I can see why this book has gone so viral, but it seemed like at least two separate books for me. The pedal-to-the-floor opening snagged me in immediately, and I loved both of the characters and the bonkers premise. Then, after the first year time skip or so, it felt like the book pivoted to a more traditional rom-com, in which the woman protagonist became agonizingly goofy and anxious, as opposed to the badass serial killer we'd seen up until that point, and the male MC pivoted to being a bit of an alpha-hole. I...did not love this, to say the least, and I ended up skim reading to the end. I sadly won't be continuing with this series.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I had higher expectations for this book. idk if it's because i read it on vacation so it took longer to finish and didn't fit the vacation vibes, or if i just didn't like it but it didn't do it for me. it was spicy and i really enjoyed the last 20% of the book. but the first 80% just seemed to drag on and i didn't really enjoy it. I really wish we got to learn more about Rowan and Sloane's background. What led them to the killings? What happened? We kind of get an idea of their background but not many juicy details, which made it hard to connect with the characters.

I don't think this is a bad book, and i'm really upset i didn't enjoy it more than i thought i would. I would still recommend for everyone to give this book a try! I'd love to hear others thoughts as well!!

Butcher & Blackbird: ★★★☆☆ (3)

5⭐️ 3🌶️
- MF
- Dark RomCom
- Competitive Serial Killers
- Delightfully Depraved
- Friends to Lovers
- Mutual Pining
- Slow Burn

I’m calling it, Butcher and Blackbird is going to be my top read this month. It had it all, lovable characters, serial killer shenanigans, spice that sent me to google to do research, and a great plot twist! It was delightfully depraved, dark romcom perfection!

Rowan and Sloane couldn’t have been more perfect for each other and they were just so stinking cute! I lost track of the number of times my jaw dropped because of something absurdly hilarious.

Sloane and Rowan were both vigilante serial killers targeting other serial killers. When Rowan rescued Sloane from a sticky situation they form an unlikely friendship that turns into a friendly rivalry. Once a year they are directed to a location where they must compete to find and take out a depraved serial killer. It soon became what they most looked forward to each year.

I loved Sloane. She was such a baddie! She was brilliant and meticulous when it came to planning her kills. Her sarcastic whit spoke to my soul. I loved her banter with Rowan and now she never let him get away with anything.

Is there a more perfect man than Rowan Kane? Because I don’t think so. Who knew I needed a serial killer with golden retriever energy in my life? I loved how he was so charming and goofy until it was time to kill. Then he lost all control and was absolutely brutal.

This book solidified two things for me. First that if Brynne writes it, I will read it. The second is that we have the same taste in movies. I loved all the movies directly and indirectly referenced in this book.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

Also if you have previously read this book and was wondering if you needed the Zando edition, the answer is a resounding yes. I had a new bonus chapter and holy forking shirtballs was it amazing. I cackled and I swooned. I love Rowan Kane so much.

I went in knowing nothing about this book and ended up staying up until 4:30 a.m. to finish it, I just couldn't put it down.

First off read the trigger warnings so you know, and if you are still good than jump right in. I felt there was just enough world building and character building to move the story along so you were rooting for Sloane and Rowan. I am always a sucker for dual POV and a romantic guy, in his own way. I laughed, cried, got nervous for the main characters at different points, etc. I was really surprised how much I loved this book, and honestly just want to go and read it all over again. I can't wait for the next one.

3.5 stars

This was unhinged and hilarious and very gory but fun.
There was just *something* that didn't let me fully enjoy this, i think the mix of humor and gory situations were too much for me now. Might be my mood or the eclipse... who knows.
Still this was a very entertaining book and im curious about the next one because Lark and Rowan's brother sound like a match made in H3LL 😂
I'll reread this in the future because I know I might be in a better mood and I'll enjoy this more.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Entertaining , escapist, and fun. A recommended purchase for collections where offbeat romance is popular, or where there's a strong contingent of BookTok-driven patrons.

This is was so cute! I'd seen this book all over my feed and couldn't wait to read it. It's such a fun twist on a romcom and perfect for spooky season. I can't wait to see the book in stores under the publisher.

I’m torn between “what the eff did I just read?!” And ::slams kindle on the table and screams:: “ANOTHER!!” Equal parts disturbing and endearing… I found myself saying “awww” at the strangest of times.

I am still thinking about this book days after reading. Dexter is probably my favorite show of all time, and this reads like a much sexier version. I am am in for this series let me tell you.

I do suggest reading the trigger warnings, but I did really enjoy this one.

Absolutely LOVED this book.

Sloane and Rowan were everything. I loved their banter. Their games. Their chemistry. I was hooked from the first chapter and absolutely binged the rest of the book.

I think this is the first time I’ve ever read a book that I wish was longer. Much much longer. I loved every aspect of it.

The serial killer plots were insane. The accidental cannibalism had me almost on the floor laughing.

The dreaded 3rd act break up wasn’t bad. I enjoyed that part of the story.

Overall can not wait to read more from this series!

DEXTER FANS- I have a book recommendation for you📖🔪🐦‍⬛❤️

Butcher & Blackbird is a dark romantic comedy about serial k*llers who hunt other serial k*llers. Despite the dark theme this book is so funny, romantic (swoony!!!! Very swoony) and just an all around good time.

