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  • Butcher & Blackbird

  • The Ruinous Love Trilogy, Book 1
  • Written by: Brynne Weaver
  • Narrated by: Joe Arden, Lucy Rivers
  • Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (71 ratings)

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Butcher & Blackbird

Written by: Brynne Weaver
Narrated by: Joe Arden,Lucy Rivers
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Publisher's Summary

A friends-to-lovers dark romantic comedy full of murder, chaos, and spice, unlike anything you’ve heard before.

Every serial killer needs a friend. Every game must have a winner.

When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive—the friendship of a like-minded, pitch-black soul. From small-town West Virginia to upscale California, 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?

Butcher & Blackbird is the first book in the Ruinous Love dark romance trilogy of interconnected stand-alone dark romantic comedies. This dual POV novel ends on an HEA.

Butcher & Blackbird is a dark romance intended for an adult audience—please see Brynne’s website for a comprehensive list of content warnings.

©2023 Brynne Weaver (P)2023 Blue Nose Publishing

What listeners say about Butcher & Blackbird

Average Customer Ratings
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Amazing

Love this so much. And absolutely love the way it was narrated. The best narration by far out of all the audio books I’ve listen to. Can’t wait for the next book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible performances!

This is by far one of the best audio books I have listened to. Both narrators were incredible and they truly brought the story to life. The story is wonderfully grotesque, but a true love story at its core. The spice was spicing as well.
Overall a total winner and my favourite of the year- this one is worth the credit!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

These narrators totally brought this story to life

I loved this book! The story was dark, but somehow still light and funny, with great banter. Just a couple of vigilante killers becoming friends and falling in love. I took all the recommendations I saw to listen to this audio book and I was not disappointed! I haven’t listened to a lot of books with back and forth dialogue with the narrators, and it was so great. When I say these narrators were sooo good, it doesn’t even cut it. Joe Arden is always a fav, but damn, that Irish accent was perfection. I don’t think I’ve ever had Lucy Rivers narrate anything I’ve read- but she was fricking amazing! The book was great- BUT LISTEN TO THE AUDIO! Lol

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Something unique and so good

Funny. Dark. Twisted. Smutty. My jaw was on the floor in the best of ways

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The voice actors for this story were incredible

Loved the voices of this book. The smut was a bit much for me I skipped over most of it. Overall was a fun listen

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A love story in every beautiful gory detail

I love this book!
The story was so much fun. The narrators did an awesome job and I thoroughly enjoyed the narration style, it made me feel like I was right there with them. All and all I would highly recommend this book if you’re into romance with a good amount of blood shed along the way

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So so good

This book was really creative, sexy, funny and kept me locked in for the entire listen. I really really enjoyed it, can’t wait for the next in the series

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So good!

It was wicked and amazing. The narration was perfect. It could have been disgusting but the comedy and sex made it. I had to try not to wake my husband with all my giggling. Can't wait for the next!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing! Story, narration, all of it just so good!

I absolutely loved this story. I don’t usually read dark romance and I was invested in this story from the beginning.
The performance from the narrators, 10/10, *chef’s kiss* just fantastic.
The trigger warnings are no joke so please be prepared.
If you like romance, dark romance, comedy, “touch her and die”, one bed, “who did this to you” and you’re not squeamish I would definitely recommend.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Best Narration

I didn’t love the beginning of the book and the banter from Sloan was super cringe, but I stuck it out and I’m glad I did. I loved this kind of narration and wish more audiobooks adopted it. The Irish accent was the nail in the coffin for me and the story (considering the content) was adorable.

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  • Destinyreadsbooks
  • 2023-10-27

The perfect blend of dark Romance and romcom!

5⭐️

•serial k!llers
•dark romance
•romcom
•annual murd€r competition
•meet cute?
•friends? to lovers
•slowburn

THIS WAS SO DELIGHTFUL UNHINGED. this was one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened too as well. I have no much good to say about this book.

The book has like like a dark romance version of a meet cute. The fmc is stuck in cage with a guy she just murdered when the mmc rescues her. and he knew of her “work”. That when I knew it was going to be GOOD.

This book was the best blend of a romcom and a dark romance. The flirty/funny banter but still have it be dark? I was devouring it.

The plot was so fun. An annual murd€r competition? And whoever kills the right guy first wins? That’s so fun. (I don’t know what that says about me that that is my first thought)

THE FMC HAS PIERCINGS. IN BOTH PLACES 👀 I just felt like that needed to be said in the review. That is all.

READ IT.

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7 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2023-10-26

Perfect…just PERFECT

This is probably the second review I have ever done. This book, this author, these performers are amazing. Definitely not for the squeamish, but it is brilliant and clever, and just beyond anything!

Read it if you dare, but you will be so happy you did!

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4 people found this helpful

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  • AJ
  • 2023-10-18

wow

I have listened to many audiobooks but I can honestly say this is the best narration in any book I have listened to. The story is also compelling since I never thought I would like 2 serial killers. Definitely worth the credit.

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4 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Lanae Sterrett
  • 2023-10-30

Meh

Joe Arden and Lucy Rivers do a very good job of narrating this book. They have good chemistry and the style was unique in a good way. The story though? eh. Some of it was interesting but parts of it just literally did not seem feasible and others were so cliché it hurts. There were multiple parts where I bet myself one of them would say something and about 80% of those bets I was correct word for word. It wasn't a bad book, but I am not sure if its worth all the hype the booktok girlies gave it.

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3 people found this helpful

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  • JayLee
  • 2023-11-15

This is EXACTLY what a dual POV is SUPPOSED TO BE!

This is 100 percent what I have been looking for when looking for audio books for "dual POV". When each line is ACTUALLY read by each voice narrator's voice within the story, not just a specific chapter or two. This was EXCEPTIONAL. Joe Arden obviously is the GOAT when it comes to romance and Lucy Rivers had the perfect amount of sass. This was such an enjoyable listen and I actually bought the paperback just so I can read along with it because it was so vivid in my mind!

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2 people found this helpful

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  • Carmella
  • 2023-10-27

So many feels

loved this!!! audible only made the whole book come to life. I have never been grossed out, giddy, laughing, crying, spicy, and enthralled all at one time. voice actors amazing and writing fantastic!!

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  • Alexa Salton
  • 2023-11-15

It’s the dual narration for me!

Love everything about this audiobook! The story was engaging, and I absolutely loved the dual narration. It really adds something extra to the experience having the actors read their parts in each chapter.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • Jessica
  • 2023-10-27

Amazing Narration 👏

Loved this. The banter was amazing! Ready for the next book! I can listen to anything Joe narrates.

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  • Jen Roberts
  • 2023-10-26

it was one of the sexiest fu€# scenes I have ever read…

At 5 hours and 50 mins, the scene was so hot, so exquisite, a vibrantly detailed series of mental pictures playing on a reel in my brain…I need me a “Butcher” real bad like…storyline was really good too. I loved Butcher and Blackbird, and as much as it might be a dark read, it was and it wasn’t…and the narration was so on point…Joe Arden and that Irish accent and the emotion he put into the story line at times is what tore me up and sold me on the story all over again…

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2023-10-26

One of my favorites for the year!

I couldn't stop listening. I wasn't sure how it would play out and I was worried it was going to be over hyped but it is not hyped up enough!

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  • Tijana Jovicevic
  • 2023-11-29

One of my Fave reads of the year!

The duet narration is perfect! I lived this book and loved it so much! Everyone should do both : read while listening to these two 🖤🖤

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