Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver | Audiobook Review • Ana's Attic Book Blog

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Narrated by Joe Arden & Lucy Rivers

1st in a connected series featuring different couples. Dark and Gory Rom Com

“I didn’t gouge them out, Butcher. I plucked them. Delicately. Like a lady.”

For the past year, everyone has been talking about Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver, especially the audio version. I don’t usually read dark romances, but I love romcoms. This is a dark romcom! I was intrigued. Butcher & Blackbird was probably the #1 TikTok book for the past year, and some of the other big Booktok books I read were total letdowns. But I still had high hopes.

I am so happy to say that Butcher and Blackbird lived up to the hype. It was like nothing I’ve ever read before, which is definitely part of the appeal. The story was fun, but it was the personalities that made the book. Sloan and Rowan are both serial killers. They each kill the bad serial killers that the police can’t catch, but make no mistake, they LOVE the killing. Even though they have sometimes gone after the same guy, they have never met. When they finally do, it’s at a murder scene that’s become a bit…shall we say… dicey for Sloan.

Sloan, “the orb-weaver” plucks her victims’ eyeballs out and turns her crime scenes into intricate web-like art exhibitions made from flesh and body parts. Rowan aka Butcher has been a big fan from afar but meeting her in person had him instantly falling for her. Their banter was so amazing! I know it’s weird to say about a serial killer, but Rowan was freaking adorable. He was so sweet and romantic! Yes, I said that. Yes, I know he’s a serial killer. What can I say? I’m a sucker for the sweet ones.

“You know what they say, Blackbird. ‘It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye,’” I whisper. “And that’s when the real fun begins.”

Rowan was obsessed immediately, but Sloan lived across the country and took a while to warm up to Rowan. So he would have an excuse to see her, he created an annual murder game where his brother would pick a serial killer and Rowan and Sloan would race to see who gets him first. Sloan was very skittish. Though tough in some ways because she was a serial killer, she was easily scared off by men, especially ones she liked. They played the murder game for 4 years and became friends over that time while Rowan just waited patiently for her feelings to catch up to his.

The things Rowan did for her were so perfect! I know it sounds crazy but this psycho killer had Golden Retriever vibes. He was a chef with his own restaurant when he wasn’t killing, and his restaurant became a big part of the story.

“Maybe I was right. We’re not normal people. We are monsters. But if we’re monsters, we’ll thrive in the dark. Together.”

These two are complete psychopaths (as are their friends and family who we will read about in the next two books) and they were so much fun! I don’t read or watch horror at all, and some of this was pretty gross, but because of the humor, it was never too much for me.

“Rowan rests the handle of the ax against his shoulder and huffs before giving me a wink. “Getting revenge for hurting my girl, of course.”

Likes:

It’s so unique!
Laughing while gagging.
How can I fall in love with a serial killer?
Rivals to lovers.
Though he had insta-love, she took a while to catch up so it was slow-burn.
But once they started burning…holy fuck it was HOT.
I loved that it pretty much ended with an HEA. It’s called a trilogy, but each book features a different couple.
He was so sweet, and I loved how much he loved her.

Dislikes:

The timeline jumps.
I would have liked to get to know them on a deeper level.

The Narration:

OMG, this is one of the best narrations I have ever listened to. It’s full duet, so Lucy Rivers and Joe Arden had full-on conversations with her voicing the female parts and him the male. I am sure I wouldn’t have loved Butcher and Blackbird as much if I just read it, the narration made it so much better.

The Down & Dirty:

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver isn’t perfect, but I can totally understand the hype around it. It’s unique, it’s dark, it’s funny, it’s raunchy, it’s gory, it’s romantic, and it’s hot AF. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend the audiobook. But make sure you listen to the trigger warnings. They are no joke, but they also made me laugh. “accidental cannibalism” anyone? I am so happy Leather and Lark,(book two) is out because I’m not ready to leave this world.