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The Four Horsemen #1
Pestilence
For Pestilence, the White Horseman, love becomes the most powerful cure.
Having lost his wife and child during the Black Plague, Pestilence accepts the fate destiny has given him as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. For centuries, Pestilence did his job, spreading plagues and disease around the world. He does it to keep the balance between good and evil, yet he hates every minute of it. He longs to be left alone, but suddenly fate seems to have a different plan for him.
When Bart Winston stumbles into an Amazon clearing, he’s terribly ill and sure he’s going to die. A tall white-haired man with unusual black eyes catches him in his arms and Bart’s life takes a turn into the unbelievable. Blaming the whole situation on his illness might have worked, but as he gets better and learns about the strange man who heals him, Bart must accept there are more things in the world than he ever guessed.
Pestilence and Bart heal each other, and begin to wonder if there can be a future for the White Horseman and the mortal he’s fallen in love with.
Having lost his wife and child during the Black Plague, Pestilence accepts the fate destiny has given him as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. For centuries, Pestilence did his job, spreading plagues and disease around the world. He does it to keep the balance between good and evil, yet he hates every minute of it. He longs to be left alone, but suddenly fate seems to have a different plan for him.
When Bart Winston stumbles into an Amazon clearing, he’s terribly ill and sure he’s going to die. A tall white-haired man with unusual black eyes catches him in his arms and Bart’s life takes a turn into the unbelievable. Blaming the whole situation on his illness might have worked, but as he gets better and learns about the strange man who heals him, Bart must accept there are more things in the world than he ever guessed.
Pestilence and Bart heal each other, and begin to wonder if there can be a future for the White Horseman and the mortal he’s fallen in love with.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2011
9 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
T.A. Chase
161 books894 followersThere is beauty in every kind of love, so why not live a life without boundaries? Experiencing everything the world offers fascinates me and writing about the things that make each of us unique is how I share those insights. I live in the Midwest with a wonderful partner of thirteen years. When not writing, I’m watching movies, reading and living life to the fullest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 23, 2013
I had so much hope for this series... I have a weird attraction about The Four Horsemen but its not a topic that comes into play many times whether in movies/TV or books. Here was The Four Horsemen in M/M! I thought, even if its sappy, it has to be decent!
I was wrong. I've never read a story where the Horsemen were so WEAK! Weak!! I was amazed! Pestilence can't heal someone without help or can't tell what sickness someone has? He's basically the god of desease and illness... that's like saying Zeus doesn't know lightening when he sees it!
Then there's the human man Bart... This guy gets left for dead in the Amazon by a scheming boyfriend and what's the first thing he does when he sees him again? Run to his bedside, ignoring his supposedly new love for Pestilence, and blubber over the guy. -_-; There were a few times I wanted to smack Bart in this story, but that one made me (figuratively since it was on my ipad mini) throw the book across the room.
Then there's the supposed relationship between Pestilence and Bart... I couldn't take anymore of Pestilence's "I love my wife so much, I desire my wife so much, I miss my wife after 700 yrs so much... but yah, I'll screw this guy." Its hard to get into the relationship between Bart and Pestilence when Pestilence is constantly reminding you how he loves his wife and wishes to see her again someday etc. How can you believe in a relationship between Bart and Pestilence when Pestilence is still in love with his wife?
The only part of the book that I think was done well is the world building around the characters. There was an excellent job of describing what the Horsemen do when they're not being the Horsemen and why Pestilence would live in the Amazon etc. But without the character and relationship part of the story... the world building support that's created can't save it.
I was wrong. I've never read a story where the Horsemen were so WEAK! Weak!! I was amazed! Pestilence can't heal someone without help or can't tell what sickness someone has? He's basically the god of desease and illness... that's like saying Zeus doesn't know lightening when he sees it!
Then there's the human man Bart... This guy gets left for dead in the Amazon by a scheming boyfriend and what's the first thing he does when he sees him again? Run to his bedside, ignoring his supposedly new love for Pestilence, and blubber over the guy. -_-; There were a few times I wanted to smack Bart in this story, but that one made me (figuratively since it was on my ipad mini) throw the book across the room.
Then there's the supposed relationship between Pestilence and Bart... I couldn't take anymore of Pestilence's "I love my wife so much, I desire my wife so much, I miss my wife after 700 yrs so much... but yah, I'll screw this guy." Its hard to get into the relationship between Bart and Pestilence when Pestilence is constantly reminding you how he loves his wife and wishes to see her again someday etc. How can you believe in a relationship between Bart and Pestilence when Pestilence is still in love with his wife?
The only part of the book that I think was done well is the world building around the characters. There was an excellent job of describing what the Horsemen do when they're not being the Horsemen and why Pestilence would live in the Amazon etc. But without the character and relationship part of the story... the world building support that's created can't save it.
August 17, 2012
Review Summary:
Lackluster characters, dull romance, and thin world-building made this a difficult story for me to finish.
Review:
Main Characters:
Pestilence was once a doctor named Aldo Bianchi. Tormented by the deaths of his wife and son during the Black Death, he took his own life, only to find that, instead of death, he'd been placed into another option--serving as the White Horseman, as Pestilence, tasked with spreading illness and disease to keep the balance between Heaven and Hell. He struggles, even centuries later, to accept his duties with anything but resignation, preferring to seclude himself in the Brazilian rainforest rather than live amongst the mortals he cannot touch with his bare hands.
On paper, Pestilence (or Pest, as he's commonly referred to) is an intriguing, powerful character. In execution, however, something strikes me as lacking. Too much of his story is just too convenient. He was married but secretly longed for the touch of a man, something that he's come to terms with through the centuries. He never touched a man in life, but he's slept with men and women enough to become quite an experienced lover since becoming a Horseman, despite his repeated desire for solitude and inability to touch his hands to mortals without infecting them with a virulent disease. Although he's a harbinger of death, he has made a name for himself as an eccentric expert on homeopathic remedies for infectious diseases, publishing papers and consulting with other experts in his field. Strung together, he's just a little too perfect, a paragon of angst just waiting for the right man to mend his broken heart.
The right man is Bartholomew Winston the third, apparently. Bart is a British biologist who teaches at Harvard University. Coerced by his lover, Jasper, into accompanying him on an expedition to the rainforest, Bart finds himself abandoned there with nothing but a week's worth of provisions and a fever, the latter of which quickly spirals out of control. After days of crashing around the jungle, he quite literally stumbles upon Pest, who takes it upon himself to nurse Bart back to health.
I found Bart to be, honestly, quite bland. Nothing of his personality stuck out as memorable or unique; he was a means of reflecting Pest, the true star of the story, without much to offer to the image himself. He's stubborn when Pest needs to be pushed, sexy when Pest wants to be intrigued, and ill when Pest wants to be needed. I would've liked to see him have a little bit more development as himself, rather than as reactions to Pest's needs.
Chemistry:
Perhaps it's because I found Bart so dull, but I just could not find any heat between Pest and Bart. It didn't help that as soon as Pest and Bart meet they're separated, when Pest is called away on a mission, leaving Bart to the tender mercies of a... I'm not quite sure how to qualify Lam. Friend? Comrade? Acquaintance? Either way, they spend the first quarter of the story apart, but with quite an attachment to each other, one that I just don't buy into. Their attraction upon being reunited is also a bit strange, as, for example, Pest gets turned on ogling the unconscious and desperately ill Bart's cock. It made me feel a bit crawly, actually.
There's not a lot of sex in this book, with only one scene in the first two-thirds of the book (outside of the occasional, obligatory lustful thoughts). That first scene is a bit out of nowhere for me; they're talking about Pest's wife (if obliquely), and suddenly they're making out and Pest's fingers are up Bart's ass. For a man so concerned with Bart's healing, Pest doesn't exhibit a whole lot of self-control in ensuring that he himself doesn't exacerbate Bart's condition.
I also never really bought into their falling in love. We're told every now and then that they are, but I never felt I saw it for myself. There was nothing in the way they regarded each other to imply that they had anything but platonic--and distantly platonic, at that--feelings for each other. The occasional observations of burgeoning love were almost as jarring as the sudden occurrences of overwhelming lust.
Secondary Characters:
There are a few somewhat significant secondary characters, in particular Pest's angelic whatever, Lam, and Death.
Lam plays a large role early on, having been summoned by Death to remain with Bart while Pest was called off on a mission. There's a story behind Lam that teases but never really comes out, which is a shame as I found him far more interesting than Bart for the portion of the book in which he was featured. Unfortunately, as soon as Pest returns, Lam disappears but for a few mentions here and there, and his mystery peters out.
Death is an inconsistent character at best. He's scornful of Pest's immediate attachment to Bart, but fetches Lam to care for Bart when Pest balks at leaving him. He offers dire warnings against Pest's involving himself with Bart, against Pest's telling Bart about himself (and by extension Death), but by the time of Pest's big confession, Death has done a rather abrupt about-face:
(Of course, Pest's first confession is all about Lam, but that's neither here nor there.)
Death also has the tendency to randomly pop into Pest's thoughts and interject commentary. It comes across as a bit of creepy stalker; does Death have nothing better to do than psychically spy on Pest?
