A friend recommended this book to me. I had forgotten I received an eARC on NetGalley and purchased it on my kindle haha what a great story with solid characters and plot. I will be adding this to my bookstores fantasy shelf!

Pestilence (The Four Horseman, Book 1) - Laura Thalassa

I was provided a copy of this story through Net Galley.

Laura Thalassa is an American author who loves being curled up with a good book also loves chocolate and some guacamole. She has written a few books in genres varying from fantasy to post-apocalyptic.



Pestilence, one of the four horsemen has come to Earth and is slowly making his way across the planet leaving a trail of sickness and death in his wake.

So, when he starts heading for the town where Sara Burn lives – she is determined to find a way to kill him.

Yet it would have been handy to know before she made an attempt that Pestilence cannot be killed.

Sara finds herself now a captive of Pestilence and for whatever reason seemingly immune to the sickness he spreads.

Now along for the destruction Pestilence is wreaking Sara at first tries to escape but quickly realises this path leads to pain.

However, she is soon able to make Pestilence realise not all humans are beyond saving. Before they both realise what is happening, they are soon more involved with each other than either of them expected.

Sara might just yet be able to save Earth and the human race, but what will she lose for that to happen.



“Pestilence” is a post-apocalyptic story exploring one of the horseman Pestilence and human nature. I found this book to be a quick and easy read, but it was also lacking for me in a few areas. It wasn’t as gripping or captivating as I hoped it would be. This story would have benefited if the writer had expanded on certain points rather than glossing over them. The character of Pestilence I found to be extremely annoying and really grated on me as did a lot of the dialogue and interactions between Sara and Pestilence.

As the first instalment in the series, this book serves as an excellent introduction to the world and characters that populate its pages. While each story may centre around a different couple, I would strongly advise reading them in order to fully appreciate the overarching narrative. In particular, the events of the final book would likely be confusing without the context provided by the earlier instalments.

What sets this series apart is its innovative premise, focusing on the Horsemen of the Apocalypse as the central figures in a fantasy romance setting. It's a refreshing departure from the typical tropes found in the genre, offering readers a unique and intriguing twist on familiar themes. I found myself drawn into the world-building and mythology surrounding the Horsemen, eager to learn more about their individual stories and the challenges they face.

One of the things I appreciated most about this book was its attention to detail and world-building. The author has crafted a rich and immersive world filled with magic, intrigue, and danger, bringing to life a setting that feels both fantastical and eerily familiar.

This is a fantastic start to a great story that I highly recommend all fans of fantasy romance read.
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am obsessed with everything Laura Thalassa releases at this point. She has stellar world and character building skills.

This review won’t be very comprehensive because this book wasn’t for me and I wasn’t invested in the story sadly

What a horrific book but so unique that I enjoyed it. Under the torment blossoms a love story unlike any I have read.

This is book 1 in The Four Horsemen series and most definitely comes in with a bang! 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 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.

So, most of this book I loved! Pestilence is definitely otherworldly and doesn't always understand humanity. I was iffy at the beginning because..well he is a jerk and the things he does to her are horrible. But the way the story is written just drew me in and kept me reading. And the fact that not only does he find his emotions, but with a vengeance, just made me like it even more. I loved their interactions once they both start trying to truly understand each other and their motives. I loved that Pestilence finds his humanity and chooses Sara over his "mission". By then end of this story, I was fully invested and needed to know how all of the "brothers" stories would go!

I am giving this one two stars. I didn’t get to it in time to give a full review and I apologize for that

I could not get over the gore and violence of the first half especially the deaths of children in front of the mfc and then the immediate flip to romance. I felt disgusted at the first romantic scene and could not continue. I will try the next im the series and hope it doesn’t involve the same gore.

I actually enjoyed this book! I feel like it could've benefited from some well-intentioned editing, and I don't plan on reading the rest in the series, but I found it intriguing lol.

This was a strange one. A romantasy novel featuring Pestilience of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as the male love interest. This book is definitely romantasy, not fantasy, with the romance being central to the plot. Pretty gross concept for a sexy book imo, with.a lot of graphic violence. Steamy and enemies to lovers, which really didn't work for me in this setting.

This book gave "all of the feels." I love the enemies to lover plot, the world building, the character development... all of it. I do not have a single bad thing to say about this book. I am bummed that it took me so long to get around to this book because it is one of the best books I have read so far this year. I cannot wait to see what the author has in store for us in the future.

I love Laura Thalassa so much. Adult fantasy hits different special when it's written by her.
I really adore this series and this edition is just AMAZING.
Good characters, fast paced and additive narrative - everything people searching in books!!

This one is one of my favorites from her - BY FAR!!!

Looking for a spicy romance between an entity that causes plague and a woman who tried to kill him to save the world? This book is for you!

