My First OwlCrate! June 2014

OwlCrate is a bookish subscription box that I've been wanting to subscribe to for a few months now. They send you one box with a YA book and a couple of bookish things that all go with the monthly theme. They have different plans that you can get: monthly, three month, and six month. The prices do vary, depending on what plan you get. With a few events that have been going on, I was finally able to let myself buy one! I got a six month subscription. The monthly rate is $29.99. The three month plan is $86.98. And the six month plan is $167.94. All prices are plus shipping. And with that, you are charged either every month, every three months, or every six months. I will try to link as many items as I can.

On the top, there is always a card with the month's theme and where all the things are from. This month's theme is Make It Out Alive. If you don't want to read the back of the card right off so you won't spoil the box for yourself, you don't have to read it first. I know I didn't. It's way more fun to pull out the stuff and then look at the card after. Even though I wouldn't want to live in a swamp, this card is still pretty.

The first thing I pulled out was this bathbomb and it smells so good! It's a Divergent inspired bath bomb from Fizzy Fairy Apothecary that has a little charm in it that will determine your faction. Or you could end up with a Divergent charm! Cannot wait to take a bath and put it to use and find out which one I received! This bath bomb is an OwlCrate exclusive.

Next thing I found was the little flair pin that always goes with the theme. I couldn't help but notice that he matched the little guy on the card. I will be putting him on my Slytherin lanyard that I wear to work. I could always use more flair.

This thing is so heavy for a magnet! It says "Fear is only your enemy if you allow it to be." It was inspired by An Ember in the Ashes from Little Inklings Design. I haven't read this particular book but maybe I'll pick it up one day now because I really like this quote. This is another OwlCrate exclusive.

This awesome patch is from Laserbrain Patch Co. It took me a minute to recognize that the design is inspired by Lois Lowry's The Giver since it's been so long since I've read the book. But  love the design of it and it's perfect for that book. The red of the apple is a beautiful shade of red, too. Don't know what I'm going to put this on but I'm sure I'll find something for it.

The second I saw this, I instantly thought of a friend of mine from Washington. She is obsessed with zombies and this would be perfect for her. This comes from Archie McPhee and it will definitely get tried out at least tonight. I usually don't like anything on my head when I go to bed (I can't even wear my hair tied up), so we shall see how wearing this goes. But it should be helpful by blocking sunlight since I know work so late into the night and sleep in in the mornings.

There is also a book mark with quotes on both sides. This one is from Sarah J Maas' A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOWAR, I do believe it gets shortened down to) and says: "You do not fear...You do not falter. You do not yield."

The other side is also from Sarah J Maas' ACOWAR: "Remember that you are a wolf. An you cannot be caged." This beautiful book mark is from Hey Atlas Creative. I do believe this is an OwlCrate exclusive as well.

This month was definitely a good month for me to start my OwlCrate subscription! They had not one but two books in this month's box. New World Rising by Jennifer Wilson has been published by Of Tomes Publishing, who worked with OwlCrate for the second book. This cover is beautiful and my favorite color. Phoenix has been living by her dying mother's last words: To be strong and survive. She lives outside of the Walls, outside of the Sanctuary. It's more of a drawn out death sentence. The Tribes run the city of Tartarus and their motto is, "Join or die." This seems like something I would have loved in my early 20's but I'm still excited to pick it up.

And finally, we have this month's book! Reading the description, it has a Lord of the Flies feel. And because the show Lost was based of of Lord of the Flies, it has a bit of that vibe as well. Kayla Olson's The Sandcastle Empire is definitely something that I would have loved after reading Lord of the Flies. LotF was my favorite book in high school. The cover is an OwlCrate exclusive cover, as well. The differences are supposed to be subtle. This one follows Eden, who had an easy life. Until the revolution. She has lost everything to the Wolfpack, the group now in power. She refuses to die by their hands while imprisoned. She has the coordinates to the only neutral place left in the world. Finally she makes it to the island and finds others who are resistant to the Wolfpack. It isn't long before one of her new friends gets lost in the forest. In searching the forest of the Sanctuary, they find it covered in lethal traps and there may be an enemy worse than the one they left behind. I'm intrigued by this and I'm hoping that I'll be able to get to it soon.

OwlCrate always includes a signed book plate and a letter from the author as well. I think it a nice touch and cannot wait to put the book plate in the book. Makes me wish I had a better signature since I have such horrible handwriting.

They also included stickers! I like stickers. And based off of the description of this month's book, these are perfect for it. I'll have to find somewhere good for these.

And finally, they include a card for next month's theme. Looks like it's going to be "wanderlust." It makes me thing of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien. On the back of the card, iit says that in the July box, it will include an officially licensed item from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I loved the movie, so I can't wait to see what it in the box!

Of all the things in this month's box, the bath bomb has to be my favorite. I'm so excited to use it. All of this month's stuff is pretty awesome, I must admit. Feel free to leave comments below if you get OwlCrate (and what your favorite item/s is/are), if you've read either book, or just wanna say hi!

Your kindred bookmate,

Cassie