Non-spoiler book review

--

Title: We Hunt the Flame
Author: Hafsah Faizal
Publisher: Pan Macmillan (Australia)
Publication date: 14 May 2019

Synopsis:
Zafira is the hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Art to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya - but neither wants to be.

War is brewing, and the Art sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter.

But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds - and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.


Rating: 4/5

--

This story is enticing and absolutely makes you want to keep reading, which made for a great introduction. It was mysterious, somewhat dark, and I felt so damn drawn to the story. There were a couple of times where I found myself having to reread paragraphs because it was one of those 'I blinked and miss it' kind of moments - even though I read it all?? I don't know. I would be keen for it to be slightly slowed down in the 'exciting' parts.

I found Zafira, our main character to be very likeable throughout the story, she wasn't my all-round-perfect character but to be perfectly honest, that's hard to reach anyways. For the most part I enjoyed her character. When reading from her perspective she seemed like she knew what she was doing however, when viewing her from Nasir's perspective, she looked like a pile of conflicting emotions - though not all the time. I really enjoyed Nasir's character too, though I am definitely drawn to darker, somewhat mysterious characters.

My favourite character of the story was hands down, Altair. The ever so witty general was full of hilarious remarks and always had an opinion on everything and I loved that about him. He brought a sense of humour and lightness to the serious moments even if it was sometimes inappropriate.

I loved the magic of the world and I am so, so keen to see it develop in the next book. I really appreciated the effort in telling the history of the magic the world had and how it had diminished. Though some parts in the journey to its restoration felt a little rushed, it definitely could've been slowed down so I didn't have to flip back and reread some of the paragraphs again.

One of the 'twists' I didn't find necessary and it kind of felt off for me which was disappointing however, I didn't let it bring me down because the rest of the book was pretty much fantastic!

I definitely recommend this diverse YA fantasy and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did, if not, more!


----

*This book was sent to me by Pan Macmillan Australia

in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


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'!

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'!

Non-spoiler book review*
Please note this is book two in a series. If you haven't read book one, the synopsis and review may contain potential spoilers.


Title: The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2)
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Hot Key Books / Allen & Unwin (Australia)
Publication date: 8 January 2019
RRP: $19.99 AUD

Synopsis:
After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her, even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.
When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

---

There was a lot of hype for The Cruel Prince (book one) when it came out a year ago and I was hearing great things however, I also heard a couple of not great things. Months after its release I was talking to a friend of mine who was reading it and asked her to give me her thoughts. I am so glad I did because I realised there was a couple of problematic elements recognised by some and those who didn't like it truely built their reviews around that and that alone. My friend was able to give me a better run down and said it was a truely good book and story, but recognised an element of the plot that may not go down well with many. With all of that being said, I immensely enjoyed book one and was freaking excited for book two.

Firstly, I have to say The Wicked King is a stunning book. I own the paperback and the colour and the crown on it is so eye catching that I could just stare at it for days. I try not to set too many expectations for books, especially sequels, though as I already said, I was damn excited about it.

The story begins a few months after The Cruel Prince ended, Oak is being protected, Madoc is still an ass, and Jude pretty much rules over Cardan and Elfhame. The story develops well from the previous book, going into more politics - which I love (don't think I've ever said that before haha), and plenty of backstabbyness (that's now a word).

Jude, oh Jude. She has to be one of my favourite morally grey characters there ever was. I loved her in book one, I loved her even more in the second. She is a smart, strong, badass female character that does not deny what she wants (despite being able to lie in the Faerie world), and I absolutely love that about her. She is the character I want to see in many other fantasy novels, so thank you Holly Black.


In this story we get so much more from Cardan - something that was preconceived but also hoped for anyways, and boy did it deliver. The depth in which his character goes to is perfect and the only reason I would want more is because I am greedy. The complexity and dynamics between his and Jude's relationship is executed well and the intimate scenes between the two felt like I was secretly feeding my guilty pleasures. I think it's good to recognise the kind of character Jude is - she craves power, so the intimacy in this book (and book one for that matter) was about getting what she wants, and not being some damsel in distress.

