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LitCube Book Subscription Box Review + Coupon– January 2017

Anna Reilly
ByAnna ReillyJan 21, 2017 | 4 comments

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

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.

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

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!

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

Each box has a theme, and this one is "Mother of Dragons". Game of Thrones fans, get ready!

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

Here's a list of what's inside.

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

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.

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

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.

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

The book comes with an autographed bookplate...

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

...and a pen to match!

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

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.

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

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.

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

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.

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

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.

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube 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?

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

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.

Read our review of the January 2017 LitCube box!

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?

Anna Reilly
Anna Reilly
Anna loves collecting little treasures, be they pop-culture finds, handmade mementos, or new potions to put in her makeup bag. Beauty boxes got her interested in the subscription world, but now she's swooning for all things kawaii!

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4 comments

Jackie

I know that the creator of this box works really hard to produce these, but I am really glad I cancelled this sub. I am interested in the book, it looks like a fun read – but the rest of the box would be a big miss for me.

My biggest issue with this sub is that the secondary items always seem cheap to me, especially compared to the branded products that OwlCrate includes. :/

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Nicole F

Unfortunately, this box reinforced my decision to cancel as well. For me, a book sub has to have books that interest me and I just don’t have the same interests as this curator, even though I can tell she puts her whole heart into her business. But once again, this is a YA book, even though she explicitly said on her Facebook page that it wasn’t going to be (December 21, ’16). The description on the website FAQ says “We are *not* a YA only box subscription and we choose new releases, older releases, and a variety of book formats monthly.” But I really think they skew very heavily towards YA, and I wish she would just go all in and describe the box as a YA box so she can attract the right audience.

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janet

Yeah, I’m glad I cancelled too. I feel like the items had a higher quality when I first subscribed. Perhaps it will pick up in quality again down the road, but I’ll save my money for better quality boxes for now.

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Sheri H

And also LitJoy. I was disappointed with the Sherlock keychain that looked like it was something an insurance company would give out😕 I wished she did more high quality Etsy items. That being said, I like her ideas. The nachos made sense to me– Mother of Dragons– fiery–nachos! Plus I just love nachos even though they were not spicy hot and I understand why.

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