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As We Near the End…

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(Snow White, Anne-Julie Aubry)

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
~Ursula K. LeGuin

Way back on March 21st it seemed that a nearly endless journey was before us. The Once Upon a Time II Challenge began. Through the course of the past 3 months nearly 100 people have joined in our challenge and, to date, there are 407 book reviews on the Once Upon a Time II Review Site. That is very impressive and I am sure it will become even more impressive in our final 11 (if you count today) days of the challenge.

I have had a great deal of fun during the Once Upon a Time II Challenge introducing you to various artists who in one way or another tap into the fantasy, fairy tale, folklore, or mythology realm. And the majority of the prizes given away during this challenge have had something to do with those artists. And we still have some time left.

Over the course of the next 11 days I will be catching up with overdue book reviews, introducing you to a few more artists, and discussing things Once Upon a Time related. I will also be giving away a few more items.

To that end I wanted to announce the Journey’s End Prize Pack. There were 4 quests (actually one Journey and three Quests if you want to get technical) that were available for you, the participant, in the Once Upon a Time II Challenge. While participation of any sort is the key and the discovery of great books and fellowship with wonderful people is the best reward, I would like to do something to acknowledge those of you who made the effort to finish whatever quest(s) you signed up for.

Thus I will be holding a random drawing for a Journey’s End Prize Pack on Saturday, June 21st. To qualify simply let me know in the comments section of any post from now until the end of the challenge OR email me at cvincent68 (at) comcast (dot) net to let me know that you did indeed finish the journey you committed to at the start of the challenge. I will also be giving away one special prize at the end of the challenge just because, hey, I want to! You have until 11:59 p.m. Friday June 20th to officially finish the challenge. On Saturday June 21st I will post a Once Upon a Time II Wrap-Up and will include the final prize winners.

The reason I included the Anne-Julie Aubry image is not just because it fits the theme but because one of the items in the prize pack will be a pocket mirror with that image on it. The other special prize will include the mirror shown below with the image of Mother Nature on it. I have purchased one of these for my daughter and I can attest to the fact that they are lovely, functional works of art.

There will be many other fun items included in the prize pack, stay tuned!

I hope we can all enjoy the final days of this year’s challenge. I will say this now and no doubt repeat it in the June 21st wrap up post: It has been my distinct pleasure to host this challenge for you this year. The level of participation has been a joy to behold and I know that many of you, like myself, have found new blog friends that you will continue to visit long after this year’s challenge has ended.

So, get those quests finished and make sure I know about it!!!

And since you’ve stuck with me for this rambling post I wanted to mention a book giveaway that Heather of A High and Hidden Place is holding. You have until Friday, June 13th to enter. Click here for the details.

46 thoughts on “As We Near the End…”

  1. Well, Carl, I’ve read eight fantasy books yet not written the wrap up post for your challenge because there are a few more I wish to read! One in particular is an Advanced Reader Copy of “Farworld-Water Keep” by J. Scott Savage. I hope to finish it by the 21st, and write a review; in any case it has been MY pleasure to participate in your challenge and reap its rewards (intrinsically and extrinsically). Oh, and thanks for posting about a beautiful mirror for those of us lipsticked-fantasy-readers who now simply must have one of her own! I’m going to Aubrey’s site now to add to my collection…

  2. She has a bunch of wonderful ones, Bellezza and I believe can make any from images that she may not have up for sale as mirrors right now. And they are a good price too!!! 🙂

  3. I finished my quest last week, with the completion of The Book of Lost Things. Thanks for hosting – this was fun!

  4. Thank you so much for hosting this challenge (in the face of illness, hackers, and the demands of real life – you remained gracious and enthusiastic), it has been loads of fun. While completing Quest the First, I’ve made some wonderful new blog-land friends, discovered new writers, artists, and craftsmen, shared some of my favorites with the group, and my TBR list has grown to the point of near ridiculousness.
    Once again, thank you my friend!

  5. Hi Carl! I just finished Midsummers Nights Dream last night and am working on a post about it, so I’m finished. For the record, since starting the challenge, I’ve read 15 books that qualify for the challenge (not that I’ve written reviews, but..), mostly found on the OUATII website. So thank you so much for hosting the challenge again. I enjoyed it so much.

