Scythe & Sparrow by 
Of the three books in The Ruinous Love Trilogy, Scythe and Sparrow by Brynne Weaver was the one that let me down the most. Butcher and Blackbird was the blueprint. Leather and Lark was so connected to B&B that I really enjoyed it and felt like I was still in the same bubble. Scythe and Sparrow feels so removed from everything and everyone, despite having so many nods back to the early books in the series, that I felt it could’ve been any generic dark romance book.
Whereas the first two books in the trilogy follow pairs of serial killers, this third one doesn’t. It’s off. You have Rose, a completely random person passing through a completely random town and state. She wants? to be come a serial killer but can’t stomach killing and literally has not a single thought spared to forensic counter measures. Then we have Fionn, estranged youngest brother doesn’t want to kill and became a doctor to spite that part of himself. If Fionn hadn’t been blood related to Rowan and Lachlan, there would’ve been no hint this was a Ruinous Love book.
Where the first two seemed to showcase characters that knew who they were and were fairly confident in it, this one features a couple that actively reject and work to hide who they are and what they want. That is where this struggle comes and honestly? It wasn’t enough. There wasn’t enough tension and what was there felt so lackluster compared to the earlier books.
With all my complaining, how did this end up getting 4 stars from me? Because it was still a solid dark romance that I enjoyed. If it was truly a standalone, I would’ve loved it. So despite it being a really disappointing end to a great trilogy, it was still a solid, good and spicy read. Obviously, if you’ve read the first two, you’ll be picking up Scythe and Sparrow by Brynne Weaver. I would just say to temper your expectations.