The Four Horsemen series by Laura Thalassa

  

“They came to the 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.”

Release Date: March 2018-November 2021

Genre: Fantasy, romance fiction

TW: trauma/PTSD, scenes of physical abuse/torture, graphic death/violence, talk of rape/attempted rape, war themes, loss of a loved one/grief

I have finally completed all four books from the Four Horseman series from Laura Thalassa! Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death.

It feels like it has taken forever for me to complete the series (even though I just started reading in October) but wanted to read other books in-between to really drag out the series since I didn’t want it to end! 

I decided instead of doing an individual review post for each book, I would combine all 4 into one review! Although now that I have finished, this was definitely a big task at hand to review 4 books at once. Moving forward, I’ll probably do each individual book! We’re learning, we’re growing, that’s what this is all about! 

I’ll be honest, I do not know very much about the four horsemen of the apocalypse…like, at all. So when I found out there was a fiction series about the four of them and features sexy, steamy romance? Oh yeah, sign me up! Let’s be clear: this is NOT a conventional, fluffy romance novel: it is dark, graphic, and touches on a lot of difficult themes/topics. The themes of these books are wholly unique as well as the characters in the stories. These men are the antagonists, the anti-heroes. The women are the protagonists and they are bad-ass. There are a lot of moral gray areas in these books. I would highly recommend reading these novels; it is such a unique concept that has not been done before. It is philosophical and thought-provoking. I love how we were able to examine humanity and spirituality through a magnifying glass. Also do not forget the romance and the sexiness littered throughout the books. Definitely helps the difficult parts of these books go down much easier. My biggest takeaway: it isn’t humanity that saved itself, it was four badass women that saved the day ultimately. Just saying. 

Now let’s get on with the individual reviews!

Pestilence (Book One)

Rating:

Summary:

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.

Review:

"He’s sheathed in golden armor and mounted on a white steed. At his back is a bow and quiver. His blonde hair is pressed down by a crown of gold, and his face-his face is angelic, proud. He’s almost too much to look at. Too breathtaking, too noble, too ominous.”

The first book sets the mood for the rest of the books to come. Enter Sara Burns, our badass firefighter ready to risk her life killing the horseman for the sake of humanity. Then there is Pestilence, ready to watch the world crumble to his horrible diseases… or is he? Pestilence is our first taste of the horseman and he is ruthless, or at least it seems that way. He is so naïve and innocent when it comes to the ways of man. The only thing he does understand is disease. 

The romance in this book is definitely a slow burn. It takes a lot longer to develop in book one versus the other books. There is an overall theme of Stockholm Syndrome in this book (actually all of the books) so be warned. Sara is Pestilence’s captive. A horseman is set to kill all of humanity and a human who is his captive is not willingly going to fall in love. I think having a slow burn romance is much more appropriate, as much as it can be, in a setting such as this.

Pestilence is also the first horseman that is willing to sacrifice his purpose for his love of Sara and for humanity. This has never been done before. The amount of love and bravery it took for Pestilence to make that sacrifice. Pestilence has to be one of my favorite horsemen. Although, there is currently a tie between him and Famine right now, so I am not sure who shall come out victorious.

Quotes:

“Love is the greatest gift we can give or receive.”

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

“A woman should not be oddly pleasing. She should be a ball busting, skull-crushing, badass motherfucker who is impossible to forget.” 

"Love has a funny way of rearranging priorities."

War (Book Two)

Rating:

Readability:

Summary:

The day Jerusalem falls, Miriam Elmahdy knows her life is over. Houses are burning, the streets run red with blood, and a traitorous army is massacring every last resident. There is no surviving this, especially not once Miriam catches the eye of War himself. But when the massive and terrifying horseman corners Miriam, he calls her his wife, and instead of killing her, he takes her back to his camp. Now Miriam faces a terrifying future, one where she watches her world burn town by town, and the one many responsible for it all is her seemingly indestructible “husband.” But there’s another side to him, one that’s gentle and loving and dead set on winning her over, and she might not be strong enough to resist. However, if there’s one thing Miriam has learned, it’s that love and war cannot coexist. And so she must make the ultimate choice: surrender to War and watch humankind fall, or sacrifice everything and stop him. 

