LitJoy Crate Unboxing: Once Upon a Retelling (Feb 2020)
Welcome to a LitJoy Crate unboxing, friends! I don’t regularly subscribe to book boxes and have some rather conflicting thoughts about how much I adore them (would you want a discussion post on this?), but I am known to grab an occasional crate now and then when the theme tickles my fancy.
The February 2020 theme definitely tickled my fancy. Once Upon a Retelling! I can’t get enough of retellings and was fairly confident I knew what the book was, so I ordered a crate.
As always, I want to reiterate that you do not need to buy and own a lot of books or subscribe to all the book boxes in order to be considered a book blogger or lover.
Once Upon a Retelling Unboxing
There be spoilers for the contents of the February 2020 LitJoy Crate box below this point!
Rapunzel and Cress-inspired hairbrush designed by Ekaterina Savic (IG @katerinasavic)
I am really excited about a unique and useable item in this box! I can’t think of the last time I saw a hairbrush in a book box? I’m probably saving this one for a giveaway though because this kind of brush isn’t good for my hair.
To Kill a Kingdom floating pen
Another fun item, and one I definitely will get use out of! Do pens just seem to disappear for you? Pens and socks both seem to have an issue with my ownership and take off in droves. I also am a sucker for pens with floating elements, and we all know how I feel about mermaids…
Emma and Clueless-inspired enamel pin keychain designed by Angela De Vito (IG @angelaanimates)
You may not be able to guess this based on my current reading habits, but I LOVE JANE AUSTEN. Clueless is one of the most iconic movies of my formative years (rollin’ with the homies) and I remember my mind being blown when I found out it was an Emma retelling! I am pretty picky about keychains, so this is going in my giveaway box but I really love the artwork!
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Once Upon a Time bookshelf prop
I think this is my favorite item in the entire box! I love Once Upon a Time (well… I only watched the first 3 seasons, but I loved them!) and Rumple is probably my favorite character. And now I have my very own Dark Own knife!
Beauty and the Beast / A Court of Thorns and Roses puzzle designed by Rosie Thorns (IG @rosiethorns88)
I love puzzles and the artwork on this 150-piece puzzle is simply stunning! I am not sure if I will put this one together or save it for a giveaway (mostly because I have no wallspace to display it), but I really adore this one.
LitJoy Crate edition of Night Spinner by Addie Thorley with reversible dust jacket artwork by Stephanie Kock (IG @simsamy)
About the Book
Publisher: Page Street Kids | Release Date: February 11, 2020 | Pages: 391
Genre: Adult, Fantasy | Format: Hardcover | Source: Purchased\
Before the massacre at Nariin, Enebish was one of the greatest warriors in the Sky King’s Imperial Army: a rare and dangerous Night Spinner, blessed with the ability to control the threads of darkness. Now, she is known as Enebish the Destroyer―a monster and murderer, banished to a monastery for losing control of her power and annihilating a merchant caravan.
Guilt stricken and scarred, Enebish tries to be grateful for her sanctuary, until her adoptive sister, Imperial Army commander Ghoa, returns from the war front with a tantalizing offer. If Enebish can capture the notorious criminal, Temujin, whose band of rebels has been seizing army supply wagons, not only will her crimes be pardoned, she will be reinstated as a warrior.
Enebish eagerly accepts. But as she hunts Temujin across the tundra, she discovers the tides of war have shifted, and the supplies he’s stealing are the only thing keeping thousands of shepherds from starving. Torn between duty and conscience, Enebish must decide whether to put her trust in the charismatic rebel or her beloved sister. No matter who she chooses, an even greater enemy is advancing, ready to bring the empire to its knees.
If you would like to check out LitJoy Crate, click here to use my referral code that will get you $5 off of your first purchase (and I will earn money off my future orders). The March 2020 theme is Ride of Die and will have the second teacup in their series!
What book subscriptions do you have? Do you keep ordering them despite typically not having a use for the items like me? Have you read Night Spinner yet? Let’s talk book boxes in the comments, friends!
Let’s go on another adventure together!
Phantom Paper
March 12, 2020 at 9:53 AMI don’t get book boxes because I’m in China(don’t know if they have it here…maybe I should look it up) and how out of my budget it usually is. But I’m not against buying them, I totally see the appeal. I think a personalized box would satisfy me better, maybe filling a questionnaire as to what kind of items you’d be interested in getting. Like, say you don’t like candles but are interested in bookmarks, so they won’t send you candles.
Keytags are sooo not my thing, I like the embossed look but they’re imprinted in my mind as ‘tacky’ stuff for some reason… I think the interactive stuff are fun, like the pen and puzzle! I also like ones with more books but those would cost more. You can’t have everything, hehe. This was fun to read, who doesn’t like a haul or unboxing post? 😀
Kal
April 8, 2020 at 5:33 PMThey are really expensive, and then the shipping can be budget busting as well! A personalized box would be so cool… like I would love to state the kinds of items I’d like to receive and have a more tailored experience. The puzzle is fantastic considering I can’t leave my house, I will probably work on it sometime this week. Thanks so much for reading!
Eustacia Tan
March 13, 2020 at 4:53 AMI’ve never gotten a book box, though I’ve been tempted, mostly because I’m outside the US and Europe and the shipping fees are so expensive! This looks lovely though!
Kal
April 8, 2020 at 5:37 PMYea, shipping is so expensive so I totally get it! Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you’ll be able to get one someday.
Kristi @ConfessionsofaYAReader
March 13, 2020 at 12:00 PMThere are definitely some unique items in this box. I’m with you on Clueless. Great box and post!
Kal
April 8, 2020 at 5:40 PMThank you so much, and Clueless began my decades-long obsession with Paul Rudd!
Lisa @ waytoofantasy
March 14, 2020 at 1:40 PMI had not heard of LitJoy, this looks like a lovely box though!
Kal
April 8, 2020 at 5:41 PMYea, LitJoy Crate doesn’t get as much attention as Fairyloot and Owlcrate, and it’s a shame because I like it a lot.
Brittany
April 3, 2020 at 9:52 AMOooh I love the idea of a brush in a book box haha that is super cool, tho it kind of sucks you can’t use it 🙁
Kal
April 9, 2020 at 2:24 PMI really loved the brush as an item, but I am so sad I can’t use it! But it’s going into my giveaway box, so someone will enjoy it at some point.
Haley
April 7, 2020 at 5:34 AMI love that copy of The NightSpinner, it’s definitely been one of my fave reads of the year so far, and I have the same problem with those kinds of hairbrushes. Think the Once Upon a Time item was my fave as well, I loved your unboxing!!!
Kal
April 9, 2020 at 2:57 PMOohh, I am glad to hear that you enjoyed Night Spinner! And huzzah for hairbrush fails. Honestly I don’t get it, my hair is super fine and thin so IDK why my tangle pop the inside out after I wake up lol.