Book Box Club Unboxing March 2020

Book Box Club Unboxing March 2020

I give you my unboxing of the March 2020 'Mythical Monsters' box.

You can watch my unboxing video at the bottom of this post. 

Subscriptions:

I went for the full subscription for six months. You can select monthly, or 3 monthly, 6 monthly or soon I believe 12 monthly, as well as signing up for the pure books version, which comes without the swag and goodies.

The box itself:

It comes in a very cute and neat turquoise box, with paper filling to protect the books and goodies, plus very attractive gift wrap around the book (or in this case books).

I think this is my favourite theme of the three boxes I've received so far! I LOVE the wall hanging and all the artwork is fab!!!

Inside:

Book - Hold Back the Tide by Melinda Salisbury

A special clubhouse invite with personalised access code to chat to the authors.

Mythical Monsters Wall Hanging with Artwork by Klara Hawkins.

Nessie Tea Strainer by Ototo Design.

Dragon Well Loose Tea by the True Tea Company.

Niffler Magnet with Artwork by Emily Carrier.

Iorek enamel pin by Book Box Club.

Bookish extra bookmarks: Michael O'Mara Books, Usborne and Bloomsbury.

I'll be reading the book over the next couple of weeks, so watch out for my review coming soon!

My Unboxing video:

Check out my YouTube Channel!

Bookish Merch on Monday - Mr Darcy Edition

I do love a good bit of book or movie themed merchandise and I'm a bit obsessed when that march happens to be a fun and quirky mug.

My lovely Auntie gave me this fab Elizabeth and Mr Darcy Pride and Prejudice mug for my Birthday last week and I couldn't resist putting up a pic of it with my very old edition of the book.

Cover Love - Ash Princess

As a book blogger I receive SO MANY book review requests each week that I physically don't have the time to look at them all, let alone reply to them all and review them. 

One bit of advice I always offer to self-published authors (other than paying for an editing service) is to save up your pennies and invest in getting a fab cover made. As shallow as it may seem, a lovely cover image with a review request will help grab my attention and there is more chance I'll see the request and offer a review. 

This follows on with sales, if your book has an attention grabbing cover, then people are more likely to buy the book. This doesn't have to be an expensive cover, but I'd avoid the common pitfalls of going mad with fonts, or colourful sky or beach scene images and most of all, including a strangely placed cut-out of an animal or person. If it doesn't blend in with the rest of the cover then I'd have a rethink! 

Anyway I wanted to point to one of my favourite covers so far this year. It works because it's clever and simple, yet ready intricate at the same time...

Ash Princess

by Laura Sebastian

What they say: Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.

For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.

Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.

For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.

More info

Cover Love - The Poet X

The Poet X

by Elizabeth Acevedo

I do firmly believe in not judging a book by it's cover but sometimes I find myself drawn to a book by whats on the outside before falling in love with the story inside...

I absolutely adore the beautiful cover for The Poet X because it's all kinds of quirky, creative and gorgeous!

What they say: A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world. Debut novel of renowned slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo.

Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.

But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about. With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself.

So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out, much less speak her words out loud. But still, she can’t stop thinking about performing her poems.

Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent. 

More info

Bakes and Books on Sunday

My first official Book Bake

I really flipping love baking! Along with reading, baking is a relaxation aide and a form of therapy for me. Both inspire and calm me just in very different ways. Baking is a great way to focus and quiet my busy mind, with a yummy outcome to boot.

After going on a healthy eating kick last year I haven't made many cakes in recent months. This is a huge shame because I really miss it. Also to be honest I don't have as much free time to put on my Queen of Cupcakes apron on these days. I came to a recent decision that I'm going to try to make time for something I love so much. I need to remember that just because I've made the cake, I don't have to eat it all, especially when I have so many ready and willing cake tasters living nearby (plus I'm really more of a savoury gal at heart anyway).

So I grabbed my apron and made this calorific Jaffa cake sponge. It's huge, not particularly pretty, but tastes super yummy and went really well with a nice cuppa whilst I organised my TBR.

A heads-up my bookish bakes are cakes to enjoy whilst reading and are not necessarily book themed/related.

Happy Sunday lovelies x

12 of My Favs

My copy of The Deviants basically threw itself off the shelf which lead to an up close and personal look at the cover. 

I then started thinking about some of the YA covers I've loved over the past few years. 

So without further ado here are twelve of my favs...

