FaeCrate: To Sleep in a Sea of Stars Mini Hangover Recovery Kit

On December 11, 2020December 4, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, Fae CrateLeave a comment

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

Beacon Book Bites: Vampire Box

On December 4, 2020December 2, 2020 By AllieS.In Beacon, Book BoxLeave a comment

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.

OwlCrate The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue Box

On November 13, 2020November 12, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, OwlCrateLeave a comment

When I heard that OwlCrate was doing a special edition of Addie LaRue and plan a special box I knew that I wanted a copy and wanted to see what items they included.

The items included in the box where a wooden page holder, a candle, an enamel pin, a metal travel mug, a wooden block calendar, and a three year memory journal. I love boxes where everything works together and has great inspiration. I loved all the practical items in this box especially the wooden block calendar as I’ve considered getting one but never ended up buying one.

The special edition of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab doesn’t have a dust jacket but instead has rose gold foiling on the hardback. It also had exclusive end papers, a ribbon bookmark, and is signed. The book follows the story of Addie LaRue who in 1714 France makes a deal with a devil that she gets to live forever but no one will remember her. After 300 years she meets a young man who happens to remember her name.

Unplugged Book Box: Cozy Autumn Limited Edition Box

On November 6, 2020November 4, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, UnpluggedLeave a comment

Unplugged Book Box is a subscription box focusing on self care with a bookish twist. They have both Adult and Young Adult monthly book boxes and specialty boxes. After getting their horror box earlier this year I decided that I want the Cozy Autumn box as well. Though mostly an item box this one also included a cozy mystery book where the horror box didn’t include a book.

The bookish goodies included were:

A Lord of the Rings Blanket
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Apron
The Vampire Diaries Pillow Case

An Autumn Night Reading Candle
Cozy Autumn Body Butter
Gilmore Girls Mug
Wuthering Heights Tea and Strainer
Supernatural Tote Bag
Autumn Festival Lip Balm

The book included is Murder Goes to Market by Daisy Bateman. Murder Goes to Market is a cozy murder mystery book set in a small town where Claudia has moved to start a new quiet life. When a vendor for the market she owns ends up dead suspicion falls on her. She must figure out what is going on and clear her name. While not my preferred genre it sounds interesting and could be a fast read.

So far I’ve liked the boxes I’ve received from Unplugged. I love the fact at these boxes have many practical items that I feel I will get a lot of use out of. I would recommend Unplugged Book Box and their boxes for anyone looking to a unique box and experience.

September 2020 Fairyloot

On October 5, 2020October 4, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, FairylootLeave a comment

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. September’s theme is Under the Sea.

The bookish items included this month are a To Kill a Kingdom mug, an unfortunate souls keychain, a pencil case with a quote from the book Sea Witch, a hair detangling brush, a set of metal straws and a postcard.

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 Fable by Adrienne Young and it also has sparkly light blue sprayed edges. Fable is about a young woman who was left on a island of thieves by her father. She enlists the help of the young trader West to get her off the island and find her father but the must work together if they are going to survive.

October’s theme is Wicked Hearts.

September 2020 OwlCrate

On September 28, 2020September 26, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, OwlCrateLeave a comment

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. September’s theme is A Glorious Haunting.

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include a throw blanket that features the full text of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven which is very soft and I love. Other items included were a set of three skull spoons, a Sleepy Hollow inspired lip balm that smells like pumpkin spice, a Black Flame candle inspired by Hocus Pocus, and an enamel chain 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 Horrid by Katrina Leno which also included exclusive artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket. The story follows Jane and her mother who move back to New England after her fathers death. But the house that they are living in might house more secrets and horrors than Jane was expecting.

October’s theme is Legends and Lore.

Book Review: The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher

On September 25, 2020September 24, 2020 By AllieS.In Book BoxLeave a comment

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher is an adult horror novel that is inspired by the 1907 novella by Algernon Blackwood, The Willows. The story follows Kara a recently divorced young woman who is working and living in her uncles small town museum full of old taxidermy and other oddities. One day a hole is busted into a wall in the museum which opens a door way to a different world of islands surrounded by willows with bunkers on some of the islands. When Kara and her friend, Simon, venture into the world they find a place that connects many worlds but house creatures that hear your thoughts and the more that you think of them the stronger and more deadly they become.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and I absolutely loved it. The writing is very good and Kingfisher created a amazing horror atmosphere that made me feel physically anxious and fearful for the characters. It one of those books that I had to stop reading at points because of how creepy and unsettling everything was but at the same time I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next.

Kara is one of those characters that is written in a way that makes her feel very relatable and someone you want to root for. Simon is mostly there for some add comic relief during some of the most tense situations but I loved this quirky character. There were a few moments that I felt like the characters had to do things that in reality no one would do just to move the story and plot along but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in horror and those who love creepy stories.

August 2020 OwlCrate

On September 14, 2020September 13, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, OwlCrateLeave a comment

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include a star shaped bottle with sliver push pins, a Strange the Dreamer bandana, a pen with a star on top, a Starless Sea book sleeve, and an Aurora Rising inspired clipboard.

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 Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar which also has purple sprayed edges. The book is a Hindu inspired fantasy where a young woman is sent on a quest to be the human champion of her celestial family and decide which house will be the next ruler of the heaven while saving her father.

September’s theme is A Glorious Haunting.

Unplugged Book Box: XL Horror Fandoms Box

On August 31, 2020August 30, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, UnpluggedLeave a comment

Unplugged Book Box is a subscription box focusing on self care with a bookish twist. They have both Adult and Young Adult monthly book boxes and specialty boxes. I have been wanting to try out Unplugged for a while now and when I heard about them doing a horror box that would arrive before Halloween I had to try it. The box I bought was the XL Horror Fandoms box which had a few more items than the Large Horror Fandoms box. This box is just a goodies box so no book was included.

The bookish items included were:

An Edgar Allen Poe Blanket
An Edgar Allen Poe Book Sleeve
A Ninth House Headband
The Exorcist pillow case
A Pan’s Labyrinth mug
It perfume
HP Lovecraft Bookends
Midsommar Tea with a skull spoon
A plague doctor enamel pin
The Shining soap
Trick R Treat Bath bomb
Friday the 13th lotion
A Bates Motel candle
The Blob candle

I generally don’t love just goodies boxes as I worry that I won’t love the items and won’t use them. However, this box is amazing. It combines practical long use items such as blankets and mugs with items that can be used up like candles and soaps. I would recommend Unplugged Book Box and their fandoms boxes for anyone looking to a unique box and experience.

July 2020 Fairyloot

On August 28, 2020August 24, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, FairylootLeave a comment

For July I decided to try out a book box that I had hear about but had never received before. 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 Resilient Royals.

The bookish items included this month are a food/cake tray inspired by the Lunar Chronicles, a card holder, a set of magnetic bookmarks from the book Woven in Moonlight, and a candle inspired by Ash Princess. The candle smells like black currant with a hint of tea. The last two items are a Crescent City cushion cover and an art print with characters from The Bear and the Nightingale.

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 Shielded by Kaylynn Flanders and also has black sprayed edges. In a world with a kingdom destroyed war the princess might just be the key to its survival.