This book was a bit too dark for me. It was hard to relate to a hero who was responsible for killing humans. And the overlying themes of christianity were meant to explain it. I couldn't get over how horrible the heroine was treated in the beginning

I was given an Arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I read this book in one sitting! Now I can’t wait to read the rest!

I have recently discovered Laura Thalassa and now I will read anything she writes! I absolutely love the new covers for these books too.

Dark fantasy perfection

This is Pestilence, the first book in the Four Horsemen series - Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. This story is filled with carefully crafted, meticulously planned and expertly delivered words but the characters breathed into life, images painted, feelings evoked, and epiphanies delivered make this so much more than a simple dark fantasy. It is storytelling perfection. Pestilence is a horseman of the apocalypse and as such, is not a very likable character. No one is going to feel like cuddling Pestilence especially at the beginning of the book. Sara is also not a typical damsel in distress. She is a capable strong firefighter who chooses to kill Pestilence to save the rest of humanity even knowing her death will also be the result. Of course, Pestilence is immortal and when Sara’s murder attempt does not work, he decides to make Sara suffer as she allowed him to suffer. This is not a flowery love story chock full of sunshine and rainbows. It is at time dark and harsh. But despite being a dark fantasy, there is also light here, goodness, hope, and love. On their way to finding love with each other, Pestilence and Sara also try to deal with their own issues without magically making them vanish. The storyline is told through tender moments, mundane life snippets, death, violence, steamy scenes, chuckles, painful pasts, and poetry. It also gives you all the feels - horror, anger, love, sadness, resignation, joy, and annoyance. Underlying the main storyline is thought provoking realism about the effect humans are having on the world and each other - actions which lead to the arrival of the Horsemen. I am excited to continue reading the stories of the other horsemen.

It’s not every day I reread a book. In fact, it’s been many years. Sure, I’ll skim through favorite scenes of reads, but to read the same book from front to back twice? Unheard of! I went so many years without leisurely reading, that I don’t have time for rereads. After this second go at Pestilence, I think I need to change my mindset.

When the opportunity came up to reread Pestilence for NetGalley, I jumped on it. No hesitation. No concern about taking time away from new reads because I needed it in my life again. This is one of my favorite reads of all time. I am so happy I received the opportunity to review it— I didn’t realize how much I missed this world until I stepped back into this dystopian romance.

Pestilence still makes me swoon. Whew!


》Sara《

Gorgeous, strong, vulnerable Sara— my love for her is forever. She is so valiant in her efforts to seek redemption for the world— to see it, an effort that turns to wanting to save Pestilence from his prejudice and narrow-mindedness. She sees the ugly but also the beauty, she sees what is worth saving. I adore her completely. I also looove being in her POV! Her one-liners had me cackling! A total delight.

》Pestilence《

Oh Pestilence, my beloved. Who he is at the beginning of the tale is a being with one purpose, one mission. To eradicate humans who have failed one another, who have failed their home. He sees nothing more than the incapability of change, but it’s change that he gets to know quite intimately. His arc is beautiful to see unfold.


》The Romance《

Sublime. The romance is sublime. There is so much anger, hurt, bitterness, and hate at the beginning of their relationship. They see only the worst in one another, but slowly humanity slips in. Even in the most otherworldly, immortal being. Sara human heart gives way to feelings of pain and loss, but also love and hope. Her heart opens to Pestilence, even against what she’d consider her better judgement. He’s a harder code to crack, at times as indecipherable has the holy tattoos upon his flesh. But his prejudice again humanity is questioned upon seeing Sara— upon knowing her. From her he learns not just about lust— but about love. Above all, about love.

Their slow burn romance is everything.


》To the Victor《

This entry in The Four Horsemen series easily tops my favorite. I enjoy all four books, but this is the one of my heart. Pestilence and Sara can hold me captive anytime, I’m theirs, and they’re my favorite forever.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received an arc copy of this book with a new cover design, and I’m feeling exceptionally lucky to be gifted this because it is GORGEOUS. Y’all see that picture ⬆️?! Gorgeous. Not that the previous cover was anything to scoff at, honestly, that’s why I read the book the first time around!

