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potion96's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Death, Violence, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Cursing, Blood, and Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking, Gun violence, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Confinement, Pedophilia, and Vomit
moonbunny117's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Gore
Minor: Sexual assault, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Rape
plsnotanotherdamselindistress's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
As I have never before read a book from this genre (dark rom-com) I can not judge it within the genre but I can say that this book made me interested in exploring the genre more.
A sometimes blushing man who fell first and harder that not only tells you that he would kill for you but actually does kill for you...sign me up.
And her being a shy, smart and really talented serial killer too...I love it.
I really liked her as the fMC and how the gore-y scenes were detailled and the author cared about the setting (the really disgusting parts also being the funniest).
I just would have enjoyed to read more of them keeping in contact with each other during the times they were apart because the author *tells* us how they talked everyday and learned a lot about each other but as these parts were not *shown* the reader is not up-to-date with there relationship (as in how it progressed) but still on the page of how it was it the scene 6 months before the next.
Spice(quality&quantity):
4/5
Quite detailed and the characters worked really well together. Also there is variety and especially his POV was goood.
A sometimes blushing man who fell first and harder that not only tells you that he would kill for you but actually does kill for you...sign me up.
And her being a shy, smart and really talented serial killer too...I love it.
I really liked her as the fMC and how the gore-y scenes were detailled and the author cared about the setting (the really disgusting parts also being the funniest).
I just would have enjoyed to read more of them keeping in contact with each other during the times they were apart because the author *tells* us how they talked everyday and learned a lot about each other but as these parts were not *shown* the reader is not up-to-date with there relationship (as in how it progressed) but still on the page of how it was it the scene 6 months before the next.
Spice(quality&quantity):
4/5
Quite detailed and the characters worked really well together. Also there is variety and especially his POV was goood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Torture and Sexism
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
ktbeth143's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
3.25
“He knows my darkest secrets. I know his. We can be monsters, and maybe we don’t deserve the same things that other people do. Happiness. Affection. Love….Maybe I don’t deserve it for the things I’ve done. But I want it. I want more with him than what I’ve got.”
If you like romance and spice, you’ll probably love this book (if you can get past all the gore). If you like vigilante stories, you might think this is okay. If you like horror, you’ll be impressed by to gore but probably disappointed with the overall plot line.
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Rowan and Sloan. It was fun and flirty. And any guy who is trying to win over a girl—especially one who tends to be reserved or very independent—needs to take lessons from Rowan (not about serial killing, but about pursuit). He meets Sloan where she’s at emotionally and slowly coaxes her into intimacy. And I’m not talking about spice (although there is a lot of that in this book). I’m talking about how Rowan recognizes almost immediately Sloan finds it hard to trust and open up to people, so he takes his time and does things intentionally to show her he’s a safe person (for her to be vulnerable with. I mean, she’s probably one of the only people who’s also physically safe with him too since they are both serial killers).
However, as much as I love the chemistry between these two, their character development is lacking. More so with Rowan.While there is so much time spent showing how he’s amazing partner material, there’s nothing other than his backstory that makes him believable as a sociopath/serial killer. Unless of course he is the most emotionally balanced guy to every walk the earth. After all, he owns not one, but two successful restaurants where he works as a chef. So forget having sociopathic tendencies, when does he have the time to be a serial killer? But also, his backstory is that his dad was abusive. But that doesn’t make a sociopath. There are thousands of people with abusive parents who do not grow up to be serial killers and there are lots of serial killers who had perfectly loving families. It’s mentioned he killed his father for being abusive, and he realized that he didn’t regret it, and that’s when he realized there was something “wrong” with him (alluding to him being a sociopath capable
Of killing). Except, even that’s a stretch to believe because no one would blame someone for killing someone else who was physically harming him and his siblings. There’s literally nothing else in the book that offers adequate evidence of Rowan being a sociopath. He’s less of a serial killer and more of a Batman type character.
Sloan is a little more believable.She has an equally traumatic backstory, and her desire to hunt down her victims, torment them, kill them, and then make art out of their bodies comes from a morally gray sense of justice. In fact, you could argue the reason she finds pleasure in being a killer is because it gives her the control she didn’t have in traumatic backstory, which would track with a sociopath. And, unlike with Rowan who seems to get all his info from his brother’s partnership with the feds, we actual see Sloan hunt and track the way a sociopath does. It’s believable that she’s a sociopath because she thinks like a sociopath does when it comes to choosing her and hunting down her victims (who are all sociopaths)
The plot moves super fast and hinges mostly on their romance. Despite the gore of their serial killing escapes, the action— which is very relevant to the premise—feels kind of irrelevant to the plot for about 60-70% of story. And then there’s the third-act breakup, which the author uses to add weight to the plot. It does, but the reason so many people (myself included) don’t like third-act break ups is because it’s a cheap way to throw conflict into the plot arc.What almost makes the third-act break up okay is that it is caused by Rowan’s desire to protect Sloan from another serial killer. And you could argue it’s not a real break up because he gives her the clues to figure out he’s being threatened by a sociopath.
