Butcher & Blackbird: The Ruinous Love Trilogy, Book 1

#1 New York Times bestselling series and USA TODAY Bestseller

"I want to ruin her so that she's mine, my beautiful disaster. My wild creature. My goddess of chaos."

The viral TikTok friends-to-lovers dark romantic comedy full of murder, chaos, and sizzling chemistry-unlike anything you've read before.

When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, they find something elusive-the friendship of two like-minded, pitch-black souls who just happen to enjoy killing other serial killers.

From small-town West Virginia to upscale California, and from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country.

But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love.

Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves?
Or have they finally met their match?

Tropes:
Golden retriever x black cat
He falls first
Touch him/her and die
Friends to lovers
Forced proximity
One bed

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Published Oct 10, 2023

Average rating: 7.51

1,812 RATINGS

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cristytd

Jul 11, 2025

2/10 stars

I don’t mean to yuck anyone’s yum, but hell-to-the-no.

I love thrillers and murder mysteries and I don’t know if it was the fact of the whole thing being so highly unlikely or what the hell it was. All I know is that this book made me cringe until I couldn’t cringe any longer.

I tried. I really tried. But, it was so underwhelming. The whole thing is just so dumb. Genuinely one of the worst things I’ve ever read. Gave me the ick.

DNF: 58%

Ashwe2011

Jul 06, 2025

10/10 stars

OMG OMG OMG OMFG!!!! I loved this book normally I am not a romance kind of girl but their sick twisted love did it for me. I could not put this book down and was so sad when I had. (STUPID WORK) Both characters are written beautifully I wanted to be Black Bird and Butcher oh man he sounds so hot. I know they are killers but still, I LOVE THEM and I'm so happy they found each other. Anyway, I loved this book so much that after I was done reading it I thought about who would play them in whatever Netflix movie will probably get made that we will all probably hate.

Tanja

Jun 25, 2025

10/10 stars

FREAKING AMAZING! This book was so so good!
Funny, witty, suspenseful, fast-paced, STEAMY.....the banter between Rowan and Sloane is everything!! If you can, listen to the audiobook, the narration is incredible.

Definitely check your trigger warnings on this one!!

Tropes:
Golden retriever x black cat
He falls first
Touch him/her and die
Friends to lovers
Forced proximity
One bed

Lady May

Jun 18, 2025

4/10 stars

This book was just okay. I was expecting more Dexter vibes but definitely didn’t fit the bill. It felt a bit juvenile and cheesy with multiple areas of the plot lacking. I won’t go into anymore detail as to not include spoilers.

Gail_71

May 25, 2025

7/10 stars

“Butcher & Blackbird” promised an exciting journey right from the trigger warnings, and it was delivered! This fast-paced story is filled with serial killer madness, so read the warnings carefully. I loved Rowan and felt Sloane's chemistry from their first meeting. Although I usually find the "he falls harder" trope off-putting, I enjoyed his chapters and how smitten he was. It wasn’t a 5-star read for me because it lagged in the middle for about 50 pages. However, once the pace picked up again, it transformed into an amazing and enjoyable read!