What do you think?
Rate this book
Four Horsemen #1
Carnage
Prescott Ellis - Pestilence
They call us The Four Horsemen.
Four friends forged in fire and blood.
No one knows where we came from nor how we got our name.
Drake, Francis, West and I rule the financial industry like kings.
Gods in our own right.
We grew up with a fifth. A girl. Scarlett.
She was one of us until she was ripped away from her life. The only trace of her was dust in the wind.
One day she returned to the city and sought us out. Scarlett couldn’t remember who we’d been to her, but we recalled her all too well.
If she knew what was good for her, she would have never come back. The moment she stepped through the doors of Fortuity, it was the beginning of her end. And the start of our reign over the girl who wanted us dead.
A dark why choose (MFMMM) contemporary retelling of the four horsemen of the apocalypse set in Sarah Bailey's Dark Universe with cliffhangers and a HEA in the final book.
This is a DARK romance and therefore comes with a content warning. Please see authors website for full details.
They call us The Four Horsemen.
Four friends forged in fire and blood.
No one knows where we came from nor how we got our name.
Drake, Francis, West and I rule the financial industry like kings.
Gods in our own right.
We grew up with a fifth. A girl. Scarlett.
She was one of us until she was ripped away from her life. The only trace of her was dust in the wind.
One day she returned to the city and sought us out. Scarlett couldn’t remember who we’d been to her, but we recalled her all too well.
If she knew what was good for her, she would have never come back. The moment she stepped through the doors of Fortuity, it was the beginning of her end. And the start of our reign over the girl who wanted us dead.
A dark why choose (MFMMM) contemporary retelling of the four horsemen of the apocalypse set in Sarah Bailey's Dark Universe with cliffhangers and a HEA in the final book.
This is a DARK romance and therefore comes with a content warning. Please see authors website for full details.
392 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2021
5165 people are currently reading
34978 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Bailey
47 books2,200 followersSarah writes dark, contemporary, erotic and paranormal romances. They adore all forms of steamy romance and can always be found with a book or ten on their Kindle. They love anti-heroes, alpha males and flawed characters with a little bit of darkness lurking within. Their writing buddies nicknamed Sarah: 'The Queen of Steam' for their pulse racing sex scenes which will leave you a little hot under the collar.
Born and raised in Sussex, UK near the Ashdown Forest, they grew up climbing trees and building Lego towns with their younger brother. Sarah fell in love with novels as a teenager reading their aunt's historical regency romances. They have always loved the supernatural and exploring the darker side of romance and fantasy novels.
Sarah currently resides in the Scottish Highlands with their husband. Music is one of their biggest inspirations and they always have something on in the background whilst writing. They are an avid gamer and are often found hogging their husband's Xbox.
Born and raised in Sussex, UK near the Ashdown Forest, they grew up climbing trees and building Lego towns with their younger brother. Sarah fell in love with novels as a teenager reading their aunt's historical regency romances. They have always loved the supernatural and exploring the darker side of romance and fantasy novels.
Sarah currently resides in the Scottish Highlands with their husband. Music is one of their biggest inspirations and they always have something on in the background whilst writing. They are an avid gamer and are often found hogging their husband's Xbox.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,666 reviews
November 1, 2021
No spoilers, just frustration.
The premise is this. The four men and the heroine grew up together. There was an accident ten years ago. That accident gave the heroine amnesia and apparently made the men supreme assholes. She’s been sent to work for the company that the four men run, to destroy them.
With the current race to see who can write the dirtiest, darkest, kinkiest, reverse harem out there, I’m finding many of these newer stories lack originality, character depth and even a decent plot. This one is dark, and not in a good way. These leading men reminded me of cats playing with a frightened mouse. This story is full of extreme mental abuse, bullying, manipulation and the rape (noncon) of a FMC. There are zero trigger warnings in this book synopsis, you have to go to the authors page to get that.
Other irritations:
-Overuse of the word “whilst”
-Repetitive, so repetitive
-Nothing actually happens in this book
-Zero emotional connections between characters
-Each chapter has a different POV, with the same dialogue, blah blah, I’m broken
The premise is this. The four men and the heroine grew up together. There was an accident ten years ago. That accident gave the heroine amnesia and apparently made the men supreme assholes. She’s been sent to work for the company that the four men run, to destroy them.
With the current race to see who can write the dirtiest, darkest, kinkiest, reverse harem out there, I’m finding many of these newer stories lack originality, character depth and even a decent plot. This one is dark, and not in a good way. These leading men reminded me of cats playing with a frightened mouse. This story is full of extreme mental abuse, bullying, manipulation and the rape (noncon) of a FMC. There are zero trigger warnings in this book synopsis, you have to go to the authors page to get that.