Character flaws are a major part of the story and yet at the same time they aren’t. They’re serial killers, so the judgement area here is kind of gray. Both characters do struggle with “can this person love me/do I deserve love?” moments that do influence some of their decisions, but isn’t that one reason we’re all okay with loving morally gray characters?
Overall, the romance vibes are fun but it could be a better story. I am looking forward to the next book in the series though. I would recommend this to romance lovers, especially those looking for spice, during spooky season.
If you like romance and spice, you’ll probably love this book (if you can get past all the gore). If you like vigilante stories, you might think this is okay. If you like horror, you’ll be impressed by to gore but probably disappointed with the overall plot line.
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Rowan and Sloan. It was fun and flirty. And any guy who is trying to win over a girl—especially one who tends to be reserved or very independent—needs to take lessons from Rowan (not about serial killing, but about pursuit). He meets Sloan where she’s at emotionally and slowly coaxes her into intimacy. And I’m not talking about spice (although there is a lot of that in this book). I’m talking about how Rowan recognizes almost immediately Sloan finds it hard to trust and open up to people, so he takes his time and does things intentionally to show her he’s a safe person (for her to be vulnerable with. I mean, she’s probably one of the only people who’s also physically safe with him too since they are both serial killers).
However, as much as I love the chemistry between these two, their character development is lacking. More so with Rowan.
Of killing). Except, even that’s a stretch to believe because no one would blame someone for killing someone else who was physically harming him and his siblings. There’s literally nothing else in the book that offers adequate evidence of Rowan being a sociopath.
Sloan is a little more believable.
The plot moves super fast and hinges mostly on their romance. Despite the gore of their serial killing escapes, the action— which is very relevant to the premise—feels kind of irrelevant to the plot for about 60-70% of story. And then there’s the third-act breakup, which the author uses to add weight to the plot. It does, but the reason so many people (myself included) don’t like third-act break ups is because it’s a cheap way to throw conflict into the plot arc.
Character flaws are a major part of the story and yet at the same time they aren’t. They’re serial killers, so the judgement area here is kind of gray. Both characters do struggle with “can this person love me/do I deserve love?” moments that do influence some of their decisions, but isn’t that one reason we’re all okay with loving morally gray characters?
Overall, the romance vibes are fun but it could be a better story. I am looking forward to the next book in the series though. I would recommend this to romance lovers, especially those looking for spice, during spooky season.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cannibalism, Cursing, Murder, Body horror, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Violence
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Gun violence and Child abuse
Check the content warnings before reading!cheese0811's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Murder, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Stalking and Vomit
Minor: Rape and Sexual harassment
katkinslee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I've already read this book but I have to tell you that listening to it was a very different experience! It was so freaking good, the narrators did such a great job and the steamy scenes were sooooo great. Definitely worth the listen!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Vomit, Violence, Murder, Blood, and Cannibalism
Minor: Rape
lifeofchrstnlvly's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
You have never been unlovable. You were just waiting for someone who will love you for who you are, not for who they want you to be. I can do that, if you’ll let me.
Although the writing is not groundbreaking, it was a very enjoyable read. Butcher & Blackbird is often compared to The Mindf*ck Series, but aside from the common theme of killing bad people, it is quite different from TMS. One major difference is that the emotions evoked by TMS did not elicit the same feelings in me while reading Butcher & Blackbird.
Secondly, the main characters (MCs) in TMS were much smarter than Rowan & Sloane.
If you enjoyed reading TMS, you might (keyword: might) enjoy B&B. I'm only saying this because some suggest that you will definitely enjoy B&B if you love TMS. However, don't expect them to be the same on many levels because they are not. B&B is a beauty on its own, so it would be better for people to start enjoying it independently, rather than constantly comparing and likening it to other books.
That being said, Rowan is your beloved Golden Retriever boy. I couldn't help but smile and kick my feet because of the things he says and does for Sloane. As for the smut scenes, they were... okay, I suppose. I found myself skimming over the chapters that contained such scenes because the dirty talk made me cringe a bit.
It was instalove, but it didn't bother me that much because their romantic relationship did not develop until years later. The angst of the main characters was okay, although a bit lacking for serial killers.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It was a quick and enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Cursing, and Cannibalism
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