Across the Universe by Beth Revis 

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer 

Die for Me by Amy Plum 

Infinite by Jodi Meadows 

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

Champion by Marie Lu

Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones 

Everless by Sara Holland

The Deviants by C.J. Skuse

Which covers would make your list?!

Bookish Goodies on a Sunday

If you're a regular reader of the blog then you'll know that I flipping love a bookish or cult TV/Movie or comic themed product!

Today I'm sharing a few of my fav bookish goodies. They cost less than £10 each so make great low cost gifts!

First up this cute The Book Was Better Enamel Pin from Punky Pins Book Lovers range! Mine was a gift from my Mum but it's a steal at £7.00 on their website.

I picked up the As You Like It - All the World's a Stage pen in London a couple of years ago and only recently started using it. You can grab something similar for around £2.00 at Shakespeare's Globe.

This Alice in Wonderland mini Drink Me glass bottle necklace came on a silver chain as part of an Alice cosplay costume, but you can grab a much cheaper one for a few pounds on eBay, Etsy or Amazon.

I purchased the Batman comic notebook at London Film and Comic Con last year for a fiver! It has Batman on side and Catwoman on the other. Amazon has a pretty rocking selection of comic themed notebooks.

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Sunny Reading Spots

For me warm weather means finding a lovely sunny reading spot and relaxing with a glass of wine, yummy coffee or a pretty cocktail or two.


Having just returned from holiday in Spain I won't be off anywhere exotic any time soon so my reading spots are limited to the garden, local beach, parks and a beer garden or two.

Here's my current inspiration...

Rusty Nailed & Rose in the garden:

ARCs and a picnic in the park:




Hut days at the beach:

And holiday dreaming of Spain:

My Valentine's Reading

I'm FINALLY sinking my teeth into Wing Jones by Katherine Webber! 
It's SO good!!! I'm in YA heaven!

Whatcha reading this Valentine's day?
What they say: Jandy Nelson meets Friday Night Lights: a sweeping story about love and family from an exceptional new voice in YA. With a grandmother from China and another from Ghana, fifteen-year-old Wing Jones is often caught between worlds. But when tragedy strikes, Wing discovers a talent for running she never knew she had. Wing's speed could bring her family everything it needs. It could also stop Wing getting the one thing she wants.
Add to Goodreads 

Buy here!

The 100 Book & TV Blitz

I am so excited that THE 100 returns to TV tonight (in America - us Brits have to wait a while longer *le sigh*)! 

To help celebrate the show's return Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Rockstar Book Tours are giving away 5 Boxed Sets of the Complete series below...! 

Title: THE 100 Box Set (Books 1-4)

Author: Kass Morgan

Pub. Date: January 3, 2016

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 1360 Formats: Paperback

Find it: 

Amazon * Goodreads

All four thrilling novels in The 100 series, now available in a paperback boxed set! 

Ever since nuclear war destroyed our planet, humanity has been living on city-like spaceships hovering above the toxic surface. As far as anyone knows, no one has stepped foot on Earth in centuries--that is, until one hundred juvenile delinquents are sentenced to return and recolonize the hostile land. The future of the human race rests in their hands, but nothing can prepare the 100 for what they find on this strange and savage planet. 

Read the series that inspired the hit TV show. The 100, Day 21, Homecoming, and Rebellion are gathered together for the first time in this striking box set, perfect for fans and series newcomers alike.

Author Spotlight:

Kass Morgan
  Oxford, and now resides in Brooklyn, where she lives in constant fear of her Ikea bookcase collapsing and burying her under a mound of science fiction and Victorian novels. Kass is currently working on the sequel to The 100, which she’ll finish as soon as she finds a coffee shop that allows laptops on the weekend.

Twitter * Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

5 winners will receive the complete boxed set of THE 100 Series, US Only.

Ends on February 8th at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reading Spots

All the Bookish Things

I don't know about you but I love to find a comfy spot to snuggle down to read exciting new books & of course my old favourites?! 
I've been on the hunt for a special reading chair for a while now and decided to splurge on this beauty as soon as I saw it...

It cost me a fortune, is basically too large for my room and is a totally random mixture of granny chic and modern kitsch but I freaking love it - It's an awesome reading spot.

Do you have a fav reading chair, snug or spot? Share your pics and I'll add them to the board.

