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



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


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:



Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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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.

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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

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*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
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Title: Take Three Girls
Authors: Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell and Fiona Wood
Publisher: Pan MacMillan
Publication date: September 2017
RRP: $18.99

Synopsis:
Ady - not the confident A-lister she appears to be.
Kate - brainy boarder taking risks to pursue the music she loves.
Clem - disenchanted swim-star losing her heart to the wrong boy.
All are targeted by PSST, a toxic website that deals in gossip and lies. St Hilda's antidote to cyber-bullying? The Year 10 Wellness program. Nice try - but sometimes all it takes is three girls.
Exploring friendship, feminism, identity and belonging, Take Three Girls is honest, raw and funny.

I'm part of the blog tour hosted by Pan MacMillan (thank you!) for Take Three Girls and I'm very excited to tell you my thoughts on this book. Whenever I get contacted about #loveozya books I almost immediately say yes however, I make sure I read the synopsis first and then I can say 'yes' to my heart's content.

As you may (or may not) have noticed, this book has three authors and is told in the perspective of three different 16-year-old girls all attending the same school (in Australia!). Each author wrote a character each which I felt was smart even if it seemed like the normal thing to do anyway. Either way, it was written really well. I would say a downside though was that sometimes it would be in the present and suddenly switch to the past so fast and abruptly that I had to read the paragraph again (this happened a few times).
This book is centred around bullying, in particular, cyber bullying and how these characters deal with it and just you know, their lives really.

 This book took almost 300 pages for me to get really into it which was unfortunate BUT, I felt that it was worth it because after I reached that point, I didn't stop reading until I was finished and it honestly made me so happy (so happy that at one point, I had watery eyes from happiness).

I felt that the characters and situations were so realistic (I was that age 10 years ago - wow, am I old? -  and can tell you now, that most of this happened either to me or around me). I loved how some of the characters, mainly Clem I think, were so naive, even if it seems annoying, it was so damn real.

My favourite character was Ady, I simply adored her and she was who I had tears of joy for that I mentioned earlier. Though I felt like I related to each main character in a little way somehow, whether something relevant now or in my past - it was nice.

There was a little insta-love in the story but I didn't spend much time worrying about it because so much other stuff made up for it. I loved the message this book gave me and how important and relevant it is (fat-shaming, slut-shaming).
This might be a little random but I just wanted to emphasise something in the book how females are in a way, punished for who we are and choose to be. I am not one to usually say something like that but this book made me realise that with certain aspects in life, many women are degraded in a way that most men will never experience in their lifetime.

Okay, anyways... Overall, this book while it started slow, ended up being a good story and had a great message and I really enjoyed it.

Rating: 4/5

*This book was sent to me by Pan MacMillan as part of the blog tour and

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




WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

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

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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
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Twitter: @erenareads
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Title: The Names They Gave Us
Author: Emery Lord
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: 2nd June 2017 (Australia)
RRP: $17.99

Synopsis:
Lucy has her perfect summer planned out: perfect boyfriend, perfect job and quality time with her perfect parents.
Then her mom's cancer comes back, and suddenly life makes no sense.
Before she knows it, Lucy finds herself agreeing to volunteer as a counsellor at a camp for troubled kids, where lives are more different from her own than she could have imagined possible. Here Lucy meets the dashing but mysterious fellow counsellor Jones, who will change the way she sees the world forever.
With tragedy hovering at the edges of Lucy's life, this summer she must find out who she really is and what it means to love.

I started reading The Names They Gave Us after already reading two other contemporaries - something I don't do often, so without realising it, I was already comparing it to those two other books as they were amazing reads. For me, this book started off slow and I wasn't really sure where it was headed or it would get any better but I'm glad I stuck with it because it got to a point where I did not want to put it down, eager to know everything that happened next.

I liked Lucy the whole way through the story, she was an empathetic character who seemed very understanding and mostly assertive, though as we got deeper into the story I found that I really loved her. She made me feel what she was feeling and the heart strings were constantly being tugged. I found her so easy to read from, which was an absolute delight. As someone who isn't religious, I was first nervous as to how I would go reading from someone who is, but yet again I was surprised with the way it was written without having the main character change from who she really is.


We meet a diverse range of characters in this book who come from different backgrounds and hardships and if you're anything like me, there is definitely going to be a character you don't like to begin with. Further on into the story though when different relationships start to develop you find that you really need that character you didn't initially like. I loved all the different relationships in this book, be it the romantic kind, or friendship, even the ones they have with the kids in the camp. Thinking of it now, it was such a delight having the younger children involved in the story - they added a sort of whimsical feel to the book.

The story itself was amazing. Like I said earlier, it started off slow for me and I wasn't sure I was going to like it or not but it develops really well and I honestly think that slow start was relevant - others may not find it slow like I initially did. After reaching that point, I really started to feel the flow of the story and I think Emery Lord has done an amazing job in writing this book. I loved getting to know the backstories of the other characters as well as see Lucy develop. I think there's something for everyone in this book; while we only read from Lucy's point of view, you might find yourself connecting with some of the other characters.

There were so many things I loved about this story - if you couldn't already tell, and I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy young adult stories. The Names They Gave Us was an emotional story, both fun and incredibly heart wrenching, and absolutely not predictable. I am so, so happy I read this story as I think it's definitely my favourite contemporary read of the year so far (oOoh!)

Rating: 5/5

PS - How beautiful is this book cover?!

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keep an eye out

for my review of book two, coming soon!

4.5/5


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


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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3.5/5


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


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

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




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

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

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

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

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

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

4/5


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


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME!

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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The past few months I've found zero motivation to post anything. After my holiday, I simply forgot. When I remembered, I just couldn't be bothered. The past couple of days however, I've felt a bit better about it.

I enjoy reading.
I enjoy watching television shows.
So I thought I would compile a short list of what I've recently read and been watching that I've really enjoyed and would recommend. I'm thinking this could be a monthly or bi-monthly post? Don't hold me to that but maybe I'll try my best.

BOOKS

1. All The Bright Places - Jennifer Niven
This book focuses on two characters that meet in the first scene: (Theodore) Finch & Violet. Without reading the blurb, it's very obvious the book is going to be all about these two and their life together. This is the author's first young adult novel and she has done exceptionally well. The entire time reading I was never bored or annoyed with either of the main characters despite their actions. This novel is heartbreaking-ly emotional but you'll feel oddly satisfied once finished. 5/5



2. The Last Time We Say Goodbye - Cynthia Hand
Another emotional read. I actually picked this book up because I liked the look of the cover. This book focuses on Lex's life after her brother Ty committed suicide. Sounds depressing, but the author doesn't make the reader feel like that way. Once again, a novel well written and would definitely recommend. 5/5




3. Never Never - Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher
Colleen Hoover is my current 'must read all her books asap' author. Never Never, focuses on two characters who all of sudden don't know who they are or anyone else for that matter. The two characters - after finding out their supposed identities, figure out they are in a relationship and try to work out what has happened to them and why. This is a super easy and quick read that'll have you wanting more; you'll have to wait though, there is a second book on its way, but when?! 5/5



TV

I have no TV recommendations at the moment because I'm really only watching The Vampire Diaries and Game of Thrones. I have plans for some Netflix series but will have to wait for some more free time.

I hope you have enjoyed my recommendations this month, I'll be back in June for some more. These three books have easily become on my favourites list.
Let me know if you read/have read any of these books and tell me what you think.
Happy reading!
xx










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