Two Minute Tuesday - May 5, 2026

Welcome Smut Squad to another Two Minute Tuesday. We have got updates on upcoming episodes, new book releases and events that you can find us at this summer. 

Come join us for at Brynne Weaver in conversation with Aurora Palit, July 6, 2026 @ 5:30pm at Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper, AB

www.rockymountainbookbox.ca

Join us at After Dark Chapter 2 - a dark romance bookish gala September 26, 2026 @ 6:00pm at Wyndham Edmonton Hotel in Edmonton, AB

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/after-dark-chapter-2-tickets-1986292947676

Live Laugh Mortal Trash

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

We had a great intro and then I forgot. Yeah, I remember that. Okay, ready? Three, two, one, go. Hello, Smut Squad, and welcome to Two Minute Tuesday on Smut Syndicate. We are your homies, Charlie and Danielle. Yeah, firstly, May is going to be all about Bryn. And that Bryn is Bryn Weaver. Woohoo! We have decided with the release of Harvest Season by Bryn Weaver, we are going to be covering all of her books for this month. So if you want some ruinous love or Cape Carnage, stay tuned for those episodes.

SPEAKER_05 0:58

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:11

Yes, I am very excited for that one. Oh, it's gonna be so good. Also expected May 19th. Uh Fever Dream by our Canadian queen, Elsie Silver. This is book one of a completely new series called Emerald Lake. This is a small town contemporary Western romance, and I've seen a little bit of buzz about this from art readers and people that are attending some of her signings. And this is definitely if you're into that small town romance, this is the one to check out.

SPEAKER_05 1:45

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:57

Mm-hmm. 100%. It is so good. Um Rocky Mountain Book Box presents Bryn Weaver in conversation with Aurora Pallet. This is taking place at Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper, Alberta, on July 6th at 5 30. We are going to be going and we are so excited to see Bryn. You can still snag tickets for this at Rocky Mountain Bookbox.ca. So do not pass on this if you're in the Jasper area. Even if you're not, figure it out.

SPEAKER_04 2:37

Yes. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 2:59

Yes, that is another one that we are super excited to be a part of. That honestly, we've seen some of the photos from last year and everyone like super dressed up. We've already been working on kind of our ideas. Like it is gonna be a hoot and a half. Yes, one hundred percent. Well, guys, that wraps up our two minutes for today. Thanks for listening. Check us out on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook. Hell, we are everywhere. If you have any questions, comments, you can email us at smut syndicate at gmail.com, or you can use the text us feature in the bottom of this episode. Um, and that's about it. Thanks again. It was three minutes and 25 seconds, so that ain't bad. Which I I that's why I was I was gonna fill it with a whole bunch more shit, but I was like, no, it's literally called Two Minute Tuesday. I'm not gonna sit here and talk about like, yeah, there's three books coming out that we really give a shit about for the month. I don't need to tell you every single fucking book that's coming out. You can look it up. Like, we're just here to give you a little bit of information. Just a tasty taste.

SPEAKER_04 4:19

What Jesus, why?

