Butcher & Blackbird: The Ruinous Love Trilogy (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, 1)

I loved this book so much, it was a really fun read despite the dark subject! It has about 3-4 spicy scenes so I wouldn’t call it super high on a spice meter, but they were all very well written. The characters were compelling and interesting and I enjoyed their dynamic. I do wish there had been a little more foreshadowing or buildup to the ending, as it did feel like there was much of an overarching plot for quite a bit of the book. I still loved it though!

Right upon release, the cover of this book came crashing onto my radar—it felt like it was everywhere! And while I liked the cover, with its Monster High vibes and I would normally snag it right up just based on that, I didn’t; in fact, I actively avoided and dodged. Any book with that much hype scares me more than a family meal with the Manson clan. For months, I'd pick it up, feel a tug, and put it back everytime I entered a store with books.

Even if the cover wasn’t enough, the plot should have had me taking whatever train, plane, or automobile necessary to get to the closet bookseller and purchase two copies just for good measure: Butcher & Blackbird follows two main characters who are everything we shouldn’t want to be—serial killers, with prolific body counts and depravity alongside ritual. After a chance meeting between the two over “orzo pasta” in a cage next to a dead body, they take things a step furthet and head for some food. Over some breakfast post-kill, the two agree to compete a year later against each other to see who can kill a mark known only to Butcher’s brother, Lachlan. In a book following just one, but two serial killers whose senses of humor are as sharp and dark and dangerous as their Damascus knives and web constructions, one would expect a cautionary tale or two main characters who are impossible to identify with in a world such as a serial killer’s and who are, at best, morally gray and partly likeable as people. Two strikes for me: hype and horror with heroes I hate. I resisted for months. Until yesterday, when I decided the orzo-shaped bug up my butt about this book needed removal. I went in with high hopes but low, low expectations.

Those expectations are wrong. So, very, wrong. All of them. Wrong.

Somehow, Weaver weaves a web of narrative that strikes the perfect blend between tender humanity, traumatic terror, humor so black and bleak it returns to hilarity, and the most human of moments felt by characters who should be the least human of any narrative work. As Weaver develops the friendship between the work’s two MC, Rowan and Sloane, everything about it feels relatable and just so darn sweet—it’s couples goals whether Rowan and Sloane are eating in 3 in Coach or killing in what can only be described as a Texas Chainsaw inspired locale. Across the 350+ pages, I fell deeper and deeper in love with both the individual characters of Rowan and Sloane, and with their love itself. This is the equivalent of a horror hug from the snuggliest of scary-seeming-monsters. If Legends and Lattes had serial killers in modern day with a lot more snark and smut and serial slays and a splash of gore added, you’d have Butcher & Blackbird. Who knew horror could be so cozy, and serial slaying so safe and snuggly? I am now eagerly awaiting the June 4th release of part two, Leather and Lark.

On a final note, this is my 3 dark romantisty read, and I'm seeing a trend that's fascinating me. In both the Cat and Mouse (Haunting Adeline and Hunting Adeline, by HD Carlton) and in Butcher & Blackbird, we get strong, vulnerable, and resilient women who take the abuses and transgressions of life and channel them to move on and become these bada%$ warrior women who fight for the voiceless victimized who cannot speak not stand for themselves. While viewed by many as just smut, these types of books have the potential to do incredible collective trauma healing work surround women's issues of SA, assault, and violence. So read all the smut you love , because you may be healing the traumas of yourself, your community, and your ancestors!

"'For a methodical, reclusive seria killer, you're pretty fecken brazen." (344)

Book 1 in the Ruinous Love Trilogy

I never would have thought that I would have loved a serial killer romance book so much - but here we are... I never thought I'd find 2 serial killeres so relatable, but here we are... Wow! This book was something else. It might not have been the best book I've ever read (not every book has to be!) but it was great. It had some of the most relatable characters that I've read in months - and they're serial killers! (What does that say about me?) It had some of the raunchiest sex scenes, gruesome murder scenes, and yet it was perfect for the story. It was a great, entertaining, gut wrenching book.

CAWPILE Breakdown:

Characters: 9.5 - Weaver's character work was her best work in this book. All of her characters were full and life-life and relatable and real. I found myself relating to (and rooting for) 2 serial killers!

Atmosphere/Setting: 8.5 - The setting was incredible. So detailed that I felt like I was there. Especially the scenes in the restaurant. I never had a hard time visualizing the setting. The atmosphere was there when it mattered the most, but I wanted more. Then again, I almost always want more.

