The Once Upon A Time IX reading challenge finishes on Sunday. I’m busy chasing deadlines and am not likely to squeeze in any more reading, so it is time for me to check in with how I went. To recap, OUAT is a reading challenge for lovers of fantasy, fairytale, folklore and mythology. It is organised by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings and runs from 21 March to 21 June. I signed up for:
Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time categories. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.
In my sign-up post, I mentioned that I was nervous because this was my first year participating in the challenge while also blogging here at Earl Grey Editing. It turns out I need not have worried–there’s always plenty of fantasy on my Mt TBR. This year I got through six books.
Unbound and Free by Becca Lusher is a historical fantasy about a boy who lives with his family on a haunted island. Full review here.
The Dagger of Dresnia by Satima Flavell is a high fantasy featuring a middle-aged queen doing her best to keep the kingdom and her family together. Full review here.
City of Fae by Pippa DaCosta is an urban fantasy in which a young journalist breaks the law by touching a fae rockstar in need of help. Full review here.
The Art of Effective Dreaming by Gillian Polack is a literary fantasy about a young woman whose vivid fantasy world begins to develop a mind of its own. Full review here.
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch is a high fantasy in which a young thief and his merry band become caught in a struggle for control over the criminal underworld of their city. Full review here.
The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch is a high fantasy wherein our thief is somewhat older and no wiser. He is forced to face off against his long-lost love in a rigged election. Full review here.
Once again, I enjoyed the event hugely, though I wish I’d had more of a chance to check out some of the other reviews that went up as part of the event. Next year, I might try the more challenging Quest the Second: read one book each of fantasy, folklore, fairy tale, and mythology. At least I have plenty of time to prepare.
If you participated in the event, I’d love to hear how you went. If not, what fantasy have you read lately?