Christmas Bookish Gifts

Christmassy gift ideas for the book lover in your life

“She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain.” ― Louisa May Alcott, Work: A Story of Experience

✨ Go away I'm reading merchandise - there's a wonderful selection available on Etsy but I picked up this fab tote bag from my local library a couple of years ago, before getting it signed by some of my favourite authors at YALC and then popping it in lovely frame!

✨ Book Lover Gifts have some quirky ideas - I particularly like this Sherlock Holmes quote scarf!

✨ The Literary Gift Company have lots of book themed treats - I love their wonderful range of jewellery! 

✨ You can't beat giving an actual book but if the book geek in your is anything like me then they'll already have shelves full of the beauties so why not give them a voucher or token to pick their own? I'm a big fan of National Book Tokens and they can always be trusted t have lots of awesome bookish competitions!

✨ How about a Shakespearian Insults Picture? I found this beauty on Redbubble here but you can pick these up all over the place...

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Awesome Bookish Goodies

Quirky & Cult-ish Merch!

I'm a big fan of bookish, comics, TV and movie themed merchandise and have an unhealthy obsession with quote mugs.
My main geeky obsession is anything Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and Thor related but I NEVER miss an opportunity to buy more book themed or other fandom merch!

Here are some of my fav places to grab some great geeky goodies:

Wizarding Wares - for awesome Harry Potter themed greatness rating from bags, mugs and jewellery.
House of MinaLima - Harry Potter artwork
Truffle Shuffle - for pretty much anything related to pop culture.
Etsy - for homemade crafty goodness!
Forbidden Planet - doesn't need any explanation.
REDBUBBLE - for super quirky artwork and designs. I have lots of tote bags from here. 

GOT mug present - Amazon UK HP makeup present - LBQ from Shiro cosmetics Yoda 3D card - present HP cards - House of MinaLima Disney pen - Magic Kingdom Florida Jack Skellington pillow - Disney Springs Florida TARDIS mug - LFCC/YALC 2016 TARDIS card present - LBQ Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them magazine - Odeon

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Truly Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Bring on the Magic!!

My short & quick as non-spoilery as possible take on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

David Yates, J. K. Rowling, Eddie Redmayne and the entire cast of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them have done a truly wonderful job extending Rowling's magical world beyond or before Harry, Ron and Hermione. We're transported to 1920s New York where we get to meet a whole host of new characters and creatures. Not only is the film amazing, but it's really flipping cool!!
Upon hearing the first few beats of the original Harry Potter music I was instantly transported to a world so familiar, yet wonderfully new and different. I particularly liked the attention to detail (Giggle juice anyone?)  but I really loved Eddie Redmayne's charming portrayal of Newt. 
I cannot wait for the next film and hopefully more Niffler's, No-Maj's, MACUSA troubles, Obscurus twists and of course Newt, Jacob, Tina, Queenie and a certain dark wizard *ahem* Grindelwald...!

The Beautiful Bloggers Award

A BIG smiley THANKS to Lisabella at Lisabella Books for nominating me and the blog! 
I'm a big fan of anything celebrating blogging, bloggers, positivity and of course books!


The rules for the award are as follows:

• A link to the blogger who took the time to nominate you.
• List 7 random things about yourself.
• Nominate 7 wonderful book loving bloggers.
• Notify the amazing people you nominated for this award.

Okay here we go:

7 Random Things About Me:

1. I've been inside the TARDIS (I used to work in TV production).

2. I have first editions of all the Harry Potter books which now live in a special locked fireproof box (le sigh - for insurance).

3. Although I love all types of books including Young Adult, New Adult & Adult, my favourite book is actually a play. It's by a certain guy called Shakespeare: "Let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me." - Much Ado About Nothing. 

4. I honestly couldn't pick one favourite song or band, but sticking with the Shakespeare theme, I have to mention Mumford & Sons and Sigh No More.

5. Years ago I worked as a runner on TV show with a certain famous author.

6. I'm studying Latin and have a compulsion to tell everybody what random things mean in Latin. It's really annoying but I can't seem to help myself.

7. I love lime milkshakes. I tried them several years ago in New Zealand & have been obsessed ever since.

My Nominees - I love everything these lovelies do on their blogs: 

Alexa at Alexa Loves Books

Mindy at Magical Urban Fantasy Reads

Amaris at Amarisfloria

Andi at Andi's ABCs

Jessica at Jessabella Reads

Faye at A Daydreamer's Thoughts

Katie at Bookish Illuminations

Massive to congratulations to everybody :)

Thanks so much,

Zili x