Non spoiler book review

Title: Four Dead Queens
Author: Astrid Scholte
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication date: 4 March 2019 (Aus)

Synopsis:
Four Queens. A divided nation. A ruthless pickpocket. A noble messenger. And the murders that unite them.
Seventeen-year-old Keralie Corrington is one of Quadara's most skilled thieves, but when she steals an unexpectedly valuable package from a messenger she is soon entangled in a conspiracy that leads to all four of Quadara's queens being murdered.
With no other choice and on the run from her former employer, Keralie teams up with Varin Bollt, the Eonist messenger she stole from, and together they race to discover who has killed the queens. But when dark secrets threaten their reluctant partnership and put everything at stake, Keralie and Varin must use all their daring to stay alive and untangle the mysteries behind the nation's four dead queens.

----

My rating: 3.5/5

----


The dystopian world of Four Dead Queens very much reminded me of Divergent but that was it, just reminded me, so... not the same - remember that! I quite liked the different quadrants, dystopian books that do this has me so interested and I'm very much into world-building which I would've loved to have seen more of but it was satisfying.

My favourite part of this book was the storyline and the way it was formatted, going between the main character and the four queens (plus one other character later on in the book). The story had a couple of twists and I really enjoyed most of them, they really added to the story. Some of the others I wasn't too sure about but that's okay, the majority was good!

The characters didn't give me a lot of depth but it was enough to support the plot. For me, I don't need a connection with the characters for me to have an understanding of or with them, and besides, I felt like this book was more about the story and the world. The main character I didn't love, but that's okay. I really enjoyed the queens though, I felt that their lives and their secrets were very interesting and it kept me captivated throughout the story.

There were some parts of the story that felt very rushed which was a little disappointing, I'm not sure if that's just how the author wanted it or if they were writing to a point and wasn't sure what to do. Either way, this is great debut novel and I think the author did really well for that. I'd definitely be keen to see what this author brings in the future.



----

*This book was sent to me by Allen & Unwin unsolicited. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:


Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Life of Erena or click here

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

As we approach a new year, it gives us time to reflect on the year gone by. For me, 2018 was definitely hard. I've had worse years but in a different sense I guess. This year, was very challenging for uni - third year is done and dusted thank the lord, now only one more year to go and if it all goes well *crosses fingers* then I'll be an Accredited Practising Dietitian - well hopefully practising but we'll see - perhaps I'll do a bit of travelling.

But more importantly for this blog post, I like to reflect on the books I've read - in the shortest way possible.



1. The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas
2. Reign the Earth - A.C. Gaughen
3. Goodbye, Perfect - Sara Barnard
4. The Upside of Unrequited - Becky Albertalli
5. The Vegetarian - Han Kang
6. Hero at the Fall - Alwyn Hamilton
7. Risk - Fleur Ferris
8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky *re-read
9. Obsidio - Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
10. Quidditch Through the Ages - J.K. Rowling
11. When Dimple Met Rishi - Sandhya Menon
12. Don't Call Me Kit Kat - K.J. Farnham
13. Red Rising - Pierce Brown
14. Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi *re-read
15. Unravel Me - Tahereh Mafi *re-read
16. Ignite Me - Tahereh Mafi *re-read
17. Restore Me - Tahereh Mafi
18. Black - Fleur Ferris
19. A Court of Frost and Starlight - Sarah J. Maas
20. Piecing Me Together - Renee Watson
21. Lifel1k3 - Jay Kristoff
22. Speechless - Hannah Harrington
23. It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover
24. To All the Boys I've Loved Before - Jenny Han
25. P.S. I Still Love You - Jenny Han
26. Always and Forever, Lara Jean - Jenny Han
27. Scarlet - A.C. Gaughen
28. Salt to the Sea - Ruta Sepetys
29. A Thousand Perfect Notes - C.G Drews
30. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid
31. A Reaper at the Gates - Sabaa Tahir
32. The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Heather Morris
33. Warcross - Marie Lu
34. The Cruel Prince - Holly Black
35. The Love That I Have - James Moloney
36. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman
37. City of Ghosts - Victoria Schwab
38. Wildcard - Marie Lu
39. More Than a Number -  Tia Souders
40. Kingdom of Ash
41. Wreck - Fleur Ferris
42. Grace and Fury - Tracy Banghart
43. Out of the Easy - Ruta Sepetys
44. Uprooted - Naomi Novik
45. This Savage Song - V.E. Schwab
46.We See Everything - William Sutcliffe
47. Wonder Woman Warbringer - Leigh Bardugo
48. Hunted - Meagan Spooner
49. Death of the Family - Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo
50. The Evolution of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin



50 books completed! 50 was actually my Goodreads goal so I got it bang on. I'm thinking 2019 will be less due to a busy year ahead.