Story:
The plot is predictable and a bit flat, unfortunately. The pacing is uneven--Bart's illness drags on and on, but no time is spent on his recuperation after the shaman provides Pest with information about the treatment. Given Pest's apprehensions about said treatment, you'd think that at least some time would be spent on it, especially as it provided the perfect opportunity to build some sorely-lacking sexual tension. Instead, there's an off-hand mention of Pest's torment, gone as soon as it's mentioned.
Another disadvantage is the complete lack of conviction by the characters. Pest is determined not to tell Bart the truth about himself, a course of action Death is adamant he follow, but pours out everything as soon as Bart pushes a little. Death, despite dire warnings, is as fondly amused as a matchmaking yenta by the time Pest spills his guts.
There are also holes of convenience that just didn't make sense. Even within the same paragraph:
How can an epidemic be spreading through Cambridge if the only ones infected are the other members of Bart's expedition? The only other person infected by them is someone from the CDC, the person who conveniently is the one sent to meet Pest and Bart at the airport. Somehow, despite the other members of Bart's expedition traveling from Brazil to Massachusetts and the person from the CDC finding Pest and Bart at a busy airport, no one else is infected? Really? And it's an epidemic? It's too simple. (Also: why did Death not simply kill the infected men, if the spread was such a concern? The longer they were alive, the higher the chance of others being exposed.)
Writing:
The writing overall isn't bad, though it does have some repetitive elements. Some iteration of 'and stuff' is used frequently enough that it stood out to me--not anything terrible, but distracting by the end. In general, it struck me as perhaps too informal, too modern for Pest.
The dialogue is what got me the most, honestly. It's been established that Pest, who died in the 14th century, preferred solitude to the company of mortals. So why does he speak like a 21st century hipster? The point at which Pest told Bart that he rocked an outfit made me throw my hands in the air and walk away for a while. It doesn't jive with his back story.
The author seemed to sometimes lose track of the details, too. For example, at one point, Pest explains that he doesn't know how to drive, never having had to learn. Eleven pages later, Pest drives back to the hotel in which they were staying. Why make the point to establish that Pest can't drive (which really wasn't necessary) when it was going to be disregarded not even a dozen pages later?
Other Thoughts:
It doesn't quite make sense to me that Pest would be so skilled in healing, much less consulting, given his own thoughts:
The contradiction baffles me more often than not, honestly. I can understand his following medical journals--everyone picks at scabs--but where does he find the means to practice medicine? Who is he treating to determine what's efficacious? He apparently consults with the natives when necessary, but that doesn't exactly give him broad knowledge--he can only ask the natives about what he knows, not an illness that he hasn't discovered yet. Given his seclusion, it's a marvel he's learned much of anything, much less enough to consult. I just don't buy into him as an expert.
Overall:
The concept of the Four Horsemen was intriguing, but ultimately didn't fulfill its potential. The over-modernization of Pest and the underdevelopment of Bart made them hard to relate to, while weak storytelling and plot holes proved distracting. I won't be picking up the rest of the series.
Review originally posted at The Black Dog Reads.
Lackluster characters, dull romance, and thin world-building made this a difficult story for me to finish.
Review:
Main Characters:
Pestilence was once a doctor named Aldo Bianchi. Tormented by the deaths of his wife and son during the Black Death, he took his own life, only to find that, instead of death, he'd been placed into another option--serving as the White Horseman, as Pestilence, tasked with spreading illness and disease to keep the balance between Heaven and Hell. He struggles, even centuries later, to accept his duties with anything but resignation, preferring to seclude himself in the Brazilian rainforest rather than live amongst the mortals he cannot touch with his bare hands.
On paper, Pestilence (or Pest, as he's commonly referred to) is an intriguing, powerful character. In execution, however, something strikes me as lacking. Too much of his story is just too convenient. He was married but secretly longed for the touch of a man, something that he's come to terms with through the centuries. He never touched a man in life, but he's slept with men and women enough to become quite an experienced lover since becoming a Horseman, despite his repeated desire for solitude and inability to touch his hands to mortals without infecting them with a virulent disease. Although he's a harbinger of death, he has made a name for himself as an eccentric expert on homeopathic remedies for infectious diseases, publishing papers and consulting with other experts in his field. Strung together, he's just a little too perfect, a paragon of angst just waiting for the right man to mend his broken heart.
The right man is Bartholomew Winston the third, apparently. Bart is a British biologist who teaches at Harvard University. Coerced by his lover, Jasper, into accompanying him on an expedition to the rainforest, Bart finds himself abandoned there with nothing but a week's worth of provisions and a fever, the latter of which quickly spirals out of control. After days of crashing around the jungle, he quite literally stumbles upon Pest, who takes it upon himself to nurse Bart back to health.
I found Bart to be, honestly, quite bland. Nothing of his personality stuck out as memorable or unique; he was a means of reflecting Pest, the true star of the story, without much to offer to the image himself. He's stubborn when Pest needs to be pushed, sexy when Pest wants to be intrigued, and ill when Pest wants to be needed. I would've liked to see him have a little bit more development as himself, rather than as reactions to Pest's needs.
Chemistry:
Perhaps it's because I found Bart so dull, but I just could not find any heat between Pest and Bart. It didn't help that as soon as Pest and Bart meet they're separated, when Pest is called away on a mission, leaving Bart to the tender mercies of a... I'm not quite sure how to qualify Lam. Friend? Comrade? Acquaintance? Either way, they spend the first quarter of the story apart, but with quite an attachment to each other, one that I just don't buy into. Their attraction upon being reunited is also a bit strange, as, for example, Pest gets turned on ogling the unconscious and desperately ill Bart's cock. It made me feel a bit crawly, actually.
There's not a lot of sex in this book, with only one scene in the first two-thirds of the book (outside of the occasional, obligatory lustful thoughts). That first scene is a bit out of nowhere for me; they're talking about Pest's wife (if obliquely), and suddenly they're making out and Pest's fingers are up Bart's ass. For a man so concerned with Bart's healing, Pest doesn't exhibit a whole lot of self-control in ensuring that he himself doesn't exacerbate Bart's condition.
I also never really bought into their falling in love. We're told every now and then that they are, but I never felt I saw it for myself. There was nothing in the way they regarded each other to imply that they had anything but platonic--and distantly platonic, at that--feelings for each other. The occasional observations of burgeoning love were almost as jarring as the sudden occurrences of overwhelming lust.
Secondary Characters:
There are a few somewhat significant secondary characters, in particular Pest's angelic whatever, Lam, and Death.
Lam plays a large role early on, having been summoned by Death to remain with Bart while Pest was called off on a mission. There's a story behind Lam that teases but never really comes out, which is a shame as I found him far more interesting than Bart for the portion of the book in which he was featured. Unfortunately, as soon as Pest returns, Lam disappears but for a few mentions here and there, and his mystery peters out.
Death is an inconsistent character at best. He's scornful of Pest's immediate attachment to Bart, but fetches Lam to care for Bart when Pest balks at leaving him. He offers dire warnings against Pest's involving himself with Bart, against Pest's telling Bart about himself (and by extension Death), but by the time of Pest's big confession, Death has done a rather abrupt about-face:
Silence filled the room for a few minutes while Pest organised his thoughts. Where to start? He'd dropped hints, but Bart chose not to believe them.
"You can only tell the truth, Pestilence. Belief must come from him."
Death's advice startled him. Pest rested his forehead against the cool glass.
"Why aren't you here trying to stop me? We aren't supposed to reveal anything about the Horsemen. Yet here I am, ready to spill my guts."
“Maybe I wish to see his reaction. Maybe the argument you presented me earlier convinced me.” Death's shrug was obvious in his tone. "Only you can make the final decision. Remember though, you can tell him very little about Lam. There are harsher penalties for revealing knowledge about his kind."
(Of course, Pest's first confession is all about Lam, but that's neither here nor there.)
Death also has the tendency to randomly pop into Pest's thoughts and interject commentary. It comes across as a bit of creepy stalker; does Death have nothing better to do than psychically spy on Pest?
Story:
The plot is predictable and a bit flat, unfortunately. The pacing is uneven--Bart's illness drags on and on, but no time is spent on his recuperation after the shaman provides Pest with information about the treatment. Given Pest's apprehensions about said treatment, you'd think that at least some time would be spent on it, especially as it provided the perfect opportunity to build some sorely-lacking sexual tension. Instead, there's an off-hand mention of Pest's torment, gone as soon as it's mentioned.
Another disadvantage is the complete lack of conviction by the characters. Pest is determined not to tell Bart the truth about himself, a course of action Death is adamant he follow, but pours out everything as soon as Bart pushes a little. Death, despite dire warnings, is as fondly amused as a matchmaking yenta by the time Pest spills his guts.
There are also holes of convenience that just didn't make sense. Even within the same paragraph:
Death shoved his hand through his long white-gold hair and exhaled loudly. "I don't know what's going on. All I know is there is an epidemic spreading through the town of Cambridge and if it's not brought under control, it could infect other major cities, and then the entire state. We know how fast these things work. Of course, only four men have been presented with symptoms much like Bartholomew's here and they've been quarantined. Hopefully the mortals have caught it in time."