This is a DARK romance and therefore carries a content warning. Details available on my website.Why not just say what they are? They don’t give anything about the plot away. I’m all for dark romance, but make it a decent story, with characters you actually like and want to read more about.
“Good,” I murmured, my fingers tightening around her hair. “We take cases of sexual harassment very seriously here. If I say anything you feel crosses a line, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”Then he proceeds to sexually harass her…as if pulling her hair during that conversation wasn’t workplace harassment enough.
Other irritations:
-Overuse of the word “whilst”
-Repetitive, so repetitive
-Nothing actually happens in this book
-Zero emotional connections between characters
-Each chapter has a different POV, with the same dialogue, blah blah, I’m broken
“One day, I’m going to chase you until your legs give out and you can’t run any longer. Then I’m going to fuck you in the dirt like an animal.”Be still my romantic heart. Hang on whilst I go find a decent book to cleanse my brain of this gross feeling.
February 10, 2022
I have no idea whether or not to rate this book two stars or five. On the one hand, it was the smut I needed after my last disappointing read. On the other, it wasn’t exactly… well written. Sentence structure would be so bad that I’d be taken out of the story, and not even top tier spice can change that.
I will be reading the second book and maybe that’ll solidify my feelings.
I will be reading the second book and maybe that’ll solidify my feelings.
January 13, 2022
I absolutely love any monsters in suits who pretend to be civilised just to win more power over people.
December 1, 2021
Dnf 32% - This book is not well written. It is told from 5 different points of view - which is way too many - and they’re all extremely repetitive. I don’t mind dark books at all but the characters have to at least be likable or intriguing in some way. I think OW/OW drama is just bad writing and I really dislike when the heroes sleep with other women after interacting with the heroine. I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised though since from all the spoilers I’ve now read, they drug and gang rape her later in the book. So that’s awesome. And by awesome, I mean disgusting and terrible. That’s not dark ROMANCE. Anyway, I don’t normally rate books I don’t finish, but I felt like I needed to as a warning to everyone else who chooses to read this.
November 8, 2021
It you like rape scenes.....
Ok...I like books where the men are strong and such but this book is WAAAAY to far. Spoiler here....
They drug the leading girl, tie her up, blind fold her, and put ear phones on her and then they all fuck her. That's called rape people. The book tries to make it sound ok because "she belongs to them", but it is rape. The main men blackmail her, force her and degrade her at every turn. The author uses the same excuse every time, that she belongs to them. The author even says that their is a double standard for them and all other men after a guy leaves bruises on her arm. Basically they do whatever they want and she doesn't get any say in it. Somewhere in all this she says no a few times but thinks to herself that she liked being treated so badly....it is really so horrible and I couldn't stomach it after a little over half. There dominate males and then there is this.....and this is just plain violence and degradation.
Ok...I like books where the men are strong and such but this book is WAAAAY to far. Spoiler here....
They drug the leading girl, tie her up, blind fold her, and put ear phones on her and then they all fuck her. That's called rape people. The book tries to make it sound ok because "she belongs to them", but it is rape. The main men blackmail her, force her and degrade her at every turn. The author uses the same excuse every time, that she belongs to them. The author even says that their is a double standard for them and all other men after a guy leaves bruises on her arm. Basically they do whatever they want and she doesn't get any say in it. Somewhere in all this she says no a few times but thinks to herself that she liked being treated so badly....it is really so horrible and I couldn't stomach it after a little over half. There dominate males and then there is this.....and this is just plain violence and degradation.
September 3, 2024
Re-read 02/09/24: 4⭐️
West, Francis, Prescott and Drake should open a store and name it Whores'R'Us - it would be perfect for them since ya know, they're hoes😂 Honestly, pre 2023 Nikki was a menace and the shit I read was just...WHEW🤨 Despite me being annoyed and pissed off because of the double standards in this book, I'm giving it a higher rating solely because of the smut. Y'all. It was EPIC. And really hot. I like to think of this series as my dubcon and kinky awakening lolz. Also I felt like shaking Scarlett because she legit had so many chances to escape but she didn't??? Like girly pop, nobody's tracking you, you're not chipped and you travel to work alone...MAKE THE MOST OF IT!!! But then again, if she escaped, the story would stop there haha😆 Anyways, onto the next we go!
West, Francis, Prescott and Drake should open a store and name it Whores'R'Us - it would be perfect for them since ya know, they're hoes😂 Honestly, pre 2023 Nikki was a menace and the shit I read was just...WHEW🤨 Despite me being annoyed and pissed off because of the double standards in this book, I'm giving it a higher rating solely because of the smut. Y'all. It was EPIC. And really hot. I like to think of this series as my dubcon and kinky awakening lolz. Also I felt like shaking Scarlett because she legit had so many chances to escape but she didn't??? Like girly pop, nobody's tracking you, you're not chipped and you travel to work alone...MAKE THE MOST OF IT!!! But then again, if she escaped, the story would stop there haha😆 Anyways, onto the next we go!