-----


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:



Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @thenutritionedition
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Life of Erena or click here

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

I had ups and downs when reading in 2018. I usually start off strong in the first couple of months of the year, this time however, I was incredibly busy with packing up my apartment to move houses and going overseas for four weeks - and I don't tend to do a lot of reading when I'm travelling.

I also wanted to include some honourable mentions that didn't make the top 10 but were still something I'd rave about - this isn't included in my video because I forgot haha. Also here is the video version if you'd like to hear me talk about it.


MY TOP 10 BOOKS OF 2018: (in no particular order except for the last one which is my FAVE of the year)

10. This Savage Song - V.E. Schwab
I love the concept of monsters - I feel like the idea was taken from previous supernatural creatures and developed into the author's own original idea and I loved it.

9. Hero at the Fall - Alwyn Hamilton
Full review here; a super exciting yet emotional end to a trilogy. I love the fantasy elements and glad there was more depth in this book, also the cover is to die for.

8. The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas
Surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement gives it an edge that is relevant and diverse however, all the other aspects made for a perfectly executed story. Also, there are a few Harry Potter references.

7. Reign the Earth - A.C. Gaughen
Trigger warnings: domestic violence; full review here.
I love the fantasy elements in this story and how dark it got (though not for everyone). The main character is one to admire and I'm looking forward to the next book.

6. Restore Me - Tahereh Mafi
Warner, need I say more? Ok, I don't want to get carried away but the author wrote this book so amazingly - her writing developed so well since Ignite Me (IMO) and the world building and addition of new characters was amazing.

5. The Cruel Prince - Holly Black
This gave me mad ACOTAR vibes which I didn't always like however, this book was well written otherwise and the main character is a badass and I admire her.

4. Obsidio - Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
I'm sad The Illuminae Files came to an end but oh how much I loved this book... The new characters, along with the rest of our faves made for a bittersweet ending whilst seeing what else the heck our favourite AI gets up to.

3. Salt to the Sea - Ruta Sepetys
A great introduction to historical fiction if you're looking for it. This is set in WW2 times with the POV from four very different characters. A very emotional read! Audiobook is narrated well.

2. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman
Trigger warnings: PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcohol addiction
I went into this book not really knowing what to expect and as it turns out, I enjoyed it immensely. As the story went on I found I was truly empathetic with the MC and while it was an emotional ride, it made me feel very content by the end. Recommend the audiobook.

1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book... I didn't know too much going into it but I it took over my thoughts for days - it was literally on my mind all the time so I definitely recommend setting aside some time to read uninterrupted to consume it whole. Written SO WELL, this book gave me everything I never knew I needed. Audiobook was amazing and recommend!


HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

The Lara Jean trilogy - Jenny Han; while I didn't love everything about this series, it surprised me so much that I had to include it here. The audiobooks are mega addictive!

The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Heather Morris; a heart breaking true story that gave me knowledge and grief. If you're keen to read this story and you're very much into an author's writing and depth - don't expect too much. The author wrote this with respect to the person who's view it is from and you cannot blame one for not giving every single detail of their time in a concentration camp during WW2.

A Reaper at the Gates - Sabaa Tahir; after waiting what felt like a decade for this book (book three /4), I read this as slowly as one could. I think this is my favourite in the series so far even if it made me want to die on the inside and I got tears on the pages. The author's writing and original story is an absolute wonder. This would've definitely made it on the list if it was a 'Top 11'.

We See Everything - William Sutcliffe; a standalone dystopian novel that I didn't really expect much from - I also went into it not knowing too much which perhaps made it better. The two MC's never meet but their lives cross paths under unfortunate circumstances. Full review here.


