thank you to bloom, netgalley, and the author for the chance to arc read for the bloom rerelease!

i have… no idea how to rate this book. i’m gonna stick with a 3 star rating bc it’s the most middle of the road you can get. but we need to talk about pestilence

sara is a firefighter who draws the short straw when the plague is coming to town. the four horsemen of the apocalypse have descended onto the earth and phase 1 of their mass destruction has come in the form of Pestilence (yes that is his name) and his horse that he rides over the world spreading the plague to all.

once pestilence makes his way to sara’s town, she’s tasked with killing him only to find that he is immortal and cannot be killed. of course this attempted murder pisses the man off and he decides to take sara as his prisoner and force her to suffer as he did when she burned him alive.

sara is forced to do the weirdest ride-along of all ride-alongs while he pursues his “task” of infecting all of humanity. but sara is a big ol softy and feels bad for Pestilence bc he’s big sad about having to kill all these people and he hates watching them die.

i’ll skip over some stuff and get to the romance. i… don’t understand. he tied u up by ur wrists and dragged u by horse to the point your back looked more like ground beef than human skin but you’re still thinking about how pretty he is? i mean okay yeah a hot guy can definitely make you a lil crazy but i think you need more than a little therapy.

basically the entire book is centered around sara being an “i can change him!” girly and Pestilence being like “lol no u can’t but actually can u quote me some more Edgar Allen Poe bc maybe humanity IS beautiful.” then he discovers that “making love” is actually all it takes to get married (apparently) and one taste of that sweet sweet… nvm. is enough to end the plague? maybe? he can’t really decide and he’s not happy about it.

this is a crazy case of stockholm syndrome all made okay by the fact that he’s just REALLY pretty.

but…. this book was fun. the majority of my interest came from me wondering how we go from him DRAGGING U FROM HIS HORSE to getting down and dirty together.

the writing style is RIDICULOUSLY unserious, which i do think that the cover is slightly misleading. but don’t judge a book by it’s cover ig. sometimes thalassa’s writing was pretty profound & sometimes it was… very weird and quirky? i don’t know man.

oddly enough, i would recommend this book to people who say they need something fun, quick, but not your typical everyday romance book.

I would have never thought a romance with the Apocalypse Horseman Pestilence would be so enthralling, but clearly, I was wrong. Laura Thalassa's Pestilence is the perfect true enemy to lovers highlighting that true love brings only the best out of both people. I can't wait to pick up the next book and see how love affects Pestilence's brothers.

This surprised me so much when I read it.

I wouldn't say I was expecting to hate it, but I wasn't expecting to love it as much I did.

The way the four hoursemen worked in this stories really worked for me. I was happily surprised at the end by how it all unfolded. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

This is the second time reading this book, and it's just as good second time round. Great characters and great storyline.

Oh man, oh man, oh man!!! This is the MOST amazing book! I loved every freaking moment of it. A story about the apocalypse is not one you would usually consider to be romantic. However, when you put a strong, determined woman into the path of Pestilence, one of the four horsemen, and mix in just the right amount of humor, kindness and mercy, you couldn’t be more wrong.

I loved Sara and all her quirky one liners. Her internal monologue had me smiling and chuckling throughout this story. And then, even as I was still smiling over one of her witticisms, the truth of Pestilence’s purpose would reinforce itself and I was left gasping for breath or fighting against tears.

Pestilence is a hero unlike any I have ever read before. There is no insta-anything going on here. He has a task to complete and the end result will be a world of illness and death. He would be the first to proclaim he has no humanity and his actions certainly give proof to that. If you think this is some trick and he’s not really killing masses of people, think again. He is the ultimate anti-hero and I absolutely loved him.

With the exception of just a few scenes, this book has very few secondary characters. The most memorable is Rob and Ruth and I found the scenes with this couple to be some of the most poignant and eye opening.

