This book has me in a CHOKEHOLD ok. Yes Pestilence is one of the four Horsemen and therefore a harbinger of death via the plague, but he just struck me as one those alien beings or time travelers we get in movies/romcoms that have no idea what to do with earthly things and worse yet — emotions. Oh the horror.

Post-apocalyptic is one of my favorites settings/tropes, whatever you want to call it, so I was already really excited for this one. Catch me running to my local bookshop for the next 2 installations of these!

The Four Horsemen came to Earth and disrupted current civilization as we know it. Then— they disappeared. Five years later, only Pestilence emerges, and starts spreading the plague through every city he travels through. In various towns, remaining survivors try to ambush Pestilence as he comes through town. Sara, unfortunately, is the chosen one in hers. Tasked with attempting to kill Pestilence, she does, but here’s the problem— he’s really immortal. He doesn’t die. Pestilence takes Sara as his prisoner, so that she may suffer as he did when she “killed” him. However, as Sara travels with him, he begins to see and learn through Sara that humanity is not all he thought it to be, and Sara in return learns there is more to Pestilence. The problem is he still has to follow through on his task to destroy the world.

This series is actually a re-release, with new covers and I’m so glad all of these are out because I need to BINGE. Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Thalassa, and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for an early copy of the re-release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Is love enough to stop one of the horsemen of the apocalypse?
Sara, driven by a wish to protect her family and friends, attempts to kill pestilence, the only horseman of the apocalypse currently awake. She finds out that he cannot be killed and is taken prisoner. Through Sara, Pestilence becomes aware of humanity. Although he is set to his task, he finds there to be more than he was initially aware of.
I hesitate to call this a dark romance, but there are some toxic elements in it as well as some very cute moments. I don't think it is for everyone, but those who like fantasy romance, impossible choices, and nonhuman male love interests will love this book.
It is the first book in a series but seems like it would be possible to read it as a standalone.

Four Horsemen from Biblical Revelation are coming and nothing will be the same after those four will ride around the world spreading Famine, War, Death, and Pestilence. No one can stop them, and then they are gone as quickly as they appeared in our world.
I know that this story has some cons, but it was such a nice and entertaining read that some of them are to be omitted. Our heroine, Sara, has got an impossible task - to try to secure somehow other evacuating people and keep Pestilence away (you know the story of David and Goliath - then you can imagine this one!). The plague is coming and it's inevitable, but when you know it you try to even kill a Horseman of Apocalypse, as nothing is to risk as you will die anyways, right?
Pestilence is feeling her ambush as dirt, even when it should be deadly... but immortality has its perks, right? And as he has no feeling when Sara does not die in his presence, he takes her with him! So no mercy for this girl, and will make her suffer!
Trust me this book is not for the faint heart, as Ms. Thassala shows humanity and also diety at its worst with no censorship here (which I appreciate). And at first, we only know Sara and can imagine what is going on in her mind, but then we can see a change in Pestilence, and start to understand him or at least can try to start doing so (and this is when I started to like him somehow - you know, how some people grow up in the environment of hate and then pass it to the others? What arises between Sara and Pestilence grows slowly, harshly, and definitely not easy in those circumstances where one party wanted to kill the other, and the other kills everyone by its presence. I liked this story and I will definitely jump into book two as the style of Ms. Thalassa works for me very well!

I have never read an apocalypse book like this one. While it took a bit to get the story moving, I absolutely loved Sara and Pestilence and was rooting for them to the end.

i'm obsessed with any series that is based around the four horsemen and this didn't disappoint at all! i absolutely loved it and ate. it. up!! i finished this and immediately wanted to start book 2!

"Pestilence" is a riveting and unconventional take on the apocalyptic romance genre, written by Laura Thalassa. The story dives headfirst into a world ravaged by a deadly pandemic that takes the form of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The first installment in the "Four Horsemen" series, "Pestilence" focuses on the character Pestilence, who represents the biblical Horseman of Conquest

The relationship that unfolds between Pestilence and Sara, the protagonist, is the heart of the story. Their interactions are marked by tension, growth, and moments of unexpected tenderness. Thalassa manages to create palpable chemistry between them, even in the midst of the dire circumstances they face.