SPEAKER_03 4:30

Why and he wrote it in the call by accident? Fuck. I'm always afraid of that. Man, I am always afraid of that shit happening to me because I'm like, fuck, please don't let that happen. Like I will be very fucking sad, Panda. Like when I'm writing like the notes and stuff, I'm like, oh my god, like make sure that I'm writing this in the right fucking place. Cause sometimes I've been like, where is that? And then I'm like, whoa, it's in a team's message. I'm like, okay, get rid of that. Okay, I'm ready. Three, two, one, go. What up, Smut Squad? Welcome to Smut Syndicate. I am Charlie, and with me is Danielle. Okay, so we are going back to the beginning. We are going the very beginning. We are going to be covering Butcher and Blackbird by Brynn Weaver. Now you might ask yourself, why? You guys already did this. Well, number one, I don't know, because. Uh, but also because, because, just because, uh, in that short time that we in the short time that we have been covering books, we have learned some things. We've changed the way that we are doing these podcasts, the way that we are sending these books to you. And also a lot more things have unfolded. So we thought, why not do it better if we can? So for the month of May, we are going to be hitting you with Bryn, non-stop Bryn action. Um, we are going to be redoing the Ruinous Love trilogy, and then we're also going to be covering tourist season leading up to the release of Harvest Season on June 9th. So stick with us. We promise it'll be worth your time. So, this is the first book in the Ruinous Love trilogy written by the Queen, Brynn Weaver, the Canadian author, hell yeah. The internet tells us that Brynn lives on a farm in Nova Scotia. I don't know if that is true to this day, but I feel like it was true because I've heard her talk about Nova Scotia. And that explains a lot because Maritimers are hilarious. And Brynn has such a wild and crazy sense of humor. Every book is full of pop culture references, and for us uh children, that is our love language. So yes. No, it's criminal. It it's it's one of the greatest dark romanticy fantasy rom-com, whatever you want to call it. It is hilarious. There will definitely be a time when we do that book because or that series because we just can't get enough of it. And Danielle, I'm here to give credit where credit is due. You found B. You found Brynn. This was your God tier, like book. So just so you know, I'm writing this right top square, right in the center on your frickin' tombstone. I found Butcher and Blackbird, like, cuz girl, it it really is. Everything else that you've done has been second to this. Yeah. That's how me and my husband fell in love. That was our meat cute, you know? It just so common, right? Uh, special mention for the audiobook. This is duet narration, meaning the female character, Sloane, is voiced by female narrator Lucy Rivers, who is she is so good. She is, I'm low-key obsessed, let me just say. And the main character, Rowan motherfucking Kane, is voiced by the amazing, sultry Joe Arden. Well, I'm sure that could be arranged. We'll we'll look into it. Um, Rowan Kane is Irish, and Joe Arden does the I move from Ireland. You know how I feel about them, Irish men. Uh, he does the I move from Ireland, and now I live in Boston, and I'm this golden retriever boyfriend who also has like a dark twisted soul so well that if you have not listened to this audiobook, stop what you're doing right now and go and listen. Like, it is so good. And if you have been living under a rock, you wouldn't know that B is being turned into a movie. A whole movie. Yes, like like people are finally seeing our this is like one of the first times that like dark romance like this, like dark rom-com, is being turned into a movie. So again, Bryn killing it in the game. Um, it is in pre-production. Brynn is an executive producer and is being directed by the same guy who did the Lego Batman movie, which means this is gonna be hilarious. And like, congrats, Brynn. Like, you got that movie money, girl. Like, mm, hell yeah. Anyways, now into the spoilers. We're going into the nitty-gritty. So if you don't, if you haven't read this book and you don't want it spoiled for you, turn back now. But what are you even doing? Um, so the first page of the book it opens with saying Butcher and Blackbird, annual August Showdown, seven days, tiebreaker by rock, paper, scissors, best of five, winner takes the forest phantom. Okay, put that in your brain. Oh, so am I. The book starts off with Sloane. She's trapped in a cage, she killed Albert Briscoe, she gets her knife in him.

unknown 11:24

Right.

SPEAKER_03 11:26

Fancy, fancy. Hell yeah. But not before he locks her in a cage. So she's stuck just sitting next to his corp for three days. And I have read B and B, I don't know, six, seven, eight, ten, fifteen times, something, a lot of times. The Orzo Pasta, aka Meggets that Brynn describes coming out of his skin. It does something to me, not a good something. I haven't eaten Orzo Pasta since I first read this book years ago, and I'm okay with never having it again. Personally, personally. Rowan comes upon Sloan, she's singing Blackbird, hence his nickname for her. They have their little introduction, meet cute, and Sloan or sorry, Rowan is immediately like, oh my god, fangirling. Like, are you the orb weaver? Like, oh my god. Which is like this serial killer known for removing her eyeballs, uh, the victim's eyeballs. So, uh, mm-hmm. Yes. If you're gonna do it, do it with flair. Like yes.

SPEAKER_04 13:06

No, no.

