User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Katerina's Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse
(or Pestilence and All His Friends)➸
DO not, I repeat do not, let mind-blowingly beautiful covers seduce you. This is the first step towards your doom.
➸
IF you were weak like me and gave in to the temptress called Cover, you must be prepared to shut your moral compass. That is necessary if you do not wish to spend your entire reading experience hearing the voices in your head screaming
error.404.this.is.not.right. ➸
ACCEPT that you WILL NOT dive into a dark, paranormal, heart-pounding adventure. That your eyes will feast on apocalypse smut, that the world will literally burn but the heroine will be busy gawking at the sculpted abs of the human incubator of plague and judging the people who try to kill him in order to save their families and, you know, MANKIND.
➸
TRY not to cringe every time Sara calls Pestilence well, Pestilence, even in their, ehem, intimate moments. (wait, scratch that, it cannot be implemented)
➸
SIT back and
try to enjoy the ride.
*sigh*
This is wrong on so many levels.
If you follow my reviews, you must have known by now that
I don't do 2 stars. I've always stood for the idea that authors expose themselves when they publish a book, because willingly or not they pour a part of their souls into their works, so 3 stars has been my lowest rating, out of (maybe misguided, maybe not) respect. But this time, I couldn't help myself. It's not because Laura Thalassa is a bad writer; on the contrary,
I enjoyed her prose in general, and liked the
sarcasm that laced her narration, so this is by no means an attack to her talent, or the author herself. I also know, taking into consideration the average rating of this book, that I express
a highly unpopular opinion, without intending to offend all those readers that enjoyed Pestilence. The truth is, I envy them. The blame for not liking Pestilence is all mine, since I knew it was about the
unlikely romance between a human and the first of the Four Horsemen, thus being aware that the line between right and wrong would be blurry. But guys, the way the main heroine, Sara, perceives things is all
messed up. Let me give you an example: the last time Sara (who was taken captive by Pestilence) and Pestilence entered a big city, riding his undead stallion, the citizens had set up an ambush, resulting to Pestilence being gravely injured (note that he cannot be killed). So, the next time they approach a big city, Sara wants to get off the main road, because:
a) she wants to spare the people that didn't evacuate from a horrible, painful death
b) she's afraid she might be killed in the ambush
c) she doesn't want undying Pestilence to get hurt
And yes, Sara goes for option c). I suspect she wanted them to throw Pestilence a welcome party as a thank you for, you know, exterminating human race.
Don't get me wrong, along the way they encountered some really nasty people who committed atrocities against them, and I do not condone that. However, Sara was present when children and sweet elderly people died because of Pestilence, when children lost mothers to plague and parents lost their children when Pestilence commandeered their homes in order for Sara to eat their food (!) and rest (!), something Sara gradually came to accept. I am sorry, but this is
beyond disturbing.
One could say that the whole point of this book is to show that Pestilence came to understand humanity and found compassion through the power of luuve, to depict Sara's inner battle etc. I beg to differ. I don't blame Pestilence for his nature (even though, to be honest, he was able to spare people but he did so only for the hot chick he encountered),
I blame Sara for her tolerance. Pestilence tortured her, abused her, made her suffer again and again, and she stood by his side when he spread death and mourning, getting angry at the people who tried to stop him.
Sadly,
this f!cked up relationship was not my only issue. The entire book consists of the same routine: Pestilence and Sara travel on horseback, they find some poor fellow's house to rest, and once in a while they encounter desperate people trying to stop them. It eventually got really tedious, it felt like I witnessed the same events again and again.
*another sigh*
To sum up, Pestilence was not the book for me.BookNest | Instagram
Rating: really liked it
FUCKING BRAVO.Okay, so here's the thing, I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book like this. You know, one where there's a borderline Stockholm Syndrome relationship going on.
Because
feminist rage.
This author pulled it off for me, though, and I'm so frigging happy she did, because sometimes I just want to tune out and enjoy a love story that's dark and twisted and oh so wrong that it's
right.
However, I can definitely see other readers having a problem with this book and the romance that blossoms between the male and female leads. And that really comes down to a simple question:
How do you feel about humanity?
Do you think we're all worth saving, or are you at the point where you're just like, "Fuck it, maybe we deserve the apocalypse."?
Lately, I fall into the latter category, so I didn't have much of an issue with the male lead (Pestilence, like, of the four horsemen of the apocalypse) leaving a trail of bubo-covered bodies in his wake.
And I didn't have a problem with the female lead starting to fall in love with him, even though he was actively wiping out her species. Because it's apparent from the beginning that he's not really driving himself onward. Some divine order is.
Which made for a
really interesting male lead. Because, through the heroine, he starts to learn that humanity might be worth saving after all. Or, more like, maybe some of us are. The resulting existential crisis is fascinating, and worth sticking around for, in my opinion.
So, ultimately, if you're bothered by their relationship in the beginning, maybe try pushing through until the end. Because, and I still can't believe I'm saying this, the male lead is fully redeemed by then.
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Rating: really liked it
Update 9WAR IS COMING!!!
♛♚♔JULY 11 is the official release date. ♛♚♔
I can't wait! Grow up and don't let people tell you
don't read this book that's so childish
Update 8 On second thought this is a 6 stars read!!! Seriously so good. I'm upping my rating 'cuz I recently finished Dark Harmony and it's not as good as this one but I still enjoyed it so much!! So I found a few flaws there and still a 5?? Then Pestilence is 6 'cuz it's so so good. GUYS!!!! you really need to read Thalassa sensei, she's like a writing goddess.
Update 7#NotMyCover
GUYS! Thalassa sensei was robbed! Seriously big fraud! A stupid book designer stole the artwork so she had to replace the cover.
Question, though. If the criminal designer pays for the stolen artwork because he did it after all, can we recover the old cover? If it's possible let's start a petition. I need the original cover back!
Make the thief pay! Let's start a petition!
Update 6Guys! Don't get so worked out! It's just a book! A good book, too.
It's fiction people.
How is the cover deceiving? A horseman of the apocalypse falls in love with hot chick. I mean that's not lovey-dovey romance, or post-apocalyptic adventure: it's romance of the dark-ish kind. Anyone can see that just by looking at the cover.
So Pestilence kills people?
Duh!
Update 5
"I came to conquer this land and its people, but instead, one of its people conquered me."4.5 pestilential stars!
Buddy read still in progress with: Rachel, Jordan, Parvati, Bilabi, Raven Blake, Kimberly and a few more friends still reading. Click below for their AMYzing reviews, I'll add more reviews later:
♥Rachel's
♥Jordan's
♥Parvati's
♥Bilabi's
♥Raven Blake's
♥Kimberly
I loved Pestilence! I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down!
When you finished a book you loved and need an striking visual of a hot blond horseman and all you can find is this:
You scream like this!
Those aren't bad visual, I'm seriously thinking our world is ready for Fabio 2.0. The problem is along with those images I found this:
Not like I picture my lovely Pestilence.
I picture Pestilence like this:
Anyway! I've been hyped for Pestilence since I saw the cover and I was literally counting down the days because I have a thing for blond antiheros like Laurent, Jace, Aleksey, Lothaire, Warner, Sebastian,
even Sebastian Morgenstern is so close to my heart. Well thanks to Thalassa sensei, dear Pestilence joined the club! It took me a while to warm up to him because he was an ass, and not in a good way, but eventually he won my heart. I love love love love love him! It was so cute how Sara was teaching him to be human. Don't take me wrong, not everything was lovey-dovey. Some scenes were seriously fucked up and gory, but I loved that.
Guys this is a #Mustread, if you're a fan of Angelfall or you need to read a book featuring a brooding, blond hero you'll love Pestilence.
♥♥♥♥____________________________________________________♥♥♥
Update 4:
Buddy read in progress with Rachel, Jordan, Parvati, Bilabi. (Lucia and Corinne, will join us later maybe? During the holidays?)
♥Rachel's
♥Jordan's
♥Parvati's
♥Bilabi's
Click on their names to read their reviews.
UPDATE 3: THIS ISN'T A DRILLING
****IT'S LIVE GUYS! ****
*Kisses her kindle
♥UPDATE 2♥
March 20th can't get here fast enough!
♥UPDATED♥
Oho! Februarish- Marchish according to Thalassa-san. I can't wait!
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
♥ORIGINAL REVIEW BEFORE UPDATES:
♥NEED THIS! ♥Release date?
------------------------------------------------------------
Rating: really liked it
Update 07/22/19
I finished the sequel of this book some hours ago and I have to tell you that I was seriously underating this series. I'm upping my rating to 5 stars beacuse book 2, War has some issues, but it's another safe book that in no way ruins the good things built in Pestilence. If you like me hate cheating heroes and OW after meeting I highly recommend this series.
I also want to point out that Goodreads is a site to express our opinions about books and to discover new books. Any member of our community trying to prevent you
a) from expressing your honest opinion, whether positive or negative about this or any other book
b) from discovering this author's books because they would prefer if you paid more attention to the New adult fantasy (marketed as YA) of the big publishing houses.
is someone that if I were you, I would block.
I'm tired of seeing campaings pro/anti books based on their content (Twilight? Fifty shades? Carve the mark? Damsel? Black witch, Pittacus Lore books?) or stupid parameters like indie vs. Traditionally published, Harper vs Simon and Shuster, Amazon books vs. Penguin books etc.
