War feels just as brutal and bittersweet as it's predecessor, Pestilence. The most human of Thalassa's four horseman, War is still extremely inhuman and brutal. I loved every second of this book and the way that Thalassa explores humanity's desperation to live and take advantage of any situation. The ending STRESSED me out. I can't recommend this series enough.

I had the same issues with this book as the first one. I didn't find Miriam nearly as annoying as I found Sara but she still went back and forth with loving War too many times. I feel like the book could have been shorter as we didn't need as many back and forth with War and Miriam. I'm also not a huge fan of the pregnancy but that's just a me thing. I overall still enjoyed the book and will continue with the next one.



Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

War is very much a tale of hope and hopelessness and what ordinary humans will do to survive. This was my favorite novel in this quartet so far.

I had a love/hate relationship with Miriam. I loved her tenacity, compassion, and empathy; but she was stuck in this mind frame of just trying to escape from War at whatever cost, even though he had proved to her that he was willing to change. War was a BAMF and I just loved the grit he brought to the story.

I don't know what I was expecting of the ending, but it wasn't that. I applaud the author for that last-second plot twist!

Overall, definitely pick this one up if you like enemies to lovers and dystopian struggles to survive.

I must say I didnt LOVE pestilence but War woke up and the world changed once more. This book takes place about 20 years after Pestilence (i presume with the context we are given) . And the second he landed he decided to be the horsemans version of a book boyfriend. He is toxic, dangerous, addictive.. and a man who knows what he wants.

Let's just not talk about how he travels with a pack of army men hell bent on destruction and if you somewho survive the wake you will not survive the zombies.

This story was developed in a more realistic way to allow the romance aspect to work

I liked this book way more than Pestilence.

There where a lot of the same components: fighter tries to kill the horseman, going from town to town, slow burn but there where better parts like this villain did not hurt the heroine.

War meets Miriam and decides she is his wife. Takes her back to his camp.

Miriam fights and holds her grounds for her morals throughout the book.

He keeps her with him, does not touch without consent and protects her from threats.

The book could have been shorter as it is practically the same story as the first one in my opinion. Over 500 pages.

This is the second book in the horsemen series!

The first and second books have similarities but they are definitely their own stories! I enjoyed War and Miriam just as much as Pestilence & Sara!

Check your triggers! Deaths happen alot.

He falls first, enemies to lovers, touch her and die, spice, banter, etc. So many great things!

"For your soft heart"

"Fuck it, I want a divorce" (I laughed OUT LOUD at this)

I'm loving the story line & can't wait to see how it ends! On to the next one, Famine! ☠️

I want to say thank you to Sourcebooks Bloom Books & Laura Thalassa, & Netgallery for this opportunity! 🖤

As the second book in the Four Horseman series, War can be read alone but will give some spoilers for the end of pestilence. War is another romance book with a toxic relationship that is hard to put down. This is not your sweet rom-com, but it is a fun story of a human woman's will coming up against the will of a divine being while love and attraction keep pulling them together.

War is the second book in The Four Horsemen series and holy moly, this one sent me into the sky. I will warn readers though that this book is quite violent and depicts gore, zombies, assault, and many other things that might be triggering to certain people.

War, the second horsemen, has finally awoken after his brother, Pestilence, failed his mission. War's duty is to judge the hearts of men and to sort out the good people from the bad. He does by destroying town after town, killing everyone in sight until the people of earth have achieved redemption. During one of his battles, he meets Miriam Elmahdy. Miriam is immediately confused and terrified as War walks up to her, calls her his wife, and decides to spare her by taking her back to his camp. The longer War stays around Miriam, the more his heart begins to change, and he begins to question what his purpose actually is.

I really liked this book. The romance in this is SPICY and I was totally invested the whole time. Miriam and War were made for each other, literally and figuratively. I loved their relationship, especially with the concept of it being two people in love who are at war with each other. Miriam is incredible. She is my favorite. I loved watching their love blossom and seeing what they learned from each other. There were a few parts where I had to stop to take a breather just because of the violence, but other than that, I don't really have any issues with this book.

I'm very excited to start Famine!