SPEAKER_02 13:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:26

Yeah, she just she has that low-key, like I said, that maritimer humor where they just their dark is dark, and it honestly, it she does it so perfectly. So Rowan saves Sloane from the cage, and he takes her out for barbecue. Right? Like it really feels like alive, just uh just a little bit like alive. I don't know if any of those guys, when they got off the mountain, were like, so what are we having for dinner? Like ribs or like what? I'd be like, I'm okay for a little bit. Vegetarian. Um, big reason why I love reading dark romance books, and specifically ones that are written by women, is you get the possessive male character who is just obsessed with the female character. And that is Rowan right from the start. Like he loves that she is this badass serial killer. She's been fooling the FBI, but she's also beautiful. And like, right? Of course, she couldn't be killing people if she wasn't. And he just she's he is written to say the things that men would never actually say. Well, like five men, but most men would never say this, and especially too when you get that dual POV and you get to hear their thoughts. Oh, when the male character sees the female for the first time in every book, and he's just like taking, like, oh, like everything that she does is just like perfect baby angel. Man, that's it. That's my crack. Put it right in there. Yes, it really is. This yeah. Yeah. It's so good, and I think this was also one of the first times that I really encountered this kind of banter because I did have a lot of like, you know, prior to this, we were reading Dark Romance, but it was like possessive stalker, you know, paranormal, da-da-da-da. This was one of the first times where I got that really good banter that you get from a contemporary romance and put it like really mix it in with the nitty-gritty. Like it just brand, she kills it. So, fast forward one year later, Sloan is waiting to get the coordinates for this year's game. That's an August annual August Showdown. Um, we get to meet her bestie, Lark, aka Meadow Lark Montague. Love that name. This is her super bubbly singer best friend who hands out gold stars whenever someone does something that she likes. And side note, after I read this book the first time, I started handing out gold stars, and everybody loved it. It just was like, hey, just let's see if I could train people. They are headed to West Virginia. The hunt is afoot. We see Rowan's POV. He's packing for West Virginia, and we get to meet old brother Lachlan Kane and younger brother. Oh, Fionn Kane. Love them. I love the relationship that Brynn wrote with the brothers. It's very playful. There's lots of joking, messing around, but they would also do anything to protect each other and have done everything to protect each other. They arrive at this out-of-the-way motel. I don't know if it's a motel. It's like a no-tell motel, the Cunningham Inn, which interesting, right? We get again the silly banter. Rowan is such a carefree, easy-going character. It's just so refreshing in a male character, in the main male character. Um, after a few days of them being at the Cunningham Inn, Sloan Sloan ditches Rowan to go out for a night on the town with the innkeeper Francis. Yeah. And Francis is described as like this like dweeby, nerdy guy. He has like, yeah, but he has like suspenders and like a real thin pink, like neon pink tie, but it's like a clip-on. Like it's just uh it's a scene. Um, she returns to her room, which is right next to Rowan's, and he overhears Sloane using her purple buddy, and she's moaning his name. And when he presses himself closer to the wall, he realizes that there's somebody else in there. And it's Francis the innkeeper, and he's watching Sloane Right.

SPEAKER_02 18:42

Right?

SPEAKER_01 18:43

But also, I like love it.

SPEAKER_03 18:48

I love it so much because it really puts my brain with like who framed Roger Rabbit when the bunny is like in the walls and he's like looking and his eyes are like knocking over like candlesticks and stuff. I just immediately go to childish humor, and I'm like, I love that so much. Um, so the pieces are coming together. The missing hikers, it wasn't an accident, it was this creepy innkeeper, Francis Ross. He was behind all of it. Francis runs out of the walls and they race after Francis. They're but also they're like tackling each other in the process, and Brynn just paints like such a funny picture. It's like these two serial killers are running and knocking each other down so that they can each have the chance to kill this guy first. They're like tripping each other, throwing stuff down in their way. Like it's just so silly, but again, perfection. Francis gets into his car to drive away. Rowan jumps on the hood, smashes a rock into the windshield, and keeps smashing until Francis crashes into a tree, which is like it's so manly. Yeah, yeah. Right? For a good reason. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. It's the sweetest pie. Let me just tell you that. Yes. Right? It oh, it's so good. And Rowan tells Francis that Sloane is his, and then he proceeds to beat the complete shit out of him. Like, not even, you know what? I'm sorry. That is, I am underselling this. I am underselling this. He basically makes Play-Doh with his face by with by using his fists. He he reshape reshapes his face. Um, and while this is happening, then Rowan kind of has like a little menti bee because he's like, oh my god, like I scared Sloane off. And yeah, right, like she's okay. And he's like basically like wailing for her, like Sloop, Slub. Look at my play-doh! Yeah, he's that's essentially what he's doing. And Slim was kind of like hiding in the shadows, but she was also like, hmm, he like really loves me. And she returns to his side. And again, I love when authors do this, when they write this like broken down man, this like vulnerability, but also like you know, he's not afraid to like admit like I didn't mean to scare you off. It was an accident. Like, this is why Rowan is bae, okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:01

Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:27

Yeah. It's oh, it he just everything about this character is just so perfectly done and hot. Yeah, a hundred percent. So after this whole scene takes place, they kind of go their own ways. And a little bit later in the year, Sloan is visiting Three and Coach. This is the restaurant that Rowan owns, and it's really cute because he got the name from like when him and his brothers moved over from Ireland. It was they had three seats in Coach, which love that. She goes there because again, like Sloan is very introverted. She very like keeps to herself, but she's also like, I need a little slice of that Rowan pie. So she just wants to go see him. She has kind of like she claims it was like a work trip, but she's like, your girl making up any excuse she can to get here. Yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. She's a fresh, a fresh babe ready for this. Um and Rowan has a seat permanently saved for Sloan. Sorry, not a seat, an entire fucking table. Oh, it's so cute. And but it's also it's not even just like, oh, he had a table. He knows exactly where she would want to sit in the restaurant. He keeps it permanently free. And while she's sitting there, like he doesn't realize that she's in the restaurant. She's sitting there and she draws this picture of like, I don't know, a raven, a crow, a blackbird, something, some kind of bird. Um, and then like as soon as he kind of like catches, like she realizes that he is now aware of her presence. She's like, I'm an idiot. Like, what am I doing? I literally flew across the country to come check on this guy that I murder people with once a year, and then she fucking bails. That's all that I want is when these people are doing art or singing or dancing, is for it to be the equivalent. I'm gonna draw you the picture that she drew, and man, you're gonna see some talent. You are gonna see some talent.

