Review: November 2016 FairyLoot

Two posts in one week? What is wrong with Jaz you must be thinking. Well I'm on annual leave because IT'S THE FESTIVE SEASON and I also really wanted to share my thoughts on my first ever FairyLoot box!

FairyLoot is a YA book subscription box that centres on sci-fi/fantasy books and they're based in the UK. As with OwlCrate, I made the plunge to try out FairyLoot for November because birthday muahaha. What really drew me to them was their concentration on SFF and what seemed like every box included a book plate (I'm a sucker for signed merch).

Ok let's get right into it.



Month: November 2016
Theme: Royals & Rogues
Price: ~$70 AUD (£26 single purchase + £15 shipping to Australia = £41)
Delivery: Shipped November 19 arrived November 29 (10 days to get to Australia)

My Rating:

The Royals & Rogues themed box included:

• Hardback copy of Nemesis by Anna Banks
• Signed Nemesis bookplate
• Nemesis bookmark
• Nemesis print
• Letter from Anna Banks
• Royals & Rogues themed tea + tea filters by The Tea Leaf Co
• The Wrath and the Dawn mirror by Bookworm Boutique
• Queen of Terrasen notepad by Drop and Give Me Nerdy
• Wolf by Wolf quote print by Read at Midnight
• Queen of Books mug by Read at Midnight
• Red Queen art print + quote (double sided) by Book Otter and Lovely Owls Books
• Spectorium soap crystals by Crafty Ragamuffin
• A Court of Mist and Fury tote by Lovely Owls Books
• FairyScoop

Not gonna lie I nearly shit bricks in excitement when I opened my box. Never have I been so pleased with a book subscription box.

Opening the book bag...

I hadn't heard of Nemesis before but I've read Anna Banks' earlier stuff, and based on what I read of the blurb, this is another mermaid type book which I'm quite keen for. BOOKPLATE. I am so freaking trash for bookplates. Signed guys. SIGNED. This was enough to draw me in to the box haha. It's extremely hard to get signed stuff in Australia so I always jump at the chance. There's also the matching bookmark for Nemesis, a sketch of some... thing... creature... from the book and a letter from Anna herself (I've yet to read this). This all came in the black book bag FairyLoot have started to put their books in to keep them from being damaged. Another lovely idea because my books always get damaged in my bag and I'd been using the Aesop cloth bags up until now. LOVE LOVE LOVE. So that's all the 'official' Nemesis stuff! The FairyScoop which is a newsletter also included an interview with Anna which was really fun to read.

I was a bit wtf at the Spectorium crystal soap (by Crafty Ragamuffin) until I read the interview with Anna Banks in the FairyScoop and the Royals & Rogues card to determine what it was. At first I thought it was candy and I was like wow that's a really huge chunk of candy haha. I'm not entirely sure how to use this (rub it all over myself?!) or if I'll even use it at all as I'm not a soap user but we shall see! It smells really good though. Like candy actually. Yeh if I wasn't told it's soap, I definitely would've taken a lick leeeeeel.

The art/quote prints are really pretty and I especially love the Mare illustration from Red Queen (Book Otter is so talented I was like wooooow). There's a cool Red Queen quote on the back by Lovely Owls Books. The Wolf by Wolf quote print was designed by Aentee omgggg I was flailing when I found out GO YOU AENTEE.

Speaking of Aentee (aka Read at Midnight). THAT MUG. Queen of Books. I'm totally taking it to work with me IT IS SO GORGEOUS. YOU GO FAIRYLOOT. I adore mugs. As a tea lover I am always using mugs and on the lookout for pretty ones. The design is quite floral which is so me and UGH is there a more perfect mug for a book lover? I think not. Apparently mugs have never been done in a box before and it's seriously such a good idea! What's next, drink bottles/thermos?