Let the material speak for itself and readers decide by themselvesNobody has the right to tell the readers DON'T FALL FOR THE COVER OF THIS BOOK, THIS BOOK IS PROBLEMATIC, THIS BOOK IS THIS OR THAT, THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK OFFENDED MY FRIEND. in other words, many people in goodreads always tell you
don't read this book.
There's good and terrible edited books in the traditional published world. Lately bad edited books from the big publishers are a frequent occurency.
There's Good and terrible edited books in the indies world.
As a reader what we want is good stories and who publishes those stories is beside the point. The fact that some times content offends a group is something that I'm free to ignore or not. But don't act like if I enjoy Twilight or Fifty shades or tHE SELECTION, or Carve the Mark or Pestilence there's something wrong with me and don't try to force me into your triggers. I have triggers of my own, thank you very much.
So please don't use our Goodread platform to prevent people to read books they might enjoy. Trash the book all you want in your review if you want to. But don't use your review to try to prevent a book reaching its target audience. In the case of Thalassa and Sarah J. Maas books the target audience is the 17 and older readers. That's not what goodreads is for. I have specific triggers (cheating, rape, Other woman) and I love reading reviews that give me information about those triggers but I would never use my negative reviews to prevent people who might like a book better than me, to read it because its message offends me. That's immature. I have no time for immature readers so I'm starting to unfriend and block readers according to what I perceive are misleading reviews.
If you like me are a reader who pays for your own books and are tired of the same old same old of the fantasy and romance genres I suggest you to ignore the haters and give the Four Horsemen a chance. Or at the very least Rhapsodic. A book in my opinion, much better than all the New adult fantasy (which is currently marketed as YA ) by publishers like Wensday books and Bloomsburry. Distrust anyone who tells you Thalassa isn't an author worth reading.
One last thing. Many people who trash this book are big supporters of the big publishing houses and dont' want you to discover that some indies (key word being
some)are publishing great stories that you're missing out. Just because some top Goodreads reviewers and Booktubers don't pay for their books (or want to get a publishing contract with traditional publishers) and NEED TO SUPPORT the traditional pulsihers doesn't mean the rest of us, that all we want is a good story to read, should follow their advice. I'm here to discover books, and I don't care the publisher behind it as long as I enjoy the story. And Thalassa's stories are some of the most original ones I've read in a long time. And to top it all safe!!! It's so difficult to find safe books nowadays so if you like me hate cheating, sad endings and OW after meeting don't let anyone keep you away from Thalassa's books.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
NOTES FOR SAFETY GANG: No Cheating,
No Other Woman
No Other Men,
plus Virgin hero!
More info on safety below
Jason Lewis as Pest!
Thank you Laura Thalassa for writing this beautiful enemies to lovers book. And their love conquered everything! I'm so happy LOVE was such an important part of their redemption! Additional thanks to you Laura Thalassa for trusting your talent and hard work SO MUCH as to avoid falling into the pattern of false/deceiving /misleading advertising. That speaks volumes of your quality as both: as a human being and a writer.
A good book doesn't need false advertising, word of mouth and a good story will make the book a bestseller. This one is currently number one on several Amazon Lists.I almost gave Pestilence a 5 Stars rating on honest advertisement. I might up my rating when I finished the entire series because I've been saying all along that False marketing has become my personal trigger and it's so refreshing to find a new adult book marketed as such!
When a "fantasy" book has characters who are older than 19 YO and feature explicit sex scenes there shouldn't be:
a) False advertisement shoved through Goodreads on underage readers throats using Listopia and the Goodreads choice awards to give the impression that said book is a Young adult book
b) Campaigns to vote up and protect from erasing certain books in what is in my opinion big publishers' self-promotional lists aimed to promote new releases to underage readers (meaning YA 2017, YA 2018, YA 2019 lists in goodreads) Distrust those lists my friends! Plenty of books there are New adult and heavy on sex!
YA 2017
YA 2018
YA 2019
c) Censorship and campaigns against the few honest reviewers who mention explicit sex scenes in books marketed towards underage readers.
(Note to goodreads employees and editors, please stop trying to hide the information we readers need to make informed decisions before reading a book.)
So in spite of the current state of the Goodreads community regarding false advertising (they will probably hide/censor this review) I'll be honest in this review disregarding the consequences (Note: Thalassa isn't pretending her book is Young adult, she has been very upfront and HONEST about the genre of her book and I commend her for that.) : Pestilence isn't a Young adult book, it's a New adult as the MC's are all older than 18 and there are explicit sex scenes. Plus there are some graphic scenes of torture and a massive epidemic. However, that's the brilliance of this book: Not many authors can weave brutality and romance the way Thalassa does. She did it before in her Fallen world series (one of my favorite New adult dystopias) and she did it again with pestilence. I'm impressed with Thalassa's writing ability.
