kat1105's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Self harm, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
bangiebangs's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Oh this book.
So, first off: almost perfect, and the "almost" here is some iffy pacing mainly (the story of Death and Lazarus felt a little off in the first half, but recovered for the second).
This book gives all our favorite tropes (dark romance, enemies to lovers, fated mates, forced proximity, and an eons-old virgin MMC - love those!), and once more the journey is the destination.
That said, I think the middle is a bit eh. Death and Lazarus are mainly fucking (which, 3/5 for spice, that was really, really well written and better than in previous books imo), but Death's motivation to never relent and keep killing is "it's my job", and we don't get a satisfying reason. If the horsemen are here to punish humanity in ways we have used to kill each other, then what is the point of Death just dropping entire cities without even entering them sometimes?
I didn't particularly like the epilogue (it gave Vampire Diaries final scen), but the ending itself is satisfying and honestly, I'd been wondering how the author would wrap up all the storylines that dragged over from previous books (yes, we see Victor/Pestilence, War, and Famine again). So that was surprisingly well done.
So, whole series review: LOVE the series, and my favorite book is still Pestilence, I think? Followed by War. I might re-read those first two, but maybe not the second two? Not entirely sure. Maybe reading them not in one go but as palate cleansers between other books makes more sense.
Wholly recommend this if you're looking for a series with well-trodden tropes where you still get surprised sometimes, especially if you relish some frustration with the characters that isn't based on miscommunication for once. Nice levels of spice throughout, mostly on a slow - medium burn.
So, first off: almost perfect, and the "almost" here is some iffy pacing mainly (the story of Death and Lazarus felt a little off in the first half, but recovered for the second).
This book gives all our favorite tropes (dark romance, enemies to lovers, fated mates, forced proximity, and an eons-old virgin MMC - love those!), and once more the journey is the destination.
That said, I think the middle is a bit eh. Death and Lazarus are mainly fucking (which, 3/5 for spice, that was really, really well written and better than in previous books imo), but Death's motivation to never relent and keep killing is "it's my job", and we don't get a satisfying reason. If the horsemen are here to punish humanity in ways we have used to kill each other, then what is the point of Death just dropping entire cities without even entering them sometimes?
Spoiler
There is one scene where he explains that if God is everything, she (and it's a she in this story) is constantly being hurt by humans destroying the world, and if humans are only part of a much bigger whole, then they are like a festering sore that needs to be cut out for the whole to heal. That makes sense in principle, but even if humans are only a part of creation and seen as part of a much bigger whole, humanity's ability for redemption is portrayed much better on the examples of Pestilence, War, or even Famine.. but doesn't work for Death.I didn't particularly like the epilogue (it gave Vampire Diaries final scen), but the ending itself is satisfying and honestly, I'd been wondering how the author would wrap up all the storylines that dragged over from previous books (yes, we see Victor/Pestilence, War, and Famine again). So that was surprisingly well done.
So, whole series review: LOVE the series, and my favorite book is still Pestilence, I think? Followed by War. I might re-read those first two, but maybe not the second two? Not entirely sure. Maybe reading them not in one go but as palate cleansers between other books makes more sense.
Wholly recommend this if you're looking for a series with well-trodden tropes where you still get surprised sometimes, especially if you relish some frustration with the characters that isn't based on miscommunication for once. Nice levels of spice throughout, mostly on a slow - medium burn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Grief, Death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood, Medical trauma, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
xlaurareads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.25
what a bittersweet but perfect ending to this series. i have many thoughts on this one, but let's start with the most prominent one: after the ending of famine's book, i was expecting death to be way differently than he actually was in his book. i felt like he might be the harshest, most murderous one that's connected to humanity the least and, thus, doesn't give a shit about humanity. however, in the first chapters of the book it became blatantly obvious that death is the softest of the four horseman, the one who falls for the woman (lazarus) in an instant when he sees her and needs to resist the urge to claim her from the first second on. i liked the "banter" between them and the on-off-killing situation, although it's always been clear how much death feels for her. what put me off a little was the time he "captured" her and the ongoing process of that; however, lazarus meeting the other horsemen was great and essential to the story unfolding. nonetheless, for the 500+ pages i feel like the book was a bit dragged at some points and there wasn't happening very much except laz and death trying to seduce each other and falling in love. like, don't get me wrong, I'm all here for passionate lovestories with good spice, but i was essentially bored at some points and, as the storyline of all four books was essentially somewhat the same, the ending seemed incredibly predictable to me. that's not a bad thing at all and i was prepared for it but i grew hella frustrated with death and his decisions at that. the ending was beautiful and bittersweet still, and tbh i couldn't imagine it otherwise. for me, the epilogue wasn't really needed because the real ending was, to me, perfect as it is. all in all, i did probably like this one second best of the series but it still had its weaknesses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Alcohol and Gore
breerosiey's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Murder, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Medical content, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt, War, Blood, Child death, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
felyn's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Murder, Suicide, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Death of parent, Medical content, and Child death
Minor: Vomit
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