🔪slow burn
🔪extremely morally grey fmc & mmc
🔪touch her & 💀
🔪he falls first
🔪secret meaningful tattoo🤭
🔪dual POV

I LOVEEEE Rowan and Sloane. The chemistry is unreal between them and they had the most tender moments during the least romantic of times and places. This is going to be a series of interconnected standalones and I cannot wait for Lachland’s book.

FYI: this book is gross and gory. It is obviously dark but the trigger warnings are all clearly listed in the beginning of the book.

📖Book is on Kindle Unlimited

This was such a unique read, one I enjoyed. It's a little dark for our collection, but I will definitely recommend this to staff who enjoy a good dark romance. It has echoes of Haunting Adeline, but on a more wholesome note (I mean, how wholesome you can get between two serial killers). I really did like the relationship, and the important of recognition and appreciating somebody for their true selves. All in all, a solid, good read!

This book has everything *insert gif of Bill Hader as Stefon* You want to laugh? You want to read gruesome details about murders by serial killers? You want to swoon about said serial killers? This book right here. I didn't even know I WANTED all of those things in a book but Butcher & Blackbird was absolutely unputdownable for me.

Butcher & Blackbird is dual POV, told from the view of Sloane and Rowan. Sloane is a data scientist, she has a wicked sense of humor, and normal human anxieties. Rowan is a chef with golden retriever energy. Oh, and they've a penchant for murder. Yes, they're both serial killers. And their meet-cute? Sloane (aka The Orb Weaver) had killed another serial killer and was discovered by Rowan (aka the Boston Butcher) stuck in a cage with the rotting corpse. There is instant attraction, but more than that, there is a mutual respect for the other's work. A friendship blooms and they've set an annual murder game in which they hunt the country's most dangerous killers.

I'll be honest I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I loved it. It's gruesome and sick in some parts but the author is able to infuse humor into even the most nauseating scenes (looking at you, accidental cannibalism scene). I don't like the instalove trope, and the romance in this is instalove in that there is instant attraction between both of the characters, but it isn't acted on for FOUR YEARS (about 50% of the book). So it very much felt like slow burn to me, because we still get so much pining and angst between Sloane and Rowan.

The author did such a good job at making you root for the main characters, even though they're serial killers. It was very jarring to read the contrast between serial killer brain, reading about them enjoying the kill, and then having normal human desires and emotions like wanting to be with someone romantically. Sloane and Rowan fall into that morally grey category, where YES killing other people is wrong, but also, they are killing other serial killers so in a way they're doing a service to humanity? Am I brainwashed here? Sloane is crazypants but brilliant and hilarious. Rowan is psycho, but he's psycho for her. And I swoon. I sat there and read for HOURS til I finished this book because I couldn't get enough of these two crazies. Their banter is everything *insert heart eye emoji*

It also was wild to see that their family and friends knew about them being serial killers and supported it. I have never read a book where this was done, and it was surprisingly wholesome to read. The side characters were every bit as likeable as the main characters and made me like their little world even more.

I didn't see the plot twist coming. It had me reeling, audibly gasping, sitting on the edge of my seat, and then oddly swooning for Rowan. Because even faced with torture and death all he can think about is Sloane and her safety. Sloane is such a bad bitch, and I LOVED that she got to swoop in and rescue him AGAIN.

This book is DARK (read trigger warnings before you read it) but was the absolute best, most wild ride. I will be thinking about this one for a while. Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Rowan and Sloane do not seem to have much in common, but they do share the same urge to…let’s call it “rid the world of scum.” Childhood trauma has led them to indulge in their dark urges, but somehow, they maintain their humanity. In each other, Rowan and Sloane, find understanding, friendship, and love.

The slow burn from rivals to friends to lovers, the banter, the pining, the way Rowan falls first and falls hard, Sloane’s hesitation to risk her heart, Rowan’s gentleness with Sloane, their mutual instinct to protect one another, it all made for the most original love story I have read in a long time.

However, please note that Butcher & Blackbird is a dark romance with explicit and gruesome content. I would make sure to read the trigger/content warnings which the author lists on their website.

I am honestly so excited for this series to continue and cannot wait to read Lachlan and Fionn’s stories - hopefully we will get to see more of Rowan and Sloane.

Thank you to Brynne, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was SO GOOD! It is the closet thing I’ve found thus far to scratch the Mindf*ck itch I’ve had since reading that series last year. I loved everything from the dark serial killer plot, to the rom-com style romance 🥰 Rowan was such a simp and I was HERE FOR ITTTT

I ATE THIS UP!

This book had an amazing dark charm to it that was irresistible!
I laughed, giggled, gagged (lol), and adored this book. The fact that Rowan is from Ireland & County Sligo made this Irish girl so unbelievably happy.

The uniqueness & wittiness of this story about two serial killers in a game of murder and mayhem was thrilling, to say the least; I couldn't put the book down as we explored their yearly meet-ups and the utter pinning going on. The spicy scenes were VERY well done, and the intensity of hunting was always present as we saw softer sides.

This is now a new favourite!