This damn book. SOOOOOOO good!!! I seriously think this is a new favorite series that I’ll be reaching for again and again when I need a series where I’m equally entertained and swoony throughout all of the books. And I say this fairly confident even though I haven’t read Death’s book yet… I just *know* his book is going be something else to me.

Once again, Laura delivers an incredible and captivating story set in this dark and disturbing world. I am head over heels in love with each of these books individually and my love for the whole series is on another level. I just have these characters on my mind all day every day!!

I am unbelievably excited for Death because his book is the one I’ve been waiting not-so patiently for!!! Bring it on!

*Thank you Bloom Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Who hungers more than Famine?

Who hungers for revenge? For pain? For love? Famine is the devourer. And he'll do anything to keep Ana alive, the only human who's ever shown him sympathy. And just like the flower he calls her, her time may be too brief, plucked from the vine.

'Famine' is another solid addition to the The Four Horseman series, although it definitely didn't steal my top spot in the series. I found the concept of Ana ending up in this motherly position to be an interesting and unexpected turn for her and Famine. The way she fights back against him is awesome, as there's nothing worse than a love interest who caves to their beliefs just for the sake of love. She stands strong, but so does he. It's the same formula for all the titles in this series, but somehow Thalassa keeps things interesting while continuing to provide spice, spice, and more spice.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was a really good experience. The writing and plot were very original and exciting. Definitely recommend.

This series just keeps getting better and better. So glad that I have all of these because this series just has to be binge read!! This one This one was slow burn and it was so very yummy!

I gotta say this is the 3rd romp in the sheets for me and its not refreshing anymore. It is like the MC just becomes less enjoyable or desireable and the female MC as well .. both just get less and less redeeming and now the chemistry for how little is .. is also less believeable. Lets do it here and there and everywhere and put zero emotion behind the words being said.. and would you believe it ends just like the first two?

I received this book for free for an honest unbiased review from Netgalley.

I wish more books were this well written. Characters were witty and the setting fantastic.

Love everything by this author and this was another example of why. Can’t wait to finish the series.

The Four Horeseman Series by Laura Thalassa is such a fun unique genre-bending ride. It's a dystopian apocalyptipc paranormal spicy romance that skirts lightly religion for the frame work (managing to be a respectful and true to tradition), but spares no punches. While you can read them individually as quite a bit of time passes between each book, they meld together into an overarching story cherishing love and respect as central to each relationship.

Because they work so well together and when you finish one you will need to delve right into the next one I'm going to give you the four book run down. They are each similar in that you'll see an enemies to lovers arc. However, each woman and horsemen is unique in their background and worldview. We travel the world with them crossing continents and cultures.

The first to arrive is Pestilence and he is out to ravage the land.

Following is War, and it starts in Jerusalem. Appropriate. This couple is definitely different but I think I liked them even better than the first two.

After, Thalassa definitely mixes things up with Famine. In fact, it begins in a most unexpected way with a most unexpected character in South America.

Finally, Death. This one is probably best read after you've read the first three as the band does get back together to do some end of the world stuff. But, again, this book stands on its own as not only has Death come but he has found the one person who won't stay dead.

This series is completely additcting! Expect each book to be devoured in one sitting.

A Captivating Tale of Love Amidst Desolation – Famine by Laura Thalassa

The third book in Laura Thalassa’s compelling series about The Four Horsemen of the apocalypse, Famine, presents an original and captivating interpretation of the enemies-to-lovers cliché. In this bleak and forlorn land, where Famine wreaks havoc and misery, Thalassa deftly crafts a story of passion, survival, and a surprising bond.

Famine ♦ Laura Thalassa

Opinion

The intricate bond between Famine and Ana, two characters who perfectly capture the terrible reality of their post-apocalyptic world, is what makes this book so strong. Readers are kept on the edge of their seats by Thalassa’s deft handling of the delicate balance between their competing positions. Every exchange between Famine and Ana is emotionally fraught because of the enemies-to-lovers dynamic, which heightens the intensity and unpredictability of their interactions.

