Book: American Monsters (Book three in Demon Road trilogy)

Author: Derek Landy

Publisher: Harper Collins

Synopsis:
Bigger, meaner, stronger, Amber closes in on her murderous parents as they make one last desperate play for power. Her own last hopes of salvation, however, rest beyond vengeance, beyond the abominable killers - living and dead - that she and Milo will have to face.
For Amber's future lies in her family's past, in the brother and sister she never knew, and the horrors beyond imagining that befell them...



Review for book one here.
Review for book two here.


I was eager to jump into American Monsters right after finishing Desolation (or more honestly, I started it the next day). I also had the motivation that I wanted to finish it before the new year so I could include it in my 2016 book count, and I did! This is officially my last blog post of 2016 so enjoy!

My main problems with the previous two books in this trilogy was the fact that I felt it too much when it wasn't needed. I didn't feel that as much with this book, yes there were a couple of times that I was like "okay, get on with it" but it was literally only a couple of times and it didn't last very long (thank you Derek Landy).

I really liked the storyline/plot in this book. I felt like I was on track with what was happening throughout the whole story - something that wasn't always clear for me in the first two books. However, it just wasn't as interesting as Desolation but I definitely still enjoyed it. Does that sound contradictory?

As this was the last book in the trilogy, I was constantly trying to figure how all of it was going to play out. I felt I knew the final outcome in a way, but I really had no idea. I really liked the ending except for perhaps one certain aspect, but that's what the author wanted I guess *le sigh*.
There was one particular event that happened that was skimmed over even though it deserved a whole damn chapter, so that made me a bit sad (if you've read it I'm sure you'll know what part I'm talking about).

I enjoyed the range of characters in this trilogy. While there wasn't a whole lot of diversity in these books, there was a little and that made me like the trilogy more. I enjoyed Amber's character more so in books two and three, the fact that she is actually this crazy, strong demon was actually kind of cool. She gets overconfident a number of times but I really started to like it in book two and three.

Throughout the series, Amber's parents didn't really bother me until about halfway through American Monsters. A crazy event that took place really threw me back and I had to close the book for a short while to let my heart break a little (it's hurting now just thinking about it).

Overall, I enjoyed the author's concept for this trilogy. They are fun and sort of spooky reads that are great for teenage and some young adult readers. I haven't read his more popular Skulduggery Pleasant series and therefore cannot compare his series. An enjoyable read!

3.5/5


*This book was sent to me by Harper Collins Unsolicited in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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Book: Desolation (Book two in Demon Road trilogy)

Author: Derek Landy

Synopsis:
Reeling from their bloody encounter in New York City at the end of Demon Road, Amber and Milo flee north. On their trail are the Hounds of Hell - five demonic bikers who will stop at nothing to drag their quarries back to their unholy master.
Amber and Milo's only hope lies within Desolation Hill - a small town with a big secret; a town with a darkness to it, where evil seeps through the very floorboards. Until, on one night every year, it spills over onto the streets and all hell breaks loose.

Review for book one here.



I'll be honest here, after reading book one (Demon Road) earlier this year, it definitely didn't give me the feeling that I 'needed' to pick up book two straight away, so I left it and read other books. I should not have done this because a) this is a review copy and I should've had it as a priority and b) it actually turned out to be pretty good and much better (in my opinion) than the first one. In saying that, I did somehow manage to misplace this book but found it last month and got to work.

Much like the last book, Desolation starts off with an interesting chapter. Perhaps not as exciting as the previous book but a bit of mystery from a point of view of a new character, which I liked. And yes, new points of views, there a more than just Amber and Milo in this novel and I found it very easy to follow and the author definitely picked the right times and the right characters to do so.

There were quite a few new characters introduced and I think it added to the story really well. There were two elderly men - WHO WERE ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS, and a group of young adults on a mission to save the population from supernatural evil. I felt that there was some unnecessary dialogue from some of these characters but didn't dwell too much on it since it didn't happen all that often. I felt Amber's character developed really well in the sense that she was more mature and I found myself enjoying her chapters much more than the first book. And Milo, well I love Milo, like we all should. But seriously, those elderly men that I was talking about earlier were gold. It was their bickering I think that was actually making me laugh out loud and the sincere kindness in (one of) their hearts.

My main problem with book one was that I felt it had too much going on which it made it drag out a bit. While this book seemed to have a little of that, it improved immensely and made it much more enjoyable to read. Sometimes I had to go back to the previous paragraph and read over it again because I feel like some things happened so fast I didn't understand what was happening, but all in all, I was okay with it.

The story itself is great, I reckon. I honestly had no idea how they were going to do it after book one - it definitely left an opening but I was just unsure. It has plenty of fantasy elements that I liked and were easy to read. There was a sort of 'twist' I guess you could say, that I REALLY liked. It makes me crave what happens next (lucky I have the third and final book in my hands).

Sorry if I seem a bit vague about the story but it can be hard with sequels because you don't want to give spoilers of the previous book/s. I would recommend checking out my review for Demon Road, where it all starts with Amber's crazy parents. The synopsis for this book (above) actually gives a goo description of it I think, as well as the little bits I've added on to this review.

I would honestly highly recommend this story to middle grade to the younger adult age, and for those older (I'm 25 if that helps?), if you enjoy teenager to young adult I would recommend picking up Demon Road just to get to Desolation. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and thoroughly enjoyed myself - very much picking up book three after this blog post so stay tuned for that review also!

Make sure to leave a comment letting me know your thoughts on this trilogy or send me a message on Instagram. Be sure to check out my YouTube channel (see below) as I post videos on there all the time. See you soon for more bookish things!

4/5




*This book was sent to me by Harper Teen Australia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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Hello! Yes, I'm still around...
My November was somewhat busy with my end of semester uni exams (thank god that's over) and at the end of November I jet setter off to the other side of the international date line to the West Coast of America. In the time that I wasn't doing either of those things, I kind of just slowly read and watched lots of TV, thus bringing my book count of the month to three. I'm not really bothered that it was little, I did what my brain/heart/body wanted to do. So, are those three books...
Check out my video for my November Wrap Up here. And my December TBR video here.





NOVEMBER WRAP UP 

1. This is Where the World Ends - Amy Zhang
This story gave me an All the Bright Places vibe but I still very much enjoyed it and loved reading it. This is told in alternative points of view and in different times. The story starts with Micah in 'after' and switches to Janie with 'before' with small snippets of Janie's journal. This story tells the heartbreaking story of Micah waking up in hospital with no recollection of the past month (I think??) and his best friend Janie, missing. Despite the story being about high school aged characters, I felt that it was written in a much more mature way which is a must for me to enjoy the book. I enjoyed the format of the book - I also think this made it more addicting to read as I needed to know what happened. But beware, this book may give you all the feels! Full review here.
4/5

 2. A Torch Against the Night - Sabaa Tahir
I received this book in the middle of my exam week so I had to hold off for a couple of days but I dove straight into when I could. Book two in the An Ember in the Ashes series, the story continues with Elias and Laia on the run and I didn't realise how much I missed Elias. In this book we get point of view chapters from Elias, Laia AND Helene which I loved reading from (mainly because my new fave character Avitas Harper was in almost all her chapters). Each chapter kept me wanting more and I highly recommend this series. I loved this more than book one too!
5/5

3. The Unexpected Everything - Morgan Matson
I had been meaning to get around this for a while now and I'm so glad I finally picked it up because this was such an enjoyable read. This starts off as a fun and light contemporary but it transitions into so much more than that. I found myself wanting to live the story and there were plenty of times where my heart wanted to lurch out of its place. This is definitely a read for teenagers, young adults and lovers of YA fiction. A really great read and I absolutely recommend!
5/5

With these ratings, I'm happy with only reading three books. These are the books I'm hoping to read in the month of December:

DECEMBER TBR

1. Falling into Place - Amy Zhang
2. Rebel of the Sands - Alwyn Hamilton
3. Wintergirls - Laurie Halse Anderson (reread)
4. Desolation - Derek Landy
5. Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire - JK Rowling (reread)

See you soon for more bookish posts! Make sure you check out my Instagram and YouTube channel :)



WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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'Allo!
October was a very busy month for me, sadly it won't stop just yet, but we are close! I had so much uni going on that it was hard to read everything I wanted. I only managed to finish three books this month but they were stellar reads and I'm incredibly happy with my reading month. If you want to watch my YouTube video version of this click here!




OCTOBER WRAP UP

1. Disruption - Jessica Shirvington
By an Australian Young Adult author whom also wrote one of my fave series ever (Embrace/The Violet Eden series) comes this YA dystopian set in a world ruled by technology. I've been really getting into the dystopian genre in the last couple years and when I come across books like this, it really doesn't disappoint. Within the first few chapters, I felt like I really had a grasp on what was going on in the story which made it not only easier to read, but I wanted to keep reading as well to find out more. The flow of this story was really spot on and you weren't left wondering "Wait, what just happened?" or "I can't remember who that is..." - you know that kind of feeling? I really enjoyed this story and while it didn't end on a cliffhanger, I was glad I already had the next book because it was kind of a 'I need to know what happens next' ending. Full review here!
4.5/5

2. Corruption - Jessica Shirvington
Straight into book two was a must for me. I won't go too much into the story as I don't want to give anything away however, this one was even better than book one. I found myself filled with anxiety over what was going to happen to the characters, I was angry at others and I just fell in love with this story even more. It is once again, action packed and there were so many times I just had no idea what was going to happen next. This story keeps you on your toes and is begging to be read until it's finished. I have a full review here if you want to know more.
5/5

3. Crooked Kingdom - Leigh Bardugo
After reading falling in love with Six of Crows and all its characters, I couldn't wait to get into not only book two but sadly, the last book *sobs*. When I'm really looking forward to a book I try not have too many exceptions (to avoid disappointment) but I couldn't help myself. I was so damn excited to be back in this world that I was almost planning out futures I wanted for all the characters. This novel exceeded my exceptions and I felt so involved  in the story. The story itself has so much character and so much thought put into all its characters. Leigh Bardugo did a damn fantastic job and I can't wait to see what else she writes. I highly recommend this YA fantasy novel. It goes to place number #2 on my 2016 list (I don't think anything will beat ACOMAF but this was close!).
ps - I cried like a baby (a quiet baby though).
5/5

So uhh, yes... that is it for my wrap up. Like I said, stellar reads; quality over quantity this month.
In just over a week I'll be done with uni for the year (the thought, while exciting, is scary because that means four exams that are going to do my head in) and that means relaxing and reading and going on holiday. Yes, I'm going on holiday (West Coast USA) and while I plan to take my kindle loaded with books, I also am gonna focus on the fact that I'm travelling in a new country and I'll be doing fun things, such as going to Harry Potter world at Universal Studios. ANYWAYS, here is my November TBR...

NOVEMBER TBR

1. This is Where the World Ends - Amy Zhang
2. Nevernight - Jay Kristoff
3. The Unexpected Everything - Morgan Matson
4. A Torch Against the Night - Sabaa Tahir


If you want to know more about these books check out my YouTube video as I talk a bit more about them there.

That's all from me! Happy reading :)



WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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"How do you live with yourself when you've deceived the one you love?
How do you move on when the person you've been fighting to save betrays you?
Two years ago, Maggie Stevens began the hunt.
Four weeks ago, Maggie's world fell apart when she finally found what she'd been looking for. And when Quentin, who had blindly trusted her, unravelled her web of lies.
Now, Maggie lives in the dark. But she's not about to stay there. Not when she still has to bring M-Corp down. Not when there is still a chance she could win him back.
In the exhilarating conclusion to Disruption, Maggie must do whatever it takes to show the world the truth. And the price for her quest?
Everything.
But who for?"


The second part of this thrilling duology, comes Corruption. You can read my spoiler free review of book one, Disruption, right here.

As you may remember, as soon as I finished book one, I immediately started book two and I think I lost myself in it. Within the first chapter, I had gone through a multitude of emotions and the story had me in its grasp.


Much like book one, Corruption is action packed, full of surprises and very easy to follow the story. Once again, the flow of the story is spot on and this made it so much easier to be hooked and be involved in the story. Australian YA author, Jessica Shirvington is a writing queen! Having read her other YA novels (and loving those), I am seriously impressed with this dystopian novel.

I don't want to give away too much of the story seeing as this would spoil you if you're yet to read book one. The story is still based around the controlling M-Corp technology and Maggie's desire to stop them but they're are many hiccups on their adventures and it still has a little of that witty humour we got to see previously.

A few new characters are introduced and we get a bit more background on other characters we only saw a little of last time; as well as our beloved Maggie, Quentin, and my personal favourite, Gus. The character development is brilliant. I already fell in love with our main characters in Disruption and I somehow fell even more in love with them in this book.

I had some idea of the plot (you will too after reading book one) however, there was so much more to it as the story continued on. One minute I would be thinking "Okay, I understand that this would happen" and then some whiplash-giving stuff would go down and I would need to calm myself before continuing to read on.

You'll experience a lot of different emotions whilst reading this book: curiosity, nervousness, happiness, anxiety, tragedy... You'll constantly be wary, wondering what is going to happen next, who to watch out for, you may also find the need to crawl in the ball at times; BE PREPARED!

Now I am sorry I don't go into too much detail in this review, but I absolutely refuse to spoil any one of you - I cannot give even a snippet away!

Disruption set the bar high for book two, it exceeded. This is a must read and definitely a favourite of mine this year.

A brilliantly written book: 5/5

*This book was sent to me by Harper Teen Australia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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"What if a microchip could identify your perfect match?
What if it could be used against you and the ones you love?
Nine years ago, Mercer Corporation's M-Bands became mandatory. An evolution of the smartphone, the bracelets promised an easier life. Instead, they have come to control it.
Two years ago, Maggie Stevens watched helplessly as one of the people she most was taken from her, shattering her world as she knew it.
Now, Maggie is ready. And Quentin Mercer - heir to the M-Corp empire - has become key to Maggie's plan. But as the pieces of her dangerous design fall into place, could Quentin's involvement destroy everything she's fought for?
In a world full of broken promises, the ones Maggie must keep could be the most heartbreaking."


First of all, author Jessica Shirvington is Australian (woop woop!) and she's also the author to one of my favourite series, Embrace/The Violet Eden series so I was very much interested in starting this duology.

This is a young adult dystopian novel where the population must wear 'M-Bands' that are used in everyday life: used as ID, money and even used for ratings with other people to see if you could potentially have a future together. Though for some, they rate as negatives and are taken away to rehabilitation camps where they're never seen again. Maggie's father was a negative and she's on a mission to rescue him back and prove his innocence.

As soon as you pick up this book you jump straight into the story. You understand everything that's happening in the first few chapters which can be uncommon these days. It kind of feels like being in control and perhaps that is why I like it, though it seems ironic as M-Corp (the company that made this tech) wants to control the world with their M-Bands.

I'm very drawn to the main characters in this book. We get to meet the gorgeous Quentin Mercer, heir to the M-Corp industry and someone who Maggie has been keeping an eye on and brings him into her master plan to find her father. And someone you meet early on in the story is Gus, who just so happens to be my fave character so far. Gus and Maggie have this strange relationship that started with blackmail and their bickering is great, I love it. You obviously meet those other characters who you have to hate but they're necessary to the story and written really well.

While this story has a similar layout to many other dystopian novels, this is also like no other that I've read in this genre. I liked that it was to do with technology - while fictional, a possible realistic insight to the future? Probably not to that level but interesting nonetheless.

The flow of the story was spot on. There was action when we needed action, the aftermath of said action, the calm when we were allowed to be calm and the nerves. I found myself so immersed that I was feeling anxious when risky things were about to go down - this happened a lot. I was never bored and it was honestly hard to put down.

As I said earlier, I've read Shirvington's Embrace series which I absolutely fell in love with and so I wasn't really sure what to expect from this dystopian novel. Well she definitely doesn't disappoint and you should definitely pick this up. You might want to pick up the second novel as well, Corruption, while this first book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, it'll surely leave you wanting more.

Keep an eye out

for my review of book two, coming soon!

4.5/5


*This book was sent to me by Harper Teen Australia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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Welcome back my beautiful people.
Here today is my September Wrap Up and October TBR, I do have a video up for this which you can view here. I read for books this month, which I was pretty happy with since two of them were not only really good but they were also both over 600 pages long!
Ok, here we go...








1. Queen of Shadows - Sarah J Maas
With the release of Empire of Storms looming over me, I decided to start book four in the Throne of Glass series. I started off with a chapter here and there and then all of sudden I found myself fully immersed in the story and it was so damn hard to put it down to do those other necessary things humans must do. For me, Queen of Shadows is where everything really picked up for me. I felt that the story flowed really nicely and I thoroughly enjoyed all of Aelin's cunning antics. Manon (our fave witch wing leader), soon became my favourite character in the entire series after her first chapter and I could seriously read about her all day. If you're a fantasy/action lover, you should definitely consider picking up this series (book one is Throne of Glass).
5/5

2. A Work in Progress - Connor Franta
Let's be honest here, I picked this book up because of the cover (see above picture), it's nice isn't it? Connor Franta is a YouTuber I've never watched before and this book is his memoir of the past...22 years? Something like that. After finishing this book, I searched for him on YouTube and watched the shortest video I could find - hmmm perhaps not for me right now. People, if you actually watch and like Connor Franta then you can consider picking up the book, do not fall for the pretty cover. I gave the rating I did because I'm sure it would be interesting if I liked him. Also, he switched a lot between years... Why?
A generous 3/5

3. Empire of Storms - Sarah J Maas
Book five in the Throne of Glass series is almost 700 pages long, and oh my lord did I enjoy every part of it. So much so that once I finished it I lay face down on the couch for a good 10 minutes reminiscing (that wasn't even a long time). Personally, this was even more enjoyable than Queen of Shadows. I loved Elide and Lorcan doing their thing together, I loved Aelin and Rowan doing their thing together, I loved whatever is brewing between Lysandra and Aedion, and most of all I loved my Queen Manon and Dorian - whatever is happening between them. My favourite character developments have been Elide and Dorian, they are both just so much better characters - and I already liked their characters before. And Manon... my love.... She is honestly, probably my favourite female character of all books I've ever read (big thing to say!!!) I won't babble too much more, I have a video book talk/review of Empire of Storms that you can watch here if you'd like.
5/5



4. The Fall of Butterflies - Andrea Portes
I decided to go with an easy contemporary as a break from all the fantasy I've been reading. Within a few pages of this book, I didn't really like it and was dreading continuing it. It's written as if the main character, Willa, is speaking to the reader with her thoughts and it felt quite middle grade for me - bit of a no go for me. It follows Willa's journey at her new private fancy rich kid school (she is not rich, but her mother whom she doesn't like nor speak to has connections). I continued reading because it was honestly really easy to read and surprisingly it got better. I felt it matured a little and with the introduction of a couple of other characters it became a lot more interesting. When I finished the book, I was pretty happy with it and would recommend to lovers of contemporaries aged maybe 13 - 21 years old, maybe... I'm not sure. I have a full review here if you want to check it out.
3.5/5






1. Disruption - Jessica Shirvington
2. Corruption - Jessica Shirvington
3. Nevernight - Jay Kristoff
4. Crooked Kingdom - Leigh Bardugo
5. A Torch Against the Night - Sabaa Tahir


Those last two books I haven't got my copies yet and I am praying that they come to me soon because they are two of most highly anticipated reads!!
I have been trying to keep my TBR short and then read whatever my mood wants me to read but I've already finished Disruption and I just REALLY want to read the others so... hopefully I'll get through them all :)

See you later!


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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"Willa Parker, 646th and least-popular resident of What Cheer, Iowa, is headed east to start a new life.
 Did she choose this life? No, because that would be too easy - and nothing in Willa's life is easy. It's her famous genius mother's idea to send her to ultra-expensive, ultra-exclusive Pembroke Prep, but Willa has no intention of fitting in at Pembroke. She's not staying long, she decides. Not at this school - and not on this planet.
But when she meets peculiar, glittering Remy Taft, the richest, most mysterious girl on campus, she starts to see a foothold in this foreign world - a place where she could maybe, possibly, sort of fit in.
When Willa looks at Remy, she sees a girl who has everything. But for Remy, having everything comes at a price. And as she spirals out of control, Willa can feel Remy spinning right out of her grasp.
In Willa's secret heart, all she's ever wanted is to belong. But if Remy, the girl who gave her this world, is slip-sliding away, is Willa meant to follow her down?"
- Andrea Portes



 Let me begin by saying that the cover for this book is beautiful - a great choice for attracting eyes.
When I started reading this book I kind of slumped my shoulders; it is written in a way that I wasn't expecting and I didn't like it.
It follows Willa, who is I assume a senior in high school who moves across the state to a super fancy rich kid school because her mother (whom she doesn't speak to) has connections despite Willa and her father having next to no money. She meets a girl named Remy who is everything that Willa seems to need.

The entire story is in Willa's point of view and it's written in a way that is all her thoughts spoken to the reader. At first it felt quite middle grade and that is why I was sort of dreading the rest of the book. It was a lot of 'babble' and I started skimming over a few sentences because I didn't need to read a whole paragraph on her describing one thing when I got it in the first sentence. Then I read the first swear word after a few chapters and I was actually shocked, because it felt middle grade and I didn't expect it.

This story seems to be full of surprises because it actually got better. I realised I was really interested in what was going to happen and I just kept reading and reading and reading. Willa does and says things that I don't really expect from her - not that it's outrageous or anything, I was just, once again, not expecting it.

This story involves drug use multiple times, so if you are easily offended or triggered by that then maybe stay away but I don't think it's that bad. It is fiction after all - and it doesn't talk about too much bad stuff. Now this may sound strange, but if the drugs part wasn't in there, the story wouldn't have been a story, it would have been a waste of my time. I felt like it was a very good and stable building block of this novel.

They didn't introduce a whole lot of characters which was great, it made it much easier to really focus on the story and not backtrack at all. I liked all the characters except for Milo, I don't ever think he was meant to be a very likeable character though. Willa was with him a few times and I felt like there should have been a little bit more about him though it's hard when you're reading through Willa's thoughts only. Another thing I was surprised about was the freedom these school kids have on the weekends and holidays, seemed a little unrealistic but it made for a better story anyways.

The Fall of Butterflies was a very easy read for me. Every now and then in between chapters I was suddenly transported to a couple of days later and not realising until a couple of paragraphs in, but honestly that was okay, it ain't a 5 star read.

I would definitely recommend this book to those aged 13 - 21 years old, though I'm 25 and found it to be okay and read it within a couple of days. The reason I read this was because I wanted a quick break from all the fantasy I was reading and I'm glad I did.

3.5/5


*This book was sent to me by Harper Teen Australia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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You may or may not have noticed that I didn't post a wrap up for July. I did my video on my channel and just couldn't be bothered writing it out so I'm trying much better for this month.
That being said, if you'd rather watch my video for this month's wrap up & TBR click here! Or you can keep this as your written reference :)



Anywho... In the month of August I read four books - which I'm pretty happy with. I didn't read one of the books on my TBR but I'm definitely okay with that. I put said book down so I could try finish some other books I really wanted to finish. I also finished a book that I DNF (did not finish) years ago, so while I didn't really enjoy that story, I was happy that I completed it and can 'unhaul' it.

Ok... On to the books.