"Foolish, foolish girl."

Couldn't have said it better myself, Miriam. Couldn't have said it better myself.

The absolute sadness I feel at rating this 2 stars... This book started off so good! I loved the setting (we start off in Palestina and go through a few African countries throughout the book), Miriam seemed a strong independent survivalist FMC (oh, how naïve I was), was over the moon excited with the fated mates trope (are you kidding me? That's my kryptonite right there!), I was absolutely in love with War and then he dirty talked and I gasped so loud I had to fan myself to shock my nervous system into working again... I mean...

"If I'm your wife, why don't I sleep in the same tent as you? And why don't-?"
"Go on. Tell me, Miriam, about all the rest. Why don't I fuck you raw and feast on your pussy and keep you chained to my bed like a proper husband?"

*dies of heatstroke* RIGHT?!

Anyway, their bickering, War being War (I love him), the tropes... It all seemed to set me up for a 5 star read and bring me further out of my nasty slump, right until... It put me in an even nastier one. Thanks for that.

Here's why it stopped working for me:

-- BEWARE OF SPOILERS --

First thing that irked me was when War was so deadset on carrying out his task (and slagging off Pestilence in the process, but we let that one slide) but then 25% into the book he's already saying he'll do whatever necessary to keep Miriam, "no matter the cost". Turncoat *eyeroll* (just kidding). It just seemed a bit off to me that he would be so quick to give in after Miriam stomped her foot and retreated from him. Anyway on we read...

Second thing, and this is where it went wrong, I started feeling like the relationship arc was super wobbly. This goes hand in hand with me starting to dislike Miriam and her actions. She felt like such a petulant child, throwing a fit each time, emotionally retreating, then emotionally and sexually manipulating War (both of which I wasn't a fan of at all!), lying to him about things that carry a lot of weight for him (aka surrendering)... Needless to say I wasn't sold on her conflict at all; it seemed to me she was interested and attracted to him from the start but her continued denial of it rubbed me the wrong way (the worst part is I usually like this in main characters, but with her it just frustrated me). Also, she kept saying she feared War, but show me, don't tell me? Never once did I actually feel like she was afraid of him. And so, what we got was Miriam with her attachment issues giving a hot and cold vibe, stomping her foot each time War literally did what he came on Earth to do, retreating and then manipulating him to get what she wanted... which all resulted in a very wobbly relationship arc that didn't feel right to read. Even the ending, they separate and then go all in? There's no finesse. Meanwhile, War is gradually giving in, changing his ways for her, reaching out to her through his actions and words, and she's all oblivious to it (cue another eyeroll). I hated how much she hurt him, and how unfair she was towards him when he was actually trying, unlike her.

Now, on to editing, tropes, world-building and the likes. Some of these were already mildly irritating in Pestilence's book, but I guess I was lenient and more forgiving, because I actually liked the romance and FMC. But when the big things start bothering me, the little things stack up.
- The over the top use of italicized words... Seriously, stop. It's too much.
- This new trend of cashing in on tropes is actually hurting the quality of books. I made the mistake of asking my kindle to count the amount of times the word 'wife' was used in this book, since its repetitiveness bothered me so much. 211 times. I repeat, 211 times the word 'wife' was used. In a 544 page book, that's about once every two pages, although thankfully they were grouped together to obtain maximum irritation from repetitiveness. LESS IS MORE. Honestly. Less is more, because when timed right and used sparingly, it has so much more meaning. Sometimes, it felt gratuitous which annoyed me to no end. It lost all its meaning, even when it was supposed to feel meaningful.
- There's still a lack of proper world-building and a lot of easy outs used, like how did Miriam get resurrected both times? Who did it? How does it work? Where did War go to when he started chanting? So many unanswered questions. I am forever grateful War kept being War after he became human, though, because I could not deal with another Victor situation to be honest!

Overall, the book was entertaining enough, since I powered through to get the world building aspects I might've needed to continue the series. Had I not had this goal, I would've DNF'ed before the 50% mark. I loved War, but my heart bled at the way Miriam treated him. And my frustration of Miriam, her inner thoughts and her actions, as well as the impact she had on the relationship arc just didn't work for me.