July 10, 2021
Before I go any further, please check trigger warnings as this is a dark romance with some elements that may make you uncomfortable.
And I'm going to try to do this without spoilers.
I came into reading this book with my only prior knowledge being the teasers I saw on TikTok, which clearly intrigued me enough to dive in.
This is the first book of a four-book series and had a lot of the world-building and relationship-building that is going to set up the next three books. The first half spends time introducing the characters and their perspectives before diving into the more 🌶️🌶️🌶️ in the last half. I almost wish the pacing had mixed it up a little more so that it didn't feel so split in half.
Our main female character, Scarlet, intrigued me but I feel like we're just getting to see glimmers of her true personality and character come out. While I can see elements of a strong female character developing I didn't completely buy-in yet. Her interactions with Prescott went a long way to humanizing both her and the four horsemen.
Of the four main characters; Prescott, Francis, Drake, and West; I think I felt most connected to Prescott and West through this book and am looking forward to learning more about West in the next book.
Overall, I'm going to say this was more of an opening act for a long game than a more traditionally self-contained book 1.
I have really high hopes for this series and I'm eagerly waiting to find out more about all of the charachters. 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
And I'm going to try to do this without spoilers.
I came into reading this book with my only prior knowledge being the teasers I saw on TikTok, which clearly intrigued me enough to dive in.
This is the first book of a four-book series and had a lot of the world-building and relationship-building that is going to set up the next three books. The first half spends time introducing the characters and their perspectives before diving into the more 🌶️🌶️🌶️ in the last half. I almost wish the pacing had mixed it up a little more so that it didn't feel so split in half.
Our main female character, Scarlet, intrigued me but I feel like we're just getting to see glimmers of her true personality and character come out. While I can see elements of a strong female character developing I didn't completely buy-in yet. Her interactions with Prescott went a long way to humanizing both her and the four horsemen.
Of the four main characters; Prescott, Francis, Drake, and West; I think I felt most connected to Prescott and West through this book and am looking forward to learning more about West in the next book.
Overall, I'm going to say this was more of an opening act for a long game than a more traditionally self-contained book 1.
I have really high hopes for this series and I'm eagerly waiting to find out more about all of the charachters. 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 25, 2021
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my first full length, reverse harem, dark romance and I have to declare I am definitely a fan of this "why choose" trope. Carnage is the first book of The Four Horseman series by Sarah Bailey. Four friends, Drake, Francis, Preston and West, have become a force to be reckoned with in the finance industry in London. All four have done some pretty dark and ruthless things in their rise to power which earned them the moniker, The Four Horsemen.
Scarlett had once been the fifth member of their group until she suddenly disappeared from their lives ten years ago. Due to an accident, she has retrograde amnesia and doesn't remember the first 16 years of her life which means she doesn't remember the four boys she was once so close to. Her family has sent her to work at Fortuity in order to bring down the Horsemen. She and her family have a plan and the horsemen also have a plan. Scarlett's family kept her a practical prisoner over the last decade and have promised her freedom if she is successful in bringing the horsemen down. Freedom is her goal while they have plans for fun & along the way, hopefully bring her memory back.
All four men have definite violent natures with West being the most violent followed by Drake, Francis and finally Prescott, who seems the most harmless. Unfortunately, some things are definitely not as they appear. Each man is HOT on his own but together they form a scene that is certainly enjoyable. Underneath their darkness is the pain over losing Scarlett and their determination to bring her back into their fold. There are dark scenes within the story such as bdsm, breath play, potential knife play and dubcon. Scarlett certainly doesn't seem to mind. She enjoys it all quite a bit.
The angst within the pages slowly builds to a cliffhanger but I enjoyed every inch of the book. This cliffhanger was nowhere near as devastating as some I've come across. I can't wait for the next book! I am definitely a fan of seeing how the whole plot plays out.
This was my first full length, reverse harem, dark romance and I have to declare I am definitely a fan of this "why choose" trope. Carnage is the first book of The Four Horseman series by Sarah Bailey. Four friends, Drake, Francis, Preston and West, have become a force to be reckoned with in the finance industry in London. All four have done some pretty dark and ruthless things in their rise to power which earned them the moniker, The Four Horsemen.
Scarlett had once been the fifth member of their group until she suddenly disappeared from their lives ten years ago. Due to an accident, she has retrograde amnesia and doesn't remember the first 16 years of her life which means she doesn't remember the four boys she was once so close to. Her family has sent her to work at Fortuity in order to bring down the Horsemen. She and her family have a plan and the horsemen also have a plan. Scarlett's family kept her a practical prisoner over the last decade and have promised her freedom if she is successful in bringing the horsemen down. Freedom is her goal while they have plans for fun & along the way, hopefully bring her memory back.
