March 2020 Fae Crate

On May 4, 2020May 3, 2020 By AllieS.In Book Box, Fae CrateLeave a comment

I like to try out different book boxes both from companies that I’ve bought from before and new companies every so often to see how book boxes are changing. Fae Crate is a primarily young adult fantasy subscription box with several box options each month. Sadly, most of the monthly boxes have been let down for me but this years March box which is also their anniversary box is much better. There is still a few items that I won’t get much use out of but it think the company is slowly getting higher quality items.

Much like other boxes they include one new hard back book and bookish items. The bookish items included were a necklace inspired by The Maiden Ship which is this months book, an ACOTAR enamel pin, a skyward patch tote bag to put iron on patches on. They also included a Crown of Feathers patch to use on the bag, a Spin the Dawn blanket, and their monthly art and Polaroids. I like most of the items but I’m not a iron on patch person so I probably won’t use the patch on the bag.

Also Fae Crate always includes a e book code which can make the cost better if one isn’t a fan of most of the items. This months e book is Iridescent Fury by Zachary James. This months book is The Maiden Ship by Micheline Ryckman and it comes with a signed book plate. For this edition of the book the hard back is embossed and comes with a reversible dust jacket with exclusive art. The story follows Dain Alloway who has been sailing on the ship The Maiden for most of his life but this all changes when he wakes one night to find a mysterious woman in his cabin.

February 2020 BaeCrate

On April 20, 2020April 18, 2020 By AllieS.In BaeCrate, Book BoxLeave a comment

Bae Crate is a adult romance book box that includes at least one romance book with an author letter and signed book plate as well as four to six items that go with the monthly theme.

February’s box theme was Bite Me and focused on vampires. Due to the corona virus situation this box was delayed and the travel jewelry box had to be switched to a duffel bag inspired by Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The other items included a red lipstick, a glitter face mask, a Bite Me cuff bracelet, and a pink scarf.

Sadly, I didn’t like many of these items. Everything except the duffel bag felt cheep and are not things that I think I would use. The cuff bracelet does not fit and feels like it was meant for a teenager, I don’t know the brand of lipstick and would not use it with out knowing more, and glitter has no place in skin care in my opinion.

The books included where Wicked Bite and Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost which are the first two books in the Night Rebel series. Since I love vampire paranormal romance books and this is a series that I have never heard about I look forward to reading them but I wish the box as a whole was much better.

March 2020 OwlCrate

On April 6, 2020April 5, 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. March’s theme is Music of the Night.

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. March is the five year anniversary of OwlCrate so there are some extra goodies this time. This months bookish items include OwlCrate socks, a Phantom of the Opera poster, an OwlCrate wireless speaker, and a Monsters of Verity wooden art print. Some other items where a set of bookplate stickers, a Wintersong inspired candle which smells like winter berries, and a Twilight inspired lip scrub. I love when there is more practical items in boxes as I get more use out of them in comparison to decorative items. Though I wish the Phantom items was more than just a poster and I will not be using the book plates in books but as planner stickers.

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 Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu which also comes with exclusive sprayed edges. The book is a historical fantasy following Nannerl Mozart, the sister of the famous Wolfgang Mozart, and her quest to make sure history doesn’t forget her.

April’s theme is Full Moon Magic.

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

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.

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.