*Thank you to Sourcebooks, Bloom Books, for gifting me an advanced reading copy of the re-release. This is my honest review, where all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

In this romance, Miriam, comes face to face with War. Being the second of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. This was a bit spicier than Pestilence. I did not expect what War would do with Miriam but he is War after all. This was an ARC for me and I loved it! I love when a story can throw me off my “normal” thinking of a character and switch it up…and I love the snakiness. Can’t wait to read the next!

I had the pleasure of receiving an eARC of War through NetGalley, and I must say, this series continues to impress me. It's astonishing how Laura Thalassa can craft such a compelling romance centered around the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. While I might have a slight preference for the first book, Pestilence, this one still takes you on an exhilarating ride.

What's striking is how War differs from his brother Pestilence. War immediately recognizes Miriam as his heaven-sent wife and doesn't harm her, adding a unique twist to their relationship. While the violence and death still abound, War exhibits a deeper understanding of humans from the start, making the transition in this book seamless. Miriam is a remarkable character, strong and unapologetically herself. She's a fighter and a lover, which I found incredibly appealing. However, a word of caution: this book does delve into the death and harm of children, so consider this if it's a trigger for you. The ending caught me off guard and had me in tears, but in the best way possible. Overall, War is an enjoyable addition to the series that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

Laura Thalassa has upped her game. While "Pestilence" was a great book with characters that were built with great detail, this book is a whole another level.

War is a very possessive man, who, while this is a dark romance, has respect for women and never harms them (unless they harm him first lol). Miriam is a very strong FMC who is a BADASSSSSS.

They form a great pair and this book is filled with banter, arrogant characters that will make you enjoy this read. However, this book is dark, so you better check TWs before reading.



*I received an earc of this book through netgalley.

I enjoyed 'War' more than 'Pestilence' and it's because the romance in the first book was way slower than in this one.
Still a slow burn with a lot of spice about a young woman and one of the Horsemen of the apocalypse.
If that's your cup of tea, read this book! (And be my friend!)

The scenery, the descriptions, and the characters, even the secondary ones are very well-written. I am in love with the author's writing.

I can't wait to read 'Famine' and then get to 'Death'! I shouldn't be so excited about that book, but, oh well.
Look for the trigger warnings.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book.

First, let’s admit War is a sight to behold and to imagine in your head.

What always strikes me in the Four Horsemen series by Laura Thalassa is how much we don’t want to accept the horsemen as a love interest and end up understanding them enough to wish their redemption for all the atrocities committed against humans and eventually their happiness.

War, as Pestilence, is a disease, in this case spread by men’s vengeance and hate. That's all that he knows. Being a corporeal being is alien to him.

Miriam is a self-tough force of nature. She governs her lonely life by strict rules that have allowed her to survive in a poor and dangerous environment. She has been taught to accept differences in men and religion, as well as the power of love.
But little does she know that when War sees her, he proclaims her his wife.

The atrocities committed by War are the main obstacles of the romance. And it is amazing to see how Miriam tries all she can to protect and save as many as possible while resisting War advances and warmhearted moments.
But when she least expects, her tries and messages start to take root in War’s heart and his path to redemption starts.

The storyline keeps you entertained since they go through every twist possible to reach their HEA.

The ending was a bit anticlimactic.

The violence including children and families made me distance myself from the storyline and characters. As it is a sensitive topic to me.

Content Warnings:
• Mention of death of parent
• Cursing
• Extreme Violence
• Violence against children
• Attempt of sexual assault
• Religious topics
• War
• War trauma
• (view spoiler)
• Death of loved ones

Series with overarching plot, but can be read as standalone.
Each book focuses on one couple with HEA.
POV count: 2

Thank you Net Galley for giving me a copy of this book for an honest review!

I'm really enjoying this series and how enthralling it is. This is the second time in one series that Laura Thalassa has hooked me almost immediately. There is just something really unique about these stories and the writing, I just need more!