  6. It was a pleasure to join you this year. I finished my challenge and enjoyed every experience – and wow did I ever find some gems to add to my TBR list. Thanks so much Carl!

  7. Ummm, why yes indeed I finished both the journey challenge and Quest the First (5 times!) For a total of 26 books.. and I just started Fablehaven which I may finish before the 21st.

    I hope you know that no matter how nice your prizes are that since this is “my element” I would read these books anyway!! The only effort (if it can be called that) is that I didn’t stray to a biography or something else, I made sure they were ALL fantasy fiction. (not a hard choice) Oh and I already read Far World but I am slated for an early August review of that.

    So.. thanks again for doing this challenge!.. My Amazon Wish List just loves you to death!….on the other hand my charge account would like to smack you upside your head! lol

  8. I actually finished officially this past weekend, when I wrapped up A Midsummer Night’s Dream! I didn’t post a review, thinking who I am to review ole Will? 🙂 I really enjoyed this challenge – some new favorites have been added to my shelf because of it:)

  9. Jenn: Anyone can review Mr. S…go for it!!! 😉

    Deslily: You’ve been tearing through the books this year! I know this is your thing and so it is fun to see you pour yourself into the experience and the sharing of your reading experiences with others. I apologize to your charge account.

    The prizes are always merely for the fun I have in giving them. I know that all of you read simply because you love to, but it sure is fun to have a chance to get fun packages as part of the experience.

    Corinne: I’m glad you joined in as well. My TBR pile always grows enormously during these challenges!!!

    Carrie: Well done! I look forward to reading your review on A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

    Ken: Thanks, I think I’ve done a much better job not letting the cares of life as it were interrupt my challenge duties (unlike last fall when work/life derailed my R.I.P. II challenge, contests for which I still owe posts and awards!!!) I think I’ve changed a few things this time for myself that have helped me stay on top of things. It has been so fun reading your blog during this experience. You do a great job with your posts!!!

    Somer: Glad to hear it! I need to read that book, I’ve heard really good things.

  10. Once again, one of the best challenge and reading experiences I’ve had Carl! Thanks a bunch. I’ve managed to read 13 books so far and hope to fit in a couple more…definitely at least one before the challenge is up…so I finished my quest! I think I’m going to go for the Tempest instead of A Midsummernight’s Dream on the last night of the challenge this year…change things up a bit :p

  11. So I only read one of the books (the Amber Spyglass) i originally said i was to read, but i did also complete 4 Narnia books, Fire Study by Maria Snyder and will finish The Book of Lost Things in the next couple days. I say I have finished the challenge. Thanks so so much for doing this!

  13. I’ve read thirty books for the challenge so far. Technically I know I’m ‘finished’ but a few more might sneak in there by the deadline.

  14. Carl – I finished Quest the Second. I got carried away and actually read enough for Quest the First as well.

    Thanks for a fun introduction into the world of book challenges!

  16. Wow, has this gone by fast…I’m really going to miss it. (And I may yet even finish in time.) I guess the good news is that RIP isn’t all that far off.

  17. Debi: I was having mixed feelings on it as well. Doing challenges gives me a nice structure by which to plan my blog posts and I always feel a bit out to sea during the down times, but I am looking forward to it as well. And yes, R.I.P. will be here before we know it!!!

    Callista: Well good luck, I’ll cross my fingers for you!!!

    Rachael: That is a good kind of carried away! 🙂

    Becky: That is awesome! You are definitely one of those voracious readers.

    Melissa: and even a wrap up post done, you’re way ahead of the game!!! 😉

    Melanie: You have indeed, congrats and you’re very welcome.

    Chris: I’m glad you enjoyed it again this year. I’ll have to read the Tempest sometime now that I’ve seen an adaptation of the play.

  18. oh no way!only 11 days and still two books to read!well, officially only one, but I wanted to read one more, I hope I can make it. I thought I had more time 😛
    so I wonder, since I haven’t posted all the reviews yet, will it count anyway, even without reviews? anyway, I’ll do my best to post everything in time!

  20. JenClair: I look forward to it!

    Valentina: Would love to see the reviews but you certainly don’t have to do them for the reading to count. You can do it!!! 🙂

  21. This was my first ever book challenge and I couldn’t have chosen any better! I can’t honestly remember what my actual goal was, but I read four novels in the genres, wrote two reviews and am currently reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I hope to finish the last two reviews soon, but my ARC commitments are pressing upon me…

    Thanks so much for such a fun time Carl.

  22. this was my first even book challenge and it was awesome! i finished quest the second a while back and it’s been fun to see what everyone else is reading. thanks!

  23. Hi Carl, I’ve finished my quest by completing The Faery Reel last week, though the review post isn’t up on my blog yet (hopefully later today). This was my first challenge and I really enjoyed it so thanks for hosting it!

  24. Bride, Tasses, Erin: You’re very welcome, it is truly an honor to be the host of your first reading challenges. It really is. I hope I can tempt you in September to join the R.I.P. III Challenge and I also hope you return next year for Once Upon a Time III.

  25. Still two books to go, but almost half-way through A Princess of Roumania…I think I might change British Fairy Tales for The Goose Girl, which I found unexpectedly and really want to read! I’m saving Will and Midsummer’s night dream for, of course, June 20 🙂 I can hardly wait!!!Though I’m not sure i can read it in three hours (which is the reading time I’ll have before midnight, on a workday!) thanks, thanks, thanks as ever for holding this challenge. So many wonderful fantasy books people have been reading!

  26. I’ll definitely have to write up a wrap-up post. Although I didn’t read all the books I wanted to read, I still ended up finishing 6 books, and I’m working on Shakespeare as we speak!!

  27. Hi Carl, I finished my quest, it was quite fun and I discovered some new authors and interests. Thanks for doing this.

  28. You know I had to go to her site and buy two mirrors, don’t you? They will make lovely presents if I don’t decide to keep them myself.

  29. Hi Carl,

    I have finally finished quest one! I was a bit worried because I had both Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell as well as The Mists of Avalon, two chunksters, on my list. If I finish Neverwhere before Friday, I’ll go ahead and add the extra book to the challenge and review it as well. I had a great time and I’ll be back in the fall for the R.I.P Challenge!

  30. I’m gonna make it! This is going to be the first challenge I finish on time in *years*. Quest the first is the one I choose but I’ll be reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream too. Oh wait…I guess that makes it quest the third…

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  32. Your challenges seem to be the only ones I ever finish. I read five – completing my quest. Thanks so much for hosting this again! Honestly, I found some truly memorable books that I will read more than once as a result of taking part.

  33. I finished the first and second quests and decided not to try to do the third – I have a lot going on this June.

  34. Finished quest the third! Bulfinch’s Mythology took a bit of work, but the rest was good.
    I would definitely recomment Best American Fantasy edited by Ann & Jeff Vandermeer, it was much better than what I was expecting. Each story stands on its own very well.
    And a Midsummer Night’s Dream…I can’t even begin to say how much I love that play. It’s so witty. It’s just a really fun play.

    I’m glad I found this! And thanks for letting me join so late. =]

  35. I finished Quest the First! Actually managed an extra book in there. First challenge I’ve finished this year, and I’m so excited!

  36. I have completed Quest the Second and Quest the Third! This was a delightful challenge, my first ever completed (I just started reading challenges this spring) and I loved it. I hope you will host it again!

  40. THANK YOU! You know you host the best challenges, don’t you? And hooray for me…I actually finished this year! I just posted about finishing up with A Midsummer Night’s Dream last night. Which, by the way, I owe you a thank you for…not sure I ever would have read that little jewel if not for this challenge.

    Rich signed up for the journey, and he finished his book, plus read A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Annie and I.

    Poor Annie. I don’t think she actually chose a Quest. But she made a list of 41 books, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and she still has 6 to go. Don’t think she’s going to make it in time. Maybe a lesson in over-committing oneself will be learned. 😉

    Thanks again, Carl!

  41. I really didn’t think I’d make it, but it looks like I might finish Quest the First, after all! Still have to write one last review and the wrap-up, but at least all the reading’s done. This has been great fun and I’m already looking forward to next year’s edition.

  45. This was the first challenge I joined, and I didn’t finish it. But I joined late. Next year, I’ll do better. But I enjoyed it anyway. 🙂

  46. Thank you, Carl, for hosting this unbelievable challenge. :] I am happy to say that I have successfully completed Quest the First. Next year, I would love to participate again. :]

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