AUGUST WRAP UP

1. Harry Potter & The Cursed Child - John Tiffany & Jack Thorne
Ahhh... I'm one of those people who deep down inside get really excited about things I care about however, sometimes I rarely show it (I don't know ok?!) So the buildup to this release for me, was just waiting for it really. When I got the book and started reading is a different story; within the first one or two pages I had to take a short break to get all my feelings in place because I was so damn excited to be reading something new from the Harry Potter world. Now, you may have many people were disappointed by this story but I want you all to remember that this is a script that has been bound into a book so everyone else can enjoy it that don't get to watch the play. This has to be very different to a normal book ok? I have definitely rambled enough.... Alright, so this was a super quick and fun read and I enjoyed it thoroughly! A must for all HP fans
5/5

2. Switched - Amanda Hocking
So I started reading this YEARS ago and it was okay at first, I was determined to continue reading hoping I was nearing the really good part of the story and it just never came... I felt that the story was absolutely far too slow for a first book (this is a trilogy) and it wasn't interesting enough for me. It seemed a bit too childish or 'teenagery' for me and I just had no desire to continue reading this fantasy novel. I've heard the next two books are much better but that isn't enough improvement for me to read them. For whatever reason I felt really motivated to finish it in early August so I did that and now I don't have to worry about it ever again. If you've thought of reading this trilogy, I would recommend reading someone else's review for a better insight.
2/5

3. Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo
I read the Grisha Trilogy earlier this and LOVED it; Six of Crows partakes in the same world but is a different story (you don't need to read the Grisha Trilogy first if you don't want to!) This story focuses on the lowly lives of Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Wylan, Nina and Matthius trying to break in to one of the most secure places in the world to rescue an important scientist. While there was much less 'Grisha-ness', I did not mind one bit. Six of Crows is so detailed and I fell in love with all the characters so quickly and while I was eager to know what was going to happen, I never wanted it to end! Lucky book two: Crooked Kingdoms is released later this month. This is a YA fantasy that is written with so much talent and care and you MUST read it!
5/5



4. The Crown's Game - Evelyn Skye
Oh my lord, this book... Another YA fantasy that isn't 'too much fantasy' - if that makes any sense. It's about two enchanters named Vika and Nikolai who must display their power in the Crown's Game in order for one of them to serve the tsar as Imperial Enchanter, the other must die. Sounds brutal, yes however, from beginning to end, I was constantly immersed in the story and I went through all the emotions in this book trying to figure everything out and I was unsure how it was going to end. I won't say anymore as to not give anything away but you can view my full spoiler free review here for more info.
5/5

 SEPTEMBER TBR

While I've got a couple of books I want to read, I'm not sure what else to put on my TBR, though this is a good thing - less pressure perhaps.

I'm currently reading Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas as I will aim to pick up Empire of Storms maybe next month.
I definitely want to purchase then read A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir as I need to be back in that world.
I'm also thinking of picking up The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson and either Disruption by Jessica Shirvington or Desolation by Derek Landy; WHO KNOWS?!

Anyways, that is it for now. I hope you enjoyed this post and make sure to check out my YouTube channel - link is below or search Erena Reads.

Goodbye for now!



WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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Twitter: @erenareads
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"Vika Andreyev can summon the snow and turn ash into gold.
Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air.
They are enchanters - the only two in Russia - and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side. And so he initiates the Crown's Game, an ancient duel of magical skill. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar's most respected advisor. The defeated is sentenced to death.
Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter - even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?
For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown's Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with - beautiful, whip smart, imaginative - and he can't stop thinking about her.
And when Pasha, Nikolai's best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love... or be killed himself.
As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear... the Crown's Game is not one to lose."



Now I don't blame you if you didn't read all that, it's all bold and italic words that seem mushed together. So, here it is short and in my words:
The tsar needs an Imperial Enchanter to advise him on all the important stuff going on in the world however, there is two and the tsar needs the strongest one at full strength (think Harry Potter here: "Neither can live while the other survives" - technically that isn't true but it sounds good!) The Crown's Game is a duel of magic where each enchanter shows off their strength whilst possibly aiming to kill the other (the tsar can declare a winner at any time and automatically kill the other if they fail to do so to one another). And it goes on from there...

This book has multiple points of views but they seem to mesh together well; the only slightly negative thing in this entire book was that there was one chapter early on from the Grand Princess and this was her only chapter, which makes it hard to keep track of early on in the story - I would've left it in the tsar's hands. ANYWAY, I very much enjoy multiple POV's as the reader almost feels like a God - we get to know everything, sort of...

Evelyn Skye is a new author on the block and writes absolutely beautifully in this story. The story flows really nicely and draws you in and you'll want to take a day or two off of life because you ain't doing anything else but reading.

The first main character we meet is Vika, a very strong and powerful enchantress (I'm loving the word enchantress right now) who has been trained by her father to become the best she can so she can fulfil the duties of the Imperial Enchanter for Russia. We then meet Nikolai, who was orphaned at birth but was isolated by those he lived with because of the strange things he could do; until his slightly wretched mentor took him to her home to train him to also become the next Imperial Enchanter. He is trained in more of a mechanics sort of way - not visibly as strong as Vika but equally as powerful.


So the problem here, is that there can only be one Enchanter and they must duel against each other (the Crown's Game) to show off not only their power, but to potentially kill the other - because one MUST die. My problem? They are both incredible characters and I love them both.

We also meet Pasha, the tsarverich (crown prince) whom has been excited by Vika's secret magic and falls in love with her; he is also Nikolai's best friend, which could cause some problems.
Throughout the story, the relationship between Vika and Nikolai develops; are they really prepared to kill one another?

The author's writing is captivating and brilliant. She knows how to keep you reading and uses all the right words to get you right in the feels. You'll fall in love with the characters and this is a massive page turner - so get comfy!

Whilst this YA novel is fantasy, those who aren't always keen on the genre will definitely still enjoy this as it isn't too much. That being said, fantasy lovers (like me) will still very much enjoy this incredible story. Please, please, please make sure you read The Crown's Game - it is a must and I'm eagerly awaiting book two in 2017.

I gave this brilliant book 5/5


*This book was sent to me by Harper Collins YA in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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"Neve Knightly lives in an ordinary world. Where déjà vu is nothing more than a mind-trick. Where premonitions are dismissed as mere coincidence. Where no one thinks twice about the glitches in their reality.

Neve Knightly is living a lie.

But when her nightmare of a tragedy comes true the very next day, she can no longer seek solace in self-deception. The glossy enamel has been shattered, and she has caught a glimpse of what slithers just beneath the surface.

She now has the opportunity to decipher the enigma that’s been haunting her since childhood. But her quest soon becomes deeply entangled with the last two people she could have ever imagined: the love of her life, Dylan, who mysteriously vanished three years ago, and his estranged best friend, Romer, who seems to be guarding a secret of his own.

Romance, rancor, and redemption plummet as priorities, as their lives become riddled with peculiar happenings lying just outside the realm of science. And in search for salvation, they emerge at the brink of unveiling the best-kept secret in human history."