Writing Style: 10 - Weaver has a way of writing that drew me in from chapter 1 and never let up; it kept bringing me back in. I did not want to stop reading this.

Plot: 7 - The plot - when you peeled back all the layers - was a basic slow burn enemy to lovers trope. Sure, it was a bit predictable as to the eventual outcome, but I expect that going into a romance book, and I'm okay with that.

Intrigue: 10 - Despite the predictable plot, my intrigue was dialed all the way from the beginning and never decreased. I HAD TO KNOW EVERYTHING!

Logic/Relationships: 9 - Weaver's relationships in this book were top knotch. So So good! The logic, surprisingly for a serial killer romance, made perfect sense.

Enjoyment: 10 - If you can't already tell, I loved this book. I truly enjoyed Butcher & Blackbird and can't wait for book 2!

CAWPILE Total: 64/7 = 9.14 = 5/5 stars!

When I'm already cackling before I've made it past the CW and dedication, I know I'm in for a good time. This was an unexpected delight, mixing humor, gore, and spice for an extremely bingeable read. It took no time at all to hook me in, and I ended up devouring it in one sitting. I loved that the (anti)hero was a cinnamon roll sweetheart/boy obsessed who was also intense and very, very dangerous. I loved that the (anti)heroine was all fire and competence, taking her dark past and turning it into something that worked for her. They saw pieces of themselves reflected in each other, and bonded in a way they wouldn't with anyone else. There's a ton of dark, gruesome content, but there's also an incredibly playful feel and tons of lighthearted banter. The banter! Yeah, the chemistry was immediate and palpable. This deliciously dark romance won't be for everyone, but it's certainly a one-of-a-kind, entertaining experience.

The story follows Sloane, a serial killer who goes after bad guys. Her life experiences have lead her to this place, and it works for her. After running into some trouble on her latest mission, Sloane encounters Rowan. He's also a killer with a similar mindset, and the two find themselves developing an unexpected friendship. Though they're both attracted right away, neither wants to make any missteps - the results could be deadly. So they form a friendship and competitive dynamic, staying connected over the course of several years. Until something shifts.

I've seen this book all over the place and I enjoy a dark rom com once in awhile, so I went into this knowing very little about the story. I recommend doing just that. At its heart, this is a great slow burn to SIZZLE, friends to lovers romance with plenty of darker elements. You'll know within a few pages if the story is too dark for you, and you'll also get a feel for Weaver's sense of humor. I loved it! Not sure what that says about me, lol, but this was quite the ride. I loved that it played up some of the traditional romance tropes (particularly the "he falls first" vibes), while also being wholly unique. It works because of the romance at the center of it, and the fact that both characters are just so easy to like. Rowan was adorable with his pining for Sloane, and it was easy to see all the ways they were perfect together. If I've got one complaint (is it a complaint, really?), it'd be that I actually wouldn't have minded a longer length. There are a lot of quick time jumps, and I'd have loved seeing more of their connection during those times. It was such a fast and fun read though, and the bingeable quality is a major part of the appeal. I can't wait for the next two installments, which revolve around Rowan's brothers. This was a fantastic introduction to this new-to-me author's work!

Audio note: Duet narration alert! I actually didn't realize it was duet-style when I started listening, so imagine my glee when that kicked in. The narration brought the story to life, and was absolutely an enhancement to the reading experience. Lucy Rivers always does a great job, and she is quickly becoming one of my favorites. But Joe Arden steals the show here - he does an Irish accent for Rowan that gives the character so much personality. He also delivers several outstanding moments of internal spiraling from Rowan that really impressed me. The runtime (about 9 hours) was perfect for bingeing in a single day, which is exactly what I did. I can't recommend this one for the office - not only are there many dark moments, but the spice is pretty intense. It's a slower burn that turns into a full-on sizzle, so the back half is filled with heated scenes. Definitely recommended in the format though!

Well that was certainly way better than I was expecting. Very funny in a VERY dark humor way. I mean, sick dark humor. Loved it. Though it was a dark setting (they are serial killers after all) it was very light and didn’t delve too deeply into the grit of what made them into who they are. There were vague mentions of their pasts and it was left at that. I actually appreciated that the author wanted to keep the book on the comical side and not make it an emotional roller coaster by addressing all of the details. The writing was put together well, clear and easy to read. The love story was well laid out with lots of angst (my favorite) and foundation building. I loved the relationship between these two and that there was no conflict that needed to be hashed out. They understood each other because of all of that build beforehand. The banter and inside jokes throughout the book was perfect. It was all a perfect combination of dark, hilarious and exciting.