Month: September 2021

August 2021 Fairyloot

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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. August’s theme is Love Struck.

The bookish items included this month are Caraval pin, a pin banner, a zipper pouch/pencil case, and the monthly tarot cards. There was also supposed to be a tray with a quote on it which has been delayed and is being sent later.

All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers, signed by the author and include a letter from the author. This month the book also has sprayed and stenciled edges and art on the back of the dust jacket. This month is special because two books were included. The hardback is These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan which follows Brie who’s sister is stolen by a the King of the Unseelie Court. Brie makes a deal with the Seelie Court to attempt to get her sister back but her loyalty will be tested.

The second book is a paperback copy of Afterlove by Tanya Byrne which also has pink sprayed edges. This book follows Ash who gets an offer in the afterlife to join a group of girl reapers who take the souls of the city’s dead. However, she can’t forget Poppy, her first love, and she will do anything to see her again.

September’s theme is Uprising.

August 2021 OwlCrate

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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. August’s theme is Dark Academia.

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include a Raven Boys inspired book sleeve, a third book tin inspired by A Darker Shade of Magic, some loose leaf tea from Riddle’s Tea Shoppe, a note pad that came with a pen and sticky notes, a Form the Library of … stamp, and a metal bookmark.

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 A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee. This edition also has silver sprayed edges, artwork on the back of the dust jacket, and a foil stamp on the hardback. A thriller set at a boarding school that is said to be haunted by the spirts of several witches. When Felicity and Ellis start digging into the past history might repeat and Felicity will have to face the darkness that haunts the school and her.

September’s theme is Haunted Hearts.

August 2021 Wrap Up

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In August I read four books and started playing the original Final Fantasy VII. So I had a fairly good month overall.

Books:

Something in the Blood: The Untold Story of Bram Stoker, the Man who Wrote Dracula by David J. Skal is a nonfiction book about Bram Stoker’s life and the different influences on the creation of Dracula. Contains plenty of general information the main focuses is on Bram Stoker’s relationship with the actor Henry Irving and his acquaintance with Oscar Wilde. This is a book that any fan of Dracula should read.

Desperate Measures by Katee Robert is the first book in a Dark Romance/Erotica series that focuses on different Disney characters mostly the princess having a sexual and romantic relationship with the villain. Desperate Measure is a Jasmin and Jafar romance. I call these a dark romance but it definitely is more an erotica as the sex is the main point. Very sexy and well written but does have a few kinks that are not my favorite personal. Also warning for consensual non-consent. Jasmin likes to act like she is being forced but she is consenting to everything that happens.

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is the second book in the Locked Tomb series. Set after the events Gideon the Ninth where Harrow has become a Lyctor and is now working for the Emperor. However, there is something wrong with Harrow and many secrets are being kept. Didn’t like this one as much as Gideon the Ninth due to the large sections written in second person and overall this is a very confusing book. I do have a full review for this book as well.

One Hundred and Sixty Minutes: The Race to Save the RMS Titanic by William Hazelgrove is a nonfiction book about the sinking of the Titanic. Tells the story through the network of wireless operators. It counts down to the sinking by looking at who got the information and where the ships were when they got the information about the sinking. Focuses on what the different wireless operators, ship captains, and others attempted in the race to save the people if not the ship herself. Also focuses on what mistakes were made and who is a fault for those mistakes which does make it feel a little biased against specific people.

August 2021 Illumicrate

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Illumicrate is a UK based fantasy and science fiction book box that has monthly boxes or just a monthly book only subscription. Each box also includes a selection of bookish goodies some more practical, others more decorative set around a monthly theme. August’s theme is Dark Academia.

The items included in this box are a Book Pot (planter shaped like a book), an Athena Teacup and Saucer set, a set of page tabs and washi tape, and a reading journal/planner. The reading planner while made very well is my least favorite item. I already have a reading journal and planner system which I have no plans on changing and I absolutely hate undated planners. I know that this is the type of planner that I would never use so I do plan to pass it on to someone else.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month which come with a enamel pin inspired by the book. This months book is The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino which also has a custom cover, foiling on the hardback, teal blue sprayed edges, and is signed. When Tess and Eliot find an ancient book that is hidden in a tunnel under the school library they end up releasing the devil who has trapped in the book. They must work together to trap him and force the devil back into the book before he finds away to kill everyone they care about. When fighting the devil school doesn’t sound too bad.

October’s theme is To the Bitter End.

Book Review: Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #2) by Tamsyn Muir

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Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is the second book in the Locked Tomb series. Following the ending of Gideon the Ninth, Harrow has become a Lyctor and now works for the emperor. However, her health is failing and her mind is threatening to betray her. The mysteries of the Emperor and why he needs Lyctors begins to unravel but secrets are being kept and those who where thought dead might not be.

Harrow the Ninth is a hard book to describe or talk about. I think most people will either like the book or absolutely hate it. Unlike Gideon the Ninth, a large section of the book is told in second person. You are reading parts as if the reader is Harrow so her confusion and wanting to find out everything is deeply understood but makes for a very confusing and at times frustrating read. If you hate reading from second person mostly likely you will not like this book.

Honestly, I only kept reading because I like the characters and the world enough that I wanted to find out what happened. When you get to the twist near the end of the book things start coming together and I feel like I would understand much more on a second read through. But with how confusing it is I’m not sure how to even review this book.

I think the best thing to do with Harrow the Ninth is if you loved Gideon the Ninth is to give it a try and make your own decision. I would recommend to read the first three chapters and then make a decision but Muir writing style and structure is what is going to affect your decision one way or the other.