I loved that we got to explore more the Faerie world, i.e The Undersea, and getting more from other characters. Here begins my interest in Balekin. Me being the villain loving person I am, was happy to see more of Balekin and what he provides for the story. I wish there was more but once again, that is more out of greed. There is not one thing I would change about the other side characters, even though they may not do what you want them to, they provide for a compelling story and it just all makes sense.

The ending had me speechless. I did not see it coming but it also makes a lot of sense and I had trouble reading the epilogue because I was absolutely reeling. What I'm going to do for the next year waiting for book three is something to be determined. The Wicked King was an exciting story that brings faerie to another level. Holly Black has brought a refreshing twist on old fairytales and I praise it.


Rating: 5/5 

----

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


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'!

Spoiler free book review

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

Title: Piecing Me Together
Author: Renee Watson
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: 1st March 2018
RRP: $14.99 (AUD)

Synopsis:

Piecing Me Together tells a story of Jade, a girl striving for success in a world that seems like it is trying to break her. She knows she needs to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way. And Jade has: every day she rides the bus away from her friends and to the private school where she feels like an outsider, but where she has plenty of opportunities. But some opportunities she could do without, like the mentorship programme for 'at-risk' girls. Just because her mentor is black doesn't mean she understands where Jade is coming from. She's tired of being singled out as someone people want to fix. Jade feels like her life is made of hundreds of conflicting pieces. Will it ever fit together? Will she ever find her place in the world? More than anything she wants to opportunity to be real, to make a difference.

I picked up this short little book after reading some fairly intense books, and knew I needed some contemporary to keep up the reading pace. Initially, I was interested in the book and curious to where it was heading. The short chapters made it easy to read but also easy to put down when I found myself getting a little disinterested. Though, to keep you interested, the book definitely picked up in the end and felt like it really getting somewhere and I enjoyed the book overall.

The main plot of the story isn't really clear, it's kind of just Jade, our MC, dealing with her life, the hand she was dealt, and the actions of others around her. I don't think that's a bad thing in terms of the important racial issues this book offers, but maybe knowing that the story is perhaps quiet and what feels like a bridging step into what I hope is a continuation of books that deal with race, if that makes sense.


Jade wasn't a particularly memorable character. When I think of the characters in this book, I think of how much I love Lee Lee, one of the side characters - I wish there was more of her. That's what I think this book needed a little bit more of - just a bit more personality showing from the MC and the other side characters that made multiple appearances.

I feel like this book is kind of like a build up to something better, but that something better is you (or more specifically, white people, like myself). It's important that you take something from this book otherwise, what is the point of reading it? Yes, it's a short contemporary dealing with what people know is a big issue in society and has been for years. So why is it that people are still surrounding people of colour and races other than caucasians with their assumptions?


Let Piecing Me Together not be a book you just read and rate and that's it. Let it be a novel that can help young readers of colour know they're not alone, let it start helping young readers to understand the importance of race discrimination and how your words, my words and their's can be the power we need to stimulate more change in this world.

Rating: 3.5/5



----

*These books were sent to me unsolicited 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'!

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'!

SPOILER FREE BOOK REVIEW

*This is the third in a trilogy so if you haven't read the first two books and intend to, there will be slight spoilers in the synopsis however, you won't get spoiled from my review itself.
Title: Hero at the Fall
Author: Alwyn Hamilton
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication date: 21 February 2018
RRP: $16.99 AUD

Synopsis:
When gunslinging Amani Al'Hiza escaped her dead-end town, she never imagined she'd join a revolution, let alone lead one. But after the bloodthirsty Sultan of Miraji imprisoned the Rebel Prince Ahmed in the mythical city of Eremot, she doesn't have a choice. Armed with only her revolver, her wits, and her untameable Demdji powers, Amani must rally her skeleton crew or rebels for a rescue mission through the unforgiving desert to a place that, according to maps, doesn't exist. As she watches those she loves most lay their lives on the line against ghouls and enemy soldiers, Amani questions whether she can be the leader they need or if she is leading them all to their deaths.

------

I was slightly hesitant to devour this like I wanted to deep down; it is the end of a trilogy and essentially an era in my opinion. After seriously loving Rebel of the Sands and definitely enjoying Traitor to the Throne; Hero at the Fall is where some new things may start but it will all come to an end. And I just have to say this, but the cover is so beautiful and they couldn't have done it better.

