Hello!

With not only December coming to an end but also 2016, I wanted to add more books to my total books read for the year so I managed to scrape in 5 books in December which I am extremely happy with. The previous months I wasn't reading as much because of university and I also fell into a slightly small slump. But I should also mention that the books I did read were of pretty good quality, some of them being possible favourites of the year! If you're interested I have a video version of this on my YouTube channel, click here for that. Otherwise keep reading...


DECEMBER WRAP UP

1. Falling Into Place - Amy Zhang
Last month I read my first novel from this author and thoroughly enjoyed her writing and was very keen to dive into this one. The chapters are based on the before's and after's with a girl who is in a car accident at the beginning of the book. It has multiple points of views and I didn't mind one bit. Each chapter held little bits of information that really added to the story and it made me crave each chapter and it was extremely hard to put down; this fact made me read it in about three sittings (which is reaaallly great for me!) Despite being based around high school aged characters, I loved the way it was written. Highly recommend this novel!
5/5


2. Rebel of the Sands - Alwyn Hamilton
I had seen this floating around the book community for a while, even after I bought it, so I finally started reading and this was yet another book that I didn't want to put down. Amani is eager to move out of her crappy desert town and on to better things. She meets a foreign boy who is in trouble with the law and they set out together to find whatever it is they wish to find. The story is an interesting one that has bits of fantasy and diversity in it and incredibly easy to read. I am eagerly awaiting the release of book two, Traitor to the Throne.
5/5


3. Wintergirls - Laurie Halse Anderson
This was a reread for me; I first read the book a few years ago from the library and finally purchased my own copy. This was a quick read because I once again, found it hard to put down. It follows Lia, a girl with anorexia, whose old best friend just died (who also had an eating disorder). It delves into the mind of disordered eating and how this mental illness can affect all aspects of life. You need to go into this book with an open mind, you cannot be mad at the main character when she doesn't do what she should and it may take some time for you to start to understand that mental illnesses can control the host. I shall also give it a trigger warning for those struggling with disordered eating. Nonetheless, it is one of my favourite books ever.
5/5

4. Desolation - Derek Landy
Book two in the Demon Road trilogy; I wasn't actually expecting much from this book because the first one was pretty average, but after getting through a few chapters I found myself enjoying it immensely. I felt that everything that was wrong with Demon Road was improved in this book. It had plenty of action and a good story. I've already started book three because I need to know what happens next! For a full review of Demon Road click here, and for a full review of Desolation click here.
4/5


5. American Monsters - Derek Landy
The final instalment of the Demon Road trilogy; I was eager to get to this one as I really enjoyed the previous book. This book had quite a clear storyline/plot which I felt wasn't as clear in the first two, so that was a plus. I didn't find it as interesting as Desolation but still a fun and enjoyable read for teenage and some young adult readers. There were a few events I was surprised by - both good and bad. There was one particular thing that happened where I felt it wasn't written about enough so I kind of felt cheated almost. But overall, I enjoyed this trilogy.For a full review click here.
3.5/5


JANUARY TBR

1. Illuminae - Jay Kristoff & Amy Kaufman
2. Kiss of Fire - Rebecca Ethington
3. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire - J.K Rowling


That's all for my January TBR at the moment, no doubt I'll add more to it but I'm waiting to see what I'm in the mood for.
Be sure to check out my YouTube channel because I upload there regularly (Erena Reads or click the link below).

See you soon for more bookish posts!

x


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Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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Good morning, afternoon and evening to wherever you may be in the world.

Another month over brings a new blog post dedicated to the books I have read this month and boy, was I productive. I read a total of eight books this month (which is really good for me!) I've got into my head the saying "So many books, so little time!" This may sound a little morbid but what if I die before reading all the books I've really wanted to read? Especially mid through a series?! I hope to live a long and book-filled life!

Anyway, onto the reason you came to visit my blog...










