Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Butcher & Blackbird: The Ruinous Love Trilogy, Book 1 by Brynne Weaver, Lucy Rivers

256 reviews

bee_wuud's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Love love loved it. Maybe I’m deranged, but I thought it was a funny idea and enjoyed Sloane and Rowan’s story. The cookies and cream ice cream tho… 🤢

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

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

lecheeese's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Stalking

Moderate: Pedophilia and Rape

fairytalefootnotes's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad medium-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

5.0

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes, etc: Serial Killers, Competition, Friends to Lover, He Falls First, Boy Obsessed

POV: Dual, 1st Person

3rd Act Breakup?: Yes

Cliffhanger?: Yes

Song Association: Work Song by Hozier

Notable Quote: “We’re not normal people. We are monsters. But if we’re monsters, we’ll thrive in the dark. Together.”

The Praise: Butcher & Blackbird was the perfect blend of dark, funny, and sweet. The characters were well developed and easy to root for. Rowan was so sweet and down sooooo bad for Sloane. This is my second Brynne Weaver book and I loved it just as much as I loved Marrow.

The Critique: I don’t love when epilogues don’t focus on the book’s main couple. I wanted more of Sloane and Rowan!

Final Thoughts: Hilarious, sweet, sexy, and dark. I can’t wait to read about Lachlan and Lark!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault

allisonkhenson's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

this was fun but I wish some elements were more fleshed out

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Stalking

grace33's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Torture, and Blood

Moderate: Cannibalism and Stalking

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

lea_lea's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

hanschub's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

4.5

i actually wasn’t going to read this because tiktok hype is annoying, but i did read it and i absolutely loved it. the pacing was off in some chapters, but i could overlook that in some chapters because of how well-written the characters were, not to mention their connection (off the charts). this was my first serial killer romance and as a dark romance lover, i think i’ve unlocked a new favourite trope. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture, Vomit, and Stalking

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

boba_nbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5

{ Before you get into this book, make sure you read the trigger warnings. }

Sloane and Rowan are both serial killers who take out criminals and predators who commit the most heinous crimes. Rowan comes up with the amazing idea to create a game for him and Sloane, where each year they are given a criminal's name and see who can kill them first. Little do they know, this game will lead the two dark souls to find commonality and an unbreakable bond.

I was somewhat uneasy going into this book because I'd only heard that it was DARK. And, it is. Are there gross moments that made me cringe? Yes. Is there torture and murder? Yes. Is it one of the most funny and heartwarming books I've read this year? Also yes. However, I'd say Butcher & Blackbird is first and foremost a romantic comedy where the two main characters just happen to be serial killers who kill the most horrendous criminals. 

If you've also only heard about the dark parts of this book and are intimidated by it, I'd urge you to give Butcher & Blackbird a chance. Plus, if you're an audiobook reader, definitely listen to this one. The dual narration is so good, and the banter just hits.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Cannibalism, and Murder

Moderate: Torture, Vomit, and Stalking

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

krosebooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Hooked in the beginning, but lost some interest towards the end. Loved the idea for the book and the characters were very lovable. Almost wished the murder aspect of the book was played into a little more. It wasn’t equal parts, mostly romance, which might have been better for the demographic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

natural_witch's review against another edition

funny medium-paced

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

4.0

4 Stars- A Dark Gory Romance Comedy 

This book isn't for the faint hearted, full of gore, murder, assault, accidental cannibalism and more (Check the content warnings) but is full of brilliant banter between our two main characters where two serial killers fall in love while hunting other serial killer. A book where he falls first and finds over the course of many years their relationship move from competition to friends and the lovers. Some parts of the relationship development does appear to happen off page, as our character feelings change. However this does not change the enjoyment of the relationship between the two characters. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and its a light hearted dark romance that ticks a lot of boxes for me.

Plus at the beginning of the book you have a playlist to listen as you read! Which honestly i enjoyed so much!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Cannibalism