Reviews with content warning for Torture - Pestilence

Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Pestilence by Laura Thalassa

68 reviews

prosiaczekk's review against another edition

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adventurous

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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tiana_king's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The circumstances that bring the two main characters together is a bit flimsy but otherwise the plot was good. My biggest gripe is just that the timeline isn’t very clear. Overall a great steamy romance with moral dilemmas, and dashes of the supernatural.

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cinderrunner's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

I have a lot of conflicting emotions about this book. I am not a fan of "dark" romances typically and don't see the appeal of fictional relationships that are founded on toxicity/abuse. I didn't realize just how dark this novel was before i picked it up. The relationship between Sara and Pestilence is very abusive, toxic, and violent; all of which was incredibly off putting and made it difficult to get into the love aspects of the story. However, the world in which the novel was crafted and the plot surrounding the relationship made me enjoy it to the point where I would have given the book 5 stars if it weren't for the awful relationship dynamics. The author created a brilliant landscape for a world sliding deeper into dystopia. She also did an incredible job capturing the moral complexity of humanity and of our ideals around right or wrong. The book was surprisingly poignant and tugged tight on my heartstrings. The violence and cruelty of the romance didn't feel pointless and the author made Pestilence's grasp of what humanity really means grow in a way that I was able to feel for him and Sara. I was worried the topic of religion would be overbearing given that the plot revolves around the four horsemen of the apocalypse, but it is handled with tact and in such a neutral way that I think an open minded reader of pretty much any background would be okay with it. But please check trigger warnings for this book because it is very dystopian and dark.

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tatiannaskye's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

Ugh I don’t know what to say about this book other than I’m not the biggest fan. Was it worth it to waste my time? Maybe. Will I ever read it again? Hell to the no. Wish I could have gotten more out of it but oh well, it’s done and over with so I’m happy about that at least!

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khaleesimod93's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I enjoyed every bit of this book. From the darkness that started to the happiness and light at the end. Pestilence is a very very complicated character. He starts out as hateful and horrible. Which, in some cases, I can understand. Humanity doesn't have a lot of redeeming qualities. Watching that unfold as I type this review out. But, he learns what makes us human through Sara. I love her character. Viscous and kind. Compassionate and fierce. And she questions her mind and herself through out the story on how she feels about Pestilence. I love that when push came to shove and Pestilence became unworthy of her, she walked away. And Pestilence gave her her space even though he had never left her. He learned compassion and love through Sara. I really enjoyed this book and story.

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kinsportch's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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bumblehui's review against another edition

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3.25

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cluckieduck's review against another edition

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challenging dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

An interesting premise, but I found most of it to just be sorta…meh. The world building, the writing, the “romance” - it just lacked the substance that allows me to fully invest in what I’m reading, though I did think Pestilence was an intriguing lead. I found myself wondering, like Sara did, how can one fall for him? Is it his naivety? He did make quite a funny nursemaid.

The sex scenes were rough (and not in a good way) - poor Sara’s vag deserves a break from all the furious pounding. Much like the rest of the story, it’s overly repetitive and not written well. A very underwhelming read.

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ireadinbed's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I went into this book expecting to dnf it with a strong recommendation from a Facebook group as a read like for a dark romance I thought was okay

It was so much better than I expected. I really felt for Pestilence in his struggle to accept humanity when he has repeatedly seen it's worst.

I just found it a genuinely meaningful read.

All that said, I thought the last 15% ish of the book felt very rushed. And what I came to the book for (smut, because of the read like suggestion) was honestly really underwhelming and weirdly written. I felt like the author added them because she had to and honestly I would have preferred fade to black over that awkwardness.

I'm not sure I will read on with the series but I'm sleepy tempted, especially if I need a good cry! You can't get a more intense enemies to lovers of I'm honest.

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psydneigh's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I did not like this one. Sara is in the same “i cant love him, but i do” mindset for 98% of the book. There was no real growth, it just changes in the end.

I think it would’ve been better if Pestilence had spared Rob and Ruth. Then at least his actions seem to be changing and killing all of California would be more impactful

I also just couldn’t really get behind falling in love with a man responsible for genocide and who tortured you horrifically. I’ve read dark romances, but Pestilence did not have good enough redeeming qualities in my opinion.
Side Note: I don’t know if this was intentionally (probably not) but when the God discussion came up, Pestilence says that God is genderless and she goes with ‘it’ and then later calls God ‘he’ again? Sounds like God has they/them pronouns to me and it irked me a bit that they weren’t used.
Overall, meh read but will not be continuing the series.

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