Miriam is one hell of a woman! She is just amazing all her hard work and focus toward what she believes is right!
War, I have to say I didn’t like him much at the beginning but as the story progressed and his relationship with Miriam grows you can see him wanting to be better but not being able because of his mission.
The bit almost at the end had me in tears and I loved it!

Amazing series love it!

I really enjoyed the Four Horseman books - it is my favorite series by Laura Thalassa. It felt different from many apocalypse plots I’ve read, even though it featured the biblical tale. There was a good balance between survival plot and romance. War is my favorite in the series.

After reading Pestilence I was more than excited to start the 2nd of this series. War brought us a whole new female and male protagonist couple, and although I was familiar with the type of story I was about to read, I was still happily surprised and excited by the diversification of the characters from the previous novel.

A lot of times you come across a series with different protagonists within the same world, and you are faced with interactions that feel somewhat repetitive. However, Thalassa avoids this. In "War" we are treated to an entirely different romantic entanglement, and it is the instant possessiveness between the characters that grabs your attention and immerses you into the story.

The way War conducts himself and his approach to conquest is nothing short of intriguing.
I AM OBSESSED with WAR! I also love the idea of his position within the end-of-world days.
He adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, elevating it beyond the conventional. He is captivating, delicious, and downright sexy.

“Are you just healing me because you want to fuck me?”
Holy mother of God. Did those words really come out of my mouth?
What is wrong with you, Miriam?
The horseman’s head snaps up. He stares for several seconds, his eyes dropping to my mouth. “I healed you for my own reasons. Fucking you is another matter altogether.”

As the story progresses, the dynamic between War and Miriam proves to be a source of excitement and delicious encounters. I love the complicated nature of their relationship, War's instant enraptured nature with Miriam is delightful and her fight against her own feelings and the eventual palpable passion and chemistry keeps you on the edge of your seat. How he views her makes things easier and harder for Miriam, and for us, we are drawn in further. The loneliness makes these two an easy math.

I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building and still love the post-apocalyptic story.
I am so happy that it took place in a different location and different continent!

I love the differences between Pestilence and War - where Pestilence was unaware of human nature and human customs, War is well-versed, experienced, and consuming. Both of them are fixed on their duty and their destruction of mankind. The only thing is, perhaps their purpose, their nature, was never to destroy but to learn what it means to be human - to be given a chance and a choice, to live...

"But then I was given this form, and suddenly I existed in an entirely different way. I saw human nature off the battlefield for the first time. More than that, I felt what it was like to live off the battlefield.”

I look forward to reading Famine!

(and holy smokes I cannot wait to meet Death - AGAIN!)

Thank you again to NetGalley for the book & to Laura Thalassa for the writing!

Actual Rating: 3.5⭐

This sequel is pretty much similar to the 1st book, one of the four horsemen (War) met the FMC(Miriam) while doing their mission. I also found Miriam and the previous one has similar traits – stubborn, strong willed and compassionate.

The world building is expanding, this time it takes place in Israel. Compare to Pestilence who works alone, War has a large camp where his captives and soldiers live. It’s interesting that the readers got a glimpse of how life goes for those living at the camp.

Pestilence was right though, War is more ruthless and vicious compare to Pestilence. I would be terrified meeting him face to face, but not Miriam who raised up against him every chance she got.

I like seeing how War slowly changes and learn more about mercy, growing conscience and redemption throughout the story, however it was mostly centered because of his needs to be loved by Miriam.

It takes quite a while for Miriam and War to admit their feelings for each other because they argue/fight most of the time.
The level of spiciness of this book is higher than the 1st book since War definitely know his way around women compare to Pestilence.

Overall, this story is pretty enjoyable. I really like the character’s development and the author’s writing style - it was easy to read and conveyed the emotions very well; the feeling of loss, love and hope.
I want to keep reading this series since I heard Famine and Death gets even better so I’m looking forward to it.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Death, violence, sexual content, murder, war, sexual assault, vomit

I received an advanced review copy for free through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

My least favorite of them all, I found this book cringey. Miriam was very typical, strong and stubborn, but lonely. Her every thought relating to War was how attractive he is. It got redundant and felt it strayed from the main plot.