I started this book right before I took a late vacation last October. Four days laying on the beach in PCB and I finished the entire series! Pestilence remained my favorite of the series overall. The fmc of this book, Sara Burns, is a serious firecracker. Before the Four Horsemen arrived on Earth she was already working as a firefighter, battling forest fires and saving lives. As one of four firefighters without families she stays to help evacuate her town before Pestilence rides through with the Fever. When it is only her and 3 other firefighters left, they draw matches for who will stay behind and attempt to kill Pestilence. Sara pulls the burnt match, and her real battle begins. I don’t want to ruin the book by telling you Sara’s plan, but let’s just say it doesn’t work out how she intends. Instead she ends up forced to travel alongside of Pestilence, will she develop the Fever that he spreads? Or will something else develop and end up saving them both?

Pestilence by Laura Thalassa
This is the 2nd time I've read this book. I received an ARC from NetGalley for the rerelease.

I really enjoyed this whole series and this first book Pestilence. So many interesting questions.
Can humanity redeem itself?
What makes someone good?
How do we get back in community with each other?
Is God really listening? Involved? Condemning us?

Pestilence has a lot of troubling themes, scenes, action sequences, but to be honest they didn't bother me. I'm not sure why. Is it because Pestilence changes over time? Have I read so many things that this story was not shocking? Who Knows!

I enjoyed it! I look forward to the rerelease of the other books in the series!

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoy dystopian romance, so I was really excited to start reading this book! I hadn’t read any books that utilized the Four Horsemen, so that was a unique aspect to this book for me. It was a good read!

This book was so so good. Laura Thalassa has written an enemies to lovers story that is both dark and beautiful. This is not your typical romance. I would call it dystopian or light fantasy. There’s not a ton of world building but I also feel it isn’t needed. I can see some people having a hard time with the concepts in this book but when I tell you it’s worth it. It’s so worth it. The way this book handles the very hard subjects of religion and death while still being a love story is still something I can’t wrap my head around. There is depth to these characters and I really enjoyed their witty and thought provoking conversations. When I found out this series was complete I immediately bought them all.

I love this book and I love this series. Laura Thalassa is one of my auto buy authors!

The plot: We follow Sarah, who is a firefighter, as she attempts to kill the first horseman Pestilence. She quickly finds out he is unkillable. He takes her hostage to pay her back for trying to kill him. Thus starts their journey across America so that Pestilence can spread his plague.

Things I like: This is truly an enemies to lovers story. Sarah tries to kill Pestilence the first time she sees him in a pretty painful way. Pestilence then ties her to his horse and essentially tortures her. I’ve seen some criticism towards this aspect but here’s the thing: Pestilence is quite literally a force of nature. He hasn’t had a human form before he came to earth to end it. And he’s seen nothing but the worst of humanity. Not that I don’t blame people for trying to kill him but after it happens so much that’s the only frame of reference he has for a human.

I love Sarah. She is an empathetic strong FMC and it’s heart breaking to see her trying to help or at least comfort the plague ridden people they come in contact with.

I won’t get too detailed since it goes into spoiler territory but the overall theme of this series is the question of if humanity is worth saving.

I’m also a huge fan of post-apocalyptic stories and when you add in the spice? Amazing.

I will always recommend this series. It got me out a very long reading rut.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I keep loving this author more and more! Love the action, adventure, and it was absolutely thrilling to read.

This the first book of The Four Horsemen series. This is the first time reading this author's work. Let me say BRAVO. This story is epic. It has everything, action, enemies to lovers, heroine teaching the villainous main character about humanity and love. I couldn't put the book down. I promptly read the other books in the series. I truly enjoyed the take on the four horsemen of the apocalypse. I highly recommend this book and this series.

I always love a good Four Horsemen retelling. PESTILENCE is the first book in Laura Thalassa's The Four Horsemen series and tells the story of Pestilence...obviously.

The Four Horsemen have come to Earth and there is major death and destruction. Every person Pestilence encounters is infected with disease...awful disease and they DIE. Until Sara attempts to kill Pestilence, when she fails, he takes her captive and continues his route of death and destruction. But somewhere along the way, Sara proves to Pestilence that not all humanity is bad...and there's somehow a happy ending for Pestilence and Sara! No spoilers!

There's lots of gore and repetition...and a handful of trigger warnings for some people. Also, not as smutty as I was lead to believe. I still enjoyed it... A guilty pleasure for sure.

