OwlCrate January 2016 Subscription Box Review

January’s OwlCrate theme was Magic! Owl Crate is a monthly subscription books and bookish items box.   Each OwlCrate will contain one new Young Adult novel, as well as 3-5 other bookish items all matched to a magical monthly theme.

The card this month was 1) Owlish above all else and 2) reminiscent of both Harry Potter and Legend of the Guardians, and I’m sure other things as well. I liked how they tried their best to preserve the suspense of the Funko!

The information card has brief information about each item and a few notes about the theme. 

The bottom of the box hoots “enjoy your adventure!” Thankfully no squiggles this month.

Everything in the January OwlCrate.

The book comes packaged in a plastic wrapper to protect it.

Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley ($11.79)

This one is from he author of Witchlanders and based on the Brontë sisters’ juvenile writings. In this book they can travel into the worlds they create in their fiction writings. Ultimately it’s a little strained and I am not entirely sure if it is because the author was trying to fit into the genre or her writing isn’t quite strong enough.

I’d wished this selection had been a little more magic but ultimately I think each box is built around the newest book from the XYZ imprint. I wouldn’t have minded a 100% Brontë theme but that may have been a tricky sell for teens.

Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne. The Brontë siblings find escape from their constrained lives via their rich imaginations. The glittering world of Verdopolis and the romantic and melancholy world of Gondal literally come to life under their pens, offering the sort of romance and intrigue missing from their isolated parsonage home. But at what price? As Branwell begins to slip into madness and the sisters feel their real lives slipping away, they must weigh the cost of their powerful imaginations, even as the characters they have created—the brooding Rogue and dashing Duke of Zamorna—refuse to let them go.

Gorgeously written and based on the Brontës’ juvenilia, Worlds of Ink and Shadow brings to life one of history’s most celebrated literary families in a thrilling, suspenseful fantasy.

A Brontë paper doll set inspired by the novel.

And a letter to subscribers from the author. I found it difficult to read but doable.

Harry Potter Funko POP! Hermione Granger Vinyl Figure ($9.08) YAY! I can’t wait to collect all of them! My daughter was especially excited about this one, and she really doesn’t know anything about Harry Potter – yet! Added to my Pop! tracker! This was the first full Funko figure that has appeared in OwlCrate. I think it was a very appropriate choice!

Evie Bookish Designs

The Raven Cycle inspired Bookmark

Throne of Glass inspired print

I love the print and think it’s super frameable, but wish it had a border like her other prints. The bookmark is great too, but I think of that more of an extra than a box item.

Other side of the bookmark.

Geek Fire Labs Patronus Lip Balm ($4) This is White Chocolate Mint flavored and I love the Potter-inspired “flavor!” I think Bertie Botts would sell it! The flavor was good and didn’t irritate my lips – nevertheless I gave it to my daughter because she’s such a lip balm fiend.

A Knot in the Grain Ebook Coupon (to purchase for $3.99) Free already for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, can buy for $4 used as a book.

While I was thinking about magicky books, I happened to check out Deborah Harkness’ site and saw that the 4th book will be out next year – The Serpent’s Mirror! She’s the author of the popular Book of Life trilogy (which won’t be a trilogy for much longer…).

Anyways, book digressions aside, this was a decent box, but I wasn’t 100% sure that the value was really there this month.

Visit Owl Crate to find out more or to subscribe.