All four men have definite violent natures with West being the most violent followed by Drake, Francis and finally Prescott, who seems the most harmless. Unfortunately, some things are definitely not as they appear. Each man is HOT on his own but together they form a scene that is certainly enjoyable. Underneath their darkness is the pain over losing Scarlett and their determination to bring her back into their fold. There are dark scenes within the story such as bdsm, breath play, potential knife play and dubcon. Scarlett certainly doesn't seem to mind. She enjoys it all quite a bit.
The angst within the pages slowly builds to a cliffhanger but I enjoyed every inch of the book. This cliffhanger was nowhere near as devastating as some I've come across. I can't wait for the next book! I am definitely a fan of seeing how the whole plot plays out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2022
DNF @ 43%
GENUINELY concerned that this has such a high rating. The writing and dialogue and even the plotline is solid but holy shit, it's really fucked up.
Honestly, I am down with RH's, but this one... all four of the guys are completely insane, they enjoy causing pain and have literally almost killed the women they have slept with from taking it too far. Not to mention they are all obsessed with Scarlett but don't really see her as an ACTUAL HUMAN. They just want her as a "lamb for the slaughter" I shit you not. I can't even begin to explain how problematic this book is. Honestly, I am okay with the blurry lines of a lot of romance books but this is some messed up shit. I gave up after Scarlett gets RAPED by one of the MMMM (West), you cannot convince me it was anything other than rape. He literally fucked her after she said no. Absolutely appalled that the author thinks any of this is okay. You are literally influencing people with your writing and this is what you chose to do? You can make a guy "bad" or even an asshole without adding RAPIST to the list.
DO NOT READ THIS SHIT.
GENUINELY concerned that this has such a high rating. The writing and dialogue and even the plotline is solid but holy shit, it's really fucked up.
Honestly, I am down with RH's, but this one... all four of the guys are completely insane, they enjoy causing pain and have literally almost killed the women they have slept with from taking it too far. Not to mention they are all obsessed with Scarlett but don't really see her as an ACTUAL HUMAN. They just want her as a "lamb for the slaughter" I shit you not. I can't even begin to explain how problematic this book is. Honestly, I am okay with the blurry lines of a lot of romance books but this is some messed up shit. I gave up after Scarlett gets RAPED by one of the MMMM (West), you cannot convince me it was anything other than rape. He literally fucked her after she said no. Absolutely appalled that the author thinks any of this is okay. You are literally influencing people with your writing and this is what you chose to do? You can make a guy "bad" or even an asshole without adding RAPIST to the list.
DO NOT READ THIS SHIT.
December 22, 2021
DNF
What a fan fiction omg… this was so disappointing, was expecting so much better from the hype this was getting…
What a fan fiction omg… this was so disappointing, was expecting so much better from the hype this was getting…
July 3, 2021
I can not express enough how much I loved this. From the little details to the main plot, I'm completely hooked.
And the spice was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Scarlett's backstory holds just enough mystery and intrigue to make me desperate for more. I need to know what happened ten years ago. I need to know what happens next.
The ending was perfect. I'll be thinking about it obsessively until the next book is in my hands.
Definitely mind trigger warnings, but if you like your books kinky and dark, I highly recommend.
And the spice was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Scarlett's backstory holds just enough mystery and intrigue to make me desperate for more. I need to know what happened ten years ago. I need to know what happens next.
The ending was perfect. I'll be thinking about it obsessively until the next book is in my hands.
Definitely mind trigger warnings, but if you like your books kinky and dark, I highly recommend.
Read
November 25, 2022DNF 35%
Nope. I love me a dark romance but this is not. This is abuse.
There needs to be something. Some glimmer, some spark, some kindness or some buried deep down idea that characters like this can be redeemed in some way, in order to get past horrific things they do.
As it stands the four horsemen have no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
If you can get past the drugged, dub-con sex scene where they essentially rape her every which way to Sunday, without a care for her enjoyment, safety, emotional mentality or physical well-being then my review is not for you. I don’t care if the author throws in a “please, fuck me…” toward the end. The writing is just not good enough to pull it off.
And, let me just say, the blatant withholding of information to further the story is annoyingly frustrating. No way could I handle 4 books like this.
As always, YMMV.
Nope. I love me a dark romance but this is not. This is abuse.
There needs to be something. Some glimmer, some spark, some kindness or some buried deep down idea that characters like this can be redeemed in some way, in order to get past horrific things they do.
As it stands the four horsemen have no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
If you can get past the drugged, dub-con sex scene where they essentially rape her every which way to Sunday, without a care for her enjoyment, safety, emotional mentality or physical well-being then my review is not for you. I don’t care if the author throws in a “please, fuck me…” toward the end. The writing is just not good enough to pull it off.