The unique quality of Famine is Thalassa’s ability to humanize a character that appears to be the epitome of destruction. Famine is portrayed as both vulnerable and menacing, but as the story progresses, it takes on a profoundly different meaning. Ana, who is just as captivating, shows herself to be a strong and tough heroine who challenges the horseman and their desolate surroundings.

The post-apocalyptic landscape is vividly and evocatively described by the author, drawing readers into a world of desperation and deprivation. Also, the world-building done by Thalassa is exquisite and eerie, providing a setting that deepens the protagonists‘ emotional journey.

The novel moves along at a good clip, with thrilling passages that hold the reader’s attention throughout. Famine and Ana’s connection builds gradually in a way that is both convincing and alluring, providing a rewarding slow burn that culminates in a stirring and moving finale.

Famine delves into somber subjects, yet in the end, it conveys a message of redemption and hope. Readers are left feeling satisfied and eagerly awaiting the conclusion of this gripping series by Thalassa’s deft handling of the thin line between hopelessness and resiliency.

Conclusion

In conclusion, readers who enjoy dystopian fiction and paranormal romance should not miss Laura Thalassa’s Famine. This novel stands out in the genre because of the author’s ability to combine a distinctive love tale with the harsh reality of a post-apocalyptic society. The witty arguments and sarcastic verbal slug fest was very entertaining.

I received an advance review copy for free by Bloom Books through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This review was first published at The Art of Reading.

This was a difficult book for me to read…
When Laura announced the the FL was Brazilian, I was over the moon, but the execution felt a little flat for me. Ana sounded too much of a stereotype and in some parts too vulgar.

Ana’s character aside, Famine, from all the horseman, was the most cruel and vile, which made the book a little too dark for my taste. And for that reason, it took me the longest to read Famine.

Not all bad, but not my favorite.

<b><i><u>please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers</b></i></u>
<i><u>I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. </i></u>
<b>HEA:</b> yes (HFN)
<b>spice:</b> several open-door spicy scenes
<b>TWs:</b> graphic depictions of murder, graphic depictions of torture, death, gore, kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, attempted murder, attempted SA, SA (recounted, nongraphic), child abuse, (mostly unwilling) sex work, underage sexual encounters (recounted, nongraphic), captivity, Stockholm syndrome vibes
<b>standalone:</b> book 3 in The Four Horsemen series – could be read as a standalone, however there is a HFN (happily for now) cliffhanger which I think will be satiated in book 4 Death
<b>final thoughts</b>: 3.4⭐ bumped up to a 4. a quick read with moderate world building, lots of banter, and a dark and brooding MMC that only has eyes for the FMC. The tension between the MCs was so good that I didn’t mind some of the eh banter they had. It was fun to watch Famine struggle with being confined to a human body and have curiosity for human customs while also hating humanity and wanting to hate the FMC.
The FMC was both hit and miss for me. I loved that she read as (mostly) age-appropriate with her responses to murder, torture, and suffering. I liked how she was salivating over the guy/God/Reaper that she knew she shouldn’t and wasn’t shy about her flirting. However, the flirting itself was kind of one-note for most of the book. That being said… I’ll be reading book 4 and I intend to go back and read books 1 and 2 and some point too.
The MMC was a big hit for me and was ruthless, cold, and unapologetic and we got to see a lot of small growths throughout the book (and we even got some snippets of his POV!!). I loved seeing him reluctantly falling for the FMC and becoming increasingly possessive over her as the book went on.

read this book if you love

🏝️ forced proximity (captivity)
💓 slowburn
☠️ “touch her and die”
🔮 supernatural creatures- Reaper/Horseman
🪄 magic
💖 paranormal romance
🌍 world building
🥰 nicknames
🫡 big MMC
🤜 enemies-to-lovers
🖤 dark romance

3 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this book, which, while keeping the basic plot intact, spices things up a bit. Famine is currently the meanest of the Cavaliers, but you can understand his cruelty from the rough life he's had dealing with people. On the other hand, Ana is a real charmer, funny, and genuine to the core. She's been through her fair share of hardships but never took the path of cruelty. These two characters? They make a great team, their personalities just click.

