Review: Love & Other Killers

 

Title: Love & Other Killers 

Series: Ruinous Love 

Author: Brynne Weaver 

Release Date: August 12, 2025

Serial killers versus serial killer in a hot and twisted novella about family games, true love, and competitive carnage by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Ruinous Love Trilogy.

It’s the annual hunt for Sloane and her vigilante family of serial killers. Track the most cold-blooded psychos imaginable and take them down. This summer’s prey is Allan Munster, a churchgoing chicken farmer who slaughters more than fowl. The rules of the hunt: divide into teams, devise a strategy, and make a move—the more cutthroat the better. May the best team win. The players are closing in. All eyes are on Munster. But there’s a hitch in the family sport this year. Someone might be watching them.

Goodreads | Amazon 

You guys I have been struggling -between the book slump, summer vacation & being sick off & on - I just haven't gotten as much reading on (i.e. hardly any at all) all summer 😫😫 

So I was sooo glad when this dropped bc not only was it a short, easy read but I loved the Ruinous Love trilogy & loved seeing those characters again. 

And while this *can* be read as a standalone I *do* recommend reading after the trilogy since it features all the characters from the trilogy you may love & sets up for the new books coming out soon. 

It's that time again, it's Rowen & Sloane's annual August Showdown - yes the crazy duo has an annual game where they hunt other serial unalivers. But this time the rest of the family joins in! 

It was a short,fun read perfect to end our summer & start spooky season with, & I loved seeing Rowen & Sloane again. 

4.5 ⭐ out of 5⭐. 

2 🌶️ out of 5🌶️. 

Tropes: 

• dark romance 

Trigger Warnings: 

- chickens eating...

- references to abduction/kidnapping & confinement 

- eyeballs (bc duh) 

- references to cannibalism 

- references to ice cream 

- language & open door sex scenes 

- vague references to childhood trauma  & child assault 

- dismembered bodies 

- violence & murder 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Brynne Weaver is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Ruinous Love Trilogy and the Seasons of Carnage Trilogy. She’s a fan of velociraptors, the Alien movies (well, most of them), red wine, and wild adventures, and can relate nearly anything you say to a line from the movie Hot Fuzz.

Website | Instagram | TikTok 

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.

Goodreads | Purchase 

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.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok 

Review: Leather & Lark

 

Title: Leather & Lark 

Series: The Ruinous Love Trilogy

Author: Brynne Weaver

Release Date: June 4

“I don’t just want to hear her laugh, I need to earn it. Every time I gain a little ground, I want more. I want to break out of the shade and back into her light. Without even realizing it, I’ve become addicted to it. To her.”

From the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the genre-breaking international TikTok sensation Butcher & Blackbird comes the second book in the Ruinous Love Trilogy—a hate-to-love dark romantic comedy packed with danger, chaos, and heat.

Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss’s biggest client, Lachlan knows he’ll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she’ll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first.

And they can’t stand each other.

Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be.

As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them.

There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep.

And this one has come for blood.

Tropes:

Hate-to-love

Marriage of convenience

Grumpy / sunshine

He falls first

Groveling, but make it psycho

Touch her/him and die

Goodreads | Purchase | 

So Butcher & Blackbird should be read before Leather & Lark. 

Lachlan Kane is ready to retire from contract killing, to having a quiet life in his leather shop. 

But when his boss sends him on a job meeting a woman who is a walking catastrophe - Lachlan's grumpy attitude gets the best of him. And screwing up that job means his boss will never get his claws out of him. Not until Lark Montague offers him a deal. 

Lark is sunshine and glitter, but she has dark secrets hiding beneath her bright exterior. So when her loved ones are threatened - she makes a hard decision. They may not be able to stand one another, but they are getting married in hopes to help them both. 

They must both navigate the dark world where they are bound together, it becomes impossible to distinguish their fake marriage for a real one. But negotiating their newfound marriage isn't the only challenge they have to face, when danger comes knocking. 