And, let me just say, the blatant withholding of information to further the story is annoyingly frustrating. No way could I handle 4 books like this.
As always, YMMV.
March 11, 2024
★2.5/5! well that was definitely something…
it wasn’t bad it just wasn’t good either? I really enjoyed Scarletts character but the men? ew they were just not for me, wanted to kill them half the book!
Normally a book for me needs dual POV… this one did not, would have happily read it with just Scarlett’s POV.
Hopefully the next book is better! Need more plot, questions answered and some character development. the repetitiveness needs to stop! I get it they’re called the four horsemen and have dark sides blah blah blahh
it wasn’t bad it just wasn’t good either? I really enjoyed Scarletts character but the men? ew they were just not for me, wanted to kill them half the book!
Normally a book for me needs dual POV… this one did not, would have happily read it with just Scarlett’s POV.
Hopefully the next book is better! Need more plot, questions answered and some character development. the repetitiveness needs to stop! I get it they’re called the four horsemen and have dark sides blah blah blahh
July 30, 2022
DNFing at 30% Chapter Sixteen(Drake) ‘Seven Years Ago’
So here’s the deal.
I was enjoying it.
The mystery and tension and plans and the depraved darkness peaking out.
But.
Then they started talking about other girls and made plans to use one of them to take the edge off so to speak.
And I’m out.
I can handle all sorts of fucked up stuff and mostly enjoy reading about it.
But I draw the line at cheating, or in this case, using another girl as a placeholder.
I know it’s fitting since they’re all sorts of fucked up. But it makes this icky feeling in the pit of my stomach manifest and it makes me root Against the MCs and I just can’t make myself do it.
I might try again later because I was really looking forward to this series, but I don’t know.
Those few paragraphs just sort of clicked the off button for me, so we’ll see.
Finished Book: 07/29/22
4.4 stars.
Ok. So I now see that had I just kept reading everything would’ve turned out fine.
I must’ve just been in a different mood the first time I tried reading this.
I did end up enjoying this book once I came back to it.
Theres no OW drama that happens on page, and other than the couple paragraphs that set me off last time we don’t hear about anything to do with other women. Thank god.
So far I’m a little iffy about whether I like Scarlett or not. We don’t know much about her or the guys still. There’s just some vague references to the past they shared-that she doesn’t remember-and some more vague comments about what the guys have gone through to find her and what’s she’s been going through being imprisoned with her ‘parents’.
The smut is fantastic but emotionally taxing to be honest since there’s so much going on in the background that neither side is sharing.
I’m just really hoping we start getting answers in the next book.
The angst is killing me.
So here’s the deal.
I was enjoying it.
The mystery and tension and plans and the depraved darkness peaking out.
But.
Then they started talking about other girls and made plans to use one of them to take the edge off so to speak.
And I’m out.
I can handle all sorts of fucked up stuff and mostly enjoy reading about it.
But I draw the line at cheating, or in this case, using another girl as a placeholder.
I know it’s fitting since they’re all sorts of fucked up. But it makes this icky feeling in the pit of my stomach manifest and it makes me root Against the MCs and I just can’t make myself do it.
I might try again later because I was really looking forward to this series, but I don’t know.
Those few paragraphs just sort of clicked the off button for me, so we’ll see.
Finished Book: 07/29/22
4.4 stars.
Ok. So I now see that had I just kept reading everything would’ve turned out fine.
I must’ve just been in a different mood the first time I tried reading this.
I did end up enjoying this book once I came back to it.
Theres no OW drama that happens on page, and other than the couple paragraphs that set me off last time we don’t hear about anything to do with other women. Thank god.
So far I’m a little iffy about whether I like Scarlett or not. We don’t know much about her or the guys still. There’s just some vague references to the past they shared-that she doesn’t remember-and some more vague comments about what the guys have gone through to find her and what’s she’s been going through being imprisoned with her ‘parents’.
The smut is fantastic but emotionally taxing to be honest since there’s so much going on in the background that neither side is sharing.
I’m just really hoping we start getting answers in the next book.
The angst is killing me.
June 10, 2022
i had 100% thought id end up loving this. it's been hyped up for so long, so my hopes were up for a good rh.
instead i literally couldn't have hated it more. wow!
the heroine is dumb as rocks, the heroes both love her more than anyone and simultaneously treat her like dirt for ~~secret mysterious reasons~~ that we don't get to know.
i will never get these hours of my life back.
things i didn't like (abbreviated):
• the disconnect between "she's our whole WORLD, she's the most important person" and "we wanna ruin, destroy, and hurt her"........ like, are you guys okay?? i really could not get past how the Hs treated her.