An unexpected romance, but oh so spicy! Fair warning- but also to be expected coming from a book about the apocalypse- there is a lot of death in this book- almost all involving plague and disease (he is Pestilence after all).

If you are uncomfortable with someone being set on fire and descriptions of people covered in things like boils, please do not read this book.

Otherwise, I liked this book. I liked how a mortal woman is slowly making one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse find their humanity.

I love a good enemies to lovers trope and this book hit the sweet spot. Not only does Sarah set out to kill Pestilence, but they fall in love during the process. "You have awoken my heart" was a 10/10 line and I am obsessed!

This book has been on my TBR for quite some time and I’m saddened I put it off for so long, but so happy I finally read! Seeing the development and Sara and pestilence’s relationship was my favorite part… from trying to kill pestilence to falling in love.. their relationship really blossomed from the understanding on both persons part. Who doesn’t love a good enemies to lovers? Off to read book two!

From Lala’s Book Reviews

This is a slow-burn, enemies to lovers type dystopian book told in a more modern time.

Earth is being ridden by a disease spread by Pestilence who is a higher being. He had recently been awoken to reset the earth from the evils that humans have created and live.

Sara has taken the daunting task of trying to take out Pestilence to save her family, but only discovers that he is unable to be killed. As her punishment, Pestilence decides to take Sara as his prisoner as he goes around the world.

Pestilence may have spent a lot time around humans throughout his various time on earth, but he has never interacted with them as he does with his time with Sara.

Despite being Pestilence’s prisoner, somehow Sara catches these rare moments where he starts to show signs or emotions and humanity.

The longer that they are together the less Sara seems to be a prisoner, and more of a travel companion who Pestilence picked up along the way.

But as fate would have it, the two starts to develop feelings for each other despite Sara being a human that Pestilence’s mission is to remove, and Pestilence being a higher being who doesn’t really understand and feel human emotion until he had spent so much time with Sara.

This was such an emotional story. The story was fresh and captivating and had me hanging on to each work! I can’t wait to continue the series with the other Horsemen to see how everything progresses!

Pestilence book 1 in The Four Horsemen series by Laura Thalassa is a great read. I love Sara Burns right away. Pestilence grew on me and even when I disliked him I still enjoyed him. The timeline and locations kept intriguing. A word to readers this isn’t a fluffy happy romance. This is post apocalyptic plague and torture romance. I loved it and can’t wait to start War.

Oh my goodness I adored it ! So so surprised and how much I lapped it up . So much so Iv ordered nearly everything else by this author and continue to recommend wonderful lustful smut and perfect escapism what a great idea for a series !

‘Pestilence,’ the first installment in Laura Thalassa's apocalyptic series, delivers a unique blend of dark fantasy and romance that delves into the depths of human nature and morality. Set against the backdrop of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse descending on Earth, Thalassa crafts a narrative that is both harrowing and enthralling, centered around the characters of Sara and Pestilence.

Sara Burns, a fierce and determined protagonist, embodies the resilience of humanity. Her initial encounter with Pestilence is a desperate, albeit futile, attempt to protect her town. Her subsequent capture and journey with Pestilence evolve from hostility and fear to a complex understanding and emotional depth that are the core of the book. Sara’s character, laced with wit and sarcasm, brings a lightness to the otherwise grim circumstances, making her instantly relatable and likable.

Pestilence, as a character, is a fascinating study in contrasts. Initially portrayed as a merciless harbinger of death, his character development is one of the book's strongest points. As he travels with Sara, his gradual understanding of human emotions, particularly love and empathy, adds layers to his character. His transformation from a seemingly invincible force to a being capable of human emotions is skillfully executed.

The relationship between Sara and Pestilence is the part that snared my heart. Thalassa navigates the morally grey area of their burgeoning romance with a careful balance, avoiding the pitfalls of romanticizing the captor-captive dynamic. Instead, she presents a nuanced exploration of how love can emerge in the unlikeliest of circumstances. The evolution of their relationship, from animosity to something deeper and more tender, is compelling and thought-provoking.

Thalassa's writing style is fluid and immersive, weaving a post-apocalyptic world that is as fascinating as it is terrifying. The narrative is rich in emotional depth, exploring themes of duty, morality, and the essence of humanity.

‘Pestilence’ is a bold and imaginative take on the apocalypse genre, blending romance, fantasy, and philosophical musings into a narrative that is both dark and captivating. Thalassa's ability to create multifaceted characters and a complex, emotion-driven story makes this book a standout in its genre. While it may not appeal to every reader, especially those looking for a more action-driven plot, ‘Pestilence’ offers a unique and intriguing tale that challenges the boundaries of dark romance and fantasy.