So, I loved Butcher & Blackbird, and couldn't wait to get a hold of Leather and Lark. I needed this book - thanks to that little teasing chapter in B&B. 

Plus, I love grumpy/sunshine & marriage of convenience so I was dying to see how this played out. Dark romances are my jam, & I loved how B&B was a dark rom-com. 

And while this also falls under the dark rom-com category... I wouldn't really call it dark. It was a bit slower paced, and had a lot of fluff to it, with just little crumbs of things making me want to read more. There wasn't as much danger and suspense as I would have hoped given the circumstances, and when we got it, it felt a bit rushed. And some of the relationship felt less "show" and more "tell". (Not all, there was some parts that SHOWED it too, but there were some parts where we were TOLD what happened with the characters). 

It did have great banter, great side characters, & some steamy scenes within. It was overall a good read. I loved the characters and their relationship. I loved the slow burn and tension. And overall enjoyed the story.  & I'm excited for the next book in the series!

4⭐ out of 5⭐. 

3🌶️ out of 5🌶️. Multiple detailed scenes throughout the book including some non-traditional scenes. 

Trigger Warnings

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. 

Linktree | Website |  Instagram | Tiktok | 

Review: Butcher and Blackbird

 

Title: Butcher & Blackbird

Series: The Ruinous Love Trilogy

Author: Brynne Weaver 

Release Date: August 2023

Every serial killer needs a friend. 

Every game must have a winner. 

When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive—the friendship of a like-minded, pitch-black soul. From small town West Virginia to upscale California, from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country. But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love. Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves? Or have they finally met their match? 

Butcher & Blackbird is the first book in the Ruinous Love Dark Romance trilogy of interconnected stand-alone dark romantic comedies. This dual POV novel ends on a HEA. 

***Butcher & Blackbird is a DARK ROMANCE intended for an adult audience - please see Brynne’s website for a comprehensive list of CWs***

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

What happens when two rival murderers happen upon a chance meeting with one another while hunting their prey? An annual game of hunting, blood and suffering to change their rivalry into an unlikely friendship, going against the most monstrous in the country. 

Sloane is known as the Orb Weaver- she plucks out the eyes of her victims, and wants intricate webs. Rowan is known as the Boston Butcher, murdering for sport. But each have something in common. They rid the world of those who are deserving. 

But as their friendship develops into something more, the question becomes "do monsters deserve love, too?"

So,  Butcher & Blackbird was an impulse buy. I have seen it all over my tiktok, and when I went to Walmart to grab two completely different books, I picked up Butcher & Blackbird also. And even though I have seen it everywhere- I didn't really know much about it. Which is perfect since I like going into my books blind. And while I may question every bite of ice cream in the future (thanks for that by the way) - let's be real, I couldn't give up that deliciousness... If the promise of pain and sickness from being lactose intolerant doesn't stop me, the book surely wouldn't 😂😂- I loved this book. 

It was the perfect combination dark, but still a rom-com with a slow-burn between the characters. It was light in a way I never knew a dark romance could be - but still had the dark elements to it that I love in my books (but definitely check over the tw if you have any). 

I loved Sloane, she was quirky and sassy. And I loved Rowen, he was funny and charming. And they were perfect for each other. This book was exactly what I needed to get back into reading after a busy stress filled month. It was everything I didn't know I wanted. It was a fun but dark read, that made me feel giddy like a kid in a candy store. So if you like your characters a bit deranged, if you like content that makes you wonder what the heck you just read, but like characters that can bring a smile to your face, or make you laugh then I recommend this book. And I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book. 

5 chaotic cookies & cream ⭐ out of 5 ⭐. 

4🌶️ out of 5🌶️. A few scenes, with details and k!nks. 

Tropes: 

→ dark romance 

→ rom-com 

→ serial killer H & h 

→ black cat x golden retriever  

→ slow burn 

Trigger Warnings

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. 

Website | Instagram | Tiktok |