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A review by tab_reads
Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4⭐️ 2-3🌶️ (I'm leaning more towards 2)
MOOD: challenging, funny, emotional, tense, dark-ish
TROPES: friends to lovers,
GENRES: contemporary, romantic comedy, dark comedy
FAV QUOTE: “Boobs plus murder don’t equal a relationship, Lark. That math ain’t mathin.’ ”
MAIN CHARACTERS: Sloane Sutherland (Blackbird) and Rowan Kane (Butcher)
I really think this book was either mismarketed or just misinterpreted by social media (where I saw it) because it's just not a Dark Romance. It's definitely a good place to start if you're interested in reading Dark Romance so you can dip your toes in and see if it's for you but it's a romantic comedy or a Romantic (dark comedy) not a (dark romantic) comedy - if that makes sense. I was expecting more (dark and spice) based on what I had seen on booktok and bookstagram so I'm happy I waited and got this from the library. This is also a good reminder that everyone has different tastes and experiences - the "ice cream scene" didn't phase me at all but I read a lot of different types of books and part of that is Omegaverse so...
That being said - I did like it. The writing style is enjoyable and I liked the little nods to horror icons of the past. The beginning of the book is way better than the end - at about 70% (I don't know what chapter that, sorry) I lost interest and it was a struggle to finish, the pacing of the book changes and it definitely ends up in classic three act RomCom territory. I'm not sure if I'll read the next one but I've had some of Brynne's other books on the TBR for a while that I'm hoping are darker than this.
CW: The author lists content warnings at the beginning of the book. There are a lot but I think the big ones are violence, blood, cannibalism, and mentions of sexual assault/violence.
MOOD: challenging, funny, emotional, tense, dark-ish
TROPES: friends to lovers,
GENRES: contemporary, romantic comedy, dark comedy
FAV QUOTE: “Boobs plus murder don’t equal a relationship, Lark. That math ain’t mathin.’ ”
MAIN CHARACTERS: Sloane Sutherland (Blackbird) and Rowan Kane (Butcher)
I really think this book was either mismarketed or just misinterpreted by social media (where I saw it) because it's just not a Dark Romance. It's definitely a good place to start if you're interested in reading Dark Romance so you can dip your toes in and see if it's for you but it's a romantic comedy or a Romantic (dark comedy) not a (dark romantic) comedy - if that makes sense. I was expecting more (dark and spice) based on what I had seen on booktok and bookstagram so I'm happy I waited and got this from the library. This is also a good reminder that everyone has different tastes and experiences - the "ice cream scene" didn't phase me at all but I read a lot of different types of books and part of that is Omegaverse so...
That being said - I did like it. The writing style is enjoyable and I liked the little nods to horror icons of the past. The beginning of the book is way better than the end - at about 70% (I don't know what chapter that, sorry) I lost interest and it was a struggle to finish, the pacing of the book changes and it definitely ends up in classic three act RomCom territory. I'm not sure if I'll read the next one but I've had some of Brynne's other books on the TBR for a while that I'm hoping are darker than this.
CW: The author lists content warnings at the beginning of the book. There are a lot but I think the big ones are violence, blood, cannibalism, and mentions of sexual assault/violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence