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Loss (Riders of the Apocalypse #3)

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 358 ratings · 110 reviews

Fifteen-year-old Billy Ballard is the kid that everyone picks on, from the school bullies to the teachers. But things change drastically when Death tells Billy he must stand in as Pestilence, the White Rider of the Apocalypse. Now armed with a Bow that allows him to strike with disease from a distance, Billy lashes out at his tormentors...and accidentally causes an outbrea...more

Paperback, 259 pages

Published March 20th 2012 by Graphia

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Apr 27, 2012 karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya

if you have been reading all of my reviews to this point, (and if you haven't, WHY HAVEN"T YOU???) you know that i am not in love with this series in execution, but i applaud its attempts. so why do i keep reading it? part of it is my need for completion, part of it is that they are quick to read and part of it is that i keep hoping it will all come together to impress me with something i haven't seen before, and everything will fall into place making any reservations i had vanish with a snap of...more if you have been reading all of my reviews to this point, (and if you haven't, WHY HAVEN"T YOU???) you know that i am not in love with this series in execution, but i applaud its attempts. so why do i keep reading it? part of it is my need for completion, part of it is that they are quick to read and part of it is that i keep hoping it will all come together to impress me with something i haven't seen before, and everything will fall into place making any reservations i had vanish with a snap of "ohhhh, so that's why..."

this one was the weakest of the three, unfortunately. quick recap of the premise for those of you who have not been hanging on my every word on the internet: the four horsemen of the apocalypse are real, they are positions held by humans, and their goal is not necessarily to bring about the apocalypse, but to maintain balance and sort of forestall it. and so humans are chosen to fill these roles and deal with the ills of the world. and by humans, i mean sad and damaged teenagers. i personally wouldn't have chosen teenagers for these roles - they are so overwrought already, and it is terrifying to think that the fate of the world is in the hands of such emotionally unstable individuals, but there it is. also, kurt cobain is Death. i know.

so, in Hunger, the first book, an anorexic girl is chosen for the role of famine. cute, right? in the second,Rage, a cutter is chosen for the role of war. in this one, a bullied boy is chosen for pestilence.

already, it is flawed. i'm not sure who would have been a better choice, but with the others, at least there was a poetry to their selection - the characters were put into a position where they had to examine their own self-harming choices in a larger-world context, but in this one, billy's bullying isn't a choice he is making, his only choice is his reaction to it, which is to just keep his head down and endure it instead of standing up for himself. and how is disease going to make him change that? it's not. all it does is give him a little bit of power which, like the girls in the previous books, he uses initially for small-scale revenge. he becomes the bully because he can make people poop themselves and contract fevers. this is why it is not cool for kids to be given powers that can harm people - no impulse control.

but, and that would be fine, only then kessler gets weirdly ambitious. and she constructs this entire secondary fantasy plot that brings in the mythologies of king midas and robin hood and the whole thing turns into a bloated mess that takes the focus away from our bullied kid and doesn't really add a whole lot to the larger structure. it muddies the water in what is already a muddy premise. i was hoping, by this point in the series, to have a clearer idea about why this is happening. and how these chosen individuals were able to maintain their lives and still save the world. i need logistics. don't just tell me "time is different" because the difficulty isn't just with time, and you know it. i need to start seeing the larger picture myself, and all this book did was to indulge in some sort of "well, the author must have always wanted to write a hallucination-rich robin hood fantasy novel, so she threw it in" situation. impulse control, indeed.

it just needs to be tighter. the bullying is fine, even if it doesn't fit pestilence in the same way that the previous two fit their roles. the grandfather-suffering-from-alzheimer's complicates his situation and adds a nice additional layer to billy's character, but the rest of it just takes the emotional focus away from billy and doesn't feel like it fits with the two previous books.

i have always felt that the first two books had the potential to really help people suffering from similar problems. that, while they might not be the best books ever written, they did have a good message, and they were sensitive without being at all treacly. i admired that, and appreciated that for some people, these books could be encouraging in dark times and help to examine their choices. this one doesn't address bullying in the same way, and doesn't really offer solutions or alternatives to what is still a huge problem in high schools. its message gets lost in its experimentation.

i figure the next book will be the final one, and i hope that she can end it in a way that sheds light over the entire series. i hope, to co-opt the anti-bullying motto, "it gets better."(less)

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Aug 05, 2012 Rhiannon Ryder rated it 3 of 5 stars

I fell in love with this series when Houghton Mifflin randomly sent me the first part, Hunger, shortly after it came out in the fall of 2010. It was a heavy hitter with heart, and I loved the fantasy element that Jackie brought to the issues. It was a terrific meshing of story with major teen issues, making it very readable despite tackling serious subject matter. I was even more impressed when I read Rage, and found myself in tears by the end. To say I was eagerly awaiting Loss is a bit of an u...more I fell in love with this series when Houghton Mifflin randomly sent me the first part, Hunger, shortly after it came out in the fall of 2010. It was a heavy hitter with heart, and I loved the fantasy element that Jackie brought to the issues. It was a terrific meshing of story with major teen issues, making it very readable despite tackling serious subject matter. I was even more impressed when I read Rage, and found myself in tears by the end. To say I was eagerly awaiting Loss is a bit of an understatement.

In each of the Riders of the Apocalypse books Jackie takes a broken teen and shows them redemption through balancing the bad and the good in the world by making them a rider of something close to their inner turmoil. The girl battling an eating disorder becomes Famine, the girl who cuts herself becomes War, and the boy who's bullied and desperately trying to deal with his bad home situation becomes Pestilence. Their struggle as a rider becomes the way they find redemption in their personal life.

Loss deals with bullying and Alzheimer's, Billy's life is a disaster at school where he's constantly picked on, but there's no relief at home where he has to help care for his beloved Grandfather who's being ravaged by Alzheimer's. The story line with his grandfather, like the story about Missy's cat was something I could relate to perfectly, as my own beloved grandfather wasted away similarly. Even his grandfathers prophetic words, in a moment of lucidity, reminded me of my grandfather, who also had a lucid moment of emotional depth the very last time we spoke before he died.

"You find you way," said his grandfather, shaking a finger at him. "You find your way, and you come back home."

Unlike the previous two books in the series, Loss also had an intriguing background story of the previous Pestilence. The mystery surrounding the "Ice Cream Man" was a fascinating addition to the story and made me wonder even more about the other previous Riders.

Jackie's gift for telling a story and making it personal remains her gift in the Riders of the Apocalypse. Who would think I would have strongly protective feelings for War, Famine, and Pestilence? And yet I deeply care what happens to these teens. But I think the best part of this series is not only how touched I am by each of the stories, but that contributions from the sale of each of the books goes to very worthy charities. Loss makes contributions to the Alzheimer's Association, one that's very close to my heart. I love the idea that the joy of a book can also contribute to a greater good. As if I need more reasons to buy books.
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Jun 12, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've been reading the Riders of the Apocalypse series since the beginning and I think that each one is better than the last. LOSS tells the story of Billy Ballard, bullied at school and caring for his grandfather with Alzheimer's at home. You may be wondering how bullying connects to Pestilence, since the other issues explored in the series have tied tightly to the Horseman. In this case, there isn't much of a connection because Billy doesn't go through the standard succession process. The curre...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Bissfan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Bissfan by: Shiku

3,5
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Für Billy Ballard fing es eigentlich wie ein ganz normaler Tag an: Er wurde von Mitschülern schikaniert und getreten, er ließ seine beste Freundin sitzen aus Angst, die Aufmerksamkeit seiner Peiniger auf sich zu ziehen, wenn er die Pizzeria betritt. Der Tag soll allerdings noch schlimmer werden, als sein an Alzheimer erkrankter Großvater die Wohnung verlässt und allein in den Straßen umherirrt. Billy ahnt noch nicht, dass der komische Musiker, den er auf seiner Suche...more 3,5
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Für Billy Ballard fing es eigentlich wie ein ganz normaler Tag an: Er wurde von Mitschülern schikaniert und getreten, er ließ seine beste Freundin sitzen aus Angst, die Aufmerksamkeit seiner Peiniger auf sich zu ziehen, wenn er die Pizzeria betritt. Der Tag soll allerdings noch schlimmer werden, als sein an Alzheimer erkrankter Großvater die Wohnung verlässt und allein in den Straßen umherirrt. Billy ahnt noch nicht, dass der komische Musiker, den er auf seiner Suche nach seinem Großvater trifft, Death ist … oder doch? Aus irgendeinem Grund scheint er es zu ahnen und sich nicht darüber zu wundern. Doch warum? Was auch immer es ist, eines kann Billy noch nicht wissen: Wie sehr sein Mut und seine Kraft in nächster Zeit gefordert werden und wie sehr er endlich für sich selbst einstehen muss, wie er zurückkämpfen muss; das, was er in all den Jahren verlernt hat.

Natürlich gibt es auch im dritten Band der Reihe wieder kleine Gemeinsamkeiten: Die Initialen des Protagonisten beginnen mit dem gleichen Buchstaben, während der Name eigentlich nur eine Kurzvariante des eigentlichen Namen ist. Der Protagonist hat ein privates Problem, das in der einen oder anderen Weise mit seinem künftigen Amt zu tun hat, das er aus bestimmten Gründen übernehmen muss, womit er anfangs durchaus Probleme hat.
Soviel zu den Gemeinsamkeiten, denn zum einen ist Billy etwas jünger als die anderen beiden, zum anderen hat er gleich zwei Probleme, ist natürlich ein Junge und – was besonders wichtig ist – reagiert nicht genau so wie seine Vorgängerinnen. Hinzu kommt, dass es dieses Mal nicht Death war, der Billy erwählte, sondern Pestilence selbst, nur dass Billy in diesem Fall kein wirkliches Mitspracherecht hatte.

Billy scheint keine sonderlich großen Probleme mit dem Gedanken zu haben, dass die Reiter existieren, was mich anfangs in der Tat ein wenig irritiert hat. Wie kann man so etwas einfach so hinnehmen? Allerdings war zu diesem Zeitpunkt schon deutlich, dass da noch mehr ist und dieses Versprechen soll nicht übertrieben gewesen sein: Da ist noch mehr und es erklärt auch, warum Billy nicht so überrascht ist, wie man es vielleicht erwarten könnte.
Er selbst ist ein durchaus sympathischer Charakter, der in gewisser Hinsicht verständlich ist, auch wenn das Buch nie sagt, dass seine mangelnde Selbstverteidigung „richtig“ ist – eben wie auch beim Thema Magersucht oder selbstverletzendes Verhalten. Ich gebe zu, ich wurde nie ernsthaft gemobbt und hatte deswegen Probleme, mich 100%ig einzufühlen. Es ist ein Thema, bei dem ich glaube, dass man es erlebt haben muss, um es wirklich nachvollziehen zu können. Bei mir gab es zwar Mitschüler, die mich mit ungewollten Namen ärgerten und später beim Schulwechsel jene netten Herren, die alles daran taten, dass ich mich unwohl fühlte, indem sie mich hauptsächlich mit sexuellen Fragen löcherten. Aber ich war schon immer gut darin, solche Idioten auszublenden und schlichtweg zu ignorieren, was definitiv hilft. Man reagiert nicht, zeigt somit auch keine Schwäche und irgendwann verlieren sie die Lust. Allerdings ist das bei weitem nicht, was Billy durchmachen muss, der zu Boden geschlagen und getreten wird. Die ganze Zeit über hab ich gehofft, dass er doch endlich seiner Wut nachgibt und zurückschlägt, und ihnen zeigt, dass sie so nicht mit ihm umgehen können.
Seine Wandlung, die er im Laufe des Buches durchmacht, ist bisweilen ein bisschen „jumpy“, aber auch nicht so sehr, dass es mich besonders gestört hätte. Es fiel mir nur auf. Es legt sich auch zum Ende hin, so dass ich dort nichts mehr in dieser Hinsicht zu bemängeln hätte.

Neben Billy tauchen natürlich noch andere wichtige Charaktere auf, der prominenteste unter ihnen dürfte wohl Death sein. Ich hab es vermutlich schon oft genug in den vorherigen Rezensionen erwähnt, aber ich liebe den Kerl, so selbstmörderisch das auch klingen mag. Einzig von den Pferden wird ihm die Show gestohlen. Sie sind eben ein bisschen mehr als normale Tiere und die Interaktion untereinander wird selten genug gezeigt, aber wenn, dann ist es richtig herzig. Ich würde ja so weit gehen und behaupten, dass sie die heimlichen Stars der Bücher sind!

Wichtiger ist allerdings, dass es in diesem Buch ein paar mehr Hintergrundinformationen gibt. Weniger zu den Reitern allgemein – auch wenn es da ebenfalls den einen oder anderen Hinweis gibt –, sondern vielmehr zu Pestilence, seiner Vergangenheit und Geschichte. Ich gebe zu, nicht alles davon erschien mir ganz schlüssig. Außerdem erwähnt die Autorin im Nachwort, dass sie zu Beginn einige Ideen hatte, die nicht so recht passten und von denen nur eine als Element erhalten blieb – interessanterweise ist es genau dieses Element, das mir überflüssig vorkam. Sie selbst sagt, dass die Idee recht lose zur Geschichte verknüpft ist – es liegt einfach daran, dass Pestilence‘ Waffe ein Bogen ist. Das ist wirklich ein bisschen wenig und mir wäre es lieber gewesen, sie hätte da mehr hineingesteckt oder es einfach weggelassen.
Sei es, wie es sei, wir bekommen mehr Einsicht in Pestilence‘ Leben, das wirklich lang genug war. In der Zeit lernen wir natürlich auch ihn ein bisschen besser kennen und demnach auch seine Motive; wer ein Herz für tragische Liebesgeschichten hat, darf auch auf ein bisschen mehr hoffen, denn die Geschichte von Pestilence und Famine hier ist genau das: ein bisschen tragisch und vor allem ziemlich traurig.
Lediglich am Ende hatte ich wieder einige Probleme mit dem Auslöser für Pestilence‘ finale Handlungen, einfach weil er so banal wirkte. Zwar hat Pestilence im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes den Verstand verloren, aber aus diesem einen Grund zu tun, was er am Ende tut, schien mir doch ein bisschen zu sehr an den Haaren herbeigezogen zu sein.

Am Ende ist „Loss“ ein bisschen mehr als nur die Geschichte eines Jungen, der lernen muss, für sich selbst einzustehen. Trotzdem ist dies der Hauptpunkt des Buches, der mit ein bisschen Tragik, genauso aber Witz gespickt wurde. Besonders gut gefiel mir ja das Ende, bei dem ich mir wirklich nicht sicher bin, ob es nun eindeutig ist oder nicht. Ich glaube zu wissen, wie es ausgeht, aber dann gibt es wieder den einen oder anderen Satz, der mich unsicher werden lässt. Was auch immer die Wahrheit ist: Es ist ein passendes Ende.

Wer in den vorherigen Bänden Death und die Pferde mochte, kommt hier definitiv wieder auf seine Kosten, aber auch Billys Geschichte ist einen Blick wert. Es mag nicht alles immer ganz schlüssig wirken, aber das sind nur einige Punkte. Wichtig ist: „Loss“ unterscheidet sich wieder von „Hunger“ und „Rage“ und Billy macht seine eigene Entwicklung durch.
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May 15, 2012 Jim added it

This is the third book in her Riders of the Apocalypse series, but I picked it up without having read the others, and had no problem jumping into the story.

This is a book about Billy Ballard, a fifteen-year-old who is tricked into taking up the bow of Pestilence, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. But first he must confront the old Pestilence, also known as the Conqueror, who … well, let’s just say that centuries on the job have done bad things to his sanity…

It’s also a book about bully...more This is the third book in her Riders of the Apocalypse series, but I picked it up without having read the others, and had no problem jumping into the story.

This is a book about Billy Ballard, a fifteen-year-old who is tricked into taking up the bow of Pestilence, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. But first he must confront the old Pestilence, also known as the Conqueror, who … well, let’s just say that centuries on the job have done bad things to his sanity…

It’s also a book about bullying. Because Billy is that kid. The one everybody picks on. The one who gets teased, tormented, and beat up on a regular basis. The one the teachers ignore. The one the other kids avoid so as not to become targets themselves. The one who’s learned perfectly well that platitudes like, “Just ignore it” don’t do a damned thing.

Billy’s home life isn’t much better. He lives with his mother and grandfather, where most of the energy attention goes into managing his grandfather’s Alzheimer’s, keeping him from wandering into the street, cleaning up after him, and dealing with verbal and physical outbursts.

The Four Horsemen aren’t a new idea for fantasy. Piers Anthony’s Incarnations of Immortality was probably the first horsemen series I read. But Kessler’s take is more grounded, treating both the real world and the fantastic more seriously. These are real people with real conflicts and struggles and pain.

Except for Death. He’s not a real person. He’s just a badass.

I only had two complaints. By the end of the book, I wanted to know more about the horsemen, about their magic and origins and purpose in the world. But this might be something that’s covered in the first two books, so that could be my own problem.

Secondly … well, with a book like this, you know there’s got to be some sort of resolution between the bully and the hero. Without going into detail, that resolution didn’t really work for me.

Overall though, I think Kessler has done an admirable job with Loss. Billy’s struggle with bullies, his dread of walking into certain classes, the way he plans out his schedule every day to give him the best chance of avoiding certain tormenters, it feels real and at times all too familiar. And I loved Pestilence’s horse.

The short version: I read the book in a day and a half, and I hope to go back and read the first two.(less)

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May 09, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Billy Ballard is bullied daily. He hates his life because of the bullies and because he has to take care of his grandfather who has Alzheimer's. His mother is constantly working and tired, so the responsibility often falls on him. Then, everything changes when Death tells Billy he must take up the white cloak and become Pestilence. He doesn't want to, but the Bow that unleashes disease follows him. He accidentally lashes out at his tormenters, spreading meningitis at his school. He is horrified...more Billy Ballard is bullied daily. He hates his life because of the bullies and because he has to take care of his grandfather who has Alzheimer's. His mother is constantly working and tired, so the responsibility often falls on him. Then, everything changes when Death tells Billy he must take up the white cloak and become Pestilence. He doesn't want to, but the Bow that unleashes disease follows him. He accidentally lashes out at his tormenters, spreading meningitis at his school. He is horrified that he would stoop to that level and basically become a bully as well. He begs Death for a way out. Pestilence is still alive, but comatose. He must awaken Pestilence to take up his job again or be doomed to do the job instead.

I really liked this novel. Billy is a normal teen who is tormented every single day. I'm sure everyone reading it has at least one memory of being bullied or are currently being bullied. It's frustrating to know that many kids are in the same position as him and many teachers stand by and let the bullying happen. His mother puts a lot of responsibility on him to take care of his grandfather who has Alzheimer's. He doesn't want to bring people to his house and he doesn't have much time to enjoy being a teen. The Alzheimer's makes his beloved grandfather into a stranger to him who can become belligerent or even violent. They can no longer share memories and his grandfather is essentially not the same person that Billy grew up with. The realistic portrayal of his life is the triumph of this book. I just wanted to give Billy a hug and tell him that his life won't be that way forever.

The other thing I really loved about this book was Pestilence. Billy goes into his consciousness to get him to wake up and do his job and views his memories and experiences. His history is inspired by a mix of myth and folklore and I totally nerded out while reading. Both the King Midas tale and the story of Robin Hood were retold and mixed together in a dynamic and interesting way. It was unexpected and it made the story much more memorable and enjoyable.

Loss is a wonderful mix of harsh reality and myths and legends. I had no idea it was part of a series, which may shed more light on some of the minor characters. I would definitely read the rest of the series and eagerly await for more books from Jackie Morse Kessler.(less)

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Apr 02, 2012 Jenn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Before I start writing about LOSS, I want to mention that I've only read one of the previous books: RAGE (my thoughts here). It was a challenging book to read because of the tough subject matter but I thought it was beautifully written. If you've read HUNGER or RAGE, I'm sure you know exactly what I mean: Jackie Morse Kessler tackles real, difficult subjects in the Riders of the Apocalypse series and the journey is hard on the characters and hard on the readers. I really admire her for bringing...more Before I start writing about LOSS, I want to mention that I've only read one of the previous books: RAGE (my thoughts here). It was a challenging book to read because of the tough subject matter but I thought it was beautifully written. If you've read HUNGER or RAGE, I'm sure you know exactly what I mean: Jackie Morse Kessler tackles real, difficult subjects in the Riders of the Apocalypse series and the journey is hard on the characters and hard on the readers. I really admire her for bringing these serious issues to her readers, particularly since she does it in a way that makes her charcters' challenges relatable. This is especially true with LOSS, which deals with bullying and, to a lesser extent, Alzheimer's. That being said, you can definitely read LOSS without being familiar with the previous two novels.

LOSS' main character, Billy, lives a difficult life. He's bullied at school and no one cares, not even the teachers, and then, when he gets home, he has to take care of his grandfather, who suffers from Alzheimer's. He's unhappy, he's scared, and he's shouldering great responsibilities. And as if that's not enough, he made a deal with the White Rider when he was a kid, which is coming back to haunt him now, since he's asked to pick up the Bow and become Pestilence. Billy struggles to stand up for himself and to decide whether or not he should take up the mantle of the White Rider, learning to deal with his problems in a more active manner. It's a story I think just about everyone can relate to, either because they have mean kid moments in their past or because they were the person who got pushed around. The bullying Billy experiences is particularly brutal, and the cause of the bullies' animosity is never really explained, which makes it seem even harsher for its randomness.

For folks who are familiar with the series, there are some great moments with the Black and Red Riders, and also with Death, who seems quite different this time around. We're starting to see that there's more to him and it makes me very excited for BREATH, the next story in the series.

LOSS is a complex story that tackles serious issues with skill and emotion and I'd recommend it to anyone who doesn't shy away from heavy themes. Plus, Jackie is donating a portion of proceeds from LOSS to the Alzheimer's Association, which is an important cause!

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Mar 08, 2013 Sherri rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: washyarg-finished

This 3rd book in the series can stand alone. Fifteen-year-old Billy Ballard is the bullies’ number one victim at his school. Even his home is no longer a sanctuary as every day after school he cares for his ailing grandfather who is losing his battle with Alzheimer’s, so his single mom can work a second job to keep their family afloat. Then one day Death visits him and reveals it is time for Billy to keep a promise he unknowingly made 10 years ago to the White Rider of the Apocalypse. Billy prom...more

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Apr 21, 2012 Alicia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: abuse, boy, fantasy, magical, series

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Mar 27, 2012 Lily rated it 2 of 5 stars

There was a lot of potential for this book - the whole series, in fact. The first book was excellent, the second good if carrying a few edit requirements, and sadly this one, as another reviewer noted, simply lacks cohesion. The flashbacks were too drawn out and messy; the main character too disassociated for me to empathise with and his background felt impersonal - part of what made particularly Hunger and to a degree Rage so good was the girls' personal struggles and how close the reader felt...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Kathy Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think this was my favorite of all of the Riders of the Apocalypse books that I have read. Billy Ballard is the victim of persistent and sustained bullying and just wants to get through the day. When Death comes calling and says he has to stand in as Pestilence, Billy feels totally unqualified and out of his depth. But he made a promise when he was five-years-old to a man who has haunted his nightmares ever since and he is stuck with the job. The job is made even more difficult by the fact that...more I think this was my favorite of all of the Riders of the Apocalypse books that I have read. Billy Ballard is the victim of persistent and sustained bullying and just wants to get through the day. When Death comes calling and says he has to stand in as Pestilence, Billy feels totally unqualified and out of his depth. But he made a promise when he was five-years-old to a man who has haunted his nightmares ever since and he is stuck with the job. The job is made even more difficult by the fact that Pestilence is insane.

We see the history of Pestilence who began life as King Mita of Phrygia and who took up the crown of Pestilence upon the death of his beloved young daughter. This Pestilence has served for thousands of years and the horrors he has seen and caused have made him insane. He is determined to end the world once and for all. Billy has to dive into Pestilence's memories and face his own fears before the world can be saved.

I love the language in this story. The descriptions made me feel like I was there with Billy which was not exactly a good thing when he was being tormented by the bullies at his school. The only downside that I could find for this story was that Death didn't make enough appearances. There was less of the quirky humor that Death brought to the earlier books in the series.

This book deals with real life issues like bullying and like caring for a grandparent with Alzheimer's. I thought Billy's feelings about his grandfather were very realistic as he switched between remembering the grandfather who was such a central part of his childhood and resenting the responsibility for caring for this sometimes violent stranger his grandfather had become. I agreed with him when he felt that he had too much irresponsibility for a fifteen-year-old. I also really resented the mother who didn't see that her son was being bullied and the school system that didn't see it either.

This was an excellent story about a young man who doesn't let an impossible situation defeat him and who struggles with both grace and courage. I thought that the ending was realistic and not a typical "they all lived happily ever after." I recommend this story to all young adults.(less)

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Jul 19, 2012 Monica&spikey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Eh, okay, no deep thoughts on this one, sorries.
The thing is, the main point is bullying, and I have never been bullied or a bully, and, having gone to middle and high school as part of that school\s first ever class, there wasn’t really a large population of people, so I didn’t observe much bullying, either.
There’s also a point with Alzheimer’s disease which I have even less experience with than bullying.
Also, the way this book happened just seemed weird to me. okay, yes, the White Rider is CR...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

I've had these series on the sides of my personal reading radar for a while. I haven't really had the opportunity to dive into it before, so when I had the chance to read Loss, the third book in the series, I thought it was time to go for a ride. The good thing about these books is that you don't really need to read them all in order since each book focuses on a different character's story and how they become one of the riders of the apocalypse. (Though I was a little lost when some of the other...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Bonnie at A Backwards Story added it

Shelves: 2012, blog-tour, fantasy

Bookworms, don't forget to check out today's interview with Billy Ballard from LOSS, as well as previous reviews of both HUNGER and RAGE! I also interviewed Jackie last year on her RAGE Blog Tour. Earlier this week, I also talked about the Mythological Aspects of LOSS! Check it all out to find out more about this unique series!

LOSS is the third book in Jackie Morse Kessler's Riders of the Apocalypse quartet, though you don't need to pick up the previous two novels in order to read it. Not only i...more
Bookworms, don't forget to check out today's interview with Billy Ballard from LOSS, as well as previous reviews of both HUNGER and RAGE! I also interviewed Jackie last year on her RAGE Blog Tour. Earlier this week, I also talked about the Mythological Aspects of LOSS! Check it all out to find out more about this unique series!

LOSS is the third book in Jackie Morse Kessler's Riders of the Apocalypse quartet, though you don't need to pick up the previous two novels in order to read it. Not only is it the longest book in the series to date, it's also my current favorite (though all bets are off when BREATH comes out because, um, I LOVE Death's character!). While both HUNGER and RAGE focus more on disorders, LOSS is more a story of circumstance. It also explores the history of Pestilence the Conqueror in ways not previously seen in the series.

Unlike HUNGER and RAGE, which feature two girls harming themselves and in danger of dying, their disorders closely linked to their roles as Horsmen, Billy Ballard is tricked into becoming Pestilence. He makes a deal he doesn't understand early on that comes back to haunt him later as the current crown-bearing Horsemen Pestilence lays on his deathbed. That isn't to say that LOSS isn't without social issues at its heart. Billy is badly buried at school, sometimes so badly beaten that I could see him dying in an encounter one day. When he's first given Pestilence's bow with its quiver full of disease-laden arrows, Billy finds out that he can strike back at the bullies who have taunted him for so many years. The scene where he snaps and teeters on the edge reminds me of what a student on a killing spree at school might think. In particular, it brought Lionel Shriver's WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN to mind, a book with a scene so horrifying, I still try to forget it. At the same time, Kessler maintains balance and shows the goodness in humans despite all the trauma we go through in life, the resilience that brings us back from the edge. On top of the bullying issue, Kessler adds in an issue at home: Billy's grandfather has dementia and Alzheimer's, so Billy knows a thing or two about illness when asked to be Pestilence. People who have watched loved ones suffer from these diseases will connect with Billy, who both loves his grandfather and wishes he'd get well, but sometimes wishes he no longer suffered in such a fashion. In my opinion, LOSS has the deepest themes running through it of the three books in the series released so far.

In addition, LOSS is heaviest on the mythology--and I don't mean Rider mythology. Pestilence is all about insanity, the way disease can creep in and turn your mind inside out until you can't tell left from right. When diving into the memories of the current Horseman, Billy must determine what is real and what is false, even as he feels himself going crazy in the process. The segment is a whirlwind that, at first, can be incredibly confusing, but is designed that way on purpose. Kessler deftly pulls the readers into Billy's mental frame of mind, which can be hard for author's to do. The White Rider has lived for centuries, ever since he lived as King Mita, the real-life form of the legendary King Midas. Rather than turning everything he touched to gold, however, the King can bestow life or death. The White Rider also spent time hiding from death and shirking his duties as Pestilence in the Greenwood as Robert Hode, whose tales would later become those of an outlaw named Robin Hood. A couple other scenarios, such as the Children’s Crusade in France, are mentioned as well, fleshing out the the fact that the Riders of the Apocalypse are not mere legend, but bound up in the stories of our everyday life. I was always so anxious to see what story Kessler would weave into LOSS next, and never disappointed by the results. Combined with a captivating story and a satisfying resolution, LOSS is my favorite book in the RIDERS OF THE APOCALYPSE series to date.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of LOSS will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association. If you are planning to purchase a copy of LOSS, thank you for helping to make a difference!

COVER DESIGN:

I always love the cover art for his series. For one thing, it's SHINY. I love shiny things (maybe I was a dragon in a past life...?). For another, the covers always feature the symbol of the novel's Horseman. In the case of LOSS, Pestilence has both a crown and a bow (with arrows full of disease). Finally, it's got a bit of grunge going on. the cover isn't perfect, even though it IS shiny. It shows that perfection doesn't exist, and adds grit, showcasing that the book has harder issues than what one might expect picking it up blind. The books manage to retain a glossy fantasy look.

I can't wait to see what designer Sammy Yuen does next with BREATH!
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Feb 25, 2012 Kathleen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: junior-library-guild

Of the three Riders of the Apocalypse books that are published (or to be published), I think this one has been my favorite thus far. Billy Ballard is a kid who is bullied. And by bullied, I do mean Beat.The.Crap.Out.Of. It is heartbreaking to read what he goes through at school and otherwise. When Death comes to knock on his door, and offer him the crown and bow of the White Rider, he's just as nervous as he is getting ready for school in the morning. For one, he's terrified of horses. And these...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, read-2012

The bullies have an easy target--Billy Ballard just takes their insults and punches and seems to come back for more. He is haunted at night by dreams of the Ice Cream Man. Billy cares for his Alzheimers-afflicted grandfather and discovers that he is Pestilence, the Conqueror, the White Rider of the Apocalypse. Yes, he uses his powers to get back at a couple of his school tormentors but as disease spreads through Billy's high school, he realizes how easy it would be to become just like the bullie...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Krystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

This is one of those books that deals with a difficult topic, but manages to make that topic applicable in such a way that teens/young adults will maintain interest and understand. Billy Ballard is bullied. The former sentence is alliterative and incredibly sad. He doesn't fight back or defend himself, but takes most of the bullying in stride. Adults are even sometimes around when he is bullied, but do nothing...an unfortunate fact in many cases. The reader will connect to Billy and feel terribl...more

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May 22, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, paranormal-read, mythology, series, young-adult-read

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

My Summary: Billy's always been the kid that gets picked on by the biggest, stupidest bullies around. All the poor kid wants is to walk home without getting beaten to a pulp...

Then Billy meets Death - literally, not figuratively - and learns he is set to become the White Rider of the Apocalypse. Now, armed with power beyond his comprehension, Billy lashes out at the people who made his li...more

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May 22, 2012 Mitch rated it 2 of 5 stars

I have to say the idea behind Loss is better than the book itself. Yeah, bullying is a serious issue, as is caring for a family member with Alzheimer's, but Kessler focuses far too much on the mythology behind the White Horseman and far too little on the important themes. I liked the premise, Billy being bullied until he's given this great power and then has to learn to use it responsibly while coming to terms with himself and learning how to deal with the bullies, but so much of it is lost in c...more I have to say the idea behind Loss is better than the book itself. Yeah, bullying is a serious issue, as is caring for a family member with Alzheimer's, but Kessler focuses far too much on the mythology behind the White Horseman and far too little on the important themes. I liked the premise, Billy being bullied until he's given this great power and then has to learn to use it responsibly while coming to terms with himself and learning how to deal with the bullies, but so much of it is lost in chapter after chapter of Horseman mythology and philosophy that it just didn't work that well. Since most of the issues I have with Loss are plot specific, there are going to be a lot of unmarked spoilers. You've been warned.

Anyway, the first half of the book and the last chapter for the most part worked for me. Personally, I thought Billy should've gotten more sympathy or help from adults instead of just from one girl, because of the bullying and his grandfather, than he did, but hey in life people tend to look the other way too so it was still believable if a little over the top harsh. And after two books, it's great Kessler didn't go through the motions of having Death convince another disbelieving kid, although Billy might've known a little too much at the beginning, which wasn't explained that well. But I liked what Billy did once he got his powers, giving his bullies horrible diseases and immediately feeling terrible about it, because he quickly realizes he might not be any better than them by doing that. And the ending, yeah, while it was a feel good ending, at least it's the expected you know how it's going to turn out that way feel good ending - but he REALLY didn't need to kill someone, I didn't see the point of that. At least Billy ended up a better person (of course he did), even if his grandfather's miraculous recovery thanks to new 'medicines' is a little too feel good and neat.

Unfortunately, that's the extent of the good parts of the book. The rest is just so convoluted I'm not sure what the point of all of it was besides being filler and leaving me with a ton of questions. So why did the White Horseman pick Billy to succeed - er trick Billy into succeeding - him? It seemed like such a big part of the plot, Billy referencing the Horseman as the Ice Cream Man and all that, and I just didn't get it. Then it turns out the Horseman is King Midas, and then Robin Hood - er Robert Hode, and he goes into this long and crazy thing about finding a balance in the world between sickness and health? Umm, it's all a little too philosophical for a book that should have been more character focused, on Billy and his problems, and I didn't like the Midas character at all, no matter how much it's explained that he's crazy. From the acknowledgements, it seems the Robin Hood subplot messed up the first twenty odd drafts of this book, and unfortunately, both that angle and probably most of the King Midas angle should've been cut completely. Loss really should've been about a bullied kid with a bad home life, and all the horseman talk just distracted from that.

Of the three books in this series, I definitely like this one the least. Kessler talks about balance a lot, but this one has the worst balance of the three between the main character's learning something about themselves and background on the horsemen. Book just had too much of the later, and it wasn't really good either, kind of overwhelmed the former.(less)

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Dec 01, 2012 KL rated it 4 of 5 stars

This series just keeps getting better and better.

After Famine and War were introduced, I had figured that Pestilence wasn't too far away from it's own introduction; especially since he was briefly seen in the other two books.

The story this time revolved around a young boy named Billy, who is unfortunately living a very difficult life. I wasn't surprised by the fact that he was a bullied child, on the contrary it was very interesting; after two books about problems of the mind, it was a nice chan...more

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May 09, 2012 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: series, supernatural, coming-of-age

Fifteen-year-old Billy Ballard has been bullied his entire life. And instead of fighting it, he has acknowledged that the best thing to do is accept his being bullied; after all, the bullies eventually get bored and walk away. The only problem with this strategy is Billy has been called upon by Death to become Pestilence, the White Rider of the Apocalypse. As a child, Billy was tricked into accepting the post by the White Rider himself, in exchange for a ride on Pestilence’s warhorse. Now Billy...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Chapter by Chapter rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loss is one of those books that I just can’t get out of my head. I shed many tears, held my breath at different points in the book, felt angry, felt happiness – another emotional rollercoaster ride! In this installment of the Riders of the Apocalypse series, Jackie Morse Kessler brings us right into the heart of bullying. I am a huge anti-bullying advocate. Anytime I read about it, see anything about it, hear anything about it, a little something inside of me snaps and my emotions are visible fo...more Loss is one of those books that I just can’t get out of my head. I shed many tears, held my breath at different points in the book, felt angry, felt happiness – another emotional rollercoaster ride! In this installment of the Riders of the Apocalypse series, Jackie Morse Kessler brings us right into the heart of bullying. I am a huge anti-bullying advocate. Anytime I read about it, see anything about it, hear anything about it, a little something inside of me snaps and my emotions are visible for all to see. Loss brought out all of those emotions for me. If there’s anything that I try to cement into my kids’ head, it is not to be mean to anyone. If they see someone who is eating alone, or is sitting alone, to befriend them! Ask them to join…make them feel not as lonely. One of the things that my friends always say about me is that I always include everyone. I don’t leave anyone out, and I was always the one in school who stuck up for the ones who were being bullied. And I’m proud of that. And I want my kids to say the same thing when they grow up.

Loss is similar to that of the other 2 books of this series, Hunger and Rage BUT it is so different in so many different ways. In Loss we see Billy Ballard not only fight his own personal battles with bullying but also has an epic battle in which he has to fight to save the entire world. HUGE weight on his shoulders! We also get to see the past life of The White Rider (the Conqueror), Pestilence, and how he came to be one of the Riders. Jackie Morse Kessler also weaves a creative, ingenious twist on King Midas, whose touch (as we know it) turned everything into gold.

In the past books, we see the main characters having their Titles imposed upon them due to the deaths of their predecessors, but in Loss, the White King lives and it is up to Billy to have Pestilence continue his duties as the White Rider or to have the Title himself. An interesting aspect of this book was how Kessler weaved the thoughts and memories of Pestilence into a dreamlike state where we are treated with memories of his past, and his feelings and thoughts of when Death appointed him as Pestilence.

Of all the books, THIS ONE is the one I can see as a movie. Every page played out the movie in my mind, complete with the fast forward fast action memory sequences to slow motion play by plays. The book itself is divided into three parts; one where we see the bullying of Billy and how he ends up being chosen to be Pestilence, one where we see the thoughts and memories of the White King where Billy learns what he needs to know to save all of humanity, and one where we see the epic battle unfold and where we see Billy make his ultimate decision. Kessler’s writing in Loss is unforgettable and surpasses the first two books.

Fans of the Riders of the Apocalypse series will totally devour Loss and will bear witness to Billy Ballard, a boy who has been bullied for most of his life, save all of humanity.(less)

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Mar 01, 2013 Karyl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, interlibrary-loans, young-adult-reads, fantasy-sci-fi

As the third book in the Riders of the Apocalypse series, I was really looking forward to LOSS. Unfortunately, I enjoyed this one the least of the three. I had a hard time getting into the novel, although Billy totally won my sympathy. The flashbacks to earlier times were a little long, and it was hard to keep track of where Kessler was going. I found the idea of needing both Pestilence and the Conqueror as White Riders a little difficult to follow. Why does the White incarnation get two Riders...more

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Apr 17, 2012 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-fiction, paranormal, website

This is the third book in the Riders of the Apocalypse series. In this book we meet the last of our riders Pestilence. Billy Ballard is like our other riders. He is a loner, he is bullied, he doesn't have a very good home life, his grandfather has Alzheimers. But he is also different from the other riders in that Death does not choose him. He was selected by the White Rider (Pestilence) when he was 5 years old. He was tricked by the Ice Cream Man into agreeing to be the White Rider by a promise...more

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Apr 17, 2012 Courtney rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bullying, misc-supernatural, series, teen-fiction

So, we've met a young lady with anorexia who becomes Famine. We've met another young lady who cuts herself and becomes War. Now meet Billy. He spends his days trying his best to avoid the vicious bullies that prowl the halls of his school. In his off-time, he's busy taking care of his grandfather, who is suffering from Alzheimer's. Between the trouble at school and his grandfather's unpredictable behavior, Billy's pretty miserable. Needless to say, he is not necessarily pleased when Death shows...more So, we've met a young lady with anorexia who becomes Famine. We've met another young lady who cuts herself and becomes War. Now meet Billy. He spends his days trying his best to avoid the vicious bullies that prowl the halls of his school. In his off-time, he's busy taking care of his grandfather, who is suffering from Alzheimer's. Between the trouble at school and his grandfather's unpredictable behavior, Billy's pretty miserable. Needless to say, he is not necessarily pleased when Death shows up at his door asking for Billy's help. Pestilence, the fourth rider, has shirked his duties and it now falls to Billy to either find the White Rider and get him back on the horse (literally and figuratively) or take up the mantle of Pestilence himself. Neither choice is ideal to Billy, especially when he realizes that the man known as Pestilence bears a very, very strong resemblance to Billy's childhood nightmares. Also, Billy really doesn't like horses.
This installment in the Riders of the Apocalypse series is definitely a bit different that the others that preceded it. With an existing, albeit infirm, Pestilence, Billy is not forced to automatically assume the role as the girls from the previous books were. While he does carry the symbolic bow and is able to use some of the power that comes with it, his main goal is getting the old Pestilence back on duty so that Billy doesn't have to. This book may not be quite as accessible as the first two, but it is indeed a unique experience and well worth reading. Fortunately, the other books in the series are more "companion" novels rather than being sequential, so readers can really begin anywhere they like in the series and still get the plot. I am really, really curious to see what Kessler does in the next book of the series, especially since we've now met all of our horsemen (horse-people?). Also, I've got to give the horses a "shout-out" because they're swiftly becoming some of my favorite recurring "characters" in this series. (less)

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May 23, 2012 Patricia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-fiction-paranormal

This is the 3rd title in Kessler's Riders of the Apocalypse series, coming after Hunger, & Rage. This one is about Pestilence, the White Rider, & the main character is a bullied high school boy, who is offered the chance to restore the balance of health & disease in the world, while also working through his personal demons. I didn't like it as much as the first two; felt that parts of it could have been made shorter so the story would move along faster, seemed like it dragged in the...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Attila Cthulhuson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Each book in this series deals with an issue relevant to teens, and the teen’s struggle culminates in his or her opportunity to become one of the four horsemen. I was unsure which direction Kessler would take with this one. I figured she'd go the modern route and have the white rider be Pestilence. I was pleasantly surprised when she found a way to have the rider be both Pestilence and the Conqueror.