THANKS FOR READING
And may your 2019 bring you great stories.

-----


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:



Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @thenutritionedition
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Life of Erena or click here

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

Video version here

As most bookworms will know, reading slumps are the worst. There are all these beautiful books on your shelf and you want to read them all, yet where is the motivation to pick it up off the shelf and actually start reading it?

Here are my top 10 tips to fighting the slump:

1. Find out why you're in a slump
Finding out the proper reason you're in a reading slump can do wonders when finding a further solution. So here is task one, what was the most recent book you read? If it was A Court of Mist and Fury or Obsidio then that's probably the reason, alas, it may also be a book that was so intense and you loved it and perhaps you're still feeling all the feels and can't move on.
OR if you think it's another reason, what are say... the most five recent books you've read and how long did it take you to read them? Sometimes we've read with such momentum and speed, your brain has finally decided to do some calculations and realised it was working real hard and just wants some down time.

2. Re-read a fave
In my experience, if I read something crazy amazing, I feel like the next book cops a lot of negative feelings as I subconsciously start to compare with the previous book, even if it had nothing to do with it. If I re-read something I've already read, I seem to have less expectations because I've already read it, you get me? Though you have to be a little careful with this one, if you start re-reading a book that's part of a series you might do the circle of life and re-read the rest and be at the beginning of another book slump. But if you get a good four or five books re-read because of it, is that really a bad thing?

3. Get in the zone
Grab your fave drink, put your phone in another room, and sit in a super comfy environment.

4. Start a new series that has a solid four of five books already released
Ok, ok, this is only for the super keen but you could do this without even realising. This might also take some trial and error but sometimes I'll start one book in a series or trilogy and find I really love it and immediately want to read book two and suddenly there's a domino effect and I'm now shipping myself with the love interests and own all the bookish merch I can find.
*Warning: may cause harm to bank account.

5. Read something from a different genre
I would specifically say contemporary since I'm a lover of fantasy and dystopian but sometimes you might have to put your thing down, flip it and reverse it. Go for something that is COMPLETELY different to what you usually read and you might find yourself immersed in a book you didn't think you'd ever like. In my own experience, I like to throw in contemporaries to avoid future slumps, it has worked better than I ever thought.

6. Do something different
Believe it or not my bookworms, but there are other hobbies we can find *gasp*. Watch a movie or TV show or seven (I am not held responsible for Netflix slumps), do a puzzle, clean your house, earn brownie points from your parents if you live at home. Just do something else for a while and then we can go back to reading.

7. Participate in a read-a-thon
If you didn't know there is an entire world dedicated just to books, yes we include our pets and food sometimes but it is solely based around books. Due to that, there is almost always a read-a-thon going on and it's a really great way to read a few books in a short amount of time. If there isn't one on during your slump, host your own!

8. Read reviews
If there's a few books you want to read but don't have the right amount of motivation to do so, look for fellow bloggers reviews. Goodreads is an option but not always the best, do some googling and find a 4 or 5 star rated one (remember to look for spoiler free!) and start reading. When someone else has read it and talks about all the great things the book has, it's a nice motivator to pick up said book and find out for yourself. Just beware of the crazy obsessed reviews, you don't want to suddenly have high expectations and be disappointed.

9. Do a buddy read
There is bound to be someone feeling the same way as you, or might just want some motivation to read a particular book. Find out on Instagram or Twitter if there's anyone else wanting to read a certain book you have in mind and suggest a buddy read. There's almost this 'have to read' feeling so that you can keep up with each other and it can be an easy motivator sometimes.

10. Just keep reading
To put it simply. If I find it difficult to get into a book I realise I might be putting it down after each chapter and picking it back up later on. Try and read a good chunk of the book and suddenly you're moving and you're getting somewhere and you want to keep going. So yeah, just read.


----


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:



Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: Life of Erena or click here

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

Would you call this a review?

Book: Harry Potter: A History of Magic
RRP: $49.99 AUD

Book: Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic
RRP: $21.99 AUD

Publication date: 6 November 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury


*Major Harry Potter fan alert*

If you know me even a little, you'll likely know I'm a bit in love with the Harry Potter franchise. Bonus points if you know my Hogwarts house, it is on my Instagram bio though... *whispers* Slytherin.


