I loved this book.
I love this series.
I enjoyed this one! It was fun, and funny, and quirky. Like all of the books have been.
I would have loved to see more circus life, but the smut was fun. And the banter, so good!

I was super excited for this book. I have been an ARC reader for Brynne since Butcher and love this series. While this wasn't my favorite book of the series, I still really enjoyed it!

No one is more upset about this than me, I wish I could jive with this series after B&B but alas I cannot. I love Brynne’s work and I love seeing all the success she has gotten recently, but these last two books just weren’t for me.

Oh how sad I am to see this series end! While I didn’t quite feel the same magic with Rose and Fionn as I did with the others, I still enjoyed the ride! Brynne’s strange humor is so magical to me and it once again shines in this book (especially in Barbara). The push and pull between the characters is delicious as always until they find their HEA, with plenty of excitement along the way. I am so obsessed with Brynne’s writing style and I can’t wait to see what craziness she has in store for us in the future!

Absolutely amazing!! Brynne Weaver does it again! I can’t believe this trilogy is over. And the Rowan epilogue?! Perfection!!!

VERY solid finale to the Ruinous Love trilogy!! Rose and Fionn are such an addictive pairing right from the start and I was riveted watching their story unfold. I especially loved the angst that found its way into this installment in particular. Brynne Weaver is officially an auto-buy author that I cannot recommend enough for fans of spicy rom coms looking to break into dark romance, as well as readers like me who already LOVE the dark romance genre, but need something different!!

MY FAVORITE OF THE SERIES! I was so hooked! Fionn and Rose are just so perfect for each other. THIS BOOK! Scythe & Sparrow closed out the Ruinous Love trilogy with a bang, and I couldn't get enough. I can't wait for the audiobook, so I can experience it that way. It really is so good! There’s so much tension and banter! 🤭 And the spice de 👏🏽 li 👏🏽 vered 👏🏽!

Rose is a badass bitch, and I love her. I take no criticism when it comes to her. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

- friends with benefits to lovers
- hurt x comfort
- slow burn romance
- opposites attract
- close proximity
- touch her and 💀
- dark romance romcom

Rating: 4.75 ⭐️

I cannot tell you how much I love these stories! Brynne is the only author I know who can just nail the dark comedy! I absolutely loved Rose, she is so crazy, and her and Flynn together?? 🔥🔥
I can’t wait to see what Brynne comes up with for her next book!!
If you like dark romance, murdery main characters, spice and humor all in the same book, then these are the books for you! Definitely 5 stars!!

The flow of the story of the timeline for Scythe & Sparrow wasn't working for me. It felt all over the place even though I know most of it took place during Butcher & Blackbird, and Leather & Lark's timeline. I just felt taken out of the story too much. It dragged on for me in quite a few places and I didn't feel the connection between our MC's Rose and Fionn. This was not was what I expected for their story. I'm still looking forward to more Brynne like The Poison Pastry Bakery (hopefully soon).

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Five stars for Barbara.

As with Brynne’s other books, this was an absolutely wild ride, and might be my second favorite of the series. I absolutely loved Rose and Fionn’s dynamic and the push and pull of their relationship. It had a very “Will they, won’t they” vibe all the way until the end. I also loved how the timelines of the three books cross.

Overall if you’re looking for something dark and funny, definitely check this out.

This book was the perfect conclusion to such an amazing, gripping series! I fell so deeply for all the characters, and didn't want to let them go, but it was such an incredible journey and perfect ending! Loved it so much!

Brynne Weaver has DONE IT AGAINNN.


Honestly, I cant stop being obsessed with everything she writes. Its funny. engaging and just a little uncomfortable that it makes reading such a freaking thrill!!!

3.5⭐️?? Maybe?

I’ve been hoping for Rose’s POV of Sloane and Rowan showing up at Fionn’s house ever since B&B first came out in 2023 and I’m so glad it finally happened 😂 however, the rest of this was just kinda meh. This felt overly drawn out, I expected way more angst between Fionn and Rose, and the time jumps just felt off. Especially given how book 2 ended?? Idk, maybe it was me, maybe it was the book, but this was a struggle at times.