- Nelou Keramati

Upon reading the synopsis for this book, I was hooked and I hadn't even started yet. I've been reading a lot more science fiction this year and they've all been brilliant; The Fray Theory is no exception. The author writes beautifully throughout the entire book and it was so easy to read - I would have finished sooner had I not been so damn busy!

The prologue was a great beginning to the book after finding out Neve has been hit by a car and doesn't have any physical injuries. This drew me in immediately and I hated having to turn my kindle off to do actual work. This novel follows the concept of dreams and how they are not just dreams, but perhaps glimpses of other dimensions. The characters find out the situation they're in is a lot more complicated than dreams and nightmares and suddenly they're on the run - I'm still wondering what these people want with them!

I loved all the main characters in this book, especially Romer. He has the whole broody male thing going on but he's very loyal (and handsome!) This may not mean a lot to many but I loved that Neve was a college student and not a damn high school student. I loved her character; she let her heart take the lead when it came to Dylan (because who wouldn't?!) but she wasn't naive. I didn't connect with Dylan as much as the other characters but I think I just want to learn more about him first - which I am eager to do!

The end chapter was so damn intriguing and mysterious and I am so ready for book two.
I talked about this earlier but I could never say it enough: this book is written so well. The book was detailed and intricate, yet so easy to read. It flowed really nicely and you may found yourself fully immersed in this book not knowing what's happening around you.

The Fray Theory - Resonance is released later this month on August 31st. Do yourself a favour and add it to your TBR.

5/5

Head to http://www.neloukeramati.com for more info!

*This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.



WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:
Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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"For anyone who ever thought their parents were monsters...
Amber Lamont is a normal sixteen-year-old, but when a shocking encounter reveals a horrifying family secret, Amber is forced to go on the run. Killer cars, vampires, undead serial killers and red-skinned, horned demons - Amber hurtles from one threat to the next, revealing the terror woven into the very fabric of her life.
Witty action-packed and heart-stoppingly thrilling, Demon Road will take you on an epic road trip across the supernatural landscape of America."
- Derek Landy




The first couple of chapters are everything. I was drawn to Demon Road within the first few pages and it didn't disappoint! The story starts off with Amber going through a normal day until she leaves work to go home and encounters some trouble. Something somewhat horrific happens and she runs home to her parents. Now let me tell you, Amber's parents aren't like your average mum and dad; they don't really have much of a relationship with their daughter until they find out she's 'coming of age' and suddenly they love her, huh?! Amber overhears her parents talking about wanting to kill her - uhh, not your average conversation to have about your child right?

Amber sets off with Milo, a quiet and mysterious man whom she must trust with her life, across America in order to make a deal with the devil (or the Shining Demon in this case). They find a talkative Irishman along the way who has the 'Death Mark' whom joins them on their way down Demon Road. They are constantly confronted with many dilemmas which they manage to find their way out of until they can no longer escape the wrath of Amber's parents.

Demon Road is an interesting read that keeps you on your toes throughout the story. Amber's character is in a pretty intense situation, one that no one should ever go through, let alone a sixteen year old girl. Because of this, I was a little forgiving of her when her attitude got to me. That being said, I absolutely love that she is a badass demon and I really enjoyed her actions when she shifted into her demon form.
I found Milo's character interesting from the start. Further into the book you find out more about him and you'll find that you like him even more, well I did anyway.
I found the addition of Glen kept it a little more light hearted, even if he was a little annoying at times. Glen was given the 'Death Mark' in Ireland and travelled over to America to give it to whom it belonged to. When we meet him he's given up on his quest

We get to meet many other interesting characters throughout the book, including a serial killer ghost - which I really enjoyed hearing his story even if what crazy as hell, a sadistic little girl/psychotic killer and even a tree witch that's in love with a human.

The only 'negative' comment I have about this book is that I found it too long. I felt that the author could have left out some parts or 'quickened' them to make it feel more fast paced.
There is a slightly sad part of the story which the author doesn't go too much into and my conclusion is that it isn't over! That probably doesn't make much sense unless you've read the book (oops).

Book two: Desolation, came out earlier this year and I'm very eager to see what happens next. If you haven't read Demon Road I would definitely recommend it to teenagers and young adults as it was very enjoyable.

4/5


*This book was sent to me by Harper Collins Australia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME!

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Twitter: @erenareads
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Hello everyone!

I had all these plans for blog posts in June and then I decided to make a YouTube channel and I ain't even mad! My channel is here, and I will posting videos to do with both books and lifestyle, I would love it if you subscribed!

Ok, down to business... You can watch my video here of my June wrap up and my July TBR however, this will be here if you would rather read it or just have a written version to come back to.
I read a total of five books this month which was actually quite good considering I had all my end of semester uni exams. And all very enjoyable reads!


BOOKS

1. Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K Rowling
I won't go too much into this one other than it is one of my most favourite series of all time and always will be. I continued my reread of the series in June with one of my faves out of the seven books. If you haven't read Harry Potter, what the heck are you waiting for? 5/5 

2. Cinder - Marissa Meyer
I heard of this series through Bookstagram and I am so glad I finally purchased it earlier this year. While I didn't pick it up for a while, it was worth the wait. Cinder is a Cinderella retelling that follows a half cyborg, half human mechanic living in New Beijing. Cinder discovers she is immune to a deadly virus that has killed so many and is sent to the palace to be tested on. The story flowed really well and I was eager to continue reading. This was a fantastic retelling where I knew that it was stemmed from the classic Cinderella however, it was still an original story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely be getting onto book two: Scarlet soon. 5/5

3. Hidden Bodies - Caroline Kepnes
Following on from the first story You, comes the next part of the story of the crazy Joe Goldberg. Honestly, the story didn't call for a second book but I definitely enjoyed reading into what Joe was up to. He moves to LA to find someone who's wronged him and bring them down. He finds many hiccups along the way and when I say hiccups, I mean he continues his ways of killing those who are in the way. I read this pretty quickly and enjoyed the book overall however, it didn't give me the same feeling when I read You - still brilliant though and I really enjoyed the ending. 4/5

