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.

I had no idea I could love one of the four horsemen so much, and especially not one that brings disease to the world. Well, okay, maybe that last part is a little more believable because I have a overwhelming fascination with the Black Death, BUT it is still a testament to Laura’s writing that I fell so head over heels for this being that begins the destruction of the world as we know it. 

We are thrown into Sara’s world, which has been preparing for the apocalypse. Pestilence is riding around the world, and it’s her town’s turn next. She and her coworkers draw straws to see who will attempt to take down the horseman, and Sara draws poorly. She attempts the task, thinks she succeeds, and is promptly captured by him once he recovers.

What unfolds is a true enemies to lovers story, and one that is filled with so much heart and heat. You care about stubborn, strong Sara and wish for her to be freed, but at a certain point your defenses start to melt with hers when you realize maybe Pestilence isn’t who you think he is. Instead of someone harming the world for fun, he is serving a purpose, doing a job that he cannot run from.

I fell hard for Pestilence, and I really enjoyed the path that this story took. I finished it in a day because I literally COULD NOT put it down. I’m on pins and needles waiting for the sequel, War, and to see where our doomed couple can go from here.

5/5 stars