Review:

"A monster of a man sits on his blood-red steed, a massive sword strapped to his back. There are gold rings in his dark hair and kohl thickly lines his eyes. His cheekbones are high and the scowl he wears makes him look absolutely petrifying."

This book was such a stark difference in comparison to Pestilence. I definitely appreciated the difference in scenery in this book in comparison to Pestilence. I actually appreciated all the different changes of scenery/location in all the books as well. It really changed the mood and added more diversity to all the books.

However, the murders and attempted rape seemed to be more frequent, graphic, and hard to read. Although, this does accurately depict the worst in humanity, so I understand why it may have been essential to the book, especially when describing war.

I appreciated the push and pull, the tug-of-war, between War and Miriam. They both required a surrender and sacrifice but both individuals are so stubborn and head-strong. I appreciated the insights into War’s experience with mankind. “War is the only horseman who has lived in human’s hearts. He knew men’s hearts intimately and judged them.” I will say that War was my least favorite of all the books. I’m so sorry if this book and War himself was your favorite out of the series!

Quotes:

“For your soft heart.”

“All creatures can experience pestilence, famine, and death but war, true war that is a singularly human experience.”

“Over the course of human existence, your kind has come up with hundreds of thousands of words for everything imaginable, yet somehow none of you have figured out how to actually speak your mind.”

Famine (Book Three)

Rating:

Readability:

Summary:

Ana da Silva always assumed she’d die young, she just never expected it to be at the hands of Famine, the haunting immortal who once spared her life so many years ago. But if the horseman remembers her at all, he must not care, for when he comes face to face with him for the second time in her life, she’s stabbed and left for dead. Only, she doesn’t quite die. If there’s one thing Famine is good at, it’s cruelty. And how these blighted bastards deserve it. Try as he might, he can’t forget what they once did to him. But when Ana, a ghost from his past, corners him and promises pain for what he so recently did to her, she and her empty threats captivate him, and he decides to keep her around. In spite of themselves, Ana and Famine are drawn to each other. But at the end of the day, the two are enemies. Nothing changes that. Not one kind act, not two. And definitely not a few steamy nights. But enemies or reluctant lovers, if they don’t stop themselves soon, heaven will. 

Review:

“His hair is the color of melted caramel, his sun-kissed skin only a shade or two lighter. There’s this sharp, chiseled line of his jaw, the high brow and cheekbones, and the haughty curve of his lips. Most striking of all are those moss green eyes of his. Devilish. His shoulders are broad, and that bronze armor, embossed with spiraling floral designs, fits snugly against his powerful, sculpted physique. Up close, his beauty is a shock to my system.”

When I first started reading the third book, I was not a fan of Famine. Famine as a character was such a jack-ass. I was struggling to see why anyone would like him. I guess that was the whole point. He is supposed to be this monster that was impossible to love. But he swiftly became a lovable jack-ass that curled his vines around my heart. There is lots of violence in this book as well. Lots of violence and torture. Well, all of the books are that way but I feel War and Famine had the bulk of it. It was very difficult to read all of the horrific things that happened to Famine. It is hard to not understand why he is so spiteful and loves killing to be honest.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ana. She had been beat down over and over again but she kept getting back up. She was such a fighter and admired that so much. It was also difficult but important to read about all the atrocities men have inflicted upon Ana, especially as a sex worker. However, despite all of that, she once again refused to stop fighting.

I also absolutely loved the banter between Famine and Ana. This book has to be the most humorous out of all the books. I loved the connection that formed between the pair. They both have had the most horrific things happen to them by the hands of men and that bonded them. But also the kindness and compassion they showed to each other.

