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
November has come and gone, but guess what? I discovered a new subscription!!! This box includes fantasy novels and caffeine - what could be better than that?! Pretty much nothing! Read below to see what I received in my very first 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 "Reckless Pursuit" November 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 "The Power of Calor" drink that coordinates perfectly with the included book!
And The Sky Bled by S. Hati - Retail Value $18.95
In the occupied city of Tejomaya, calor—a magical fossil fuel—is found only in the blood rains that fall from the sky. While a six-month drought has brought Tejomaya to a desperate standstill, rumors of a secret stash of magic propel three unlikely treasure seekers to risk everything. Tenacious and street-smart Zain Jatav has been forced to steal calor for her slumlord bosses for years. Finding the magic reserve might be her only key to freedom. But she’ll have to contend with Iravan Khotar, a slumlord himself and an ambitious revolutionary hoping to use the same magic to save his people from the mysterious illness devastating the slums—and to bolster a fight against their oppressors. Meanwhile, heiress Anastasia Drakos leads the ruling council of Tejomaya from the safety of a nearby island. With the hidden magic, she could finally take full control of the city and crush the slums beneath her unyielding fist. As Zain, Iravan, and Anastasia draw closer to finding the treasure, their paths tangle, and not for the first time—they met before, a decade ago, in a fire that destroyed each of their lives in different ways. Their reunion might bring the already-weakened city to its knees. Exploring the devastating mechanisms of power, this searing climate fantasy breathes life into a crumbling world hovering on the brink of total destruction.
I was really excited to try out this book! It has an enticing cover and was incredibly heavy for its size, and also included an autographed authors plate! After reading the summary I was intrigued and felt it had a mature Hunger Games feel at the beginning. To be honest, this wasn't an easy read. There were many complex characters and it was a little difficult to follow along in the beginning as you had to pay very close attention to the details. While this was on par with Dan Brown titles as far as complexity goes, I did enjoy the climate-based story and was fascinated by the blood rain. Anastasia is my favorite character, and the hardship she endures is motivating as well as heartbreaking. If complex fantasy stories with incredibly creative bones are up your alley, I highly suggest this book!
Cottonwood Badlands Whole Bean Coffee - Retail Value $16.00
I didn't start drinking coffee until I hit my 30s and at that point I was drinking the cold Folgers leftovers my husband didn't take to work. I didn't realize the magic in the whole bean variety until this year, and I am now a self-identified coffee snob. This particular dark roast version was amazing. Created in Brookings, South Dakota, this small-batch coffee is dark and smooth with an incredibly rich flavor. There is no bitterness to this roast, and though I prefer creamer in my Joe, could drink it black. A great item to pair a good book with, I'm already addicted to this subscription!
"Write Your Story" Pen
Pens are definitely an item I cannot have enough of, and this red version with the "Write Your Story" quote written on the side pairs with this box nicely. I am definitely a fan of the embossed red body and the rose gold clip. The black ink writes nicely and I appreciate the stylus inclusion. While a simple item to include, I really enjoyed receiving this and have used it to replace a much less fun pen I had next to my checkbook.
Bamboo Utensil Set - Retail Value $12.00
The last item we received was super cool! I wasn't quite sure what was wrapped up in this cloth pouch, but soon found a bamboo utensil set! Featuring a fork, spook, and set of chopsticks, these utensils have a decorative cord wrapped around the handles, and are so much fun to use!! Reminiscent of something that may have been found in a Tejomaya market, this set was a hit with me and my kids. While we are definitely not pros at using chopsticks, we have been using the spoon and fork on the daily, and I love how well it coordinates with this months "Reckless Pursuit" theme!
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 $51.95, which is over $10 more than the cost of the box.
Key Takeaways
This is my first experience with Caffeine & Legends, and I have to say, I am hooked. Not only was this month's book choice an ultra interesting read, but I feel in total love with the small batch South Dakota coffee, and bamboo utensil set. The pen was also a nice addition. The items paired with the book made for multiple lovely mornings on the couch, which has been wonderful for my self care! If you love caffeine and fantasy novels, I highly suggest this box!! I am already looking forward to seeing what is in store for December!
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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