March 2017 OwlCrate Unboxing and Review

photo credit: @thebookranter

Greetings Friends!

Today I wanted to give you an unboxing of the March OwlCrate box along with a review of the book that was included!

OwlCrate is a monthly subscription box that includes a newly released young adult novel and 3 to 5 bookish items. March’s theme was “Sailors, Ships, and Seas” and contained many seaworthy goodies!

Let’s take a closer look at each of the items!

An exclusively designed compass necklace for OwlCrate members from The Geeky Cauldron
A hand-printed tea towel from KitchStudios
An octopus notepad from boygirlparty
Mermaid scale washi tape from Simply Gilded
Last, but certainly not least, the book of the month – Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller, which also included a signed book plate, letter from the author, and a temporary pirate tattoo

Rating:

Synopsis:

Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.

More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.

Review:

This was such a great and fun book! It was so refreshing to finally read a story that claimed the female protagonist would be cunning, spunky, confident, and dangerous and which ultimately totally delivered on that promise! Alosa is the daughter of the ruthless pirate king, but she is not nor has she ever been spoiled or pampered. She’s spirited and a fighter and has had to work, train, and prove herself just as much as anyone else in her father’s fleet, making her competent, brilliant, and brutal. She’s also quite feminine, thoroughly embracing that side of her personality as well, and proving to be a wonderful example of an empowered heroine.

The story starts fast and moves quickly. The pacing is fantastic and really adds to the atmosphere of capturing the high stakes race to find the map. As with most all young adult books, there is a bit of romance that develops between Alosa and one of her captors, Riden, the first mate, but thankfully this doesn’t happen quickly. I really appreciated the age appropriate romance that is presented rather than creating these over-sexualized characters that are gradually becoming the norm in young adult literature. This was very much a love-hate relationship that is surprisingly fun and adorable to watch. They keep each other on their toes to such an extent that they begin to respectfully admire one another. And whether they ultimately become lovers, best friends, or allies is yet to be determined, but it does appear that a great partnership is definitely in the making.

This is the author’s debut novel, but honestly, the writing is so fantastic that you would never even know it! There are some paranormal/fantastical elements to the story that are sparingly hinted at throughout, but once the truth is revealed, it packs a great punch for the sequel coming next year. While it’s definitely not a cliffhanger by any means, the ending strongly suggests there is way more to this story. I can’t wait to find out what adventure awaits!

About the Author:

Tricia Levenseller is from a small town in Oregon, but she now lives in Utah with her bossy dog, Rosy. She received her degree in English language and editing, and she is thrilled that she never has to read a textbook again. When she’s not writing or reading, Tricia enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing volleyball, and watching her favorite TV shows while eating extra-buttered popcorn.

You can find her on:

Facebook | Instagram | Website | Twitter

I hope that you enjoyed this unboxing! April’s box is currently available and will begin shipping out soon! The theme is “Head over Heels” and will include a highly anticipated contemporary romance and bookish goodies that will give you all the feels! Subscribe today so you don’t miss out on this fun box!

photo credit: @bookswrotemystory