How can an epidemic be spreading through Cambridge if the only ones infected are the other members of Bart's expedition? The only other person infected by them is someone from the CDC, the person who conveniently is the one sent to meet Pest and Bart at the airport. Somehow, despite the other members of Bart's expedition traveling from Brazil to Massachusetts and the person from the CDC finding Pest and Bart at a busy airport, no one else is infected? Really? And it's an epidemic? It's too simple. (Also: why did Death not simply kill the infected men, if the spread was such a concern? The longer they were alive, the higher the chance of others being exposed.)
Writing:
The writing overall isn't bad, though it does have some repetitive elements. Some iteration of 'and stuff' is used frequently enough that it stood out to me--not anything terrible, but distracting by the end. In general, it struck me as perhaps too informal, too modern for Pest.
The dialogue is what got me the most, honestly. It's been established that Pest, who died in the 14th century, preferred solitude to the company of mortals. So why does he speak like a 21st century hipster? The point at which Pest told Bart that he rocked an outfit made me throw my hands in the air and walk away for a while. It doesn't jive with his back story.
The author seemed to sometimes lose track of the details, too. For example, at one point, Pest explains that he doesn't know how to drive, never having had to learn. Eleven pages later, Pest drives back to the hotel in which they were staying. Why make the point to establish that Pest can't drive (which really wasn't necessary) when it was going to be disregarded not even a dozen pages later?
Other Thoughts:
It doesn't quite make sense to me that Pest would be so skilled in healing, much less consulting, given his own thoughts:
He stared down at his pale hands, scarred and rough from the life he'd been forced to live. Once, his hands were soft and gentle as he went about his practice, helping to heal his patients. No more. He'd turned his back on those days after his family died. While he could have been like Death, and lived among humans, Pestilence chose to leave society and the presence of mortals.
The contradiction baffles me more often than not, honestly. I can understand his following medical journals--everyone picks at scabs--but where does he find the means to practice medicine? Who is he treating to determine what's efficacious? He apparently consults with the natives when necessary, but that doesn't exactly give him broad knowledge--he can only ask the natives about what he knows, not an illness that he hasn't discovered yet. Given his seclusion, it's a marvel he's learned much of anything, much less enough to consult. I just don't buy into him as an expert.
Overall:
The concept of the Four Horsemen was intriguing, but ultimately didn't fulfill its potential. The over-modernization of Pest and the underdevelopment of Bart made them hard to relate to, while weak storytelling and plot holes proved distracting. I won't be picking up the rest of the series.
Review originally posted at The Black Dog Reads.
January 2, 2013
2.5 stars. I was a bit disappointed with this story. I believe, had I read it when it first came out, I might have felt differently, but as that is not the case, I felt the writing was a bit juvenile at times and quite a few things that didn't quite add up. It seemed to be repeating things, and I lost interest very quickly. Most of the time, it just came off as a bit cheesy, for lack of a better description. Not sure I'll continue with the rest of the series at this point.
November 2, 2011
Когда автор собирается писать роман про врача, автору стоит немного почитать на тему врачевания. А то когда 700-летний чувак с немереным опытом работы считает, что бактерии и вирусы - это одно и то же, читали начинают думать WTF??
Ну и безотносительно полной лажи в обоснуе, читать скучно.
Ну и безотносительно полной лажи в обоснуе, читать скучно.
August 17, 2014
I have no idea what to say about this book besides it was boring. There was no alpha hero, which I was expecting since the book is about one of the four horsemen. The romance was nonexistent and I couldn’t care less what happened to the characters. At least I finished it.
January 2, 2012
nice little fantasy book. Quite an adventure! It really paints a rain-forest scene. And the length is just right. This is where Chamilio was born too!
January 15, 2013
When I read the blurb on this book, I just had to get it. I loved the concept of a world with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as the heroes with each getting their own book and their own chance at redemption and happiness.
This book is the story of the Rider of the White Horse, Pestilence who was once a human doctor during the time of the Bubonic plague. Unable to save his own wife and son from the plague, the guilt-ridden and sorrowing Aldo took his own life only to wake up as one of the Four Horseman. For centuries, he rides out when called upon to spread disease and the promise of death never allowing himself to grow close to the humans around him- afraid of caring too much. Then into Pest's life stumbles a man sickened from an unknown disease. Suddenly and for the first time since becoming the White Horseman, Pest plans to save a person's life. He doesn't understand why the human is important to him, but he is determined to heal him all the same.
Bart went on the Amazon jungle expedition with his lover not so much to study plants for the purpose of discovering a new one with medicinal properties so much as just a chance to be with his lover. But all that ends when he arrives back at their camp to find the others gone along with his research on the new flower he found and personal effects. He has been left to fend for himself and he is sick.
Another of the Horseman, Death, warns Pest away from saving Bart, but he is still determined to do it. Unfortunately, just when he gets started, he is called to do his duty. Bart's care is taken over by a grumbling messenger angel. After a few months, Bart is out of danger and suddenly realizes he is attracted to the enigmatic Pest with the beautiful white mane of hair and solid black eyes who has friends and abilities that are unique. Pest is also attracted to Bart and they share a small moment together.
Death returns and announces that the disease Bart contracted has been carried back to Cambridge, MS when his fellow researchers returned. Death needs Pest to return with Bart to help in containing the disease. The trip back to the modern world also brings more questions and uncertainty in Bart even while attraction continues to grow between he and Pest. As they work on their task, Pest agrees to finally tell Bart the enter truth, but will Bart leave him when he hears it all. Can Pest even contemplate a relationship with Bart with the knowledge of what he is and must do?
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was one of those gentle and slow to build stories with the plot based more on the characters' growth rather than action. There wasn't even instant attraction and the relationship was a natural flow out of friendship as trust and belief take place. It is a tender romance more than passion though there is some of that too. The growth arc that Pest goes through- from a man who is shattered about his wife and child, struggled for centuries with the role he plays as a Horseman and then finally learning to truly let things go so he can live and love with Bart- was a favorite part of the story for me. And even Bart has the challenge of accepting everything on faith when it comes to Pest and going on instinct with their relationship which is the opposite of what his scientific mind wants to do.
All in all, I found it a good reading experience and I will look forward to the rest of the series. It is a unique paranormal romance that others who want to go beyond their vampires, shifters and witches will appreciate.
This book is the story of the Rider of the White Horse, Pestilence who was once a human doctor during the time of the Bubonic plague. Unable to save his own wife and son from the plague, the guilt-ridden and sorrowing Aldo took his own life only to wake up as one of the Four Horseman. For centuries, he rides out when called upon to spread disease and the promise of death never allowing himself to grow close to the humans around him- afraid of caring too much. Then into Pest's life stumbles a man sickened from an unknown disease. Suddenly and for the first time since becoming the White Horseman, Pest plans to save a person's life. He doesn't understand why the human is important to him, but he is determined to heal him all the same.
Bart went on the Amazon jungle expedition with his lover not so much to study plants for the purpose of discovering a new one with medicinal properties so much as just a chance to be with his lover. But all that ends when he arrives back at their camp to find the others gone along with his research on the new flower he found and personal effects. He has been left to fend for himself and he is sick.
Another of the Horseman, Death, warns Pest away from saving Bart, but he is still determined to do it. Unfortunately, just when he gets started, he is called to do his duty. Bart's care is taken over by a grumbling messenger angel. After a few months, Bart is out of danger and suddenly realizes he is attracted to the enigmatic Pest with the beautiful white mane of hair and solid black eyes who has friends and abilities that are unique. Pest is also attracted to Bart and they share a small moment together.
Death returns and announces that the disease Bart contracted has been carried back to Cambridge, MS when his fellow researchers returned. Death needs Pest to return with Bart to help in containing the disease. The trip back to the modern world also brings more questions and uncertainty in Bart even while attraction continues to grow between he and Pest. As they work on their task, Pest agrees to finally tell Bart the enter truth, but will Bart leave him when he hears it all. Can Pest even contemplate a relationship with Bart with the knowledge of what he is and must do?
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was one of those gentle and slow to build stories with the plot based more on the characters' growth rather than action. There wasn't even instant attraction and the relationship was a natural flow out of friendship as trust and belief take place. It is a tender romance more than passion though there is some of that too. The growth arc that Pest goes through- from a man who is shattered about his wife and child, struggled for centuries with the role he plays as a Horseman and then finally learning to truly let things go so he can live and love with Bart- was a favorite part of the story for me. And even Bart has the challenge of accepting everything on faith when it comes to Pest and going on instinct with their relationship which is the opposite of what his scientific mind wants to do.
All in all, I found it a good reading experience and I will look forward to the rest of the series. It is a unique paranormal romance that others who want to go beyond their vampires, shifters and witches will appreciate.
April 25, 2023
This book starts with Aldo 'waking up' after a successful attempt at killing himself, so to say he was a bit confused should be taken as given. He finds out that he is now Pestilence, the White Horseman. It is his job to go where he is sent and spread epidemics in order to keep the balance between Heaven and Hell. He was a doctor in his life, so it is both ironic and heartbreaking for him to now be spreading disease. In an effort to distance himself from the human population, he lives in the middle of the Amazon jungle. So you can imagine his surprise when he sees a man stumble into his clearing, full of fever and virus.
