Hello again!

Video version of this here.


I'm back again today with another bookish post (surprise, surprise). If you're interested in what I read in 2016, I have a post for that here, it's basically just a list of what I read and it doesn't go into detail - you'll need to check out my monthly wrap ups for that!

2016 was an incredible reading year. Being a lot more involved on the Bookstagram community means you hear about so many books you've never heard of and lots of interaction with other bookstagrammers who recommend you amazing books.

It was incredibly hard to narrow down my list to 10, even now as I write this I still haven't decided the last few. I feel as though I'm cheating the other books that also deserve a spot in there.
One thing I decided to was group series together as one. Meaning, if I read books from the same series and I really enjoyed all/most of them then I'm counting them as one. That's okay, right?

I tried ranking these and couldn't for the life of me actually do it. I will number them from 10 to 1 but don't take any notice of it until you get to the top three because those I was certain about!
I shall also tell you that not all of these books were released this year and I won't include any rereads in this list. Anyway, without further ado... Here is my Top 10 for 2016:


10. You - Caroline Kepnes
Sympathising with a sociopath isn't something you'd read everyday and was certainly a first for me. That is what makes this book so unique and I loved every bit of it. It was a thrilling read that keeps you on your toes and while this book isn't for some people, it is an incredible read and you should consider checking it out.

9. Angelfall Trilogy - Susan Ee
I started reading Angelfall because it was short and I wasn't sure what else to read at the time, all of a sudden I was finished and needed to read the next two books (lucky I already had them on my kindle!) In a post apocalyptic world filled with angels invading the Earth and taking it for their own, Penryn is a strong, badass female character whom I feel really makes this series great for me.

8. The Grisha Trilogy - Leigh Bardugo
The Darkling; need I say more? If you haven't read this series yet and are anything like me, you're gonna need all the books because once I finished Shadow and Bone (book one), I couldn't deal with life until I had the rest of the books. I am obsessed with this series! While I didn't like the way the book ended (personal preference), I loved our main character Alina and the Darkling is seriously my favourite villain of all time and I love him so deeply that I might explode. Okay, I'll stop there.

7. Empire of Storms - Sarah J Maas (and Queen of Shadows)
I read Heir of Fire (book three) earlier in the year and while I enjoyed it, it was Queen of Shadows and Empire of Storms that really blew me away. When I started reading these it was so damn hard to put down (especially when you read during uni time, oops). My love for Manon blossomed and to be honest, went a little bit crazy - she is one of my favourite female fictional characters.

6. Rebel of the Sands - Alwyn Hamilton
I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book when I started reading it but I was instantly addicted. Another strong female character, Amani, knows what she wants and will do whatever it takes to get it. It has bouts of supernatural-ness in it which I freaking loved because, hello I am fantasy lover. I am currently reading Traitor to the Throne (book two) and can't wait to get more into the story.

5. A Thousand Pieces of You - Claudia Gray
A sci-fi novel you never knew you needed. I put this story off for a bit because it seemed kind of daunting but once I picked it up I was so immersed that it didn't take long to finish. I had no idea what to expect after a few chapters but it went in whatever was the right direction and didn't look back. I'm still yet to read books two and three (terrible, I know!)

4. Corruption - Jessica Shirvington
Book two in the Disruption duology was amazing. I really enjoyed the first book but this one was next level! Corruption is set in a dystopian world ruled with controlling and invasive technology. Our main character Maggie, is super badass and I really loved her character. It was a thrilling, fast paced novel that makes me love this author even more than I already do. Full review here.

3. A Torch Against the Night - Sabaa Tahir
Book two in the An Ember in the Ashes - which I also read this year and really loved, is my third favourite book of the year. Continuing on with Elias and Laia's story, it gets a little more crazy and much more interesting. The addition of Helene's chapters and the new character Avitas Harper was what made me love this book a whole bunch, along with the actual story of course. I am ready for book three!

2. Crooked Kingdom - Leigh Bardugo (and Six of Crows)
I started this duology this year with fairly high expectations and fell in love with all the characters and the story almost immediately. Crooked Kingdom was on a whole other level and there were so many unexpected events that me laugh and cry. The writing is so intricate yet easy to read and understand. I felt like I was actually there when I was reading it. Highly recommend!

And finally, drum roll please....

