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dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Physical abuse
To quote Alyssa Edwards “What the fuck is going on here on this day?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Which is saying a lot since I love nearly every book I’ve read. A wonderful idea for a book and great execution. This book made me examine my own humanity while throughly enjoying myself while reading. I literally couldn’t put it down. I truly can’t wait to read the rest of the series because I am now sucked into the apocalyptic world of the Four Horseman.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Torture, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Vomit
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was really easy to read. The chapters are short which kept the story moving at a good pace, and held my attention. I was very engaged in this story, reading it in a total of 4 hours!
Despite this, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the plot. The premise of the story is interesting, and I was intrigued to read a fantasy book that takes place in the “real world”, but I feel like this book’s plot was lacking. We had the hero, but there was no real villain to fight. If we consider Pestilence the villain, then the FMC didn’t do much fighting at all. I’m hoping that the plot intensifies throughout the remainder of the series.
Another aspect of the book that I’m still trying to process, is the FMC’s internal struggle with her feelings for Pestilence. The horseman put Sara through A LOT (no spoilers, but Chapter 18 had me in tears) and she seems to get over these things pretty quickly because “it’s hard to be mad at something that’s so pretty” and because he made a sandwich. I feel like this is a stark contrast to her beliefs at the beginning of the book. It wasn’t until the last few chapters, when Pestilence’s character started developing, that I began to accept this change. Once again, I’m hoping their relationship will be explored and expanded upon in the next book. I would love to see more of Pestilence’s character development.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to continuing the series. I am intrigued to see the role that the other horsemen will play in this world.
Despite this, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the plot. The premise of the story is interesting, and I was intrigued to read a fantasy book that takes place in the “real world”, but I feel like this book’s plot was lacking. We had the hero, but there was no real villain to fight. If we consider Pestilence the villain, then the FMC didn’t do much fighting at all. I’m hoping that the plot intensifies throughout the remainder of the series.
Another aspect of the book that I’m still trying to process, is the FMC’s internal struggle with her feelings for Pestilence. The horseman put Sara through A LOT (no spoilers, but Chapter 18 had me in tears) and she seems to get over these things pretty quickly because “it’s hard to be mad at something that’s so pretty” and because he made a sandwich. I feel like this is a stark contrast to her beliefs at the beginning of the book. It wasn’t until the last few chapters, when Pestilence’s character started developing, that I began to accept this change. Once again, I’m hoping their relationship will be explored and expanded upon in the next book. I would love to see more of Pestilence’s character development.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to continuing the series. I am intrigued to see the role that the other horsemen will play in this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical trauma
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder
funny
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Animal cruelty
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A very fun book that I had a blast reading. The change in relationship between Sarah and Pestilence from enemies to 👀 happened kind of suddenly. It isn't the BEST written, but is a good time and leaves me wanting to read the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Animal death, Child death
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Writing: 3.75⭐️/5
Alright, so the writing is serviceable, and honestly better than I was expecting. That being said, the main character’s internal dialogue often felt a bit contrived – forced to be a bit sassier, a bit quippier than felt natural. However, it wasn’t bad, just a bit contrived at moments. And, on the more positive end, the writing is fast-paced and resonant, letting you absorb the plot quickly and easily. It takes talent to write with such smoothness, and I enjoyed reading it.
Characters: 4⭐️/5
Again, our main character, Sara, started out feeling like a cookie-cutter “badass” main character. As the novel progressed, though, she started to grow and I thoroughly ended up enjoying reading about her and through her perspective. I liked Pestilence a lot. The mixture of his naivety with his inability to forgive Sara seemed true to him. I enjoyed the slow reveal that he didn’t like his job, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching him slowly become more and more human.
Plot: 4.25⭐️/5
Again, I don’t think I was expecting too much from this novel’s plot, and it pushed those expectations so very far. Part of my joy with the plot might be heavily attached to the fact that I didn’t expect too much, but, regardless, I loved it. I was a bit hooked from the start, when Sara explained her and her friend’s half-baked plan to kill Pestilence. And I was extra hooked the moment Pestilence felt fear at her mortal well-being.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of ACOTAR and dystopian societies
- Someone looking for a romance with an intriguing plot
- Those who like fantasy/apocalyptic novels that centre on romance
- Readers who like (or don’t mind) a bit of spice, but not just spice.
Content Warnings?
Death, murder, illness, terminal illness, murder, sexual content, physical abuse, emotional abuse, kidnapping, fire, fire injury, gore, blood, injury, injury detail, gun violence, violence, animal death, torture, grief, body horror, pandemic/epidemic
Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5
Addicted.
Final Rating: 4.25⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Pregnancy
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I do not even know where to begin with this 😂 it was so bad. The plot holes are big enough for Tricksy to ride through. The graphic violence was almost too much for me. The MCs are both idiots. The spice started like...75% through the book. The end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Sexual content
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've always held a certain fascination for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse so when I heard about this series, I knew I would have to eventually read them (especially when I heard that Death, book 4, is being represented by Thanatos, the name of the greek god of death, whom I've always held an unexplainable but particular fondness for). I wasn't sure what to expect going in but this book definitely wastes no time in throwing you into the Apocalypse. This novel is graphic in detail at times and definitely not for the faint of heart or those who can't stomach violence or gore.
The book brought up many interesting points on the concept of religion/faith and why the Apocalypse was happening. It was very interesting to see Pestilence as a character and how he adapted and changed throughout the novel. The Female Lead, Sara, felt very realistic in how she dealt with what she was going through, especially as a young woman in her 20s. However she does come across as annoying at times, especially with some of her side comments that serve no purpose and ended up throwing me out of the story, and she fell flat towards the end of the novel. Because of her I almost DNF'd with only 20 pages left (although my interest was waning around page 200).
The book was also very repetitive at times and therefore, very predictable. Many of the chapters/events just felt too similar to each other but because most of the chapters were short, it was easy to get through them.
The only reason I continued the book was because I was so close to the end and also because I do plan on reading the rest of the series. I gave the book 4 stars because I did like the concept and I really liked Pestilence and it also kept me intrigued enough to want to continue the series.
The book brought up many interesting points on the concept of religion/faith and why the Apocalypse was happening. It was very interesting to see Pestilence as a character and how he adapted and changed throughout the novel. The Female Lead, Sara, felt very realistic in how she dealt with what she was going through, especially as a young woman in her 20s. However she does come across as annoying at times, especially with some of her side comments that serve no purpose and ended up throwing me out of the story, and she fell flat towards the end of the novel. Because of her I almost DNF'd with only 20 pages left (although my interest was waning around page 200).
The book was also very repetitive at times and therefore, very predictable. Many of the chapters/events just felt too similar to each other but because most of the chapters were short, it was easy to get through them.
The only reason I continued the book was because I was so close to the end and also because I do plan on reading the rest of the series. I gave the book 4 stars because I did like the concept and I really liked Pestilence and it also kept me intrigued enough to want to continue the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting