Dark romantic comedy of interconnected stand-alone books featuring the Kane brothers & the badass women they fall in love with. 

Buckle up book fiends, today we’re diving into the gloriously chaotic and intense Ruinous Love trilogy by Brynne Weaver. This is a dark romance series is about the hilarious Kane brothers and the fierce women who tamed them. Most of whom are serial killers. I would turn away now if serial killer-dark romances sprinkled with some red flag confetti is not your thing.

I listened to the audio versions of these books. I highly recommend going the audio route when consuming this trilogy. The dual narration was spectacular and I found myself fully emerged in the story being told.

The Ruinous Love Trilogy ♥ Brynne Weaver

Butcher & Blackbird ♥ Brynne Weaver ♥ Ruinous Love #1

Published August 2023 ♥ Published by Zando

❥ Narrated by : Joe Arden & Lucy Rivers

Sloane + Rowan = ♥

❥ Trigger Warnings for Butcher and Blackbird

Eyeballs and eye sockets, Amateur surgery, skin ornaments, chainsaws, axes, knives, scalpels – a lot of sharp objects. Accidental cannibalism & Not-so-accidental cannibalism. Questionable use of a mummified corpse, Lobotomized man servant & Ill-advised use of kitchen implements. I’m sorry about the cookies and cream ice cream (I’m not really).

Detailed sex scenes which include (but are not limited to) cock warming, rough sex, praise kink, anal, adult toys, choking, spitting, dom/sub interactions, genital piercings.

References to parental neglect and child abuse, Parental loss (not depicted – one parent murdered, one parent passed in child birth) & References to child sexual assault (not in detail)

It’s a book about serial killers, so there’s some generally messed-up murder and chaos.

Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver: A Darkly Delicious Romance of Serial Killers

Butcher and Blackbird Review

This isn’t just a dark romance. It’s a twisted competition between two rival serial killers. A competition where the golden retriever Rowan falls first & falls obsessively hard for the remarkable Sloane. It’s a deadly game that turns friends to lovers.

Sloane is a serial killer. The Orb Weaver. Hunting down other serial killers and plucking out their eyeballs. Rowan is a chef by day. Serial killer, The Boston Butcher, by night. After a chance meeting, Rowan & Sloane enter into a friendly competition – seeing who can hunt down and kill their chosen target first. Hands down, Rowan was my favorite brother & Sloane, my favorite fmc of the trilogy.

Weaver expertly balances dark, witty humor and the disturbing nature of the characters with a beautiful romance. Sloane and Rowan are complex, flawed, and charismatic. I loved how hard Rowan fell for Sloane, he was mesmerized by her. There is just something about a woman writing a man falling for a woman that’s *chef’s kiss.

Butcher and Blackbird Spicy Chapters

16, 17, 18, 19, 23 & Bonus Chapter

Leather & Lark ♥ Brynne Weaver ♥ Ruinous Love #2

Published June 2024 ♥ Published by Zando

❥ Narrated by : Eric Nolan & Samantha Brentmoor

Lark + Lachlan = ♥

❥ Trigger Warnings for Leather and Lark

Eyeballs but not eye sockets, so you’re welcome. Teeth & tooth byproducts. I might have ruined pizza and beer. Also, smoothies. Still not sorry. Snow globes. Autocannibalism…? Welcome to a debate you never thought you’d have.

Numerous weapons and sharp objects, including darts, scissors, guns, saws, knives, grinders, an edger, and a little implement called an enucleation spoon. Severed fingers. You might have new thoughts about crafting with epoxy resin. Vehicular collisions. Drowning in various forms. Terminal illness of a loved one.

Detailed sex scenes, which include (but are not limited to) adult toys, choking, rough sex, mild degradation, sexual acts in public, pegging and praise kink.

References to parental neglect and child abuse (not depicted). Religious references/trauma. Explicit and colorful language, including a lot of “blasphemy.” Don’t say I didn’t warn you! Injured dog (cause of injury not depicted, and he’s okay, I promise!)

There is a lot of death… it’s a book about a contract killer and a serial killer falling in love, so I feel like that’s probably a given.

Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver: A Darkly Enticing Marriage of Convenience

Leather and Lark Review

Leather and Lark is dark, lyrical and dripping with tension and desire. When they first meet, Lark – Sloane’s bff, and Lachlan – Rowan’s brother, hate each other. Slowly, the cold hard ice between them begins to thaw as they are forced into marriage. Their forced proximity facilitates a slow-burn romance, where tension simmers beneath the surface.

I personally didn’t enjoy Leather and Lark as much as Butcher and Blackbird. I didn’t find Lark as captivating, or Lochlan as swoon worthy. That’s not to say that they weren’t. Lochlan is a broody leather working contract killer and older brother of Rowan. Lark, like her best friend Sloane, is a serial killer. A serial killer who likes to make crafts with trophies of her kills. Glorious.

Weaver maintains her blend of dark romance and humor in Leather and Lark. I just didn’t personally love it as much as Butcher and Blackbird.

Leather and Lark Spicy Chapters

18, 19, 20, 21 & Bonus Chapter

Scythe & Sparrow ♥ Brynne Weaver ♥ Ruinous Love #3

Published February 2025 ♥ Published by Zando

❥ Narrated by : Eric Nolan & Samantha Brentmoor

Rose + Fionn = ♥

❥ Trigger Warnings for Scythe and Sparrow

Eyeballs…again. If it”s any consolation, I don’t know why I keep writing them into books because eyeball shit freaks me the fuck out. Also, eyelids. Yep. We’re there now. I’m not sure as I really ruin cotton candy as much as maybe just defile it. Possibly sausages and/or hot dogs. Ill-advised use of a staple guns. Are drug addicted raccoons a trigger? Debate! Clowns. Sexy clowns.

Medical trauma including serious injury, ambulances, open fractures, puncture wounds, blood loss, hospitals, surgical recovery. Impaling (not the sexy kind, but okay…that too). References to domestic physical abuse (not depicted), psychological/emotional abuse, sexual harassment, threats & intimidation, misogyny. Injured dog – but if you have read Leather and Lark, you already know Bentley will be fine! He’s too grumpy and badass to die. Parental neglect & child physical abuse (not depicted).

Numerous weapons and sharp objects, including knives, guns, baseball bats, metal hooks, an edge beveler – you should be used to these by now. Detailed sex scenes, which include (but are not limited to): adult toys, primal kink, cum kink, anal, rough sex & sexual acts in public. Explicit and colorful language, including a lot of “blasphemy”. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

There is a lot of injury and death…it’s a book about a doctor and a serial killer falling in love, so I feel like that’s probably a given.

Scythe and Sparrow by Brynne Weaver: When Doctor Meets Killer love blooms beneath the Circus Lights

Scythe and Sparrow Review

We first meet Rose & Fionn in Butcher and Blackbird. Sloane was in need of being patched up & Rowan takes her to his younger brother, the crocheting Dr. Fionn Kane. Technically we met Rose first, and I was not a fan of the circus performer. She grew on me during the events of Leather and Lark. Fionn? well I knew he was going to be in the running for Best Kane Brother.

A good portion of the events in Scythe and Sparrow take place during the two previous books. I suppose if you really wanted, you could even read it tandem with the other two. Prior to Rowan and Sloane showing up on Fionn’s doorstep in Butcher and Blackbird, Rose showed up in his clinic. Their romance blooms as Fionn nurses Rose back to health. If the care taker micro trope is your jam, this one is for you.

Fionn is the only Kane brother who is not a serial killer. Meanwhile, Rose is taking out dirt bags left, right and center. I ended up really liking Rose as we get to know her in Scythe and Sparrow.

Scythe and Sparrow Spicy Chapters

13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, Epilogue 2 & Bonus Chapter

Captivating, disturbing and utterly enthralling.

If you’re a fan of dark romance and serial killers prepare to be consumed by the Ruinous Love trilogy. It’s a little bit twisted, a little bit thrilling, and a whole lot captivating. And lets not forget, funny. Multiple times I caught myself laughing out out to myself.

If I could forget one of these books so I could read it again, it would be Butcher and Blackbird. & if I could just forget one of these books, it would be Leather and Lark.

I’d be down for one, or two last bonus chapters. All six of them sitting down at Butcher & Blackbird, or 3 in Couch discussing who has the highest kill count.

Listen to the Ruinous Love Trilogy

All three books are available through Audible. I listened to them through my local library and the Hoopla app.

❥ Brynne Weaver : Webpage ♥ Instagram ♥ Facebook ♥ Twitter

❥ Purchase : Chapters/Indigo ♥ Amazon ♥ Kobo ♥ Bookshop.org