• i hated the mysterious "plan" that isn't fucking explained. their whole reason for treating the h like shit, and the reason they can't just explain who they are to her... fucking annoying.
• the dumbass h. one second she's like "i don't like the way they use and hurt me" but then she thinks about it for a second and promptly concludes that she just CAN'T help giving in to them because she feels drawn to them. literally zero self preservation skills. every fucking emotion she feels for them is stupid, every single one is proof of her complete lack of braincells. even as they force her to kill her only friend, she's thinking about how she wants to be one of them. fucking braindead.
• the fact that they drugged and raped her. it was described as dubcon in a book group, and i really fucjing wish people would stop saying that about literal rape scenes.
• the Hs are cold assholes for this entire book. they have no redeeming qualities. i actually can't pinpoint a single moment where i liked any of them.
• the h is pretty much a doormat. sometimes she'll be sassy, and then she'll apologize. i don't mind domineering Hs as long as i feel like the h can stand up to them, and she really can't.
instead i literally couldn't have hated it more. wow!
the heroine is dumb as rocks, the heroes both love her more than anyone and simultaneously treat her like dirt for ~~secret mysterious reasons~~ that we don't get to know.
i will never get these hours of my life back.
things i didn't like (abbreviated):
• the disconnect between "she's our whole WORLD, she's the most important person" and "we wanna ruin, destroy, and hurt her"........ like, are you guys okay?? i really could not get past how the Hs treated her.
• i hated the mysterious "plan" that isn't fucking explained. their whole reason for treating the h like shit, and the reason they can't just explain who they are to her... fucking annoying.
• the dumbass h. one second she's like "i don't like the way they use and hurt me" but then she thinks about it for a second and promptly concludes that she just CAN'T help giving in to them because she feels drawn to them. literally zero self preservation skills. every fucking emotion she feels for them is stupid, every single one is proof of her complete lack of braincells. even as they force her to kill her only friend, she's thinking about how she wants to be one of them. fucking braindead.
• the fact that they drugged and raped her. it was described as dubcon in a book group, and i really fucjing wish people would stop saying that about literal rape scenes.
• the Hs are cold assholes for this entire book. they have no redeeming qualities. i actually can't pinpoint a single moment where i liked any of them.
• the h is pretty much a doormat. sometimes she'll be sassy, and then she'll apologize. i don't mind domineering Hs as long as i feel like the h can stand up to them, and she really can't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 25, 2022dnf pretty early on, whixh is the only thing thats holding me back from giving this a 1 star. was it the repetitive writing style? was it the weird & annoying way the men’s povs were written? was it the lack of originality / personality in any of the characters? all of the above and more
December 15, 2021
This kind of felt like den of viper lite but also slightly better written idk
March 3, 2022
did i like it? no. will i be reading the rest? yes.
March 14, 2023
4.25✨
dnf
December 26, 2022DNF @ 9% - the writing is atrocious. I know I won’t be able to finish this book, much less a FOUR BOOK SERIES. 🤣🤣
I should have stopped when one of the Badass Hero’s “stomach flipped” while daydreaming about the h 🙄🫠
The perspectives don’t make sense. The h doesn’t know them, but they know the h… so it should be in HER perspective if you want them to act like they don’t know her. You can’t be in HIS perspective and his thoughts be as if she’s a stranger when it’s obvious he knows her.. he even acknowledges they’ve been waiting for her. But then he starts assessing her like a stranger. This is a bizarre handling of perspectives. I have a headache 5 chapters in. 🤡
I should have stopped when one of the Badass Hero’s “stomach flipped” while daydreaming about the h 🙄🫠
The perspectives don’t make sense. The h doesn’t know them, but they know the h… so it should be in HER perspective if you want them to act like they don’t know her. You can’t be in HIS perspective and his thoughts be as if she’s a stranger when it’s obvious he knows her.. he even acknowledges they’ve been waiting for her. But then he starts assessing her like a stranger. This is a bizarre handling of perspectives. I have a headache 5 chapters in. 🤡
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2021
Huge shout out to tiktok for bringing Sarah Bailey to my attention, because holy shit I think I’m in love with her haha. This is the first book I’ve read by her, and needless to say I am obsessed (clearly).
Carnage, the first book in the Four Horseman series, was freaking amazing, and hit all the marks for me… It’s full of steam, it’s twisted, dark as hell, fast paced, and the characters are so well written. Carnage is definitely not for the faint of heart though, but I swear it’s worth it!
The book does end in a cliffhanger, and I am dying for August to get here so I can read Chaos.
Carnage, the first book in the Four Horseman series, was freaking amazing, and hit all the marks for me… It’s full of steam, it’s twisted, dark as hell, fast paced, and the characters are so well written. Carnage is definitely not for the faint of heart though, but I swear it’s worth it!