1. Throne of Glass - Sarah J Maas
I discovered the Throne of Glass series through 'Bookstagram'. I heard plenty of great things about these books and definitely looked like something I was keen on reading. Celaena Sardothien is the infamous assassin of Adarlan who is given a possible chance at freedom if she fights her way through and is the last one standing. Since I had heard all these raving reviews I went into it slowly and take it bit by bit, which I'm glad I did. I feel it made me absorb it all the better and I really, really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next book. Celaena comes off arrogant and rude but where people didn't like that, I absolutely loved that about her - she wasn't being fake. Anyway, give this a read! 5/5



2. A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarak J Maas
I went into this book without knowing what it was about at all; I found out about half way through this book that it is actually a retelling of Beauty and the Beast - I would have read the whole thing and had no idea. This follows Feyre after she kills one of the faerie kind and is somewhat banished to their world by a high lord named Tamlin. This is a fantasy novel but has so much to it and I couldn't stop reading it. This could very well be my favourite book of 2015! Book two comes out next year. 5/5 (plus ten).

3. City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare
Last month you would have seen that I was giving another chance to The Mortal Instruments series. I enjoyed City of Bones somewhat and looked forward to getting to book two. I won't say much about the series since this is the second instalment and I don't want to give anything away. Honestly, I didn't really like it that much. Clary is such an annoying character and I hated reading from her point of view. I continued reading for the sake of Jace - I like him! I will still continue with the series and read City of Glass next month. 3/5

4. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
A couple of months ago Go Set a Watchman was published and released and I wanted to reread To Kill a Mockingbird before reading the sequel. I love this book and it is definitely one of my favourite books. My favourite thing about this book is reading from Scout's point of view. 5/5



5. The Selection - Keira Cass
This was an impulse read. I had heard about this series a couple of months ago but lost interest when I thought the synopsis sounding so 'teenagey'. It came up again on my bookstagram feed just over a week ago and I asked other people's opinions of it and most people said it was okay and continued reading the series. The Selection is a dystopian novel where 35 girls are 'randomly selected' from the castes to live in the royal palace and try to win the heart of the prince and to then become princess. I found it hard to stop reading and really enjoyed this story! 4/5


6. The Elite - Keira Cass
Book two of The Selection series is about 'The Elite' - otherwise known as the top ten, or in this case top six. The main character 'America Singer' is all over the place but is kind and fair at heart. Sometimes though, you want to tell her to get her shit together (sorry!) I felt like these first two books could have been combined and made just as one book but nonetheless I enjoyed it and finished it very quickly, eager for book three. 4/5



7. Go Set a Watchman - Harper Lee
~ Before I start, I was actually reading book three of the previously mentioned series but finished this one first.
If you didn't already know, Go Set a Watchman was actually written before To Kill a Mockingbird but Lee was turned down and told to write something else. This takes place twenty something years later and watches Jean Louise (Scout) go back to Maycomb on one of her annual visits from New York. This took me longer to read than I expected and I found myself putting it down and picking up something else. I picked it up a week later and made myself read it. It was okay... Didn't really need to be written to be honest. If you're interested, I would say read it but don't stress over it. 3/5

8. The One - Keira Cass
I was only too happy to dive into this book (whilst I was at work 'working'). This obviously continues on with America Singer involved in the selection process to marry the prince, though much more intense with only four girls left and things are getting heated between everyone. The One has excitement, tragedy (I cried a couple of times) and the kind of romance that makes you want to melt. Definitely my favourite so far! See you soon book four. 5/5

Wow, eight books. Go me! I'm very happy with the amount I read and currently have a goal of 52 books to read in 2015. I've read 44 so far and I think I'll make it!
I would love to know your thoughts on these books if you've read them, or let me know what you read this month. If there is anything you want me to read for a review, let me know that too - if you like I can do a full review as well.

Happy reading!

Love, Erena

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Email: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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Hello everyone.