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: The US for $7.99, Canada for $9.99, and International for $19.99
OwlCrate YA "Storms and Seas" Review
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Each box comes with a card detailing the theme and the items included. This month’s theme is “Storms and Seas.”
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OwlCrate also included a booklet featuring an interview with the author, a word search and an interview with one of the vendors for this month. There is also some information on their photo challenge at the end.
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House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig – Retail Value $18.99 (found here for $11.89)
First of all, our book this month is gorgeous! The cover is so beautiful with the title embossed in lovely script. Then inside we have these haunting dark pages with a shadowy sea scene and a detailed octopus sketch making its way across the pages to mark each chapter. And of course, it is signed by the author making it even more special!
Our story this month is so unique! It's a mystery that is just a bit spooky, focused on Annaleigh, a seemingly ordinary girl who cares for her large family (she is one of twelve sisters), all with a little romance thrown in. It sounds like all of that could easily get muddled and make for a sloppy story, but it is all woven together seamlessly in a way that makes sense and really draws you in as you meet Annaleigh and discover her tragic past, and then begin to help her uncover the mystery surrounding her sisters' deaths. It reminded me a bit of the Virgin Suicides (yes, I linked to the movie, I have actually never read the book!) when I first read how four of her sisters had died all following the death of their mother. While they seem like accidents, her last sister's death doesn't seem to make much sense to her and as she learns more, she is afraid that there is a lot more to each of their deaths. I already love a good mystery, but throw in some romance and I'm hooked!
Book Summary from Amazon:
In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.
Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last--the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge--and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.
Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that her sister's deaths were no accidents. The girls have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who--or what--are they really dancing with?
When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family--before it claims her next. House of Salt and Sorrows is a spellbinding novel filled with magic and the rustle of gossamer skirts down long, dark hallways. Get ready to be swept away.
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We received a letter from the author of this month's book which tells us a little about what inspired her to write this story.
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Exclusive! House of Salt and Sorrows Bookmark
This bookmark is just as beautiful and haunting as our book!
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Team OwlCrate Exclusive! Lantern
This small black lantern is so pretty and kind of adorable. It has a loop at the top so it can be hung up and the bottom opens up to reveal a small tea light holder with the OwlCrate owl on it. They recommend using caution when using this with a candle, but I actually tested it out with a small battery-operated tealight and it worked perfectly. I could not get a great image due to the flickering style of the light, so you'll have to trust me that it looked glowy and beautiful!
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Exclusive! Sea Witch-Inspired Loose Leaf Tea
If the glow of the lantern doesn't give you cozy feels, I think this tea definitely will! Our Sea Witch- inspired tea is from Riddle's Tea Shoppe and it’s decaf Earl Grey and Hazelnut Spice flavored. I thought it was delicious! It tastes like Earl Grey with a sweet and nutty flavor. It had me feeling super cozy and I'm kind of sad this is an exclusive item because I would definitely purchase this tea!
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Exclusive! The Little Mermaid-Inspired Bath Salts
This little (2.3 oz) jar of bath salts comes from The Soap Librarian and is made from salt, lemongrass, orange peel, lavender, rose, hibiscus, and fragrance oil. It has nice pieces of herbs throughout and the label is adorable. It looks like a book with the spine on one side and the pages on the other. It smells herbal and fruity and I really cannot put my finger on what scent is sticking out to me, but it's definitely pleasant albeit a bit on the stronger side. A cute addition to this box and another item to get me feeling nice and cozy!
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Exclusive! Wooden Tassel Bookmark
This wooden bookmark is beautifully engraved with a quote from Daughter of the Pirate King, "the sea watches over me she protects her own." The detail of the ship and the tentacles at the bottom are amazing and were designed by Juniper and Ivy Designs. I love the teal tassel - a perfect color for a sea-themed box.
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Exclusive! Tin Pencil Case
This tin pencil case is really nice and an item that I haven't had since my own school days! I love that it has a removable tray and that the tray itself is just as elaborate as the outside. This is inspired by The Scorpio Races and was designed by Stella Bookish Art. The top says "I am so, so alive" while the inside tray reads, "the ocean will not shift me, and the cold will not take me," both of which come from the book by Maggie Stiefvater.
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Exclusive! Monthly Enamel Pin
In every box, you will receive an exclusive collectible enamel pin that is inspired by that month's book. This was designed by Laserbrain Patch Co and was inspired by the lighthouse from our story as well as Annaleigh's family crest. The light on the lighthouse actually glows in the dark! How cool is that?
Verdict: This month's OwlCrate box was full of beautiful things and several items that gave me all the cozy feels. I really love that tea and the lantern is so cute! Our story this month was great and the sea theme to go along with it was done so well. I love the exclusivity in all of the items and what a nice curation it was overall. It is always difficult to estimate the value of this box since the items are so exclusive, but considering our book retails for $18.99 and this box costs $37.98 ($29.99 + $7.99 US shipping), that means the remaining 6 items cost $18.99 and I think the value is definitely there!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, but subscriptions are now open for the September 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 paper bookmark) has an average cost of $5.43.
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