I also really enjoyed that Famine was willing to give up his purpose not for humanity, who he still deemed unfit, but simply for Ana and being able to live and grow old with her. That was so special.

I genuinely was pissed off at Death at the end of this book. I was NOT looking forward to his book with how he acted at the end of book three.

Quotes:

"I feel...everything," he finally says. "Every blade of grass, every drop of rain, every centimeter of sunbaked clay. I am the storm that rolls in, I am the wind that carries the bird and the butterfly."

"I'm fucking over being forced to fit into roles of men have out for me."

"I'm a bar-fighting, pussy-hustling, scrappy-ass bitch, and I'm not going to just go along with this quietly."

"You were made from the earth," I whisper to her skin, "I can feel the universe moving through you, and yet you are something else unto yourself."

"That's the difference between me and my brothers," he continues. "We are all meant to ravage the world, but we have our distinctions: War is the most human, Pestilence perhaps next. But even Thanatos-Death-is intimately connected to life. I am the one least truly alive. I have more in common with wildfires and clouds and mountains than I do anything else. So to be something that lives and breathes is a stifling, unpleasant experience. I am...trapped in this flesh."

"I love you, you foolish little flower."

Death (Book Four)

Rating:

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Summary:

The day Death comes to Lazarus Gaumond's town and kills everyone in one fell swoop, the last thing he expects to see is a woman left alive and standing. But Lazarus has her own extraordinary gift: she cannot be killed-not by humans, not by the elements, not by Death himself. She is the one soul Death doesn't recognize. The one soul he cannot pry free from her flesh. Nor can he ignore the unsettling desire he has for her. Take her. He wants to, desperately. And the longer she tries to stop him from his killing spree, the stronger she becomes. When Lazarus crosses paths with the three other horseman, an unthinkable situation leads to a terrible deal: seduce Death, save the world. A hopeless task, made all the worse by the bad blood between her and Thanatos. But Death's attraction to her is undeniable, and try though she might, Lazarus cannot stay away from the ancient, beautiful being and his dark embrace. The end is here. Humankind is set to perish, and not even the horseman can stop Death from fulfilling his final task.

Only Lazarus can. 

Review:

"He is dressed to do battle-though who could possibly stand against him is a mystery. That armor gleams as though it's freshly polished, and those massive black wings lay folded at his back, so large that the tips of them nearly touch the ground. As the horseman rides, his eyes are pinned to something in the distance. His face is solemn and captivating. I swear that I've seen the arch of that brow and the slope of that nose before in my dreams. And I've imagined the curve of those lips, the press of those cheekbones, and the cut of that jaw in every tragic poem read by candlelight. He is more beautiful than I can make sense of and more terrifying than I could've imagined."

As stated before, I was extremely disappointed with Thanatos when he made his appearance at the end of Famine. However, I do think that Thanatos redeemed himself in this book. I was ready to fully hate Thanatos with all of my being when starting this book but he had quite the opposite effect. He was the horseman I grew to love the quickest. He is Death himself but does not like taking lives. He was so sweet, thoughtful but also hell-bent on completely his otherworldly, destructive task.

Once again, another amazing female protagonist, Lazarus is such a headstrong badass woman who has slain Death himself time and time again. They had a fun little cat-and-mouse game for most of the book.

Laura Thalassa truly does an amazing job creating characters with so much depth. Also does a great job at capturing the essence of good sex with her writing. Truly an art form.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the horsemen featured in this book. To see sweet Victor (Pestilence) and War grow older warmed my heart. Then to have sassy Famine in the bunch still immortal and hating humanity. definitely a treat to see their interactions and commentary. Although during the epic battle scene, having to read about these amazing horseman suffering and hurting, ugh. I was hurting too!

I think the way this series ended was phenomenal. I am normally a big stickler for book endings, and most don't satisfy me but this one definitely did. I definitely cried at the last chapter.

Quotes:

"Yes, but life and death are lovers, kismet. They always choose each other in the end."

