Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

181 reviews

laurenmoragn's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

kayceeisbookish's review against another edition

dark funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I'll admit that I approached this book at first with trepidation. I had heard some off-putting things about it. However, once I started reading, I simply could not put this book down. It was witty and comical. I love all the dark humor. The gore honestly did not bother me at all. The male MC reminded me a lot of Alastor from Hazbin Hotel. I enjoyed this book so much that I immediately ordered the rest of the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

kiarra_s's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

3.8 ⭐️ If you have a weak stomach, this one’s not for you! I, however, did enjoy this! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Torture, Vomit, and Stalking

Minor: Death of parent

tah_014's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Death of parent

jesseluvs2read's review against another edition

I felt like the characters were underdeveloped and didn’t have that much chemistry together. I was honestly bored by the characters and didn’t care about Sloane, the FMC. I didn’t think the annual “kill a serial killer” competition/game was super compelling. I don’t think the instalove trope worked well for the characters nor the storyline. Overall, I felt like the book fell short of what it could have been and was just plan disappointing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent

He falls first and hard Friends to lovers (they’re both serial killers) Touch her/him and die

mscora77's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The writing was great and easily kept me engaged. It was dark, gory, but also lighthearted and funny.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Vomit, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

edgybutfemme's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/ 5 - Featuring many explicit scenes with lots of detailed language. This book is heavier on the spice, but the plot is still there and doing something interesting. Also, it's at least a little kinky. 

 
The Smut / Kinks include:

cock warming, rough sex, praise kink, anal, adult toys, choking, spitting, dom/sub interactions, & genital piercings

I am absolutely in love with how unhinged these two are and the duel narration in this audio book is fantastic! I think my favorite thing about this book was how much Rowan was immediately into Sloane from the first moment they met. Sloane and Rowan have a deeply compelling banter and dynamic. I love that she calls him pretty boy! I love that when they bicker she'll say "you're the worst" or "I hate you", and he'll respond with "you'll love me someday." I love how funny they both are, both with each other and in their internal narration. If you enjoy a couple who are deeply unhinged individually and together, and who bicker like an old married couple, this book may be for you! 

Both characters felt fully fleshed out with compelling other relationships in their life, like Rowan with his brothers and Sloane with her best friend (and practical sister) Lark. Their backstories are compelling, and they each have a nice personal arc in addition to the overarching plot and romance. I am really looking forward to seeing where this series goes from here!

Of course, keep an eye on those trigger warnings as this is a dark romance between two serial killers who kill other serial killers. I was warned about the cannibalism (the main couple are not into it, but some of the people they hunt are), so I was braced for a lot, but honestly I would say there are only two big scenes/situations where it comes into play. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Cannibalism, and Murder

Moderate: Torture and Stalking

Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

Full list from Brynne Weaver's website:

This is the book with the craziest list, so hold on tight *cracks knuckles*. Yes, this really is the list. Yes, it all does happen. / Eyeballs and eye sockets / Amateur surgery / Skin ornaments / Chainsaws, axes, knives, scalpels - a lot of sharp objects / Accidental cannibalism / Not-so-accidental cannibalism / Questionable use of a mummified corpse / Lobotomized man servant / Ill-advised use of kitchen implements / I’m sorry about the cookies and cream ice cream (I’m not really) / Detailed sex scenes which include (but are not limited to) cock warming, rough sex, praise kink, anal, adult toys, choking, spitting, dom/sub interactions, genital piercings / References to parental neglect and child abuse / Parental loss (not depicted - one parent murdered, one parent passed in child birth) / References to child sexual assault (not in detail) / It’s a book about serial killers, so there’s some generally messed-up murder and chaos

mrscassian's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

vic_to_ria's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I surprised myself with how much I liked this book. 
It was a great time to read, the characters were interesting and I loved how their serial killer professions stuck with the plot and was the whole glue that held them together. 
Their sense of humour was amazing and just made their chemistry stronger outside of their visual attraction. 
The tropes in the summary aren’t wrong boy fell first and so fast I wouldn’t be surprised that he planned out their wedding after that first meeting. Golden retriever boyfriend turns scary dog only if you touch his pooky. 
I really liked that it was a gradual progression relationship wise and that romance wasn’t their main motivator in that they wanted to hang out with someone who at a base level understood them more than anyone else did before and ever can given they kill people for fun (ya it’s their side hustle it’s hilarious) the way that the slow burn built their trust in each other was just perfect. 
The last half of the book is almost pure smut with some plot dangled in there. It was pretty intense so be warned but if you’re into that you’ll enjoy. 
My one wish is that we got to know more about each of the characters past traumas that are mentioned once (or in one case implied but never confirmed what happened 
) and never expanded on in favor of having spicy times but it would have been nice to get more depth to the characters but again it was mentioned so it’s not like it wasn’t there at all- just would have liked more. 
But overall it was fun and I 100% can see this as a bingable tv show. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Vomit, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Death of parent

nouriareads's review against another edition

dark emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I’m going to be a killjoy, sorry 🤷🏿‍♀️ but that’s not how you (should) do CW/TW. I get the intent behind the humour, but apart from the appropriate ones, the “funny” ones were weird. Using them for promotion is fine, but not where your readers are trying to take care of themselves.

It reads very quickly, I was glued to my e-reader!! Sloane and Rowan are charming and have chemistry, their banter was so good both IRL and through text. Rowan is like that guy who says corny things, but you can’t help but swoon a little. Even if the dynamic and kinks aren’t your cup of tea, there’s consent, a safe word and checking in so they’re exploring their relationship in a healthy way.

I’m not a fan of insta-lust, the time jumps made it seem like their friendship developed too quickly, and the romance even faster, so it felt like insta-love too. Before developing feelings for each other, I wanted them to be friends, so I wasn’t satisfied with the trope’s execution. Their character development was superficial and the author was too heavy-handed in setting up the sequels. Let me enjoy this couple first, then we’ll see.

It’s the kind of book you turn your brain off to read, it worked for the romance but my traitorous brain couldn’t help but ask SO many questions about the 🔪 logistics, but that’s a me problem. Their rationale for hunting serial killers and their victim’s psychology were flimsy. Also, why only 🔪 men?

It was still an enjoyable read: no plot just vibes with an original premise, but not as intense as the TW and synopsis make it seem. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser and aren’t squeamish this could work!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Torture, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Death of parent