Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Frozen Fantasies Book Box club

Subscription box: Book Box Club

Theme/Month: Frozen Fantasies, November 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 12 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Book Box Club subscription, you can do it on their website.

Book Box Club is a young adult subscription box, the unique thing is the Clubhouse where you can chat to the author a month (or so) after the box was shipped and ask questions and just chat around. It also includes several goodies and usually, the choice of book is one that is unique and not in other book boxes so very few chances of duplicate books and a lot of new reads discovery power.

Entering the cold winter months and we get a very on point box, starting from the bottom right and going clockwise:

  • Theme card, it matches the book and the theme well.
  • A pin set to match the book with the title and ballerina.
  • Midnight in Everwood, a magical tale set in winter by M. A. Kuzniar
  • Promotional bookmark.
  • Sleeping mask with a winter theme, this is very silky soft and even has a slight part to cover the gaps around your nose which I thought was clever.
  • Dark Materials tea towel, not a big fan of the series but I do like tea towels and the artwork.
  • A little room spray to smell of winter and it is gorgeous
  • And finally a witchy hot chocolate that is decadent and delicious and to be fair who doesn’t like a hot chocolate mug in winter?

Overall a cosy feeling box that makes you want to hibernate at home with a book, hot chocolate on the side and a fire roaring in the background keeping you warm while it snows outside and you just feel safe and can escape into a fantasy world!

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Death and Fortune Illumicrate

Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Death and Fortune, November 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.

I have had this book in my preorders so knowing there was a box dedicated to Death and Fortune was something right up my alley. Starting on the bottom right corner and going clockwise:

  • Theme leaflet with details of the contents and the photo challenge.
  • A book cover, more of the kind you slip the edges of the book in and wrap around rather than a book bag.
  • The second collectible teacup, I adore these and need a better place to display them but also, they are definitely getting used. Gorgeous, gorgeous!
  • The main book, Little Thieves, gorgeous edition.
  • Print
  • A golden filigree fancy bookmark with a wonderful card background that also doubles as a second bookmark.
  • An illumicrate pen
  • Monthly collectible pin
  • And a book tin.

Overall the box was lovely, I could have done with more death in it but still really enjoyed the items, and love the collectible tea cups and the book edition was stunning and very well done, so happy with the contents.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Spectacular! Spectacular! Book Box Club

Subscription box: Book Box Club

Theme/Month: Spectacular! Spectacular!, September 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 12 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Book Box Club subscription, you can do it on their website.

Book Box Club is a young adult subscription box, the unique thing is the Clubhouse where you can chat to the author a month (or so) after the box was shipped and ask questions and just chat around. It also includes several goodies and usually, the choice of book is one that is unique and not in other book boxes so very few chances of duplicate books and a lot of new reads discovery power.

Do I have any sense of time? No why do you ask? Oh yes, I did unbox October before September but no, I do not know what time is anymore. So let us just dive into this box instead, starting from the book on the left and going clockwise:

  • The Winter Garden by Alexandra Bell
  • Not Here to be Liked pin, which is a good book
  • Starlit skies candle, smells divine.
  • Night Circus admission ticket necklace.
  • A self assemble shelf bunting which I should put up at some point!
  • A gorgeous botanical bookmark
  • Promotional postcard for a book
  • Birthday Cake popcorn which lasted long enough to take a picture and that was it!
  • The theme card for the month

This had a celebration theme being an anniversary box and that was delightful for me. Overall the box was good, maybe not my favourite but very lovely regardless. And that popcorn was surprisingly nice!

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Revenge is Sweeter Illumicrate

Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Revenge is Sweeter, October 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.

