Review Of Owl Crate July - Subscription Box 2017

Last updated on 19 January 2024

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Owl Crate has to be one of my favourite subscription boxes.

As well as Fandom of the Month Club, obviously. But Owl Crate has a special place in my heart because it’s all about books. Living in New Zealand means it’s not often you find a subscription box which delivers here, and even less are book boxes. The ones that do look incredible but the total cost to send to NZ is more than my yearly salary (okay, exaggeration, but you know what I mean).

Owl Crate falls in the middle. They’re an incredible book box that are top-notch and wonderful and they ship to New Zealand. I love that. However, the shipping is quite expensive, and that’s not because of the wonderful folks at Owl Crate, it’s just because of international shipping costs in general. It’s super annoying. Because of this, I don’t get Owl Crate every month. In fact, this is only the third time I’ve subscribed. Every time is 100% worth it, but I can’t afford it every month.

Thankfully they provide sneak peeks and let you know the upcoming month’s theme so you can opt in or not. Genius. When I saw what the July theme was I knew it was time to sign up again. Here’s what was in the box!

Owl Crate theme, July 2017: Wanderlust

Right off the bat this box is awesome. With a theme like ‘wanderlust’ you know it’s going to be good! I think out of the three boxes I’ve received this is my favourite.

Owl Crate information card

Each month they provide a themed information car which has all the details of the contents of the box on the other side. I love how they tell you who made each piece and why they chose it for the box.

The Lord of the Rings backpack

Love love love this! I can’t wait to have an opportunity to carry this beautiful canvas bag around. This was created exclusively by the team at Owl Crate, and it’s wonderful. Should have probably ironed it before I took a picture.

Pocket mirror, Newt Scamander Pop keychain, travel pin and luggage tag

One of my favourite books is A Dark Shade of Magic, by V.E. Schwab, and that’s what this beautiful pocket mirror is inspired by. ‘As Travars’ means ‘to travel’ in the world created by Schwab. Love.It. How sweet is this little Newt? I actually bought a big Newt not too long ago, but this little one might actually go on my key chain (gasp! Who’da thought?!). The little travel inspired pin matches the information card, and the owl luggage tag was created by Mudpuppy. I don’t like owls (those beady eyes creep me out), but my sister is already enjoying this chappy.

City notebook

I love this sweet pocket journal by Ooly. The city is so colourful and it’s the perfect handbag size for notes while you’re out and about, exploring the world. There were 8 possible designs for this notebook, so if you got a different one to me, flick me a picture! I’d love to see the other designs too.

Art Print map, bookplate, letter from the author, and August preview

These little extra bits are courtesy of Mackenzie Lee, who wrote the book in this month’s box. She created a fun story map of the places the characters in the book travel to, and wrote Owl Crate subscribers a beautiful handwritten card about the book. There’s also a signed book plate, which I’ve stuck inside the book now, and the usual next month sneak peek preview (August’s theme is ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’).

Art print

This art print by Shailey Ann Designs is perfect. I loved the quote, ‘I go to seek the great perhaps’, which is from Francois Rabelais, and also references the novel Looking for Alaska. I’ve already hung it up.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, by Mackenzie Lee

And the book of the month! I had actually seen this on Goodreads before I knew it was going to be in the box. The cover is an exclusive design for Owl Crate (I think the only difference is the colour of the writing), and I made the terrible mistake of opening the book and reading the first few pages. I had to quickly put it down so as not to be swept away – I was halfway through another book and didn’t want to interrupt that. But then all I could think of was my excitement to get into this book. I’ve only seen and read great things, so I’m super looking forward to it! Update: You can read my review of The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue here.

And that’s a wrap! I have to say, Owl Crate, you’ve outdone yourself once more. I loved the July box, and while I’m sad I can’t afford to get it every month, when I do get it, it’s a magical box full of wonder. If you guys are interested in this box, do go and sign up. It’s totally worth it, even if you can only do every so often. Not convinced? Check out their past boxes – which you can also buy – to see what they’re like.

Did you get July’s box? Did you love it!?

Check out April 2015’s box and August 2015’s box.