When writing Butcher & Blackbird, there is no way Brynne Weaver could have predicted just how big and beloved this series would become. As someone who was afraid of the hype, I can attest to that sentiment.
That's why slowly but surely I made my way through the series, and now, we're at the final book of the series, which is Scythe & Sparrow. I've previously reviewed Butcher & Blackbird, along with Leather & Lark. Since those two were older titles, it was more about the hype.
With Scythe & Sparrow releasing in February 2025, there hasn't been as much time for it to be hyped aside from those who read the previous two installments. Scythe & Sparrow follows the final Kane brother, Fionn, who is a doctor and the relationship he has with Rose, his patient, and a traveling circus performer.
Given how long we've been waiting for this romance and seeing the glimpses of what could be, this was a need, not a want. Thankfully, Brynne Weaver knew exactly what we were craving and delivered as she always does.
Brynne Weaver gives us loads to love about Scythe & Sparrow.
Let's start with the plot of Scythe & Sparrow, which follows Fionn as he stumbles upon Rose, who is badly injured. As a doctor, he is required to give her medical attention, but asking her to stay with him doesn't fall under that. However, the two end up becoming the most unlikely of roommates, and it's from there that the romance truly begins.
Fionn is a doctor, but as with his brothers, it's clear he has a darker side to him. While it might not seem like it at first, he's so "Touch her and you die" with Rose. Even though he's more softspoken and thoughtful, he isn't afraid to throw a punch or two to get his point across. It's unexpected, but that's why he's such a complex character. Additionally, he has to do things he doesn't want to do, including making sure bad men get taken care of, which can't be easy.
On the flipside, Rose is a traveling circus performer who is just looking for a home, although she doesn't realize it at first. She simply thinks she's staying until her leg is healed, but Rosie doesn't mean a little trouble in the form of murder. She decides to enact some vigilante justice of the highest form and take out abusive scumbags. It's delightful to read, but at the same time, utterly realistic, as Rose doesn't always have the stomach for it.
With these two different personalities at play, it can be hard to see how they'd end up together, but where the tension really comes to a simmer is in the bedroom. Brynne Weaver has written some excellent sex scenes in her previous works, but Scythe & Sparrow takes the cake. These two truly connect on a different level while in the bedroom, which isn't something all authors can pull off.
As the final book in the series, Scythe & Sparrow hit all the points I was hoping for and gave us a slightly less traumatizing food scene. From Brynne Weaver, that's all I can ask for. Plus, we get to see the bad guys get taken out and Rose get the last laugh on such a despicable man. While it didn't exactly play out in the best way for Fionn, that's a journey we might see in the future, but right now, it's nice to see the Ruinous Love trilogy wrapped up.
The good news is that Brynne Weaver has already announced her next project, which is Tourist Season. It is the start of The Seasons of Carnage trilogy and is a dark enemies-to-lovers romance. The book is currently scheduled for release in September 2025.