They came to earth—Pestilence, War, Famine, Death—four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all. When Pestilence comes for Sara Burn’s town, one thing is certain: everyone she knows and loves is marked for death. Unless, of course, the angelic-looking … angelic-looking horseman is stopped, which is exactly what Sara has in mind when she shoots the unholy beast off his steed.
Too bad no one told her Pestilence can’t be killed.
Now the horseman, very much alive and very pissed off, has taken her prisoner, and he’s eager to make her suffer. Only, the longer she’s with him, the more uncertain she is about his true feelings towards her … and hers towards him.
And now, well, Sara might still be able to save the world, but in order to do so, she’ll have to sacrifice her heart in the process.
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I loved this book so much, that’s all. I just loved it. <3
Perfect! I’ve heard many great things about this series so thought I would join the band wagon and listen to it myself. I am so glad I did. These two are so opposite of each other and yet they find a common ground after some odd circumstances. There is some really deep parts in this book that will have your heart breaking but the author put it back together for you in the end. Love this book!
Completely and utterly addicting!
This novel is not the typical romance/erotica novel. If you are expecting love to miraculously change things, then this novel it not for you. It is a long novel that leaves you on a cliffhanger. Although Sara (heroine) and Pestilence (anti-hero) find love, it is not a happily ever after ending. The end of this novel signifies the beginning of the next novel, WAR, in this series. Here is my summary of PESTILENCE: In the not so distant future, Earth becomes a dystopian society due to our human ways of being wasteful, merciless, greedy, selfish and horrible. God or another being that created Earth and humankind decides to awaken the Four Horsemen to cleanse the Earth. The first horseman to arrive is Pestilence. Pestilence travels from the East Coast of North America to the West Coast spreading disease and death far and wide. Along his travels several people try to assassinate him, not taking into account he is immortal. Sara is one of those people. When Sara, a firefighter, does not heed his pleas for mercy, he decides to take her as a prisoner to show her “true suffering.” Along the way there is a lot of reciting of early American and English poetry and literature, disagreements about religion, God’s existence, getting to know each other and love. There are detailed descriptions of scenery, people, homes, shelters, Pestilence’s perfect body (so many paragraphs about that) and religion. There is limited dialogue in this novel. I continued to read because the concept of this novel was interesting, however my interest was not sparked enough for me to continue with the series.
The book started off slow but after a while of reading it, it was like I couldn’t put it down at all. Especially when I was trying to go to bed. I would recommend the book to anyone who would likes books like these.
The four horsemen of the apocalypse are among us, and the end is near. Pestilence The Conqueror has awakened from his slumber to carry out his mission and end all humanity. As news hits of his location, people all around the world run wild with fear. Some evacuate their homes, some stay put, and some make a plan to stop the horseman in his course!
Our lucky heroine, Sara, has drawn the short stick and voluntarily sacrifices her life in an attempt to kill Pestilence. Any human should know, God isn’t going to make it easy.
Dystopian romance has become one of my new favorite tropes, and mixing in a little Stockholm is sure to get my attention if you want me to read a book! I do prefer romance at it’s darkest. Triggers that’ll make everyone else squirm, and this book is filled with all things that make my mind soar with pleasure! It’s a slow burn with so many experiences and tragedies that’ll make you mull over being in either of our two main character’s shoes. Prepare yourself, you’re in for a read of your life!
This entire story is a unique and interesting story with sure thought-provoking ideas to consider. I did not feel anything was out of place or particularly disturbing. I would have loved for some of the noises in the book to be described rather than stated. I have not yet read any other books about the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Now I am intrigued and will not only continue on with this story, but also look for other books with this type of story. Laura Thalassa has told an incredibly one of a kind version of a post-apocalyptic life with a twist of unmatched romance. I would have liked to have seen more extreme morality situations for Sara Burns to undergo throughout her struggle with Pestilence. It would also be neat to get more background on life before where this book starts up. A prequel would be welcomed by me! I recommend this book. This book is really for a crowd who won’t be easily offended by religious differences. There are some minor concerns with language and sexual content, but nothing too strong. This book takes the reader on a really interesting ride wondering what will happen next and how it could end. The setting is post-apocalyptic and the writing is excellent. If you like this type of book I think you really will enjoy this one and if not just give it a read anyway!
The end of the world is nigh…the four horseman have come to earth and the world as we know it will never be the same.
Fast forward five years. In a post- apocalyptic world…the first horseman Pestilence rides… and plague follows.
