I don’t venture into contemporary romance much, but my interest was piqued when I heard about Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver. Friends and acquaintances described the book as a romance with horror and true-crime fixins, and it sounded dark and twisty enough to make a modern love story interesting. If you love this particular genre, my review probably won’t sway you either way, but I’m here for anyone who is more selective when it comes to reading romance.
The infamous Orb Weaver got caught in her victim’s latest trap, which is embarrassing, to say the least. But her sticky situation leads to a run-in with a kindred spirit, the Boston Butcher, who also likes to kill society’s worst. It’s rare to have multiple serial killers operating in one area, and even rarer for two to pair up in a yearly killing competition. The Orb Weaver and Boston Butcher descend on a location once a year to compete by uncovering and killing their next target first. As the game goes on, the two will slowly begin to unravel the other while bonding over their gruesome shared interest that may lead to a friendship…or something more.
One of the biggest reasons I don’t read a lot of contemporary romance is because I can’t get past the cheesiness. No matter how seriously a romance takes itself, my dark, cold heart finds most modern love stories over-the-top and ridiculous. But Butcher & Blackbird’s unique premise is one where the ridiculousness actually worked in its favor, at least for me. Following the romance of two serial killers brought a levity that celebrates the insanity of the romance instead of detracting from it. The story feels campy but in an exaggerated slasher film sort of way. I had to suspend so much disbelief that two killers could live normal lives with friends and family aware of their gruesome crimes that it made me more open to the romance antics I would normally scoff at.
However, I did not find the book’s romance all that interesting because it didn’t feel earned. Rowan starts pining for Sloane from the first moment he lays eyes on her which is incredibly unsatisfying for someone like me who likes a slow burn or enemies-to-lovers situation. For the majority of the book, we’re waiting for Sloane to get with the program and come around. Their “will they, won’t they” situation also doesn’t feel as intense due to the huge time skips that occur. Mostly, we’re jumping to their yearly murder competition where the tensions between them are high but the focus is on the crime at hand. Small yearly check-ins happen between the competitions that clue us into their relationship, but nothing ever had me pining or on the edge of my seat. I spent more time fretting over if and when the characters would get caught for their crimes than their fated romance.
Outside of the insane murder competition, crimes, and gruesome horror, I was very bored. I don’t think this is a genre problem either because there are contemporary romances that I have loved and devoured. The premise is so flashy and steals the show, and I could tell that Weaver had a ton of fun writing Rowan and Sloane when they were in their killing element. These scenes are descriptive and gory with a banter that is dark and outrageous. I had the most fun watching these two try to go in for the kill while dancing around each other. But once the chainsaw stops revving there’s not much left to them. Turns out, serial killers living out their normal lives and relationships in the real world is pretty lame.
I can see how Butcher & Blackbird is stealing the hearts of romance fans because it’s bloody and exciting. At this point, readers have read almost every type of situationship, so a serial killer couple is unique and can hold you hostage. If you’re looking for a love story in an abnormal setting you can totally give this one a stab, but the romance is not one that will steal your breath away.
Rating: Butcher & Blackbird – 6.5/10
-Brandee
