Month: January 2020

Book Boxes, Bookish Merch, Products I love!!

LitJoy Crate Magical Edition 7.1 Unboxing and Review

Megan Nicole

Overall: *****

Price: $100 with shipping included in the U.S.

Quality of Products: ****

Value for the Money: *****

Shipping time: ***** When the box went on sale the team gave an estimated shipping time of mid December and provided updates along the way. The boxes shipped when expected and arrived promptly and in great condition.

This was my first of Litjoy’s magical editions to pick up. I entertained the idea of prior editions but always ended up happy that I did not pay the money when I saw the unboxings.

For this edition they teased that they would have a Hedwig item and a sleeve from Book Beau (which alone is valued around $20) so I decided to go ahead and give it a chance. Well, actually my husband paid for it to be a Christmas gift but I am so so so happy that I got this box.

It was packed to the brim with amazing and high quality goodies. While there were a few art things that I resold I kept almost every usable item in the box.

What was in the box:

  1. Amazing Dumbledore’s Will Spoiler Card
  2. Cuddly Atlas of the English Wizarding World Lap size Blanket
  3. Gorgeous silky pillowcase from Sweet Sequels
  4. Replica of Hermione’s Bag
  5. Fluffy Hedwig Ornament
  6. World’s Worst Camping Trip Mug
  7. Dirigible Plum crew socks
  8. Moving Snitch enamel pin from Dust and Pages
  9. Godrics Hollow inspired puzzle designed by Web and Moss
  10. Deluminator Candle by Say Anything Studio
  11. Wedding invite for Fleur and Bill
  12. Sword of Gryffindor Floating Pen
  13. Magnetic Bookmarks
  14. Character art playing cards
  15. Tales of Beadle the Bard book sleeve from Book Beau
  16. Notebook inspired by The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore by Holly Dunn Design

**HOLY COW THAT WAS SO MANY ITEMS I HAD TO USE NUMBERS HAHA

The 7.2 boxes are set to go on sale in May and I am 100% snagging one!!! Sign up for the Magical VIP list to get access to the early sale for these boxes if you plan to purchase one.

Litjoy Harry Potter Magical Edition Crate unboxing review

 

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

The Sisters Grimm Book Review

Megan Nicole

The Sisters Grimm by Manna van Praag Book ReviewThe Sisters Grimm by Menna van Praag

  • Overall: ***
  • Romance:**
  • Reading Rate: *
  • Pages: 448
  • Publication date:March 31, 2020
  • Publisher: Harper Voyager
  • Purchase on Amazon HERE
  • Recommend if you liked: Serpent & Dove

I was sooo thrilled when I was approved for an advanced copy of this book and just knew it was going to be a 5 start read for me.

This is a dark and heartbreaking story mixing the struggles of mortal life with a fantasy twist that makes you question the lines of good and evil. The author did a great job of getting you intimately acquainted with all the main characters and the nature of Everwhere. I do wish there was more background on the world and reasoning behind the setup of the Sisters and Soldiers. The lack of information really made it challenging to root for a side as you really did not understand the consequences of their choices.

I struggled with the format of the book, it bounces between multiple timelines and points of view, some of the entries were only a paragraph long before hopping to the next POV so it was very distracting and hard to stay immersed. Normally if I am sucked into a book it only takes me days to read while this book took me several weeks and I really had to push through to finish.  I also struggled with the level of sadness in the book, it seemed that each girl only encountered more loss and there was not a lot of positive outlook, even in the end. The synopsis leads you to think this story is much “fluffier” than it truly is.

Synopsis

Once upon a time, a demon who desired earthly domination fathered an army of dark daughters to help him corrupt humanity . . .

As children, Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, and Bea dreamed of a strange otherworld: a nightscape of mists and fog, perpetually falling leaves and hungry ivy, lit by an unwavering moon. Here, in this shadowland of Everwhere, the four girls, half-sisters connected by blood and magic, began to nurture their elemental powers together. But at thirteen, the sisters were ripped from Everwhere and separated. Now, five years later, they search for one another and yearn to rediscover their unique and supernatural strengths. Goldie (earth) manipulates plants and gives life. Liyana (water) controls rivers and rain. Scarlet (fire) has electricity at her fingertips. Bea (air) can fly.