I love to read anything that features myths/legends/retelling of religious stories in any way. So why am I reading this so long after publishing?..when so many of my friends had referred me to it..firstly because I wanted to read more than one book in the series and two…I knew that the conflict between Pestilence and his heroine would be an emotional sucker punch…the extent of which I did not anticipate as much as actually was!
This book was mind-bending, now I’ve read some true anti hero’s, some down and out bad boys seeking redemption and some rebel’s with a cause…but very very few of those dudes literally broke my heart, reformed the sucker and rebroke it as often as Pestilence did.
With his actions, his mannerisms and his words. It’s fair to say that at times I was as conflicted as the heroine was, with regard to Pestilence.
Readers beware, this is not a light and fluffy read. There is violence and gory descriptions of violence. There is a moral to this story…which I did get loud and clear…’humans ain’t all bad’ but my god…some of them are bloody awful. That shits real! But that’s what made this book so bloody great. It’s based in the real world, with added fantasy! That’s the brilliant thing about story telling!
It’s pretty safe to say that I was torn by his mission and whilst reading was not only floored by some pretty damm wonderful story telling but also saddened ( but in a good way ) I don’t do spoilers but I will say if you want a book that packs a punch, is emotively creative and gives a great book-hangover…then this my friend is the book for you!
Enemies to lovers I think describes this succinctly. Poor Sarah is ready to sacrifice herself in order to kill Pestilence but it’s such a shame that no one told her that he’s immortal ! Oh he can suffer and really does but die not so much. What Pestilence can do though is take Sarah as his prisoner to punish and let her learn what it feels like to truly suffer. Too bad that Sarah isn’t the sort to give up and it doesn’t matter what gets thrown at her Sarah’s compassion and resilience never falters.
This was a great start to this series with its complex hero , stubborn heroine and underlying message. We have wasted our resources so what would we do if the dreaded doomsday actually arrived ? This story had great pace with a romance that felt justified. You might start hating Pestilence but this author vindicates him and dare I suggest humanises him just a tad ?
This book took me totally by surprise! Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. So many unpredictable moments, and such incredible character development. I loved and hated Pestilence (the character) throughout the whole book, but in the end, couldn’t help but root for him and Sara. This book will really make you think outside your comfort zone. Can’t wait to read the next book, WAR.
Good lord.
I hate that it’s over. It’s been a while since I got sucked so deep into a book I did not want to come out for air or real life. I’m actually heartbroken I’ve finished it and only wish I could read it for the first time again. But alas, that cannot be done. So, you may have come to the conclusion I have liked this book. A lot. Laura Thalassa’s writing is rich and sultry and engaging, but if that wasn’t enough, she also made me cry at times, and she gave me a lot of feels. Feels for Pestilence and his plight, for Sara and her inner struggles, feels for the fate of mankind. Because if this book has done anything for me, it was that it made me think. It made me ponder. Now, I have no idea if Ms Thalassa’s intention on writing this was to send her readers into a deep inner prodding, a philosophical state of mind that had them question the world, and I honestly don’t care – this is why I was never any good at Literature classes, all it matters for me is how the book made me feel and what it amde me think, couldn’t give a rat’s fart about the author’s intention. Suffice it that this book had me diving into my self and think how accurate certain parts of it are. How we, as a species, are capable of the best and the worst at the same time. How fear will drive us into doing the unthinkable. How vengeful we are, how irrational, how mean. But how capable of love and mercy and of seeing the best in others we also are. I think Ms Thalassa’s construction of a Horseman of the Apocalipse, a sentient creature that is supposed to be God made like the rest of mankind (in the biblical context of which I do not subscribe) is such a perfect mirror for what humanity stands for. His character arc shows mankind in all our flawed glory. It is the human heart. It is the essence of what we are. The depiction of a post-apocalyptical world was also pretty accurate where it comes to how mankind reacted to the existence of these Horsemen, and how we humans would probably act in such scenario. Mercy? For the very thing that’s killing us off – no matter it was Godsend, no matter it was God’s design, mankind will fight for its life and deny God as it does, there were very few examples of acceptance of God’s will, which I find would be the most accurate scenario were something of the kind occur – there would be no mercy and no understanding, only a visceral hatred and a desire to inflict as much pain as we could. For this is humanity, and Pestilence, in his growth as character, in his change from God’s instrument (a God of punishment and vengeance that is also very much a depiction of our human race as a whole) to a man, depicts the very same things that move us individually and as a whole: fear, hatred, love, vengeance, release, acceptance. He goes through it all like the rest of us and the author is accurate in the retell. I did not see as much as a god-given apocalypse as I did what we as a whole are doing to each other and our world. And in this, the author was spot on.
