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. September’s theme is Haunted Hearts.
Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include a ceramic travel mug, a pair of magnetic picture frames, an amazing calligraphy kit, a coaster set, and a wooden page holder.
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 Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone. This edition also has exclusive end pages and a bonus chapter. When Violeta arrives at the Lakesedge estate she expects to find a monster in Rowen the owner of the estate who is rumored to have killed his entire family. However, there are monsters in the woods including a Death god who Leta might have a connection to. To save herself and Rowen she will have to confront her past and figure out this connection. This story sounds prefect for me as I love gothic stories with some romance.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. July’s theme is Never Enough.
The items included in this box are a mug with characters from the Poppy War series, an acrylic frame with a character print from Red Rising, a pocket mirror, a hand fan, and a bust of Lila Bard. I don’t understand the bust at all and I find it creepy.
Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and often a letter from the author. Illumicrate also does monthly enamel pin inspired by the book. Other exclusive detail for the book include sprayed and stenciled edges, art on the reverse of the dust jacket, and foiling on the hardback. This months book She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan. Set in 1345 China the Zhu family’s eight son is given a great fate but when he is killed his sister takes on his identity. She enters a monastery but when her sanctuary is destroyed she decides to see if she can fulfill her brothers fate.
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. July’s theme is Tales Retold.
The bookish items included this month are a bookish umbrella, a book sleeve featuring characters from the Blood of Stars duology, a bookish tin inspired by A Court of Thorns and Roses, a foiled print with a character from The Star-Touched Queen, socks, and the monthly tarot cards.
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, artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket, and foiling on the hardback. This months book is Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim. Shiori is a princess with forbidden magic in her veins but when her stepmother finds out Shiori is banished and her brothers are turned into cranes. Now to stop a conspiracy to seize the throne Shiori must embrace her magic and trust those she didn’t before.
In July I read four books but I also watched a couple movies and finished Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. So overall, this was a good month for me.
Books:
Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir: Inspired by True Events by Brent Spiner is a novel that fictionalizes Brent Spiner’s life with an added murder mystery/stalker plot during the time that he played Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation. The plot follows the mystery around someone who is obsessed with Data and is sending Brent threating letters which cause many hijinks to ensue. As someone who has been in different fandoms and has a history of reading fanfiction I thought that I would really like this. However, I didn’t connect to any of the humor as it was fairly crude and I’ve never been a fan of Real Person Fanfiction which this very much reminded me of. You can tell the Brent Spiner does love the Star Trek fandom and I feel like this book in no way makes fun of that but I don’t think he understands completely. For major Star Trek fans some might like this more than I did but I can also see some people hating it.
The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women by Nancy Marie Brown is a nonfiction historical book that focuses on the fact that new DNA evidence shows that the high status Viking warrior grave in Birka in fact belonged to a woman and many women during the Viking age where warriors. Brown weaves together archaeology, history, and literature to tell the possible story of this woman’s life and the other women who lived during this time. Viking history has never been a topic that I’ve read much about and most of the knowledge is more from popular culture. However, I loved how Brown wrote about these warrior women and what we can learn from both the archaeological/historical evidence as well as information pass down through literature and oral traditions.
Pomes for the End of the World by Katie Wismer is Wismer’s second poetry collection which has many of the same themes as The Sweetest Kind of Poison but also breaks away from relationships into becoming the person that you want to be. I’m not a huge poetry fan but I follow Katie Wismer on other platforms and want read both of her poetry collections. Overall, I like her approach and the topics that she focuses on.
The Night Country by Melissa Albert is the second book in the Hazel Wood series. This is a direct sequel that starts several months after the end of The Hazel Wood. Alice is back in the normal world and others from the Hinterland are here too. When something or someone starts killing people from the Hinterland, Alice must find a way to stop it and reconnect with Ellery who stayed in the Hinterland. Together they learn that often time worlds don’t end with a whimper. I almost considered not finishing this book for about the first half or so. I found the story very boring and I disliked most of the character this time. I liked the ending but overall did not enjoy reading this book.
Movies/TV Shows:
I’ve started watching more shows and movies lately but haven’t finished much yet. The first movie that I’ve watched in a long time was Deep Blue Sea 3. This is the second direct to video sequel for this series. It’s a shark killing/eating people movie that would fit very well on the SyFy channel. In Deep Blue Sea 2, a pharmaceutical billionaire is genetically enhancing Bull sharks and making them smarter. Bella the main shark is found to be pregnant and has serval babies. At the end of Deep Blue Sea 2, most of them are killed but Bella and a few other escape. In Deep Blue Sea 3, we follow a group of scientist that are studying the effects on climate change on Great White Sharks when another group appears trying to find the remaining sharks that escaped in the last movie. From their is mostly bad guys trying to kill everyone and all the sharks and the sharks eat most of the characters. These are not very good movies however I like to watch these types of movies when I want something mindless where I don’t have to focus on a plot.
Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is one of the animated Resident Evil movies that are connected to the events of the video game series. Though this was released on Netflix as a four part series it seem to me that it was originally intended as a movie. We follow Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield after a zombie attack on the White House while the investigate who is behind the attack. I don’t want to go much more into the story as the show is fairly short. While not the best Resident Evil story, if your a fan its something that you should at least check out.
Video Games:
The only game I finished this month was Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order which I also have a full review already posted. Set five years after Revenge of the Sith and the rise of the empire the story follows Cal Kestis a Jedi Padawan who has been hiding from the empire. At the beginning of the game he is found and must travel through the galaxy while being hunted by the Inquisitors while also trying to complete his training and possibly rebuild the Jedi Order. Overall, I had fun playing this game but there are still a lot glitches in the PlayStation 4 version of the game.
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. July’s theme is Potions and Poisons.
Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include an Owlcrate TBR Jar, a popsicle mold, a bottle keychain that can be filled with hand sanitizer or lotion, a tea towel with art of different poisonous plants, a bubble bath inspired by The Midnight Lie, and an enamel bookmark inspired by Alice in Wonderland.
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 The Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron which also has foiling on the hardback and art on the reverse of the dust jacket. The story follows Briseis who has the power to grow plants with a single touch. When she and her parent move into a new house they’ve just inherited they hope that Briseis can learn to control her gift. However, the house holds many secrets and Briseis wants to uncover them all.
Night Owl Reviews 