"He has yet to realize that you don't have to cut someone to make them bleed. Take away the most precious thing they have, and they will suffer."

"To live is to die," he adds. "That was the agreement you made when you came into this world. You cannot have one without the other. All your life, all your suffering, all your loss-it was all for this." he gestures to the dead around us, his wings spreading wide. "You all have been running towards me your entire life."

Pestilence adds, "We gave up our immortality and the vast extent of our powers because we believe that despite our task, humans are worthy of living." Famine huffs, glancing away. "Ignore him," War says. "He's still bitter that Death didn't find his motives pure enough to strip him of his immortality." "Humans are retched," Famine says. "I don't know why I must change my mind about that first."

"There, standing over the threshold of the afterlife, are my brothers, their wives. And Lazarus, my sweet Lazarus. She opens her arms, and I walk into them. And once again, I am home."

Favorite books in the series (in order):

Death, Pestilence, Famine, War

Favorite horseman (in order):

Pestilence, Famine, Death, War

Favorite female protagonists (in order):

Ana, Lazarus, Sara, Miriam

When Life Gives You Vampires by Gloria Duke

 

"To anyone who has ever thought the size or shape of their body made them somehow less. You are so much more!"

Release Date: October 27, 2022

Genre: Paranormal romance, contemporary romance

TW: fatphobia, body-shaming, diet culture, toxic parent, blood, injury, discussion of consent/mind control

Rating:

Summary:

So much for the afterlife.

Twenty-five-year-old Lily Baines is used to waking up hungover, overweight, and underemployed. Waking up with fangs? Not so much. But when a little light necking has more serious consequences than she ever imaged, Lily's determined to get to the bottom of it, or diet (again) trying.

Tristan hadn't meant to turn Lily-it's against vampire law-but now that she's here, they need to team up to save both their hides. They strike on uneasy truce, fending off other vampires. Lily's work rival turned slayer, and her mother's tone-deaf romance and fitness advice...all while Lily faces down her insecurities about the fact that she lives in a diet-obsessed world with a body that will never age, never die, and never change. 

Falling for her maddeningly gorgeous sire? Easy. Surviving an ancient vampire master determined to see her twice dead? Piece of cake. But can Lily ever truly learn to love the woman she'll be forever more?

Review:

I’m definitely a sucker (partially intended pun) for a good book cover. The cover immediately drew me in to this modern-day vampire romance novel. I read the summary and was beyond excited to read about modern day vampires, a plus-size baddie, and a self-acceptance journey with a light-heartened, comedic tone throughout the book.

I desperately wanted to love this book. My high expectations, ultimately, fell flat. Gloria Duke truly had an amazing concept on her hands but shoved too much information into a measly 327 pages. I could easily see this book being split into a duology instead. I think this would have provided a better landscape to allow the plot to develop as well as the characters. However, this was not a duology and thus, must review it as is. Let’s begin:

Lily, our plus-size baddie main character. I immediately was drawn to Lily, her independence, and her body image struggles. I appreciate her independence and strength throughout the book. I also really appreciate Lily’s hilarious commentary. I wish there was more time to see Lily develop as a character though. I thought this book was going to be very profound when it came to self-love and body acceptance, but it did not deliver. How could it have possibly delivered? There was no time with introducing new characters, becoming a vampire, a budding romance, an evil foe to defeat, a vampire slayer to deal with…there was simply too much. Lily went from extreme dieting to loving herself in such a short time when, realistically, this would have taken a lot more time to progress. I would have loved to read through this growth, but it felt rushed.

Tristan, our brooding love interest. Tristan fell short. I wanted to fall in love with this swoon-worthy, modern-day vampire but it missed the mark completely. I was more interested in other characters than Tristan. Even side characters like Evan, Raven, even Gideon had more intrigue than Tristan.

