I have seen this book all over my social media and have been dying (hahaha) to read it - let me tell you, I WAS not disappointed. BUTCHER & BLACKBIRD was so good and it had me hooked from the very first page, right until the very last.

This may be one of my favorite reads this year! This book dives headfirst into the shadows, delivering a mesmerizing tale of friendship, love, and the haunting consequences of a life steeped in darkness. This novel transcends genres, seamlessly blending elements of suspense, romance, and horror to create a gripping narrative that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.

The story follows the unlikely connection between Sloane and Rowan, two rival murderers whose paths intersect in unexpected ways. I loved experiencing the complexity of their relationship, and seeing the vivid portrait of two souls who are bound by their shared darkness. The exploration of friendship and love in the context of their macabre reality adds a layer of depth that sets their story apart.

The setting, spans from small-town to upscale big city, is meticulously crafted, immersing me in a world where danger lurked in every corner. The annual game of blood and suffering introduces a high-stakes element that propels the narrative forward, keeping the tension taut and the pacing relentless.

What really set this apart for me is the horror element. The restless ghosts and the ominous specter of the past adds an extra layer of unease, creating a chilling atmosphere that lingers long after the final page. The novel effortlessly balances moments of heart-pounding terror with poignant scenes that delve into the characters' vulnerabilities.

The evolution of Sloane and Rowan's relationship is a triumph of character development. As their connection deepens, I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster, grappling with the moral complexities of rooting for characters who navigate the darkest corners of the human experience. The chemistry between Sloane and Rowan is palpable, and their journey is as heart-wrenching as it is enthralling.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book. It was pretty different than the other romances that I’m used to reading. I loved the game between Rowan and Sloane. I wish I had more back story to how they came serial killer, killers, I know there was a little bit in this book but I would have loved to see that part fleshed out more. I’m looking forward to the next book in the trilogy.

A dark romcom of a story about two serial killers who start as friendly rivals in a competition to unalive their target first and fall head over heels for each other almost immediately. But of course, neither one of them wants to be the first to admit this and unleash their vulnerability.

I want to point out that even though they both unalive people, they only target those who are serial killers, the nastiest of them all.
Of course, this book is pretty trigger heavy, but there is a list of all the tw’s at the beginning of the book.
Now it does get dark and there are some pretty graphic descriptions but as a super squeamish person, I was able to deal with them fine!
The ring in the eye socket scene was just pure comedy gold 🥲.

The book is just as heavy on the spice, and the chemistry between Sloane and Rowan is explosive 😰.

The little cliffhanger at the end sets it up perfectly for the next book (focused on Rowan’s brother and Sloane’s best friend)! ✨

Thank you @netgalley and @zandoprojects for the ARC copy 💕

This book. So good but so disturbing! I definitely appreciate the lines being crossed and the romance between Butcher and Blackbird. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

I’ve heard people say this was like a hallmark movie written about serial killers and I’ve never heard something so accurate. The way this book made me giggle and swing my legs like I had a middle school crush one second, to gagging and cringing the next deserves a reward.

Give me more! 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. 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 nailed it. 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 was SO good. 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.

When I first read the summary of the book and saw that this book is advertised as a Rom Com I was super curious to see if that will be the case. The fact that we follow two serial killers was a bonus. I'm delighted to say that this book has the perfect amount of serial killer AND rom com elements. I was giggling to so many parts about the romance and at the same time I could feel the mystery and agony when there were less lighthearted parts. Definitely, I recommend this book. Check the trigger warnings first, though.

I have been wanting to read this book since I heard about it. In addition to the fact that after reading Marrow, I needed to read more books by this author. I am here to tell you that it did not disappoint. It is so bloody good!

Can I say that Sloane and Rowan had a very memorable "meet cute". Yes, s#rial k!llers can have meet cutes too. Loved the idea of these two battling it out to see who would be victorious with their skill sets. I was so invested in them that there was a moment when Rowan hurt Sloane. I felt so angry that I wanted to reach into the pages of the book and "una!ive" Rowan myself.

In regard to cookies and cream ice cream, I am not turned off but just may take a second look at the ingredients next time I get ice cream.

I am so excited to read book two and that it will be Lark and Lachlan's story. The first moment I met Lark, and she called thought Rowan was being "Keanu-mantic", I knew we would be friends. Rowan's brother, Lachlan is a hoot. The snarky comments that would come out of his mouth had me chucking.

3.5 Stars rounded to 4

I honestly don’t even know where to begin in reviewing this book. I saw it everywhere and people raving about it, so when it popped up on NetGalley I figured I would check it out. I can honestly say I have never in my life read a book like this, and that’s not a bad thing!

This is a dark, romantic comedy about a pair of serial killers who kill serial killers. It’s quirky, it’s dark, it’s gory, but also spicy AF. I will admit, I did not listen to the audio, even though I’ve been told the audio for it is amazing. I enjoyed the book as it was in ebook, but I wonder if the reason people are feral for it is due to the narrators.

The characters were entertaining. Sloane, the FMC, is very guarded. She doesn’t have many friends and is very wary of other people. The MMC, Rowan, is somehow a serial killing golden retriever Daddy. This man has so much energy while also being dark and freaky AF. I don’t know how Brynne Weaver did it, but she made such an interesting character out of him.