The book does end in a cliffhanger, and I am dying for August to get here so I can read Chaos.
August 5, 2023
As I decided to explore genres new to me this year, I went straight into something classified as ‘dark romance’.
I appreciated some elements in the plot, where the author is trying to build a climax of action and mystery, but it’s hard to make this a fully likeable novel.
The story is written following 5 different point of views, however you get the same voice, the same expressions, the same forced brutality and smuttiness. I can’t distinguish Scarlett’s tale from any of the four lads. The only thing that changes it’s the name of the character at the beginning of a new chapter.
Saying that the book is drowning in repetitions is an understatement. Sometimes if feels like Bailey didn’t know how to fill the pages in to finish chapters, so you start questioning your own sanity while reading the same formulas over and over again. It works two-three times then it’s irritating.
I understand dark, I get kinky, but some extra details about the four Horsemen were unnecessary and just forced in to add a more sinister aura around them. I specifically refer to West, who is 100% a psychopath, but also an incoherent, flat character.
It’s very clear that Bailey wanted to get four books out if this story, but maybe one single volume, committed to add depth to these five characters and without pedantic repetitions, would have made it spicier, sexier and more dignified.
At the end of the book, none of the characters has depth, none of them is memorable, and we still don’t know what happened in the mysterious past we’ve been told too many times about.
The overuse of any possible shade of ‘fuck’ and ‘fucking’ takes away the few degrees of credibility left.
I always say that I like reading bad books, and this is one of those. I doubt I’ll carry on reading the other volumes.
I appreciated some elements in the plot, where the author is trying to build a climax of action and mystery, but it’s hard to make this a fully likeable novel.
The story is written following 5 different point of views, however you get the same voice, the same expressions, the same forced brutality and smuttiness. I can’t distinguish Scarlett’s tale from any of the four lads. The only thing that changes it’s the name of the character at the beginning of a new chapter.
Saying that the book is drowning in repetitions is an understatement. Sometimes if feels like Bailey didn’t know how to fill the pages in to finish chapters, so you start questioning your own sanity while reading the same formulas over and over again. It works two-three times then it’s irritating.
I understand dark, I get kinky, but some extra details about the four Horsemen were unnecessary and just forced in to add a more sinister aura around them. I specifically refer to West, who is 100% a psychopath, but also an incoherent, flat character.
It’s very clear that Bailey wanted to get four books out if this story, but maybe one single volume, committed to add depth to these five characters and without pedantic repetitions, would have made it spicier, sexier and more dignified.
At the end of the book, none of the characters has depth, none of them is memorable, and we still don’t know what happened in the mysterious past we’ve been told too many times about.
The overuse of any possible shade of ‘fuck’ and ‘fucking’ takes away the few degrees of credibility left.
I always say that I like reading bad books, and this is one of those. I doubt I’ll carry on reading the other volumes.
July 17, 2021
Wow… that’s the word I need to start with because just freaking wow 👀
Our female lead Scarlett is broken beyond recognition from an event 10 years ago which led to her being torn from the lives of our 4 leading men. She’s meek and lost, but the men slowly start instilling fire back into her… in more ways than one *wink wink nudge nudge* 😏
Our men are all fleshed out extremely well in this first installment. Through their POVs you get to understand each of them fairly well for this being only the beginning. Their reputation of the Four Horsemen proceeds them; Drake (Death), Prescott (Pestilence), West (War), and Francis (Famine) are all ruthless beyond measure and were left irrevocably twisted when Scarlett was taken from them.
Be prepared for the STEAM! *fans self*
This is a dark romance, and it has scenes that reflect that genre. Be mindful of the warnings if that’s something that you have issue with. If it’s something you’re all about then BUCKLE UP BUTTERCUP! Some of these scenes had me sweating 🥵
The intrigue, the mystery, and the espionage have me on edge waiting for the next installment. I NEED to know what happens next!
Our female lead Scarlett is broken beyond recognition from an event 10 years ago which led to her being torn from the lives of our 4 leading men. She’s meek and lost, but the men slowly start instilling fire back into her… in more ways than one *wink wink nudge nudge* 😏
Our men are all fleshed out extremely well in this first installment. Through their POVs you get to understand each of them fairly well for this being only the beginning. Their reputation of the Four Horsemen proceeds them; Drake (Death), Prescott (Pestilence), West (War), and Francis (Famine) are all ruthless beyond measure and were left irrevocably twisted when Scarlett was taken from them.
Be prepared for the STEAM! *fans self*
This is a dark romance, and it has scenes that reflect that genre. Be mindful of the warnings if that’s something that you have issue with. If it’s something you’re all about then BUCKLE UP BUTTERCUP! Some of these scenes had me sweating 🥵
The intrigue, the mystery, and the espionage have me on edge waiting for the next installment. I NEED to know what happens next!
