Scan barcode
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
In the second book in the Ruinous Love trilogy, Lark Montague and Lachlan Kane are forced into a marriage of convenience while investigating a mysterious threat.
After absolutely *loving* BUTCHER & BLACKBIRD earlier this year, this book was one of my most anticipated releases, and I was literally waiting at the door so I could start it the second that it was delivered.
I’m not sure anything could have ever FULLY lived up to the hype in my mind, but I still really enjoyed this one! Lark and Lachlan are both fantastic, and their relationship and character arc was really lovely. I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers, so watching their banter and “hate” for one another was a ton of fun. I also loved the high stakes feel of the final few chapters, and I am SUPER excited to see where things go for Fionn and Rose in book three!
I will say that this one felt slightly less unhinged than BUTCHER & BLACKBIRD—I personally LOVED the unhingedness (not sure that’s a word) of the first, so do with that what you will.
CW: Just about any gore/violence/blood related one you can think of; mentions of sexual predators (including against children); terminal illness
Graphic: Sexual content, Child abuse, Gore, Murder, Animal cruelty, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Torture, Terminal illness, and Violence
bunky_jones's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Stalking, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Cursing, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Religious bigotry
spicyviolets's review against another edition
- 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
I really enjoyed the slow burn of their relationship and the resulting spice was good, but the pacing of the overall story could’ve been better.
I think that this book just didn’t quite manage to nail the elements that Butcher and Blackbird got extremely right, but it was still really enjoyable.
Graphic: Murder and Torture
Minor: Sexual assault
dani_reis's review against another edition
Graphic: Blood, Chronic illness, Confinement, Sexual assault, Torture, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual content, Stalking, Violence, and Vomit
elle622's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Vomit and Terminal illness
sxndaze's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and Confinement
Minor: Pedophilia, Animal cruelty, and Sexual assault
carla20's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Vomit, Body horror, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child abuse, Grief, and Sexual assault
lauraelovesbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I loved Lachlan so much and how gone he was for Lark. Normally I get bored in books when the couple develops feelings for each other so quickly, but I felt there was enough pining here and enough other things going on that I really didn’t mind
I’m very excited for the next book in this series
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Confinement, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
krystalreadsstuff's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was another enjoyable and unbelievable story in the Ruinous Love series. I didn't love Lark and Lachlan quite as much as Rowan and Sloane, and the first book (Butcher & Blackbird) definitely made me laugh out loud more than this one, but I still stayed up way too late to finish this book.
Weaver's inclusion of the antagonist-crazy-religious-murderer's POV was well done and felt like a starkly different voice, a problem I found with the main characters' POVs. I had to stop multiple times to double-check whose POV I was reading from because they were extremely similar.
Like with Butcher & Blackbird, to enjoy this book requires a fair amount of suspension of understanding how reality works, especially in terms of forensics, investigations, security, ...craft supplies and industrial ovens. But it was still a fun read, I will definitely read the third book in this trilogy and probably whatever else Brynne Weaver comes up with, and I give it a solid 4 stars.
Graphic: Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Torture, Blood, Confinement, Murder, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Gun violence
Minor: Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Death of parent
samellecooke's review against another edition
- 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
Lochlan and Lark are a "fecking catastrophe" and it's perfection from beginning to end. Never in my life have I read such unhinged characters written so beautifully. Brynne did not disappoint on her latest list of warnings. She delivered from page one. I may have gagged a handful of times, but that's to be expected.
Spice rivaled Butcher & Blackbird, aka more perfection. Loved that Brynne delivers the same level of spice, but manages to keep it completely fresh. No wash, rinse, repeat here.
Everyone I have talked to you about this book, I have urged to grab the audio version. Even if you aren't an audio person usually, the Ruinous Love series is best enjoyed audibly (in my not so humble opinion). Samantha Brentmoor and Eric Nolan are just as worthy of the 5 gold stars as Brynne Weaver is for concocting this tale. Run, don't walk, to read today.
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Cursing, Kidnapping, Murder, Death, Violence, Gore, and Torture
Moderate: Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Drug use, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, and Cancer
Like Butcher & Blackbird, this book is not for the faint of heart or weak of constitution. Brynne writes murder and torture scenes in vivid detail, using some very...creative means (see her lengthy list of warnings at the beginning of the book). While they don't often explicitly talk about sexual abuse and pedophilia, these are all central themes to this book so be prepared. All that to say, these topics are all tastefully written...if that's possible of murder, rape, and violence in general. Happy reading!