Anyways, my day got 110% better when these two new additions to the franchise rocked up on my doorstep (actually, I think it was more like I wasn't home so I had to go pick it up from the post office and it was really heavy). So you'll see I mentioned two books (titles above) and they seem like they'd be pretty similar, and I guess they follow the same sort of....topic however, one is INCREDIBLY in depth - I have not read it all, nor even half of it, it is huge! But I have read what you could call a 'junior' version. This version is a very informative yet fun edition that lets you look into the history of magic at Hogwarts. You get some super cool stuff on the subjects (even that wretched Divination!), you hear more about the Hogwarts professors, magical creatures (hello Fluffy!) and all things magic!

I was also meant to tell you I received these books in like November or something - it was ages ago. I was obsessed when I got them (still am to be honest) and after reading little bits here and there and constantly flicking through, I moved, then I went on holiday, then I came up, then I started back at university. Now I'm sitting here, like... what on Earth am I doing not showing anyone what's going on in these books? Yes, Bloomsbury sent them to me, and 100% yes I want to show the world why you need at least one of these books!


The detail in both of these books are insane. You truely get up close and personal with everything Harry Potter world related. Things you may have seen a snippet of in the movies and books are told in more detail, then even more content that branches off of that. These books are for all the Hermione Grangers' that want to know more about this well known world.



I adore the information we get about all the animals and magical creatures. Even the creatures that are known to this muggle world are given a fairytale-like description and I'm gonna say that you'll likely never read about owls in this kind of way again.



One of my most favourite things about this book are the notes that JK wrote on the manuscripts of the novels. Behold her creativity in her planning of the seven books and see what was in the works before any of the books were published - it is seriously insane. See her drawings of the Hogwarts grounds where it all started, all filled with annotations. Her sketches of Diagon Alley are featured and the background behind it how it all began.


Discover a world full of magic with both or either of these books. You'll see the beautiful work of Jim Kay, the secrets we never knew hiding in every tube of the potions classrooms, and where everything began for Harry Potter and how it was almost never published. I highly recommend these books for the lovers of this world, though if you're buying for a child, I would recommend the blue book: A Journey Through a History of Magic because it'll be a lot less words going on.


----

*These books were sent to me by Bloomsbury Australia. All opinions are my own.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: My Life As Erena or click here

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if I should still do these wrap up posts since I will always do them on my YouTube channel (unless for some unforeseen reason) and I actually have no idea if people like reading them or not? I decided to do one for August anyway because well, why not? I should be doing an assignment but aye, there's always tomorrow (bad Erena, bad!) If you're keen on watching my video for this click here!

I read a total of three books this month and I'm actually very happy with that seeing as it was an incredibly busy month for me at uni (I am desperate for this semester to end!!) but I do hope to get a bit more done during September.


BOOKS READ IN AUGUST

1. Winter - Marissa Meyer
This is a mountain of a book and it took me a while to get through it since I was so busy, but then all of a sudden I read almost half the book in one night. I felt that most of what happened was necessary so the big ol book was relevant. I loved seeing it all tied together and I really liked Winter's character though my favourite if Scarlet. I loved Cress' development too! Her and Thorne just break my heart. The story, while long, is exciting and Cinder gets real badass.
4/5



2. Genuine Fraud - E. Lockhart
When there was the opportunity to review this, I just HAD to have it. I loved We Were Liars and the I had a feeling this one was going to be just as good. Within the first few pages, I was hooked and I had to force myself to put it down to other human things. The main character Jule is questionable, I really enjoyed reading her character though despite some of the crazy things she'd say and do. If you're in the mood for a fast-paced and thrilling YA novel, this is the one for you! Full review here.
4.5/5



3. The Genesi Code - Tristen Willis
From a new, Aussie author, this dystopian/sci-fi novel is a short, fast paced story that has you wanting more. While the writing in the first few chapters seemed a bit rocky, I was soon immersed in the story and found myself really enjoying it. I love the main character, Luka, she is pretty badass and I enjoyed reading from her point of view. I loved the bouts of action and only wish, the other characters were explored more. I'm hoping for more depth in the next book! For a full review, click here.
3.5/5


SEPTEMBER TBR

1. Nevernight - Jay Kristoff
I've finally picked this back up and I have been loving it. It is brutal and hilarious and it's god damn great.


