Caffeine & Legends is a monthly book subscription box. Each month, their team focuses on bringing you new coffee, tea, or hot chocolate to try with your monthly read. After deciding which refreshment option best suits you, you can choose to purchase a box with their one time option at $42.99, or start a subscription for $39.99. While a book and beverage are always included, they often add other goodies as well!
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
December is just coming to an end and to close out another eventful year, I received my second shipment of Caffeine & Legends! After an exciting first month I was anxious to see what might be in store for December. Read below to see what I received in this month's box from Caffeine & Legends.
I love to read and have a coffee addiction, so I was really excited to see what sort of books and coffee this subscription would contain. From the get-go I loved the fun shipping box - the flying dragons and coffee drinking octopus really encapsulated the "Caffeine & Legends" theme, and the inclusion of natural packing peanuts that dissolve in water is extremely responsible. Right off the bat, the items seem extra high quality and I'm really excited to dig in!
Caffeine & Legends "Shadows of the Past" December 2024 Review
Booklet
To kick things off, we received a pamphlet that featured the month's theme, a blurb about the book from the author, and info about all of the goodies included. A great introduction to this month's box, we also received a recipe on the back for an "Old World GingerBrew Latte" drink that coordinates perfectly with the included book!
Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher - Retail Value $16.99
It’s 1851 in old York. Lizzy Grimm struggles to save her late father’s charmingly creepy yet floundering antique shop, Grimm Curiosities. Then, during a particularly snowy December in this most haunted city in England, things turn…curiouser. Lizzy meets Antony Carlisle, whose sister suffers from the same perplexing affliction as Lizzy’s mother―both stricken silent and unresponsive after speaking with ghosts. Working closely together to fathom what power has transformed their loved ones and why, Lizzy and Antony discover an important clue: her father’s treasured set of rare books on ancient folktales, enchantments, and yuletide myths. Books that a persistent collector is awfully keen to purchase. Books Lizzy can’t bear to sell. Every bewitching passage and illustration opens a doorway to something ancient and dangerously inviting. Keys to a mystery Lizzy and Antony are compelled to solve―even if doing so means unleashing one of this bright holiday’s darkest myths.
Last month we received the book called And the Sky Bled, by S. Nati, and while it was a wonderful book, it was one of those books you had to pay very close attention to or risk getting extremely lost and confused. This month's book choice was a book that was a bit easier to follow and had a romantic aspect that left me wanting more. Grimm Curiosities takes place in an antique shop owned by a girl and her mother that has been left mute after speaking with ghosts. It is based around the Christmas season, which coordinated perfectly with December, and I loved the old England feel! To be honest, ghost stories freak me out a little bit, but this one didn't, and I literally couldn't put it down. It gave a Bridgerton mixed with C.S. Lewis vibe in the most lovely way. I also appreciated the included autographed book plate I was able to stick in the front cover and the fact that this book just released in November of 2024. I finished this book in record time and shared it with my mom, who is an avid reader. She too enjoyed this novel and has already passed it on to my aunt to check out. You can bet I will be looking up more books by Sharon Lynn Fisher, because she rocks!
Cherry Coffee Co. "Laboyano" Whole Bean Coffee - Retail Value $18.00
Coffee is definitely my drink of choice and I cannot start my morning without it. Like I mentioned in my previous review, I didn't try whole bean coffee until this year, and holy moly has that been a game changer! This month, we received a 10 ounce bag of Colombian washed beans that possessed the most unique flavor. Utilizing red fruit and sugarcane, this is a little more on the funky side rather than the classic, and I'm totally okay with that! Upon opening the bag, I was greeted with a fruity, sweet scent. When ground it was more of an auburn color rather than dark, and the slightly sweet flavor was wonderful. Definitely different than last month's variety, my husband didn't love the eccentric flavor, but I sure did. Paired with a small amount of creamer and I was in coffee heaven! A great way to start my day and drink alongside a wonderful book, I'm definitely addicted to this subscription!
Foot Clothes "Cabinet of Curiosities" Socks - Retail Value $15.00
Antique shops and strange curiosities are definitely a passion of mine, so I was thrilled to receive this pair of socks. Not only do they pair perfectly with the Grimm Curiosities book, but they are adorable in design and color palette! While all of the curiosities intertwined on these socks are fun, I do like the floral skull the best. I wear a women's size 10 shoe, so sometimes fun patterned socks don't fit, but these are designed for sizes 6-13 men or women and fit perfectly! Comfortable in feel and super soft, these have quickly become my new favorite, and the quality is extremely high compared to most patterned socks. If fun socks are your jam, you MUST check out their website - they even have a Krampus version!!
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $39.99 per month
Value Breakdown: Caffeine & Legends utilizes companies that create items in small batches and that have social good programs. Quality is key, and everything included is well made. The prices for everything adds up to over $49.99, which is $10 more than the cost of the box.
Key Takeaways
This is my second experience with Caffeine & Legends, and this subscription definitely did not disappoint! Not only was this month's book choice perfect for December, but the budding romance between Lizzy and Antony kept me from being able to put it down. I also enjoyed the Laboyano coffee and appreciate the fact that we receive a bag large enough to enjoy multiple batches of delicious brew. If that's not enough, this month's extra inclusion of the socks stuck with the "Shadows of the Past" theme remarkably well, and the fit was spot on. I couldn't be more happy! If you love caffeine and fantasy novels, I highly suggest this box. I am already looking forward to seeing what is in store for January!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this book if you sign up today? No. Order by January 15 to receive the January box.
What do you think of the Caffeine & Legends subscription? Let us know below with your own review!
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