Butcher and Blackbird by Brynn Weaver – Still Unwell Over The Beginning of This Book

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“What does my nervous little Blackbird like to read, I wonder?”

I’d had my eye on this book for a while but kept holding off because I’m skeptical of #BookTok recommendations. 

Eventually, this became another case of I found an audiobook with narrators I like, so I’ll give it a try.

The beginning was straight-up gross, and the insta-lust between the two main characters was off-putting at first. 

That said, they grew on me faster than I expected, and once the story found its footing, I was surprisingly invested.

Storygraph // Goodreads

Quick Summary

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?

What I Loved

The banter absolutely carried this book for me. I loved the will-they-won’t-they dynamic between Sloan and Rowan, and their back-and-forth felt genuinely fun and sharp. 

Sloan’s character growth stood out as the story progressed, and I appreciated how her arc unfolded.

The darker themes were handled well and didn’t feel gratuitous. I also loved the concept, even now, I’m not entirely sure what genre this book falls into, which oddly worked in its favor. 

The spice was done fairly well, and while a lot of time technically passes in the story, it somehow felt like no time had passed at all.

The dual POV was another highlight. Being inside Rowan’s head made me appreciate his character much more, and the same was true for Sloan. While the twist at the end made me roll my eyes a little, it didn’t ruin the ending, everything still wrapped up in a satisfying way.

What Wasn’t My Favorite

Some parts of this book are genuinely gross, especially the opening scene. Do not eat while reading or listening.

The insta-lust also didn’t work for me. Attraction is one thing, but the intensity right out of the gate felt odd and unnecessary. I also wish we had gotten more depth beyond the characters’ traumatic backgrounds and their present-day motivations.

This book is definitely polarizing, but I went in expecting a sarcasm-filled dark romance — and that’s exactly what 

I got. Adjusting expectations made a huge difference in how much I enjoyed it.

Vibe Check

• Genre: Dark Romance, Contemporary, Horror
• Mood: Dark, sarcastic, chaotic, surprisingly funny, spicy
• Read if you love: Morally gray characters, banter-heavy romances, dark themes with humor
• My rating: 4 stars out of 5 stars
• Spice Meter: 3.5 chili peppers out of 5 chili peppers

Would I Recommend It?

It depends. If you can handle darker themes, intense (and sometimes ridiculous) spice, and a slightly messy storyline, then yes. 

If you typically gravitate toward low-spice contemporary romance rather than books like Lights Out or Hunting Adeline, this probably won’t be for you. 

That said, Butcher & Blackbird is not nearly as dark or polarizing as those titles.

Outro

I genuinely liked this book far more than I expected to. I loved the fast pace, the audiobook narrators were fantastic, and the spice worked for me, even if some moments were a bit dumb (sleeping in… IYKYK).

This is the kind of dark romance that fits my taste perfectly: dark but not disturbing, with humor and strong chemistry. I also really enjoyed the dual POV, which never felt confusing or dragged. 

Overall, I had a good time, not an all-time favorite, but a solid, enjoyable read.

Want something else just as unhinged? Bunny by Mona Awad.