FaeCrate Thorns and All Hangover Recovery Kit

On March 27, 2020March 26, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, Fae Crate, Uncategorized3 Comments

For different books FaeCrate do Hangover Recovery kits for the book hangover you will have after finishing the book. They never had a chance to do one for The Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Mass so in conjunction with the anniversary edition of the first book they did a mini recover kit call Thorns and All.

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 Rhysand plushie which is a staple for FaeCrate Hangover kits. I personally don’t care for the plushies so I will probably end up selling it at some point. A Being of light and fire print, a collectible coin, a starfall necklace was also included. Sadly, the necklace feels cheep and is very short. I needed to add two different two inch extenders to the necklace to wear it. Also included where a patch set, a book mark set, a foil poster, and a makeup brush set and roll. The makeup brushes are not bad but the roll case smells very strong plastic.

Some of the biggest items where the Acrylic bookends and the shawl which are the items that I will get the most use out of. All in all I liked this box but it is for those who are fans of the series as if your not that big of a fan most of these items won’t appeal to you. Though I wish less cheep and paper item had be included.

February 2020 Owl Crate

On March 23, 2020March 21, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, OwlCrate1 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. February’s theme is A Power Within.

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This month bookish items include two metal bookmarks inspired by Truthwitch one for you and one for your best friend. A screen cleaning cloth with designs inspired by Wicked Saints, Throne of Glass playing cards, a Magicians key chain, and a Bento box inspired by Mistborn.

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 All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace. Where the princes of an island kingdom must master dangerous soul magic. When things don’t go to plan she strikes a deal with a pirate who will help her prove that she is fit to rule.

March’s theme is Music of the Night.

January 2020 Owl Crate

On March 6, 2020March 4, 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 month bookish items include a Harry Potter ceramic mug with art by Cara Kozik,a pair of Crooked Kingdom socks, a pocket mirror with storage inspired by Nevernight, and a candle inspired by Children of Blood and Bone. For the candle there were a couple different scents that you could receive, mine was Reaper which smells like a mixed berry juice. Also included was a new pin banner for the enamel pins that had artwork inspired by The Hobbit.

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. The book this month is Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim. This is a gender swapped retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo which is all I needed to hear to be interested in it. The book follows Amaya who rescued a stranger from drowning who offers her the chance for revenge on those who destroyed her life.

February’s theme is A Power Within.

Shelflove Crate Christmas Advent Box

On February 21, 2020February 20, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, Shelflove CrateLeave a comment

To celebrate the Christmas season Shelflove Crate created a Christmas Advent box. There were two different boxes a 12 day box and a 25 day box. Because of the quality of the Darkdawn box I decided that I want to order the 25 day box as a gift to myself. The post about the Advent box said that it would include bookish fandoms, Christmas fandoms and general bookish goodies. Below there will be a list of the items with pictures and then I will go into my feelings about the box.

Day 1: Hallmark Christmas Movie socks

Day 2: A pop socket

Day 3: An Iron on for a shirt or bag

Day 4: A wooden mixing spoon with a cookie recipe

Day 5: A Christmas Candle

Day 6: A Miracle on 34th Street note pad

Day 7: An oven mitt

Day 8: A set of Christmas Cards

Day 9: A set of four wooden ornaments

Day 10: A book sleeve

Day 11: A snowflake necklace

Day 12: A set of A Christmas Story coasters

Day 13: A 52 card reading challenge set

Day 14: A Harry Potter book wallet

Day 15: A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree enamel pin

Day 16: A Polar Express paper ticket bookmark

Day 17: A Christmas stocking

Day 18: An ACOTAR star shaped stress ball

Day 19: A large art print of a Christmas scene with multiple characters

Day 20: A Harry Potter Mug

Day 21: A snowflake marshmallow

Day 22: A Hat

Day 23: A Elsa art print

Day 24: A copy of A Christmas Carol

Day 25: A large blanket

Boxes were stated to ship in mid to late November to arrive before December 1st and the 25 day boxes were even split into two boxes so there wouldn’t be any delays but that did not happen. The first box of the 25 days didn’t arrive until the 4 and did not include day 11. The second box as also late. Given the cost of the box I expect much more high quality item and fewer paper items. Also there was no card included to find out more information about each item, I don’t even know which artist are connected to each item. I ended up damaging the iron on in an attempt to figure out what the item was and it is completely unacceptable to include food items with out any information attached to them. The marshmallow I thew away after photographing as I didn’t trust where it came from with no information.

At this point with all the issues this box had and the fact that the owners of Shelflove Crate only had excuses about what was going on with no apologies I have no intention of ever buying from Shelflove Crate again.

December 2019 Owl Crate

On February 17, 2020February 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 month bookish items include a hand warmer, a wood wick candle inspired by Grace and Fury, ear muffs, a Sorcery of Thorns book sleeve, a coloring book with the art from the years enamel pins and a set of color pencils. The candle smells like cinnamon.

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. The book this month is The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White. In this version of the tales of King Arthur, Guinevere is sent to marry and protect Arthur but she is not all that she seems.

January’s theme is Vengeance Will Be Mine.

November 2019 Fae Crate

On February 12, 2020February 9, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, Fae CrateLeave a comment

Fae Crate is a young adult book subscription box that focuses on fantasy and science fiction. Unlike some book boxes Fae Crate has three options to choose from: a shirt only box (Solitary Crate), a book and goodies box (Unseelie Crate), and a box that includes the shirt, book, and all the bookish goodies (Seelie Crate). For my box I choose the Unseelie Crate without the shirt.

The bookish goodies included are a pen inspired by My Lady Jane, a hanging organizer, a magnetic bookmark, a note pad inspired by the Raven Cycle, a Lifelike Polaroid, and the monthly collectible coin. This box also included a pocket edition of Peter Pan which makes the box worth a little bit more. Considering how amazing Fae Crate’s specialty boxes are the monthly boxes that I have gotten feel a little cheep given the price.

The book is The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White which is a King Arthur retelling. Fae Crate also included a exclusive cover, a letter from the author and a sign book plate. In this book Guinevere has come to Camelot to marry and protect Arthur but how can she trust herself when everything she is, is a lie?

Fae Crate does seem to include books that are not the most hyped so if your trying to find new books people might not be talking about this might be the box for you. Also Fae Crate does include a eBook download in each months box which adds more value when the items might not be the best. This months eBook was Hook and Crown by Nicole Knapp.

For those interested Fae Crate does special book “hangover” recovery boxes for some popular and highly anticipated books throughout the year as well as monthly boxes.

November 2019 Shelflove Crate

On February 10, 2020February 8, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, Shelflove CrateLeave a comment

This month I decided to try out several different monthly book box subscriptions. Shelflove Crate is a fantasy and science fiction subscription box that includes a new hardcover book and bookish items each month. November’s theme is Reading the Restricted Section.

The bookish items included are a storage box shaped like a book, a fabric bin printed with commonly banned books, a bookmark, a grocery bag inspired by the Handmaid’s Tale, and a pocket mirror inspired by Twilight. In 2019 Shelflove Crate was doing collectible chess pieces in each box, this months are Lazlo and Sarai from Strange the Dreamer. Some of these items are practical but its still a let down, as of right now I don’t think I will buy another Shelflove box.

The book included is Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao. The start of a new series about a princess who is hiding a secret and a con man she has to trust to clear her name in the aftermath of her father’s murder. Shelflove also includes a letter from the author and a signed book plate.

Shelflove Crate didn’t do a box for December 2019.

As this post is going up late I feel like I should mention that Shelflove Crate had shipping issues and delays at the end of 2019. Now their boxes are not sent in actual boxes but bubble mailers.

November 2019 Illumicrate

On February 7, 2020February 4, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, IllumicrateLeave a comment

Sometimes I order more than one book subscription box to see what other companies are doing and if there are any boxes that I want to continue getting. 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. September’s theme is In Search of Doors.

The items included in this box are a Hogwarts book sleeve, a Night Circus Ticket key ring, a key necklace from The Archived, a wardrobe wooden pin inspired by Narnia, a ceramic book pot (planter shaped like a book), a Starless Sea bookmark and the collectible coin that features Lazlo Strange from Strange the Dreamer.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and has a letter from the author. This months book is The Starless Sea by Erin Morgernstern. The book follows Zachary who discovers a hidden book that has a story from his own childhood that could never be in this book. When he finds three clues that led him to multiple places including an ancient underground library he must learn more about this place. As their are those who want to protect and those who want to destroy this library.

I have purchased Illumicrate boxes in the past and for me their specialty boxes are amazing and well worth the cost and shipping but the monthly boxes can be very hit or miss. However, I can see myself purchasing boxes in the future.

December’s theme is Secrets and Schemes.

November 2019 Owl Crate

On February 5, 2020February 4, 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 month bookish items include a wonderful throw blanket inspired by The Cruel Prince, a metal tassel bookmark inspired by Uprooted, a wooden ornament inspired by the Raven Boys, the yearly reading planner and planner stickers. DSCN1371

If you want to know my full thoughts about the reading planner please check last Novembers Owl Crate post. I have a very specific way I like my planners set up and I only used dated planners so, once again I doubt I will use this planner for anything. But I have been getting more in to planner stickers and the rest of the items are great.

DSCN1369 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. The book this month is Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw. The story is about a small town in the middle of a snowstorm, a missing boy, and a possibly haunted wood at the edge of town. When our main character Nora discover Oliver hidden in the woods nearly dead and with no memory Nora much learn the truth as to why he is there.

December’s theme is Tales of Trickery.

October 2019 Shelf Love Crate

On January 17, 2020January 13, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, Shelflove CrateLeave a comment

This month I decided to try out several different monthly book box subscriptions to she how they differ from each other. Shelflove Crate is a fantasy and science fiction subscription box that includes a new hardcover book and bookish items each month. October’s theme is Page to Screen.

The bookish items included are a Honeydukes popcorn holder, a Game of Thrones inspired scarf, a Coraline inspired heat transfer to a fabric item, a bookish movie poster set, Lord of the Rings mug charms, and the collectible chess pieces with Clary and Jace from City of Bones. With how much I loved September’s this one was a let down and most of these items I don’t care about and will probably end up decluttering in the future.

The book included is The Grace Year by Kim Ligget. The story follow Tierney who lives in a community that tells girls that they have special powers that can charm men. However, at sixteen they must go out into the wilds to release this magic to be ready for marriage. The Grace Year is about survival, freedom and finding hope.

November’s theme is Reading the Restricted Section.

Sadly, I didn’t really like this box. The book sounds interesting but the items except for the scarf are not things that I will use. As this post is going up late I feel like I should mention that Shelflove Crate had shipping issues and delays at the end of 2019. Now their boxes are not sent in actual boxes but bubble mailers.