Pestlience is a captivating read that blends romance and apocalyptic fiction in an innovative way. With its intriguing premise, well-developed characters, and emotionally charged narrative, the book offers a fresh perspective on the often-explored themes of love and redemption in the face of chaos. If you're a fan of unique takes on the romance and dystopian genres, this book is well worth your time. Just be prepared for a story that delves into both darkness and light, creating a memorable reading experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and Laura Thalassa for the ARC copy and a chance to read this book.

If you are looking for a fast paced dark fantasy romance, this is for you.

The theme of humanity throughout this book was interesting, but I found it underdeveloped (also like the romance). The interactions between Sara and Pestilence did not convince me that Pestilence actually saw the good in humanity and would change, or that they fell in love.

I am interested in the fantasy elements in this series so I will continue to read the next books in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for my review.

Sara was a firefighter before the horsemen came to earth. When Pestilence returns, Sara stays to help the town evacuate, including her own family. Sara and her team mates that remain behind decide they are going to kill Pestilence and Sara draws the short straw. However, Pestilence is immortal and he cannot be permanently killed.

He looks too perfect, almost like an angel, but has a deadly task. Pestilence has been killed many, many times. When Pestilence regenerates after Sara tries to kill him, Pestilence decides to spare Sara to make an example of her.

And so starts this emotional journey. Is it Stockholm syndrome? Is it redemption and love? Have your tissues ready as this had some sections that were quite difficult to read, but it is worth it. Sara is amazing. She is such a strong woman and I was enthralled with her character development. How she handled the various situations Pestilence put her in. I think Pestilence was also the best horseman to start with as he had an innate curiosity. Watching both his redemption and emotional growth was wonderful. Such a great book!

Big thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Bloom Books and Laura Thalassa for this early release copy. I am now a Laura Thalassa super fan!

I enjoyed reading this. Some of the stories are a little immature at times, but I enjoyed the plot, characters, and the smut.

This book was absolutely not what I was expecting. I was expecting some light plot, heavy smut, think the stripper version of the four horsemen. But this book was a deeper, jarring commentary on the duality of humanity.

I will admit, I didn't like the fmc for most of the book. I loved her compassion, but her indecisiveness was getting to me. I kept having to remind myself that it I found myself alive in a post-apocalyptic world (couldn't be me, kill me in the first wave y'all), I would also struggle with the idea of falling for the dude who seems to be causing the apocalypse.

Similarly, with Pestilence, his stubbornness led to him feeling a bit flat to start with, but I feel like that was intentional because y'all, I swear he grows on you.

Overall, this book made me feel things I did not sign up for, but I tend to love introspection so I'm not actually mad at it. I can't wait to pick up War now that I know the vibes I'm going into!

Laura Thalassa's novel "Pestilence" presents a captivating and thought-provoking take on the concept of the Four Horsemen, infusing the narrative with elements of intrigue, growth, and unexpected beauty. Through its exploration of the Horseman, Pestilence and the development of its characters, the book offers readers a unique and engaging perspective on the apocalypse.

As someone who is obsessed by the end of the world ideas and the 4 Horsemen, it was interesting to see what possibilities could come from a story told in Revelations.

The way Pestilence is portrayed in the book departs from the repulsive and monstrous depiction often associated with pestilence, allowing readers to see him in a new light. Thalassa skillfully transforms his purpose into a compelling exploration of mercy and kindness, raising questions about the deeper meanings behind his actions. This unique perspective challenges readers to reconsider their preconceived notions about destruction and the forces that drive it.