4. Me Before You - Jojo Moyes
I started reading this in anticipation of the movie being released (which I just watched actually - all the tears!). This is about Lou being hired to care and be company for Will Traynor, a quadriplegic who has no wish to continue living. This was written beautifully and I loved how emotional it got and there was definitely a lot of ugly crying going on. While this book is kind of big, the chapters started and ended perfectly and I just wanted to keep on reading. I LOVED Me Before You and I'm really looking forward to reading the next book. 5/5



5. Flawed - Cecelia Ahern
As the author's first YA novel, she has done a brilliant job with this dystopian novel keeping it original and a great page turner. Celestine North lives the perfect life because she follows the rules, until she helps a dying man to a seat. Celestine finds herself in a bit of a pickle and may face a prison sentence or worse - to be found Flawed. There is a lot of potential for good character developments and I'm excited to read book two next year. I felt that the beginning of the book started a bit slow, but it then reached a point where I couldn't wait to continue reading. My full review can be found here. 4/5

JULY TBR

1. Demon Road - Derek Landy
2. The Fray Theory: Resonance - Nelou Keramati
3. Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo
4. Queen of Shadows - Sarah J Maas
5. Disruption - Jessica Shirvington

And.... if I manage it, I hope to get started on my reread of Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire but that is definitely ambitious for me.

And that's all the books for my wrap up and TBR. I hope you enjoyed reading my mini reviews. Head over to my YouTube channel and subscribe for book and lifestyle videos.
Until next time!

xx


Where you can find me:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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"Celestine North lives a perfect life. She's a model daughter and sister, she's well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she's dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.
But then Celestine encounters a situation in which she makes an indistinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be FLAWED.
In this stunning novel, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern depicts a society in which perfection is paramount and mistakes are punished.
And where one young woman decides to takes a stand that could cost her everything."



Author Cecelia Ahern's debut YA novel where we fall into a dystopian world where you must follow the rules, otherwise you can be deemed Flawed and live an awful life.

There have been many dystopian stories making the rounds in the past couple of years; some I've loved and some have been quite unoriginal. Flawed is definitely something new, bringing us into a world where your mistakes are punished and you are 'flawed' for life, you're even given a brand that you must live with (literally a brand seared into your skin - ouch!)

As mentioned above, Celestine lives the perfect life. She follows the rules and that is all that anyone cares about. When you break a rule, they will find out and they will find you, fast. Celestine finds herself in a situation where she unexpectedly breaks a rule by helping one of the Flawed. A gesture that is found to be incredibly normal in our everyday life, is deemed a crime in theirs. At first, Celestine thinks she may have to be sentenced to jail however, after a trial led by her boyfriend's father, the outcome is worse - she is Flawed.

Celestine is a likeable character and I'm interested in both her and her sister Juniper's development. I'm not too sure about her boyfriend Art though; I'm sure he has good intentions but I just don't like him a whole bunch. I'm also looking forward to getting to know Carrick more as well, he has a lot of potential to become a great character in this story. The antagonist of the book is Judge Crevan (Art's father), he is actually kind of crazy but definitely makes for a better story.

I felt like the first half of the book was a little slower than needed but flowed enough to be kept interested in the story. Once Celestine was branded, she was constantly in situations that were pushing her newly found Flawed rules which made for an exciting story. There will be times throughout the book where you may find yourself annoyed at some of the characters but try to remember that this is a fictional dystopian - though you're still allowed to dislike them.

As the author's first Young Adult novel, she has done a great job at keeping the story original and interesting for readers of many ages. The cover is beautiful and whilst at first glance it looks like a big book, the chapters are fairly short and the writing isn't too small. You'll find you are eager to know what happens next.

The next book in this series is named Perfect and is out March/April of 2017 and I'm very much looking forward to it.

4/5



*This book was sent to me by Harper Collins Australia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads and @erena_b
YouTube: Channel link here
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads

Hello friends,

I hope you've been spectacularly well and that you've read plenty. The month of May was a busy one, as will June be (oh lord, I cannot wait for holidays), but I still managed to fit in a few books and I'm on track with my 2016 reading challenge! Two of the books I read this month were sent to me to review (I've linked the full reviews below if you're interested), another was a book I've been waiting to read for months which also left me depressed because I have to wait another year for the next book, and another was a reread. Perhaps a bit all over the place, but I think a good mix. So without further ado...


BOOKS



1. The Yearbook Committee - Sarah Ayoub
I had heard a few good things about this one and I saw it had short chapters and when you are a busy uni student, that is very appealing. The Yearbook Committee is about five very different teenage students in their last year of high school who must come together to produce their yearbook. The attitudes and personalities of the characters constantly collide which is actually quite enjoyable and while you may get annoyed at the arrogance of some of the other minor characters, you also get to experience the good things. I think this book is better aimed at teenagers (especially if in high school) and younger adults as the bigger picture is the stigma of bullying. You can read my full review of The Yearbook Committee here. 3.5/5



2. Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets - J.K Rowling
I'm currently rereading the whole series which I've done multiple times already but I can never get enough Harry Potter. I won't say much about this one but if you haven't read it, you need to read it. Don't ever tell me you haven't read Harry Potter but you've read Twilight or Divergent etc. This series is always 10/10



3. A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J Maas
My biggest anticipated release for 2016 comes book two of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. The story follows on after Feyre's escape and saving of Tamlin from Under the Mountain however, she's having trouble living her life in the Spring Court. We get to see a lot more of my beloved Rhysand (who could quite possibly be #1 Book Boyfriend!!) and the Night Court, as well as new Night Court characters that are charming, hilarious and super badass. A Court of Mist and Fury was my perfect novel; it has fantasy, action, romance, comedy and I'm gonna use the word again, badass-ness. I did a very messy review/discussion here. I give this one a million stars/5.



4. The Crown - Kiera Cass
The final segment in The Selection series. Last year, you may have seen that I read the first four books in about a week, as they are so easy to read, and left me wanting more. The previous book (The Heir) and The Crown is all about Princess Eadlyn, daughter of America and Maxon, and her own Selection. Like the previous books, this one is very easy to read and flows nicely however, I felt it needed a little more... surprise or 'the bad things that happen in stories' to be more... bad? All in all, this book is not perfect but it was pretty much what I hoped for and I'm happy with that. Also, it's a lot better than The Heir. I did a full review here. 4/5

JUNE TBR



1. Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K Rowling
Continuing my reread of the series. Because I started this in May, I've actually finished this already.