The storyline throughout this entire trilogy is so interesting and exciting, and I was very curious as to how it was going to play out in this final book. It definitely did not disappoint and I would have to say, this is my favourite out of the series. I mean, when you get super invested in the characters lives and find yourself imitating their emotions, well... you must love it, right?

The book starts off with short descriptions of the characters that have popped up throughout the first two books, and having read book two (Traitor to the Throne) a year earlier, I found it to be a great way to remind myself of what had previously happened in the stories without the repetition. Another plus and the new story hadn't even begun.

The story picks up immediately and you'll be transported straight back to the world of Amani and her crew. The author's writing, in my opinion, is better than ever and found myself breezing through the pages, eager to know more. You're constantly thrown into emotional battles and while some parts I adored, some just broke my heart. In book two, I felt that the Demdji powers were not really present however, they much more prominent in this novel which makes me VERY happy.

Throughout this series, I've found that some readers have a bit of love-hate feelings toward our main character, Amani. While I can see how they do, I adore her. I feel like she is strong when she needs to be strong but still has that soft side that she's working on and I love her for it. And if you're not always keen on her, she definitely has some great character development that I think everyone will appreciate.

The other characters are, to put it simply, amazing. I love the dynamics of this rebel crew and wish I could see them together for all of eternity. You'll meet a couple of new characters but there is one that really stands out for me, don't worry, I won't give it away but I got a little bit obsessed (some people won't be surprised at who it is haha).
And of course, Jin; oh Jin, what did we ever do to deserve you? I felt like his presence was lacking throughout a lot of the book. He's still around but I wanted more Jin, perhaps I'm a little selfish? But there is a point where you'll get your fix, don't you worry. I was talking to my friend Bek (@bexnbooks) about Hero at the Fall and how we would not mind, in fact, we would encourage a novel told in Jin's perspective - yes please!

There was only one part of the book that I was disappointed with and it was to do with the Sultan, or lack thereof - but it did not deter me in the way of rating the book (as you'll see below!)

As you can probably tell, I adored this book and this series as a whole. Hero at the Fall was definitely my favourite of the three and I think most people will really enjoy these books. A great, diverse read!

My rating: 5/5 stars

------

*This book was sent to me by Allen & Unwin 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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

SPOILER-FREE BOOK REVIEW

Title: Goodbye Perfect
Author: Sara Barnard
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publication date: 13 February 2018
RRP: $16.99

Synopsis:
Eden McKinley knows she can't count on much in this world, but she can depend on Bonnie, her solid, steady, straight-A best friend. So it's a bit of a surprise when Bonnie runs away with the boyfriend Eden knows nothing about five days before the start of their GCSEs. Especially when the police arrive on her doorstep and Eden finds out that the boyfriend is actually their music teacher, Mr Cohn.
Sworn to secrecy and bound by loyalty, only Eden knows Bonnie's location, and that's the way it has to stay, There's no way she's betraying her best friend. Not even when she's faced with police questioning, suspicious parents and her own growing doubts.
As the days pass and things begin to unravel, Eden is forced to question everything she thought she knew about the world, her best friend and herself.

------

After reading A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard, I wanted to jump on the opportunity to read Goodbye, Perfect, eager to read more from the author. The synopsis had me very intrigued, having not read a story much like this before.

The plot itself was an interesting one and likely to some, a sensitive or taboo topic. I think Barnard delivered this incredibly well so the reader doesn't accidentally romanticise student-teacher relationships. While I don't have a lot of experience in knowing much about the subject, I felt that it came across quite realistic how all the characters involved treated it.

The story, for the most of it, was easy to read and I felt very involved. It unfortunately fell short for me towards the end - I felt the build up was leading to a crazy and intense moment however, I felt kind of 'meh' about it. In saying that, it was only the end and I thought the rest of story was actually pretty good.

Our main character, for me particularly, was easy to read from the perspective of. I'm always wary of reading from a character of that age (15-16 years), simply because of my own age but I really enjoyed reading from Eden's point of view. And her boyfriend?! He (Connor) was my absolute favourite (sorry Eden!) He was such a great addition to the story and I honestly cannot see the story without him. I also really loved Eden's older sister, Valerie, too, so I was really happy that we got to know her a bit more - maybe because she was closer to my age and also a university student??