1. A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J Maas
This is without a doubt not only my favourite book of 2016 but also one of my all time favourites. I really enjoyed A Court of Thorns and Roses (book one) but holy heck was I not prepared for this story. When we met Rhysand in book one I was obsessed but little did I know... This book was perfect for me and afterwards put me in the biggest book hangover I've ever had (wait until book three eh!) I absolutely loved the inner circle and I can't wait to see more of them and basically everything else in A Court of Wings and Ruin.

And that's it! In my video version of this (link here), I also mentioned a couple of other books briefly because I couldn't bare to not include them somehow.

Let me know some of your faves in the comments below or DM me on Instagram (@erenareads) because I'd love to chat.

See you soon!
x


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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I'm just going to start this post right off with the amount of books I read in 2016: 47. I began my first year of university (which was incredibly stressful for me) which meant less leisurely reading, so I set my reading goal to 40 books for the year.

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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"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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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
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads

Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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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
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Erena Reads or click here

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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
Goodreads: @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
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
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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
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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
Bookstagram: @erenareads
Instagram: @erena_b
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Snapchat: @erena_b

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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


Where you can find me:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Bookstagram: @erenareads
Instagram: @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Snapchat: @erena_b

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*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
Bookstagram: @erena_reads
Instagram: @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Snapchat: @erena_b

Follow me with Bloglovin'!

Bonjour!

I understand we are more than half way through May but I know you guys can't resist a good ol' book haul (or maybe that's just me?!) April was a spectacular month for gaining books, I had received some money for my birthday from my partner's parents and decided I needed some new books despite the ever growing TBR. I also received four books from the ever generous Harper Collins Australia in exchange for honest reviews (you can read my review for The Yearbook Committee here!).

Here are the following books I bought/received:


1. The Winner's Curse - Marie Rutkoski
I have heard so many good things about this series and finally decided to make it mine. I seriously hope to get to it in the next couple of months.

2. Me Before You - Jojo Moyes
Another book I've seen all around the Bookstagram community and even more since the movie trailer came out. I'm aiming to get to it before watching the movie. I'll get my tissues ready!

3. An Ember in the Ashes - Sabaa Tahir
I've already read this one and is definitely one of the best books I've read this year so far. I am now so damn excited for book two: A Torch Against the Night. You can find my mini review here.

4. We Were Liars - E. Lockhart
Another one I've already read (mini review here!) I started reading this soon after I bought it as I wanted something small to take to uni and I finished it pretty quickly, and loved it.

From Harper Collins:

5. Demon Road - Derek Landy
The first in the series (book two below). I've always wanted to read something from Derek Landy so I picked this one up and should hopefully be starting this one soon. Look out for a review!

6. Desolation - Derek Landy
This one was released in.... April I think? So will more than likely jump straight into this one after Demon Road!

7. The Yearbook Committee - Sarah Ayoub
This one I've recently read and reviewed, I would say a really good read for teenagers and young adults (younger than me!) Good sized chapters which is very appealing for me.


8. Flawed - Cecelia Ahern
Recently released is Cecelia Ahern's first YA novel, Flawed. What I get from the blurb is that the main character lives a perfect life until she breaks a rule and becomes...Flawed! Something along those lines. The cover looks good too.

Can't say I usually get 8 books in one month. I should really read a few more until I buy another (but that ain't gonna happen).

This is where I leave you, I always intended for this to be a short post. I hope you enjoyed though! See you soon for something a little different (still about books though!)

Byeee!
x


Where you can find me:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Bookstagram: @erenareads
Instagram: @erena_b
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SnapChat: erena_b

"Five teenagers. Five lives. One final year. 
The loner: At school, nobody really notices Matty. But at home, Matty is everything. He's been single-handedly holding things together since his mum's breakdown, and he's never felt so alone. 
The school captain: Ryan has it all... or at least he did, until an accident snatched his dreams away. How will he rebuild his life and what does the future hold for him now? 
The popular girl: Well. the popular girl's nest friend... cool by association. Tammi's always bowed to peer pressure, but when the expectations become too much to handle, will she finally stand up for herself?
The newcomer: Charlie's just moved interstate and she's determined not to fit in. She's just biding her time until Year 12 is over and she can head back to her real life and her real friends...
The MP's daughter: Gillian's dad is one of the most recognisable people in the state and she's learning the hard way that life in the spotlight comes at a very heavy price.
Five unlikely teammates thrust together against their will. Can they find a way to make their final year a memorable one or will their differences tear their world apart?"
- Sarah Ayoub



Set in Sydney, Australia and written by Australian author, Sarah Ayoub, this YA novel revolves around five teenagers who must band together to create the school yearbook for their final year of high school at Holy Family private school. If you didn't catch it, these five teenagers couldn't be more different. You get to know each character very well, delving a little into their past - though I felt that Ryan's past wasn't looked into enough, his 'accident' was mentioned often and you only get a brief story of what happened.

From the start, Gillian (the politician's daughter) was my favourite, Charlie was my least. Gillian is kind hearted and so easy to love, her life isn't easy but she does well to cope. Charlie, has no interest in making friends and goes out of her way to make sure she doesn't; while at first I don't like her, I understand that's what the author was going for. You get introduced to a few other characters whom have a lot of impact on the main characters - Tammi's douchebag boyfriend David and her mean, stuck up best friend Lauren, both who I hated immensely and you will too.

As you can expect, the characters develop some kind of friendship with each other throughout the story - though not really how I first predicted. I enjoyed the easy character development and it flowed nicely. Ayoub not only makes it easy to read but really captured some of the issues that occur during high school years. Some of this is real life and whilst reading it reminded me of my high school years and how cruel some people can be, especially people that are meant to be your friends.

I wished the author had spent more time on the ending, I almost felt cheated. Something I did not see coming happens closer to the end of the book and the build up of it was great however after that, I felt I didn't really have time to process it and therefore did not make too much of a connection with it. I also felt since it is based around the students creating a yearbook, that there would be some snippets of it in the back - well no, there is not.

Overall, this book was still a great read. I think it is more suited to teenagers and possibly younger adults than I but I have seen bookstagrammers only slightly younger than me, enjoy it immensely. I hope that high school students take a chance and read this one; I hope it shines a new light on life for those struggling and those who could be the cause of the struggling.

I gave this book 3/5 on Goodreads albeit, a high three.

If you've read this book, let me know in the comments below what you thought!


*This book was sent to me by Harper Collins Australia in exchange for an honest review.


Where you can find me:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Bookstagram: @erenareads
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Hello friends,

Welcome back to my little section of the internet.
Today, I bring to you books I want to read this year - including anticipated books and my reading goals for 2016. I understand that it's March but it isn't that late, is it? As you may already know, last year I joined the book community on Instagram (@erenareads) and within days my TBR grew and it continues to grow almost daily. So naturally, I need to read 100+ books this year to make a dent in that list. No doubt I'll carry on with a few books I mention so I better get into it!


BOOKS I WANT TO READ IN 2016/ANTICIPATED BOOKS

1. Queen of Shadows and Empire of Storms - Sarah J Maas
I began reading the Throne of Glass series last year and absolutely loved it! For whatever reason, I didn't continue to read Heir of Fire and started reading other books instead. Though now, I've just finished Heir of Fire and hope to get to QoS in time for book 5.
2. A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J Maas
Queen Maas' other series - this retelling of Beauty & The Beast is one of my most favourite books ever and I've waited long enough for book two!
3. An Ember in the Ashes - Sabaa Tahir
4. Glass Sword - Victoria Aveyard
Following on from Red Queen (another fave!) book two was released last month and I've purchased and hope for it to be my next read.
5. Ice Like Fire and book three - Sara Raasch
I read Snow Like Ashes late last year and this too, became another favourite. I absolutely love the world the author created and of course the story, so book two will hopefully be in my hands soon!
6. Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo
While this is not featuring my beloved Darkling, it is in the same Ravkan world which I loved (!!!)
7. All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
8. The Percy Jackson series - Rick Riordan
I read book one late last year and hope to continue this year!
9. A start on all the other Rick Riordan books...
10. Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess - Cassandra Clare
I read book one a few months ago and am eager to finish the trilogy!
11. End of Days - Susan Ee
I'm currently reading World After (book two) and loving it!
12. The Crown - Kiera Cass
The final book in The Selection series.
13. Yellow - Megan Jacobson
14. Risk - Fleur Ferris
15. The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gailman
16. Unearthly series - Cynthia Hand
17. The Lunar Chronicles - Marissa Meyer
18. Ten Thousand Skies Above You & book three - Claudia Gray
19. Illuminae - Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
This has actually been in my bookshelf for a while now and I'm yet to pick it up, hopefully soon!
20. I also really want to make a dent in my unread books already on my shelves!