Cat, our smart and beautiful best friend. I really appreciated Cat and Lily’s friendship. What I appreciated more? The small insights into the toxicity of Lily’s insecurities spewing onto Cat and her self-esteem.  Everyone has their own insecurities. I do not care what size the person is or how beautiful someone thinks they are; everyone has their own unique insecurities with themselves. Cat is a beautiful woman whose intelligence is constantly overlooked, even by her best friend. I think it is a great lesson to learn that we all need to be kinder to ourselves and others.

Lily’s mom, our toxic body-negative mother. Lily’s mom has spent her entire life commenting on her weight, buying her too small articles of clothing, and encouraging unhealthy diet culture. Lily can never be enough for her mother. Some of the biggest flaws I found with this book were with the relationship between Lily and her mother. Specifically, that the amount of emotional trauma Lily’s mom has caused is so casually brought up and discussed. While it is admitted that the pair have a lot of work in the future to improve their relationship, essentially, all her previous atrocities have been forgiven. No harm, no foul.  Wrong. It is completely acceptable to cut ties with your mother if it is not helpful for you and your mental health. It is also completely acceptable to never forgive her. A casual apology for your mom about YEARS of trauma is unacceptable. There needs to be physical proof of her educating herself and showing she is changing.

Overall, I really wanted to love this book. I thought it would check all the boxes but sadly, it did not. As stated previously, if we just had more time to really delve into these plot lines and characters, I think it would have been a more successful novel.  I think that it is a light-hearted book that is worth the read but disappointment may await you in the end. Also, if topics such as body image, dieting, or toxic parents can be triggering, avoid this book altogether. 

Quotes:

"To anyone who has ever thought the size or shape of their body made them somehow less. You are so much more!"

"Life was a lot harder then. People looked older. Aged more quickly. But if I understand what you're really asking," he says, "rest assured. No matter how many centuries pass, you'll still look as young and lovely as you do today."

"In case you haven't noticed by now, I'm not one of your beautiful but helpless damsels in distress."

"Lily is that rare combination of beauty and strength."

"And all at once, the body I've always thought was way too big seems much too small to contain my happiness."

"I write about romantic heroines, but Lily, you are my heroine." He strokes his thumb across my cheek, and my whole undead being springs to life. "You are more beautiful, more courageous, and yes, my darling, more maddening than anyone I could ever have imagined. And never have I ever loved anyone the way I love you."

"And when I look up and see the uncluttered racks, the unstuffed shelves, I know, it's actually a win. I mean, when you let go of the things that squeeze and poke and pinch at you, it opens up room for all kinds of other things to come into your life. Better things. Things that really do fit."

Current reading project!

Greetings fellow meadow creatures and fae! 

I am currently making my way through The Four Horseman Series by Laura Thalassa. I completed Pestilence and War (prior to creating these here blog). I am now almost completed with Famine! 

Although I have not yet finished this series, I do have to say that this has been a very unique reading experience. I have never read any material on the four horseman so that itself is extremely interesting. Then add a spicy, steamy twist to it? It certainly has been a memorable time thus far. I cannot wait to complete the series! I will most likely post a review of ALL FOUR books instead of an individualized post for each book. 

While I have not completed the series yet, so far...my favorite book has to be Pestilence.

Stay tuned for a review in the near future, bun bun out!

 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

 

"Sometimes, even when you start with the last page and you think you know everything, a book finds a way to surprise you." 

Release Date: May 3, 2022

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Rating: 

Summary:

One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn't see coming...

Nora Stephen's life is books - she's read them all - and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laid-back dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister, Libby. 

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sister's trip away - with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she's convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meads or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish, brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute, if not for the fact that they've met many times and it's never been cute.

If Nora knows she's not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he's nobody's hero, but as they are thrown together again and again - in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow - what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they've written about themselves.