I do not want to get too much into the story. I suggest you read the blurb and then let it unfold on its own. But I will say that there is so much that’s good (and that’s a weak good because what I mean is incredibleness) in the midst of the turmoil that this book carries you through. You will enjoy it all the more for not knowing where Sara and Pestilence’s journey will take you.

This author has the ability to convey so much in just a few simply spoken words. Nothing is ever bogged down or overstated. And the feels! Oh my gawd! Again with just a few words Ms.Thalassa had me feeling every emotion conceivable. The writing is fresh and the story so incredibly original as soon as I finished I wanted to reread it.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bloom Books, and Laura Thalassa for an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I was so excited to discover that these books were being rereleased. It felt like the perfect excuse to finally read them. They have always been on my radar but I never found the time. I also really enjoyed The Bargainer by Laura Thalassa so I felt that this book would be an easy favorite. Sadly I didn’t connect to this book. The writing wasn’t for me and I found the characters to be rather annoying and one dimensional. I did love that the chapters were short, it’s easy to fly through this book.

In Pestilence by Laura Thalassa, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are unleashed upon the world, tasked with bringing about the end of humanity. Sara Burns, a brave firefighter, attempts to kill Pestilence but fails, only to be taken hostage by the angelic-looking horseman. As they travel together, Sara finds herself torn between hatred and an irresistible attraction to Pestilence.

The book delves into a captivating urban fantasy world, filled with danger and suspense. Sara's journey to stop Pestilence and save the world becomes a thrilling rollercoaster ride of emotions. Thalassa's storytelling skill shines through as readers are immersed in a tale of betrayal, romance, and sacrifice.

With a unique twist on the Four Horsemen mythos, Pestilence keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Sara's complex relationship with Pestilence adds depth to the story, leaving readers eager to discover how it all unfolds. Prepare for a heart-pounding adventure that will keep you hooked until the very end.

This was good, but not excellent. I liked the main character but it felt a little forced. Was a fine read, but probably wouldn't purchase it for myself!

This book will grab you from the first chapter and won’t let go until you finished.

Beautifully written, the author crates a world where the reader experiences both the worst and best parts of it. It’s an emotional ride, and leaves the reader with so much hope.

Readers will reaching for the next book in the series right away!

I admit that paranormal romance isn’t my favorite, but I do like it. I had read a book by this author, and I thought I’d give this series a try as I couldn’t resist a series about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I was a tiny bit put off at the beginning of this as it felt like I was dropped right in the middle of the plot. However, it improved once I was engaged in the book. The author does a great job with descriptions and character development, and the slow burn romance was spot-on. There was enough suspense to keep you entertained if romance isn’t your thing. Well-written, slow-burn romance sure to please paranormal romance readers. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Loved this even more the second time I read it. Laura Thalassa really knows how to create fantasy romance that sucks you in. The four horsemen is my favourite series from her and the new covers are amazing 🖤

"I came to conquer this land and its people, but instead, one of its people conquered me."

Justice for Pestilence. He deserves better than Sara tbh.

But in all honesty, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was expecting a somewhat "darker" romance with mostly spice and not a lot of substance. Kind of like when you get chicken wings that burn your mouth but don't actually curb your appetite. But the discussions surrounding mortality/immortality and the idea of being human and how humanity at its core is good really gave the book that substance I was looking for, and both characterized and humanized Pestilence for me.

First published in March of 2018, Pestilence is being republished in August 2023 with a brand-new cover! Thank you to Sourcebooks, Bloom Books, NetGalley and the author for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I will start by stating the obvious. This is a slow-burn romance. The woman is getting it on with a literal Horseman of the Apocalypse, so yeah.. it's not going to be an easy, love-at-first-sight, romance.

That being said, it's the only reason I'm giving it 3 stars. I don't like slow burn, especially this slow.

I read the book for a book club I'm in, and while I was getting used to instant love and spicy scenes from the first chapters, this book gave me a slowly built romance with spicy scenes near the end. Very well-written spicy scenes, I have to add.