Aside the philosophical side of it – which other readers may not even have encountered – the relationship between Sara and Pestilence was heart-wrenching and beautiful. I, who am a sucker for unhappy endings, found myself rooting for them, needing them to end up together, heart in my sleeve all the time in fear of the ending. The many love scenes between them and the way their love grows is beautifully written. I honestly cannot understand where the one and two stars reviews are coming from.
Overall, this was an extremely good book, and I confess I went into it believing I wouldn’t like it at all (romance is not my thing, and most dark romance out there is only focused on pain and sex) but was very glad to be proven wrong. I just fear it will be very hard for Ms Thalassa to top this one… but I hope she does!
I hate to start off by saying that you had me hating the main character… I was struggling through the beginning. I couldn’t believe he kept her as a prisoner… and then I started to pity the poor guy. And then I cried for the dang man. I mean, you actually had me in tears in a couple of parts of this book. I wanted the Happily Ever After. I wanted him to have a change of heart. I wanted the struggle to be over. You gave me everything I wanted and then some!!! LOVED THIS BOOK. When I got notified that War (Book 2) was out. I bought it within minutes!!!! Can’t wait to read it. (hoping the other book I was reading is over soon…so I can get back to yours!!!
I read this recently and I was all – where has this book been my whole life? It is amazing, literally one of the best romances ever. Up there in the Pantheon with The Wall of WInnepeg and Me and The Last Hour of Gann.
Wow
I thought that I have already read all books that could have made me read during nighttime while my family is asleep. But I was sooo mistaken…. this is just the book that will make you to want for more, for next similar story that will capture you and won’t let go…
I have not read any of this author’s books before and now I wonder – why so?! She has such good stories and writes just brilliantly.
This was one of very rare books that captured my undivided attention from the very first pages. I was into the story, I loved Sara and Pestilence’s interactions. Even his violence regarding her at the beginning was something to be understood.
In some moments I cried when he was wounded as I felt that I am feeling his pain… cannot imagine what can feel a person who cannot die and has to feel every pain inflicted on him…
The last city where they were attacked, I just could not bear the vivid scenes with sooo vile and hateful humans. In that part I really understood that it is real, this kind of violence. If you cannot kill a person, then why there is need to try it? To look for yourself? To check how much pain you can make him feel before he kills you?! Nooo…
Although, I really understood that this was a picture of real humankind.
I am waiting in anticipation for the next book. And while I wait, I will try other books by this author.
“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”.
THIS.BOOK! Utterly beautiful!
I wish I could unread it, just so I could read it again.
“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.”
3.5 Stars
So I enjoyed Pestilence, it wasn’t my favourite of this authors work but still had more positives for me than negatives.
As usual, this was excellently written and this author does have a style of writing that I find ever so easy to get lost in.
This is set five years into an apocalypse and I really appreciated the dystopian end of days vibe this had going for it.
I do think more could have been made of this particular backdrop and this is where this lost points for me.
I myself would have prefered less of the morality discussions and what is right and wrong good versus evil and more of a survivalist and action mindset to the narrative.
The constant ongoing journey at times could become monotonous as I felt we were reliving the same script on a continuous loop.
So this has Sara drawing the short straw and receiving the unwanted and unpleasant job of taking out pestilence who is sweeping the country spreading his plague far and wide.
As the Horseman, himself is actually the Almighty’s holy weapon and himself immortal and as punishment for her actions, she now finds herself at his cruelly sadistic mercy, a prisoner of Pestilence’s whim’s made to pay by the object of her murderous intentions.
Initially, the interactions here between the two were extremely violent and cruel on both sides.
I think this was to showcase the gradual slip into something more than mutual apathy.
Sara is almost Pestilence’s teacher on humanity he himself seems to have a limited understanding and empathy on the humans he is tasked with annihilating.
Up until now, he has only seen the bad never the good and as Sara slips under his skin he finds himself questioning his task much more.
At the onset here it’s almost like he is just doing a job, an unpleasant one but a task that needs completing.
As he gets to know Sara and experience what it is actually like to live as a man and as a result become more human in the process experiencing his own emotions and longings he slowly starts to evolve into something more.
Despite his vast age at times he is almost like a child being slowly educating and breaking free from the parent, finding his own way, making his own decisions and starting anew.
This in itself was a journey of discovery as through Sara Pestilence learns Mercy, compassion, hate, Love and all that makes us human and fallible.
