Now in Books is a book subscription that caters to fans of YA and fiction. They promise to send books that feature new authors, diverse stories and characters, and engaging narratives relating to social issues. There are currently 4 plans available. Two are book-only plans, while the other two offer an immersive experience through playlists, guides, and additional activities.
- Young Adult ($16.99) – one newly released young adult novel each month
- Books & Music: Young Adult ($19.99) – one gift-wrapped young adult novel, specially curated music playlist, book club guide, discussion questions, and a fun activity like recipes or puzzles each month
- Fiction ($19.99) – one newly released fiction novel each month
- Books & Music: Fiction ($24.99) – one gift-wrapped fiction novel, specially curated music playlist, book club guide, discussion questions, and a fun activity like recipes or puzzles every 3 months
This is the review of the Books & Music: Young Adult box!
The book arrived in a sturdy blue box!
It was also wrapped in a blue paper, sealed with a Now in Books sticker.
A card was also included in the box. The February 2021 theme is Sisters.
At the back, there is a QR code that you can scan so you can experience your book on a whole new level!
Everything in my box!
Since this is the Books & Music box, I received a Book Club Guide.
This month’s featured author is Namina Forna. Her debut YA novel is The Gilded Ones.
Here’s a list of songs to help set the mood while reading, and below it is a streaming guide featuring titles from Hulu and Netflix.
They also included some discussion questions. These are thought-provoking ones, and they will help the reader understand the story better.
Another feature is this crossword puzzle. This is a fun activity to do during your free time!
Lastly, they also included the main cast and provided a short description for each.
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna ($15.99)
The most anticipated fantasy of 2021. In this world, girls are outcasts by blood and warriors by choice. Get ready for battle.
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.
But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.
Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat.
Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.
The start of a bold and immersive fantasy series for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Panther.
The illustration on the cover is stunning! Meanwhile, at the back is a thought-provoking text:
Are we girls or are we demons?
Are we going to die or are we going to survive?
A synopsis of the story is printed on the inner flap of the book cover.
The story follows Deka, a sixteen year old girl who is a part of a deeply patriarchal society that abuses women and girls who are deemed abominable. They determined this by cutting them and looking at the color of their blood. If someone has red blood, they will be known as pure and can therefore be accepted by the society but if someone’s blood runs gold, they either get killed or be enslaved.
This is such a powerful novel. It talks about important societal issues like misogyny, racism, abuse, trauma, inequality and a lot more, in a way that also empowers women, people of color, and other minorities. Also, there are a lot of twists and turns in the plot and you really have to be patient if you want answers!
It’s another great book pick from Now In Books box! I love that this book discussed a lot of important issues and how the author developed each character well. It may be a fantasy story but the lessons are easily relatable to real life. I also appreciate the playlist they prepared which helped set the mood when I was reading! For those who are in the search for diverse reads, you might love this subscription because that is exactly what they send every month. If you want a book club-like experience, you can opt for the Books and Music box just like this one, because they send playlists along with guides to help you enjoy the book more!
What do you think of the Now in Books box?
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