🎧︎Pestilence by Laura Thalassa

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading in Reviews / 7 Comments

Brandee and I are back again with another buddy read chat review. This time around we buddy read Pestilence by Laura Thalassa. I am so glad we chose to read Pestilence as it turned out better than I had hoped. I believe this one was a winner for the both of us. Read on and learn the reasons we both enjoyed Pestilence. Brandee’s review can be found here.

 

🎧︎Pestilence by Laura ThalassaTitle: Pestilence
Author(s): Laura Thalassa
Series: The Four Horsemen #1
Also in this series: War , Famine
Narrator(s): Susannah Jones
Published by Lavabrook Publishing on September 14, 2018
Pages: 381
Length: 11hrs 22mins
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchase
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Series Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne Flame

Listening Length: 11 hours and 22 minutes
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.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

 

 

Brandee: I found the premise for Pestilence (and this series) intriguing. I mean, a romance with a horseman of the apocalypse? But I couldn’t have imagined how gripping and thought-provoking it ended up being. I think the most provocative element was that love, although it’s supposed to bring out the best in us, sometimes awakens the worse. But even through that, we’re all capable of change. What did you find most thought-provoking about the book?

Nadene: Knowing what the horsemen of the apocalypse signifies, I must admit the premise intrigued me. Having never read the author before, I was curious as to what creative licence she would take with this prophesied biblical event. Never, had I imagined such an engrossing and thought-provoking tale. The thing that stood out most for me is how we has humans tend to be judgmental of things which we have no knowledge of. Sara judged Pestilence unfairly without trying to understand his purpose. She in turn was judged by others because of her association with him.

Brandee: We humans really do tend to judge that which is different and we don’t understand. A true human failing.

 

Brandee: One of my favorite elements in the book is the playful banter between Sara and Pestilence. It didn’t start out fun, that’s for sure. But as they got to know each other, their interplay was fun and often had me laughing. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

 

I run a hand down the steed’s neck. “You know, beneath your hardened exterior is just a woman who wants love and acceptance,” I say to Trixie.

”My steed is a man.” Pestilence says as he enters the room.

 

”You’re human,” he says. “I don’t like your kind. I’m not supposed to like you.”

I don’t breathe for a second.

Don’t ask the question, Burns. Don’t—

“But you do?” I say.

His eyes drop to my mouth. He touches my lower lip with his thumb, rubbing it gently. “God forgive me, I do.”

 

”I cannot decide if you are a toxin or a tonic,” he says, lifting a hand to my cheek. “Only that you plague my thoughts and fill my veins.”

Pestilence would really work on his compliments.

Your favorite quotes?

Nadene : I too enjoyed their banter. Pestilence is honest to a fault. He speaks exactly what is on his mind. No diplomacy for this horseman. Sara is definitely a riot. She has no filter and each time she speaks or thinks to herself I cannot help but laugh. However, I also enjoyed the moments where Pestilence never failed to let Sara knew exactly how he felt.

 

“What are you speaking of?” Pestilence asks.

“I’m quoting ‘The Raven.’ It’s a poem by Edgar Allan Poe.”

 Pestilence makes a noise at the back of his throat. “I should’ve known that brief flash of eloquence was not your making.”  

“Do you even have the ability to speak without insulting me?” I say. I swear this bastard is just trying to kill my morning buzz. “Of course.” I can hear the smug smile in his voice. “It is just that there are so very many things about you worth insulting.”

 

“You’re human,” he says. “I don’t like your kind. I’m not supposed to like you.”

I don’t breathe for a second. Don’t ask the question, Burns. Don’t— “But you do?” I say.

His eyes drop to my mouth. He touches my lower lip with his thumb, rubbing it gently. “God forgive me, I do.”

 

“Amongst my growing list of flaws is cowardice,” Pestilence says in the darkness. “I come to you now like a thief in the night, for I fear you’ll never listen to me under the light of day,” his voice is whisper soft, “and I must confess all the things in my heart.”

Allllright. This should be interesting.

“I find you beautiful, dear Sara, so beautiful. But it’s such a sharp, scathing beauty—like the edge of my arrowheads—because I remember you are not like me. One day, you will die, and I am growing anxious of that fact.”

 

“And I cannot figure out what this is,” he continues, “only that I feel it when I see you and when I think of you. When we ride together and I hold you, I feel as though all is right. And when you laugh, I think I might truly die. This is an agonizing sort of pleasure, and it’s ever so perplexing. I don’t understand how pain and affection can coexist alongside one another.”

 

“When you ignore me, I burn with restlessness; it feels as though the sun has turned its back on the world. And when you smile at me—when you gaze at me like you can see my soul—I feel … I feel like I am lit on fire, like you have been called by God to raze my world.”

 

Brandee: I did find myself frustrated with Sara’s hesitation in admitting her feelings for Pestilence. I understood it at first because she (and the world) saw him as a monster. But then, once she’d seen he was more than meets the eye – despite his insistence otherwise – it aggravated me that she couldn’t verbalize what she felt. How did you feel about Sara’s hesitancy? Especially after Pestilence admitted his emotions?

Nadene: I too understood her reasons for hesitating. After all, how would it look for one to be in love with the person responsible bringing death and sickness to the world. However, after awhile her hesitancy grated on my nerves – even after she saw the goodness within him. I believed that hesitancy was due in part to her fear of what others might think.

 

Brandee: My favorite scenes were probably those with Ruth and Ron. These two were special human beings and definitely helped in getting Sara and Pestilence to see each other’s point of view. Your favorite scene(s)?

Nadene : I loved several scenes, including the one with Ruth and Ron. It resonated with me.  The scene which also resonated with me was when Sara finally came to terms with her feeling with Pestilence. It was where they came under attack and the lengths, she went through to protect him.

 

Brandee: Overall, Pestilence ticked all my boxes.

Nadene : Yup! One of the best books I’ve read since the start of the year.

 

Brandee: My last question for you is WHEN CAN WE BUDDY READ WAR? 😂

Nadene: 😂😂 Whenever you are ready. I am ready and waiting.

 

This is my first time listening Susannah Jones.  She did a great job with all the characters and she brought the story to life with her impeccable performance. I would definitely listen to her again. 

Story Evaluation
Plot
5
Characters
4.5
World Building
4.5
Writing Style
4.5
Pacing
5
Cover
4
Narrator (Audio)
4.5
Enjoyment
5
Ending
5
Overall: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

About Laura Thalassa

Found in the forest when she was young, Laura Thalassa was raised by fairies, kidnapped by werewolves, and given over to vampires as repayment for a hundred year debt. She’s been brought back to life twice, and, with a single kiss, she woke her true love from eternal sleep. She now lives happily ever after with her undead prince in a castle in the woods .… or something like that anyway. When not writing, Laura can be found scarfing down guacamole, hoarding chocolate for the apocalypse, or curled up on the couch with a good book.

Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading
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