2. Because You Love to Hate Me - collection of short stories from authors edited by Ameriie
I'll be writing a review for this one.

3. Tower of Dawn - Sarah J Maas
AHH YES PLS

4. Wonder Woman Warbringer - Leigh Bardugo
Another AHH YES PLS (hehe)


5. Take Three Girls - Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell & Fiona Wood
I'll be part of the blog tour on this one, keep an eye out on September 29th!

6. All the Dirty Parts - Daniel Handler
 I'll have a review for this one too.


And there is my slightly ambitious TBR for the month of September. I won't tell you what I've read just yet (though you'll find out on my Goodreads or you'll see on Instagram from time to time). I'll try get the next wrap up post up sooner rather than more than half way through the month, my bad. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoyed my little reviews and an insight into what I want to read and I'll see you next time!

x




WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

Hello friends,

I thought I was well overdue for a blog post and decided to do this little tag since it was quick, easy and perhaps semi-interesting?

I was tagged by my beautiful friend Kristie from @bookwormkristie on Instagram - you need to check out her stuff, she has beautiful photos and also a BookTube!

Ok, here we go...


Books or eBooks?
I love, love, looove the feeling of holding a book and also enjoy its aesthetic purposes but e-readers are SO handy and I use them quite a bit. I am sorry, I cannot choose!

Heroes or villains?
Anyone who knows me will know what I pick (hehe!).... Villains! No surprise there. Villains always have interesting back stories and I like knowing everything about them. Though sometimes villains are too good at what they do and make me hate them.

Trilogy or series?
Probably a series. Sometimes a set of books is perfectly executed with three books but sometimes it isn't and sometimes I'm just not ready to let go and need more closure!!

Last read?
The Tuesday just gone, I (finally) received Unite Me by Tahereh Mafi - the Shatter Me novellas, in the mail. I started reading later that evening and finished it a few hours later because I'm obsessed and WARNER4EVAAA.

Last bought?
My last book purchase was also Unite Me which was four weeks ago - how good is that?! And yes, it did take that long to come *narrows eyes*. I have received two books from Bloomsbury though, they were No Filter by Orlagh Collins and Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy - thank you Bloomsbury!

Secondhand books?
Absolutely love secondhand books. They're more than likely a great price and sometimes you find books you've always wanted to read or ones you've never heard of that turn out to be a favourite.

Everyone should read?
Harry Potter. Need I say more?

3 books that come to mind?
A Court of Wings and Ruin, Contagion, and Shadow and Bone


Film that was better than the book?
Love, Rosie, Twilight, The Host, The Mortal Instruments, Mockingjay off the top of my head.

Do i judge by covers?
Of course, though I can't help it. I'll still likely read the synopsis if I've picked it up but I'll never know of the books with unappealing covers because I walked straight past them, oops.


I hope this was a little interesting for you, and if it wasn't... well at least you only wasted a couple of minutes reading this, haha.

If you want to do this tag, I tag you! Let me know when you've done it because I would love to read your answers.


Until then,

AU REVOIR SHOSHANNAAAAA (Inglorious Basterds reference, sorry)


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

Hello friends,

I realise I haven't done a blog post for a wrap up in a while... sorry! I do my YouTube video and then I just get lazy, but I am quite busy too so there's that. But I'm hoping to get back into it a little more so please be patient, Imma try my best! That being said, if you'd like to check out my video for my June Wrap Up & July TBR click here!

For the first half of June, I dedicated all my time to studying as I was in my exam block - I literally read maybe 2 chapters of a book that whole time. When my last exam was over I got straight back into reading and managed to finish 5 books (woo!)