A highly expected read, and a bang of a box for October. Starting with the bottom item and going clockwise:

  • A book carrying bag, not even sure how to describe it, but it is almost like a fabric foldable basket and it is ideal for a catch-all. This is the second one and I love it alongside the first, please send more of these.
  • Measuring cups, which at the time, the day before got the box I had been looking at buying some and then like it read my mind, I had new measuring cups.
  • The Convergence candle, I am slowly trying to burn through my collection but I am glad to still be getting candles.
  • Collectable pin
  • Theme leaflet that describes content and shops and fandom
  • Iron widow, as the main book, and what a book to choose
  • A print, which is, as usual, I am not bothered about, I like the art but that is it.
  • Collectable mug, can’t remember the exact fandom but love it.

Overall it was a good box with items I had been looking forward to and a great book, so I liked it. Probably the only downside was having a print because those always feel like fillers but I get that people collect them, so it is all good for me. Not bad at all!

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Very Nice Villains Tales by Mail

Subscription box: Tales by Mail

Theme/Month: Very Nice Villains, October 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Tales by Mail subscription, you can do it on their website.

Tales by Mail is a bi-monthly middle-grade book box that comes with two books, some activity pages you can collect, or copy or use in various ways, a pin and one or two items.

Again, still behind with the unboxing but I want to talk about them and the contents so here we go with one from back in October! Starting from the left and going clockwise as usual:

  • His Royal Hopeless bookmark
  • Hi Royal Hopeless by Chloe Perrin, this book looks hilarious and fits the title quite nicely.
  • Theme card and set of activity pages, I love collecting these in the little ring binder.
  • Rules for Vampires by Sara Ogilvie, also an interesting funny read to fit the theme.
  • Very Nice Notes mini notebook, which is utterly cute
  • A little card/postcard
  • The collectible monthly pin
  • A Very Nice Villain patch with a cute bat
  • And finally a promotional bookmark for Rules for Vampires

Overall, as usual, one of the best things about Tales by Mail is that there isn’t a lot of items and therefore it is more about the books with a tiny treat and I love that. Alongside the fact that it sticks to the theme and provides me with some interesting middle grade book choices!

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Mermaids and Myths Book Box Club

Subscription box: Book Box Club

Theme/Month:Mermaids and Myths, October 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 12 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Book Box Club subscription, you can do it on their website.

Book Box Club is a young adult subscription box, the unique thing is the Clubhouse where you can chat to the author a month (or so) after the box was shipped and ask questions and just chat around. It also includes several goodies and usually, the choice of book is one that is unique and not in other book boxes so very few chances of duplicate books and a lot of new reads discovery power.

A little old but a good box nonetheless which I loved how in tune with the theme it was, so here we go on contents starting with the book on the left and going clockwise:

  • Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen, an interesting read indeed and obviously all about mermaids and myths.
  • Theme card, which matches the book and the colour scheme of the box items overall. I like when the card matches well the rest of the box.
  • Mermaid tail iridiscent pen which is just adorable and shiny!
  • A coffee travel mug, which honestly has become my favourite one, the artwork is GORGEOUS.
  • Mermaid socks, nekkid mermaids which apparently I missed entirely and focused on the Lemons until my friends pointed it out.
  • Mermaid wooden pin with a tiny mermaid in a bottle. Adorable size.
  • Mermaid bath fizzer, which I haven’t used because I forget I have a bath tub and to take a bath since I shower instead, but it smells amazing.

Loved this box, it was on point with everything, very lovely on the whole sticking to the theme and everything, so all good. And I still recommend getting a subscription to their box. Good interesting book choices that arent the one everyone else is doing.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Reads: Never Enough Illumicrate

Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Never Enough, July 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.

The box to complete the sapphic trifecta with a very summery look and some interesting item choices, starting from the book and going clockwise:

  • She Who Became The Sun, trying to rival the sun with sprayed edges and looks of the book.
  • A Descendant of the Crane fan, very good of a hot summer day to keep cool.
  • Poppy War inspired mug, which is very loved by me.
  • Another of those odd print in a glass kinda portrait holder. I like the portrait holder, not so much the print and I do not care for the fandom.
  • A compact mirror inspired by Dorian Gray
  • Lila Bard bust which I mean, a bust is cool but I don’t need it, see no use for it except gather dust and honestly not crazy about it, however I do appreciate the artwork.
  • The Upper World taster.
  • Monthly in which is stunning
  • And finally the theme leaflet!

