. I feel so advanced) I expected more from your character, babygirl. You fell my hand so bad😭 Lana from the mindf*ck series set the bar so high, you fell on your face trying to reach it. So much potential, wasted. I didn't understand either of you and I was okay with that. I didn't want to. Ever. My sanity had never been better. Just be happy okay boo? But like please stand up for yourself. Your mouth has non-sexual purposes too.
I press a kiss to his chest and settle my cheek above his heart. “Yeah. I guess I am.”
--
GIRL, STAND UP😭
“Something caught your eye, pretty boy?” she asks.
Those lips. That dimple. That fucking smirk.
Anytime she called him this 24/7 365 then she'd be like "don't let this get to your head"
“Pow, pow, pow,” she says in a staccato rhythm. Her grin spreads before she lowers the weapon to her side. “Just kidding.”
--
Loving her rn because this was the kind of unhinged I signed up for. Didn't get it but we move.
One of things the author did right? I hated the man more. So cheers 🥂
I'm happy I'm done with this.
_________
I heard he eats people. I don't know what kind of mental state I should put on going into this🧍🏾♂️
I'm already scared🤭❤️
October 19, 2023
This book tried really hard to be quirky, gratuitous, and maybe cute? I was often bored and would pick it up and put it down to read something else. It didn’t help that the overall pacing and flow made this story feel underdeveloped.
The four years of mostly off-page texting and phone calls (extreme mental foreplay), left me feeling like I didn’t know these characters or why they were attracted to each other.
Killing bound us together, and it’s a compulsion neither of us can live without. This need, and now this game between us, consumes me as much as she does.
But whyyyyyyy?
They go from blushing and stammering in the first 70% to hardfucking, multiple vag piercings, and lite bdsm near the end. Who are these people? Character whiplash!
It was a shame, because from the little glimpses of personality I got, I really liked these two a lot. They were hilarious, romantic, compassionate, and had really, really hot sex, but the serial killer/dark side of the story didn’t fit.
Really enjoyed the last 10%, the tattoos, the restaurant, and friends!
We win the award for longest BR ever! Thanks for recommending and reading this one with me Mel!!
The four years of mostly off-page texting and phone calls (extreme mental foreplay), left me feeling like I didn’t know these characters or why they were attracted to each other.
Killing bound us together, and it’s a compulsion neither of us can live without. This need, and now this game between us, consumes me as much as she does.
But whyyyyyyy?
They go from blushing and stammering in the first 70% to hardfucking, multiple vag piercings, and lite bdsm near the end. Who are these people? Character whiplash!
It was a shame, because from the little glimpses of personality I got, I really liked these two a lot. They were hilarious, romantic, compassionate, and had really, really hot sex, but the serial killer/dark side of the story didn’t fit.
Really enjoyed the last 10%, the tattoos, the restaurant, and friends!
We win the award for longest BR ever! Thanks for recommending and reading this one with me Mel!!
February 15, 2024
4stars⚝
Listening to the audiobook while reading this was seriously amazing! The narrators were absolutely incredible, and Joe Arden's accent 👨🏼🍳💋
And let me tell you, this book was a wild ride! It had everything I could ever ask for: darkness, humor, gruesomeness, and it was HOT AF!🔥 The fact that it's about two serial killers falling in love?🤯 I've never come across a book where two serial killers fall in love! Now I'm super curious and definitely need some recommendations in that genre.
Rowan was absolutely sensational. He was head over heels for Sloane from the start, and his patience was incredible. I was pleasantly surprised by how sweet he was. And Sloane? She was such an amazing badass fmc!The chemistry between Sloane and Rowan was off the charts! It had me giggling and gasping throughout the entire book.
Who would of thought serial killers can be really sweet when they want to be 🥹
This book was seriously the perfect choice for our first buddy read. I had an absolute blast reading it with you, Krysta! Book 2 is calling our names, and I can't wait to read it with you! 🤍🎀
────────
pre-review:br this with ml krysta💞
what are we getting ourself into😭
“You have never been unlovable. You were just waiting for someone who will love you for who you are, not for who they want you to be. I can do that, if you’ll let me.”
Listening to the audiobook while reading this was seriously amazing! The narrators were absolutely incredible, and Joe Arden's accent 👨🏼🍳💋
And let me tell you, this book was a wild ride! It had everything I could ever ask for: darkness, humor, gruesomeness, and it was HOT AF!🔥 The fact that it's about two serial killers falling in love?🤯 I've never come across a book where two serial killers fall in love! Now I'm super curious and definitely need some recommendations in that genre.
Rowan was absolutely sensational. He was head over heels for Sloane from the start, and his patience was incredible. I was pleasantly surprised by how sweet he was. And Sloane? She was such an amazing badass fmc!The chemistry between Sloane and Rowan was off the charts! It had me giggling and gasping throughout the entire book.
Who would of thought serial killers can be really sweet when they want to be 🥹
This book was seriously the perfect choice for our first buddy read. I had an absolute blast reading it with you, Krysta! Book 2 is calling our names, and I can't wait to read it with you! 🤍🎀
────────
pre-review:br this with ml krysta💞
what are we getting ourself into😭
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