BOOKS READ IN JUNE:

1. Spellslinger - Sebastian De Castell
This book had a great premise but I had to put it down because I just couldn't stand reading it at the time. It felt so slow for me because the male protagonist was very passive and it was doing my head in. I was thankful for the fact that he got slightly better and the story became more interesting, but that was more towards the end of the book and I didn't find it worth it at all. This book isn't terrible, it just wasn't a story for me - perhaps those who enjoy middle grade stories would like this. I have a full review here if you'd like to know more.
2.75/5

2. Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire - JK Rowling
I literally started my reread of this last year... LAST YEAR. I kept it as an 'in-between' read so that's why, and I'm okay with that, it is a reread after all. I forgot how much I loved this book, there's so many cute things that I love in this story that aren't in the movies, ESPECIALLY DOBBY!! I'm hoping to start rereading book five very soon!
5/5


3. Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge
I went to Instagram for help to choose a fast paced fantasy novel and I was recommended this one and I ended up finishing it in less than 24 hours because it was just so addictive and I was keen to know everything that happened. This is a somewhat darker retelling of Beauty and the Beast and I seriously loved it so much and would highly recommend it - especially if you're in a bit of a reading slump. This is a very short book and I think it could done with a few more chapters to add to the story but overall, such a good read!
4.5/5

4. Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi
This series (originally a trilogy, more books coming in 2018!) has been on my TBR for a quite a while and I just never got round to picking it up. I must've been seeing it on Instagram a lot because all of a sudden, I ordered the boxed set (three books) off Book Depository and get this... it came in less than four days - WHAT! I think that made it a sign and I jumped right in and FELL IN LOVE. This is a fast paced dystopian/romance novel with interesting characters - the only person I loved straight away was Warner (who is now my new bae), but it was addictive and intriguing and I freaking loved it.
4/5


5. Unravel Me - Tahereh Mafi
Of course I picked up book two immediately because I just needed to know what happened next. This book had what I felt Shatter Me lacked, and this is where my serious obsession for the series begins. Unravel Me was fast paced, action packed, I began to really like most of the characters as I felt more.. connected with them I guess? The story really branched out and Juliette's character development was great. There were so many lines and paragraphs and whole damn chapters that I wanted to tab because it was so freaking good - I'm also certain majority of the tabs involved Warner, if not all, hehe!
5/5 !!!


JULY TBR

1. Ignite Me - Tahereh Mafi
I finished Unravel Me on June 30th so very necessary to jump straight into this as my first read of July.

2. Unite Me - Tahereh Mafi
I was originally on a book buying ban but broke it because I needed these novellas - I am still waiting patiently for it to arrive!

3. A Gathering of Shadows - V.E Schwab
Continuing my read of the Shades of Magic series.

4. Winter - Marissa Meyer
Continuing my read of the Lunar Chronicles.

5. Holding Up the Universe - Jennifer Niven
I put this down because I felt I was reading too much contemporary at the time so I'm eager to pick this back up!



This is a very ambitious TBR for me seeing as I'm back at uni, but I'm hoping to manage my time really well and get at least four books read.

Let me know what you read in the month of June in the comments below - I'd love to know!

See you soon for more bookish posts :)

xx



WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

*This book was sent to me by Allen & Unwin 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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

Author: Alwyn Hamilton
Publication date: 25 January 2017
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
RRP: $16.99 AUD

Synopsis:
This is not about blood or love. This is about treason.
Nearly a year has passed since the events in Rebel of the Sands. Amani has come into both her powers and reputation as the Blue-Eyed Bandit, and the Rebel Prince's message has spread across the desert - and some might say out of control. But when a surprise encounter turns into a brutal kidnapping, Amani finds herself betrayed in the cruellest manner possible.
Stripped of her powers and her identity, and told from the man she loves, Amani must return to her desert-girl's instinct for survival. For the Sultan's palace is a dangerous one, and the hare is a viper's nest of suspicion, fear and intrigue. Just the right place for a spy to thrive... But spying is a dangerous game, and when ghosts from Amani's past emerge to haunt her, she begins to wonder if she can trust her own treacherous heart.

*Please note this review will not have any spoilers for Traitor to the Throne but may contain spoilers for Rebel of the Sands (book one).

If you can recall, I read Rebel of the Sands (book one) in December last year and flew through it; it was an incredible, fast paced read that I wanted more of so I was highly anticipating the release of Traitor to the Throne. In the very beginning of the book, the author has given us a rundown of the characters which I actually really enjoyed going through; it then goes into the first chapter from the perspective of The Foreign Prince, aka Jin which I may have squealed about. I really hope we get more chapters from him in the future (hint hint Alwyn Hamilton).

