OwlCrate October Review

Hello, all!

This months theme was "Dawn of a New World" and it was chock full of sci-fi goodies.

I love stickers and this Warcross inspired one by Blanca Montiel is no exception! I love the holographic effect and the quote as well.

I'm not a huge fan of magnetic bookmarks, but I love these Saga ones by Craftedvan. I only got into Saga within the last year, so I have a ton to catch up on, and these will be perfect for that.

Then we had this lovely crescent moon necklace which has a bunch of wiring throughout by Iron and Ink Designs inspired by The Lunar Chronicles series. I'd like this more if it was a little bit smaller just cause I'm not a fan of larger jewelry, but it's cute.

The last item was this book tin created by Stella Bookish Art inspired by the Illuminae Files. We've gotten one of these tins before, and they're so convenient to hold pins and little bits in.

OwlCrate included two books again this month, and the first was I Hope You Get This Message by Farah Naz Rishi. This story follows Adeem, a coder and radio enthusiast; Cate, a young girl determined to track down the father she's never met; and Jesse, who constantly watches his mother try to make ends meet. After it's revealed that an alien planet may end life as we know it in just seven days, the trio's lives begin to cross and intersect in ways they never would've imagined.

The second book was Crier's War by Nina Varela. In a world where perfect andriods, called Automae, are enslaved by their human creators, Lady Crier, an Automae and daughter of the King, is terrified people will discover she isn't as perfect as she pretends to be. Ayla, Lady Crier's human handmaiden, has been biding her time and waiting for the best moment to take her revenge on the King for murdering her family. Her plan? Murder Lady Crier. But her plans take a turn after her and Crier begin spending more and more time together. Can their feelings for one another survive a world on the brink of war?

I don't usually read a lot of sci-fi, so I'm interested to dive into these. Lemme know what you thought of this months box!

Sleepy Hollow

Hello, all!

This time last year I was in Salem, MA and I knew I wanted to do another spooky-ish trip for my birthday, so my mom and I stayed a bit local and went to Sleepy Hollow. The whole thing came about in a funny way; I had mentioned how I wanted to do a day trip up there, and literally the next day, there was an ad for an overnight trip with our local library which we jumped on.

I had never done a library trip before (I actually never even knew they were a thing), so I wasn't sure what to expect, but it turned out to be pretty cool. It was a two day trip, and jam packed with stuff, so I'm going to break it down by day. Here we go!

The Halloween Tag

Hello, all!

In honor of my favorite holiday, I decided to do The Halloween Tag created by Michelle over at A Geek Girl's Guide. (Make sure you go check out her answers as well!) Let's get spooky 🔮🎃

1. When does the Halloween season start for you?

Mid-September because I can't help myself.

2. Do you have any Halloween traditions?

I always try to watch as many horror, or just Halloween-y, movies as I can throughout the month.

3. What is your favorite Halloween memory?

Maybe not my favorite, but just the first one that came to mind-- My friends and I were heading to our other friends Halloween party and we got stuck on the LIRR for hours and everyone in the train car eventually just became friends and we had our own little train party.

4. Do you decorate for Halloween?

YES! Luckily, my roommate is as Halloween obsessed as I am, and we even have one of those projector lights out front that make it look like our house is encased in hellfire.

5. What has been your favorite Halloween costume you’ve worn?

After working at Party City for so many years, I refuse to buy costumes, so I usually make all mine and my favorite was Elliot and ET.

6. If you could be in a Halloween movie (horror or not), which would you choose?

The Monster Squad. I just wanna hang out in the tree house and help save the town from dollar store rip off Universal monsters.

7. How do you plan on celebrating Halloween this year?

Most likely just handing out candy at home while watching Halloween.

8. Have you ever carved a Jack-O-Lantern?

Yep! My best one was one that looked like it was throwing up.

9. What is something you want to do to celebrate Halloween one year?

Probably just throw a big Halloween party.

10. What is your Halloween costume this year? If you don’t have one, what would you like to be?

For work we went with a witch theme, so I'll be Hermione.

11. Do you enjoy a super scary Halloween or a more lighthearted spooky Halloween?

A nice mix of both! 

12. How would you spend a Halloween at home versus going out?

Watching Halloween, it's a given.

