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jprex 's review for:

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
4.25
dark emotional funny medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I can't say I expected a meet-cute over a decaying body, but when it happened, it definitely served as a harbringer of the rest of the unhinged madness to come. I never thought to myself that I needed to experience a romance between serial killers of serial killers, but the premise was too intriguing to pass up.

Sloane is an interesting character because, while you don't necessarily want to root for her, she has a somewhat understandable motivation. I was relieved that her history wasn't spelled out in full - the inferences were enough to get the point across. While some FMCs can be independent and stubborn to a fault in ways that contradict their characterization, everything about Sloane fit the role she was playing in ways that made sense.

Rowan is the type of male lead that has you say "book boyfriend" on one hand and "deep, deep trouble" on the other. He was playful and hilarious, but with an earned violent streak that made him dangerous. The one saving grace is that the violence was never turned toward the "innocents," so to speak. 

This book sort of undermines my ability to talk about it. There were laugh-out-loud parts that were equal parts shock value and true humor. There were really dark motivations and thought processes, but with a veneer of lightness and...cuteness? It was Dexter and Criminal Minds told with Cartoon Network humor and seriously hot spice. 

Did I enjoy it? Yes. With some residual guilt, a lot of laughs, and a fair bit of queasiness along the way.




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