WRITING

In Rebel of the Sands, I fell in love with the author's writing and the love kept coming whilst reading Traitor to the Throne. The flow of the book was great and there's something about the way Alwyn describes everything that makes my little bookish heart warm. I absolutely love the mix of magic and what seems to be mythology? You wouldn't think to have those two in a book together but it works and I'm happy about it.

PLOT

In Traitor to the Throne we delved into the story a lot more than book one. I felt like some parts were skimmed over a bit more than I wanted to, but there was also a lot going on this book that partly made up for it. In Rebel of the Sands, there was rarely time for rest and that's what made it so fast paced. In Traitor to the Throne, it slows right down however, there is still so much going on that keeps your interest. To some this may be a good thing, to others... not so much?

There was definitely a lot of magical power and gun action that I felt was missing, we still get some of it but not as much as I'd have liked. I think this is what makes the book a bit slower. We still have our suspenseful and exciting situations but it missed what I loved most about book one. It's very obvious though that the author wanted to get deeper into the story and is setting us up for what I can only imagine as an intense finale.

CHARACTERS

The character development is this novel was amazing. We got to know the characters a bit more, I wanted more but I know that's probably asking too much. I think I'm just nosy and want to know everyones back story. I felt that Amani really grew into a likeable leader, I thought she was interesting already in Rebel of the Sands, but I really loved her character development in this book.

I'm really surprised at how much I liked it when the Sultan was involved/mentioned and I honestly think I'm not the only one. He was so interesting every time he spoke and I would really love to know more about how he thinks.

There were a few new characters introduced to our story. I absolutely loved Sam, he made for a lighter yet still serious time and I loved it when he was around. We get to meet a few of Jin and Ahmed's other siblings which really added to the Rebel Prince's story and I can't wait for it to delve more into that particular part.

There was a huge lack of Jin which I was disappointed in. I understand it's hard when it's told in Amani's perspective but he was such a huge part of the previous book, I felt that he should have some of his own chapters even if it was only a couple.


OVERALL

Overall, the book was exciting and written so beautifully, the world building is phenomenal and the character development is spot on. Traitor to the Throne got deeper into our rebellion story and sets us up for book three with an intense and emotional ending.

I would highly recommend picking up Rebel of the Sands if you haven't already; pick up Traitor to the Throne while you're at it because you're gonna need it right away! I would love to know your thoughts on Traitor to the Throne (or Rebel), leave a comment below or message me on Instagram if they contain spoilers.

Rating: 4/5

Make sure you check out my YouTube channel for more bookish things!

See you soon.

x

*This book was sent to me by Allen & Unwin 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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

Hello everyone,

The beginning of the year always seems to be my better reading months. I feel motivated and focused and really into whatever I'm reading - it helps when you read great books! This month I read 8 books, woohoo!!! Majority of them were incredibly good, with my first read and the last read being my favourites of the month. If you want to watch the video version of my January Wrap Up, click here!
Otherwise keep reading...




BOOKS

1. Illuminae - Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman
I bought Illuminae almost a year ago and have just let it sit on my shelf with every means to read it but never picking it up. After talking with a couple of Bookstagram friends about it, I was easily convinced to pick it up soon. It can seem an intimidating book because it's so big but it's written in different formats where on some pages there's hardly any writing and there's lots of instant messaging and emails that you read. After the first 100 pages I was seriously addicted, it is so FREAKING GOOD and intense and written in a way I've never come across before. You 100% need to read this epic sci-fi ok? Ok.
 5/5

2. Kiss of Fire - Rebecca Ethington
I got this ebook free on Amazon (it might still be free!) and because it was on my kindle, I started reading it when I was in America. I had left it for a while and picked it back up again this month and was easily back into the story. This took a while to get into the actual interesting part of the story but I still found it easy to read and it's not a very big book. It's a fantasy YA about magical beings and there's good and evil and all that. When the main character knew what she was, I felt it wasn't explained enough and her learning the magic she has was really rushed. But overall it was still an enjoyable read and I've book two is better!
3/5