13. Why do you love Halloween?

I've just always been a fan of supernatural or spooky things. And because my birthday's the next day, so it was always fun to eat all the candy I got.

Here's all the questions if you wanna join in!

When does the Halloween season start for you?
Do you have any Halloween traditions?
What is your favorite Halloween memory?
Do you decorate for Halloween?
What has been your favorite Halloween costume you’ve worn?
If you could be in a Halloween movie (horror or not), which would you choose?
How do you plan on celebrating Halloween this year?
Have you ever carved a Jack-O-Lantern?
What is something you want to do to celebrate Halloween one year?
What is your Halloween costume this year? If you don’t have one, what would you like to be?
Do you enjoy a super scary Halloween or a more lighthearted spooky Halloween?
How would you spend a Halloween at home versus going out?
Why do you love Halloween?

Twice in a Blue Moon Review

Hello, all!

I fell in love with Christina Lauren after I read The Unhoneymooners, so I was dying to read their newest release, Twice in a Blue Moon. Huge thank you to Netgalley for the copy!

Pub Date: 10-22-19
Adult - Contemprary

Tate Jones was eighteen when her whole world changed. During a vacation abroad in London with her grandma, Tate met Sam Brandis, a charming 21-year old who just so happened to be staying at the same hotel. Tate and Sam spent every moment they could together, learning about one another, sharing their hopes, dreams, and in Tate's case, their biggest secrets. Tate is the daughter of one of the worlds most famous actors, who hasn't been publicly seen since her parent's messy divorce. She's spent her life since being someone else and only a handful of people know who she truly is. Sam is the first person she's ever felt comfortable enough to let in on her big secret. She was very wrong. Sam was Tate's first everything: first love, first time, and first heartbreak.

Now, fourteen years later, Tate, a big up-and-coming actress, just landed a major break out role and doesn't have time to dwell on her lost love. When she arrives on set, Sam Brandis is the very last person she expected to see. Tate is shocked to discover that Sam happens to be the screenwriter for the film, and he's just as handsome and charismatic as he was all those years ago. Tate is now forced to confront his betrayal head on, and must ask herself if doing something bad for the right reason is enough to put the past behind her, especially when old feelings start to stir up.

Christina Lauren just have a way of making me swoon. Seriously, I would love to just live in one of their worlds. Tate feels so real and relatable, and her actions seem genuine. Sam, despite his mistakes, never stopped loving Tate and does everything he can to make her see the error of his ways. I will say that I do think Tate seemed to forgive him a bit quicker than I thought she should've, but hey, it's fictional and all. My other issue was that I didn't feel any resolution when it came to the drama at the end. I feel if we saw that conclusion this would've been a full 5 star read for me. Other than that, I loved this and flew through it. I loved the setting, both London and the movie set in the woods. The humor and dialogue were spot on. I also really enjoyed how you got little excerpts from the movie script as they were shooting the film. I thought that was a nice touch. All in all, another great story by this dynamic duo.

Rating: 4.5/5

Top 5: Fictional Witches

Hello, all!

'Tis the witchy season, so I figured what better way to celebrate than to dedicate this Top 5 to some of my favorite witches.

1. Sabrina Spellman: My love of this sassy teenage witch started way back when I was a kid. My mom would take my brother and I to the local comic book store, and I would get the mystery bag comics (basically, a paper bag filled with about 5 comics that you never knew what they were until you opened them). They were almost always filled with Archie comics, and the Sabrina ones were my favorite. From there, I was an avid watcher of the 90s show, which later turned to the darker Netflix adaptation. Even though she's a witch, she's also just trying to be a regular teenager and that always made for the most ridiculous antics.

2. Willow Rosenberg: Ok, so Willow once tried to destroy the whole word, but she did it for love, so at least her intentions were sorta honorable? Dark Willow aside, she is probably my favorite part of the Scooby gang and I loved watching her growth throughout the series.

3. Hermione Granger: As if I could have a list of witches and not include the brightest witch of her age. Hermione has all the qualities I admire in a character: she's smart, loyal, compassionate and not afraid to stand her ground. I would just love to hang with her in the Hogwarts library and roll our eyes at Harry and Ron over our massive book piles.