Butcher & Blackbird will forever be one of my faves, but unfortunately books 2 & 3 were meh. I still overall love Brynne’s books so I’m looking forward to what she writes next.

Highlights:
- Romance: MF
- Doctor x serial killer
- Friends with benefits
- Forced proximity
- Hurt/comfort

Note: I received an advance copy. Decision to read/review was my own. Opinion is my own.

4.5 stars! Scythe and Sparrow was INFINITELY better than the other two in the series and did not disappoint. I was debating whether or not I should continue with the series after not loving Leather and Lark, but I'm so glad I read the final installment.

Both Fionn and Rose were excellent lead characters. I liked that Fionn was a bit more subdued than his brothers, and he complemented Rose perfectly. Scythe and Sparrow nailed the hurt/comfort trope. I loved how Fionn and Rose slowly opened up to each other as they grew closer. The build-up of their chemistry was fantastic. And the pacing of this book was excellent. I was pretty much hooked the entire time, and the traveling circus added a fun subplot.

The spice was good, though the cotton candy scene was not for me lol. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the time jumps. They felt a bit abrupt and out of place, though in a way, they did have to occur to keep consistent with the timeline of the other books.

Thank you so much to Zando Slowburn for sending me an ARC of Scythe and Sparrow. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

3.5⭐️

I’m not sure how much of it was me and the book slump I’m in and how much of it was the book itself but I struggled to finish this one. I found myself not as invested in the characters as I wanted to be and a little bored.

The beginning definitely set up an interesting premise and conflict but the things actually keeping our MCs apart were a little lacking for me. I anticipated more angst than we really got so when they got together (both physically and later emotionally) it didn’t feel very climactic.
And with the way the timeline jumped around the resolution to the plot seemed a bit out of nowhere. I also have a lot of questions about why Fionn made the call he did and how easily that all wrapped up given what happened in book two, but maybe I missed something.

I will say I enjoyed the cameos from the other characters in the series and Rose’s friendship with the girls.

Plus the spice was definitely spicing and it gets an extra half star for the cotton candy scene alone. And it had some of my favorite things to see in a romance like a ‘no kissing’ rule.

At the end of the day, I can see some people loving this, it just wasn’t a favorite for me.

4.5⭐️

I really thought this one was a great way to wrap up the series. I wasn’t ready for it to end. Although Rose annoyed me at times, I’m so glad I got to see the healing and growth these characters went through. Barbara was most definitely my favorite character 🤭😍

"Not everyone is strong enough or lives long enough to fight back.”

I never had any doubt that I was going to love Rose and Fionn, even though I wasn't sure what to expect. These two are not experienced killers nor are they immune to feeling grossed out by it. That was an approach I wasn't expecting in this series and I found it really delightful to see them have to find their footing with it.

Rose is definitely the one more intent on learning though - as she travels with the circus she works for, she encounters many women in abusive relationships. Previously she was inspired by Giulia Tofana's "Aqua Tofana" (a historical figure that is worth looking up) to give them the means to get rid of their abusers once and for all. But after seeing many women who can't take that step, she decides to take matters into her own hands sometimes.

Since she's new, she gets hurt and it's Fionn who finds her and helps her recover. He is not so inclined towards being murder-y, focused on living up to the expectations he thinks his brothers have for him - but he gladly helps Rose and when it comes to protecting her, all bets are off 🤭

Rose needles Fionn endlessly with her bawdy humor and extroverted cheerfulness while he remains reserved and broody (though being in a crochet club softens him quite a bit). They complement each other perfectly, and getting to see the other characters again was extremely gratifying (I adore the relationship between the brothers they're so precious 😭).

This book was an excellent end to a fabulous series and I can't wait to see what Brynne writes next!

Read If You Like:
- Dark romantic comedies with a twist
- Friends-with-benefits evolving into deeper connections
- Small-town settings juxtaposed with unconventional characters
- Stories featuring circus performers and medical professionals
- Novels blending romance with elements of suspense and humor

In the final installment of the Ruinous Love Trilogy, Brynne Weaver delivers a darkly comedic romance that intertwines murder, mayhem, and unexpected passion.