3. A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness
If you watched my December Book Haul you would have known I purchased this beautiful illustrated edition. I picked this up because the movie comes out soon and it was also a short book. I finished it really quickly and absolutely loved it. It was quite a unique story and really pulled on the heartstrings (perhaps wrenched them off?) If you want to buy this book, I strongly suggest purchasing the illustrated edition as the amazing pictures really added to the story. They're also illustrated by the same person who does the Harry Potter illustrated versions (Jim Kay).
5/5

4. Our Chemical Hearts - Krystal Sutherland
I wouldn't say I had high hopes for this one, but I'd heard it was really good from the Bookstagram community so I was thoroughly disappointed with this one. Overall, the story was kind of enjoyable though the relationship of it all was toxic and a let down. The two main characters, Henry and Grace were both interesting but it would've been better if it didn't involve one or the other as much, does that make sense? I didn't like them together in the story. I really liked Lola (one of Henry's best friends) but I also didn't like (actually - really hated) that for his other best friend who hails from Australia, the author overdid the commercial Australian thing. In parts it was meant to be some sort of joke but it was so overdone, it made me loathe anything that came out of his mouth. Also the author is Australian?! Anyways, I think this book would be better suited for a younger age group.
3/5 (maybe 2?)

5. Yellow - Megan Jacobson
Now here is an Australian author that got it done right. This is set in like the early 90's maybe?? and it was so on point with Australian culture in the story. This is about Kirra, who is going through a rough time in her life and ends up picking up a ringing phone to an old telephone box and when she answers, the person on the other end was actually murdered 20 years ago and is stuck in a sort of limbo until his murderer is caught. Interesting right? This was a phenomenal story and I highly recommend this book! The only thing that pissed me off was what happened in chapter 3, it was unnecessary.
4.5/5


6. The Diabolic - SJ Kincaid
Another sci-fi novel this month, is about a world where 'Diabolics' are created for the protection of the people who buy them. Nemesis is sent in her 'protectee's' place when she is summoned to the royal court and has to act as the royal heir she is seen to be. This book was fast paced and interesting and I enjoyed myself immensely. It was also very unpredictable and I had no idea what was going to end up happening - I had my theories and they were all wrong but in such a good way. I loved how this book ended up and I am looking forward to book two.
4.5/5

7. Sidekicks - Will Kostakis
Another YA Australian author brings you a story about three boys who all had the same best friend who died. It's told in three parts - one part for each boy, and goes through their grief process and what happens next. This was a really enjoyable read and I'm so, so glad that I finally got round to reading it. My favourite character was Harley, 'the rebel' of the story. He was such an interesting character and I enjoyed reading from his point of view. My least favourite was Miles, he wasn't very likeable but I think that was intended. Overall, a really great story and I'm looking forward to reading more from the author.
4/5


8. My Sister Rosa - Justine Larbalestier
Oh my lord. This book is insane. In the view of 17 year old Che, he and his family move around a lot and his main focus in life is keeping his sister Rosa under control. Rosa is a 10 year old psychopath and holy heck. I've never read anything like this before and it was absolutely incredible. Rosa is creepy and twisted and like no character I've read about before. It was a nice change to read from a different view to do with mental disorders. I seriously need to scope out more books like this as I may be addicted! The only downside to this story was that there was a bit of 'instalove' which I wasn't keen on, but other than that SO, SO GOOD!
4.5/5


What an incredible reading month! I hope to continue this 'incredibleness' into February before I go back to uni (YOU CAN DO THIS ERENA!).

FEBRUARY TBR

1. City of Glass - Cassandra Clare *I am trying to finish this one that I started over a year ago - oops!

2. Scarlet - Marissa Meyer *Buddy reading this one! Come join me @erenareads on IG

3. Anna Dressed in Blood - Kendare Blake

4. Gemina - Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

5. Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire - JK Rowling *This is constantly on my tbr but I'm trying to make a really dent in it this month.


And that's it! I hope you enjoyed reading about what I was reading and it inspires you to pick up one (or more) of these books. Make sure you check out my Instagram @erenareads for daily posts and chats and my YouTube channel for bookish videos and lifestyle vlogs.

See you soon!
xx


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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

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.