The plot was entertaining with the murdery bits, although I will say it was weird reading about a man adoring how a woman kills someone. I’m a fan of true crime, but something about that made me feel a little weird inside. It did add some interesting elements change up the romcom genre though. I will say, the actual love story of the book wasn’t super well developed for my taste. There was so much going on with other parts that it felt like they just kind of became obsessed without us seeing it actually develop. I was entertained by everything happening in the book, but would have liked a little more of the emotional side between the two MCs.

The spice in the book was excellent, so I’m sure the audio of this would be phenomenal.

While this wasn’t a top tier read for me by any means, it was entertaining as all get out and I would definitely recommend people check it out, if they’re up for it. Just for the experience alone, it should be read, but maybe just don’t expect it to be your top book of the year.

I received a copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was interesting but it just wasn't my style. The premise intrigued me and I think I would have liked it better if the character work had been handled differently. I wanted more information about what what really made the characters tick.

An unexpectedly cute and murderous story! Both main characters were well developed and interesting. Their relationship was fun and I really enjoyed their dynamic. There is set up for more stories in the future which is great!

Loved this!!! Couldn’t put it down! Romance isn’t normally my go to genre (I like thrillers!) but this made me reconsider. So good! Such a fun read. I’m going to go ahead and say this was probably one of my favorite books of 2023. I can’t wait for the rest of the trilogy!

Dark romcom with two rival serial killers who fall for each other? Yes please! This book was absolutely amazing! I loved the Rowan and Sloane duo and cannot wait for the next book! I did enjoy the bonus chapter as well.

Butcher & Blackbird has to be one of the best dark comedy romance book I’ve read this year. An absolutely incredible read filled with some amazing characters, banter and romance.

It’s dual POVs of the main characters and there are some great tropes like, friends to lovers, friendly rivalry, reverse grumpy-sunshine, and a hero who falls first and hard. I would highly recommend checking the content and trigger warnings before reading just in case.

The overall premise of two serial killers falling in love and having a yearly competition was so refreshing and hilarious. I absolutely loved their games and all the antic’s involved, good and bad. There were some amusing, crazy, intense, spicy and heartwarming moments. All the side characters were great as well.

Both characters had such interesting personalities and storylines. They were both a little unhinged, which I loved. The heroine’s growth with accepting love was amazing as well. I will say though, while they did discuss their past briefly and certain things were alluded too, I wanted a bit more explanation and discussions.

The romance between the main characters was an absolute delight. I loved how smitten he was from the start and did everything he could to win her over. Their banter was my favorite part to be honest. They had such amazing chemistry, tension and spice.

There was a bit of conflict at the end but nothing too serious. I just liked how everything played out and how well they just worked together. The epilogue was great as well.

Overall, just an enjoyable and fun read that I could not put down.

Yikes!

This was honestly not good. I have noticed a pattern lately of these kind of satirical take on modern tropes and genres and it either works or is a huge blunder, this was the latter.

Insta love by chapter two is a red flag, giving major stocker vibes.

Two vigilantes serial killers meh sure but then they talk like oil patch hillbilly’s that lack any form of vocabulary unless it’s profanity, really this is funny?! Not to mention it felt incredibly juvenile for a book about murder and sex. I just didn’t get it.

Maybe it’s a me problem, I actually do not see the hype surrounding this.

All opinions are my own as I was given a digital arc of this by NetGalley and the Publisher.

A dark serial killer rom com?! Yes please! 🙌🏻 This was such a fun and epic book to read!

After a chance encounter and a seemingly nonchalant rescue, Sloane “aka” Blackbird and Rowan “aka” Butcher, get together every so often for a little one on one serial killer competition. Set up by Rowan’s brother, they each have no idea who the target is and with two totally different types of killers, it leaves for a surprisingly hilarious bond between rival murderers.

Excellent banter ☑️
Explosive chemistry ☑️
Accidental cannibalism ☑️
Swoon worthy romance ☑️
He falls first/ enemies to lovers ☑️

I literally could not stop smirking throughout this entire book! Such a great dark romantic comedy that I didn’t know I needed!

Thank you to Netgally and Zando publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a twisted book, but I kept seeing positive reviews so I decided to try it. I am SO glad I did. It’s a dark romantic comedy, serial killers of serial killers meet and have an interesting relationship. Sloane and Rowan had me laughing and loving their relationship - even though it was so twisted. They’re killers, but you can’t help but love them (to be fair - they kill really bad people). Rowan’s brothers and Lark are great supporting characters. I can’t wait for book 2!

Not a book that I would generally gravitate towards but I saw other book lovers talking about it and thought I would give it a try and I am glad it did. I enjoyed this book. I love how the author gave the readers something that is not written about(serial killers falling in love) and drew you in. For me, sometimes slow burns as just too slow but this book was different; the banter and watching the main characters fall in love was perfect.. Can't wait to read the rest of this series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Four bloody stars for this hilariously dark book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Zando Projects for allowing me to read this Arc.

I requested it because I saw very good reviews from my fellow Goodreads friends, but got scared reading the trigger warning.
Well after finishing it in like two days I can say, yes, it is definitely dark, but it´s also funny, sweet, sort of deep, and super entertaining.

Sloane and Rowan are two serial killers who love to take out the bad guys.
She is a loner, meticulous and quiet.
He is loud, always ready to joke around, and reckless.
When they start a competition to meet once a year and see who is the best at doing what they do, they don´t know that their need for each other will just increase day by day.

The writing was good. Easy to follow and really funny. The book was never boring and the characters were very well portrayed.
Also, the secondary characters were lovable and an important part of understanding the main protagonist.
Obviously, I already can´t wait to read Lechlan and Lark's story! I´m sure it will be good!