The heart of "Pestilence" lies in the enthralling growth of its characters. The protagonist, with their blend of literary wit and unwavering determination, brings a refreshing dynamism to the story. Their interactions with Pestilence, marked by a slow-burning connection, serve as a central driving force of the narrative. The book's strength lies in its exploration of character development and the evolving relationship between these two main characters. While the world-building may not be as intricate as in some other novels, Thalassa's emphasis on the characters' growth and the evolution of their dynamic compensates for this by immersing the reader in their journey.

The absence of extensive environmental descriptions in the book serves an interesting purpose. Rather than detaching readers from the narrative, this approach encourages them to use their imagination and experiences to visualize the post-apocalyptic setting. As the story takes place in a version of our own world, this technique invites readers to easily place themselves within the story, further enhancing their engagement with the characters and their experiences.

While "Pestilence" earns high praise for its innovative take on the Four Horsemen concept, the character-driven narrative, and the imaginative engagement it fosters, it is not without a minor drawback. The limited depth of the world-building might leave some readers yearning for more intricate details of the post-apocalyptic landscape. However, the novel's strengths far outweigh this aspect, providing a rich and enjoyable reading experience.

I am SO excited for the next book and cannot wait to see what happens next and what romantic endeavors will come from each of the horsemen.
(I am especially intrigued to meet Death!)

Thank you again to NetGalley for the book & to Laura Thalassa for the writing!
I was looking forward to reading more since having finished The Bargainer series.

2.5/5 stars

Honestly, I think this is one of those books you read for fun and not so much for its literary merit.
It was a very quick and easy read, and is definitely a good book to get you out of a reading slump.
Overall, I did enjoy this book.
However, I am not sure I will finish reading the series.
I also wasn't a huge fan of our love interest, which probably plays a huge part in the lower rating.
Be aware it is a dark story (so be sure to check the trigger warnings), with a little bit of borderline Stockholm Syndrome romance.


Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a honest review.

As an avid fantasy reader, I knew that I would need to shift my mindset while reading PESTILENCE. I loved being able to read for the pure enjoyment of the story, as there wasn't a need to understand a complex magic system. The premise itself was what drew me in. I've always found the concept of an apocalypse is fascinating. The way that Thalassa utilized the Four Horsemen (or in this case, Pestilence) was fresh for me, and I was pleasantly surprised by the discussion around humanity/what it means to be a human. That said, I wish that the FMC would have been older. At twenty-one, I didn't think that she had enough experience yet to be the driving force for Pestilence's monumental change. Overall, I found that I enjoyed my reading experience, and I'm intrigued enough to want to continue the series. Thank you, Bloom Books, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. I love the revised cover!

Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC!

Pestilence is the first book in The four Horsemen series. If I had to describe Pestilence in one word, I would say tempestuous. It's not an easy book to read for sure. It's dark, gritty, violent, an anti-hero you'll love to loathe, a strong heroine you'll cheer for in the sidelines, a romance that'll test your morality and brain (LOL).

Pestilence is a great start to the series. As the name suggests, it's an apocalyptic romance with the horsemen hell-bent on destroying the world. They have judged humans to be selfish and it's time to end their reign on Earth. The first person to start his task is - obviously - Pestilence. He's spreading his disease far and wide, killing off people in the worst way possible. Some humans try to fight him off but to no avail.

And one such warrior is our heroine Sara. Their first meet starts off violently, which sets the pace for the rest of the book. Sara doesn't go easy on him, but when she finds out that he can't die, she's already his prisoner, facing his wrath.

And it's DARK. He is cruel to the heroine and isn't sensitive. He tortures her and I wondered how their romance would pan out. I mean, no one with a sane mind would ever ever love him.

But of course, over the course of their journey, Sara begins to understand him, Pestilence learns more about Sara. They already had chemistry, but with their emotions changing towards one another and the attachment forming, Pestilence, turns more and more human (which is wonderful to see).

I loved the story, it's unique and I loved how the author stayed true to her characters, even though it made me not like Pestilence that much. The world building is fantastic and the first book sets up the entire storyline for the other three horsemen.

Overall, a good read.