Tea (by The Tea Leaf Co)! With tea filters/bags to put the loose leaf tea in. I love it when people consider these things. Sadly for me I hate Earl Grey leeel so I'll probably take it to work and share it around. I still think it's really cool though that FairyLoot got tea Royals and Rogues themed :D

As a massive Throne of Glass fan the Queen of Terrasen (by Drop and Give Me Nerdy) notepad really appealed to me but it's so pretty I don't wanna use it *stares at it for life*

Then there's the mirror WITH A WRATH AND THE DAWN QUOTE (by Bookworm Boutique). Y'all know how much I adore that duology? Shazi and Khalid for life. "My queen is without limitations. Boundless in all she does." *SOBS* All the feels.

And then. AND THEN. Sweet baby Jesus I was squealing and nearly screaming when I saw the tote. THE TOTE. THE. TOTE. Designed by Lovely Owls Books it is hands down the BEST tote I now own because RHYSANDDDDDDDDDD. *Heavy breathing* RHYSRHYSRHYSRHYS. ACOMAF ACOMAF <3 Rhysand is book boyfriend #1, A Court of Mist and Fury is my #1 fav book of all time so this was utter perfection. The quote is absolutely perfect and makes me want to cry whenever I think of the scene it happened "That I will bow before no one and nothing but my crown." Shit this breaks my heart. Can't even right now. You guys don't know the feels this brings out in me.

Item price breakdown time:

• Nemesis hardback $24 AUD on the Book Depository
• Crafty Ragamuffin soaps ~$9 AUD on their Etsy store
• The Tea Leaf Co Earl Grey tea £6.99 = ~$12 AUD on their site
• Bookworm Boutique mirror ~$5 AUD ? Guesstimate
• Lovely Owls Books ACOMAF tote ~$27 AUD (RedBubble pricing)
• Read at Midnight mug ~$20 AUD (society6 pricing)
• Prints ???

Total ~$97+ AUD so definitely got my money's worth. This did not include the prints.

Welps this review turned out to be more flailing and screeching than actual reviewing... Royals & Rogues has been so well curated, each of the items fitting the theme (I'm mega mega happy that both the ToG and ACOTAR series made it in the box along with TWatD). The mug is so useful and the tote absolutely blows me away.

How much did I love this box? Enough to take out a 3 month subscription (they're not paying me to say this either). I highly recommend giving FairyLoot a try, because despite how expensive it is, I find that the bookplate and the extra items they pack in make it really worth it. Maybe I was lucky with my first experience and all the extras they included were for books I adore? It definitely added to my love for the box.

Review: November 2016 OwlCrate

OwlCrate is a YA book subscription box (I believe THE first YA book subscription box) that I've wanted to buy since its inception back in 2015. The boxes have always been filled with wonderful bookish goodies and a hardback YA release, but THE SHIPPING oh lordy.

I finally made the plunge in October for the November book because 1) November was my birthday and I thought it high time I treat myself and 2) with the theme being Wonderland (I think every second book subscription box was this) I knew it was Heartless and OWLCRATE DID AN EXCLUSIVE COVER

I'll now go through the items in the box and compare it to how much it cost, the shipping and delivery time.

Month: November 2016
Theme: Wonderland
Price: $45.49 USD = $62.51 AUD (based on AMEX exchange rates for that day + my bank's international transaction fee)
[$25.50 USD ($29.99 USD with a Flipping Through Pages 15% off discount code) + shipping ($19.99 USD) for 1 month subscription]
Delivery: Shipped November 19 arrived November 26 (1 week to get to Australia)

My Rating:

The Wonderland themed box included:

• Hardback copy of Marissa Meyer's Heartless with an exclusive OwlCrate cover (white as opposed to the standard black)
• Letter from Marissa Meyer
• Heartless quote card
• Alice in Wonderland pin/badge
• Alice in Wonderland bookmark by Authored Adornments
• Alice in Wonderland magnet by EvieBookish
• Mad Hatter's Wonderland Elixir tea by Riddle's Tea Shoppe
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Rock Paper Books exclusive cover
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Rock Paper Books matching bookmark

I absolutely love the hardback of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Having read the book I knew I wanted a copy; I'd seen the naked book and it is STUNNING underneath. When I heard that OwlCrate would get an exclusive cover I knew I had to have it. I'm immensely pleased with the white cover, it adds a real twist.