Bart was left in the middle of the jungle by his lover and the rest of the research team. He doesn't know how he has made it to the clearing, but he is glad that he did when Pestilence looks after him and helps him to make a long and slow recovery. Pestilence is riddled with guilt over the deaths of his wife and son due to the Bubonic Plague, and his 'job'. Bart comes into his life like a dervish and Pestilence starts to question if he can actually have a relationship.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building and characters in this book. It is the first of a new series, and I am looking forward to reading the others. Although I really liked Pestilence and Bart, I personally loved the scenes with Death, as I really enjoyed his dry wit and personality.
With a relationship that grows and develops, as well as forgiveness, guilt, love, and disease, this book is certainly worth the read. Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 10, 2015
Bart was left in the middle of the jungle by his lover and the rest of the research team. He doesn't know how he has made it to the clearing, but he is glad that he did when Pestilence looks after him and helps him to make a long and slow recovery. Pestilence is riddled with guilt over the deaths of his wife and son due to the Bubonic Plague, and his 'job'. Bart comes into his life like a dervish and Pestilence starts to question if he can actually have a relationship.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building and characters in this book. It is the first of a new series, and I am looking forward to reading the others. Although I really liked Pestilence and Bart, I personally loved the scenes with Death, as I really enjoyed his dry wit and personality.
With a relationship that grows and develops, as well as forgiveness, guilt, love, and disease, this book is certainly worth the read. Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 10, 2015
January 12, 2016
With this book the first in the Four Horsemen Series you get Pestilence who before he became one of the Four Horsemen was Aldo a doctor in the 1300's who lost his wife and son due to the Black Death a plague that was going around during that time.
Ben is a professor at Harvard who studies plants. He went on a expatiation with a lover in the amazon who decided to leave him so he could claim all the fame on the very rare flower Ben had found. Well Ben wonders around sick trying to get back home when Pestilence finds him.
I did really like these two MC's together and the pretense of this author story. You get your steam and angst with this book while Pestilence tries to find a cure to this virus that has not only hit Ben but also the Colleagues that left Ben Behind. You also meet Death one of the other Four Horsemen in this book along with some other characters.
All together I really liked this book!
I would recommend this book!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
Ben is a professor at Harvard who studies plants. He went on a expatiation with a lover in the amazon who decided to leave him so he could claim all the fame on the very rare flower Ben had found. Well Ben wonders around sick trying to get back home when Pestilence finds him.
I did really like these two MC's together and the pretense of this author story. You get your steam and angst with this book while Pestilence tries to find a cure to this virus that has not only hit Ben but also the Colleagues that left Ben Behind. You also meet Death one of the other Four Horsemen in this book along with some other characters.
All together I really liked this book!
I would recommend this book!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
September 30, 2011
I thought that this was one the better books from this author I have read in a while! I really like the concept, and I really enjoyed the character of Pestilence. Definitely looking forward to know the other Four Horsemen, especially Death. This was a fun read, I enjoyed it!
December 22, 2012
It was forgettable but since it was free I think that it was a good way to spend an hour.
March 25, 2016
I liked this take of the Four Horsemen and their salvation. The story's a little slow at times and Pestilence is a little too brooding for my taste but the story's still pretty interesting.
June 20, 2022
I've been eyeballing this series for a long time and finally decided to breakdown and read the first book. I'm completely facinated by the horsemen and I wanted to see what the author could do in giving them a HEA. This is also my first time reading this author as well.
Pestilence was a doctor before he became a horseman in this story. I thought that was a really good reason for this man to have been chosen. Not something I would have initially thought of that was for sure. He is driven as much by helping people as he is by being the horseman to spread plague and disease.
Bart is a doctor who goes on an expidition to the amazon with his lover and is left there to die. Being slowly nursed back to health by Pestilence, he doesnt know whether to believe the man and his stories or to think that he's crazy.
The story is a very intriguing variation on a old standard. The characters, expecially the horsemen have a lot of personality. The plot is a little basic but I dont believe that to be a bad thing in this case. I think it lets you get more in depth with the characters. My only real grievance is that sometimes the author repeats themselves a few more times than they need to. Other than that worth reading and will continue on in the series.
Pestilence was a doctor before he became a horseman in this story. I thought that was a really good reason for this man to have been chosen. Not something I would have initially thought of that was for sure. He is driven as much by helping people as he is by being the horseman to spread plague and disease.
Bart is a doctor who goes on an expidition to the amazon with his lover and is left there to die. Being slowly nursed back to health by Pestilence, he doesnt know whether to believe the man and his stories or to think that he's crazy.
The story is a very intriguing variation on a old standard. The characters, expecially the horsemen have a lot of personality. The plot is a little basic but I dont believe that to be a bad thing in this case. I think it lets you get more in depth with the characters. My only real grievance is that sometimes the author repeats themselves a few more times than they need to. Other than that worth reading and will continue on in the series.
April 11, 2014
This could have been oh-so-good; what an intriguing story concept. I admit I was weary about it from the outset because in my experience it is very difficult to write convincing god-like beings. Alas the execution in this case leaves so much to be desired that I have trouble convincing myself to even read the 2nd book, never mind the entire set of four.
I usually start with what I liked about a book, but here I didn’t actually like anything much beyond the basic concept. Pestilence, who was Dr Aldo Bianchi during the Black Plague, is a Frankenstein of a character. Pest (as he is lovingly known as *rolls eyes*) doesn’t sound nor feel like a 14th century man, nor does he sound like somebody with that origin who has had several centuries to adjust and grow into his role as one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. He’s unable to touch anyone with his bare hands lest he infect them with a deadly disease, and supposedly he has therefore spent centuries mostly apart from humans, by himself in the amazon jungle, seeking solitude and wrestling with his guilt for not being able to save his family, and for committing suicide — yet he is up on the most recent slang (which feels even anachronistic for a modern physician), is an experienced lover of both women and men, and has established a distinguished career as a specialist in homeopathic/herbal treatments (the author conflates these) of infectious diseases.
His lover-to-be, Bartholomew (Bart) Winston III, a Harvard biologist, is a milquetoast character who can’t even muster any authentic anger over having been abandoned in the Amazon wilderness by his scheming lover Jason, which in my book adds up to attempted murder even if Jason hadn’t realized Bart was sick. Since karma’s gonna get him, Bart apparently doesn’t have anything to be pissed about. Also, if Jason hadn’t ditched him, he wouldn’t have met Pest! Yeah, that reasoning has never worked for me. Bart is boring and bland, gets conveniently pushed around the authorial chessboard to be a foil to Pest, and I never once felt any CHARACTER there. Or any romance. Or sexual heat, for that matter. The horsemen of the apocalypse apparently need to use condoms. I laughed out loud. I thought only his hands transmitted virulent diseases, and he himself didn’t get sick?
Maybe I would have developed more of a feel for the two together if not, shortly after Bart literally stumbles into the clearing in front of Pest’s Amazonian abode, Pest gets called away by Death to spread some plague somewhere, and leaves Bart to be cared for by Lam (an agnus dei, lamb of God), brought in as the ringer to nurse Bart. Umm. Structurally, this is a bad decision. Lam is a third wheel who’s spending time with one of the protagonists while the other one is off-screen. I found him intriguing, but we never learn more about him, and that makes him merely an obstacle. And instead of our protagonists getting to know each other, they spend the first 20% of the book apart. When they reunite, miraculous they’re very attached to each other anyway. Yeah, not buying it.
The mother of all problems for this book is inconsistency. I’ve already mentioned the issues that don’t jive in regard to Pest. Death is the intrepid leader of our foursome, and tasked with preserving the secret of the horsemen and lambs of god and who knows what else.. Nobody tattles; this is srs bizniz. And yet, dedicated to keeping the secret for centuries, when Bart is a little pushy about wanting to know the truth, Pest caves immediately. And Death instantly converts from Keeper of the Secret upon Pain of Unnamed Yet Dire Consequences to spurring him on — but warns him not to let on about Lam because that would be worse than talking about the horsemen. So what does Pest do? He leads off by spilling the goods about Lam. And Death seems just fine with that. Hello? Wasn’t anyone but me paying attention?
Also, Death fetches Pest to immediately drop everything and go to Cambridge, where Bart’s duplicitous ex Jason and his 3 companions lie very ill from possibly the same sickness Bart has barely recovered from. Pest needs to come because it’s an epidemic spreading all through the town of Cambridge. Aside from 4 men not constituting an epidemic, what the heck is Pest gonna do? The illness of these men is manifesting very differently from Bart’s; it’s not at all clear that this is the same illness at all, so why would his herbs work? He is an instigator of plagues, he doesn’t stop them. He doesn’t have supernatural; healing powers, he barely manages to keep Bart alive, and it seems more a matter of accident than design; he picks some herbs and makes some concoctions. If unplanned epidemics are a bad thing, why doesn’t Death just terminate those guys?
There are lots of smaller inconsistencies. Maybe because I read so many mysteries and am particularly prone to notice continuity errors, but this book ripped me out of the story every few pages with something. I recommend better beta readers if an editor is to expensive.