Barnard's writing is to die for, so I would highly recommend this book based simply on that. How she includes diversity into her story is perfect; there is a flow about it that makes it smooth but also known - I hope this makes sense but essentially I think some readers will relate with some of the characters and it'll make them feel good rather than judged.


If you're into Sara Barnard's style (and who isn't?!) then I definitely recommend this book. I think this is a great read for teenage readers and lovers of young adult fiction - I think my little sister will love it! Overall, an awesomely written book with a mostly great story, enjoy it!

Rating: 4/5

------

*This book was sent to me by Pan Macmillan Australia in exchange


. 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'!

SPOILER FREE REVIEW


Title: Reign the Earth
Author: A. C Gaughen
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: 30th January 2018
RRP: 

Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence

Synopsis:

Shalia is a proud daughter of the desert, but after years of devastating war with the adjoining kingdom, her people are desperate for peace. Willing to trade her freedom to ensure the safety of her family, Shalia becomes Queen of the Bonelands.
But she soon learns that her husband, Calix, is motivated only by his desire to exterminate the Elementae—mystical people who can control earth, wind, air, and fire. Even more unsettling are Shalia’s feelings for her husband’s brother, which unleash a power over the earth she never knew she possessed—a power that could get her killed. As rumors of a rebellion against Calix spread, Shalia must choose between the last chance for peace and her own future as an Elementae.

-----
I hadn't heard of this book until I saw other book bloggers receiving this in the mail and upon reading the synopsis I was desperate to read this book. When it showed in my mail box I was stoked so firstly, thank you to Bloomsbury for sending it my way to read.

As you may have seen above (or skipped over), I'm giving this book a trigger warning for domestic violence. It shows a lot of emotional and mental abuse and small bit of physical abuse so read with care. These parts of the story are very heavy but necessary to the story.


I was really wanting to enjoy this book so with each page I was nervous however, those nerves were slowly put at ease as I finished each chapter. There were so many different elements to love in the book, the first being the main character Shalia. She was so likeable in so many ways; I loved how much she loved her family and how involved she was with her beliefs. She is a very strong character and doesn't break easily, she thinks about her words and actions yet isn't afraid to voice her opinions when she deems necessary. If you didn't get it by now, I adored her character and hope to see more characters like Shalia in 2018 across young adult fiction.

One of my other favourite characters was one of Shalia's many brothers, Kairos. He has this air of mystery about him but still very playful and his love for his sister and family is admirable.
Pretty much every other character (except the awful tosser that is the king - more on that soon) is likeable. Some of them we didn't get too much about in this book but as the series goes on, I am very certain we will.

Something that made me so dang happy was that there was no female/female 'catty-ness'. There was one instance when I thought it would happen but the main character being ever so great, played the situation cool and developed the relationship to make it pleasant to read.


So I was talking about domestic violence and the king; as many King and Queen relationships go, the king in this story - Calix, makes the decisions on everything and despises to be contradicted and shown up. After only a couple of Shalia's and Calix's encounters you will either see the emotional abuse or you won't (but you'll realise later) - and that is how, in my own knowledge, how a lot of victims experience emotional and mental abuse from their partner. Even though Calix is a complete asshat, he is very necessary to the story, not only for it to develop but perhaps also to take note of how domestic abuse can play out.

The story itself was such a pleasure to read. It had fantasy elements - which I'm so excited to see more in the next book and I love books that are part set in deserts (unsure as to why though). And while I had some inkling of what would happen in the end (you'll probably know too about a third of the way through), it still surprised me when certain events took place and it literally had me SHOOK.

I highly recommend this novel especially if you're into dark fantasies but just as another warning: there is a lot of abuse in this story (majority emotional and mental but also physical).

My rating: 5/5

----

*This book was sent to me unsolicited 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'!

Spoiler free review

Title: Moonrise
Author: Sarah Crossan
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: September 2017
RRP: $16.99

Synopsis:
Joe hasn't seen his brother for ten years, and it's for the most brutal of reasons. Ed is on death row.
But now Ed's execution date has been set, and Joe is determined to spend those last weeks with him, no matter what other people think...


Firstly, let me thank the book gods for another floppy paperback - I enjoy these. Secondly (another thanks), this cover is damn beautiful and I could have it forever on display.

