Fairyloot is a Young Adult book subscription box focusing on fantasy based out of the UK. Each month you receive a new Young Adult hardback book and 5-6 bookish goodies. Like most book boxes the hardback are special editions and the items are a combination of both practical things and more decorative items. November’s theme is Enemies to Lovers.
The bookish items included this month are a Cruel Prince tote bag, a literary scrunchie, a bag hanger, A Song of Wraiths and Ruin inspired scarf, a set of foiled bookmarks and a phone screen cleaner. Also are the tarot cards that come every month and the missing ones from September.
All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers and are signed by the author. The box also includes and author letter for each book. This months book is These Violent Delights by Chole Gong which also has exclusive art under the dust jacket and pink sprayed edges. These Violent Delights is a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai focusing on rival gangs and a hidden monster.
In November I read four books which is lower than some months for me but with the holidays and how this year has been any reading is good.
Books:
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia is a young adult nonfiction book that tells the history of the Romanov family during World War I and the Russian Revolution. It adds information about peasant lives and historical accounts from those not connect to the crown which many accounts of the Romanov Family don’t include. If you like Russian history its a very fast and easy read but not its not written with the younger side of the YA audience in mind.
So You Want To Work in a Museum? by Tara Young is a nonfiction book about working in museums and how to get a job in the field. My degree is in Public History and I’ve had jobs in museums but due to the pandemic my job search has stalled out. So, I’ve started to read more museum focused books for continuing my education and hoping that I the new year that I can restart my job search. This book would be good for anyone interested in a museum job. I already knew most of this information but I can always use a refresh on certain topics.
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher is a very creepy adult horror/fantasy novel. When Mouse agrees to clean out her grandmothers house she ends up finding her Step-grandfathers journal which is full of bizarre and creepy writing. However, when she ends up finding this place full of carved stones behind the house she realizes that the writings she found might be true. This is a very creepy and atmospheric book that kept me wanting to find out what would happen next. I loved the characters and the humor they bring to such an unsettling plot and I loved the ending.
The last book I read was From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back which is a series of Star Wars short stories set during The Empire Strikes Back but told from the perspective of background and side characters. Most of the stories I liked. However, I feel like there was too much focus on Hoth and Cloud City. There was also more focus on characters that show up in other Star Wars media that I’m not familiar with which in turn caused me to not know what was going on in some stories. Great for fans of Star Wars and those who like to see different takes on beloved stories and franchises. I received an advanced copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Owl Crate is a young adult book subscription box where every month you receive one new hardcover book and an assortment of bookish goodies connected to the monthly theme. Some of these items are very practical and some are better suited as décor or for a pin/bulletin board. November’s theme is Growing Wild.
Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include wooden flower pressing kit, a reading planner, planner stickers, a dandelion pendant necklace and flower art prints inspired by Lord of the Rings and Middle Earth. I don’t think I will use the flower pressing kit or the reading planner. I’m very picky about planners and I hate undated ones so I will either sell or give away the planner.
Every month Owl Crate has a new young adult hardback book that has an exclusive cover, is signed and comes with a letter from the author. The enamel pin that is in every box is also inspired by that months book. This months book is Among the Beast and Briars by Ashley Poston which also has sprayed edges and art under the dust jacket. Among the Beast and Briars is a dark fairytale where Cerys must find the Lady of the Wilds to try to find a way to save her home.
When I heard that Fairyloot was doing a special edition box for Blood and Honey I knew I wanted to try out their special edition boxes.
The items included in this box where a blanket, candle, an enamel pin set, a storage tin, a deck of tarot cards, and an art print. Obviously a special signed edition of Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin was also included. This copy of the book came with shimmery sprayed edges and art work under the dust jacket. There was also a bonus chapter that is exclusive to the Fairyloot edition. I was also lucky enough to get the Serpant and Dove add on which also came with sprayed edges and a signed book plate.
This was my first special editon box for Fairyloot and its very well done. I love most of the items and I can tell that a lot of thought was put into each item.
FaeCrate is a young adult book subscription box that also does special edition boxes that they call Hangover Recovery kits. These are suppose to help you get over the book hangover after you have finished the book the box is focused on. Eragon and the Inheritance Cycle was one of my favorite series growing up and I knew I would pick up Christopher Paolini’s next book.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is an adult Science Fiction novel focusing on Kira, a young woman who ends up being involved in first contact with an alien species. That’s all I need to know that I wanted to read this book and that I would be interested in any book boxes for it.
The items included in this box where a signed copy of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, an enamel bookmark, a led lamp, and a set of art dust jackets for Eragon and the Inheritance Cycle. Though a smaller box I loved all the item in it which is rare for me and I think I prefer smaller boxes
Fairyloot is a Young Adult book subscription box focusing on fantasy based out of the UK. Each month you receive a new Young Adult hardback book and 5-6 bookish goodies. Like most book boxes the hardback are special editions and the items are a combination of both practical things and more decorative items. October’s theme is Wicked Hearts.
The bookish items included this month are Kingdom of the Wicked salt and pepper shakers, foiled playing cards with character art from multiple fandoms, an enamel pin inspired by The Young Elites, a puzzle featuring the character Jacks from Carval, Castlevania socks, a Kylo Ren sticker sheet, and tarot cards with characters from the book House of Earth and Blood. These are the type of items that I like the most both useful items that can be used again and again and some more decorative items/fandom items.
All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers and are signed by the author. The box also includes and author letter for each book. This months book is Kingdom of the Wicked by Keri Maniscalco. This book also has stenciled and sprayed edges, reversible art work on the dust jacket, and a foil design on the hard cover. The story follows twin sisters, Vittoria and Emilia, witches who live in secret. But when Vittoria is murdered Emilia vows to find her sisters killer and get vengeance.
When I heard that Beacon Book Box was doing a special Vampire box, it sounded like something that I would like. This box is primarily a item box but a new Vampire book was included with a signed book plate.
The items included were: a Dracula inspired pin and bookmark, a Vampire Academy blanket, a Vampire Diaries Neckless and ring, a gothic mug, a coffin shaped box, Vampire Diaries and Buffy art prints, a Fell of the Dark candle, a Crave bath bomb, a recipe card, a multiple fandom inspired tote bag, and finally, a Twilight inspired microfiber cloth.
The book that was include is Vampires Never Get Tales With Fresh Bite an Anthology of new vampire stories written by various young adult authors. There was also a book plate included that was signed by most of the authors.
Night Owl Reviews 