The ending is predictable and nothing about the writing of it made me feel "YAY!", which is a crying shame, because it is such a big, honking deal, and ought to be celebrated. But it just felt ho hum.
I am hesitating between 1 and 2 stars. I’m giving it 1.5 and rounding up because the concept is way above average for the genre, even if the execution is a major letdown. I can always hope somebody else picks the idea up and does something awesome with it.
I usually start with what I liked about a book, but here I didn’t actually like anything much beyond the basic concept. Pestilence, who was Dr Aldo Bianchi during the Black Plague, is a Frankenstein of a character. Pest (as he is lovingly known as *rolls eyes*) doesn’t sound nor feel like a 14th century man, nor does he sound like somebody with that origin who has had several centuries to adjust and grow into his role as one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. He’s unable to touch anyone with his bare hands lest he infect them with a deadly disease, and supposedly he has therefore spent centuries mostly apart from humans, by himself in the amazon jungle, seeking solitude and wrestling with his guilt for not being able to save his family, and for committing suicide — yet he is up on the most recent slang (which feels even anachronistic for a modern physician), is an experienced lover of both women and men, and has established a distinguished career as a specialist in homeopathic/herbal treatments (the author conflates these) of infectious diseases.
His lover-to-be, Bartholomew (Bart) Winston III, a Harvard biologist, is a milquetoast character who can’t even muster any authentic anger over having been abandoned in the Amazon wilderness by his scheming lover Jason, which in my book adds up to attempted murder even if Jason hadn’t realized Bart was sick. Since karma’s gonna get him, Bart apparently doesn’t have anything to be pissed about. Also, if Jason hadn’t ditched him, he wouldn’t have met Pest! Yeah, that reasoning has never worked for me. Bart is boring and bland, gets conveniently pushed around the authorial chessboard to be a foil to Pest, and I never once felt any CHARACTER there. Or any romance. Or sexual heat, for that matter. The horsemen of the apocalypse apparently need to use condoms. I laughed out loud. I thought only his hands transmitted virulent diseases, and he himself didn’t get sick?
Maybe I would have developed more of a feel for the two together if not, shortly after Bart literally stumbles into the clearing in front of Pest’s Amazonian abode, Pest gets called away by Death to spread some plague somewhere, and leaves Bart to be cared for by Lam (an agnus dei, lamb of God), brought in as the ringer to nurse Bart. Umm. Structurally, this is a bad decision. Lam is a third wheel who’s spending time with one of the protagonists while the other one is off-screen. I found him intriguing, but we never learn more about him, and that makes him merely an obstacle. And instead of our protagonists getting to know each other, they spend the first 20% of the book apart. When they reunite, miraculous they’re very attached to each other anyway. Yeah, not buying it.
The mother of all problems for this book is inconsistency. I’ve already mentioned the issues that don’t jive in regard to Pest. Death is the intrepid leader of our foursome, and tasked with preserving the secret of the horsemen and lambs of god and who knows what else.. Nobody tattles; this is srs bizniz. And yet, dedicated to keeping the secret for centuries, when Bart is a little pushy about wanting to know the truth, Pest caves immediately. And Death instantly converts from Keeper of the Secret upon Pain of Unnamed Yet Dire Consequences to spurring him on — but warns him not to let on about Lam because that would be worse than talking about the horsemen. So what does Pest do? He leads off by spilling the goods about Lam. And Death seems just fine with that. Hello? Wasn’t anyone but me paying attention?
Also, Death fetches Pest to immediately drop everything and go to Cambridge, where Bart’s duplicitous ex Jason and his 3 companions lie very ill from possibly the same sickness Bart has barely recovered from. Pest needs to come because it’s an epidemic spreading all through the town of Cambridge. Aside from 4 men not constituting an epidemic, what the heck is Pest gonna do? The illness of these men is manifesting very differently from Bart’s; it’s not at all clear that this is the same illness at all, so why would his herbs work? He is an instigator of plagues, he doesn’t stop them. He doesn’t have supernatural; healing powers, he barely manages to keep Bart alive, and it seems more a matter of accident than design; he picks some herbs and makes some concoctions. If unplanned epidemics are a bad thing, why doesn’t Death just terminate those guys?
There are lots of smaller inconsistencies. Maybe because I read so many mysteries and am particularly prone to notice continuity errors, but this book ripped me out of the story every few pages with something. I recommend better beta readers if an editor is to expensive.
The ending is predictable and nothing about the writing of it made me feel "YAY!", which is a crying shame, because it is such a big, honking deal, and ought to be celebrated. But it just felt ho hum.
I am hesitating between 1 and 2 stars. I’m giving it 1.5 and rounding up because the concept is way above average for the genre, even if the execution is a major letdown. I can always hope somebody else picks the idea up and does something awesome with it.
April 21, 2019
M/M Romance 2019 Re-Read Challenge
Very enjoyable re-telling of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The paranormal/fantasy premise well engaging and well crafted. The characters were smooth, touchable and endearing. Their romance was a delightful slow burn and believable.
Very enjoyable re-telling of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The paranormal/fantasy premise well engaging and well crafted. The characters were smooth, touchable and endearing. Their romance was a delightful slow burn and believable.
August 18, 2024
2.5
El verdadero "nada es más poderoso que el amor verdadero". 🤣✨
El verdadero "nada es más poderoso que el amor verdadero". 🤣✨
December 29, 2015
Reviewed for The Novel Approach.
It’s not often you find new books about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but every time I find one, I have to snatch it up. I’m not sure why exactly, but the mythology/legend/whatever you want to call it about the Horsemen has always fascinated me. Maybe it’s my love of post-apocalyptic fiction or dystopian societies that draws me to them, but I know when they show up, the end is near and everything is about to go from bad to worse, and I’m thrown into the societies either collapsing from their presence or struggling to overcome them. A few years ago I read a fantastic YA series that reimagined the Four Horsemen by drawing teenagers suffering from different problems into the roles. I adored it. I never thought I would find m/m fiction with the Horsemen. But here we are!
This first book is about Pestilence. In life he was an Italian doctor during the bubonic plague. After losing his wife and son, he commits suicide and is thrust into the role of Pestilence. He exists to bring plagues to mankind in order to maintain the balance between heaven and hell. But after several hundred years of doing this, while Pest is settled in his role, he’s far from happy. How could he be with what he does? Spreading plagues is the exact opposite of what he did when he was alive. When Bart literally stumbles into him in his home in the Amazon, Pest is drawn to the man suffering from an unknown disease. While he first attributes the attraction to the potential for finally helping a human, the attraction changes into desire, and soon he is lusting after his ward. And the feeling is mutual. Despite his illness, Bart is drawn to the white-haired, black-eyed man named Pestilence.
What follows is a story of love and redemption. Pestilence needs to find a way to forgive himself before he can let himself love—and be loved.
As the first book in the series, it clearly follows the first of the four horsemen who ride. Now, in religious mythology the first horseman on a white horse is more frequently known as Conquest, but there have been some changes, and he is more often known in pop culture as Pestilence. War and Famine do not make an appearance at all, but Death does, because Death rides with them all as the “de facto leader” of the Horsemen as Pest calls him. Also involved is Lam, one of the lambs of God. He’s the messenger for Death, and is more or less unwillingly dragged into helping Bart.
Each character is well developed and I loved reading about them. They each display distinct personalities. Though he isn’t in the book too long, I loved Lam and his desire to both help and please as well as fight against Death’s request. Pest does his job well, but when he’s not needed, he retreats to the Amazon, obsessed with finding cures for diseases in the undiscovered flora of the jungle. Even if he can’t cure people, he still needs to maintain his role as a doctor. And poor Bart, dumped in the jungle—literally—by an ex who used him for his research and then left him to die from an unknown disease; he unwittingly bumps into the one person who literally causes disease in anyone he touches with his hands, and has to rely on him for help. Of course, he doesn’t know Pest’s true nature, and it takes a long time for Pest to reveal it as it goes against the rules of the Horsemen. Then, when this unknown disease starts to spread, it’s up to Pest and Bart to stop it before it reaches epidemic levels that will upset the balance of the world, and the rider of the white horse must use his abilities for good rather than ill.
If you’re like me and you find reimagining mythology great reading, I highly recommend this book. I’m thrilled that I’ll also be reading and reviewing the next three books in the series. So watch out for them!
It’s not often you find new books about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but every time I find one, I have to snatch it up. I’m not sure why exactly, but the mythology/legend/whatever you want to call it about the Horsemen has always fascinated me. Maybe it’s my love of post-apocalyptic fiction or dystopian societies that draws me to them, but I know when they show up, the end is near and everything is about to go from bad to worse, and I’m thrown into the societies either collapsing from their presence or struggling to overcome them. A few years ago I read a fantastic YA series that reimagined the Four Horsemen by drawing teenagers suffering from different problems into the roles. I adored it. I never thought I would find m/m fiction with the Horsemen. But here we are!