At times this was such a bleak tale with its utter hopelessness and heartbreak but this was then counterbalanced by the slowly emerging love.
This was also very slow burn which it did need to be due to Pestilence’s lack of experience which also fit within the narrative.
The romance experienced here was really well done but I did sometimes feel a slight disconnect from it, I think maybe not having pestilence’s POV contributed to this for me, I much prefer and appreciate if both sides are included in my romance.
I also wasn’t a massive fan of the eventual conclusion here either and another observation I myself would have like Pestulance to be more bad-ass, the dude kept getting himself shot-up.
I would have imagined an age-old entity would have better self-preservation skills myself.
Also on a final note whats with that eventual name choice?
Finally, I did enjoy this and am most certainly planning to read the next in this series War and despite this not being my top book from this author it’s still a solid well-written read that I am happy to recommend.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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A truly unique plot…I almost never respond to those emails that Amazon send to tempt me. But who could possibly resist a ‘romance’ where the hero is Pestilence? The first of the horsemen of the Apocalypse from Revelations. I was not sure what to expect…a cheesy over-the-top romance or a preachy ‘clean’ sermon on the sins of (wo)man. But it was on Unlimited so what the heck? What I got was neither. It was spell-binding, truly original glimpse into humanity, the meaning of life, and love.
The author’s use of the first person point of view makes the tired old trope of ‘Stockholm syndrome’ come to life. Who could actually fall in love with Pestilence? The use of first person gives a depth of perspective into Sara’s mind that not even third person free indirect discourse or omniscient could. The reader feels viscerally the conflict between her heart and intellect, her own journey into understanding the feeble nature of humanity, both physically and spiritually. So, when she succumbs to love, it rings with a depth of reality.
Pestilence is not your average bad boy that needs saving. He is righteous (self?). But what appeals most is his complete vulnerability. His utter openness about his emotions. I loved the line about him not being any good at ‘casual sex.’ The way that his divinity is contrasted against his emerging humanity.
This is a heart-stopping romance. But it is also so much more. It has a depth of theme that is generally lacking in the genre. Its use of pacing and description grip you from beginning to end. You are moved to despair and hope, sometimes in the same sentence. This is a book for everyone. It is that rarest thing of modernity…it is ‘great literature’.
Without the smug self-righteousness…and with sex. Sorry, as Pestilence keeps pointing out…lovemaking. The reader feels that difference too.
I await War’s story. It shall be challenging to top this one.
First, I want to start by saying I cried when starting this book when I realized it was a paranormal/fantasy book not only in Canada, but the MC is Canadian. I barely ever find any “Canadian” stories/books in this genre, and it’s why I’ve been writing my own for years now. And it was fantastic to read one so well-written.
The story itself was very different from the usual genre; unique and new. I loved the MC and Pestilence, and although sometimes I wanted to shake them both until I got sense into both, they grew on me. Toward the middle-end part, it started dragging on a bit where I felt like some parts were getting a bit repetitive in what was happening, but this is the type of story that still pulls off the “slow burn” type of pace. In the end, I felt like I still had one big question that makes it more of a Happily Ever After for now, but not in a cliffhanger sort of way.
Looking forward to more of this series!
Fascinating and unique, this tale takes us across the Canadian wilderness with Pestilence and the woman who tried to kill him as his prisoner. But Pestilence cannot stand against the force that is Sara, her poetry, her mercy, her compassion and last the love she makes him feel. Can a horseman of the Apocalypse be redeemed? Can his purpose be something other than what he thinks it is? I cried at times, wanted to puke at others, rejoiced and laughed, it was perfect and I cannot wait to meet War!
Growing up in an era being told when the Four Horsemen came to Earth, that would be the beginning of the end for human kind, this series intrigued me. Had the images I created in my mind been the same interpretation as someone else might have? And what about the mystery surrounding these Horsemen? What would they be like? Could Laura Thalassa bring to light any of the musings I had in my mind causing them to briefly come to life? That is truly what went through my mind as I opened this book and since I had never read any of Laura Thalassa’s work, I didn’t know what to expect there either. So I read on and WOW.
This is not a romantic piece of fluff that has changed the premise of what I held in my mind. There were times it was a brutal, diabolical determination to the destruction. And yet, throughout the story you could see where humanity had come into play. Where emotions and feelings were being shared and understood. Where fear was acknowledged and come to terms with. This was an emotional rollercoaster of a journey; one I’m glad I pursued. I won’t miss the rest of this series, for sure.