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 worldwide for $19.99
OwlCrate YA "Music of the Night" March 2020 Review
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Each box comes with a card detailing the theme and the items included. This month’s theme is “Music of the Night."
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They also included this booklet featuring an interview with the author, a word search, and an interview with a vendor. They also included some information about their monthly photo challenge and a link to an instrumental playlist to listen to while reading or studying!
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The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu - Retail Value $18.99 (found here for $13.39)
Our book this month is signed by the author and features an exclusive cover and silver foil gilded edges. This book cover is so beautiful!
From Amazon:
Two siblings. Two brilliant talents. But only one Mozart.
Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish--to be remembered forever. But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she'll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be. She is a young woman in 18th century Europe, and that means composing is forbidden to her. She will perform only until she reaches a marriageable age--her tyrannical father has made that much clear.
And as Nannerl's hope grows dimmer with each passing year, the talents of her beloved younger brother, Wolfgang, only seem to shine brighter. His brilliance begins to eclipse her own, until one day a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer. He has the power to make her wish come true--but his help may cost her everything.
In her first work of historical fiction, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu spins a lush, lyrically-told story of music, magic, and the unbreakable bond between a brother and sister.
I love that our story this month is inspired by a real-life character and told from what the author imagines to be her perspective. Who knew Mozart had a sister who was also musically talented? This story is a unique mix of historical fiction and fantasy that also touches on the emotional nuances within familial relationships. Nannerl is a likable girl who cares immensely for her younger brother, even though she begins to feel envious and overshadowed by the ease with which the music comes to him. The author draws you into the emotional turmoil she feels when her love for her brother keeps her from reacting to the fact that his talent is making her worst fear into a reality as she is slowly forgotten in favor of him. There is an undertone of femininity in this book as she longs to be more than just a wife and wants to do something great. She weaves a world of magic through the stories she tells her doting brother and soon she finds herself drawn even deeper into this magical place she has created which might finally allow her the dignity of becoming someone important.
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We received a letter from the author which explains her inspiration and how the Kingdom of Back was a fictional place invented by Mozart and his sister as children.
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OwlCrate Exclusive! Wireless Speaker
This first item is my favorite this month! This little Bluetooth speaker has a decent sound and pairs easily with your phone so you can take your music anywhere and at a volume that carries much better than your phone! It includes a little strap so you can hang it up easily or attach it to a bike (or stroller for our family) and it features the OwlCrate logo which is adorable in this black and white design!
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It also comes with a USB charging cord and is operated with a simple on/off switch. I have not yet figured out whether you can change the volume from the controls on the back but you can pause and change tracks and there is even a spot for a small memory card. While the sound quality is not anything amazing, it works pretty well for such a compact size! We have already gotten a lot of use out of this because it is so portable.
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OwlCrate Exclusive! Socks
I love these socks which are the same basic white and black as our speaker with the OwlCrate logo all over them. These socks are to celebrate OwlCrate's 5th anniversary and they made sure to thank subscribers for their support in the description, which I thought was a nice touch! These are a blend of 85% cotton, 12% polyester, and 3% elastic and they are comfortable and breathable.
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OwlCrate Exclusive! Candle
Our next exclusive item is a Goblin Grove tin candle from Flick the Wick which is inspired by Wintersong and made from 100% soy wax. This hand-poured candle is a blend of winter berries, peach, yuzu, pear, and fresh air. I pick up a lot of the berry, peach, and pear which created a nice fresh, fruity scent. As it burned I noticed little bits of glitter appearing in the melted wax which gave it a nice sparkly glow!
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OwlCrate Exclusive! Poster Print
This Phantom of the Opera print was designed by Anne Lambelet and is perfect for a music-themed box! I really love the texture in this artwork and all of the haunting details. This poster is on thicker paper and measures 9X 12 inches so it should be easy to find a frame with its standard size.
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OwlCrate Exclusive! Wooden Art Print
This 5X7 inch wooden print was designed by Emilee Rudd and features a quote from the Monsters of Verity series by Victoria Schwab. This print is so nicely done and even the wood on the back is beautiful! I really love the design and the script is perfect for this little sign. This could be placed in a library or a music room and will definitely draw some attention thanks to all of the incredible detail. The etching is very low-profile making it fairly smooth to the touch.
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OwlCrate Exclusive! Lip Scrub
This lip scrub was created by Fairytale Bath Company and the flavor "Bella's Lullaby" is a subtle and tasty mint chocolate chip and was inspired by the Twilight series (I'm team Edward, by the way). I'm not always a big fan of fake chocolate, but this one is very light and well balanced with the mint. The scrub itself was a bit drier than some with lots of sugar that left my lips feeling smooth.
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OwlCrate Exclusive! Ex Libris Bookplates
These bookplates feature a gorgeous design with Hedwig sitting atop a pile of books, more specifically, herbology and potions books. These 10 bookplates were designed by @Veresknatsia_art and I love how the music notes swirl around tying this into our theme! OwlCrate actually forgot mine in my box, but as soon as we reached out they were quick to send them with a cute note!
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OwlCrate Exclusive! Monthly Enamel Pin
Each month you'll receive an enamel pin to go along with your book. This one features the beautiful tree from our book and was designed by Fable and Black.
Verdict: I really loved this month's OwlCrate box full of exclusive items! It was such a great mix of useful items that can help you get nice and cozy at home (fitting for these times!) along with some beautiful elements to add some musical flair to your space. I can picture myself cozying up with my book while wearing my socks, playing some instrumental music on the speaker as I take in the scents of the candle after having scrubbed my lips soft. Sounds like a nice bookish evening in, right? This box costs $37.98 ($29.99 + $7.99 shipping) and after subtracting the retail value of our book, that leaves about $20 for all of our thoughtfully designed exclusive goodies. I love that OwlCrate decided to celebrate their 5 year anniversary by including nine total items to show their appreciation to their subscribers. I feel spoiled this month, for sure!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, but subscribe today for the April box.
Value Breakdown: This box costs $37.98 ($29.99 + $7.99 shipping), which means that each of the 9 items in the box has an average cost of about $4.22.
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