Book Review: Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver

Rating: ★★★★☆(4/5)

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Introduction: I read this in February but it took me a while to finish the review. I started actively reading A LOT the last few months and I didn’t find a stopping point to write about what I was reading. That being said, this is a great ending to the trilogy. I read it the week it came out and was very pleased with how it ended.

Quick Facts

• Release: February 2025 Read: February 2025
• Reading Time: 5-7 hours
• Pages: 416
• Format Recommendation: Audiobook is recommended. The MMC accent takes the story to a whole other level with the audiobook.
• Perfect for: If you enjoy Dark Romantic Comedies or Dark Romances are a little too dark and you need some comedic relief, this series is for you.
• Genre and Writing Style:
• Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
• Trigger Level:💀💀💀

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Summary: A Brief Overview (Without Major Spoilers)

• Murder.
• Mayhem.
• And spice.
• Doctor Fionn Kane is running from a broken heart, one he hopes to mend in small-town Nebraska, far away from his almost-fiance and his derailed surgical career. It’s a simpler head down, hard work, and absolutely no romantic relationships. He wants none of the circus he left behind in Boston.
• But then the real circus finds him.
• Motorcycle performer Rose Evans has spent a decade on the road with the Silveria Circus, and it suits her just fine, especially when she has the urge to indulge in a little murder when she’s not in the spotlight. But when a kill goes awry and she ends up with an injured leg, Rose finds herself stuck in Nebraska, at the home of the adorably nerdy town doctor.
• The problem is, not every broken heart can be sewn back together.
• . . . And the longer you stay in one place, the more likely your ghosts are to catch up.

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What Worked for Me:

Rose and Fionn’s dynamic: They felt very domestic. It had a lot less serial killer vibes than Butcher & Blackbird which I appreciated. Fionn was more of a protector and less of a murderer. There is more of a will they won’t they situation with these two and I like the slow burn they take.

Fionn: He is my favorite brother. He loves to crochet, isn’t a serial killer, but can still get freaky in the sheets. He still has the protective instincts of his brothers but he is the healer of the family. He has dedicated his life to good and trying to help others. While he isn’t above helping Rose out of a sticky situation, his moral fiber is more my speed.

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What Didn’t Work for Me: Trigger Warnings and Criticisms

The Gore: While I do enjoy these books, they are not for the squeamish. There are moments where people lose their eyes, women are attacked, very obvious cases of domestic abuse, and other trigger points that will be harder for some viewers to read.

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Final Thoughts: I really did not like the start of Butcher & Blackbird. I struggled to get into it. But once I did I liked it. I really liked Leather and Lark. I would have to say that Scythe & Sparrow is my favorite. The personalities of the two MCs are just more my speed, the story kept me on my toes a bit more, and it was a nice ending to the trilogy.

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📚 Study Guide

Tips for Readers: Be prepared to reflect on the darker themes throughout the story; journal your feelings to unpack the complexity of characters and their relationships.

• Discussion Questions:
  1. Discuss your overall impressions of Scythe & Sparrow. What were your most and least favorite aspects of the romance between Rose Evans and Fionn Kane? Why? 
  2. How did your experience of reading Scythe & Sparrow compare to your experience with reading the first two novels in the Ruinous Love Trilogy? Discuss the similarities and differences between this final installment and the preceding titles, Butcher & Blackbird and Leather & Lark. 
  3. Scythe & Sparrow thematically aligns with the rest of the Ruinous Love series, which often normalizes murder as either a necessity, a moral action, or a form of recreation. What was your response to this aspect of the narrative world? How did the characters’ redefinition of morality affect your reading experience?