This book was absolutely fantastic! It's been on my list ever since I read the Bargainer series and it did not disappoint. It had just the right amount of action, drama, and spice, and I can not wait to read the rest of the series!

I have been a fan of Laura Thalassa's books for years now, and this was a reread for me.
"Pestilence" has such a messed up story and I absolutely love it.
It keeps amazing me that Thalassa manages to write heroes - in this case Pestilence - who are completely despicable, but in the end I as a reader always root for them.
So yeah, this is a great book and I highly recommend it to every fantasy romance fan.

This new cover for Pestilence, the first installment of the Four Horsemen series by Laura Thalassa is giving me everything I need in life- and more. Pestilence is undoubtedly my favorite of the Four Horsemen, and Laura Thalassa's writing never ceases to amaze me. Her characters and world building is out of this (dare I say it... world). She has created incredibly flawed characters, that you cant help but love. I highly recommend Pestilence to anyone who loves fantasy romance, a bit of spice, and tough Hero's who are secretly a cinnamon roll on the inside!

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book.

It was okay. Average, I'd say. The plot is nearly non-existent and relies heavily on the romance and its main characters, because besides Sara and Pestilence, there are no secondary characters to the story.

I liked Pestilence enough and also found his character growth to be one of the best aspects of the book. Sara was also a likable enough character. The book had some moments I enjoyed (mainly the beginning, the dynamics and bickering between Sara and Pestilence was great) but unfortunately, that fizzled out rather quick.

This was a reread for me.

After completing the series last year, this reread hit a little different. It’s still just as heart wrenching to read. I mean, humans messed up bad and the horsemen have now come.

It hurt so much to watch Pestilence and Sara again fight each other. 😭
Just remember that he is NOT human, he is disease in a human form. Therefore, human emotions are new to him.

I have to admit that I would probably have tried to kill him if I ran across him. Never mind, who do I kid, I would be one of the first to die in an apocalyptic environment 😂

I love this series. But check trigger warnings if you are sensitive to things.

Pestilence by Laura Thalassa is a captivating, heart-wrenching story that reimagines the four horsemen of the apocalypse in a thrilling and darkly romantic way. The first of the horsemen, Pestilence, comes to Earth with the power to destroy all of humanity, and when he arrives in Sara's town, she is determined to stop him. But she quickly learns that Pestilence can't be killed, and he takes her captive in retribution for impeding his mission.

What follows is a gripping tale of survival, sacrifice, and unexpected love. As Sara travels with Pestilence and his plague, she begins to see a different side of him and comes to understand the complexity of his mission. Thalassa does an incredible job of developing the characters and their relationship, making it believable and deeply moving. Sara's bravery and compassion are admirable, and Pestilence's internal conflict between his duty and his growing affection for her is heart-wrenching.

Thalassa's writing is stunning, creating a vivid and darkly beautiful world that draws the reader in and doesn't let go. The tension and stakes are high throughout the book, making it difficult to put down. The concept of the horsemen of the apocalypse as romantic heroes is unique and intriguing, and Thalassa executes it with skill and nuance.

Overall, Pestilence is a must-read for fans of dark romance, apocalyptic fiction, and imaginative world-building. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

I saw someone named Chan say "take me away, plague daddy" and instantly cackled. That is exactly what I would say if I were Sara. I'm one of those gals who is going to dive headfirst into the pool of red flags and morally grey. What's the worst that could happen?! haha! Prime candidate for Stockholm Syndrome.. Especially when its with a handsome, immortal, plague daddy.

I can see this being too dark for those with an intact moral compass, but if you are a little dark and realized that it's just a book, like me, you'll be fascinated and riveted by this story. Thalassa is amazing at composing dystopia/fantasy, new adult fiction novels. I was glued to this book and completed it in one sitting! I can't wait to consume the rest of the series. I can only hope that if we end up in an apocalyptical time, I can find a Pestilence. 😍

Thank you NetGalley, Laura Thalassa and SourceBooks Bloom Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.


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WOW. i liked this a lot. i love the world ending aspect. Definitely enemies to lovers vibes with mortality being a huge theme. I think a lot of people who like smut and romance with fantasy would love to read this book. i am looking forward to the sequel! I love this new cover the other ones are so outdated and unmaterialistic.