I was also really pleased that OwlCrate essentially gave 2 books for November, as a copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was also in the box. The cover is designed by Rock Paper Books and I believe exclusive to OwlCrate, there's also a matching bookmark which is really cute.

There's a tin of tea (called Mad Hatter's Wonderland Elixir) by Riddle's Tea Shoppe also made exclusively for OwlCrate. The tin itself is sooooo pretty, is one of those dedicated tea tins to keep the scent, and re-usable. What I really loved is that the tea isn't loose leaf, they've put them into little tea bags which makes my life so much easier. The tea seems like a blend similar to Earl Grey which I admit I'm not a fan of. However, it seems fruiter so I am keen to try!

Also included is a bookmark by Authored Adornments and the little glass has an Alice in Wonderland quote inside. There's an Alice magnet by EvieBookish too as well as a Heartless quote card and letter from Marissa Meyer.

As nearly all these items are exclusive to the box, I believe they're priceless (especially that cover!) but let's try valuing the items (I know it's weird but I'm the type of person who likes to know they're getting value for their money):

• Heartless hardback $26 AUD on the Book Depository
• Riddle's Tea Shoppe tea $24 USD ~$33 AUD according to the sites they sell on
• Authored Adornments bookmark ~$20 AUD based on the price of their other goods on Etsy
• EvieBookish/Seo magnet ~$3 AUD
• Rock Paper Books Alice's Adventures in Wonderland $9.99 USD ~$14 AUD

Total ~$96 AUD in value. I definitely got my money's worth. Note: some of the prices such as the tea and bookmark are guesses so the total value is an approximation, give or take.

I would definitely recommend if the theme for that month REALLY appeals to you and you want to try the box out like I did. I took out a 1 month subscription (there is no single box purchase) and cancelled after the next billing cycle (the first of the next month). While I say you get your money's worth, it doesn't take away from the steep price especially if you live overseas and in a country where the currency is below parity to USD e.g. Australia.

I give it a 3.5 - 4 stars based on how much I wanted the Heartless cover, the speed of delivery and total value of the items but I'm not going to lie, this is a only-splurge-once-in-a-very-long-while-if-i-really-like-the-theme thing.

Interview + Giveaway: The YA Chronicles

Hello friends. Today I have something very special on the blog!

Y’all would have seen book subscription boxes popping up everywhere and the awesome that comes inside. Well today on the blog I have our very own team behind The YA Chronicles answering a few questions. For those of you who don’t know, TYAC is an Aussie YA book subscription box. Each month, the themed box includes a book (Aussie edition of course!), a YA Chronicles bookmark for that month, and 2-5 bookish items.

 

March box: Australia Made

So let's get to know Rebecca and Alison!

Jaz: You guys are the first YA subscription box in Australia and I’m so grateful that you guys took the initiative to do this while we all watched in envy of the bookish boxes internationally.

About the Box

Q1. Can you tell me about what it was like starting up TYAC? Did you have a business model in mind, planning revenue streams, breakeven point (all that business-y stuff) or were you guys like, ok let’s just do it!

Rebecca: To be perfectly honest, I still have no clue what a planning revenue stream is haha.

Alison: So, basically, no, we just kind of went, “let’s do it!” That said, dealing with the business side of everything is very important and we both hate it.

Rebecca: It’s been a learning curve that’s for sure, but we had no other choice than to figure it all out.

Alison: Our business model: send people books.

Q2. How do you pick your theme and book for each month? You mention in your FAQ, reading review copies, but is there an ultimate decider if you love all the books?

Rebecca: It’s the Hunger Games. We throw our favourite picks into the pit and make them fight to the death.