Moonrise is written in what I think is a poetry layout - it isn't poetry but at a glance, it looks like it, does that make sense? It's from the perspective of Joe and flips between the present and the past as his memories which made for a more well developed and insightful story.

I've never read a fictional story like this before and it was interesting to read about a boy who has a brother on death row. This was an emotional read and I found myself crying towards the end. It makes me even more emotional that people actually go through this kind of situation on a daily basis - it's heartbreaking. Our main character, Joe, was a well developed character and I enjoyed reading from his point of view. The other characters in Moonrise were a great addition that helped the story continue.


The writing seemed simple but compelling and beautiful. I loved the structure of the book, it made it so easy to read and to be drawn in and to never want to put it down. I finished this in about 24 hours and wish I could rewind and read it all again for the first time - something only a few books have made me feel.

I highly recommend Moonrise, more so if you're looking for a quick read - though you may want to try and devour this as slowly as you can.

Rating: 4/5


*This book was sent to me by Bloomsbury unsolicited. 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'!

Title: Stargazing for Beginners
Author: Jenny McLachlan
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: June 2017
RRP: $14.99

Synopsis:
Meg adores space. She is fascinated by science, loves logic and wants nothing more than to be an astronaut. Stargazing for Beginners sees Meg left to look after her little sister for ten days after her free-spirited mum leaves suddenly to follow up yet another of her Big Important Causes. While Meg may understand how the universe was formed, baby Elsa is a complete mystery to her.
Plus, mum's disappearance has come at the worst time: Meg is desperate to win a competition to get the chance to visit NASA headquarters, but to do this she has to beat close rival Ed. Can Meg pull of this double life of caring for Elsa and following her own dreams? She'll need a miracle of cosmic proportions.

Let me begin by saying how stunningly beautiful the cover of this book is, I love watching the light reflect off it at different angles. This book is a great teenage read but as a 26-year-old, I very much enjoyed it. I'm so thankful that Bloomsbury sent it to me because it's not something I would usually pick up - though that could potentially be a lie if I did a 'cover buy'.

Firstly, Meg is an incredibly likeable character. She is hardworking, smart and likes to keep to herself. With the situation she's been put into (shame on you, mother!), as well some things that happen at school, she's had to change her ways quite a bit and I seriously admire her for how she takes it. I empathised with Meg a lot in this story and am grateful for it.


The story itself, I found very interesting, I mean, who just ups and leaves their kids because 'there is a greater cause that I must help out with' (not a quote from the book, but you gist right?). Anyway, their mum f***s off to Myanmar and I'm here like WTF? But that is the main reason for this story. Meg is plunged into this chaotic life and because of that, it really helped develop her character. I loved so many aspects of this story and I LOVED that she loved space.

The side characters were great. Her grandpa is hilarious, and the biscuit club grew on me pretty quickly (you'll understand if you've read it/once you read it). Annie was a great character to have in there and I loved her bluntness.

Stargazing for Beginners brought out so many emotions in me and while I didn't entirely resonate with Meg, there were so many parts in this book that reminded me of my own experience in high school. Thank you Jenny McLachlan for writing a brilliant story that made me feel.

I'll leave you with one of my favourite lines of the book:
"Wish me luck"
"No way. You don't believe in that rubbish"
"You're right. Wish me a logical outcome"

4/5


*This book was sent to me by Bloomsbury 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 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'!

***PLEASE NOTE: While this doesn't contain spoilers for A Court of Wings and Ruin, you may find that it will spoil A Court of Thorns and Roses (book #1) and A Court of Mist and Fury (book #2). You have been warned!

Title: A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3)
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publication date: 2nd May 2017
RRP: $17.99

Synopsis:
Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's manoeuvrings and the invading king threatening to bring Pythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit - and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.
As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the  dazzling and lethal High Lords - and hunt for allies in unexpected places.
The earth will be painted red as mighty armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy them all.


**Another note: There was a lot of talk about a certain line in the beginning of the book being acephobic (not sure if spelt right but a description for those who a negative to asexuals or asexuality). I will talk about it at the very bottom of this review (after the rating) as it may be spoilery.


How does one even start a review for A Court of Wings and Ruin?

I have been waiting a year for this book to come out, and the immediate time after A Court of Mist and Fury (book #2) and the last month before this book came out were the hardest. My most highly anticipated book of the year is finally here and what do I do? I stare at it in disbelief for a moment before beginning the start of Feyre and Rhysand's final story.