SPEAKER_02 25:22

How about you?

SPEAKER_03 25:26

Hundred percent. But also, I know we just talked about this recently, where you're saying, Oh, the miscommunication, but it works in a dual POV. Because if it was one person, you'd be like, Yeah, girl, what are you doing? You're embarrassing the shit out of yourself. But when you know that the other character likes them, you're like, bitch, he likes you. He likes you, likes you. Yes. Well, also because he likes that he's making her shy, because this is like this is the orb weaver. She is so confident in everything that she does. She's like this, and yes, she wears a power suit in her regular life. She does these like TED talk-ish things for like doctors. Like, she's this is a big dog. So there's not a lot that like phases her. She's a big dog. So when she's like, uh, Rowan saw me in his restaurant, he's like, bitch, likes me. Fuck yeah. Like, it just feels good. I love it. I love it. So Rowan regrets that he didn't get a chance to talk to Sloane when she came into the restaurant. And he flies to Raleigh, which is where she's from. So he's from Boston, Avi, Boston butcher. She's from Raleigh, North Carolina. And while he's there, he doesn't like actually go to her house and like approach her. He pays this kid to bring her meals, and then he calls her on the phone and is like, oh, hey, like what's like what's going on? She's like, Oh, someone like dropped off this meal. And he's like, Okay, well, let's chat on the phone and let's cook it together, which is so freaking cute. Um, or not even in a tree, literally in the bush outside of her house. And he just stands up and looks in the window and he's like, Someone brought you food, and she's like, I can literally see you. Yeah, tell me what's in the bag. 100%. The first meal is orso pasta, that bitch. That bitch, like damn, but he does this for a whole week, so he also took his vacation just to do this shit. It's so sweet. Yeah, I love it, I love it so much. And like, we get to see how nice and caring Rowan is. He also mentions that he nudged the police in the direction of Albert Briscoe for some murder. So it's like, okay, maybe the orb weaver like killed him, but now we see why she killed him. Maybe he wasn't the nice guy that we all thought that he was. Okay, year two of the game. We have Thorsten Harris. Yes, we do.

SPEAKER_01 28:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 28:24

Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 28:36

That's a nice host, man. That's just that's a good host.

SPEAKER_02 28:45

For free? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 28:54

Love it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Freshly milked. Oh, cookies. Man, cookies and cream. I don't know why it took me so long to realize that it was cookies and cream. Cream! Cream! Why was that freshly milked, heavy on the cream? Hell yeah. That right over my head, right every time. I was like, oh yeah, cookies and cream. It yeah. Uh, when we're done recording this, I am gonna go and buy something cookies and cream because it don't affect me. Uh, that sounds delightful. But the first time that I read this chapter, I laughed so fucking hard. Just the way that she's like, you ate a fucking person and you went back for more. I was trying to tell you no, and you were still going. And it is just so fucking funny because every time that he mentions it, obviously Rowan is throwing up. Like every time she's like, you ate someone's ass, like yeah, yeah. And that is Brynn Weaver. That right there, now you've read all of her books. They're all yes, you know what? I would be very curious if there were people who didn't like this. I should go back and look at the one-star reads and find those people and be like, you don't like humor? You don't like jokes? Having a good time is like just too much for you. Okay, fine. Um, so Rowan wakes up, Sloan is showing Rowan her dark side. Like he's seeing her like killing Thorsten, but also she's making this map. So she's the orb weaver. The second part of the name comes from she makes these topographical maps that have different colors, and she hangs body parts and pieces and eyes on these maps that point to the other killer's victims. Which, Bryn, where how did you think this up? Like, when I'm reading a book, I love when I get these kind of books that are written by these kind of authors, and I'm like, this author is way too smart for me. Like, they're way too smart for me to be even reading this book. Like, Bryn, what is your IQ? What level are you on Guitar Hero? Like, I the highest, right? Like, Jesus. Um, and so Sloane is like, hey, like, obviously, I won this game. You ate ass and fucking passed out. So uh, can I stake a claim? And he's like, Well, what do you want? And she's like, Can you take David home and like give him a job? He's just this like guy who's here. He was like a victim of Thorston's as well. He's slow, he doesn't know what the hell's going on. He's eating this cum ice cream, just just help him out. And he's like, A job? Like, you want me to take a human being? And she's like, nobody knows that he's here, anyways. Like, it's fine. And so he's like, uh, fine, and takes him, which nice guy, Rowan. Fast forward later in the year. Rowan invites Sloan to this the best of Boston gala with him. And she's like kind of depressed because she thought that like he was inviting her because he liked her, and she's like, you know, got the girls on display. She's what she's like wearing her best dress, and he's like, Yeah, let's have some real fun tonight. We could kill this doctor. He's been like doing bad stuff, and she's like, I thought you liked me. Yeah, I thought this was date night, and he ends up getting called away because there's like problems at the kitchen, and he's like, Oh, you thought like I think he starts to kind of like realize like my bad, but also he has to go, so he just like hightails it, right? He works two jobs and never stops, like, yeah, he's busy, man. He can't.