This book really surprised me. I didn’t know much about it and was super keen to read it. Thanks to @read_bloom @netgalley and @laurathalasa for a review copy.

We have all heard of the four horsemen - Pestilence, War, Famine and Death and the power they have to destroy all of humanity.

I really loved this book. It was a quick easy read with the classic enemies to lovers and kidnapping. There is a good level of spice throughout the book as well.

Will I be reading the rest of this series? YES! I can’t wait to dive into the next one which we were given such a great intro into at the ending of this book.

I loved the characters is this book. The banter between the two was great. I also enjoyed that the main female Sara was a fan of Edgar Allen Poe and other poets. The internal debate that Sara has throughout the book felt so realistic. I loved how through out the book Pestilence almost represents the worst of humanity while Sara represents the best and by being together they almost balance each other out. Laura also was really able to show how through small actions and conversations you can unknowingly start to change an individual. Whether that was intentional or not, I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. Laura’s writing was also very easy to get into and the plot was intriguing. However, I did want a bit more from the book plot wise. I felt like some of the repetitiveness could have been broken up with something a bit more than just riding on a horse, stopping for night in a house, waking up and doing the same thing over. Also, this was a very realistic approach to the apocalypse. I could see this happening in the sequence of events. I couldn’t put the book, every spare moment I had I was reading this book. This was a fun and dark read. I can not wait to continue on in the series.

Thank you Sourcebooks/Bloom Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

I love Laura Thalassa and the characters she creates! This was a great dark fantasy romance with all kinds of tension and excitement. If you enjoy her Bargainer series then you’ll definitely want to pick this one up because it’s just as thrilling!

What. A. Book!

The Four Horsemen series by Laura Thalassa has been on my TBR since the first time I heard about it on BookTok so basically since TikTok became a popular thing.. I thought it perfect to read this series during the week that Bloom released the new covers!

This enemies to lovers romance will have you interchangeably taking sides with one or the other main character because they are both so freaking stubborn! I swear multiple times I wanted to shout at both of them to get it together.. I could not have asked for a better series opener and I cannot wait to read more!

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Sara, our bratty FMC, gives Pestilence a run for his money. Going from a plan to finish this particular horsemen off, to being his prisoner whom he would like to see suffer. After all, if she wouldn’t grant him mercy why should he? He’s only here doing his job — to see the end of humankind.

Sara is likable, stubborn as ever, and has the drive to help if possible. With them being in such forced close quarters, they genuinely do slowly let their walls melt as they seemingly share their differences. The portions where Sara shares good and the like had my heart warm even with those dark, detrimental moments where they’re traveling. The bleak moments where Sara had no true choice but to suffer with her fellow humankind dying from the plague were absolutely devastating especially after knowing how Pestilence’s ‘gift’ works.

This enemies-to-lovers with just one horse is a great darker contemporary romance. I love a post-apocalyptic dystopian novel — the dash of fantasy only made it sweeter. The slow burn made the payoff all the more worthwhile.

For what it’s worth, Sara may have suffered in this novel through out, but I suffered all the same. For Laura Thalassa, I’ll suffer eternally with all of the horsemen.

In this book, the Horsemen of the Apocalypse are real, and they are not happy with humanity. I went into this book expecting a pretty dark romance given the subject. I don't dislike the writing, I didn't dislike the idea! Both I think are quite good, but they don't match. I think the readers that would enjoy this book won't find it, and readers who are looking for dark romance will likely be disappointed in the tone. The idea of the horsemen being real, physical beings, is a great premise for a dark book ala JR Ward, but it needs to have a matching dark tone. Pestilence is actively killing off hundreds, tortured our FMC at the beginning, but soon switches to a cute and unaware guy. The writing is also done a disservice by not being highlighted in a cuter storyline. I think it needed to lean in one way or the other. The book raised some interesting plot points, the angelic language tattooed, the idea that maybe he is being compelled rather than wanting to wreck havoc, but the mismatched tone and premise was a big problem for me.