Dr. Fionn Kane, seeking solace from a shattered heart and a derailed surgical career, retreats to a quiet life in small-town Nebraska, determined to avoid romantic entanglements. His plans are upended when Rose Evans, a motorcycle performer with the Silveria Circus and a penchant for vigilante justice, lands on his doorstep with a broken leg after a botched kill.

As Rose recuperates under Fionn's care, their forced proximity ignites a complex relationship that challenges their personal demons and past traumas. Weaver masterfully balances dark humor with heartfelt emotion, crafting a narrative that explores the healing power of love amidst chaos.

This novel is a must-read for those who enjoy romances that defy conventions and delve into the complexities of human connection.

5⭐️S

Thank you so much slowburn for giving me an ARC of this book!

I was screaming crying throwing this was the a perfect book to end an amazing trilogy! What a journey!

Fionn and Rose were everything i wanted. I love love their characters so much and how chaotic they both were (plus barbara).

This trilogy will forever have a place in my heart. There might be a few food ruined for me but oh well (i still havent touched cookies and cream ice cream to this day) i have no regrets!

I love the characters so much and reading this last book got me in so much feels. The epilogues got me and i lowkey teared up. I miss them sm already.

⁝⁝ ARC BOOK REVIEW ⁝⁝

❝Because in killing, there can be living. There can be rebirth.❞

❝It’s okay to love your darkness and still love yourself. It doesn’t make you a bad person. It makes you a whole one.❞

❝ I love you. I’m not letting you go. I never will.❞

✦ MY THOUGHTS

⚜ Type of book: Series / Trilogy / Third installment in the Ruinous Love Series.

I put off this book for as long as I could, afraid I wouldn’t be in the right mood to read it—just like what happened with the previous book. But luckily, I ended up loving it so much. After B&B, this is my favorite book in the series. And, honestly, it was the perfect ending!

As you might’ve guessed, I love Fionn so, so much. And Rose? Absolutely adorable. They were both so relatable and human, and watching them slowly peel away their layers of trauma and hurt to let the other in was deeply moving. This is, at its core, a story of healing—just as Brynne described—and it truly shows. You can feel how much love and care she poured into these characters, allowing them to take their own journey at their own pace.

On another note, I seriously didn't expect Fionn to be sexy, scary, and also the most romantic of them all. But those letters? They made me MELT. And Rose—she made me want to wrap her in a hug and never let go. She’s such a fun character to follow, so full of life, with a sweetness and vulnerability that made me want to protect her at all costs.

Sidenote here: I have to point out—Adam had me cracking up. That’s all I’m gonna say.

I truly enjoyed this conclusion, though I can’t help but crave more. I want to know more about Oleander, what the Kane boys and the girls are up to next, and all those little details that left the door open for future installments.

All in all, I highly recommend this fun, romantic, and utterly insane book. You won’t regret picking it up!

✦ DETAILS

🔞 18+ read due to explicit content. Trigger warnings can be found at the beginning of the book.

Dark Romance Comedy / Dark RomCom
◈ Friends with Benefits
◈ Slow Burn-ish
◈ Small Town Romance
◈ Forced Proximity
◈ Morally Grey MCs
◈ Broody, Protective, Handsome MMC
◈ Fun-Loving FMC
◈ Grumpy / Sunshine
◈ Fish Out Of Water
◈ Touch Her & Die
◈ One Bed
◈ Hurt/Care
◈ Who Did This To You?
◈ Primal Play
◈ Anâl Sêx
◈ Dual POV
◈ Mild Praise Kïnk
◈ “Good Girl”
◈ “I’m Not Done With You Yet”
◈ “Eyes On Me”
◈ Love Letters

✦ SCORES

Plot development: 4/5
Characters development: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4.25/5
Spicy content: 3/5
Spicy quality: 5/5
Overall Score: 4.5/5

Thank you to the author, Zando and Netgalley for the ARC.