Is this book perfect? Is this book for everybody? Honestly, no, but what book is? As I said, if violence and sex are your triggers perhaps you should skip it (you'd be missing out, but hey, we like what we like). The hero, Pestilence, is very stubborn about (view spoiler)
[his mission of wiping out the human race, and he won't change his mind until almost the very end of the book, so a huge amount of human lives will be lost. However, the author makes a great job making you understand why he does this and you don't hate him. (hide spoiler)] I personally think that Thalassa could have made the violence of her post-apolyptic world way worse, but she didn't. She knew where to draw the line to make her book a very enjoyable experience and not one that will keep your bile rising up. I thought the combination of horror and romance was beautifully done.
So Pestilence starts 5 Years after The Four Horsemen of the apocalypse appeared on Earth. Pest is the first one to start their mission of wiping out the human race from Earth, and he takes his mission seriously. The internet has failed and some people aren't sure of what's going on. Several people have tried to kill Pestilence, but he's immortal. Sara doesn't know this and when her own attempt to kill Pest fails she'll become her prisoner. Cool isn't it? And let me tell you something. Pest is really sadistic at the beginning. He seems to have been observing for years how low our kind can scoop (Hitler? Rwanda? Bosnia? Sandy Hook?) and he'll hurt Sara physically so much that at one point you'll be wondering: Is this really a romance? To be honest I almost DNF at certain point. I can't stand a hero torturing the heroine and then root for her tofall in love with him. That's not romantic, but hang in there my dear romance-loving friends. Later in the book we'll be able to see why Pestilence is the way he is, and why he isn't the bad guy.
After a journey all over post-apocalyptic North America (think Angelfall) and several close encounters with death, a crucial point comes for Pestilence and Sara when they meet Rob and Ruth, an elderly couple. Rob and Ruth know what kind of death awaits to the ones who come close to Pestilence, yet they are religious, wise people. They realize Pest isn't a bad man, they know he's not doing what he does for fun and they above all notice the kind of feelings that are brewing inside him. He's already in love with Sara and it shows! So they'll welcome death with open arms after a long life of shared love and shared hardships. Honestly, I couldn't love this couple more. From their encounter with these two something changes in both, Sara and Pest and they'll start their own path through redemption. Through love, with love, because love. I thought that was beautiful!
Religion is managed well IMHO. Nothing is offensive or contradictory to the beliefs of the Abrahamic creeds: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Have you read City of bones or Angelfall? Both are insanely popular books that IMHO have a more risky, potentially offensive approach to religion. Jace the hero of City of Bones says that although he is a nephilim and has been blessed by the Angel Raziel he hasn't seen anything that makes him believe in God, he's convinced that even if God existed (and he doesn't bet on it) we are on our own. Archangel Raphael the hero of the Angelfall series is an atheist and he isn't even convinced God created him. Does this sound risky and potentially offensive to bible readers? It isn't, considering both books are insanely popular. In comparison Pestilence handles the religious talk in a more neutral way IMHO. According to Pestilence God exists, but Pest is convinced God is beyond religions so all religions deserve respect. I personally loved the way religion was handled here. It discusses religion in a non-religious way. Brilliant!
Two minor issues I had with this book: The ending and not enough grovel (view spoiler)
[Hero trapped h when she tries to break up with him. I gave it a pass because he doesn't have experience with human relationships and she was very sick at the time, not trapping her could have lead to her death. I only wish he had groveled! and the cliffhanger ending. We got a HEA, but the Epilogue is 5 years after the final chapter and it opens a Pandora box. Our H and h are happy, but for how long? (hide spoiler)] This book deserves all the praise is getting and I'm recommending this to my friends who loved New adult dystopian books.
SAFETY INFO
(view spoiler)
[No OW, No OM activity
Bareback sex, but he's a virgin
H tortures h at the beginning of the book.
Not enough groveling
NO CHEATING
Some graphic violence (hide spoiler)]=================
Pre reading thoughts
Beautiful cover?
No fake advertising? This is New adult paranormal/fantasy advertised as such.
Amazing blurb?
A talented New adult author who as far as I remember never writes cheating heroes or heroines?
Enemies to lover trope?
Edgy like The Fallen world series?
Based on Apocalypsis mythology?
Standalone?
I'm in!
Rating: really liked it
“Because naming things humanizes them. And once you humanize something, you are essentially recognizing it’s existence.” Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Four years ago four horseman landed on earth. With their arrival humans thought the end of the world was there.
But they were so wrong. The horseman disappeared as fast as they appeared on earth.
Only four years later one of them appears again - Pestilence the conqueror of the world. Spreading a plague through the world he’s destroying Pestilence is attacked by Sara who sacrifices herself to kill the horseman and safe humanity.
But things never really go according to the plan and so Sara is being held prisoner by the horseman.
There’s suffering and there is pain painted with thick hate, but the line between love and hate is small and soon Sara isn’t so sure about her thoughts and her feelings for the horseman anymore.
This was awesome! The whole book was so addictive, funny and entertaining I couldn’t stop reading.
Even though I enjoyed it immensely there will be people saying that there is a lack of action. But for me it was a book with a great pacing, filled with action and a lot of feelings. All in all mostly an emotional and character driven book.
The first half of the book easily would’ve been a five star, but reading more and more of it, the book itself really concentrated on the love story in it and that made it a little less intriguing.
Still, the end was great and I’ll definitely reread this book sometime soon!
Btw. Did you see this gorgeous cover? Uh 😍😍😍
Characters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you love sassy characters with a big mouth then Sara Burns is the perfect woman for you.
She’s brave, cool and absolutely funny.
I loved her from the start.
And even though it wasn’t really surprising, she did have a great character development surviving and accepting all the feelings she had.
And Pestilence - oh my precious baby. Yes, he was killing all human kind and yes, he was a grumpy super mean and brutal guy in the beginning, but even though if you met him he would totally scare the sh*t out of you, he still saved Sara a lot of times.
He went through such a great wonderful character development that I fell in love with him easily. Such a kind big hearted guy that lets you stand your own woman and safe his sorry ass but also protects and cares for you.
If you ask me, that’s probably the perfect man for me 😉
Also, how adorable was the fact that he had no clue what humans ate and so he mixed the weirdest things together for Sara to eat. Or the fact that once he tasted cake he couldn’t stop eating it? That was the absolute cutest thing ever.
World ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Anyone ever heard of the apocalypse the Bible is telling us about in their last book? Yes? Then you probably heard about the four horseman.
Pestilence, war, famine and death. (Yes, I googled famine I’m not even sorry where should I pick up an English world like that in Germany? 🤷🏻♀️ P.s. for all who’s asking themselves the same question: it’s something much stronger than hunger).
They came down to earth to end it and with each episode humanity shrinks even more.
Starting with Pestilence who’s spreading a plague through just appearing at one place.
With all the hunger, desperation and fear humans show the best and the worst sides of themselves.
All in all if we ever endured such a situation (You know: a horseman killing us all off one by one) then this reaction, the feelings of humanity seems pretty realistic.
When humans feel a desperation and fear they act violent and brutal. But that’s not all of the human kind - many react with kindness and caring for everyone around you.
So, I thought that this book had a great world building (even though it was really little). It satisfied me and I can’t wait to read the next book!
Relationships ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh man, oh man. Don’t we all love the relationships that change from hate to love?
No? Well, then I’m probably alone with this, but 🤷🏻♀️ who cares.
Starting with a powerful and fierce hate those two hadn’t had a good time together.
Even when we put down the insults and the mean words that were thrown at each other we’re still left with the near-death-situations.
But then... he always saved her. He never let her die, even though he hated her and for all the hate Sara felt she didn’t feel good about what she did to him on the first day.
And this exact fact - that they overcome their hate and their thoughts and fears - made this love story so wonderful.
It was funny, adorable and I really loved it.
And If you love some smut here and there you should probably read this book, because, hell, it’s addictive!
All in all I thought the second half of the book was too concentrated on the love, but I still loved it and it was still super enjoyable!
Writing style ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Some of you people don’t like when people curse in books. And when you’re thinking “Yeah, I hate that” you should probably never pick up this book. Like, never.
But if you’re on my side of the team - and you have absolutely no problem with curses as long as they’re not too much of them, then you’ll grin and laugh your ass off.
The author made Sara such a funny and sassy character that I loved all of her thoughts.
And even though you could think this whole book was a joke - it isn’t. In my opinion it does make you think a little bit about apocalypses and how we humans react to such situations.
So, all in all I loved it and I can’t wait to read the second book (and all the other books this author has written)!
Reread Nr. 1 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Still love Sara. Still love Pestilence. This book is so addictive and I love it so much! ♥️
Surely gonna reread this sometime soon. 💁🏻♀️
(I’m not even sorry. My poor TBR.)
Rating: really liked it
Things I have never expected to say:
1. I think I'll pass on dessert.
2. This is my natural hair color.
3. You girls go get drunk and wild in Vegas without me.
4. I love Pestilence and I can't wait for War!
Okay, so I have still never said the first three, but number 4 is very true. Pestilence is my new book boyfriend. And, good news, HE is actually robbing the cradle, instead of me being a cougar this time. I think I read Paranormal just to get book boyfriends my own age - ancient.
Actual footage of me on my porch. That's my natural hair color. Stay off my lawn!
If you ever read the Angelfall series, and wished for some sex in it, this is the series for you. That was definitely one of my all-time favorite YA series. Rafe was funnier than Pestilence, but Pestilence is sweeter. (again. sounds strange.)
So, in this book we have Pestilence, the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, riding around, giving everyone a case of killer boils. The news is covering it, so of course people get the idea that they will simply kill him. But, whomever kills him will have to get close enough that they will be sacrificing their lives because they will be infected. Sarah, our heroine and some of her fellow firefighters draw straws to decide who is going to do the deed, and she "wins". Her job is simple - kill Pestilence. Of course, none of these morons have considered the possibility that maybe, just maybe, an avenging angel of the apocalypse couldn't be killed. Much like Keith Richards.
Recycle, kids. WWKD?
Sarah's murder attempt is extremely brutal. Like, torturous. So Pestilence decides to NOT kill her right away, and instead to make her suffer. And, at first she really does. But, as time goes on, these two crazy kids, who each tortured the other, fall in love - Stockholm Syndrome style. It's beautiful.
"You have awoken my heart" Swoony? This guy is a total sweet-talker. And, he's a virgin. Now, I gotta say, good job on turning things around, Laura Thalassa! We need more virgin, beautiful god-men who fall in love with snarky not-virginal normal-women. If I have to read about one more alpha caveman playboy asshole who only falls in love with the snowflake virgin girl who saved herself just for him, I will probably puke. It's a refreshing change to have a guy who ISN'T a walking ad for STDs. Of course, since he's Pestilence, he might still dish them out, but at least he doesn't have them himself.
Why do we even have that font?
This book does have a paranormal romance going on, but it also has a lot of darkness, depth, and meaning in it. If there was anything I would have changed, it would have been towards the end. I don't feel like every couple HAS to have a break-up and fit into that exact formula. Also, (view spoiler)
[ I kind of wished that he would have stayed Pestilence and they would have rode around killing humanity. That would have been a lot cooler. I fell in love with a stone-cold killer, not (view spoiler)[some average shlub who quits his job. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] Still, overall, this was an awesome book and I am really excited about the coming WAR!
Rating: really liked it
This book was like a train wreck—so, so bad, but so, so fascinating. I have very little positive to say about this book other than it was just damn easy and fast to read, but there’s really no literary merit to it other than that. This book is just a trashy light read that’s fun to read because it’s easy to make fun of while still enjoying yourself as you read it. If you don’t take it too seriously, it’s just smooth sailing, mostly because of how ridiculous this book is. I could sit here and critique the writing style and the misogyny in it and how the plot is inconsistent and doesn’t make sense and how the main character is dumb, but instead I’ll mention this: I don’t think the author has ever seen a horse. The HORSEman of the apocalypse has his trusty steed by his side the entire book, and I mean, the ENTIRE book. Half the time, they would bring Pestilence’s horse
inside houses with them and stuff. Which just makes me think, has Laura Thalassa ever seen a horse? Does she know they’re big? Does she know a horse pulling a wagon wouldn’t fit through the doors of a hospital? And horses don’t lay down to help the rider get on?
Yeehaw comments aside, I’m not gonna lie and say I didn’t enjoy this book. However, it wasn’t smutty or redeemable enough for me to be interested in book two. Still, I’m not mad I read it. I just hope the author is okay with me only reading this to make fun of it, because the entire concept is bizarre and silly.
Rating: really liked it
🎧 3rd Read, June 2021 — 4.25 StarsHoly shit! Plague Daddy, yes please step on me. 🤚🤪
📚 2nd Read, April 2020 — 4 Stars
📚 1st Read, April 2018 — 3 Stars
Quarantine + Pestilence = The Purrrfect Escapism!If only . . . this Covid19 pandemic we’re facing right now could be as easily overcome with me romancing Pestilence’s sorry arse. Alas, that kind of scenario only happens in books. But hey, a girl can (day)dream, right? Anyhow, my morbid sense of humor steered me into re-reading this post apocalyptic paranormal romance.
And surprise surprise, what a stellar combo this turned out to be! It was strangely comforting that amidst all the chaos, I could smoothly immerse myself in this more or less chaotic world of the Four Horsemen. This re-read has made me appreciate the author more and love all the things I found slightly troubling on my first read.
One day, Sara tries to kill Pestilence—for obvious reasons. But much to her (and the rest of human race) dismay, the guy is immortal (duh!). After recovering from Sara’s poor attempt at murder, Pestilence takes her as his prisoner. And so from there, what I’d call transcendental love (with Stockholm Syndrome-esque tendency) transpires.
These two are like oil and water! Sara is sassy, sarcastic, and compassionate. Pestilence, harbinger of death as he may be, is cruel but also adorably innocent. IKR? How is that possible?! I absolutely loved their
Beauty and the Beast meets Matthias and Nina (
Six of Crows) dynamics. The clash of their personalities is what slowly leads them to enter Epic Love La La Land.
In spite of the nonexistent plot and lack of world building, this book truly excels where romance is concerned. Our main leads have a rocky start to their relationship. But once Pestilence’s atrocity towards Sara is passed and as they spend more time together, their blooming hate to love romance is simply heart throbbing. The ending of this book kinda reminded me of
Twilight: New Moon.
I thoroughly revelled in being with Pestilence and Sara (don’t forget Trixie the mighty horse!) throughout their grueling journey. The writing manages to alleviate the bleakness of the setting. Regardless of all the grotesque carnage and violence, this book has granted me an overall fun and entertaining reading experience. It’s become a book I’ll never get tired of re-reading.
My review of:
#2 War — 3.75 Stars
#3 Famine — 2.5 Stars
#4 Death — 3.5 Stars
Rating: really liked it
Holy shit!
Review to come later!
Rating: really liked it
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Writing this review makes me sad because I
really wanted to love this book for several reasons. One, because I'm friends with the author on Goodreads, have chatted with her, and really like her as a person; she seems really kind, laid-back, and funny. Two, because I am in love with that cover. It seems to be paying homage to the bodice-rippers of the 1980s and 90s, which I am
all for, as you probably know, being the self-professed Bodice Ripper Kahleesi. And three, the idea of a paranormal romance involving the four Horsemen of the apocalypse was a really unique idea and I wanted to support it, was hoping for something like J.R. Ward's
Black Dagger Brotherhood meets R. Lee Smith's
Last Hour of Gann.
Instead I got, TWILIGHT meets the apocalypse.
The beginning and ending are unarguably the best parts of this book. Sara Burns, the heroine, is a firefighter who has literally drawn the short stick to stay behind and protect her town at all costs. When she sees Pestilence riding his horse, she shoots him and then lights his body on fire. To her horror, he comes for her, half-rotting and dead, and makes her his prisoner, vowing to her that as soon as he's fully healed, he intends to make her suffer. His treatment of her is so cruel, and the story plays out across all these abandoned households and ghost-towns filled with the dead. It's creepy AF.
The problem occurs with what I think of as insta-love, even though it doesn't happen
instantly - Sara's attraction to Pestilence happens much too fast. I saw it coming because the descriptions of his angelic beauty were far too numerous to ignore the warning signs looming on the horizons. I certainly wasn't happy about it, though, especially since she forgives his abusive treatment of her - shooting her in the back with arrows, dragging her bound down a tarmac road while he's on horseback, etc. - remarkably quickly. One of the thing I love about R. Lee Smith's work, who also specializes in immortal love stories, is that 1) she isn't afraid to make her heroes repulsive or at least inhuman and 2) the connections that are forged between her characters unravel gradually, amidst much emotional strife. I kept thinking how much better this story might have played out in the hands of an author like that.
I did like how the apocalyptic setting brought out the worst in people, although there were several scenes that were almost identical in how they played out. These scenes gave me a taste of the grim setting I was expecting. I also liked the old couple they might at one point, and was quite moved by their story. That was one of the saddest parts of the book. As I said, the ending was also great and brought up some very interesting moral dilemmas; it also felt like a very different book from the first. It was like the author had 2 disparate ideas: one about a messed-up romance between a monster and an ordinary human girl (R. Lee Smith) and the other about a tender romance between a misunderstood and tragic figure who must be redeemed by an ordinary human girl (Stephenie Meyer). They really didn't mesh for me.
Also, Pestilence says some pretty creepy things to Sara about her not being a virgin. I quoted the thing he said in one of my status updates, but that made me
really not like him, and that's supposedly after he's started to fall for her. What the hell, Pestilence? Sure, he redeemed himself in the end, but there's a pattern of creep behavior here that was never sufficiently addressed or talked through.
Overall, I found myself sadly disappointed by this book because so many people were giving it high ratings and I really wanted to enjoy it too. I can't help but feel that they read a different book than I did, as seems to be the case for a lot of these YA/NA new releases lately. I do have other books by this author on my Kindle, so I'm hoping that they might be better for me than this one. I also saw that the second book in this series is about War, so maybe a character who deals in battles will be more appealing to me than one who deals in fevers and plagues.
Thank you, Heather, for buddy-reading this with me!
2 to 2.5 stars
Rating: really liked it
take me away, plague daddythis surprised me! essentially, pestilence comes to town and our dear friend sara tries to murder him and burn him alive. he’s not real happy about being made into human bbq so after his immortal ass recovers he takes sara prisoner and true love ensues. duh.
I was definitely surprised at the discussion of immortality and morality in this. also by the characterization. plague daddy was really endearing after the whole rah rah pustule nonsense & sara was compassionate and a badass the whole time.
also the sex wasn’t that descriptive but it was cute. definitely interested to read the next book.
Rating: really liked it
5 starsThis book is now on my favourites shelf.
I will definitely be reading it again.
And the general consensus from our buddy read (BR):
It was a total roller-coaster.
(There were some moments where it seemed to damn near fly off the tracks just to keep us screaming and hanging on for dear life...)
And even though this tale was filled with darkness, devastation, suffering, violence, heartbreak and despair?
While it also explored some of the deeper questions about life, death, faith, morality, and God?
And moved some of us to tears and/or gave a few of us that telltale lump in the throat?
It was often freakin' hilarious.
Our heroine, Sara, is one tough, smart, snarky and compassionate cookie, and she definitely uses her fightfighter training/skills, love of poetry (Edgar Allen Poe, anyone?), and fantastic sense of humour to get through all the 'hard' times (talk about an understatement on my part). That humour helped us to get through them too.
As for Pestilence (who came to be affectionately known around BR parts as Pest)?
Well, you've got to read the book to understand just how much of a feat this author pulled off in making one of the freakin' four horseman of the apocalypse,"the literal embodiment of plague", a sympathetic romantic figure, especially when you consider that his sole purpose was to wipe out humankind and he was doing such a damn fine job of it...
(view spoiler)
[
Which is why when they first 'meet', Sara shoots him off his horse and then sets him on fire.
Of course.
(How exactly do you answer that one when the kids ask, someday, how you both met?!)
(hide spoiler)]But trust me, when all is said and done?
This is a story about love, forgiveness, understanding, compassion and hope, and the ways in which all those things (but especially love) have the potential to save the world...
Such a fascinating ride.
And now I'm definitely looking forward to Death.
One of the upcoming books in this series, peeps, and not the real deal.
Just so we're clear here.
***
What a beautiful cover...
Since I'm also intrigued by the blurb?
Onto the TBR pile it goes!
Rating: really liked it
"Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer". IM SO HAPPY I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS BOOK!
This is the first book that I have read about the Four Horsemen. And damn if it wasn't good.
This book is a great combination of a very realistic and sarcastic female character and a very well writing anti-hero.
It was filled with hate, love, loss, pain, suffering, devastation, violence, torture, forgiveness and sarcastic/funny moments. What else do you need to be honest?
Sara is just great, and she and I have 2 things in common, I'm tedious as well and I too have a soft spot for Pestilence.
I absolutely adore it when she had her philosophical moments and her love for poetry and English literature.
"Because naming things humanizes them. And once you humanize something, you are essentially recognizing its existence." I'm sure that since the beginning we weren’t supposed to hate Pestilence because he was a fantastic character. An anti-hero at its finest.
He's somewhat oblivion about the world that he is supposed to destroy just made his character better.
And I absolutely adore him!
"Only Pestilence could outshine the sun." How can this book end like that? With that cliffhanger? Like, WAR man, WAR! The next book will be about WAR!
I need it!
This is definitely a favorite of mine.
"And so it was, and so it shall be, for the Age of Man is over, and the Age of the Horseman has begun. They came to earth, and they came to end us all."
Rating: really liked it
That cover!
EDIT 09/14/18
I hate the new cover. I had already paid for the paperback and now the new covers won't match. This is the last time I buy a print book of an incomplete series.
Rating: really liked it
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 
ALL THE STARS! In a totally random and weird review, I will be using gifs from the movie Elf to express ALL THE FEELINGS!
So me about Laura Thalassa all the time:
Which will probably lead to this:
Anyways... from the moment I saw the cover reveal for Pestilence, I was DYING (get it?) to get my grubby hands on a copy of this book. I preordered and everything, which I rarely ever do. Then once it hit my kindle I couldn't put it down (except for sleep. Stupid stupid sleep).
Here's what I was like reading the book:
And I loved it so much! My first 5 star book in over a month!
This is about Sara, a young firefighter who attempts to kill Pestilence when he comes to her town. BUT, he cannot be killed. So Pestilence takes Sara captive in order to make her suffer. Over time Sara finds herself conflicted because of the horrible things he does, but she cannot help but see another side to the horseman. The question is, can he ever change and go against his nature?
Laura writes the best new adult fantasy/dystopia novels. I get completely sucked into her world building, her characters and her stories. I demand more of my book friends read her books!!! Seriously, you won't regret it.
And now, to wait for the next book..... le sigh.
Also, here's one more gif just cause:
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