Review:

Book Lovers is an impactful life lesson on family and love while moonlighting as a cheesy, Hallmark romance. Book Lovers was intended to be a playful reprieve for myself (as I am currently in-between books in a dark, fantasy fiction series). However, this novel and the characters swiftly became embedded in my heart. This book is about love: the love of your family, the love of a city, the love of books, and the safe love welcoming you home. It is not simply a romance novel. The level of depth Emily Henry was able to steep into these pages is astounding to me. It was nearly impossible for me to put this book down. Book Lovers embodies the message that “home is where the heart is” and “you can have your cake and eat it too.”

Nora is the main protagonist who thrives on the hustle and bustle of New York City. She is a literary agent who is cunning, blood-thirsty, and relentless. Nora is a strong, independent woman who knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. Her weak spot? Her sister Libby and being blinded by a false sense of nostalgia. Nora likes to read the last pages of a book to see if it's worth reading (same here, girl. It is a terrible habit and I don't know how to stop!) 

I adore the bond between these sisters, Nora and Libby. Emily Henry was able to successfully write about two sisters being connected and not having to be enemies. It can be hard to find sources of media showcasing the love between sisters and not having a sibling rivalry. It was heart-wrenching to read about Nora’s fears of losing her best friend and to see the distance that was steadily increasing between the pair. It bares truth that while these sisters are completely opposite and may experience times of uncertainty or great difficulty, it allows their bond to strengthen. In addition, Emily Henry also broaches the conversation of when a child has been parentified. "A parentified child has responsibilities placed on them that are inappropriate, considering their age and abilities," from www.medicalnewstoday.com. it is interesting to see how differently the sisters few their childhood and their relationship with their deceased mother. 

The banter and the chemistry between Nora and Charlie were electrifying. At first, it seems impossible that these two would ever find each other likeable. Nora seems awfully irresponsible and Charlie seems dull and lackluster when the two first meet. However, in the setting of a small town such as Sunshine Falls, a connection develops that is so magnetic it was impossible to ignore. While the pair had ample passion, it was the sense of safety and security between the two that was the most heart-warming for me. Nora found a home in Charlie and vice versa. Every interaction between these two left me smiling and giddy. As cheesy as can be, I truly believe Charlie was a perfect puzzle piece fit. 

I appreciate thoroughly that the author was able to show the growth of Nora as a character while also maintaining her independent qualities. Emily Henry does not villainize being in love with your career, not wanting children, and enjoying being a stranger in a big city. Nora can have all these things and have a happy ending. I resonate with Nora immensely and it was comforting to see Nora get her happy ending. It gives me hope that I write my own fairy-tale ending as well: an unwavering bond with my sister, a beautiful romance that checks all the boxes, and a successful career that brings me joy. 

I would highly recommend reading this book. I'm sure that you will also have great difficulty putting this book down as well. This book was devoured in less than a week. A stunning book that ties in all the elements: a big city, a small town, the power of sisters and a finding the love of your life. it is witty, it is heart-warming, and there is so much depth in these characters. 

Quotes:

"Sometimes, even when you start with the last page and you think you know everything, a book finds a way to surprise you."

"I realized there were too many books in the world and not enough time."

"Is there anything better than iced coffee and a bookstore on a sunny day? I mean, aside from hot coffee and a bookstore on a rainy day."

"Some books you don't read so much as live."

"That's the thing about women. There's no good way to be one. Wear your emotions on your sleeve and you're hysterical. Keep them tucked away where your boyfriend doesn't have to tend to them and you're a heartless bitch."

"Books with no dog ears and shiny new covers, cleaning and shelving and reading 'bout lovers."

"It's a feeling not unlike reading a really good book: all-consuming, worry-obliterating."

"You fucking undo me."

"Maybe love shouldn't be built on a foundation of compromises, but maybe it can't exist without them either. Not the kind that forces two people into shapes they don't fit in, but the kind that loosens their grips, always leaves room to grow. Compromises that say, there will be a you-shaped space in my heart, and if your shape changes, I will adapt. No matter where we go, our love will stretch out to hold us, ad that makes me feel like...like everything will be okay."