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hanschub's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? No
5.0
“they thought i was the devil, so their devil is who i became.”
this book was such. a. roller. coaster. i cannot stress enough how much i loved it. my heart was beating so fast and i was genuinely worried for how some things were going to play out because i was so invested. i wanted to hug bria the entire book, girl deserved so much better than what her childhood gave her and she turned out to be such a strong, independent woman in the end. even though this book was a random find for me, and i usually don’t enjoy random finds, i ate every second of it up.
this book was such. a. roller. coaster. i cannot stress enough how much i loved it. my heart was beating so fast and i was genuinely worried for how some things were going to play out because i was so invested. i wanted to hug bria the entire book, girl deserved so much better than what her childhood gave her and she turned out to be such a strong, independent woman in the end. even though this book was a random find for me, and i usually don’t enjoy random finds, i ate every second of it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
amateur_bookworm's review
dark
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
2.75
My summary:
Bria Brooks escaped from a cult as a young girl. Now a graduate student studying memory and interview techniques, she’s also a serial k!ller hunting anyone supporting cults. Eli Kaplan is a professor specializing in Forensic Psychology and quickly finds himself infatuated with Bria and sparks fly in their forbidden romance.
My thoughts:
This is a very dark romance. Super dark. As in, absolutely f*cked up dark. I alternated between mostly hating it but enjoying some parts of it.
I was ready to DNF it after the first chapter. But I did stick it all the way out. I enjoyed Bria and Eli’s forbidden romance and their banter. The spicy scenes are definitely spicy. And Kathryn Fletcher is my favorite character out of the entire story. But I disliked pretty much everything else.
I loved Butcher & Blackbird and Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver. I saw her post about this book and i immediately downloaded it from Kindle Unlimited. I enjoy the comedic aspects of B&B and L&L to balance out the dark themes—but that aspect is almost completely lacking in this book. Overall, this one was just not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
_skyler's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ not for the faint of heart
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Murder
natraf_reads's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
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
5.0
I am OBSESSED with Bria and Eli!!!
For lovers of Butcher and Blackbird - DEFFF recommend checking this out!
Bria Brooks is an intelligent, charming, cunning new doctoral student. She’s also a serial killer. She’s got her eyes on her next target, Caron Berger, a cult leader.
Dr. Elijah Kaplan, a professor of forensic psychology, (a ridiculously hot 30 something year old professor), has his eye on the same target.
These two will do whatever it takes (by VERY different methods) to see this man brought to the end of his reign.
When our two MCs cross paths everything dark in Bria calls out to Eli, and he finds himself battling to do what’s right versus what he really wants.
🔪 Professor x grad student
🔪 Slow burn
🔪 He fell first and HARD
🔪 Morally gray MCs
🔪 ALLLL the spice (there’s a reason they call him kinky Kaplan)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
For lovers of Butcher and Blackbird - DEFFF recommend checking this out!
Bria Brooks is an intelligent, charming, cunning new doctoral student. She’s also a serial killer. She’s got her eyes on her next target, Caron Berger, a cult leader.
Dr. Elijah Kaplan, a professor of forensic psychology, (a ridiculously hot 30 something year old professor), has his eye on the same target.
These two will do whatever it takes (by VERY different methods) to see this man brought to the end of his reign.
When our two MCs cross paths everything dark in Bria calls out to Eli, and he finds himself battling to do what’s right versus what he really wants.