unknown 33:59

He's a reaper.

SPEAKER_03 34:01

Um, fast forward later in the year, they're doing their annual August showdown. This time we get Harvey Mead. And this remember this name. This is one evil motherfucker. He is terrifying. This guy's like chainsaw massacre, kind of terrifying. Like, yes, yes. He's got he's keeping people down there. Like he actively, he's not even just like killing people, he actively has people. When they get there, he is actively chainsawing someone into pieces. I think he like chases them around with the chainsaw for a while, but he also lives in this like creepy old house. He's got like a boarded up room that they don't know what the hell's going on in that room. Like, we're getting a lot of like Ed Gini Texas chainsaw massacre, like some bad stuff's happening there. And we get to meet Autumn. Spoiler warning: keep this name in your mind for the next four weeks because we'll be talking about her again. Um, she is hanging out down in the cellar. They end up saving her, getting her out of there, and like sending her on her way. Basically, Sloane just gives her a shirt and is like, well, best of luck in your future endeavors, and then off she goes. Then Harvey Mead fucking bootfucks Sloane in the face into this cellar with Autumn. Yeah, it's fucking brutal. He saves her and saves Autumn out of the thing. And like I said, Autumn just runs off into the forest and she's like, thanks so much. Bye guys. And he stops, he finally kisses Sloane. Then he runs off and she's like, Where the fuck are you going? And he's like, getting revenge for hurting my girl, of course. My girl? Like, why doesn't my husband kill people for me? Like, oh, well, I don't really like that part of the deal. So you know what? Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Like, damn.

SPEAKER_02 36:26

Oh. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:32

Mama me. Yes. Just listen to this chapter. Yeah. This is chapter thirteen. So yeah. Well, like you've been a bad boy. And like, but also it's just it's so to death. To death. Yes. Well, and they've done like Brynn has done such a good job with this because again, this is like some of that weird Ed Gean stuff where it's like keeping the mother like preserved. Like, as humans, when we read about stuff like that, you're like, man, that's so twisted. And to see this guy who is literally chainsawing people apart, he's like murdering all these people. He lives in this scary ass house that would already scare me to death. And he obviously kept the corpse of his mother in the house. All they did was just bring her along and do a little fucking ventriloquism with it, and that scared him to death. Like it just, it's so Deadpool coded, and I just love it. I yeah, I I would agree with that. It feels good. And so, like we said, Sloan got booted right in the face. Her arm is also busted. They're gonna go see Dr. Fion Kane, and we get to meet Rose. I love her. We will meet her again later on. Um she is like quirky, she's weird, and she spends a lot of the time like fighting with Rowan. She when he first approaches the house, she's like fighting him with a cane, and it like it really reminds me of Sibby from Haunting Adeline, and sh that the yes, she really does. Like, she just says like crazy kind of shit. She was from the circus, she's very like off the cuff and just does like weird shit. And the first time that I read it, I was like, this is Sibby. That is 100% Sybi. And Siby is one of my favorite all-time characters. I love her so much. And we finally, finally get the spice. Rowan helps Sloan like once they get her all like fixed up. He helps her into the bath and he finally sees her naky and he sees all of her piercings, and they bang, and she has a forchette piercing. This is one of the only times that I've encountered this in a book, and it's like it's crazy for it to be on the FMC. Normally it's it's always the MMC, or they're like, Oh, she has her nipples pierced, and we're like, Yeah, who doesn't? No, no, she's like no. Yes. If if yes, to be like, I have four piercings in my Veget, like, yeah, girl. Uh right, well, and also, like, this is something I'd really like to ask Bryn if we ever get the opportunity. Does she write her characters based around herself? Not what kind of piercings does she have? Get your mind out of the gutter.

