Non-spoiler book review

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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

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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!


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*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
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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.

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My rating: 3.5/5

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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.



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


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Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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Non spoiler book review
*This book is told from a different perspective than book one and happens in a different area so the following synopsis and review will not spoil you for either book.

Title: Imprison the Sky (The Elementae #2)
Author: A.C Gaughen
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: March 2019 (Australia)
RRP: $14.99 AUD

Synopsis:
Stolen from her family as a child, Aspasia has clawed her way up the tanks of Cyrus's black market empire to captain her own trading vessel - and she risks it all every time she uses her powerful magic to free as many women, children and Elementae from slavery as she can.
But Cyrus is close to uncovering her secrets - not only that Aspasia is a wind Elementae with the ability to sail her ship through the sky, but that she is also searching for her lost family. And if Aspasia can't find her younger siblings before Cyrus does, she will never be able to break free.
Armed with her loyal crew full of Elementae and a new recruit who controls and intriguing power, Aspasia finds herself in the centre of a brewing war that spans every inch of the ocean, and her power alone may not be enough to save her friends, family, and freedom.

Click here for my review of Reign the Earth (book one).

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My rating: 5/5


Book one, Reign the Earth, was a phenomenal read last year (2018) and it was one of my favourites of the year so Imprison the Sky held high expectations for me. In the beginning, I was dead set that this wasn't going to be better than the previous book but as the story went on, I was so drawn to the characters and the story that it was all I could think about when I wasn't reading (sorry to my uni work). Even now, after finishing it a few days ago, the characters are still on my mind.

I felt the story line had a great feel to it. A novel with slaves can be a hard one but with the help of amazingly-written characters, this book has done really well. Reflecting back on the story, they spend a lot of time on the ship but I actually didn't notice - or perhaps, it was woven so well into the story that it just fit. There is a bit of crossover from book one - I had read Reign the Earth over a year ago so I couldn't remember fine details but I started to remember things as it went on - but you can find short summaries online if you want to.

Gaughen knows how to write great main characters. Reign the Earth followed Shalia, whereas Imprison the Sky is in the perspective of Aspasia, a air elementae, and thrice-damned (did I say that right?), I absolutely bow down to both of these women - and I'm sure I will to the MC's in the rest of the series.

Aspasia is a strong-willed, bisexual young woman who is under the control of her master but as she has a little more freedom than most slaves (if that's what you want to call it), she tries to make it worth while as best she can - trying to free as many women, children and elementae, as well as search for her family that was taken away from her years before. She is a true badass that will do anything for her crew, even if that means putting herself in danger to save them all.

In Reign the Earth, you meet Kairos, a beautiful being that is also the brother of Shalia. He was a great character there, so I was absolutely stoked to have him not only appear in this book, but become a solid and important character throughout the story. I adore the way he treats Aspasia and the crew, and how his character development is spot on. I am also crushing on him big time if you hadn't noticed.

The other characters in Imprison the Sky are a great asset to the story, the good and the bad. The plot is one thing, but I feel Gaughen has a great balance with what's actually going on in the story plus the characters that make it.

This series has so far been an A-plus story with insanely great characters and I am so keen for the rest of the books in the series. I highly recommend you pick these books up and immerse yourself in the world (I put trigger warnings in my review of book one though so check those out - link is above).



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*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
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Non spoiler book review

Enchantée = 'Enchanted' in French
Mon trésor (used in title) = my treasure

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Title: Enchantée
Author: Gita Trelease
Publisher: Macmillan Australia / Pan Macmillan
Publication date: 26 February 2019
RRP: $16.99 AUD

Synopsis:

Paris in 1789 is a labyrinth of twisted streets, filled with beggars, thieves, revolutionaries - and magicians...