This first book is about Pestilence. In life he was an Italian doctor during the bubonic plague. After losing his wife and son, he commits suicide and is thrust into the role of Pestilence. He exists to bring plagues to mankind in order to maintain the balance between heaven and hell. But after several hundred years of doing this, while Pest is settled in his role, he’s far from happy. How could he be with what he does? Spreading plagues is the exact opposite of what he did when he was alive. When Bart literally stumbles into him in his home in the Amazon, Pest is drawn to the man suffering from an unknown disease. While he first attributes the attraction to the potential for finally helping a human, the attraction changes into desire, and soon he is lusting after his ward. And the feeling is mutual. Despite his illness, Bart is drawn to the white-haired, black-eyed man named Pestilence.
What follows is a story of love and redemption. Pestilence needs to find a way to forgive himself before he can let himself love—and be loved.
As the first book in the series, it clearly follows the first of the four horsemen who ride. Now, in religious mythology the first horseman on a white horse is more frequently known as Conquest, but there have been some changes, and he is more often known in pop culture as Pestilence. War and Famine do not make an appearance at all, but Death does, because Death rides with them all as the “de facto leader” of the Horsemen as Pest calls him. Also involved is Lam, one of the lambs of God. He’s the messenger for Death, and is more or less unwillingly dragged into helping Bart.
Each character is well developed and I loved reading about them. They each display distinct personalities. Though he isn’t in the book too long, I loved Lam and his desire to both help and please as well as fight against Death’s request. Pest does his job well, but when he’s not needed, he retreats to the Amazon, obsessed with finding cures for diseases in the undiscovered flora of the jungle. Even if he can’t cure people, he still needs to maintain his role as a doctor. And poor Bart, dumped in the jungle—literally—by an ex who used him for his research and then left him to die from an unknown disease; he unwittingly bumps into the one person who literally causes disease in anyone he touches with his hands, and has to rely on him for help. Of course, he doesn’t know Pest’s true nature, and it takes a long time for Pest to reveal it as it goes against the rules of the Horsemen. Then, when this unknown disease starts to spread, it’s up to Pest and Bart to stop it before it reaches epidemic levels that will upset the balance of the world, and the rider of the white horse must use his abilities for good rather than ill.
If you’re like me and you find reimagining mythology great reading, I highly recommend this book. I’m thrilled that I’ll also be reading and reviewing the next three books in the series. So watch out for them!
April 29, 2016
Reviewed by Tams Kelly for QUEERcentric Books
Pestilence is the first story in The Four Horsemen four book series by acclaimed author, T.A. Chase.
Pestilence started life as Aldo Bianchi, an Italian-American doctor who lost his family during the Black Death.
Unable to live with the fact that his wife and child—along with most of his village—had died, Aldo took his own life. Never in his wildest dreams had he considered waking as Pestilence—the White horseman of the Apocalypse.
For centuries, Aldo fought along with the other Horsemen to bring balance to the world – a world that tilted on its axis for “Pest,” when he first saw Bart.
Bartholomew Winston, a Harvard professor, was in the Amazon jungle where Pest now lived a life of solitude. After being abandoned there by his lover, Bart finds himself alone and very sick with an unknown illness.
Knowing he cannot save Bart, but unable to leave him to die, Pestilence takes the younger man to his hut. This begins the fight to not only save the man he is falling for, but the world itself.
I WAS HOOKED
I was instantly intrigued by this book and knew I had to read the entire series. From the cover art, the storyline, and the idea behind the Horsemen, I was hooked. Luckily, I was able to get the four books and I read them voraciously. Please note that this series is best read in order and as a complete series.
Book one delivered and then some! I was not left wanting and could barely shut the e-reader off. Though I loved the series as a whole, Aldo and Bart in Pestilence were my favorite by far. That sexy Death in book four rates a very close second!
You can feel Aldo’s pain throughout the book, and you can almost taste how tortured he feels. He’s tortured because he can no longer remember his family’s faces. Yet from the start, he shows such tenderness towards Bart, that it shows he hasn’t grown unemotional or cold through the centuries. Lord knows the Horsemen should be withdrawn from life by now.
I found his attention to healing with herbs and plants from the jungle interesting. Especially considering we later find out he has released advanced medical papers on the subject. With Bart being a Botanist as well, their shared interest adds to their allure. It seems like they were meant to be.
The fact that all the men of the Apocalypse came to be because of their past lives, yet could still find redemption even if they hadn’t done evil in their pasts, made me hopeful for the world as a whole. Sometimes we have to forgive others to heal ourselves. Very well played, T.A. Chase.
Death and the character Lam appear in all four books. Death, though seeming all gruff and deadly, shows great affection for the others. And Lam, an angel, shows that good and evil go hand in hand. It makes you quickly understand that the balance mentioned in this series is very precarious.
LOVE IS LOVE, NO MATTER THE GENDER
It also shows that love is love, no matter the gender, the circumstance, the being, or even the race—LOVE IS LOVE. We are not supposed to question it, judge it, or even fight it. For love is a gift and is not granted to nor guaranteed for all.
I am extremely happy to be able to give book one, Pestilence, a 5-star rating. I really hope Lam and Day, two characters who are like day and night, get their own book and that we get to see those yummy ex-Horsemen and their husbands again.
I cannot stress enough here that if you love the paranormal hot men on horses—or whatever those creatures were—and a love story that conquers all, read this book!
Please note this series is best read in the sequence intended by the author. I wouldn’t recommend this as a stand-alone book.
Pestilence is the first story in The Four Horsemen four book series by acclaimed author, T.A. Chase.
Pestilence started life as Aldo Bianchi, an Italian-American doctor who lost his family during the Black Death.
Unable to live with the fact that his wife and child—along with most of his village—had died, Aldo took his own life. Never in his wildest dreams had he considered waking as Pestilence—the White horseman of the Apocalypse.
For centuries, Aldo fought along with the other Horsemen to bring balance to the world – a world that tilted on its axis for “Pest,” when he first saw Bart.
Bartholomew Winston, a Harvard professor, was in the Amazon jungle where Pest now lived a life of solitude. After being abandoned there by his lover, Bart finds himself alone and very sick with an unknown illness.
Knowing he cannot save Bart, but unable to leave him to die, Pestilence takes the younger man to his hut. This begins the fight to not only save the man he is falling for, but the world itself.
I WAS HOOKED
I was instantly intrigued by this book and knew I had to read the entire series. From the cover art, the storyline, and the idea behind the Horsemen, I was hooked. Luckily, I was able to get the four books and I read them voraciously. Please note that this series is best read in order and as a complete series.
Book one delivered and then some! I was not left wanting and could barely shut the e-reader off. Though I loved the series as a whole, Aldo and Bart in Pestilence were my favorite by far. That sexy Death in book four rates a very close second!
You can feel Aldo’s pain throughout the book, and you can almost taste how tortured he feels. He’s tortured because he can no longer remember his family’s faces. Yet from the start, he shows such tenderness towards Bart, that it shows he hasn’t grown unemotional or cold through the centuries. Lord knows the Horsemen should be withdrawn from life by now.
I found his attention to healing with herbs and plants from the jungle interesting. Especially considering we later find out he has released advanced medical papers on the subject. With Bart being a Botanist as well, their shared interest adds to their allure. It seems like they were meant to be.
The fact that all the men of the Apocalypse came to be because of their past lives, yet could still find redemption even if they hadn’t done evil in their pasts, made me hopeful for the world as a whole. Sometimes we have to forgive others to heal ourselves. Very well played, T.A. Chase.
Death and the character Lam appear in all four books. Death, though seeming all gruff and deadly, shows great affection for the others. And Lam, an angel, shows that good and evil go hand in hand. It makes you quickly understand that the balance mentioned in this series is very precarious.
LOVE IS LOVE, NO MATTER THE GENDER
It also shows that love is love, no matter the gender, the circumstance, the being, or even the race—LOVE IS LOVE. We are not supposed to question it, judge it, or even fight it. For love is a gift and is not granted to nor guaranteed for all.
I am extremely happy to be able to give book one, Pestilence, a 5-star rating. I really hope Lam and Day, two characters who are like day and night, get their own book and that we get to see those yummy ex-Horsemen and their husbands again.
I cannot stress enough here that if you love the paranormal hot men on horses—or whatever those creatures were—and a love story that conquers all, read this book!
Please note this series is best read in the sequence intended by the author. I wouldn’t recommend this as a stand-alone book.
November 27, 2015
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Same Sex Book Reviews. 2.5 out of 5.0 stars)
Portraying Pestilence as an Italian Doctor named Aldo Bianchi, a man who hung himself following the death of his family during the Black Death in Europe in the 1300’s, was an interesting concept and pulled me into the story.
When Bartholomew Winston, III is abandoned in the Amazon jungle by his lover and the rest of their team, he stumbles through the jungle, becoming more and more ill as he goes. Little does he know that he has contracted an unknown illness while in the jungle, and he will die without help.
When he stumbles into a clearing and meets a strange man with pure white hair, and strangely black irises in his eyes, he has stumbled onto one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Pestilence in the flesh. Will Pestilence, whose specialty is giving humans illness, be able to save this particular human? What will happen when the Horseman and the human discover they might have developed feelings for each other?
