Owlcrate is a monthly bookish subscription box that includes one new release YA hardback novel, as well as 3-5 other bookish items. Each month revolves around a different theme that ties in with the book and goodies. It is also one of the few boxes that ships almost anywhere in the world. Subscriptions start at $29.99 per month.
The theme for October was Once Upon A Dream.
- Button Bookmark – This handmade bookmark was created by My Heart My Tribe. There were many different fabrics used to make these bookmarks and I ended up with a cute pastel polka dot one. I haven’t tried using my yet, as I’m afraid it might bend the pages a bit so I think I’ll save it to use for my planner.
- Mini Notebook – The Oz Passport is actually a little notebook from The Unemployed Philosopher’s Guild. It’s pretty cute and I like that it actually includes lined pages. Each page includes a picture of the Cowardly Lion as well, which is a nice touch. I just wish I didn’t have so many of these pocket notebooks.
- Bracelet – This charm bracelet was created and designed by The Geeky Cauldron. It’s inspire by Sleeping Beauty and includes a tiny spindle charm. I’m not the biggest fan of dangly bracelets, but it’s still pretty cute.
- Beanie – This Peter Pan beanie is from Whosits & Whatsits. It’s super soft and slouchy which I really like! Honestly, this item is probably my favorite thing included in this month’s box. I’m pretty ready for colder weather so I can wear it everywhere and pretend like I’m really a Lost Boy. Adulting is hard and I wouldn’t mind never growing up right now.
- Book – This month’s book is Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter. I was really excited when I first found out that this book was included in the October box, as it had been on my radar for quite a while. Unfortunately, now that the reviews have been rolling in, my excitement has turned to disappoint. I’ll still be giving it a chance but I’ve definitely tempered my expectations a bit.
In the enchanted kingdom of Brooklyn, the fashionable people put on cute shoes, go to parties in warehouses, drink on rooftops at sunset, and tell themselves they’ve arrived. A whole lot of Brooklyn is like that now—but not Vassa’s working-class neighborhood.
In Vassa’s neighborhood, where she lives with her stepmother and bickering stepsisters, one might stumble onto magic, but stumbling away again could become an issue. Babs Yagg, the owner of the local convenience store, has a policy of beheading shoplifters—and sometimes innocent shoppers as well. So when Vassa’s stepsister sends her out for light bulbs in the middle of night, she knows it could easily become a suicide mission.
But Vassa has a bit of luck hidden in her pocket, a gift from her dead mother. Erg is a tough-talking wooden doll with sticky fingers, a bottomless stomach, and a ferocious cunning. With Erg’s help, Vassa just might be able to break the witch’s curse and free her Brooklyn neighborhood. But Babs won’t be playing fair…
I’m usually left fairly impressed each month by the boxes that Owlcrate puts out. Unfortunately, other than the beanie, the October box was a bit of a letdown. Maybe I’ve just gotten so used to each month being pretty awesome, that I’ve put too much expectations on them. I mean, this is actually a fairly decent box, there’s no denying that. But I would have preferred amazing instead of decent. Luckily the November box is Wonderland themed and is going to include an Owlcrate exclusive version of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. I’ve heard it’s one of their best boxes yet and I cannot wait!
Are you an Owlcrate subscriber? What did you think of the October box? What other bookish boxes are you subscribed to? Have you read Vassa in the Night?
Wonderfilled Reads 