Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

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.

Goodreads Synopsis

Overall Rating

4/5

Spooky Rating

3/5

Quick Take

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver is the weirdest novel I have ever read. It was equal parts horror and romcom, which I never knew was a possible combination. The novel completely blew me away, and even if you don’t like romance (I’m not usually a fan) you will still find so much enjoyment out of this one.

Tell Me More

Okay, let me just start this off by saying “wow”. While I read extreme horror novels regularly and almost nothing shocks me anymore, I have to say that Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver is the most bizarre novel I have ever read. I think that this is because it is a romcom masquerading as a horror novel and erotic fiction all at once. The “cute” moments were weirdly adorable and grotesque, and the spice was off the charts.

Sloane and Rowan are both serial killers who happen to meet each other and come up with a yearly game of trying to kill the country’s biggest monsters. The monsters in the novel mirror classic horror villains, such as Leatherface and Hannibal Lecter, and both Sloane and Rowan compete to see who can kill each monster first. But what starts as a friendly game spanning years becomes a slow burn love affair. Nevertheless, once they admit their feelings for each other, the heat quickly becomes a stifling burn that doesn’t relent.

The gory and grotesque elements in this novel were nauseating and worthy of an extreme horror novel. The kills and torture were off-the-charts, and it was hard to come to grips with my feelings about Sloane and Rowan as they were so morally grey. While I was rooting for them in their romance, I often found myself questioning why I was so dedicated to seeing them find happiness when they were both such questionable characters. However, that is the beauty in the writing, because the characters were so multi-layered. I was also impressed by how many years the story spanned, even though it was a relatively short novel. Brynne Weaver did so well with making sure there wasn’t any filler, and that each page was essential to the story.

My one main critique of the novel that made this a four-star read and not a five-star read was the major twist. It was revealed and rectified much too quickly, and I found it to be flawed and unbelievable. I can’t say much else without spoiling the story, but apart from that, it was a truly fantastic read. Just make sure that you read the trigger warnings listed in the front of the book before reading, as there are quite a few horror and erotica-based triggers that may be sensitive for some readers. I also appreciated how the author listed playlists for each chapter of the novel. It made the reading experience that much better!

If you love your horror with a questionable, intense, and gory romance, then Butcher & Blackbird is the ideal read for you. Usually I am turned off by romance novels, but this one really set the bar high for both the horror and romance genres. It was one of a kind, and I cannot wait for the rest of the trilogy!