Buddy Read Chat Review ~ Famine ~ Laura Thalassa

Famine by Laura Thalassa
Series: The Four Horsemen #3
Published by Lavabrook Publishing LLC on October 1, 2020
Genres: Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance
Pages: 472
Format: Kindle
Source: Kindle Purchase

They came to earth--Pestilence, War, Famine, Death--four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all.

Ana da Silva always assumed she’d die young, she just never expected it to be at the hands of Famine, the haunting immortal who once spared her life so many years ago. But if the horseman remembers her at all, he must not care, for when she comes face to face with him for the second time in her life, she’s stabbed and left for dead.

Only, she doesn’t quite die.

If there’s one thing Famine is good at, it’s cruelty. And how these blighted bastards deserve it. Try as he might, he can’t forget what they once did to him. But when Ana, a ghost from his past, corners him and promises pain for what he so recently did to her, she and her empty threats captivate him, and he decides to keep her around.

In spite of themselves, Ana and Famine are drawn to each other. But at the end of the day, the two are enemies. Nothing changes that. Not one kind act, not two. And definitely not a few steamy nights. But enemies or reluctant lovers, if they don’t stop themselves soon, heaven will.

Once again, I had the pleasure of buddy reading with my friend, Nadene. We’re working our way through the The Four Horseman series, by Laura Thalassa. This time we read Famine and it was a 4.5 Star read for us both. You can read this review and others on Nadene’s blog, Totally Addicted to Reading. Enjoy!

 

Famine wasn’t what I was expected even if I didn’t know what I was expecting. I appreciate the way LThalassa has given each of the Horsemen such distinct personalities depending on their powers and the things they’ve experienced in their human forms. Because of something Famine endured, he’s very angry with and unforgiving of humans. And it’s his anger and brutal tendencies that I wasn’t expecting. However, they made total sense. How did you feel about Famine’s character?

Based on Thalassa’s depictions of Pestilence and War, I figured Famine’s personality would be darker and edgier. After all he is the horseman responsible for creating starvation on the land and what could be worse than having people starving to death. So yes, I did expect him to be brutal and he lived up to his persona in that regard. One would never have believed he possessed a soft side, after all he despised humans and with good reason. But I guess it took the love of a good woman to bring out that side of him.

For some reason, I had it in my head that Famine wouldn’t be as dark as he was. But you’re right. He’d have to be as he’s the horseman responsible for the starvation of both the planet and the people. Ana absolutely brought out his soft side. I have to say that, once again, the banter is stellar. The things they say to each other definitely lighten the tone when needed.

Yup, their banter was indeed awesome. Ana sure knew how to get under Famine’s skin and he always falls for the many verbal jabs she sends his way.

 

Ana was completely different from our previous heroines of the series. She had a different human experience, one that would have made most humans feel like Famine did about humanity. Instead she proved to have an infinite well of compassion. She showed Famine this compassion and it was this act that swayed him where she was concerned. She had pluck as well, facing whatever life threw her way with courage. What did you think of Ana? Were you as impressed with her as I was?

I loved Ana. I would say she is my favourite heroine of the series so far. She suffered a lot, the loss of her parents and the abuse from the person who should have protected her. Her life as an adult wasn’t any better but she still believed that humanity deserved to be saved. For someone who endured so much at the hands of humanity and still feel the need to protect them revealed her compassionate nature. A trait which Famine was hard pressed to ignore. I also admired her courage and strength.

 

Famine was set in Brazil and I was excited about exploring the locale as we did in the previous installments. With Pestilence, and specifically War, I felt the location was it’s own character. Unfortunately, for me, LThalassa didn’t deliver quite the same experience with Brazil. I was disappointed about this. Did you feel the same way?

I agree. Due to the lack of details regarding the cities they traversed through I never developed a connection like I did with the one in War and Pestilence. While I can say I felt I had taken a trip to Jerusalem and the US I cannot say the same for Brazil.

 

The ending was quite different from its predecessors. It made me even more eager for the conclusion of this series though. I have very high expectations for Death. LOL When are we reading it? 😉

Man! I loved the ending; I can honestly say that was not the ending I was expecting but it sure whetted my appetite for Death’s story. Once again Ana showed her courage and wisdom.

 

Famine felt different to me overall but I still loved it. It was 4.5 stars for me due to the lack of description about Brazil and that it actually did take me longer to warm up to Famine. But then, as Famine said, “I am the one least truly alive. I have more in common with wildfires and clouds and mountains than I do anything else. So to be something that lives and breathes is a stifling, unpleasant experience. I am…trapped in this flesh.”  How did you feel about Famine overall?

Ah! Famine is my favourite horseman so far. As stated earlier I had a fair idea what to expect of him given his role. So, accepting him for who he was not an issue. However, the thing that places him in the favourite category was the way he had Ana’s back and the way he treated her overall. I too gave it 4.5 rating. As for reading Death, I am game whenever you are.

Since each of the horseman has gotten progressively more cruel, I have a feeling we’re in for it with Death. I can’t wait! 

Yes! I suspect Death will top the scale of cruel. Famine said it himself in a conversation with Ana. “You mentioned how you were worse than Pestilence and War,” I say, “but what about Death?” Famine holds my gaze for a long minute, then gives me a slight nod, like he’s conceding a point to me. “Nothing is worse than him.”

 

Favorite scenes and/or quotes?

“I’m not sure I want to be so merciful to you humans. I really wouldn’t want another Ana surviving my wrath–one is plenty enough.” -Famine

“You’ve been telling me that I had to put something in your mouth to get you to shut up, but it appears all I needed to do is kill a few people,” he says. “How fortunate for me, since I happen to be in the business of death.”

“Because around you,” he says, “I feel the oddest urge to use my power to create rather than destroy.”

I have to note that Nadene and I had MANY of the same quotes highlighted. 🙂

I think my favorite scene is when Ana and Famine are hiding from the drug dealer’s men. Here Ana realizes she committed acts that, while distasteful (that’s putting it mildly), she’d do it all over again, and again, because Famine’s the first person to really see her and accept her. And she’s probably the only person to do the same for him.

My favourite scene were when they were at drug lord’s house. The part that stood out for me was when Ana risked it all to save Famine after the drug lore and his men ambushed and mutilated him.

So essentially the same scene as my favorite 😉

Pretty much 😉

 

Be on the look out for our chat review of the final book, Death, sometime in May.

 

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• COYER 2023

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