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kat1105's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Violence, Vomit, Gore, Gun violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
the_bookworm_rabbit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Sara, at least at a couple of points in the story, seems like a badass firefighter with her head screwed on right. Unfortunately, that is not the case as she seems to be content with forgiving Pestilence for abusing her in some of the worst ways possible just because he's attractive.
As someone who enjoys a dark romance, I have found that there's a fine line between having a love interest whom you can understand the protagonist falling for, and someone who is basically unredeemable. The mental and physical abuse Sara is put through is vile, yet somehow she still falls for Pestilence just because he shows a few moments of regret (which is a common abuse strategy).
This was not the book for me.
Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
bookedupchick's review against another edition
3.5
Sara is a firefighter who drew the short straw and was sent on a mission — to kill the horseman. Pestilence is an immortal horseman sent by god to infect the human race with the plague. When their worlds collide and turn upside down, what they thought was their purpose completely changes…🤴🐎
I thought it was interesting, but I was enamored by it. The spice was okay, but not really what I was thinking. 🤷🏼♀️
🦠 Post Apocalyptic
⚔️ Enemies To Lovers
💀 “I was sent to kill you” Vibes
🌹 Beauty & the Beast Vibes
👥 Forced Proximity
🔮 Romantasy
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️/5
Graphic: Medical content, Gore, Torture, Sexual content, Gun violence, Child death, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Death, Cursing, Alcohol, Violence, and Pandemic/Epidemic
bangiebangs's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
You get dropped into the story, and the first third of the book is savage - not to spoil, but it's not easy to like either of the characters then. Understand their motivation? Yes. But not like.
I really enjoyed the setup here, and also the twists that really went against what I was expecting the story to be. Yes, tropes and the ending are as expected, but how we get there was particularly enjoyable here. I also liked the pacing (even if at times it went slower than others), but this worked well for me.
I've since read the second book and am on the third, and I love that (so far) the journey is always different, and there is some food for thought in there as well (humanity and how we treat each other).
Slight warning to heed the CNs, because this is brutal at times.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Body horror, Child death, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Violence, Torture, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Death
whitney427's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child death, Violence, Death, Body horror, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Torture
sarrie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Child death, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, and Kidnapping
Minor: Stalking
harvestingbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Torture
ellyg_97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
konniesbb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Set in an apocalyptic world, Sara Burns is set to kill Pestilence the Conqueror, the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Unfortunately, Sara's attempt to assassinate the horseman fail and instead she is held prisoner by him.
The book is very dark and quite detailed and gruesome in its descriptions of violence, death and abuse. This did not affect my enjoyment of the book, as I did feel it added to the sinister backdrop it takes place in, but I do think it may be too much for some readers.
Naturally, this being an enemies-to-lovers romance (and an extreme one at that!), the relationship portrayed in the book is incredibly toxic and unhealthy. However, I don't think the author is trying to glamourise this kind of behaviour or relationship and, at the end of the day, it's not meant to be taken too seriously.
I really enjoyed the author's style of writing - it was rich in detail while still remaining fast-paced and dramatic. I enjoyed the first-person narration from Sara's POV and how we got to see her relationship with her captor change through her eyes.
I felt the last few chapters were rather rushed as though we were rather barreling toward the end of the story. The resolution at the end could've been a little more involved, plus it all felt a little too neatly tied up considering the circumstances; but again, I don't think it should be taken too seriously. Good setup for the next book in the series as well - I think I might give it a go.
On the whole, a very enjoyable read which kept me hooked! Would recommend to fans of fantasy romances, enemies-to-lovers, slow burns etc.
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
cinderrunner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Grief, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Torture, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Rape, Death, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Murder