4. Piper Halliwell: The Halliwell sisters may have been stronger as the Power of Three, but I always loved Piper the most. She always seemed like the most level-headed out of the sisters, and she's the only one who not only grew more powerful throughout the series, but who also had a family of her own. Plus, I just wish I could've had the power to freeze and blow things up.

5. The Sanderson Sisters: You can't have Halloween without these witchy sisters. While Winnie is obviously the most powerful (and smartest), I think all three of them really round each other out. And who can resist calling out "Booo-ooook" or "AMUCK! AMUCK! AMUCK!" at any given opportunity?

Let me know who your picks would be!

The Furies Review

Hello, all!

I distinctly remember the first time I ever saw the movie The Craft. I was 8 years old and my friend's mom took me and him to see it when it came out in theaters. We were definitely way too young to watch it, and by the time we left the theater, it was dark and it had started chucking down rain with thunder and lightning, the whole witchy-feeling she-bang. I remember we got to my house to drop me off, and I literally ran in because I was convinced Nancy Downs was going to jump out and start antagonizing me. Needless to say, I now love that movie, so when I heard about The Furies by Katie Lowe with its group of witchy girl vibes, I needed to pick it up. Thank you to Netgalley for the copy!

Pub Date: 10-8-10
Adult - Thriller

After a tragedy strikes her family, Violet seeks to start fresh at Elm Hollow Academy, an all-girl's boarding school on the outskirts of her quiet seaside town. A bit timid and unusual, Violet finds it hard to make friends. Desperate to fit in, she soon finds herself invited to join a secret advanced study group taught by her mysterious art teacher, Annabel. In these sessions, Violet, along with three other girls, Robin, Grace and Alex, delve into the strange history of the campus: everything from Greek and Celtic legends, to the founder of the school's "academic" interest in the occult, and even the witch trials that were held on the quad. Even about how the Furies of ancient Greece were reportedly summoned to enact justice upon those who were wronged. Annabel tries to convince the girls her advance class is just based upon speculation and that it's all just myth, but the more the girls learn the more they believe they can harness this power for themselves.

Violet soon finds herself completely wrapped up in this world of revenge magic and power. She also discovers that before she came to Elm Hollow, a young girl, who was also a part of the study group and friends with the three girls, disappeared and Violet bears a striking resemblance to her. It doesn't help that all the girls, especially Robin, get cagey whenever the subject is brought up. As her and her friends spiral deeper into the darkness, Violet begins to wonder who she can trust and just how far she's willing to go before she allows this power to destroy her completely.

I sort of went into this hoping it would give me all The Craft meets The Graces vibe, and while it did to some extent, I wanted a bit more. The spooky witchy vibes were there, but I just feel like it could've been ramped up slightly. I also wish the Furies themselves were highlighted just a bit more since they seem to be such a central part of the story. The group dynamic between the girls was good, I felt they all brought something different to the table. It definitely had an interesting premise, and I loved the boarding school setting, but I did think some bits dragged. Overall, I think it'll be a good eerie read, especially if you're a fan of darker themes.

Rating: 3/5

Mini Thoughts

Hello, all!

Big thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for these copies!

Pub Date: 10-8-10
Adult - Fiction

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts-Kate Racculia: Tuesday Mooney likes to be alone. She doesn't have many friends, she doesn't leave her house much, and that's alright with her. But when an eccentric billionaire dies and leaves his fortune to whoever can beat his weird treasure hunt throughout Boston, puzzle-loving Tuesday joins up with a crew of misfits to ferret out the clues. With teams throughout the city vying for the prize, Tuesday and company must work quickly, but what they discover is way more dangerous than a silly little scavenger hunt. I have to admit, this book threw me. Based on the title, I went in thinking it was going to be one way--a woman who talks to ghosts--but really it was a woman getting to the bottom of a mystery, who occasionally believes she can talk to her dead best friend from childhood. I didn't find myself connecting to this story at all. I wasn't invested in any of the characters or even the plot itself. I was even skimming through parts because I was just bored. The premise could've been really cool, but I just don't think it was executed in the best way.