I liked this book well enough, but I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that it had some, what I would call, fairly major editing issues, even though it shows two editors’ names at the beginning who I’m assuming re-edited it for this Pride Publishing re-release. The errors I would have thought would have been caught by someone, anyone, before it was released as a Second Edition. Here are some examples:
•At one point Bart is referred to as being a Brit, and the expedition is referred to as a British one, and then suddenly it is a Harvard funded expedition, and Bart is an American. It also went from being some sort of possibly clandestine expedition, since the government officials didn’t notify Pest about it, to being an expedition by a major US university. Harvard wouldn’t sponsor a clandestine expedition.
•At one point when they arrive in Washington, DC, Pest tells Bart that he never learned to drive. Later on, Pest drives while Bart sits in the passenger seat.
•Bart’s full name is Bartholomew Winston III. Yet it says that his parents were orphans who met in a foster home. While Bart’s grandfather’s name might have been the same, it didn’t appear to make sense to me. That one might just be me being too picky.
Overall, this was an interesting concept and storyline. I muddled through it by looking past the discrepancies, with minor headshakes and the occasional grumbling growl when the inconsistencies were so blatant. The story, while never edge of my seat interesting, was readable and I guess I liked it for what it was, but I would have liked a lot more oomph. It is a book about Pestilence, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but Pest didn’t seem very butch and alpha to me. In fact, he read as kind of a wimpy guy and I don’t think enough time was spent on developing either his or Bart’s characters.
Portraying Pestilence as an Italian Doctor named Aldo Bianchi, a man who hung himself following the death of his family during the Black Death in Europe in the 1300’s, was an interesting concept and pulled me into the story.
When Bartholomew Winston, III is abandoned in the Amazon jungle by his lover and the rest of their team, he stumbles through the jungle, becoming more and more ill as he goes. Little does he know that he has contracted an unknown illness while in the jungle, and he will die without help.
When he stumbles into a clearing and meets a strange man with pure white hair, and strangely black irises in his eyes, he has stumbled onto one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Pestilence in the flesh. Will Pestilence, whose specialty is giving humans illness, be able to save this particular human? What will happen when the Horseman and the human discover they might have developed feelings for each other?
I liked this book well enough, but I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that it had some, what I would call, fairly major editing issues, even though it shows two editors’ names at the beginning who I’m assuming re-edited it for this Pride Publishing re-release. The errors I would have thought would have been caught by someone, anyone, before it was released as a Second Edition. Here are some examples:
•At one point Bart is referred to as being a Brit, and the expedition is referred to as a British one, and then suddenly it is a Harvard funded expedition, and Bart is an American. It also went from being some sort of possibly clandestine expedition, since the government officials didn’t notify Pest about it, to being an expedition by a major US university. Harvard wouldn’t sponsor a clandestine expedition.
•At one point when they arrive in Washington, DC, Pest tells Bart that he never learned to drive. Later on, Pest drives while Bart sits in the passenger seat.
•Bart’s full name is Bartholomew Winston III. Yet it says that his parents were orphans who met in a foster home. While Bart’s grandfather’s name might have been the same, it didn’t appear to make sense to me. That one might just be me being too picky.
Overall, this was an interesting concept and storyline. I muddled through it by looking past the discrepancies, with minor headshakes and the occasional grumbling growl when the inconsistencies were so blatant. The story, while never edge of my seat interesting, was readable and I guess I liked it for what it was, but I would have liked a lot more oomph. It is a book about Pestilence, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but Pest didn’t seem very butch and alpha to me. In fact, he read as kind of a wimpy guy and I don’t think enough time was spent on developing either his or Bart’s characters.
November 28, 2015
Pestilence (or Pest) has been serving as the harbinger of diseases and plagues since the 13th century. Hard to not like Pest or see his conflicts, as he was a doctor in his mortal life, and only assumed his new position after losing his wife and son to the Black Death. Frustrated with his inability to touch humans with his bare hands, he’s tired of the runaround, his tasks and the limited connection he has with others like him.
Bart is a Harvard professor, part of a research team in the Amazon jungle. Not particularly world-wise or capable outside of his laboratory, his late arrival to camp revealed his colleagues had moved on without him. Unfortunately he’s also falling ill, and finding help or rescue could be difficult.
Fortunately he stumbles upon Pest, quietly enjoying a picnic lunch, and the tether to humanity that Pest still maintains has him deciding to help the hapless human. From Lam (Lamb of God) coming to nurse Bart while Pest is off on another adventure, and his repeated interactions with Death, his own thoughts are never far from Bart and the disease that brought death to his teammates.
I expected a darker story with the background, and was pleasantly surprised to find Pest wholly likable and easy to understand. Bart was hard to not like, a bit of a clumsy puppy, only wanting to have attention paid and to be heard. A few misses in continuity caused momentary questions, soon forgotten as the story moved to spend more time with Pest and Bart and the struggle to find a cure for this new disease. Yes there is some steam that fits with the connection between Bart and Pest, and some lingering questions about War, Famine and Death should be answered in future installments.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher for purpose of honest review for The Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Bart is a Harvard professor, part of a research team in the Amazon jungle. Not particularly world-wise or capable outside of his laboratory, his late arrival to camp revealed his colleagues had moved on without him. Unfortunately he’s also falling ill, and finding help or rescue could be difficult.
Fortunately he stumbles upon Pest, quietly enjoying a picnic lunch, and the tether to humanity that Pest still maintains has him deciding to help the hapless human. From Lam (Lamb of God) coming to nurse Bart while Pest is off on another adventure, and his repeated interactions with Death, his own thoughts are never far from Bart and the disease that brought death to his teammates.
I expected a darker story with the background, and was pleasantly surprised to find Pest wholly likable and easy to understand. Bart was hard to not like, a bit of a clumsy puppy, only wanting to have attention paid and to be heard. A few misses in continuity caused momentary questions, soon forgotten as the story moved to spend more time with Pest and Bart and the struggle to find a cure for this new disease. Yes there is some steam that fits with the connection between Bart and Pest, and some lingering questions about War, Famine and Death should be answered in future installments.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher for purpose of honest review for The Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
April 26, 2014
The concept behind the series is intriguing, and I actually enjoyed Chase's "Home" books, so I was looking forward to this set. Based on the first one, I won't be continuing.
Painfully bad writing full of mistakes and unclear word choices. Was there no editor involved? No friend who could take a quick pass and give some notes?
Inconsistent characters and plot points, verging on ridiculousness. I almost feel like maybe this was written as a joke or a satire of some sort. Over and over Pestilence tells Bart straight out who he is, or performs magical acts like, I don't know, TELEPORTATION and still Bart is like, "What's going on? Tell me the truth." Death plainly tells Pestilence that revealing any secrets, especially about 'lambs of God' is strictly forbidden, so immediately Pestilence reveals all secrets about everything, including 'lambs of God'. And still Bart says, "What's going on?" and Death just smiles and says, "Kewl." And speaking of Death, he only shows up to bring people to the Pearly Gates when there's mass casualties from war and disease? Regular 'one-offs' are just on their own, then, I guess. So many things just didn't make sense.
But really, I just can't get into a book in which one of Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse has dialogue like "Come on. Give it to me. I want to feel you when I walk tomorrow. I want to know I've been fucked every time I sit."
Painfully bad writing full of mistakes and unclear word choices. Was there no editor involved? No friend who could take a quick pass and give some notes?
Inconsistent characters and plot points, verging on ridiculousness. I almost feel like maybe this was written as a joke or a satire of some sort. Over and over Pestilence tells Bart straight out who he is, or performs magical acts like, I don't know, TELEPORTATION and still Bart is like, "What's going on? Tell me the truth." Death plainly tells Pestilence that revealing any secrets, especially about 'lambs of God' is strictly forbidden, so immediately Pestilence reveals all secrets about everything, including 'lambs of God'. And still Bart says, "What's going on?" and Death just smiles and says, "Kewl." And speaking of Death, he only shows up to bring people to the Pearly Gates when there's mass casualties from war and disease? Regular 'one-offs' are just on their own, then, I guess. So many things just didn't make sense.
But really, I just can't get into a book in which one of Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse has dialogue like "Come on. Give it to me. I want to feel you when I walk tomorrow. I want to know I've been fucked every time I sit."
January 28, 2017
I picked this up as a free book offer on ARe in Dec 2012, and had put off reading it.
I would rate at 3.5, I really liked the first 2/3 of the book but the end third got a bit too much for me.
I liked the premise of the story arc, with the four Horsemen struggling with their allotted tasks and hopefully finding redemption through love - bet Death is the 4th book and I hope its a goodie! He seemed such an alone figure.
I liked the time they spent in the jungle even though Bart was ill (and I did have a yellow spiky haired boy in mind with that name) and would have loved more story there and how Pestilence actually worked (it is covered but I would have liked more).
Once They returned to Boston, I thought their interections, whilst heating up got a bit soppy in the language department and I didnt believe their interactions so much.
However, the story did engage me, kept me reading and I did like it.
I would rate at 3.5, I really liked the first 2/3 of the book but the end third got a bit too much for me.
I liked the premise of the story arc, with the four Horsemen struggling with their allotted tasks and hopefully finding redemption through love - bet Death is the 4th book and I hope its a goodie! He seemed such an alone figure.
I liked the time they spent in the jungle even though Bart was ill (and I did have a yellow spiky haired boy in mind with that name) and would have loved more story there and how Pestilence actually worked (it is covered but I would have liked more).
