Review: Scythe & Sparrow

 

Title: Scythe & Sparrow 

Series: The Ruinous Love trilogy 

Author: Brynne Weaver 

Release Date: February 11, 2025

God, I want to kiss her. I want to feel the heat of her lips against mine. Would she want that? Would she melt against me if she did? Or would the tension I feel between us snap and release something feral inside her? Inside me?

From the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the genre-breaking international TikTok sensation Butcher & Blackbird and Leather & Lark comes the final book in the Ruinous Love Trilogy—a friends-with-benefits dark romantic comedy packed with murder, mayhem, and spice.

Doctor Fionn Kane is running from a broken heart, one he hopes to mend in small-town Nebraska, far away from his almost-fiancé and his derailed surgical career. It’s a simpler life: head down, hard work, and absolutely no romantic relationships. He wants none of the circus he left behind in Boston.

But then the real circus finds him.

Motorcycle performer Rose Evans has spent a decade on the road with the Silveria Circus, and it suits her just fine, especially when she has the urge to indulge in a little murder when she’s not in the spotlight. But when a kill goes awry and she ends up with an injured leg, Rose finds herself stuck in Nebraska, at the home of the adorably nerdy town doctor.

The problem is, not every broken heart can be sewn back together.

. . . And the longer you stay in one place, the more likely your ghosts are to catch up.

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So, this book was harder to get than I would have liked. No where within a 3 hour drive of us got in any copies unfortunately. I was finally able to order a copy online but it took a week to get via mail (yes, our mail really is that slow). But I finally got hold of a copy, and I have been buddy reading it with a friend. 

Scythe & Sparrow is the third book in the series & while each are pretty much standalones, following different characters it is best to read them in order (to avoid any potential spoilers of course).

Scythe & Sparrow follow Fionn & Rose's story & takes place over the course of both Butcher & Blackbird and Leather & Lark. I absolutely loved that we got to see all of Fionn & Rose's story - from the moment Rose first crashed into Fionn's life turning it on it's head. 

Rose is from a traveling circus, she does tarot & helps women who may need it, and rides her motorcycle in the metal cage. But she decides to take a more hands on approach at helping the women - and partake in a little murder and mayhem which doesn't exactly go according to plan. Which is how she finds Fionn. 

Fionn ran from a broken heart to live a quiet life as a doctor in a small town in Nebraska. But running from his past, also meant he left his brothers behind too. So when a woman comes to him, begging for his help, he can't turn her away. 

I have loved this series since I first read Butcher & Blackbird, and Scythe & Sparrow is no different. I loved how this one tied all of the stories together & loved seeing Fionn and Rose's story - how they came to be, and their happy ever after. Much like the other two - this one is also filled with trigger Warnings, dark romance and humor, and I ate up every second of it. And while I am sad to see the series come to an end, I definitely enjoyed it. 

5⭐ out of 5⭐. 

3🌶️ out of 5🌶️. 

Tropes: 

• Friends with benefits

• Small town romance

• Fish out of water

• Forced proximity

• Hurt/care

• Touch her and die

• dark romance 

Trigger Warnings:  

- clowns (& sexy clowns) 

- medical trauma, injury detail, blood, gore, vomit, eyeballs & eyelids, ill advised used of a staple gun, impalement 

- references to domestic physical abuse, psychological & emotional abuse, parental neglect, child abuse, sexual harassment, threats/intimidation, & misogyny 

- detailed sex scenes & cotton candy defilement, adult toys, primal kink, cum kink, anal, rough sex, sexual acts in public 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Writing has always been a hobby for Brynne. Even as a young child, she loved typing out stories on her grandmother’s typewriter. She wrote award-winning poetry and essays, and dabbled in various forms of fiction over the years. In 2019, Brynne committed to publishing more of her works, and released her first non-fiction book (under her real name!). She then began focusing on her first fantasy-romance (or ‘romantasy’) series, The Diviner. Next up was the three-part Shadow Realm paranormal dark romance series. Brynne then partnered with author Alexa Harlowe on the contemporary dark standalone romance, Black Sheep.  

Brynne aspires to write female-focused stories about complex, resilient, imperfect characters who struggle with anger, trauma, fear, courage, and love.

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Review: Skyshade

 

Title: Skyshade

Series: Lightlark 

Author: Alex Aster 

Release Date: November 2024

The pulse-pounding third novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Lightlark Saga, by acclaimed author and #BookTok sensation Alex Aster

Love kills kingdoms…

Back in Grim’s castle on Nightshade, Isla is reeling in the wake of a brutal battle and the devastating truths it exposed. Her future—and the fate of the world—now hinge on a heart split in two.

Past Isla, who fell in love with the ruler of Nightshade, fights to resist feelings she considers treasonous. The Isla of the present, who has seen the ruin her powers can cause, will do anything to save Lightlark and its king.

As the line between enemy and friend is tested, Isla is more desperate than ever to understand the oracle’s final prophecy and change her heartrending fate. But a storm is coming. And with it, a long-buried evil greater than anything the realms have faced before.

With the clock ticking on her destiny and the survival of two warring kingdoms hinging on her own shattered heart, Isla Crown will either save the world—or destroy it.

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So, I finally got around to reading Skyshade. I was too lazy to go grab my copy from upstairs, so I borrowed the ebook from our local library the other day 😂😂. 

I enjoyed being back in this world, with these characters. This book picks up where book 2 left off. Isla felt betrayed - and Grim would do anything for her forgiveness. But could she forgive him for everything he's done? 

The gate of not only Isla but all of Nightshade and Lightlark - the two kingdoms at war with one another - hinged on Isla's heart which was split in two. She loved both rulers, but was a traitor to both - and was destined to kill one. Isla was either dragged to save the world or destroy it. 

I loved seeing now of Grim again, he is definitely my favorite character out of all of them. Overall the pacing was decent. Isla worked at trying to better understand the prophecy, she didn't want to be a monster, but instead wanted to save both of the men she loved. She warred with her feelings. And tried to better understand herself -& her past too. But the war, and storms that ravished the kingdom weren't the only dangers they had to face. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to see what is next for Isla, Grim and Oro. 

4⭐ out of 5 ⭐. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hi, I’m Alex.

I’m the #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, #1 Publishers Weekly Bestselling, #1 Indie Bestselling, and USA Today Bestselling author of Lightlark, which sold in 30+ territories and in a major movie deal with Universal and the producers of Twilight pre-publication. I am also one of the most-followed authors in the world, with over 1 million followers, and 150 million views on my videos. My middle grade Emblem Island series was published to critical acclaim. I’ve been featured on Good Morning America, Kelly Clarkson Show, Business Insider, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, Refinery29, The Today Show, The Guardian, and am a 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30.

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Review: Bittersweet Chocolate

 

Title: Bittersweet Chocolate 

Author: C.M. Guidroz 

Release Date: January 2024

" I am in some sick love triangle with my husband and my insanity."

In the quiet corridors of suburbia, where manicured lawns whispered tales of ordinary lives, I stood on the precipice of my own unraveling. Our house, a carefully curated sanctuary of domestic bliss, hid the storms brewing within its walls—the storms that gave no warning, the flip of a switch, the great awakening. Whatever you want to call it, it doesn’t matter. They will say I lost it. That the pressures of motherhood was too much for me. No, I haven’t lost anything; I have found exactly what I have been looking for- her. My sweet, sweet, insanity.

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So, I won this book in a giveaway - it has been on my TBR for awhile, and it was a great selection for a Valentine's read. 

This is a splatterpunk book - it's dark & has trigger Warnings so definitely check those out before diving in. 

It's a short, quick read & follows Emily - a stay at home mom to a toddler & a wife in a failing marriage. - Her husband Mark is an ass & definitely deserves what he got. 

I've been in a similar crappy relationship - and sometimes certain thoughts was a nice reprieve. A daydream in the nightmare of life. So I totally get where Emily was coming from. And although it wasn't my favorite read, it was definitely relatable. 

3.5 ⭐ out of 5⭐. 

Trigger Warnings: 

- infidelity

- domestic violence 

- emotional violence

- blood/gore

- torture

- murder 

- body mutilation 

- sexual content 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Candy lives with her husband and two kids in Louisiana. She weaves tales that test the limits, dating readers to embrace the darkness within her pages. Welcome to the twisted world of her imagination. 

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Review: The Shadows Between Us

 

Title: The Shadows Between Us 

Series: Shadows Between Us

Author: Tricia Levenseller 

Release Date: February 2020

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.

2) Marry him.

3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

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So I picked up this book on a whim. I'm a mood reader & was looking for something that was light - something I didn't have to think heavily about after finishing Onyx Storm. I tried a few books but nothing stuck. Then after watching a movie I was on the hunt for a revenge story. I seen a social media post listing this one with the revenge trope. Perfect I thought. Only, it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. 

Alessandra has a plan - Woo the Shadow King. Marry the Shadow King. Kill the Shadow King. And despite not knowing the extent of the Shadow King's power, she will stop at nothing to try and get everything she has always wanted. Wealth, power, and acknowledgement. She is tired of being overlooked because of her sister. 

But Alessandra isn't the only one trying to kill the King. As attempts on his life are being made, Alessandra is finding herself trying to keep the Shadow King alive long enough for her to become Queen, and also finding herself getting closer to him - which is a dangerous game and could end up getting them both killed. 

So, like I said this was a lighter, easier fantasy read. It wasn't a high fantasy with a ton of world building to dive into. It was an upper YA read - there are mentions of sex & violence and death, but the sex is mostly off page. It is a slow burn, not quite enemies to friends to lovers. While the characters never really hated each other, Alessandra was planning to kill the King to gain his throne. 

There was some revenge - but not between the main characters, which was what I was originally was searching for when I picked up this book. 

Over all it was a good quick read, that I enjoyed. It was light, fun and interesting. If you love YA fantasy reads with main characters with shadow powers and scheming FMC's then I recommend this read. 

4⭐ out of 5⭐. 

1 🌶️ out of 5🌶️. 

Tropes: 

• enemies to lovers (kinda)

• villainous MC

• morally grey MC 

• slow burn 

• shadow daddy 

• court of intrigue 

• murder mystery 

• historical fantasy with modern thinking 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Tricia Levenseller is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eight YA romantasies, including the Daughter of the Pirate King duology and The Shadows between Us. Her books have been translated into twenty languages and counting.

Tricia grew up in Oregon, where she spent her childhood climbing trees and playing make believe. She now lives in Utah with her bossy dog, Rosy, where she writes full time. When she’s not writing or reading, Tricia enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing video games, and finding tasty restaurants to frequent.

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