"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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Hello everyone!

I had all these plans for blog posts in June and then I decided to make a YouTube channel and I ain't even mad! My channel is here, and I will posting videos to do with both books and lifestyle, I would love it if you subscribed!

Ok, down to business... You can watch my video here of my June wrap up and my July TBR however, this will be here if you would rather read it or just have a written version to come back to.
I read a total of five books this month which was actually quite good considering I had all my end of semester uni exams. And all very enjoyable reads!


BOOKS

1. Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K Rowling
I won't go too much into this one other than it is one of my most favourite series of all time and always will be. I continued my reread of the series in June with one of my faves out of the seven books. If you haven't read Harry Potter, what the heck are you waiting for? 5/5 

2. Cinder - Marissa Meyer
I heard of this series through Bookstagram and I am so glad I finally purchased it earlier this year. While I didn't pick it up for a while, it was worth the wait. Cinder is a Cinderella retelling that follows a half cyborg, half human mechanic living in New Beijing. Cinder discovers she is immune to a deadly virus that has killed so many and is sent to the palace to be tested on. The story flowed really well and I was eager to continue reading. This was a fantastic retelling where I knew that it was stemmed from the classic Cinderella however, it was still an original story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely be getting onto book two: Scarlet soon. 5/5

3. Hidden Bodies - Caroline Kepnes
Following on from the first story You, comes the next part of the story of the crazy Joe Goldberg. Honestly, the story didn't call for a second book but I definitely enjoyed reading into what Joe was up to. He moves to LA to find someone who's wronged him and bring them down. He finds many hiccups along the way and when I say hiccups, I mean he continues his ways of killing those who are in the way. I read this pretty quickly and enjoyed the book overall however, it didn't give me the same feeling when I read You - still brilliant though and I really enjoyed the ending. 4/5

4. Me Before You - Jojo Moyes
I started reading this in anticipation of the movie being released (which I just watched actually - all the tears!). This is about Lou being hired to care and be company for Will Traynor, a quadriplegic who has no wish to continue living. This was written beautifully and I loved how emotional it got and there was definitely a lot of ugly crying going on. While this book is kind of big, the chapters started and ended perfectly and I just wanted to keep on reading. I LOVED Me Before You and I'm really looking forward to reading the next book. 5/5



5. Flawed - Cecelia Ahern
As the author's first YA novel, she has done a brilliant job with this dystopian novel keeping it original and a great page turner. Celestine North lives the perfect life because she follows the rules, until she helps a dying man to a seat. Celestine finds herself in a bit of a pickle and may face a prison sentence or worse - to be found Flawed. There is a lot of potential for good character developments and I'm excited to read book two next year. I felt that the beginning of the book started a bit slow, but it then reached a point where I couldn't wait to continue reading. My full review can be found here. 4/5

JULY TBR

1. Demon Road - Derek Landy
2. The Fray Theory: Resonance - Nelou Keramati
3. Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo
4. Queen of Shadows - Sarah J Maas
5. Disruption - Jessica Shirvington

And.... if I manage it, I hope to get started on my reread of Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire but that is definitely ambitious for me.

And that's all the books for my wrap up and TBR. I hope you enjoyed reading my mini reviews. Head over to my YouTube channel and subscribe for book and lifestyle videos.
Until next time!

xx


Where you can find me:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
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"Celestine North lives a perfect life. She's a model daughter and sister, she's well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she's dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.
But then Celestine encounters a situation in which she makes an indistinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be FLAWED.
In this stunning novel, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern depicts a society in which perfection is paramount and mistakes are punished.
And where one young woman decides to takes a stand that could cost her everything."



Author Cecelia Ahern's debut YA novel where we fall into a dystopian world where you must follow the rules, otherwise you can be deemed Flawed and live an awful life.

There have been many dystopian stories making the rounds in the past couple of years; some I've loved and some have been quite unoriginal. Flawed is definitely something new, bringing us into a world where your mistakes are punished and you are 'flawed' for life, you're even given a brand that you must live with (literally a brand seared into your skin - ouch!)

