LitCube is a book and reading-inspired subscription box. Each month's box contains a book, as well as other treats to fit the theme, like wearables, gifts, housewares, and snacks.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: LitCube
The Cost: $34.95 per month
The Products: Hand-picked books alongside other non-book finds that fit the theme
Ships to: U.S. for free. Canada for $10 shipping and handling. Shipping to all other countries is $14.99.
Check out all of our LitCube reviews and all of our reviews of Book Subscription Boxes!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Each box has a theme, and this one is "Mother of Dragons". Game of Thrones fans, get ready!
Here's a list of what's inside.
Heartstone by Elle Katharine White - Value $10.86 on Amazon (retail price $15.99)
I sort of expected to get a Game of Thrones book in the box, given the theme. Instead, there's this paperback novel, which tells a tale of mythical creatures and fantastical realms via a timeless trope.
Book Summary on Amazon:
A debut historical fantasy that recasts Jane Austen’s beloved Pride & Prejudice in an imaginative world of wyverns, dragons, and the warriors who fight alongside them against the monsters that threaten the kingdom: gryphons, direwolves, lamias, banshees, and lindworms.
They say a Rider in possession of a good blade must be in want of a monster to slay—and Merybourne Manor has plenty of monsters.
Passionate, headstrong Aliza Bentaine knows this all too well; she’s already lost one sister to the invading gryphons. So when Lord Merybourne hires a band of Riders to hunt down the horde, Aliza is relieved her home will soon be safe again.
Her relief is short-lived. With the arrival of the haughty and handsome dragonrider, Alastair Daired, Aliza expects a battle; what she doesn’t expect is a romantic clash of wills, pitting words and wit against the pride of an ancient house. Nor does she anticipate the mystery that follows them from Merybourne Manor, its roots running deep as the foundations of the kingdom itself, where something old and dreadful slumbers . . . something far more sinister than gryphons.
It’s a war Aliza is ill-prepared to wage, on a battlefield she’s never known before: one spanning kingdoms, class lines, and the curious nature of her own heart.
Elle Katharine White infuses elements of Austen’s beloved novel with her own brand of magic, crafting a modern epic fantasy that conjures a familiar yet wondrously unique new world.
So far, this book is an engaging read. Knowing the Pride and Prejudice homage, I keep looking for the ways where the characters and story mirror each other, which is actually pretty fun. It's not a terribly difficult read, so it could be suitable for a younger YA audience. It's more PG-13 than Game of Thrones, too.
The book comes with an autographed bookplate...
...and a pen to match!
Game of Thrones Pillowcase - List Value $14.99
I definitely didn't expect an item like a pillowcase to appear in this box! It's an exclusive just for LitCube subscribers—I've not seen an item like it before.
It's soft and smooth and features a romantic phrase from Drogo and Daenerys embroidered in navy thread. The embroidery is a little rough around the edges—you can see the single threads that connect each word, and the fabric puckers a bit around the letters. But if you're a fan of the series, this would be a cute way to incorporate your fandom into your decor.
Game of Thrones Wall Scroll - List Price $9.99
This is another exclusive item. It's relatively thin fabric that feels like polyester, printed with this image of Daenerys. I like the style of the design a lot. The scroll is pretty small (maybe only about a foot long if that), so it has the same impact as a framed print might have on your wall.
Dragon Claw Necklace - List Value $12.99
This necklace isn't the highest quality in the world (the metal is lightweight, as is the plastic ball the claw holds), but it is a statement maker that echoes the dragon-centric theme of the box.
I really love the idea of this pendant—the design is powerful and elegant at the same time—but I wish the item inside the claw was more sophisticated than a plastic ball. Maybe a gem or something pearlescent?
Snyders Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips and FuNacho Cheese Sauce - Listed Value $2.50
The most confusing part of the box was this bag of nachos and the little pot of nacho cheese that accompanies it.
Don't get it twisted—I LOVE me some nachos. But it just seemed so strange alongside the fantasy world theme of the box! In terms of taste, this snack was just as you'd expect. It reminded me of the stuff you'd get at a stadium, only packaged up. I heated my cheese up a bit in the microwave before eating it, and it was pretty good. Well. It was nacho cheese, haha. Don't expect anything fancy!
Verdict: I liked most of the items in this box, though I was definitely thrown off by the nachos! The quality of the items in this box is never that high, but that's not to say they're not enjoyable. And the book has a unique twist on a story I really love, which is neat. Based on my numbers, the value of the box is $51.33, which is more than the $34.95 cost. Still, I'm suspicious as to whether the quality of the necklace and the pillowcase, in particular, was really enough to justify the prices LitCube gave them. If you're a Game of Thrones fan, though, you'll likely get some fun out of this month's box!
What do you think of this month's LitCube?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.