Love & Other Killers

by Brynne Weaver

The Ruinous Trilogy may have concluded, but Weaver has gifted us with a short, sharp novella for anyone who wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to the gang – Rowan, Sloane, Lachlan, Lark, Rose, and Fionn. After my less-than-glowing review of Scythe & Sparrow (don’t shoot the messenger – it just fell a little short for me compared to the others), I wasn’t sure I’d pick up any follow-up stories. I’m so glad I gave Love & Other Killers a chance, because it more than made up for my disappointment with S&S.

The story centers on the Annual August Showdown that Rowan and Sloane launched back in Butcher & Blackbird. This year, however, the rules have changed: the Sticker B*tch Crew (Sloane, Lark, and Rose) versus the Kane Brothers (Rowan, Lachlan, and Fionn). Naturally, chaos ensues. The girls think they’ve outsmarted the boys by getting to their target first—only to realize the brothers might know a little more than they’re letting on.

The stakes? Hunting down a true menace to society before the other team does. The fun is in the guessing: Who’s going to outmaneuver who? Who’s willing to pull out all the stops? And what delicious surprises does Weaver have waiting along the way?

(And yes, Barbara is back. Honestly, everyone needs a Barbara in their life.)

What makes this novella shine is how effortlessly it delivers exactly what fans of The Ruinous Trilogy want: witty banter, sibling rivalry, and family bonding, all wrapped in sharp atmosphere and vivid imagery. Because Weaver skips heavy backstory, the novella moves quickly, letting readers already familiar with TRT dive right into the action without missing a beat. Supporting characters are fleshed out just enough, while the spotlight stays where it belongs – on the chaos-loving gang we’ve come to adore.

While I don’t expect we’ll see more full-length novels about the TRT gang, I wouldn’t complain if Weaver dropped in the occasional novella like this one to keep us fed.

For anyone new to this world, I strongly recommend reading in order: Butcher & Blackbird, then Leather & Lark, followed by Scythe & Sparrow, and finally Love & Other Killers. Reading out of sequence will cost you context, and you’ll miss the layers that make this novella so satisfying.

And a final note – Weaver teased cover previews for her upcoming series at the end of Love & Other Killers, and if the covers are any indication, I’ll be diving headfirst into those books the moment they’re released. Brynne, if you ever need an Alpha/Beta/ARC reader, my inbox is open – I’d be tickled pink.

As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation, present or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.

If you enjoyed this review, or any content on my page, please follow me on all social media as thetxlitchic – links can be found here on my  LinkTree 🙂

#thetxlitchic #bookreviewsandmore #bookstagram #booktok #bookcommunity #readersofinstagram #booklover #arcreader #bookreview #bingeworthy #tbr #supportindieauthors #bookobsessed #instareads #books #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookreviews #keepreading #indiebooks #indieauthors #Supportyourlocalbook #genrewhore #ilikebigbooksandicannotlie #brynneweaver #theruinoustrilogy #loveandotherkillers