When smallpox kills her parents, seventeen-year-old Camille is left to provide for her frail sister and her volatile brother. In desperation, she survives by using the petty magic she learnt from her mother. But when her brother disappears Camille decides to pursue a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

Using dark magic Camille transforms herself into the 'Baroness de la Fontaine' and presents herself as the court of Versaille, where she soon finds herself swept up in a dizzying life of riches, finery and suitors. But Camille's resentment of the rich is at odds with the allure of their glamour and excess, and she soon discovers that she's not the only one leading a double life.

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My rating: 3.5/5


Firstly, don't let the year 1789 get the best of you, this historical fantasy is written for YA readers and was incredibly easy to read. They do use some French language throughout the book - which I loved, but I only realised when I was almost finished the book that there were some translations in the back which will help you if you know none of the French language.

The plot is an interesting one, our main character, a magician, in this French era trying to get by literally day by day for her and her sister to survive. You'll come across the brother from time to time who is a complete arse, but try to bear through it because you don't get too much of him. Sometimes the back and forth of Camille going to court seemed to drag a bit; a few times I was wondering what it was ultimately leading up to - and not in a 'keeps you guessing' kind of way, it just seemed a bit slow at times. Nonetheless, it got there in the end and I found myself reading the last fifth of the book relatively fast (despite starting the uni semester!)

Camille is an absolute pleasure to read from (the only point of view); I felt she was written in a way that reflected someone who would actually be in her shoes. While some of her actions were naive, they also added to the reality to the extent some people feel they need to go to to save their loved ones - no matter the cost to themselves.


I would have loved to learn more about Camille's sister Sophie, I felt she was too much in the background. It would have made the relationship between the two seem stronger from a reader's point of view. Lazare was also a great addition, though there was definitely a bit more room to learn more about him as well - which I was kind of craving haha. My favourite 'side character' was definitely Chandon *insert clapping hands emoji* - that's literally what I want to do when I think of him, clap my hands. He brought more depth to the story and was a nice safe haven for Camille while she was at court. I loved all the other side characters - they all brought something different to the story and it wasn't hard to keep track and added so much to the story.

Enchantée is a magical story set in Paris and Versaille before the French Revolution. The flow of the story is excellent and easy to read with French translations in the back of the book. I definitely recommend this for those interested in historical fantasy/fiction or those wishing to be enchanted by an older Parisian time.


*Thank you to Macmillan Australia for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:


Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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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.

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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 

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

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



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



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


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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:



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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

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

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

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

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


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

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:



Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Instagram: @erenareads & @thenutritionedition
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Twitter: @erenareads
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Spoiler free book review

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

Title: Scarlet
Author: A.C Gaughen
Publisher: Bloomsbury
New cover release date: May 2018 (all three books)

Synopsis:
Scarlet is good at keeping secrets. To the people of Nottingham, she's Will Scarlet, the young lad who protects those who cannot protect themselves. To Robin Hood and his band of thieves, she's the girl with a tongue as sharp as her knives. But nobody knows the truth about Scarlet's life before Nottingham - not even Rob, whose quick smiles have the rare power to unsettle her. And when someone from her past comes hurtling back into her life, everything she's fought for is suddenly at risk, including her own life.



The idea of a Robin Hood retelling is intriguing. When I was younger I loved watching the cartoon versions and immersing myself in the story of Sherwood's own hero. Now fast forward time to the beginning of this year when I received a copy of Reign the Earth by A.C Gaughen (review here!) and I loved it! So with the curiosity of a Robin Hood retelling mixed with the words of A.C Gaughen, comes this trilogy, and I was kinda keen.


Firstly, the first book was published in 2012 - they have been rereleased with these beautiful new covers. Now because I had read the authors more recent work, I found myself comparing them a little bit however, they are totally different stories (duh!) so I quickly embraced the writing style of book one - Scarlet.


Robin Hood originates like around the 15th - 16th century, I'm not sure on the era the author was focusing on since I have no clue on what it was like but the language takes some getting used to BUT I promise you it gets easier. Though perhaps, you shouldn't read a second book at the same time as Scarlet.

The main character Scarlet, is clearly traumatised from her past life - I actually feel like their should be a trigger warning for disordered eating, she seems to reject food or give it to someone else as what seems to be a form of self punishment. While her character developed throughout the entire story, it was definitely lacking in the beginning which made it hard to connect with her at all. She is though, pretty badass which was one of my favourite things about the book.


I really liked two of the side characters - John and Much - especially Much, but I didn't really like Robin all that much. It was like he was constantly changing his mind on things and it just didn't sit well with me. Me being me, I was very interested in the 'main villain' of the story: Gisbourne, and it was unfortunate he was not featured as much though I definitely think he'll feature in the next two books.

Okay, now for the romance, I did not like it. It would have been better if there was absolutely nothing or just an attraction type thing. I thought it wasn't developed enough and so the characters 'romantic' feelings were kind of confusing.

What's really awesome is you can tell the developed writing of the author themselves. I seriously LOVE seeing that in authors books.

Okay, so I didn't love this book but if you're into Robin Hood I think you'll enjoy this trilogy for the most part.

If you want me to do a full review of the next two books - let me know! Otherwise there will be definite updates on Instagram (@erenareads)

Rating: 2.5/5


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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 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
Instagram: @erenareads & @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: My Life As Erena or click here

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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.


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*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
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Twitter: @erenareads
YouTube: My Life As Erena or click here

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

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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.

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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

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*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

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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.

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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

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*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

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Hello,

How have you all been? It's been an age since I last did a wrap up/TBR blog post - I prefer to do them all on YouTube but it's kind of nice to have a written alternative don't you think?

I have my video for my November Wrap Up linked here however, I'm going to have a TBR video separately this time and a little bit later because at this point in time, I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to put on there. So I'm gonna do some thinking and you'll be able to get a sneak peek at the end ;)

I read a total of six books this month which I'm happy with, I think I could've read more if I managed my time a bit better but I'm still happy with six. I also loved every single book I read this month which makes me the most happy - it's always a plus when that happens.

NOVEMBER WRAP UP


1. Tower of Dawn - Sarah J Maas
I finally got back into this after not being in the right mood for it for a little while and holy heck, did I love it!! While I had some kind of expectations, I felt like I was - for the most part, going to enjoy this book but never did I anticipate loving this so immensely. All the characters were A plus and the story was fantastic. I have a full review here and this is 100% a favourite of the year.
5/5

2. A Quiet Kind of Thunder - Sara Barnard
A perfect contemporary. Our main character Steffi who has selective mutism meets Rhys, a boy who is deaf. Whilst this was written in what I think was a very realistic way for teenagers, I also thought it was written in a mature way so that older readers can still enjoy without it being 'teenagers'. The sign language details in the book were so damn brilliant and such a great and diverse addition to the book.
5/5

3. This is Where it Ends - Marieke Nijkamp
This fast paced novel was a great book to read during a 24 hour readathon (video here!) This follows a few characters point of views during a school shooting and was one of those books that you kind of need to keep reading until you're done - totally doable since it's quite a short book. I thought that some of the storyline could've been altered slightly to make the story make a little more sense at times but as a sensitive topic, I thought it was done quite well (though I have no kind of experience).
4/5

4. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin
I bought this book solely because it was one of Kristie's (@bookwormkristie) fave books and my interest was peaked, I then picked it up in the readathon because leading up to it, Kristie did not stop going on about it SO I NEEDED TO KNOW. At first I thought the book was gonna be a little cringe at times due to the high school-ness of it however, I highly enjoyed it. It was way more mature than I originally thought and the teen angst was FANTASTIC. The story was really great though there were times when I was much like the character and didn't know what was real and what was not (I still don't either). Overall, it was a thrilling novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and am very much looking forward to the next two books.
4/5



5. A Court of Wings and Ruin - Sarah J Maas
I fell into a little bit of a slump after the readathon and decided to pick this up as I was very keen to reread it after getting all the feels a few months ago and I think I enjoyed it even more the second time round because I was able to look into a few things more that I had paid less attention to last time. I won't go any further but I have a full review here if you'd like to know my thoughts from May.
5/5

6. One of Us is Lying - Karen M McManus (that's a lot of M's)
This book was part of the @badwitchesread bookclub and I was very excited to read it. This follows four students/now murder suspects as five students went into detention and one of them died during it. I thought both the story and the characters developed very well and I enjoyed the end of it - I did try and play detective and one of my theories ended up being correct (though I had a lot of theories).
4/5



DECEMBER TBR

1. Gemina - Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman (finally)

2. Empress of a Thousand Skies - Rhoda Belleza (maybe)

3. Godsgrave - Jay Kristoff (have to keep reading after I put it down, oops)

4. Wonder Woman Warbringer - Leigh Bardugo (also have to keep reading after I put it down)

5. The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas (yes, I haven't read it yet!!)


And there you have it friends. I was happy with my reading month but am hoping for more in December since it's the end of the year. My TBR is still a little so-so but we'll see what happens!

That is all I have for you today, make sure to head over to my YouTube channel for more content.

Until next time,

xx


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME:

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

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SPOILER FREE REVIEW
*Please note that while my review is spoiler free, the synopsis will give things away if you haven't read up to at least Queen of Shadows (book four). You can skip over it though if you still want to read my review.

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Title: Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6)
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: September 5 2017
RRP: AUD 17.99 (paperback)

Synopsis:
Chaol has always defined himself by his loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since Aelin shattered the glass castle, since Chaol's men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken. Now he and Nesryn sail for Antica - the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire and of the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme. It's Chaol's one shot at recovery, and with war looming back home, Dorian and Aelin's survival could depend on Chaol and Nesryn convincing Antica's rulers to ally with them. But what they discover there will change them both - and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

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At first, I wasn't crazy excited for this book - not because of Chaol but because I was simply desperate to know what happened after Empire of Storms. The ending of book five left me face down on the couch wondering what to do with my life so I kind of really wanted that next story (now book seven in the series). Alas, when it came closer to the release date, I found I was SO DAMN EXCITED for it and especially the special edition I had pre-ordered (it's beautiful by the way!)

Tower of Dawn is classic Sarah J Maas writing and I've loved all of these Throne of Glass books however, this book blew me away and it deserves a standing ovation. The story was just so riveting and once you got stuck in, you were powering through it.

I adored Yrene immediately, she almost rivals Manon for my favourite character in the series but she'll have to settle for second. Yrene is smart and thinks about her actions and consequences and if you know me well, you'll know I love those kind of characteristics. Along with those though, she is all round badass and also lovely and like I said, I adore her.

I freaking loved Chaol in the first two Throne of Glass novels but as we had more and more point of views and more Dorian development, he seemed to fall off my radar a little bit. I still liked him, I just wasn't as obsessed HOWEVER, Tower of Dawn does wonders for him and he's just shot straight up to being next to Dorian as my fave males of the series (not in love with Rowan, soz). Sarah wrote him so well in this story and I've started imagining him with his shirt off, ok bye.

I honestly was not interested in Nesryn in the beginning of this story and I actually think that was the aim. When she ventures out in the city and starts spending time with other characters her character develops beautifully and I found myself craving her chapters as much as the others.

The story has the classic character frustrations, relationship developments, a little bit of angst, crazy shit that happens, cool shit that happens, scary shit that happens, you know... that kinda story. It made me happy and then I would honestly be scared shitless, sometimes I cried a little bit but at the end of the book, I was so delighted with the entire story.

This could possibly be my favourite book of the Throne of Glass series, I know, CRAZY! The only reason I don't know is because Manon and Dorian give me life (especially in Empire of Storms). I actually voted for Tower of Dawn in the Goodreads Choice Awards because it's a damn WINNER.

Anyway, I felt like I kind of spewed my emotions for this book on the screen *laughs to self* but I hope you enjoyed this review and if you haven't read it, I hope you do! It is brilliantly written and such a phenomenal story.

My rating: 5/5 (duh)



*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: Erena Reads or click here

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