Butcher and Blackbird

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

I have to say, I thought I would like this more than I did. Maybe I am just in a weird book funk? Told from both POV, this book has a lot of elements that I usually enjoy…morally grey characters, humor, spice and love. I just never felt like I really connected with either character. Like the MMC, who is described as goofy and insecure, yet also dominate and possessive…they didn’t match up. The length of time it took (book length and time span) was too long with no real explanation of what happened in between. The FMC was so skittish, yet neither character communicated. Too much like real life for my fiction at the moment. I’m not going to continue with the trilogy right now. I may try again later.

“Being a serial killer who kills serial killers is a great hobby.” With this chilling proclamation, Brynne Weaver lures readers into the twisted world of “Butcher and Blackbird,” where the line between predator and prey is razor-thin and danger lurks in every shadow. Prepare to be enthralled by a narrative that pulses with an electric intensity, as Weaver masterfully weaves a tale of dark allure and deadly obsession. As we jump into the lives of Sloane and Rowan—who are bound by an unlikely friendship—we are gripped by the relentless tension that simmers beneath the surface. Weaver’s mastery of the genre is clear from the first page, as she leads us on a journey through the shadowed corridors of the human soul. When I first encountered the trigger warning, I will admit, I was only mildly concerned. I mean, who would not be when faced with the possibility of cannibalism? Don’t worry, dear readers, that is not the case here, far from it. The “not-so-accidental cannibalism” was an unexpectedly hilarious addition to the narrative, making me laugh out loud. The witty banter between them had me in giggling fits. I purchased the e-book with the Audible narration from Amazon. I have the best of both worlds. The narrators for this book were absolutely amazing. It brought the witty banter to life, as if I were there. Let us discuss the characters for a moment Rowan, the male main character. With such a name, he had much to prove, and he definitely did. I was swooning for him right from the start. I mean, my man was absolutely obsessed, and I was here for it. What about Sloane, who is the lead? I adored her. She is one bad bitch with a side of normal anxiety. I felt like I could relate. From their electric chemistry to their laugh-out-loud moments, Sloane and Rowan stole my heart and kept me hooked until the very last page. In conclusion, “Butcher and Blackbird” is a tour de force of dark romance—a gripping tale that explores the depths of human depravity and the seductive allure of forbidden love. With its electrifying plot twists and unforgettable characters, Weaver’s novel will captivate readers from beginning to end. Get ready for an adventure into the depths of darkness, where passion and danger meet in a thrilling tale of suspense and allure.

Good book. This first book more of a love story over a thriller. I’m anticipating the second book will take more of a thriller theme.

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

This book was so funny love the banter, the slow burn tension. The interaction between the characters. Well written worthy for the bookshelf

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

★★★★★ Brynne Weaver's Butcher and Blackbird is a captivating dark fantasy that completely swept me away! 🖤 The world-building is richly detailed and immersive, creating a truly unique and atmospheric setting 🏰 The characters are complex and compelling, with believable motivations and relationships 💕 Weaver masterfully blends elements of romance 💖, murder✨, and mystery 🕵️‍♀️, creating a truly engaging and suspenseful read. The plot is cleverly crafted, with unexpected twists and turns 🤯 that kept me guessing until the very end. Highly recommended for fans of dark fantasy, especially those who enjoy strong female leads 💪 and morally gray characters 🤔!

Excuse me BUT, what in the murderous rom-com fever dream did I just read?? I went into Butcher and Blackbird thinking, “Oh, cute title, probably a little stabby, a little spicy.” FRIENDS… THIS BOOK GRABBED ME BY THE THROAT, LAUGHED IN MY FACE, AND THEN WHISPERED, “You’re mine now.” Slone and Rowan?? Literal MENACES. Picture if Wednesday Addams and a golden-retriever-turned-serial-killer accidentally got stuck in a dark alley together—and instead of killing each other, they made murder and mayhem look SEXY. Their banter?? Chef’s kiss. Their chemistry?? So 🔥 I’m surprised my Kindle didn’t file for workers’ comp. I knew I was in trouble when Slone, our hot mess queen, came in swinging with sarcastic one-liners, and Rowan just... stood there being 6'4" of emotionally constipated murder dreamboat. You know that TikTok audio, “You are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires”? Yeah, slap that on a bloodstained T-shirt and give it to these two. Let’s get into the plot: This was Dexter meets Enemies to Lovers meets a Pinterest board labeled "murder date night goals." I kept thinking, “Okay, surely it can’t get more unhinged than this,” and Brynne Weaver kept proving me dead wrong. Every. Single. Chapter. I was either cackling like a lunatic or blushing so hard I looked sunburned. And THE SPICE??? LORD HELP US. I had to set my Kindle down multiple times and just stare into space questioning if I’d accidentally wandered into the X-rated section of my brain. Honestly, it was criminally good. (Pun 1000% intended.) This book had me rethinking my entire moral compass like: “Murder is bad… but... is it? 👀” By the end of this book, I was: Emotionally wrecked Horny Googling “how to date a fictional serial killer” (no luck, sadly) Final verdict: If you love your romance bloody, bantery, and hotter than a crematorium oven, Butcher and Blackbird will have you absolutely feral. 10/10, would join their murder club in a heartbeat. 💀🖤