SPEAKER_02 40:13

What's your cooch looking like? No, shut the hell up. Get your mind out of the gutter.

SPEAKER_03 40:25

Okay, yeah, 100%. Um, no, are your female main characters like based around you? Like, do you know women that are this badass? Because I cosplay a woman this badass in life, but I'm not really like this. I'm weak.

SPEAKER_02 40:43

Like this is the hard-hitting questions that we need to know.

SPEAKER_03 40:57

Yes. These these are the questions that we need answered. We're here, guys, to get you the answers that we know we're all curious about. Oh, when's your next next book coming out? Who cares about that? We want can we come? Can we see pictures of it? Yeah. Um, no, we only. Yes, yes, years, years. Three years. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Hundred percent. Hundred percent. Just a little wiggle.

SPEAKER_02 41:50

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 41:57

Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 42:02

Yeah. Well, but also that's yes, that's why he has written so well, because he is the ultimate golden retriever man. It's not even just that he is, he is so goofy and silly and like childish and just doesn't take anything seriously until it's like the rules in the bedroom. And then he's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What made you think that I was not in charge here? I'm sorry. My bad. That's wrong. Like, but also he drove the bus the whole way. And the slow burn and the yearning that was like waiting, it was four years for these two to get together, is like, it is insane. But also the way that this book is written, there's so much else going on that you are fully invested. Every chapter is interesting. There's no fill-ins, there's no nothing like that. It is all plot, all story. You don't even realize that you have waited half the book for them to fuck, for them to kiss, for them to really anything. Like it is, it's wild when you realize that. Also, Rowan has a Raven tattoo of what the drawing that Sloane left at three and coach that day. Yeah, she got it. And like, I don't even think my husband has kept like cards that I've made him. So they also weren't very good. Just saying. Um, so after this whole thing happens and she's been like fixed up and everything's like better with her, Rowan is like, fixed up. Rowan is like, I am taking you home to Boston. Like, you're coming with me, you do like remote work, fuck it. You're hello, we've been together for four years. Now that we've banged, like, just so you know, like we are getting married. It's just, it's only a matter of time. We could take it chill if you want, or we could go get married today, but like you're moving in with me, which perfect. So Sloan moves to Boston. Her bestie, Lark, is visiting her. They all go to three and coach. The hostess then explains to him that like this table has been permanently reserved for her. And Sloane mentions the install of security cameras in the kitchen. This took me like four reads to pick up on this, okay? Four reads. Put that in your head. A lot. A lot. So Rowan is then, everyone's down to like celebrate the opening of his new restaurant.

SPEAKER_00 44:34

And it's called Butcher and Blackbird. The name of the book.

SPEAKER_03 44:41

It's crack, man. It's crack. Oh, we've said it a million times. You put the name of the book, like, bro. We will like just make the whole book just the name of the book over and over and over again, and we're fucking in because it is crack. Um, Sloane helps Rowan work on a new dessert for the menu. He eats her puss on the table. And this is why I don't trust other people's cooking. And you shouldn't either. 100%. Yes, 100%. People are dirty. It's the opening night of the new restaurant. Rowan is kind of like spiraling because Sloane is late. And I love this because, girl, I can relate. I spiral daily. I love when you see the like gritty anxious character, especially when it's an MMC, because it shows me that men are real people. Maybe arguable. Arguable.

SPEAKER_02 45:48

Not scary at all.

SPEAKER_01 45:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 45:59

He's not stupid.

SPEAKER_03 46:05

Yes, he is a bad guy. His name is David Miller. He was also a serial killer. And him and Thorsten were working together. They were aware of Rowan and Sloan. It kind of seems like David was a little bit more like he was a serial killer, whereas Thorsten was a cannibal. And so they were kind of like working together, which is fucked. Yeah. He was like, hey, I like killing people. And he was like, hey, I like eating people that are killed. So they were like, ha, we can help each other out.

unknown 46:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 46:41

That's that is a perfect recording of exactly that conversation. Um, and so he was aware, David was aware of who Rowan and Sloane were. He was like, I know that this is the Butcher of Boston, I know that this is the Orb Weaver, and I kind of also know that they've been around taking other serial killers out because that's what both of them do. And right. He is so unassuming, and because he is kind of like low key in the background, like throughout, like for these last couple chapters, he's just been chilling.