To realize their full potential, the blood sisters must return to the land of their childhood dreams. But Everwhere can only be accessed through certain gates at 3:33 A.M. on the night of a new moon. As Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, and Bea are beset with the challenges of their earthly lives, they must prepare for a battle that lies ahead. On their eighteenth birthday, they will be subjected to a gladiatorial fight with their father’s soldiers. If they survive, they will face their father who will let them live only if they turn dark. Which would be fair, if only the sisters knew what was coming.

So, they have thirty-three days to discover who they truly are and what they can truly do, before they must fight to save themselves and those they love.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for a copy of Sisters Grimm in exchange for my honest review.

Book Boxes, Bookish Merch, Products I love!!

Alchemy & Ink Darkness Rises Box Review

Megan Nicole

Theme: Darkness Rises- Kylo Ren appreciation

Overall: ****

Quality of Items: *****

Shipping Timeliness: *****

Cost: about $92 shipped in the U.S.

Value for the money: ****

What was in the box:

  • Thirst Order metal cup
  • Kylo Prayer Candle
  • Kylo Trash backpack
  • “Space Darcy” roll on perfume
  • Kylo themed Beanie with Pom
  • Reylo Pin Set
  • HUGE Kylo print
  • Double sided art/quote print
  • There was also supposed to be a spoiler card with a playlist but I did not receive in my package.

While I still feel this box was a great value for the money I felt it was more for a younger crowd and therefore only kept an item or two out of the entire box. There were a ton of items in this box and they were all very high quality. I really wish the backpack had been a purse or messenger bag and left off the “trash” portion. I debated on just getting a patch to cover the wording but in the end a backpack just was not for me. Overall Alchemy & Ink did a great job on value and quality and would not hesitate to go through the mad rush again to purchase another one of her boxes.

Have you seen the final star wars movie? If so, what did you think? Tell me below in the comments?

 

 

Book Reviews, Products I love!!

Blood & Ash (The Jezebel Files #1) Book Review

Megan Nicole

Blood & Ash (The Jezebel Files #1) by Deborah Wilde

Blood & Ash Book ReviewOverall: ***

Romance: ***

Reading Rate: **

Pages: 316

Publisher: Te Da Media

Release date: 1/14/2020

Recommend if you liked: Wicked Trilogy by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I am a sucker for a fast paced PNR read and had high hopes for this book, but it fell a bit short for me. It is listed as an adult book and while there was adult content the MC acted more like someone in her teens vs a 30 something. While the story suggested she was very educated and cultured her rash decisions and language suggested otherwise.

I really liked where the author was going with the Sherlock Holmes theme and while the world dynamic of Nefesh (those with magic) and regular humans without was not a new concept I liked the spin that the author put on it. It seemed like I came in on an existing storyline and was missing a lot of background on the world, but hopefully more will continue to be filled in throughout this series.

Overall I enjoyed the story but the lack of background information and the MC’s internal monologue kept me from getting sucked in and really enjoying the book. I think if there was less focus on the MC’s internal feelings and more focus on the mystery/case it would go a long way in making this a very interesting binge worthy series in future books.

Synopsis:

Cold-blooded kidnappers. Long-lost magic. When things get serious, she goes full Sherlock.

Ashira Cohen takes pride in being the only female private investigator in Vancouver. With her skills, her missing persons case should be a piece of cake.

She wasn’t counting on getting bashed in the skull, revealing a hidden tattoo and supernatural powers she shouldn’t possess.

Or the bitter icing on top: a spree of abductions and terrifying ghostly creatures on a deadly bender.

And don’t even get her started on the golems.

Reluctantly partnered with her long-time nemesis Levi, the infuriating leader of the magic community, Ash resolves to keep her focus on the clue trail and off their sexual tension because WTF is up with that?

But with a mastermind organization pulling strings from the shadows and Levi’s arrogance driving her to pick out his body bag, can Ash rescue the captives and uncover the truth or will the next blood spilled be her own?

Blood & Ash will be available though Amazon Kindle Unlimited. Try your first month of Kindle Unlimited free here!

Thank you to NetGally and Te Da Media for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.