OwlCrate is a YA book subscription box. Each month they send you a newly released YA book with some bookish goodies.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About OwlCrate YA
The Subscription Box: OwlCrate YA
The Cost: $29.99 + shipping. Save with longer subscriptions.
The Products: A new YA book and 3-5 book-related goodies. Recommended for ages 14+.
Ships to: US for $7.99, Canada for $10.59, and International for $19.99
OwlCrate YA "Libraries of Wonder" Review
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Each box comes with a card detailing the theme and the items included. This month’s theme is “Libraries of Wonder.”
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OwlCrate also included a booklet featuring an interview with the author, a word search and an interview with the designer of one of our exclusive items. There is also some information on their photo challenge at the end.
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Scorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson – Retail Value $17.99 (found here for $12.32)
Our book features an exclusive cover and is even signed by the author! I love this monochromatic purple design for this month's cover!
It has been a long time since I was able to fully immerse myself into a book (three kids and all) but I devoured this one as quickly as I could because it was that good! I loved the characters and I felt it was so well written! The author beautifully wove in the nuances of this magical world without taking away from the storyline to stop and explain everything like I've seen other authors do. Our main character, Elisabeth, is intelligent and full of moxie, but a bit naive to the ways of the world around her since she has spent her life inside a Great Library. This library is not full of ordinary books but "grimoires" which seem to take on a life of their own, some of which can be very dangerous due to the sorcery they contain. While this naivete can result in a sense of vulnerability, at other times it works to her advantage and allows her to be brave and take on challenges in a headstrong manner. While this is all very exciting, there is also the connection between her and Nathaniel, which is intriguing and exhilarating. If you have ever imagined yourself a heroine or even just dreamed about what it would be like to live in a library and read all day, I think you will enjoy this one!
Book Summary from Amazon:
All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.
Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.
As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.
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We received a letter from the author of this month's book that describes her fascination with libraries, which I can definitely relate to!
Exclusive! Sticker Decal
To go along with our book, we received this exclusive sticker decal.
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Key Gel Pen
Having a key to the Great Library is an honor in our novel, so it is only fitting that we should receive our own! This gel pen is cute and writes very smoothly!
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Exclusive! Libraries of Wonder Coaster Set by KDP Letters
This set of exclusive coasters were designed by KDP Letters. They feature a cork backing and each coaster is beautifully designed and includes a great quote about libraries from authors such as J.K.Rowling and Victoria Schwab. I love that they are all so different from one another, yet they maintain a cohesive feel. The lettering is dramatic and so engaging!
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Here is a closer look at each of the designs.
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Exclusive! Belle's Library Book Beau Brew by Cervantes Coffee
This Book Beau brew coffee is inspired by Beauty and the Beast and I found it to be nutty, flavorful, and fresh! I love the description "nutty, bright, a touch of this provincial life."
I have already enjoyed a cup or two!
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Exclusive! Strange the Dreamer-inspired Tote Bag by Stella Bookish Art
To carry our books to and fro after visiting the library, we received this large tote bag that is designed by Stella Bookish Art. It features extra long handles and the bottom opens up flat which is perfect for setting a book down in. This design was inspired by Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor and reads "dream up something wild and improbable" which feels fitting for a library-themed box!
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Exclusive! The Chronicles of Narnia-inspired Metal Bookends by Hey Atlas Creative
This item was a very exciting inclusion for me! How cool of a book box to send a set of exclusively designed bookends? These metal bookends are thin and perfect for someone who likes to keep their shelves full. These were designed by Hey Atlas Creative, the designer featured in this month's booklet. The design is inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia, and features the familiar lamppost among the trees. I love that the design is not just limited to the face of the bookends but also on the bottom!
Here is an idea of how they look with this month's book.
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Exclusive! Monthly Enamel Pin by Brio + Brandish
In every box, you will receive an exclusive collectible enamel pin that is inspired by that month's book. This one features a character from this month's novel that I am very fond of in one of his many forms along with a set of books that read "child of the library" which is exactly what our main character Elisabeth is thought to be. Such a fitting and beautiful design by Brio + Brandish.
JULY THEME SPOILER:
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The theme for July will be "Tournaments & Trials" and it sounds like it's going to be a good one!
Verdict: This month's OwlCrate box was really great, but the star for me was definitely the novel. I enjoyed it a lot and it made all of the goodies feel like bonuses to me. Everything that we received was so nicely designed - from the beautiful lettering on the coasters to the enamel pin design to that great bag! And of course, those metal bookends which were such a unique and wonderful inclusion! I love that they chose a classic novel for the inspiration which makes them a much more universal item. I also thought the coffee was delicious and will use that fun pen, so overall, another fantastic box that I enjoyed. Everything was exclusively designed, with the exception of the pen, and since the book alone retails for $17.99, I think we received incredible value for the $37.98 ($29.99 + $7.99 US shipping) cost of this box.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, subscriptions are now open for the July box.
Value Breakdown: This box costs $29.99 + $7.99 shipping, which means that each of the 7 items in the box (not counting the sticker decal) has an average cost of $5.43.
Check out all of our Owl Crate Reviews and more of our best book subscription boxes!
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