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 decor or for a pin/builtin board. June’s theme is All the World’s a Stage.
Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include a Night Circus inspired coin bank/pencil holder, a shower steamer, mini-donuts flavored Cirque Du Freak inspired coffee from Bones Coffee company, a Greatest Showman inspired habit tracker, and a set of pencils with quotes from Shakespeare. I love most of these fandom but the one I’m most excited to see is Cirque Du Freak. Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan is one of my favorite childhood series but no one ever does anything for it.
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 Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles. Which this book publication was delayed but Owlcrate was allowed to include their special cover less embossed hardback during the original publication month. Where Dreams Descend is a re-imagining of Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge where a group of magicians face off in magical feats to determine the next head liner of the Conquering Circus.
July’s theme is Date with Destiny.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chamber is the first book of the adult science fiction Wayfarers series. The story follows the crew of the tunneling ship Wayfarer as they take on a new crew member Rosemary Harper and the new jobs tunneling jobs that become available.
Middlegame by Seanan McGuire is an adult fantasy novel about alchemy, language, math, and family. The story follows Roger and Dodger who were created by Reed to embody the Doctrine of Ethos which would allow someone to control how the world works. Adopted by different families Roger is all languages and works while Dodger is math and logic. When they connect as children talking to each other in their minds they know something is different about them and that it could be dangerous.
For different books FaeCrate do Hangover Recovery kits for the book hangover you will have after finishing the book. They did a Mini Kit for the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Mass.
This kit did not come with a book just bookish items so it is perfect for those who love the series and want merch connected to the books and series as a whole. The bookish items included were a Aelin plushie (which FaeCrate include a plushie with every hangover kit), an Amulet of Orynthin Necklace which is long enough for an adult, and a Wyvern enamel pin. I chose to buy the up graded kit which included a set of Dust Jackets for the US Hardback editions of the Throne of Glass books.
Summer Knight by Jim Butcher is the fourth book in the Dresden Files series. This book follows Dresden as he deals with the consequences of starting a war against the vampire courts. The main plot focuses more on the Fae Courts and his deal with Leananshidhe who sold it to Mab, the Winter Queen. Dresden must now work for Mab and attempt to find out who killed the Summer Knight.
The Anti-Virginity Pact is a Young Adult debut contemporary novel by BookTuber Katie Wismer. The story follows Meredith Beaumont, a Preacher’s daughter who happens to be an atheists. When her best friend Johanna convinces her to sign a pact that states that they both won’t be virgins at the end of their senior year of high school things don’t go as planned and Mare must make the decision as whats more important her reputation and relationship with her parents or the person she wants to be.
The first book I read this month was Letters to the Pumpkin King by Seanan McGuire. This book is separated into three sections. Section one is comprised of essays and posts from Seanan’s blog. These essay cover everything from different aspects of fandom to writing advice and some more political topics. Sections two and three are reprints of previously published limited poetry collections. I preferred the first section as I’m not a huge fan of poetry. A fairly quick read that allows you to get into Seanan McGuire’s head a bit and understand where some of her ideas for stories come from.
Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst is a standalone young adult fantasy novel about racing monsters known as Kehoks. After an accident Tamra must find a new Kehok and rider who will win the upcoming races. Raia is running from her family and convinces Tamra that she can win. Through this meeting and attempting to win the Kehok races history could be changed. A very fast pace fantasy story about family and freedom. I won an advanced copy of the book from Goodreads and I have a full review up.
I Was Anastasia by Aariel Lawhon is the story of both Anastasia Romanov and Anna Anderson, the woman who claimed she was Anastasia who had survived the murder of the Romanov family. As we are reading two stories they start at different places and end where they met up. So Anastasia’s story stars at the beginning in 1919 while Anna Anderson starts at the end in 1970. An interesting way to tell the story that many know the answers to but wish that Anastasia had survived. Not my favorite historical fiction novel about this subject as I’m more interested in Anastasia and less of Anna Anderson who’s story is the main focus of the book.
Beacon joined up with popular bookstagram accounts to give the best advice and some great props that can be used to better pictures. The items included were a notebook with tips and advice, a 26 week planner, a fabric back drop, a letter board, a fake dagger, a crown, a mask, a pocket watch, fairy lights, flower petals, keys, acorns, and pine cones.
Night Owl Reviews 