As mentioned above, Celestine lives the perfect life. She follows the rules and that is all that anyone cares about. When you break a rule, they will find out and they will find you, fast. Celestine finds herself in a situation where she unexpectedly breaks a rule by helping one of the Flawed. A gesture that is found to be incredibly normal in our everyday life, is deemed a crime in theirs. At first, Celestine thinks she may have to be sentenced to jail however, after a trial led by her boyfriend's father, the outcome is worse - she is Flawed.

Celestine is a likeable character and I'm interested in both her and her sister Juniper's development. I'm not too sure about her boyfriend Art though; I'm sure he has good intentions but I just don't like him a whole bunch. I'm also looking forward to getting to know Carrick more as well, he has a lot of potential to become a great character in this story. The antagonist of the book is Judge Crevan (Art's father), he is actually kind of crazy but definitely makes for a better story.

I felt like the first half of the book was a little slower than needed but flowed enough to be kept interested in the story. Once Celestine was branded, she was constantly in situations that were pushing her newly found Flawed rules which made for an exciting story. There will be times throughout the book where you may find yourself annoyed at some of the characters but try to remember that this is a fictional dystopian - though you're still allowed to dislike them.

As the author's first Young Adult novel, she has done a great job at keeping the story original and interesting for readers of many ages. The cover is beautiful and whilst at first glance it looks like a big book, the chapters are fairly short and the writing isn't too small. You'll find you are eager to know what happens next.

The next book in this series is named Perfect and is out March/April of 2017 and I'm very much looking forward to it.

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
Instagram: @erenareads and @erena_b
YouTube: Channel link here
Goodreads: @erenareads
Twitter: @erenareads

Hello friends,

I hope you've been spectacularly well and that you've read plenty. The month of May was a busy one, as will June be (oh lord, I cannot wait for holidays), but I still managed to fit in a few books and I'm on track with my 2016 reading challenge! Two of the books I read this month were sent to me to review (I've linked the full reviews below if you're interested), another was a book I've been waiting to read for months which also left me depressed because I have to wait another year for the next book, and another was a reread. Perhaps a bit all over the place, but I think a good mix. So without further ado...


BOOKS



1. The Yearbook Committee - Sarah Ayoub
I had heard a few good things about this one and I saw it had short chapters and when you are a busy uni student, that is very appealing. The Yearbook Committee is about five very different teenage students in their last year of high school who must come together to produce their yearbook. The attitudes and personalities of the characters constantly collide which is actually quite enjoyable and while you may get annoyed at the arrogance of some of the other minor characters, you also get to experience the good things. I think this book is better aimed at teenagers (especially if in high school) and younger adults as the bigger picture is the stigma of bullying. You can read my full review of The Yearbook Committee here. 3.5/5



2. Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets - J.K Rowling
I'm currently rereading the whole series which I've done multiple times already but I can never get enough Harry Potter. I won't say much about this one but if you haven't read it, you need to read it. Don't ever tell me you haven't read Harry Potter but you've read Twilight or Divergent etc. This series is always 10/10



3. A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J Maas
My biggest anticipated release for 2016 comes book two of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. The story follows on after Feyre's escape and saving of Tamlin from Under the Mountain however, she's having trouble living her life in the Spring Court. We get to see a lot more of my beloved Rhysand (who could quite possibly be #1 Book Boyfriend!!) and the Night Court, as well as new Night Court characters that are charming, hilarious and super badass. A Court of Mist and Fury was my perfect novel; it has fantasy, action, romance, comedy and I'm gonna use the word again, badass-ness. I did a very messy review/discussion here. I give this one a million stars/5.



4. The Crown - Kiera Cass
The final segment in The Selection series. Last year, you may have seen that I read the first four books in about a week, as they are so easy to read, and left me wanting more. The previous book (The Heir) and The Crown is all about Princess Eadlyn, daughter of America and Maxon, and her own Selection. Like the previous books, this one is very easy to read and flows nicely however, I felt it needed a little more... surprise or 'the bad things that happen in stories' to be more... bad? All in all, this book is not perfect but it was pretty much what I hoped for and I'm happy with that. Also, it's a lot better than The Heir. I did a full review here. 4/5

JUNE TBR



1. Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K Rowling
Continuing my reread of the series. Because I started this in May, I've actually finished this already.

2. Cinder - Marissa Meyer
This was actually on my May TBR but I put it down as I didn't want to continue reading after A Court of Mist and Fury as I was in a massive book hangover and didn't want to not enjoy it, you know?

3. Hidden Bodies - Caroline Kepnes
I started this in May as well but was only reading it when I was at work - which isn't much. This is the second book to 'You' which was friggen brilliant. I'm not sure why Kepnes wrote a second book because it honestly didn't need one BUT, I am enjoying it so far.

4. Me Before You - Jojo Moyes
I've heard great and sad things about this one so I'll make sure to get under a blanket with my box of tissues for this one.

I think I'll also pick up another book this month, but I'm unsure of what it'll be at the moment.

And that's all for this post! I hope you enjoyed my mini reviews for the month of May, feel free to check out the full reviews I did for 3 out of 4 of the books I read - much appreciated.
Let me know what you read in May and what you plan to read in June, I'd love to know!

See you soon!
x



Where you can find me:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Bookstagram: @erenareads
Instagram: @erena_b
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"Feyre is immortal.
After rescuing her lover Tamlin from a wicked Faerie Queen, she returns to the Spring Court possessing the powers of the High Fae. But Feyre cannot forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people - nor the bargain she made with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court.
As Feyre is drawn ever deeper into Rhysand's dark web of politics and passion, was is looming and an evil far greater than any queen threatens to destroy everything Feyre has fought for. She must confront her past, embrace her gifts and decide her fate.
She must surrender her heart to heal a world torn in two".
- Sarah J Maas

This is a review/discussion of book two in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. This review/discussion will most certainly contain MAJOR spoilers because there is no way I cannot talk about it the way I want to without them - sorry! CONSIDER THIS YOUR WARNING.

Just a quick little note: I've called this a review and discussion because I find myself spilling words all over the place and I ain't sorry! So it isn't true review format but it is still kind of a review... I think? Ok, read on.

When I read A Court of Thorns and Roses last year, I deemed it my favourite read of 2015. Honestly, I loved the relationship between Feyre and Tamlin, as I think most people did, but as soon as Rhysand was introduced I was like "DAYUUM, I like you". That is actually very typically me, loving the most beautiful human who also happens to be the so-called 'bad boy'. But I was always have a soft spot for the one who was there first because if the main character (in this case, Feyre) is happy then I'm pretty happy, to an extent. I definitely knew Rhys was coming back, which I was damn excited for.

Literally within the first sentence you know something is up with our girl, Feyre. We all know that Feyre is no princess, so why is Tamlin treating her like one?
For me and I'm assuming many others (?), I stopped liking Tamlin very soon. That may be just me liking to control things but come on?! Who likes being told "no"? Not me, and not Feyre either. And I knew something was up with Ianthe but I couldn't really put my finger on it.


Once Feyre was taken into the Night Court I unashamedly admit that I felt at home. I loved Mor straight away and once we were introduced to the other new characters: Amren, Cassian and Azriel, I fell in love with them too. And then we get introduced to the city of Velaris too? Ahh... I would very much like to live there. How can you not fall in love with Rhys now? He has kept this city secret from everyone and actually loves and cares about it.

I think (one of) my favourite lines from the book was when they go to visit Feyre's sisters Nesta and Elaine, they're at the table eating and Nesta being Nesta, makes some kind of snide remark and Feyre says "I can eat, drink, fuck, and fight just as well as I did before. Better, even". A point for you Feyre because that was hilarious.

There's a scene that we all remember where Lucien finds Feyre and wants to take her back to the Spring Court but she's all badass and here is another favourite line of mine from her: "When you spend so long trapped in darkness, Lucien, you find that the darkness begins to stare back". And then her Illryian wings come out and damn, I wish the picture in my head could be made into a poster. As much as I love Lucien, we do not want to go back to the Spring Court!!

Despite all the emotions I experienced during the sudden kidnapping of Rhys, I was in awe at the devotion and destruction of Feyre as she found her way to him to save him. And soon after when Feyre meets the Suriel again, she discovers her and Rhys are mates (like soulmates, lovers, bonded forever and ever and ever) and that scene made me giggle.

Now, the best part; how good was the cabin scene?!?! I love how we get to know more of Rhys' past and story. And how Feyre then accepts him as her mate with the whole food thing and dear lord, everything after that. Rhys gets his feast (hehe!)

The scene where Velaris is invaded is action packed and awesome but no thanks to those selfish human queens! I liked how Feyre, once again unleashed her power, but now much more than ever before. And Amren, woop woop!


All that commotion with Jurian and the King of Hybern is a bit crazy. Tamlin showing everyone how much of a wanker that he is and Lucien bonding with Elaine. And there was honestly a point in that part where I wanted to throw the book across the room. Alas, I continued reading until I was finished and then thought to myself "What the f***". The extra bond. The extra feels. The way Feyre bullshits about with Tamlin. How Lucien gives her that knowing look but she keeps playing along anyway.

I absolutely that we were given that little chapter in Rhys' point of view. Another one of my favourite parts of the book. A Court of Mist and Fury was the absolute perfect book for me. If you want to know what genre or type of book I love most, this is it. It has fantasy, it has badass romance, crazy messed up scenes with the former lover and new plans to overthrow it all. Sarah J Maas, you are my queen and I am unsure how I'm meant to survive until book three. After I finished reading, I was in a massive book hangover for at least a week. The first few days were the worst and this may be a little embarrassing but I was actually depressed. I began plotting what would happen in book three; I was honestly thinking of what Feyre would do and I reckon I came up with some pretty plausible ideas. I then went on to read a little fanfic and saw many others had ideas similar to me.

I finished this book weeks ago and many people might not even read this or get this far if they do. But many thanks if you did. You can see now why I have called this a discussion (with myself) because this sure isn't review style.

I give A Court of Mist and Fury a billion stars.

Please feel free to talk to me about this book, I'm all for it, even if it's labelled a support group. So comment below, or talk to me on Bookstagram (@erenareads). Sorry for all the mess and see you next time!

x


Where you can find me:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Bookstagram: @erenareads
Instagram: @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Snapchat: @erena_b

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*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
Bookstagram: @erena_reads
Instagram: @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
Snapchat: @erena_b

Follow me with Bloglovin'!

Bonjour!

I understand we are more than half way through May but I know you guys can't resist a good ol' book haul (or maybe that's just me?!) April was a spectacular month for gaining books, I had received some money for my birthday from my partner's parents and decided I needed some new books despite the ever growing TBR. I also received four books from the ever generous Harper Collins Australia in exchange for honest reviews (you can read my review for The Yearbook Committee here!).

Here are the following books I bought/received:


1. The Winner's Curse - Marie Rutkoski
I have heard so many good things about this series and finally decided to make it mine. I seriously hope to get to it in the next couple of months.

2. Me Before You - Jojo Moyes
Another book I've seen all around the Bookstagram community and even more since the movie trailer came out. I'm aiming to get to it before watching the movie. I'll get my tissues ready!

3. An Ember in the Ashes - Sabaa Tahir
I've already read this one and is definitely one of the best books I've read this year so far. I am now so damn excited for book two: A Torch Against the Night. You can find my mini review here.

4. We Were Liars - E. Lockhart
Another one I've already read (mini review here!) I started reading this soon after I bought it as I wanted something small to take to uni and I finished it pretty quickly, and loved it.

From Harper Collins:

5. Demon Road - Derek Landy
The first in the series (book two below). I've always wanted to read something from Derek Landy so I picked this one up and should hopefully be starting this one soon. Look out for a review!

6. Desolation - Derek Landy
This one was released in.... April I think? So will more than likely jump straight into this one after Demon Road!

7. The Yearbook Committee - Sarah Ayoub
This one I've recently read and reviewed, I would say a really good read for teenagers and young adults (younger than me!) Good sized chapters which is very appealing for me.


8. Flawed - Cecelia Ahern
Recently released is Cecelia Ahern's first YA novel, Flawed. What I get from the blurb is that the main character lives a perfect life until she breaks a rule and becomes...Flawed! Something along those lines. The cover looks good too.

Can't say I usually get 8 books in one month. I should really read a few more until I buy another (but that ain't gonna happen).

This is where I leave you, I always intended for this to be a short post. I hope you enjoyed though! See you soon for something a little different (still about books though!)

Byeee!
x


Where you can find me:

Contact: erenabennett@hotmail.com
Bookstagram: @erenareads
Instagram: @erena_b
Goodreads: @erenareads
SnapChat: erena_b