The characters are also well- written and the descriptions are amazing. And since this is a big book, there is the right amount of info and enough character development.

The pace was slow, but since Pestilence is the incarnation of plague and disease, I wasn't expecting anything else.

It is a great read and I cannot wait to read the next book!

Thank you, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books!
A dark romance about the four horsemen? How can I resist? I love the concept of the books; The four horsemen come to Earth and cause havoc. The horsemen are smoking hot, and I enjoyed reading about Sara's relationship with Pestilence as she tries to save the world by showing Pestilence that the world deserves saving. For a romance, there is a lot of commentary about humanity and how there are good and bad parts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the opportunity to read Pestilence by Laura Thalassa in exchange for my honest review.

The Four Hoursemen arrive on Earth and bad things start happening. Life as we know it is forever changed. Electricity stops working through out most of the world. A new way of life begins. And then Pestilence returns and people start getting sick. People start dying.

Pestilence was sent to begin the end of humanity. He’s spreading a death sentence across the world. Sara “wins” the right to stay behind has her firehouse is evacuated. Her job, Kill Pestilence. The only problem is, no one told her he can’t be killed. They also failed to mention that he’s gorgeous.

Pestilence is the journey Sara and Pestilence go on while he does what he was sent to do and Sara fights for him to see why he should stop killing everyone off. Along the way Sara’s heart gets wrapped up but what really matters, Pestilence discovers the good parts of being human.

There is a lot of darkness in this one. A lot of violence and death, but it also has a big heart and for some it will outshine the rest. That said, if you’re not a fan of reading about a lot of death and blood, this might not be the one for you. Sara is a strong character with a deep love for her family and friends who fights Pestilence for as long as she can. Pestilence is there to do a job and nothing will stop him. He is disease and is on earth to take out all of humanity but a messed up brutal attempted killing and a chance encounter with an elderly couple just might change his mind.

If you can get past the blood and take in the connection Sara and Pestilence have, I think you’ll enjoy this one. It took me about ⅔ of the way to really get into the story and even then there were times where it felt repetitive, but I understood the authors reason for that. Felt like Thalassa is setting this up for a series, interested to see what happens next.

Great read! I couldn’t put it down! Jumping right into the next one! One of my favorite reads so far this year!

Although I did enjoy this, I do not this book (series) is for everyone. I did find Sara to be a bit annoying at times, but did enjoy seeing the growth from Pestilence and their relationship. I do look forward to the next in the series, which I started immediately after finishing Pestilence. I am curious to see where this series goes, especially how it ends.
I did enjoy the writing style. It wasn't something I had to think to hard about, and it was right to the point. It was a perfect beach read.

This books was so creative and amazing!! It was such serious page turner for me. I can’t wait to binge the entire series, as soon as I could.

I don’t know what I was expecting from this book, but wow, was I pleasantly surprised!

The four harbingers of the apocalypse have returned to earth, and Pestilence is traveling through a small Canadian town exacting revenge on humankind when one woman decides to take it upon herself to rid the world of him. I think we’ve all been in those relationships before where you’re convinced you can change the person you’re with whether it’s getting them to drink/party less or communicate better. Well, this is kind of like that except Sara was taken prisoner by Pestilence after she attempts to kill him, and she’s trying to change him by getting him to no longer want to kill everyone in the world by plague. So yeah…same same but different. But honestly, I was shocked at how well I connected with the characters and how much I enjoyed even the grittiest parts of this book. You get to see glimpses of the best and worst parts of humanity, and begin to understand even the most morally grey of MMCs. And the writing? It was just genuinely fun to read. I cannot remember a single lull in this book or a part where I was okay with putting it down.

I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t recommend it enough. Thank you to Laura Thalassa, Bloom Books and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read the eARC!

I loved the hero's growth much more than the heroine's in this one, but the romance was there! We get an instalove vibe that really propels the story quickly along with an engaging, unique plot line. The entire series is captivating and this one is another for my shelf!