Once They returned to Boston, I thought their interections, whilst heating up got a bit soppy in the language department and I didnt believe their interactions so much.
However, the story did engage me, kept me reading and I did like it.
March 3, 2012
医師でありながら、黒死病に侵された妻子や村人を救えず、ただ一人生き残ったAldoは自責の念から命を絶つ。しかし、Deathと名乗る男に目覚めさせられ、Horsemanに選ばれたことを知る。AldoはPestilenceという名と人間に疫病をもたらして世界のバランスをはかる役目を与えられた。
人間に触れると病気を移してしまう体となったAldoは、任務についていない時はブラジルの密林の中に身を潜め、人目を避けて暮らしていた。
ある日、Aldoは密林の中から助けを求める声を聞き、何らかの病気にかかっている青年を見つける。躊躇いはあったが、病人を見捨てることはできず、Aldoは自分の小屋に彼を連れて帰り、手当てをするが…。
「ヨハネの黙示録の四騎士」を題材にしたパラノーマル。騎士の数だけ本が出るみたい。
Aldoは白い馬に乗り、白い髪と黒い瞳を持つ第一の騎士。だけど、キリスト教はあんまり関係ない。四騎士は人間界に疫病、戦争、飢饉、死をもたらし、世界のバランスを保つ存在、ぐらいの認識でＯＫ。
設定はすごいけど、ストーリー展開は地に足がついているというか地味。Aldoは看病を通じて伝染病に侵された青年・Bartに惹かれるものを感じるが、Pestilenceとしての役目を思うと恋を恋と認められない。
Aldoがどう自分に折り合いをつけるか、人間であるBartとどんな未来があるのか、というのが読みどころだと思う。
作家としてT.A. Chaseの持っている倫理観が好き。海外の小説を読んでいると、登場人物の思考についていけないものを感じることがあるけれど（それも海外作家の小説を読む楽しみでもあるけれど）、彼女の書く作品ではそれを感じない。基本的に主人公は誠実で、他人に対して攻撃的ではない。
だから彼女の作品を読んでいると心が落ち着く。気持ちが荒んでいる時に読むと癒される。
このシリーズの続編はあと2冊刊行済みだけど、読むのはもう少しとっておきたい。
人間に触れると病気を移してしまう体となったAldoは、任務についていない時はブラジルの密林の中に身を潜め、人目を避けて暮らしていた。
ある日、Aldoは密林の中から助けを求める声を聞き、何らかの病気にかかっている青年を見つける。躊躇いはあったが、病人を見捨てることはできず、Aldoは自分の小屋に彼を連れて帰り、手当てをするが…。
「ヨハネの黙示録の四騎士」を題材にしたパラノーマル。騎士の数だけ本が出るみたい。
Aldoは白い馬に乗り、白い髪と黒い瞳を持つ第一の騎士。だけど、キリスト教はあんまり関係ない。四騎士は人間界に疫病、戦争、飢饉、死をもたらし、世界のバランスを保つ存在、ぐらいの認識でＯＫ。
設定はすごいけど、ストーリー展開は地に足がついているというか地味。Aldoは看病を通じて伝染病に侵された青年・Bartに惹かれるものを感じるが、Pestilenceとしての役目を思うと恋を恋と認められない。
Aldoがどう自分に折り合いをつけるか、人間であるBartとどんな未来があるのか、というのが読みどころだと思う。
作家としてT.A. Chaseの持っている倫理観が好き。海外の小説を読んでいると、登場人物の思考についていけないものを感じることがあるけれど（それも海外作家の小説を読む楽しみでもあるけれど）、彼女の書く作品ではそれを感じない。基本的に主人公は誠実で、他人に対して攻撃的ではない。
だから彼女の作品を読んでいると心が落ち着く。気持ちが荒んでいる時に読むと癒される。
このシリーズの続編はあと2冊刊行済みだけど、読むのはもう少しとっておきたい。
February 23, 2014
Living forever can be a curse when you're always alone. So we met the first of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from the Christian history.
Pestilence brings disease to humans, but he doesn't understand why he got this lifetime job or why he keeps following Death's orders. After many hundreds of years, Pestilence finds a sick man and tries to heal instead of spreading sickness. So when the very very sick Bart Winston randomly wanders into an Amazon clearing and finds himself in Pest's care for months while they try all sorts of herbs to heal Bart.
So they fall in love and there is a surprise for Pest when that happens (no spoilers from me!). This was sweet first love for two adult men who are alone in the world. This is clearly part of a series but it is a stand alone.
132 pages
3 stars
Pestilence brings disease to humans, but he doesn't understand why he got this lifetime job or why he keeps following Death's orders. After many hundreds of years, Pestilence finds a sick man and tries to heal instead of spreading sickness. So when the very very sick Bart Winston randomly wanders into an Amazon clearing and finds himself in Pest's care for months while they try all sorts of herbs to heal Bart.
So they fall in love and there is a surprise for Pest when that happens (no spoilers from me!). This was sweet first love for two adult men who are alone in the world. This is clearly part of a series but it is a stand alone.
132 pages
3 stars
June 3, 2013
This is the first in a series about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Pestilence was a doctor in his human life. His wife and son, along with his entire village, were wiped out by the Bubonic Plague. He felt so guilty he took his own life.
But, he was brought back as Pestilence. Over the hundreds of years, he kept to himself. Unless Death needed him to start an epidemic. He lives in the Amazon jungle where the local tribes consider him to be a God.
Pest's story is filled with pain, but also with the redemptive quality of love. Is it possible for him to redeem himself and live a mortal life again?
This was a nice, quick read. Plenty of man-love. Lookiing forward to the next book in the series.
But, he was brought back as Pestilence. Over the hundreds of years, he kept to himself. Unless Death needed him to start an epidemic. He lives in the Amazon jungle where the local tribes consider him to be a God.
Pest's story is filled with pain, but also with the redemptive quality of love. Is it possible for him to redeem himself and live a mortal life again?
This was a nice, quick read. Plenty of man-love. Lookiing forward to the next book in the series.
August 17, 2017
I should read some reviews before starting on a book, shouldn't I? - I was completly blindsinded by this one - totally not what I expected.
Going in, I thought "dark, perhaps a littly moody, broody, strong male" - and what I got (and LIKED! - mind you ) was ...- sugar-rain and puffy white clouds. Ok, I'm exaggerating - immensely - but... it was basically just a cute story, the "slightly" dark side of it was more a marginalia and the developing relationship just sweet...
Overall very enjoyable but still a little bit too smooth, taking in account what themes and characters the author chose. I would have loved to see only a little bit more roughness in the story. On the other hand, a very unique and unexpected approach to this well-known figure of the rider - so ...really well-done!
Going in, I thought "dark, perhaps a littly moody, broody, strong male" - and what I got (and LIKED! - mind you ) was ...- sugar-rain and puffy white clouds. Ok, I'm exaggerating - immensely - but... it was basically just a cute story, the "slightly" dark side of it was more a marginalia and the developing relationship just sweet...
Overall very enjoyable but still a little bit too smooth, taking in account what themes and characters the author chose. I would have loved to see only a little bit more roughness in the story. On the other hand, a very unique and unexpected approach to this well-known figure of the rider - so ...really well-done!
June 11, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I never imagined the four horsemen being anything romantic, let alone LGTB. I love m/m romance and this was really good. Then ending surprised me, because I was expecting something different. But what the author wrote made so much sense and turned out better than I imagined. I'm anxious and looking forward the the second in the series. At least I believe there are to be books on all four horsemen. This one left me smiling and giddy at the end. I guess true love conquers all! I would also like to know more about how Aldo and Bart, but the epilogue has me even more intrigued about Death. I figured there was more to him and his story.
May 4, 2014
I gotta admit I don't have much faith regarding paranormal with this author. Contemporary is usually good but anything remotely fantastic and her books often crumble under pressure. This book is slightly better but not by much either. There are a number of incongruities and confusing issues and the background is too scattered to understand fully and while the characters are interesting, we don't really get to know them. Bart spends much of the time either unconscious or hallucinating and Pestilence is often absent or unwilling to answer questions. Overall, it's a good premise but the execution never reaches its full potential and it's a real shame.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2011
This is a very interesting take on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Very imaginative and original. I enjoyed the way the attraction grew between Pest and Bart. There was excellent and believable character development. The way Bart grew to accept Pest's story was very well done, as opposed to the classic 'immediate belief' just because Pest told him so. A wonderful story about redemption, forgiveness, self-discovery, and love. I can't wait to read the other three horsemen's stories!
January 7, 2013
It was how I expected it would be, yet I still managed to feel kind of disappointed.
I feel awkward linking to the review of someone I'm not friends with, but seeing as how it's public anyway, I hope it doesn't clash with the rules. I feel that this lovely lady's review sums it up in a way that's perfect. So even if I did end up writing one, it would mostly likely say the same thing anyway.
I feel awkward linking to the review of someone I'm not friends with, but seeing as how it's public anyway, I hope it doesn't clash with the rules. I feel that this lovely lady's review sums it up in a way that's perfect. So even if I did end up writing one, it would mostly likely say the same thing anyway.
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