Reviews with content warning for Excrement - Butcher & Blackbird

My summary: Rowan and Sloane share a hobby in common—they are each a serial killer who only kills serial killers or pedos or the like. Having never met before, Rowan, the Boston Butcher, rescues Sloane, the Orb Weaver, from a cage at a murder crime scene that went wrong, when he stumbled across her while he was chasing a mark they were each apparently tracking. The chance encounter turns into an annual hunting competition, and their friendship turns into love. As Sloane and Rowan each have to face down their own demons, they have to also watch their backs from threats left in their wake.

My thoughts: I saw a lot of hype about this book and read it last month. But I kept seeing over and over again that the audiobook is the best, so here I am. And let me tell you, the audiobook version is absolutely the way to go on this one. That being said, I thought the book was not for the squeamish. But the audiobook is *REALLY* not for the squeamish. {Insert laughing-crying-gagging}. I do not at all understand how these narrators pulled this off, but I’m so glad they did. And I love Joe Arden as a male narrator {Swoon}. Joe Arden doing an Irish accent? {Swoonier Swoon}. Seriously, he’s welcome to do the male voice of every audiobook I ever listen to now and forever. I enjoyed Lucy Rivers as well. I basically binged this audiobook in two sessions and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now I just can’t wait for Leather & Lark to be released in June.

Content Warnings

malibu_alex's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny tense 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

4.5

Content Warnings

kasara_elisa's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

a_novi's review

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dark tense 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? No

2.75

I read this book because of a blind recommendation and holy mother of god. This book is basically an unhinged watt pad fanfic. The writing (especially the female mc pov) is riddled with a very VERY millennial style of “I’m different than other girls” humor. The writing in general is very cringy but then the sex scenes start… I enjoy some adult novels as long as the sex scene are tasteful and the plot is still good, but this was pretty hard to read. The female mc actually thought the phrase “my panties dampened instantly”… now who the FUCK says or thinks that? No one. If you look passed the cringey millennial writing and the forced sex scenes, the premise of serial killer-killers is cool and the challenge the to mc’s do is interesting, I like the idea of killers who target pedos and murderers and the orb weaver calling card is pretty cool too. These things are the only things that saved the book for me. If you are a shameless watt pad fan then you’ll probably love this.

Content Warnings

whynotreadwithalex's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

Fast-paced. Dark humor. A deadly competition between two vigilante serial killers who fall in love. I simply couldn't help myself. And I am incredibly glad that I did! Even though I'm definitely scarred for life (seriously, read the content warnings before...Weaver isn't messing around).
This book made me laugh-out-loud probably more than I would care to admit. I loved Rowan's quick wit (and the fact that he's obsessed with Blackbird from day one), and sweet -- scoop-your-eyeballs-out -- Sloane. This is truly a tale of unconditional love, albeit insanely grotesque circumstances. It's a riot!

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