Subscription Boxes

All the unboxings and details about subscription boxes (bookish or not)

Books, Subscription Boxes

Winter FairyTales Book Box Club

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This year has brought us a cold prewinter (since officially winter starts on the 22nd) so it has lovely to receive bookish boxes that make you feel even more Christmassy.

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Book Box Club did not disappoint this time, so starting on the theme card and going clockwise:

  • Winter Fairytales theme card.
  • Baba Yaga wish bracelet by Charmed Delight Co. Last year they sent a different one which had three stars, so I am seeing a theme here, can we keep it up?
  • Hansel & Gretel’s Gingerbread Mallows by Bonboosh. They are the reason this picture was taken during nighttime using the lights in the room, as they didn’t make it to the next day.
  • Christmas Card, this was personalised to all the members of our house (sans the 9 chickens, but it’s hard to know all of their names!  PS. Cow, Big Mama, The Sweeties, Skittles, Scarface, Red 1 and Red 2, Pearl) including our puppy and it is now proudly being displayed alongside the other Christmas cards we’ve received.
  • Underneath it all is a super soft scarf with shiny golden trees that makes me want to get dressed up already for Christmas (by Hazel & Pip)
  • A bookmark featuring the two books in the box.
  • Fairy Godmother notebook by TJ Lubrano.
  • The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. I actually guessed the books because I already had this one. The bonus is that the extra book is going to a good home and now I have a signed book plate for the book.
  • The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden. Second book of the series and yay to double books in the box.
  • Fairytales pencil.
  • Scrolled Clubhouse invitation.

All in all, a lovely box with a very wintery feel.

Subscription Boxes

December’s Fantasy + Sci-fi Leafer Box

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Just in case you didn’t know, Leafer Box are UK based and the cheapest book box out there (that is not just book). And for December, I collaborated with them and designed an exclusive bookmark.

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I get a custom box, which bundles up sci-fi & fantasy and only gives me one chocolate and one of any item that may be repeated, clockwise starting at the chocolate:

  • Chilli Dark Chocolate, Leafer Box always has chocolate.
  • Witches’ Curse incense sticks (Fantasy Box)
  • Pegasus 1, which looks interesting and I like the cover. (SCi-Fi)
  • Space keyring, which is already on my keys (Sci-Fi)
  • Saturn/planet patch. I love this one! (Sci-Fi)
  • Star & Planet earrings (which I have been wearing since I got them and have received a lot of compliments). (Sci-Fi)
  • Exclusive Moon Kestrel Designs colouring bookmark.
  • Harry Potter nail decals (Fantasy)
  • I put a spell on you bookmark. (Fantasy)
  • Mulled Wine tea. I can’t wait to make a cup of tea with this. (Fantasy)
  • The Living Curse Novella (Fantasy)
  • The Witch’s Kiss, which ironically, the day before I got this box, I had been saying that I needed this book and should buy it. They read my mind! Witchcraft 😉 (Fantasy).

As per usual, an amazing box.

Also, I am giving away one of the theme of your choice on my twitter @themoonkestrel, if you’re interested. it ends on Boxing Day (26th of December).

 

 

Subscription Boxes

Best of YA 2017 Wildest Dreams Box

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I present to you Wildest Dreams Book Box, a new UK based box with low price as part of their aim (the box is £18 so they’re the second cheapest one available at the moment, and it has free shipping to the UK).

This is their first ever box and I was lucky enough to get hold of one.

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So here we go, clockwise unboxing, starting with the book:

  • The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed. This is a brutal book to my understanding and I do really want to read it.
  • Sorting Bath Bomb from Geeky Clean. I love anything by Steph, so this is always a great way to start a book box. And so so bookish.
  • Spoiler Card explaining why everything was chosen. Also, as a note, there was a special note from Amy Reed that I left inside the book.
  • Book of Fire bookmark and postcard, and the bookmark is signed.
  • After The Fire tea. I squealed and reacted very much to this as After The Fire is my absolute favourite book of the year and having a tea made for it was just the best!

So my veredict is that the box has potential and it looks interesting. I am currently on a 3 month subscription to trial it a little more and see how it pans out.

Also, as a note, this box has new releases that are more mainstream than what Leafer Box offers, so I’d recommend both of them depending on what you want out of your box.

Books, Subscription Boxes

November’s Fantasy PageHabit

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The biggest downside to PageHabit is the shipping but they gave me $5 credit, however it is still such high cost I ahve had to cancel my subscription which is a shame.

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To avoid repeats, I chose the Fantasy box, and somehow I still kind of did (can’t complain though). Starting on the book and going clockwise:

  • The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty. This is what made me laugh, because I got an ARC for it in Illumicrate and now I have an annotated finished copy!
  • Author’s Letter.
  • The usual quote bookmark they tend to send.
  • The card that says where they send extra books and which books were featured this month (or rather last month).
  • A short story.
  • A study tote bag which I liked since it looks and feels quite strong and good.
  • A magnifying bookmark, which was a great unboxing prop.

My favourite thing about PageHabit is that the books are annotated by the authors and they are such a gem.

 

Subscription Boxes

Bookish Teas Writerverse

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It is no surprise to anyone that I like tea (I mean, even the customer support of Fairyloot knows this about me!), and that my two favourite places to get tea is Adagio Teas and Bookish Teas.

Zilan (Bookish Teas) is a lovely lady that lives in Germany and makes wonderful tea mixes that are a delight to drink. She is also very careful in making sure her ingredients are fresh from farms and places like that, so the tea is very high quality.

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The Writerverse box was the last one of the year, but they tend to do special boxes frequently and they have all been a delight. This one included several lovely things:

  • Four tea blends.
  • Signed book plate from the author of Stalking Jack The Ripper and Hunting Dracula.
  • Goodies from the Corr sisters.
  • A Darkling bookmark by .
  • A Godsgrave ribbon bookmark by .
  • A comic page art postcard by
  • A postcard inspired by Stalking Jack the Ripper.
  • A Tric perfume by behindthepages (it smells delicious).
  • The Bookish Teas Tealicious “zine” with recipes and details about the box.

We were spoiled in signed and exclusive goodies in this box and the teas are all so delicious I can’t choose my favourite one (though I admit my most favourites have been the London teas inspired by ADSOM).

Subscription Boxes

Villains And Vengeance Unboxing The Bookie Box

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I got this box purely because of the book. It was easy to guess it and only ShelfLove Crate was doing it too. I was tempted by The Bookie Box when I did the massive post about book boxes so I decided to give it a go, and here it is.

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Going clockwise, starting from the box (most items are made by The Bookie Box unless otherwise stated):

  • Amaranth candle, it is pomegranate and white tea and it is glorious!
  • Villans and Vengeance Chipotle Pretzels which meant that the unboxing picture had to be taken then and there so I could munch on them (come on, it has chipotle and it’s pretzels and snacky snacks).
  • “Fine, make me your villain” bookmark.
  • Poor unfortunate Souls coaster, and I actually sung in my head when I saw it, it is really cool.
  • Soap
  • Underneath is a Green Lantern pillow case which is the only item I am not keeping because I don’t really have lots of cushions and the ones we have match the sofa and that’s how it is.
  • Renegades by Marissa Meyer. It is a monster of a book (very very big).
  • Next theme card and this month’s theme card.

Out of all the international parcels I had for November, this one was the fastest to arrive which was an interesting surprise. However it is also one that has customs, so that’s a bit of a shame. I won’t subscribe to it, but if the theme catches my eye I will probably get that particular box.

 

Subscription Boxes

Ladies That Slay FairyLoot

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This box has proven to be a difficult one. For starters, Hermes tried to deliver to a business/commercial address during the weekend (no other delivery company attempts to deliver there because they all know no one will be there to receive parcels). And then, they had Illumicrate for me too. Somehow Illumicrate made it but Fairyloot didn’t (they lost an Illumicrate box before, same address, same issue).

Thankfully, the lovely Kate from customer support was a wonder and kept me well informed about what was being done (Hermes were very very unhelpful both to her and to me, trying to ping pong us forgetting we do communicate). So two weeks and a bit later I have received my November FairyLoot.

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It was a box packed full, so let’s start from the theme card (top right) and go clockwise:

  • Theme card, Ladies that Slay.
  • Blue’s Brew by Bookish Teas. I love her teas so no surprises here when I say I love this.
  • Theme bookmark
  • This Mortal Coil promotional pin (I love it too)
  • The Last Namsara postcard, which is slightly bent but nevermind.
  • Fight Darkness Sticker by Reverie & Ink.
  • Hermione candle by Flick The Wick.
  • Fire is Catching patch by Literary Emporium (it looks real cool, even if I have nothing to use patches on).
  • Slay Book Sleeve by Aunjuli Art, I have to say I have been spoiled in my choice of book sleeves so this one wasn’t my favourite, but it is a nice one.
  • The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli (they had run out of signed bookplates, but thankfully, I had the signed bookplate that came in LitJoy Crate, since my other copy of The Last Namsara was signed and dedicated by Kristen).
  • And finally, the extra ARC, Furyborn, which sounds intriguing!