That is my current list. I honestly could go on forever but let's be realistic here.
My READING GOAL for this year is a total of 40 books read. It's down from previous years but I've started university this year and while I've only just finished week two of semester one, I can tell I'm going to be incredibly busy. I think 40 is definitely doable, especially since I've already finished 12 and I am hoping to read more but I'll have to wait and see (and possibly binge read during breaks).

Well, here I leave you (for now!) I hope you've enjoyed reading this list and not wasted your time with my mainly young adult and fantasy book list. I would love to know your thoughts on any of these if you've read them or if any of these are on your list too, or perhaps tell me something on your list - I would love to know!

Take care
xx


Where you can find me:

Contact: erenabennett@gmail.com
Bookstagram: @erenareads
Instagram: @erena_b
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First off, welcome to the new year. I had a pretty decent 2015 - holidays, applying for uni, hanging out with family and friends and lots and lots of reading. I will write another post (very soon) with my list for 2015, highlighting some of the good books and if there was a thing or two to say about other books I wasn't so happy with.

This post is once again, my mini reviews for the books I read in December and I'm also combining it with my January To Be Read (TBR).

I read four books this month, three of those have definitely made my top 10 of 2015! It'll be obvious by the ratings :)

BOOKS



1. Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard
There were plenty of people raving about this book but I went in with a clear head and not thinking too much about expectations, etc. This is now one of my absolute favourites! First of all, Red Queen is dystopian/fantasy and follows 'Red' girl Mare Barrow whom picks pockets in her poor town. In her world, there are the 'Reds' and the 'Silvers'; The silver blooded beings have all sorts of different powers and live in riches, whereas the red blooded are nothing special and so on. Though Mare and the rest of the royals soon find out she is something different and it goes from there. The writing is spot on, it flowed so easily and I kept reading and reading until it was all gone. Glass Sword is the sequel to come out in the coming months which I am very much looking forward to. 5/5



2. Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda - Becky Albertalli
"Straight people should have to come out too. The more awkward it is, the better." Simon has been emailing Blue - both whom are gay, but don't know the true identity of each other yet go to the same school. Someone finds out about Simon's emails and starts blackmailing him in order to gain what he wants. This was such an easy and funny read that can quite honestly, depict real life. You get to follow this through Simon's point of view and some of the emails between Simon and Blue - which I really enjoy. I won't go on too much but if you're looking for something light and a little funny, this is it. 5/5



3. My True Love Gave to Me - Various Authors, edited by Stephanie Perkins
12 authors, 12 holiday stories. I'm not one to 'season-read' however, a few people were reading this and I decided to give it ago - enticed by the short story concept. They all take place around the Christmas/New Year holiday season and most were pretty good. There were some that were not properly finished - they needed more than a short story so that was disappointing. But there were some stories in there that were just so cute and I really enjoyed. 4/5



4. Snow Like Ashes - Sara Raasch
This book felt like Red Queen combined with combined with A Court of Thorns and Roses but more action added into it. I started off reading this quite slowly - perhaps the busyness of the holiday season slowed me down? Once I got about half way, I just wanted more and more. Meira is from Winter but no one has been there since it was destroyed and majority of its villagers were taken to work in the Spring work camps as slaves. The refugee group have been living in various parts of other seasons working to try gain their freedom and their home back from Spring. Loved, loved, loved this book, I love stories like this! Ice Like Fire is book two and is already out however, I have to refrain from buying it until I read more of my unread books on my shelf. 5/5


JANUARY TBR

1. Soundless - Richelle Mead

2. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs

3. A Thousand Pieces of You - Claudia Gray

4. Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo




These four books are what I definitely want to read this month (and I've actually just finished Soundless!) I will more than likely read on my kindle or iPad at work as it's much easier and maybe pick up one of the books I've put down and try to finish them.

That's all today! I'll see you soon for my full 2015 book list.

Take care!
xx

Where you can find me

Email: erenabennett@gmail.com
Instagram: @erena_b
Bookstagram: @erenareads
Goodreads: @erenareads

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