STORY/WRITING

You may have heard this from others and you'll also hear it from me... The first maybe half of the book was slow. Though for me, I was absolutely fine with this. We needed to know all the details of basically everything that was happening leading up to the inevitable war, and I was happy to read it all. The second half the story was much more intense, this increased one hundredfold in part three of the book. There were so many times were my heart felt like it had seized in my chest and was going to cease beating. I had no idea what to expect of the action scenes in this book; I am a massive sucker for crazy action scenes with fighting and magic, gore and blood. I must say, it really surprised me - it was more intense than I ever expected it to be and that filled my heart with joy (and many close cardiac arrests). I was so damn happy with the way this book was written. I think I would have loved A Court of Wings and Ruin no matter what but there was so much pressure on Sarah for this book and I think she executed it wonderfully.


FEYRE

As High Lady of the Night Court, Feyre had to take on a different role in this novel however, we still got plenty of wit, attitude and everything else we love about Feyre. She is my favourite female character in this story (many people go for Mor but I am totally in love with Feyre). She got even more badass following on from A Court of Mist and Fury and I am SUPER HAPPY about it. Over the entire trilogy, I've thought Feyre's character development has been phenomenal. It really changed in each book but in a good way and a way that flowed nicely with the story.

RHYSAND

Holy mother of gods and High Lords.
Rhys is my number one forever and always.
I cannot say more about him other than that I wish there were maybe a couple more chapters from him or at least an extended one. I love knowing his thoughts from his end. Maybe I can pray for a Rhysand novella??

FEYSAND

Once again, not much I can except the fact that I am totally and unconditionally in love with Feysand. MY TRUE OTP!! I do wish there were more sexy Feysand times in the story but I'm still about it.

OTHER CHARACTERS

I am so happy with what we got in regards to both new and old characters. This isn't a spoiler because we all knew it was coming but I was so happy with being able to meet the rest of the High Lords (give me a holler for Helion please). This addition truly added to the story and without it, I would have thought less of this book *gasp* but it didn't happen, so sit back down.
Cassian and Azriel, my other loves... When they first appeared back in the story I literally cried; I think because I love Feyre so much, I really read as if I am her so it intensified the feelings a lot haha.
We got to read more into Amren's and Mor's lives which I loved, it added so much more depth to the story as well as many unanswered questions.
Since A Court of Mist and Fury, I've grown to like Nesta much more but in this book I think I grew to love her?! I love her passion and fiery goodness and I'm hoping for another story from her because I have many questions.
I loved having Lucien back in the story. He wasn't in the previous book much so it was good to have my favourite witty fox back. His and Feyre's relationship development was SO GOOD and made me happy.
There are more characters that I'd love to talk about but... spoilers.

WORLD BUILDING

The only thing to really add in here is being able to explore more of the courts, I loved it! I'm hoping for the future stories set in this world, we get to know a bit more because I am greedy. Throughout the trilogy, I've really enjoyed the fact that it's divided by seasons and solars, so being able to explore more once again, added to the story.


OVERALL

I am so happy with how Feyre and Rhysand's story ended even though it's no secret I want to read about their lives for the rest of my life. I read this quite slowly because I was honestly terrified of what was going to happen but I'm really happy with how it turned out and it makes me so excited for the new books (if you're not sure what I'm talking about, there will be new books also set in this world but not from Feyre's perspective). I have some theories which characters they will be based on so if you want to talk more make sure you message me on Instagram (@erenareads). You can message me about anything really, especially if it's gushing over the Illyrian Warriors!

The ACOTAR series has been a real hit for me, it is honestly the perfect kind of book for me, more specifically book two and three. The way they are written is what a 26 year old like me likes to read. This book contains mature content (thank you Sarah) so make sure you're into that kind of thing and aren't too young before you decide to pick it up.

I'm sorry if this review is just a gush of emotions - I don't know how else to write a review for A Court of Wings and Ruin haha.

A brilliant 5/5 stars from me.
Thank you Sarah J Maas for writing this series that is perfection.




*Below is my thoughts on the 'acephobic comment'. Potential spoilers but not much.

Firstly, there were people who commented and judged it before they had even read it - seriously?
Secondly, I would not have noticed if people weren't talking about it, and this is why:

Asexuality or asexual people are those who are 'without sexual feelings' or attraction/association. Feyre makes a comment about the Hybern prince and princess about them not having any interest in beauty perhaps because their souls had been drained away.
Now if you've read the book, you know that as soon as Feyre meets them, she dislikes them and she has good reason as to why. So her making that comment fits in with how she feels about them.
Next is that a few chapters later, the Hybern princess goes on to tell Feyre about the fun she had f***ing Autumn Court males in the war.
That is where I will leave it. I strongly believe that it is not an acephobic comment and people shouldn't be so quick to judge.

ANYWAYS, that brings my review to a close. If you loved the book and want to talk spoiler ridden thoughts, then message me on Instagram so we can chat about it because I would love to!

I'll be back with another bookish post soon!

xx

*This book was sent to me by Bloomsbury 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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'!

Hello again,


Sorry for the lateness that is this post. I had it written up but hadn't inserted any pictures and once I did, I was having issues with disappearing paragraphs *le sigh* but here it is:


I seem to have been somewhat absent from by blog. This was due to being SUPER busy with uni and the time I could've spent blogging, I dedicated to filming a video for YouTube instead.
I actually had started a post for my February Wrap Up & March TBR but I just never ended up getting round to finishing it and seeing as it's now April, I think it'll be best to now not worry about it. I did do a video for it so you can watch that instead if you were hanging out for it. I also did a video for this too, so click here and you can watch it.

So like I said, I had a very busy month and I only managed to read two books (sad times). One of them was fairly average and the other was AWESOME.


WRAP UP

1. Girl of Nightmares - Kendare Blake
This is the story following on from Anna Dressed in Blood which I read last month and really enjoyed however, this one I felt was boring and honestly, kind of unnecessary. It does have a story and there was definitely a valid point to it that flowed somewhat nicely, but I would have rather not read it all to be honest. The previous book didn't leave me in need of any more and the only reason I read this was because I knew there was another one. Unless you feel the need or want to read this, I wouldn't bother. It was by no means bad, I just didn't see a point really.
3/5 



2. Cress - The Lunar Chronicles
I buddy-read Scarlet last month with a Bookstagram friend last month and loved the experience, so we are continuing on with the series and that lead us to book three (obviously), Cress. Cress stems from the Rapunzel story who has been locked away on a satellite in space, rude right?! Poor Cress... I really loved this story - I felt that I would given how much I liked Scarlet but it was just so damn great. I loved Cress' character and I loved the fact she spent lots of time with Thorne, whom I have found a place in my heart for. This story has multiple POV's but not too many so it's very easy to keep track of and makes for a great story. These books have been so easy to read and if you like anything of the sci-fi/dystopian/fantasy realm, I highly recommend!
5/5




TBR

I'm going to be slightly ambitious this month and aim for five books. I know it's a huge step up from reading two books last month but I am definitely determined! I've also finished the first two books already so I'm hoping to stay on this roll I'm on.


1. A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J Maas

2. A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J Maas
With May 2nd approaching I wanted to dive back into a reread of the first two books and I really wanted to stretch them out a bit longer but when you're totally obsessed, well... it's easy to read very quickly. Okay, give me ACOWAR!

3. Defy the Stars - Claudia Gray
A sci-fi novel that follows Noemi and a mech robot thing named Abel, whom should be enemies but need to work together to save Noemi's planet. I've started reading this one and I'm enjoying it so far, it has Illuminae feels to it which makes me happy. Keep an eye out for a full review soon!


4. A Darker Shade of Magic - V.E Schwab
My first VE Schwab novel has me very excited. I've heard so many things about her writing so I'm excited to dive in. I'm also buddy reading this with a friend, Bek, so that makes me even more excited.


5. Fairest - Marissa Meyer
Continuing on with mine and Priya's Lunar Chronicles read is this novella based on the evil that is Queen Levana (dun dun dun!) I'm really looking forward to this story to see what this crazy bitch is thinking.


Well, that's all from me at the moment. What have you been reading? Let me know in the comments below or message me on Instagram @erenareads cos I'd love to know!
Make sure you check out my YouTube channel for other bookish and non-bookish things and let me know what you'd like to see on there or here in the future.

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'!