The main teen issue was bullying, with Billy Ballard, a kid who is so used to being beaten up he...more

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Mar 09, 2012 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-release, ala-12, arcs-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews, 2012-100-book-challenge

3.5 stars

The Riders of the Apocalypse Series is one of those gritty, honest and moving stories about a variety of real things that teens deal with. In Hunger we meet a girl who deals with an eating disorder and she her transform into the first rider of the Apocalypse, Famine. In Rage we met a teen who deals with bullying and cutting herself. During her story we watch her transform into the second rider of the Apocalypse, WAR, and see how she over comes her self mutilation. In LOSS Jackie again t...more 3.5 stars

The Riders of the Apocalypse Series is one of those gritty, honest and moving stories about a variety of real things that teens deal with. In Hunger we meet a girl who deals with an eating disorder and she her transform into the first rider of the Apocalypse, Famine. In Rage we met a teen who deals with bullying and cutting herself. During her story we watch her transform into the second rider of the Apocalypse, WAR, and see how she over comes her self mutilation. In LOSS Jackie again tackles the tough subject of bullying and ties in a teen who also has to deal with loss and a grandfather who is battling Alzheimer's and see his transformation into the third rider, Pestilence.

Billy Ballard is a teen my heart broke for. He's a sweet kid who needed a big dose of self confidence and the inner battle to fight back, vs being a teenager who gets the crap kicked out of him by the ruthless school bully. It angered to watch how many students and teachers stood by and did nothing about the daily bullying and taunting he received. Not only that, he kept hiding his visible injuries from his mom, embarrassed at the fact he was getting beat up in high school. He didn't tell anyone about what was going on. Jackie created a kid that all of us can relate to in some way. He's the quiet kid who keeps his head hoping that no one will notice him (which never works). He's the kid that quietly allows his anger to build up inside him, who has no one to turn to and talk about what's going on. He's the kid that needs someone to stick up for him just once, to boost his self-esteem and to be the voice he doesn't have.

I really enjoyed watching Billy grow from a character who lacks confidence at first, and is so sick and tired of being beat up on and over the course of the story to finally finding that inner voice who tells him to fight back. To be the better one and realize that is bully is nothing more than a coward. Billy's story is so much more than just dealing with bullying, it's also about helping someone you love battle Alzheimer's. Billy's transformation is one that takes him back through time through various points in history from ancient Phrygia, to Alexandria, the Sherwood Forest and to the Crusades in France. During each place he's learns to find his voice, fight back and embrace his new position as one of the riders of the Apocalypse. I love the way Jackie balances out the roles Famine, War, Pestilence and Death have in each other's lives, and how she allows each of them to interact through out the series.

Though I've not yet read Hunger, I really enjoyed Rage, and I liked Loss. Each story is moving, powerful and brutally honest about tough subjects. I admire Jackie for creating a series about these different subject matters that should be discussed more. Her writing is gritty, but it's not overly done. It's raw without being in your face. Though I felt like I connected more with Rage, I did like Loss. I liked that she able to create a story using both bulling and Alzheimer's/terminal illness. That alone is something that I've read little about in YA books. This book, much like Rage is a realistic story line with a good doss of rich mythology and it's one I personal recommend to YA readers. I understand these subject matters aren't for everyone, and there may be some things that are tough for some readers to read, but I personally feel Jackie does a brilliant job at creating realistic characters who deal with real life situations and growing them into strong characters who are flawed, broken and learning to over come what ever it is they're fighting against. I'm looking forward to reading Breathe, the fourth book in this series.
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Feb 04, 2013 Paula Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

Now as readers of The Phantom Paragrapher will know, I love to read my fair share of Edgy Content and one of the authors that I have come to enjoy in this area is Jackie Morse Kessler , where she has taken edgy issues from Anorexia , Disease, Suicide and mixed it with a bit of mythology to create a series called The Riders of the Apocalypse.
Each of her books focuses on one main character who has suffered a rough time and has been dealt an awful hand in life, but what each of them doesn't realis...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Originally reviewed on RED Book Reviews.

Story: Billy has a miserable life. His dad left, he's bullied horribly every day at school, his grandfather has Alzheimer's, and he is haunted by dreams of a nasty white man who terrified him as a child. Then one day, Death himself rings the doorbell, and Billy is off to save the world and wield the bow of Pestilence.
(See the first two in the series: Hunger and Rage.)

Thoughts: So now it's Pestilence's turn! Finally. And I was perfectly satisfied with how h...more

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About Jackie Morse Kessler

Jackie Morse Kessler grew up in Brooklyn, NY, with a cranky cat and overflowing shelves filled with dolls and books. Now she’s in Upstate NY with another cranky cat, a loving husband, two sons, and overflowing shelves filled with dragons and books (except when her sons steal her dragons). She has a bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature, and yet she’s never read any Jane Austen (with...more

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Quotes from Loss

“On the flat expanse of pancake ice, War stood by the Pale Rider’s side. Though their forms did not touch, their shadows intertwined, black on black, in a smoky caress.
“Knew you’d come,” Death said cheerfully.
She smiled, and that slow motion of her lips hinted at many things. “The White Rider divided, and the world on the brink of destruction. How could I stay away?”
“I could set my watch by you.”
“You don’t have a watch.” Her smile broadened into a grin. “An hourglass, maybe . . .”
“Please, not another joke about a scythe . . .”
She mimed zipping her mouth shut.
A pause, as they listened to the sounds of the boy healing and the man summoning doom.
“I like him,” War said.
Even though she hadn’t specified whether she meant the boy or the man, Death smiled and nodded. “Me too.”
“You like everyone.”
“Well, yes.”
The two shared a quiet laugh, their voices mingling in perfect harmony.
A longer pause, and then War asked, “What of Famine?”
“What of her? She’s not mine. Not yet, anyway. She will be soon enough.”
The Red Rider slid him a look. “That’s cold, even for you.”
“Eh, just practical.” A shrug. “Everyone comes to me eventually. It’s the journey that makes it interesting.”
“Such a people person!”
He flashed her a grin. “My best quality.”
“Oh,” said War, sliding her gloved hand into his pale one, “I can think of others that are better.” — 3 people liked it

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Loss (Riders of the Apocalypse #3)

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