SPEAKER_04 47:27

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 47:56

Like a big fuck off motherfucker who wears overalls and is like needs help putting his overalls on. And, you know, but everyone's like, he's just a gentle giant. He's just my big teddy bear. Like, I just picture this big fucking like six, four, three hundred pounds. So again, Bryn, these are the hard-hitting questions that we need the answers to. What does David Miller look like? Give us just which one of us is right, or are we both wrong? Like, either I'm right or we're both wrong. Um, so Sloane worries that she is too much of a burden for Rowan. Like, girl, because he's also been like spiraling. He's been like very distant. And then he gives her a call because he's been told to by David Miller, and he's like, You need to go home. You need to go back to Raleigh, it's where you belong. Um, he's like, I don't want to be with you. Like, we can never have a normal life. Maybe I want a normal life. He's like, You're a monster, and she's like, it is so sad. Yeah, yeah. And he's like, Because you're a fucking psycho, that's why. What? Z fuck?

SPEAKER_01 49:05

You want to see a fucking psycho? Yeah, you're talking mothers, yeah. Right?

SPEAKER_03 49:14

Like so maybe, yeah, yeah, right. Oh, it is gut-wrenching too, because again, like you get these are all of her insecurities. This is why she didn't open herself up to people. This is why she was like, you know, didn't have any relationships, but also she felt this about herself, and she's like, bro, I have one friend. Like, that's it. It's Lark, and she loves me because I saved her life. So, like, bro. So, after she is obviously a fucking mess, she's talking to Lark and she's like, I just don't even know. Like, and she's like, tell me exactly what that bitch said because I'm a cut him. And she's like, I don't know, it was super weird because he was like talking about um something when he took me there between April 10th and 13th, and we didn't go to that, and she puts it together freshly milked semen between April 10th and 13th, an ingredient on that delicious cookies and cream ice cream. And who did they know that was eating cookies and cream ice cream? David.

SPEAKER_01 50:29

And so she right I would be so sane.

SPEAKER_03 50:47

I wouldn't save anyone, and then I would just be riddled with the guilt forever. So then we flash to Rowan's point of view, and David, this nice little guy that he is, is slicing through Rowan's skin with a mandolin. And ain't that just great? Yeah, it really is. Like the cum. No. And he's also got like a corkscrew shoved into his arm. Like, yeah. Yeah, with a corkscrew. Bro, if you even tried to use a corkscrew and a cork, it ain't good. Imagine in someone, oh, it just it, yeah, it hurts. It really hurts. And the whole time Rowan is like falling apart thinking about how he hurt Sloan. He's not even like worried about his life. He's like, Sloan.

unknown 51:56

Right.

SPEAKER_03 51:58

Right? That's while you're being killed? Come on. Yeah. What what what is this love? Also, Joe Arden, when he does David, is so good. He does crazy like he is crazy. He might be. We need to look at Joe. We got some questions for you too, my guy. Sloan shows up basically because when she mentioned earlier the cameras, Sloan being the little stalkerino that she is, she installed a camera in the kitchen so she could watch Rowan. So when David turned off the cameras, he didn't know about Sloane's camera because nobody knew. Cuz your girl. Oh, hundred percent. I need you to make cookies and cream ice cream today. Yeah, I know that she was calling in the request. This is a special place in hell for you. Um, Sloane shows up and she tricks David into like thinking, like, oh, you thought that I wanted Rowan? No, I wanted you. Like, I knew the whole time that you were playing. I just want to see how far you would play. Like, I'm just so impressed with you. Like, just totally, you know, puts it right into his ego. Love it.

SPEAKER_01 53:34

Okay, so it might.

SPEAKER_03 53:38

Yeah, well, I don't know. That's we we have questions, Brynn. And she tricks him and she fucks him up. So she's a badass. She don't need no man to defend her. And Rowan, she like helps her and she like uncorkscrews him, and he's like, I am so sorry. I weaponized your insecurities, even though like I did it to save you. And it's gonna take me a long time to like, you know, fix this, and I'm so fucking sorry about everything. And she's like, Well, it's gonna take a lot of fucking groveling, but fine. After they like, mm.

unknown 54:29

Right?

SPEAKER_03 54:30

Just do that tongue thing again, and all is forgiven. 100%. So they have survived. They're moving in together. They lived or they live together. Sloan has a surprise for Rowan, so we're gonna pretend like she is really good at art. She designs a tattoo to cover up Rowan's scar. And it's like a heart, it's something it like blends together. It's so good, but it's good, it's not a bad one. Your skin, no, no, no.

unknown 55:13

You could try.