2. Cinder - Marissa Meyer
This was actually on my May TBR but I put it down as I didn't want to continue reading after A Court of Mist and Fury as I was in a massive book hangover and didn't want to not enjoy it, you know?

3. Hidden Bodies - Caroline Kepnes
I started this in May as well but was only reading it when I was at work - which isn't much. This is the second book to 'You' which was friggen brilliant. I'm not sure why Kepnes wrote a second book because it honestly didn't need one BUT, I am enjoying it so far.

4. Me Before You - Jojo Moyes
I've heard great and sad things about this one so I'll make sure to get under a blanket with my box of tissues for this one.

I think I'll also pick up another book this month, but I'm unsure of what it'll be at the moment.

And that's all for this post! I hope you enjoyed my mini reviews for the month of May, feel free to check out the full reviews I did for 3 out of 4 of the books I read - much appreciated.
Let me know what you read in May and what you plan to read in June, I'd love to know!

See you soon!
x



Where you can find me:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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"Feyre is immortal.
After rescuing her lover Tamlin from a wicked Faerie Queen, she returns to the Spring Court possessing the powers of the High Fae. But Feyre cannot forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people - nor the bargain she made with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court.
As Feyre is drawn ever deeper into Rhysand's dark web of politics and passion, was is looming and an evil far greater than any queen threatens to destroy everything Feyre has fought for. She must confront her past, embrace her gifts and decide her fate.
She must surrender her heart to heal a world torn in two".
- Sarah J Maas

This is a review/discussion of book two in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. This review/discussion will most certainly contain MAJOR spoilers because there is no way I cannot talk about it the way I want to without them - sorry! CONSIDER THIS YOUR WARNING.

Just a quick little note: I've called this a review and discussion because I find myself spilling words all over the place and I ain't sorry! So it isn't true review format but it is still kind of a review... I think? Ok, read on.

When I read A Court of Thorns and Roses last year, I deemed it my favourite read of 2015. Honestly, I loved the relationship between Feyre and Tamlin, as I think most people did, but as soon as Rhysand was introduced I was like "DAYUUM, I like you". That is actually very typically me, loving the most beautiful human who also happens to be the so-called 'bad boy'. But I was always have a soft spot for the one who was there first because if the main character (in this case, Feyre) is happy then I'm pretty happy, to an extent. I definitely knew Rhys was coming back, which I was damn excited for.

Literally within the first sentence you know something is up with our girl, Feyre. We all know that Feyre is no princess, so why is Tamlin treating her like one?
For me and I'm assuming many others (?), I stopped liking Tamlin very soon. That may be just me liking to control things but come on?! Who likes being told "no"? Not me, and not Feyre either. And I knew something was up with Ianthe but I couldn't really put my finger on it.


Once Feyre was taken into the Night Court I unashamedly admit that I felt at home. I loved Mor straight away and once we were introduced to the other new characters: Amren, Cassian and Azriel, I fell in love with them too. And then we get introduced to the city of Velaris too? Ahh... I would very much like to live there. How can you not fall in love with Rhys now? He has kept this city secret from everyone and actually loves and cares about it.

I think (one of) my favourite lines from the book was when they go to visit Feyre's sisters Nesta and Elaine, they're at the table eating and Nesta being Nesta, makes some kind of snide remark and Feyre says "I can eat, drink, fuck, and fight just as well as I did before. Better, even". A point for you Feyre because that was hilarious.

There's a scene that we all remember where Lucien finds Feyre and wants to take her back to the Spring Court but she's all badass and here is another favourite line of mine from her: "When you spend so long trapped in darkness, Lucien, you find that the darkness begins to stare back". And then her Illryian wings come out and damn, I wish the picture in my head could be made into a poster. As much as I love Lucien, we do not want to go back to the Spring Court!!

Despite all the emotions I experienced during the sudden kidnapping of Rhys, I was in awe at the devotion and destruction of Feyre as she found her way to him to save him. And soon after when Feyre meets the Suriel again, she discovers her and Rhys are mates (like soulmates, lovers, bonded forever and ever and ever) and that scene made me giggle.

Now, the best part; how good was the cabin scene?!?! I love how we get to know more of Rhys' past and story. And how Feyre then accepts him as her mate with the whole food thing and dear lord, everything after that. Rhys gets his feast (hehe!)

The scene where Velaris is invaded is action packed and awesome but no thanks to those selfish human queens! I liked how Feyre, once again unleashed her power, but now much more than ever before. And Amren, woop woop!


All that commotion with Jurian and the King of Hybern is a bit crazy. Tamlin showing everyone how much of a wanker that he is and Lucien bonding with Elaine. And there was honestly a point in that part where I wanted to throw the book across the room. Alas, I continued reading until I was finished and then thought to myself "What the f***". The extra bond. The extra feels. The way Feyre bullshits about with Tamlin. How Lucien gives her that knowing look but she keeps playing along anyway.

I absolutely that we were given that little chapter in Rhys' point of view. Another one of my favourite parts of the book. A Court of Mist and Fury was the absolute perfect book for me. If you want to know what genre or type of book I love most, this is it. It has fantasy, it has badass romance, crazy messed up scenes with the former lover and new plans to overthrow it all. Sarah J Maas, you are my queen and I am unsure how I'm meant to survive until book three. After I finished reading, I was in a massive book hangover for at least a week. The first few days were the worst and this may be a little embarrassing but I was actually depressed. I began plotting what would happen in book three; I was honestly thinking of what Feyre would do and I reckon I came up with some pretty plausible ideas. I then went on to read a little fanfic and saw many others had ideas similar to me.

I finished this book weeks ago and many people might not even read this or get this far if they do. But many thanks if you did. You can see now why I have called this a discussion (with myself) because this sure isn't review style.

I give A Court of Mist and Fury a billion stars.

Please feel free to talk to me about this book, I'm all for it, even if it's labelled a support group. So comment below, or talk to me on Bookstagram (@erenareads). Sorry for all the mess and see you next time!

x


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