Mini Blogging Confessional... and a mini review of The Offering

So, today I have a different kind of post for you.  A mini blogging confessional.

Sometimes I read books so quickly in such a short period of time that if I do not immediately blog about them I can completely forget what I would have said about them.  For instance, I finished the last book in Kimberly Derting's The Pledge trilogy on April 13th.  I marked a note to myself that I wanted to give it a gold star review.  I remember loving the way the series ended.  Can I remember anything else now that I want to go back and blog about it? No. *facepalm*

I still want to highlight the book anyway and I don't have time to go back and reread it to review it...SOOOO... here's the description:

The Offering
by Kimberly Derting
The Pledge, book three

Charlie, otherwise known as Queen Charlaina of Ludania, has become comfortable as a leader and a ruler. She’s done admirable work to restore Ludania’s broken communications systems with other Queendoms, and she’s mastered the art of ignoring Sabara, the evil former queen whose Essence is alive within Charlie. Or so she thinks.

When the negotiation of a peace agreement with the Queendom of Astonia goes awry, Charlie receives a brutal message that threatens Ludania, and it seems her only option is to sacrifice herself in exchange for Ludanian freedom.

But things aren’t always as they seem. Charlie is walking into a trap—one set by Sabara, who is determined to reclaim the Queendoms at any cost. (Description from Goodreads.com) 

Know that I did LOVE it when I read it. Unfortunately, I just can't tell you why!  I do remember little bits...I still thought that Charlie was a great character and that Sabara and her lover were some creepy-@ss baddies.  I really though that Charlie was smart when she finally manages to escape Sabara's evil plans... and that's about it.  I hope that's enough for you! 

What does this teach me?  The few times this happens, I remind myself to blog about books in a shorter timeframe after I've read them.  I also need to start making some more distinct notes for myself, especially if I want to give a book a gold star review so that I can REMEMBER every little thing I wanted to say.  

And now, I'm off to go make some notes before posting my next review... hangs head in embarrassment. 

Fog of Forgetting Metria Necklace GIVEAWAY!

Hello All!

I'm very excited to feature G. A. Morgan's The Fog of Forgetting on the blog today! This is a great looking middle grade fantasy adventure that I'm looking forward to reading and reviewing for you all in a few weeks.

The Fog of Forgetting 
by G. A. Morgan

Publication date: July 17, 2014

In The Fog of Forgetting, the beginning of a new adventure-fantasy trilogy, five children wash up on the shores of an foreign land, unwitting agents of destiny in a realm struggling to withstand a force that could change their world -- and ours -- forever.

Sneaking out for a quick boat ride on a summer day, five children find themselves engulfed in a curtain of dense, powerful fog that transports them from the rocky Maine coast to the mysterious island of Ayda. Rescued by Seaborne, a machete-toting wayfarer of few words, the children suddenly find themselves at the center of a centuries-old battle between Dankar, the ruler of Exor, and three siblings that rule the other realms of Ayda. At stake are the four stones of power and the elusive Fifth Stone that binds them all.

When 9-year-old Frankie is kidnapped by Dankar, her older sister Evelyn and the three Thompson brothers must learn to harness the powers of the daylights, ancient forces of earth, fire, water, and air, to navigate their way through the realms of Ayda, rescue her, and find a way home. (Description from Goodreads.com)

Doesn't it sound great?  I haven't read a full-on high fantasy for this age group in a while, so I'm really looking forward to it.  Today, though, I 'm even more excited to be able to host a giveaway for you!  To celebrate the book's release this week, the author and publisher very graciously offered to let me give one of you a beautiful necklace that goes with the story in The Fog of Forgetting.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is the stone of healing and memory in the book.  I love its crystal; it feels ethereal to me.  A very cool necklace. Good luck! 

Fragile Destiny

Fragile Destiny
by Suzanne Lazear
The Aether Chronicles, book three

Publication date: August 8, 2014 

Noli and her true love V fear the worst if the Staff of Eris—a potent Otherworld relic—falls into the wrong hands. Broken into pieces and hidden in the mortal realm long ago, the staff bestows vast powers on whoever possesses it. Ciarán, the dark king, is trying to rebuild the staff, intending to use it to install a new queen.

In a desperate effort to keep the Otherworld from falling into darkness, Noli and V plot the daring theft of a jewel Ciarán needs to complete the staff. But Ciarán is not so easily defeated. Through his devious machinations, he has set a plan in motion for a final showdown that will decide who rules the Otherworld once and for all. (Description from Goodreads.com)

I used this description of the book from Goodreads, but honestly, I don't think it really captures the heart of the book that well.  Though it is true that there is a quest to keep the pieces of the Staff of Eris out of the wrong hands, this book is more about Noli regaining her own identity and finding her place in the Mortal and Otherworlds. 

Let me say, without getting TOO spoilery, that when Noli does find her place,...it's a doozy.  I was not expecting that, but I think that she's a strong character who acclimated well once the initial shock wore off. I loved seeing her take charge of her own life once again and return to the character that I'd loved so much in Innocent Darkness. One character I did not love in this book, though, was V. Readers will find out there's a reason why he becomes an obnoxious prig in this book, but ugh... I kind of wanted to hit him a few times. 

The only other thing I really want to say, without revealing too much, is that there MUST be a book after this! Too much is foreshadowed but not truly explored.   True we get Noli to a point where I can imagine how her story continues, but I  DESPERATELY want to read it...and more about Jeff and Vix...and Elise and her new best friend... and how Tiana might get her comeuppance in the end... there's SO much more that could be explored! 

Full disclosure: eARC received through Netgalley