SPEAKER_03 55:15

Maybe they took butt skin first and put the butt skin on. Like, bro, every time I use my mandolin, I am like, it terrifies me. I'm like, I gotta get rid of this thing. Like, I really fucking hate this. They decide that they're going to catch the forest phantom together. Okay. Which we must discuss in a minute. So put that in your brain that I want no, let's discuss it now. Do you think yeah? Yeah. Right? Forest Phantom? She's got some good ones. Okay, well, I also want a nickname. Okay, you can't win first. Oh that's a good name. You know what? Lobotomy David is still it's not as good as the forest phantom, but okay. So the forest phantom, does do you remember who is who is this character? Do we meet him? Do we meet him in love and other killers? Is that who the forest phantom is? Yeah, yeah. Like, do we get his name? Do we know who he is or what his book is? Okay, so we will cover it later? Because right now I don't remember. My brain, I'm like, uh it's kind of mush, and I'm like fitting a whole bunch of things together. I think he's Love and Other Killers, or is he Cape Carnage? Is that the Forest Phantom? Okay. Without without looking into it, I don't know. I've read already over 80 books this year. They all kind of aren't gonna blend in together, okay? Like it's I know because I was thinking about it and I was like, is this Love and Other Killers? I think it is, but there's also times, well, and I guess like it's really hard to say with Cape Carnage because it's not done. Because there's also times where I'm like, is this this? Like, is she yeah, okay, so I guess really we really couldn't know because it hasn't been completed. Anyways, so end of the book. Sloan and Rowan have killed the doctor. Yeah. Sloan is working on her orb weaver art. And this is the doctor that Rowan had been like, we're gonna have a good time tonight when he invited her to the like best of Boston. She was like, good time, bitch. I thought we were gonna have sex. And Rowan is kind of like roasting her. He's like, Yeah, that eye hole that you like ripped his eye out of, it looks kind of bad. Like it looked like you fucking gouged it. And she's like, I didn't fucking gouge you. He's like, I don't know, you should look closer. And she's like, I'ma look. And there's a ring in the eye hole. And inside of it is also the page from the beginning that's like giving out the rules for the August annual showdown. And at the very bottom, underneath all the different rules, he writes, Marry Sloan Sutherland and love her forever if she'll let you.

SPEAKER_02 58:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 59:01

Right? Oh. Oh wait, okay, I think the forest phantom is the guy from Leather and Lark. But they always call him the Phantom. So it's the Forest Phantom. I don't know. The Phantom. I think we know the answer to it, but I think we're just adding in too much Bryn. And if this is bullshit, I'll just cut it out. Cause I can control that. Um and that is the end of that one. That is the end of Butcher Blackbird.

SPEAKER_02 59:48

Oh, oh, fancy.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:03

Yeah. Five hundred, six hundred, same. Yeah. We've been reading a steady hundreds of books for I don't know, fucking twenty years. A long time. A long time. A year. Yeah. That it's only if you think about it, it's only been out for three years, and we've read it what, ten times at least? You know. Yes. Yes. It does make you feel good inside. Well, it also, it just I I think like the reason why I like this book so much. Number one, it's hilarious. Number two, it's one of the first times that I encountered the like serial killers killing other serial killers, but in kind of like a quirky, funny way. Cause you do get like with a lot of dark romance books, it's very serious. You know, like it's like this. I am a scary book. I'm a scary book. I am a scary man. No jokes. Yeah. Hell yeah. Right? Like, good on you. I've only ever had one book that I actually DNF'd, and it was this year, and I didn't read the trigger warnings, and they killed a pet on page in the first chapter. And you know what? A trigger warning wouldn't have even, I would have been like, What? Like, I I don't even think a trigger warning would have stopped me. And that's the first time that I went like, nah. Whereas like this book, it does have lots of trigger warnings, and there's definitely people who are like, oh my god, I cannot read this and eat at the same time. And to that I say, weak. Um, because I can. But it also, it's just it's so funny. And I think that another reason why I absolutely just adore this book is because it totally blew up in the book community. Because you get to see people's art, you get to see how many people enjoy it, you know, it's gonna become a movie, like, but also like Brin is such a nice, sweet, caring individual, so you're happy for her to be like getting the success that she is. She deserves it. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:54

So well.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:56

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:06

Can also picture them. Yes. Which also, Bryn, we really need a redheaded character. Like, I get it. Yeah, I know. It's it's kind of sad because we really need a female redheaded character. Just saying, girl, I would love to cosplay one of these characters without wearing a wig. Like, if you could just help a girl out, like my hair does not take to hair dye. So, like, just if you could write a whole book around the fact that I want to dress up as your character, that'd be a lot less work than me dyeing my hair. Just saying. It's it's really, it's really asking for nothing. Um, thanks so much for listening, guys. We have got some fun Sloan and Rowan cosplay coming up. So you can check that out on our socials. We are very active on Instagram, but you can find us on really anything. We are everywhere. Smut Syndicate. We're everywhere, we're in your house. Um, and if you have any questions, woo! That's us. That's why your hair looks so nice when you wake up. If you have any questions, comments, or just looking at chat, you can email us at smut syndicate at gmail.com. Thanks so much for listening. That was one hour. Yeah.