I really enjoyed this book! I took a break from the series after finishing the second book, and I’m really glad I did. I found the start of the book to be a bit slow and hard to get into, but I quickly got into it. I also like how the author deviated a bit from the first two books and the the main characters had a prior connection to the start of the book. I also felt like we spent more time with the characters before we started getting the “I love you” and admitting to their feelings. I really enjoyed the fact that the “spice” doesn’t come in until the last third of the book. I also felt like these characters had more to their personalities and how they learned to heal and overcome their past traumas. I will definitely recommend this book to others.

Laura continues to impress with her four horseman series! Despite the books have similar premises, she makes them feel unique and Famine is no exception. I definitely enjoyed it and can’t wait to finish the series.

Dystopian dark urban fantasy romance

Famine is the wind, the clouds, earth and plants. Human nature is alien to him. So, how can humans stop him? Teach him desperation, pain and making powerless, until he's saved by her.

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.

Pestilence and War do not hate humans, but Famine has all the reasons to.

I was so excited to meet Ana da Silva! I expected what I love about Brazilian women. But I was a bit disappointed. However, the things that I recognized was the perseverance and a strong heart.
The little girl that saved famine, is no longer. She's now an unapologetic s£x worker and uses her tools on famine in every turn. That human side is still alien to Famine.

So, how Ana, that knows the worst of human nature, can save the world from Famine?

At least Ana did what I was expecting, kept me focused on her character change. Not growth, because there was nothing wrong or to grow, Ana has a beautiful soul and Famine knows it.

The ending was intense... because Death is here.

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
• Torture
• S£x work
• Religious topics
• PTSD
• 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 to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC - these opinions are my own!
This is Book Three of the Four Horseman Series:

Similarities:
- Plot: main characters ride from town-2-town while the Horsemen eradicate humanity one settlement at a time.
- Enemies-to-lovers dynamic where the FMC is a fighter who tries to kill the MMC.
- The Horseman thinks he sees some kind of “divine sign” from God yet spares the FMC.
- Slow burn where the (anti-) hero falls first while the heroine takes convincing before she falls, too.

Differences:
- Each horseman has been sent to earth for a different divine purpose, in this case Famine is destroying the life and plants he encounters - he can also control the weather and call the bugs (locusts?)

Famine might be the cruelest of the four horsemen. While the rest gave hints that they didn't actually like nor want to destroy humans and earth (it was just their destiny) - Famine seemed to enjoy it.
FMC, Ana, was a prostitute and gave a lot of sexual innuendos - sometimes relevant and humorous and other times it felt forced.

This is certainly a unique series with a dark villian love trope - the series was definitely different and kept the pages turning - If I were to give my most honest wish about this series - I'd wish these four books were ONE book - edit them down a bit and then we could read all at the same time.

While I ended up reading Death as my first of the four books, I'd rank them in the following order:
Death, Pestilence, War, Famine.

This book is so invigorating, it’s like Laura manages to add this newness that one feels when reading the very first book in this series. The sass and banter is exquisite. I couldn’t recommend this series more highly because it’s such fun!

Famine might be my favorite of the horsemen. He is incredibly inhuman (I would say more inhuman than his predecessors) and w3atching him deal with and come to term with his imprisonment and subsequent nursing by the very thing he was sent to cleanse/rid the world of (a human) was powerful. Did the ending stress me out in this book too? You bet. This series is incredible and I am so happy Bloom is exposing the world to Thalassa's masterpiece(s).