A review by elonn
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

dark lighthearted tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

This should’ve been two different books - a serial killer romance novel and a chef romance novel, but instead they were crudely crammed into one book. If you’re going to make both your main characters lovable serial killers, you need to commit. The author didn't and consequently I never bought either of them as killers. They had zero killer traits outside of their actual killing. In the scenes where they are killing, they felt like completely different people. I wish I had gotten to spend more time with those people bc they were way more interesting than the normal versions of themselves. I never even understood why Rowan liked killing or what motivated him. The whole serial killer plot (the MAIN fucking plot) felt completely unfinished.

This book was also SO gory in ways it did not earn. I don’t even mind gore. It was just so out of place in this otherwise tame book. 

The dialogue was atrocious, I could barely get through their stupid “banter.” And some parts barely even made sense, like
why did he fly there just to hide behind a tree?? If you had no plans to see her or talk to her, wouldn’t it have been easier to just Instacart her the ingredients from Boston?? Has this author never heard of Postmates or...? I know delivery fees are high but they’re definitely not the $500 you paid some random kid.
I am so confounded by this plot choice.
 
I think the worst part was
the intensely rough sex scene that took place hours after she was severely injured. Maybe I’m CRAZY, but I just don’t enjoy sex scenes when one character has a fresh, grievous injury.
WEIRD, I know.
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