As much as the previous box was really up my street, this one was a huge miss, between fandoms and the items, it just failed to hit the spot with almost everything except the mug and fan, which seems to be something that happens when there is a mug included, I am less keen on the rest of the items. Hopefully the box for August is more up my street.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: The Stranger The Better Tales by Mail

Subscription box: Tales by Mail

Theme/Month: The Stranger the Better, for August 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Tales by Mail subscription, you can do it on their website.

Tales by Mail is a bi-monthly middle-grade book box that comes with two books, some activity pages you can collect, or copy or use in various ways, a pin and one or two items.

With a very interesting theme, let’s see what was in the box, starting on the top left corner and going clockwise:

  • A Raven Heir promotional bookmark.
  • Crowfall by Vashti Hardy, which looks very intriguing to me.
  • The activity pages for the month which go into the collectible ring binder.
  • The most adorable keyring, which is the mascot for the box and I was so taken by it.
  • The Tentacle Boy which wasn’t in my radar but looks intriguing and creepy weird.
  • Promotional bookmark for The Tentacle Boy and Pizazz
  • The collectible pin

It was a very cute choice and maybe not my favourite box of the year but my absolute favourite was that keyring which I thought was super sweet and honestly, it won my heart.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Just Imagine Book Box Club

Subscription box: Book Box Club

Theme/Month: Just Imagine, June 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 12 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Book Box Club subscription, you can do it on their website.

Book Box Club is a young adult subscription box, the unique thing is the Clubhouse where you can chat to the author a month (or so) after the box was shipped and ask questions and just chat around. It also includes several goodies and usually the choice of book is one that is unique and not in other book boxes so very few chances of duplicate books and a lot of new reads discovery power.

June’s box was all about the power of imagination and therefore full of fandoms that had to do with imaginary worlds or similar things, so let’s see what was inside starting with the theme card and going clockwise:

  • Just Imagine theme card, there was also a clubhouse invite.
  • Joe Cool Alice in Wonderland socks, which makes me happy because they are so comfy and nice. Love it when I get socks
  • Somewhere Over the Rainbow bookmark which is adorable.
  • A quote print about imagination and reality, a bit too pink for my taste but still cute.
  • Coraline keychain
  • The main book, Strange Creatures which was definitely not what I imagined, see what I did there?.
  • And finally, a tin of hard boiled sweets, very old style, with a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory motif.

Overall very dreamy, very much appealing to memories and imagination, cute. The book was an interesting surprise and very much for me not my book as it was a bit too intense and just not my kind but I could see why it was chosen and it had an interesting concept.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Out of the Woods Illumicrate

Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Out of the Woods, June 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.

Despite last month’s box being my most anticipated read and a great box, I think this is one of my favourite boxes of the year from them, so let’s see why I think so, starting from the leaflet in the middle of the lower row:

  • Out of the Woodes leaflet with the photo challenge and contents detailed.
  • A wordmark with a quote about it, but I love the sleepy fox and yes I won’t use it as a bookmark but the design wins me over.
  • The main book which was stunning, The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid.
  • A creepy kinda print which goes well with some others and I just like the artwork.
  • The Lord of the Rings puzzle in a “book” case, my puzzle-loving heart is extra happy since it is from LOTR.
  • A beautiful and delicate glass bottle with birch trees and a quote woven around, the design of it looks amazing when you fill the bottle.
  • The monthly pin, which as per usual is a nice pin.
  • A woodpin for We Hunt the Flame
  • Probably my least favourite item, a print that hangs in a fancy hanging way for Holly Black, I think?

Overall, the theme and items completely matched and the vibe was spot on with it, the designs were delicate and forest and had a tinge of the creepy and the beautiful. I felt like the whole box was a good one and I am very happy.