As a bonus, have a comparison picture of FairyLoot’s edition vs normal edition (FairyLoot on the left, normal on the right). Size is different and one is silver and the other gold.

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Subscription Boxes

November’s LitJoy Crate Unboxing

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Second LitJoy crate I have received, and I found it interesting (despite the postage delays which wasn’t their fault at all, all my international boxes have been utterly delayed).

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Let’s unbox in clockwise fashion starting on the book:

  • Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller (I had preordered this one but the guess for the box wasn’t Otherworld, so I didn’t expect it, anyway it just meant someone gets a free book).
  • A Ready Player One Quote tumbler by Evie Seo. I like that it is blue and I did loose the straw when I unboxed it and as I was clearing up it appeared but sadly it is missing from this picture (the straw, not the tumbler).
  • Otherworld promotional postcards.
  • Underneath is another Evie Seo design, but this time a pillow/cushion case with a Harry Potter quote.
  • Theme card, which inside explains why they chose each item and what each item is.
  • Otherworld sunglasses (I think these where promotional items).
  • Feyre Art Print by Jo Painter.
  • Otherworld luggage tag which is probably my favourite item which is kinda silly but there’s something neat about it.
  • Ink and Wonder bookmark, which is lovely as per usual with her bookmarks.
  • Quote print from publishers.
  • Yoda and Luke magnets (Lego version).

I didn’t really know what to expect with this box but once again I was pleasantly surprised with the contents. I have one more to go before my three month trial runs out and I am wondering how that will go.

Subscription Boxes

November Illumicrate Unboxing

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Hi all, I have more boxed goodness to show you. Illumicrate is UK based and I have been subscribed to them for two years I think (my memory is fussy with my long term subscriptions, sorry), and I absolutely love the box. It usually comes with the book and an ARC which makes it even better (twobooks? yes please, always!) and it tends to have unusual goodies (like a money jar which I am trying to fill with coppers only and then try to find out if I can afford a book with them, it’s about 2/3 full for now, so if you have coppers to donate, please do it for the science!).

I will stop blabbering now, sorry and do the unboxing.

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Let’s go, just to mess yp with your heads again, counter clockwise this time, starting from the bottomleft corner:

  • Bookish Tea Towel by Evannave, if you want me to love your book box, include a tea towel with some awesome designs. It’s even better if it is colourful. I will squeal and be all happy about it and love the rest of the box because, tea towel…
  • JK Rowling quote print by Nutmeg & Arlo, it is shiny, I like it.
  • This Mortal Coil and Iron Gold samplers.
  • Moon + stars necklace by Oh Panda Eyes which I absolutely adore because I am Moon so it is perfect!
  • Artemis pamphlet.
  • Reading in bed candle by Meraki Candles. It smells like a fresh mug of hot chocolate and it is utterly delicious.
  • A 2018 planner with unicorns by Prism of Starlings, it was AWESOME to receive this since I had started thinking I ought to plan what planner I’d buy but now that is sorted.
  • Artemis by Andy Weir and a bookmark too. I ma looing forward to reading it.
  • And a City of Brass ARC, which is awesome because I have been lookign forward to reading it so now I have the ARC and yay!

All in all I was absolutely pleased with this box and the only thing I am not keeping are the samplers, so I think it is a 10/10 box. Very very happy with it.

Subscription Boxes

Into The Future Ninja Book Box

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Ninja Book Box are a UK based book box with the focus on indie books and small companies. And this was their anniversary box.

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So starting with the mug on the top left corner and going clockwise:

  • The Future Belongs To Those Who Prepare For Today mug.
  • Futuristic Foam by Geeky Clean (I was very happy to see this one in there as I love their products).
  • 2084, which is a collection of short stories that was funded by Kickstarter I think.
  • Story Cubes with a futuristic/space theme
  • Ninja Recipe Card, this time it was biscuits.
  • Tiny red books bunting
  • Ladybug mask which reminds me of a TV show called something like My Darling Ladybug (?).
  • A lot of Fox Spirit merch. It included a coaster, a pocket mirror, a keyring/bottle opener, a pin, postcard and an ebook.
  • And not in the picture because I am a forgetful Moon, a cute Saturn charm.