July 10, 2021
Sarah's done it again, after reading Devil's Syndicate I've been eager to read this book for ages, and she did not disappoint.
Scarlett comes back into Drake, Francis, Prescott and West's life after ten years, and she has no recollection of who they are.
The story behind this is a mystery that Sarah gives to us in hints, making me need the next book in the series asap.
The spice scenes are AMAZING, off the charts brilliant.
The boys stole my heart from the get go (soft spot for West).
A Clever plot based on the actual Four Horsemen, and the way she wrote Carnage made me feel like I was right in the book with the characters.
ABSOLUTE BRILLIANCE.
Scarlett comes back into Drake, Francis, Prescott and West's life after ten years, and she has no recollection of who they are.
The story behind this is a mystery that Sarah gives to us in hints, making me need the next book in the series asap.
The spice scenes are AMAZING, off the charts brilliant.
The boys stole my heart from the get go (soft spot for West).
A Clever plot based on the actual Four Horsemen, and the way she wrote Carnage made me feel like I was right in the book with the characters.
ABSOLUTE BRILLIANCE.
May 28, 2022
I’m so confused.
Why was this so hyped up.
The smut was fine sometimes, but idk the whole book was just eh. I didn’t enjoy it at all.
I’m not going to read the rest of the series because for 50% of this book I just wanted it to be over so I could find something good to read.
Why was this so hyped up.
The smut was fine sometimes, but idk the whole book was just eh. I didn’t enjoy it at all.
I’m not going to read the rest of the series because for 50% of this book I just wanted it to be over so I could find something good to read.
April 26, 2024
Hooked; that’s what I am, absolutely hooked
Do I have any idea what’s going to happen next, absolutely not.
Am I going to the next book as quick as I can, absolutely
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Do I have any idea what’s going to happen next, absolutely not.
Am I going to the next book as quick as I can, absolutely
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
nfmaa
June 19, 2024Note to Self
Bullying
Noncon
Dark romance 🙄
Someone said all the h does is get fucked 😂😂😂😂
Bullying
Noncon
Dark romance 🙄
Someone said all the h does is get fucked 😂😂😂😂
July 16, 2021
Wow!
This book is an amazing first book for the series! I was completely hooked! The writing was fantastic, the flow perfect and the characters 🥵. Wow!
What I wouldn’t give to be called “little lamb!”
This is a dark romance with some very detailed spicy scenes, some crude language and some times where it crosses the line between bullying and abuse but it is perfect for the characters and their true selves. I think if it was toned down it wouldn’t match their personalities.
The way the four men interact with Scarlett ignites so many thoughts 🤯 they have such a sexiness to them that you can’t help but love them! I loved how they all had such different personalities but together they are unstoppable.
I really can’t wait to read book 2, to find out what happened in the past between Scarlett and the boys. I think the way the information was given through the book had me hooked and kept me wanting to read and am on count down to book 2!
This book is an amazing first book for the series! I was completely hooked! The writing was fantastic, the flow perfect and the characters 🥵. Wow!
What I wouldn’t give to be called “little lamb!”
This is a dark romance with some very detailed spicy scenes, some crude language and some times where it crosses the line between bullying and abuse but it is perfect for the characters and their true selves. I think if it was toned down it wouldn’t match their personalities.
The way the four men interact with Scarlett ignites so many thoughts 🤯 they have such a sexiness to them that you can’t help but love them! I loved how they all had such different personalities but together they are unstoppable.
I really can’t wait to read book 2, to find out what happened in the past between Scarlett and the boys. I think the way the information was given through the book had me hooked and kept me wanting to read and am on count down to book 2!
October 8, 2022
Ok so, I read a lot of dark stuff and a lot of smut, the last book I read was about a serial killer… you get the idea, I’m not a prude in my reading taste. I also look past a lot of things, but this is why I DNF’d this book.
The premise of a modern retelling of the four horsemen in the financial world, cool. The very first spicy scene is workplace rape… the female is forced into it and when asked for consent she says no but the guy continues, then it flips to her POV and she is ‘loving it’, then the character goes on to fantasise about it later. Also the scene and lead up to this was pretty poorly written.
Just didn’t sit well with me…
Like I’m all for edgy stuff but it’s gotta be consensual or I just can’t enjoy the book.
The premise of a modern retelling of the four horsemen in the financial world, cool. The very first spicy scene is workplace rape… the female is forced into it and when asked for consent she says no but the guy continues, then it flips to her POV and she is ‘loving it’, then the character goes on to fantasise about it later. Also the scene and lead up to this was pretty poorly written.
Just didn’t sit well with me…
Like I’m all for edgy stuff but it’s gotta be consensual or I just can’t enjoy the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,666 reviews