Alison: …or we discuss them thoroughly and figure out which one would make the strongest box theme-wise, and the best book, and go from there. Themes always come from the core features of the book we pick.

Q3. And where do you look to source the extra goodies you include?

Rebecca: The majority of what we find comes from Etsy, there are so many great products out there.  Also from people who email us about their bookish Aussie businesses.

Alison: That said, we love supporting small Aussie businesses! So if you have a bookish business and think you’d make a good fit for a TYAC box, email us at info@theyachronicles.com.au or message us on any of our social media platforms to let us know!

Rebecca: While we do prefer working with Australian businesses, we are definitely open to working to businesses from other countries so don’t be afraid to hit us up.

Q4. So you’ve picked the theme and book, decided on which goodies you want to include – what’s the rest of the process like? How long does it take to put it all together and get that box out there? I know you guys pack each box by hand at Ali’s house! 

Rebecca: A lot of stressing about items actually arriving on time for us to pack and get the boxes sent by our deadline.

Alison: On top of stressing, I emboss all of the books with the “TYAC Approved” embosser and then go through all of the invoices and organise them, make sure everything is in order and attach extra bookmarks. Then we bribe whichever friends are available to come keep us company and help us pack by offering to get their boxes earlier than everyone else (:

Q5. What’s your favourite part of The YA Chronicles?

Rebecca: I love how it’s actually a thing ahaha. How despite all the headaches it gave us to get it off the ground, and the headaches we still get, we’ve built this business that so many people seem to really enjoy.

Alison: Seeing everyone unbox their packages and seeing how happy it makes them. Makes my month every month!

About the Creators

Currently reading?
Rebecca: The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye.

Alison: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows.

Favourite book this year?
Rebecca: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, ok so out of the books we’ve used my favourite book was Rebel of the Sands. Of the books I’ve read that haven’t been for TYAC, Night Study by Maria V. Snyder…and wait also Far From You by Tess Sharpe. I CAN’T CHOOSE ONE JAZ.

Alison: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas was PERFECTION. But then A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab and Kings Rising by C. S. Pacat also came out this year and they’re both close seconds. I mean I also read Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, but how many favourites can you really have?

Rebecca: A lot.

OTP?
Rebecca: I honestly don’t know if I have any book OTPs. I mean Yelena x Valek of course.

Alison: Aelin x the Throne.

Book you’re most looking forward to this year?
Rebecca: THE MIDNIGHT STAR BY MARIE LU OMG ADELINA MY LOVE I MUST KNOW. Also, Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor, Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff, and Nevernight by Jay Kristoff.

Alison: It’s a tie between Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas, Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo, and Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff…I think she meant bookS.

Rebecca: Yeah that was definitely a typo.

*Jaz regrets not threatening them with Gong of Choice*

What you do when you’ve not got your head stuck in a book or putting together TYAC boxes?
Rebecca: Crying over TV shows. Reading too much fanfiction.

Alison: Working, uni stuff, replying to emails or TYAC social medias haha.


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Thank you so much to Bec and Ali for their time! I hope you enjoyed that little sneak peek into TYAC and the creative minds behind it.

You can find them at the follow places:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Now I have MORE special for you - GIVEAWAY TIME.

Aussies and New Zealanders (sorry international peeps, the shipping on this one is too stronk) this is your chance to see what The YA Chronicles box is like.
So yes I am giving away a ONE month subscription to TYAC - the winner will be receiving the July box which has the freaking awesome theme of Ladies Who Slay. You're welcome I know I'm so generous and fab.

Terms and Conditions:

• The prize is for the July box only 
• No giveaway or spam account - these entries will instantly be removed
• Entrants must be AUSTRALIA or NEW ZEALAND only (like I said, shipping costs yo)
• Winner must provide mailing address within 48h of being notified otherwise a new winner will be selected
• Winner must be old enough to provide a mailing address
• Winner MUST and I stress MUST provide a street address for mailing purposes (no PO Boxes as per TYAC T&Cs)

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