Rating: 2/5

Pub Date: 10-15-19
Comics - Graphic Novels

Mooncakes- Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu: Nova Huang isn't your typical teen witch. She knows more about magic than most witches her age, and spends her time helping out in her grandma's book shop, lending out spell books and investigating supernatural occurrences in their small New England town. One of these occurrences, a rumor of a massive white wolf, leads her out to the woods one night where she comes across the last person she expected to see: her childhood friend, Tam, fighting a demon horse. As a great big wolf. Hunted by dark forces, Tam and Nova band together and find their feelings for one another might just be the spark their magics were missing. This was such an adorably charming story. In one word: magical. It was a heart-warming and cozy coming-of-age story, and Nova and Tam were so precious together. Everything from the artwork to the story was just so enjoyable.

Rating: 4/5

Pub Date: 10-15-19
Poetry

Sad Birds Still Sing- Faraway: This is a new collection of poems by the anonymous poet, Faraway, that touches upon everything from life to loss to heartbreak to fighting your own inner demons. Although, there are some heavy themes in this collection, the main thing holding it all together is an underlying message of hope. I really enjoyed these poems, and quickly flew through this in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. I found this relatable, inspiring, and so beautiful. I'll definitely be checking out more from him.

Rating: 3.5/5

The Library of the Unwritten Review

Hello, all!

As a self-proclaimed book addict, any stories that revolve around books and/or libraries are immediately added to my TBR. The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith was no exception. Big thank you to Ace Books for the copy!

Pub Date: 10-1-19
Adult- Fantasy

Have you ever wondered where all the unwritten novels go when their author's put them down? They end up residing in the Unwritten Wing in Hell, and Claire is the Head Librarian who takes care of them. Claire's main job duties include repairing and general upkeep of the books, and keeping a close eye to make sure the restless stories don't end up materializing straight out of their books and escaping the library. After one such incident, Claire, along with her cheerful apprentice and a naive demon messenger boy, must track down and capture a missing Hero who left his story in hopes of tracking down its author. What starts out as a routine rescue mission, soon turns topsy turvy when the group cross paths with a terrifying angel.

Ramiel was once an important figure in Heaven. He was one of the original Watchers, but is now stuck manning the check-in desk before the Gates of Heaven after falling from God's good graces. After a recent soul shows up waving a piece of the Devil's Bible, a text that would be a powerful weapon in the hands of either Heaven or Hell, Ramiel is sent out on a mission to find the rest before Hell's minions get it first. Ramiel has a lot riding on this mission, but the longer he's on the hunt for the pages, the more he begins to second guess whether or not he's truly on the righteous side.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. The entire premise was so solid and so well done. The characters are fully formed, interesting, and work well separately and together. Claire was headstrong and resilient, and watching her journey through literal Hell, was so fascinating. I also loved how there were twists I didn't expect, and even though the battle between Heaven and Hell can get a little heavy, there's a lightness and humor woven throughout that makes for the perfect balance. This was a clever, fast-paced adventure and a definite read for any book lover.

Rating: 4/5

Imaginary Friend Review

Hello, all!

Like many, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky was a huge book for me in high school. When I heard he was coming out with a new horror novel, Imaginary Friend, I was super interested. Big thank you to Netgalley for the copy!

Pub Date: 10-1-19
Adult - Horror

Kate Reese and her 7-year old son, Christopher, are on the run. After fleeing her abusive boyfriend in the middle of the night, the pair end up as far off the beaten path as they could find: Mill Grove, Pennsylvania. At first, everything seems to be going well, then Christopher vanishes for six days and emerges from the woods seemingly unharmed, but he soon finds not completely unchanged.

Christopher has no recollection of the days he spent lost in the woods. He has no idea how he got there, but he knows that a "nice man" helped him get out. After the local sheriff and police force scour the woods and find no trace of anyone, Christopher's claims are brushed aside as a hallucination. But someone did help Christopher, it's the same voice that's now in his head pushing him to complete a mission only he can pull off: Build a tree house in the woods by Christmas or else his mother, and the entire town, will never be the same again.

This was...ambitious. The whole premise was definitely intriguing, but it's a bit hard to stay suspenseful at over 700 pages. I felt like it could've easily been at least 300 pages shorter and the story would've been way more effective. I didn't fully feel the horror aspects that I was expecting, but it was still eerie at times. I also didn't realize how big of a part religion would have in this. Overall, I thought it was just okay.

Rating: 2.75/5