🔪 Professor x grad student
🔪 Slow burn
🔪 He fell first and HARD
🔪 Morally gray MCs
🔪 ALLLL the spice (there’s a reason they call him kinky Kaplan)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
aregnier10's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I found this a hard book to get thru, like the story wasn't quite fully written and details were glossed over. Almost like the author's so badly wanted the focus to be the sex and the actual plot was at times forgotten about. The spice scenes were decent at least, and the twist was good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
alijaywat's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
nadiaherondale's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This had potential, I was captured in the murder plot and there were hot scenes, but at some point after the initial meeting I started to lose interest. I didn't understand why there was the initial animosity. And I was disappointed because I was expecting Eli to at least be on the lookout for the 'killer' which obviously we knew who it was. And there wasn't any tension of that type. I also felt like the ending was a bit rushed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Kidnapping
potalian's review
medium-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
bookishmegggs's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
I am loving all these serial killer vibes from Brynne Weaver! Because serial killers are people too. Bria might not know how to love or even know what love is but she knows she feels something for Eli. The way she is so inquisitive with asking Eli questions wanting to tell him everything and also having him define love to her and telling her he loves her. The way that Bria and Eli’s past comes together and intertwines in a way that just 🤯
This book is VERY spicy but Bria’s Serial Killer nature and hunting down her victims is 💥 I couldn’t put this one down and when I had to I just couldn’t stop thinking about it!
This book is VERY spicy but Bria’s Serial Killer nature and hunting down her victims is 💥 I couldn’t put this one down and when I had to I just couldn’t stop thinking about it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Murder
noellelovesbooks's review
4.75
Content Warnings: [Pulled straight from the front of the book ^^]
• Religious trauma (references to cults in particular), including manipulation and degradation • References to drug abuse • Parental neglect • Physical and emotional abuse/manipulation (no sexual abuse). Includes abuse suffered by a child from an authority figure (not a parent), which includes beating/whipping/burns leaving permanent scars • References to an intended marriage between a minor and a young adult which is NOT consummated and no sexual contact occurs • Physical violence, torture, and murder • Claustrophobia • Panic attacks and undiagnosed PTSD • Explicit language • Detailed sexual content. The sexual activity is consensual, though some consensual non-consensual ( CNC ) role play is depicted. It includes some kinks and behaviors that some readers might find triggering, including breath play, praise, BDSM, and rough sex.
Ever since reading Butcher and Blackbird I knew I needed to read more of Brynne's work...and Black Sheep did not disappoint. This is definitely darker than Butcher and Blackbird...nothing romcom-y about it. So just know that going in ^^
When I first started reading I was a little worried I wouldn't connect to Bria but as her many layers begin to peel back...I not only connected, I related too, and fiercely wanted to support and protect.
Though the first have of the book did feel a little slow [in the thriller/mystery aspect of the story...the spice was spicing don't worry haha] the last half I could not put down and ended up reading into the wee hours to finish.
Though the story ended I could easily see a spin off happen and I would not be disappointed if that happened ^^
• Religious trauma (references to cults in particular), including manipulation and degradation • References to drug abuse • Parental neglect • Physical and emotional abuse/manipulation (no sexual abuse). Includes abuse suffered by a child from an authority figure (not a parent), which includes beating/whipping/burns leaving permanent scars • References to an intended marriage between a minor and a young adult which is NOT consummated and no sexual contact occurs • Physical violence, torture, and murder • Claustrophobia • Panic attacks and undiagnosed PTSD • Explicit language • Detailed sexual content. The sexual activity is consensual, though some consensual non-consensual ( CNC ) role play is depicted. It includes some kinks and behaviors that some readers might find triggering, including breath play, praise, BDSM, and rough sex.
Ever since reading Butcher and Blackbird I knew I needed to read more of Brynne's work...and Black Sheep did not disappoint. This is definitely darker than Butcher and Blackbird...nothing romcom-y about it. So just know that going in ^^
When I first started reading I was a little worried I wouldn't connect to Bria but as her many layers begin to peel back...I not only connected, I related too, and fiercely wanted to support and protect.
Though the first have of the book did feel a little slow [in the thriller/mystery aspect of the story...the spice was spicing don't worry haha] the last half I could not put down and ended up reading into the wee hours to finish.
Though the story ended I could easily see a spin off happen and I would not be disappointed if that happened ^^
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse