This is the second Tales by Mail box and I have to say I am still enjoying them a lot. As mentioned before, this is from the same people behind Book Box Club and it is all about the middle grade love. So let’s see what was included in this box:
The activity worksheets. Usually they encourage you to write a short review and include some other fun things to do. If you got the starter pack then it fits neatly to go after the previous pack of activities.
A woodmark with the theme art.
Several promotional pins for Pizzaz and one for the theme card.
A cute pencil
And the two main books, Wonderscape and Sky Pirates
Both books look very interesting and I am looking forward to reading them. I am also happy that there’s not a lot in the box to clutter, just activities and great reads.
You have a date with destiny in the form of an unboxing!
Ok, maybe not, maybe you do? Let’s see what was int he box, starting from the top left and going clockwise:
Harry Potter mug. I think it is meant to be the last one and well, it is to my own tastes, not Cara’s best work. Not that it is bad, it just doesn’t compare to the others in the care put into making it and it kinda shows.
Simon’s Sour Cherry Scones tea blend, which I am intrigued to try, mostly because it has cherry and because Riddle’s Tea Shop is usually good at their blends.
The monthly pin, which looks interesting.
A bookmark with one side Rey, the other Kylo, so one light, one dark, it is quite clever.
An apron for The Raven Boys, which I like since it is a nice item, and it is big enough now that my husband steals my tiny one every now and then.
On top of the apron, trying to be artful, are a tin of arrow shaped paperclips, which have turned out to be super handy as somehow I never need paperclips and suddenly I do. Plus I have a soft spot for shaped paperclips.
The theme card, I tend to really enjoy the artowkr in those and this isn’t bad at all.
The main book, Goddess in the Machine which sounds intriguing, so much I started reading it after unboxing it, so so far so good and I like the colours of it!
As an overall feel, I like the contents of the box, not too much paper or “useless” items. There’s consumables and the papercips are useful beyond just looking cute. Kitchen items are usually good. And even if I am not keen on themug, there was someone who wanted it so it was easy to pass it on and not feel to bad about it (I do love that type of “camping” mug so just sad it wasn’t a design for me). It may not be their best box of the year but it is a strong box with a good assortment of items.
All about royalty surviving (?) and being around in this box. And one of the first things I noticed as I was resizing the picture is that there is a lot of paper items in it and I am not particularly fond of this. But let’s see what is what, starting from the theme card on the top left and going clockwise:
Theme card for Resilient Royals, the bookmark is also just underneath
Tarot cards.
A cardholder inspired by Queen’s Rising. I do like this as I love small cardholders over big purses and I am keeping it, just sad it doesn’t have more slots.
Shielded as the main book. I am torn betwene the green here or the original blue because both look so good!
A print for Bear and the Nightingale/Winternight trilogy.
Candle, I lit this one the other day and it is very pleasant and sweet (not sickly, just nicely sweet).
Crescent moon, I think SJ Maas inspired cushion cover. I am not bothered about this one, since I don’t have that many cushions and do not need that many covers.
A food tray (?). I would say it is more of a trinket tray but not the jewelry kind. I like this one quite a bit andit has been used a bit around the house, more than I expected!
Author letter with character art.
All in all, some good items, some not as good items. But the book was on my list of books I have wanted to read/order so all good. I do like that there’s new kind of items like the tray and the cardholder, but not that invested in repeats.
What are your favourite items? Is it because of the fandom or the usability/appeal of the item?
A bit delayed, but this was June’s Fairyloot box which had two books and a magical vibe to it with some darkness too (or at least that’s how it felt to me). Starting from the left and going to the right:
Print. I think something to do with Sarah J. Maas? (you can see how little I care for prints in general, sadly)
The main book, Forest of Souls. I am increidbly excited to read it since I heard about it, so definitely happy to have it.
Also included an early copy of The Gilded Ones which has also been high on my list so all good books!
A Shadows Between Us pin.
And a gorgeous Starless Sea patch. I am just sad it isn’t a sticker or something more useful than a patch because they just go in a box to be admired when I remember they exist. Why are book boxes obsessed with sending patches?
A teapot tea strainer. It is a bit small and doesn’t have a lot of space for the tea to swish around so as cute as it is, it feels a bit not fit for purpose.
A pair of socks for the Bone Season.
Tarot cards as per usual.
The theme card.
And an elemental set of coasters.
Sadly the biggest most exciting items for me where the books. The rest wasn’t as great or useful to me and it made me sad because it didn’t match the theme as well as I expected and also it just didn’t make me smile the way I hoped. But maybe it hit everybody else’s themes and fandoms? (I think part of the thing is that the books I love aren’t big fandoms, like for example Mexican Gothic and Gods of Jade and Shadow, or the Spellslinger series… )
Time to unbox a circus or at least performance based Owlcrate box for June! I particularly like the way the items seem to match each other for a good theme picture. Starting on the far left and going towards the right:
Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles. Apparently kinda Moulin Rouge type of book, peaked curiosity.
Chocolate Orange scented batch bomb which did not smell like chocolate orange even when I used it in the bath but it was nice.
Authors Letter
Collectible pin related to the book, which I don’t know yet the meaning since I haven’t read it.
A weekly tracker, bullet journal style that is a pad with a lot of sunshine yellow. Not my thing but I like the idea.
A set of Shakespeare pencils, which aren’t all that fascinating since it’s just pencils with some writing on them. This is probably one of those items I wish book boxes would do less frequently. Maybe send us a really nice fountain pen, or at the very least some nice fineliners or something instead of pencils.
Bones Coffee, this is some of the best flavoured coffee I’ve ever had so I can’t wait to try this one out!
There were also some stickers for the book, which I left at the bottom of the box and rescued much later than the picture was taken.
And finally, a pencil/money tin, with a circus theme. I like it but I already have a money jar and well, no need for a pencil tin so alas not an item for me.
I have to say, this wasn’t their strongest box in my liking but I can see the appeal and the coffee makes me happy enough so at least there’s that. I do know some themes are not for me and this was probably not as good (which is funny since I do circus arts, so I should’ve been all over this box). Oh well!
Somehow I took the pictures for this and completely forgot to actually upload the unboxing, which is very sily of me. Oh well, le’ts unbox June’s Illumicrate which was all about hidden glamour (or at least that’s the vibe it gave me, who knows maybe I got it a bit wrong?).
Starting on the far left with the theme card:
In the Shadows theme booklet.
The main book is The Court of Miracles, the naked cover is stunning, and I am intrigued by the book but not a big fan of Les Mis, so we shall see if I like it.
Metallic bookmark.
An odd tea towel (the fabric and size were a bit different than usual) for Game of Thrones and Arya’s kill list.
A Sarah J. Maas foiled print, which I found an owner for it.
Villains series inspired mug which is stunning and I am so so pleased by it.
Collector’s pin, I am liking these more than the weird magnetic coins.
A fan with a quote from Nevernight (I liked the timing of getting a fan during the hot week in the UK, so this was very welcomed)
Authors letter.
All in all it was a good box, quite fancy and I like the timing for some of the items. The mug is utterly stunning and I am happy for that.
June’s Book Box Club definitely felt like they took the condition of the world into stride and wanted to give us all a pick up, a lifeline saying “you can be courageous and kind” and that they care, so let’s see what was inside. Starting from the top right corner and going clockwise:
A cute banner with watercolour art, I generally do not keep banners or prints but this one immediately went on to the side of one of my bookcases. I guess it felt right for me…
Vegan rainbow sweets, I love it when sweets and treats are included in the box.
Clubhouse invite
A patch/decal that says Courage Dear Heart and has a nice desing, it makes me think of a cool tattoo design or something.
The theme card, very vibrant and alive!
A tiny cute planter which I think is adorable (just be careful as it doesn’t have drainage holes)
And to top the tiny planter, some seeds. This is one thing I like in some book boxes, they add things that go together, like value add, in this case you don’t just get a planter, you get something to plant in it.
The main book which is The Short Knife. It wasn’t in my radar at all and it sounds quite interesting so looking forward to buddy reading it.
A print with a quote from the book.
All in all, this is a cute box and it lifted my mood and spirits plus was a gotcha in that the book was completely out of my radar and I love that.
Tales by Mail is a new book box subscription that happens bi monthly, has a podcast and is focused on 8-12 years old! The people behind it are the masterminds behind Book Box Club so of course I had to try this one and as is evident by my blog posts, I read Middle Grade and other children books so it felt right up my street.
This is the very first box of Tales by Mail and the theme was Mansion House Mysteries (makes me think of my own young self watching Scooby Doo!), and starting on the top right and going clockwise, let’s see what was included:
Not included in the box but can be bought separately is a binder to hold the pages of activities and “reviews” that get sent with each box. I decided to get it alongside the box as it felt more organised to myself that way and a simple way to collect them in a designated place.
A sampler of The Train to Impossible Places.
A tote bag for The Strangeworlds Travel Agency which I am super happy to find in the box.
Promotional bookmark for Tran to Impossible Places.
Mini notebook to write all the notes on mystery solving with the theme artwork on the front.
On top fo the books, are two pins, one makes you an official member of the Postal Express and the other has the theme art for the box.
The House to Hoarder Hill. This looks spooky like and I am super itnrigued.
Jack’s Secret Summer, which feels more like a fun adventure with a bit of mystery and no spooky (but I may be wrong)
The theme cards and activities, it has a couple fo pages for a review of each book but it also has activities and ideas so it’sa fun supplement!
As you can see it is jam packed with things to read and do and it’d be a good kickstarter for a childs’ creativity and adventures, so I was excited by it. There is also nothing in the box that I felt was just added for bulk, but instead it shows the focus of the subscription. Activities, fun little things that can be kept and lots of adventures to be. So far I can highly recommend it as a wonderful thing to get for children to enjoy and if you’re like me, for adults too.
As I mentioned on ym previous unboxing, there was another box doing Incendiary and I was curious to see what was included instead for items, so let’s see what Owlcrate did (also, the theme is different). Starting on Incendiary top left corner and going clockwise:
Incendiary, Owlcrate edition.
Stickers, whcih I usually enjoy becuase stickers are fun, bonus points if they are the kind you can unstick. The ones here are less exciting as they are quotes and I prefer more image stickers than quotes.
The collectible pin, I think it’ll make more sense once I read the book.
Theme card.
10 metal straws, in a cute pouch with cleaning brushes. 5 of them with a bend and 5 straight ones. I like this because it gives you enough straws to have around.
Witchy, which I have reviewed before but for a different press, and this cover is also gorgeous. Great choice.
The pouch for the straws.
Pot holders, probably the most boring one of the items since they are just quotes rather than something fun, but I like they’re brihgt as it makes them easier to find!
A gorgeous wooden magnet that immediately went on the fridge because it is so elegant and simple yet beautiful.
All in all I liked the contents of the box and was happy with it. I would’ve liked less quote items and more image ones but that’s more personal prefernece rather than thinking the items aren’t great.
April’s Fairyloot arrived quitelate this time, so it felt as if it was the May box rather than the April one. Oh well, this is the oen for April, and it left me with some opinions. Let’s unbox starting from the top right and going clockwise:
Tote bag, this is a thick quality one which is nice but the deisgn is very much quotes and small reading so it doesn’t shine much.
Emoji sticky tabs which is very much NOT my thing. Starting by it being emojis and then sticky tabs.
Theme bookmark
An enamel pin for a Memory Vial.
Wahsi tape for Daughter of Smoke and Bone, though it could be for many thing, however it is cute and blue so I like it.
A Secret Book Volume 3. I like the idea but it does look quite “fake” (whereas I already have a few other secret books that look more like books), so shall compare but I like the idea.
Theme card.
Tarot cards, not been collecting them so a bit meh about them.
A pin banner thing, which I am not keeping but I know of some people who would love it.
The main book, Incendiary which I am intrigued by it and looking forward to reading.
All in all it felt a bit not cohesive, and some items felt like fillers and add ons just to pad it rather than to really want ot be in theme and with the book. But shall compare later on to the other box doing the same book and we can decide…
