scijessreads

Dark romantic rom-com about serial killers that kill other serial killers and start up a yearly competition to see who can get to a target first. What’s not to love?

Seriously, this book is the best combination of heartfelt pining, he-falls-first, “coworkers”-to-friends-to-lovers, bantering spicy romance that I have read in a long time. It made me laugh out loud and smile and cry. Oh, did Rowan (Butcher) and his eager pining (he saves her a permanent table in his restaurant!) make my heart ache. And once Sloane (Blackbird) was on board? The chemistry between them was electric. This is how you do a slow-burn, pining romance.

If you love Criminal Minds, but from the perspective of the other side, this is for you. It has darkness and humor that reminds me of the Necessary Evils series by Onley James, but is in its’ own category. It was sharp, and it walked a razor’s edge of tension that it managed to hold until just the right moment. There were friends and family that only added to the chaos. When Butcher and Blackbird came together, it was emotional and teasing and often devolved quickly into a (dark) comedy of errors with high stakes.

Be sure to check the content warnings. Stuff happens on page (and is hinted at) that may not be for everyone. Yes, there is accidental cannibalism (I know), but in context, it makes sense (and makes for a great call-back in the later parts of the book). But meal choice aside, this book was everything I didn’t know I wanted and everything that I needed in a romance.

It also has some excellent lines…

“I didn’t gouge them out, Butcher. I plucked them. Delicately. Like a lady.”

Sloane – Butcher & Blackbird

“Skullduggery. Should I take this as a sign that you’ve moved on from dragon smut to pirate porn?”

Rowan – Butcher & Blackbird

Seems simple enough, doesn’t it. Practice. Get a little better most days. A little stronger. It’s hard to imagine how to climb past these obstacles that seem like mountains when you’re standing in their shade. But I’ll never climb if I just keep standing still.

Sloane – Butcher & Blackbird

She’s everywhere, in every drop of my blood, in every spark of thought, and I want to fucking destroy her for it. To shatter her just like she’s broken me. Because she brings me to my fucking knees. I want to ruin her so that she’s mine, my beautiful disaster. My wild creature. My goddess of chaos.

Rowan – Butcher & Blackbird