The Nocturnal Reader's Subscription Box: From Beyond The Grave

It arrived! It finally arrived! I am beyond excited to finally get my hands on this subscription box, lovingly created for those of us who prefer the more dark and sinister things in life. I always felt like subscription boxes were a "waste of money" and I didn't need to pay to have someone else choose books for me?! How do they know what I would like? Well...I have been proven WRONG. The creators of this box are huge Stephen King fans and it would therefore follow that whatever they love, I'm probably gonna love too. So here we go...let's delve into what was included in this month's box, the theme being "From Beyond the Grave"!


Firstly, the books! That's what we're all here for, right? One of the books is The House on Cold Hill by Peter James. Peter James has been having a bit of a moment recently on bookstagram - everywhere I look, there his books are! So I was very excited to get my hands on my first Peter James book - let's see what all the fuss is about! The synopsis for this book is as follows:

Moving from the heart of Brighton and Hove to the Sussex countryside is a big undertaking for Ollie and Caro Harcourt and their twelve-year old daughter Jade. But when they view Cold Hill House - a huge, dilapidated Georgian mansion - Ollie is filled with excitement. Despite the financial strain of the move, he has dreamed of living in the country since he was a child, and he sees Cold Hill House as a paradise for his animal-loving daughter, the perfect base for his web-design business and a terrific long-term investment. Within days of moving in, it becomes apparent that the Harcourt family aren't the only residents of the house. A friend of Jade's is the first to see the spectral woman, standing behind her as the girls talk on FaceTime. Then there are more sightings, and as the house seems to turn on the Harcourts, the terrified family discover its dark history, and the horrible truth of what it could mean for all of them...

That sounds good, right?! Even thinking of seeing a presence in the background while FaceTiming someone just sends shivers running down my spine... ah, I can't wait!

The second book is Five Stories High, focusing on one house with five different hauntings and stories. This book is also very intriguing to me, bringing together five up-and-coming authors. The synopsis for this book is as follows:

Irongrove Lodge - a building with history; the very bricks and grounds imbued with the stories of those who have walked these corridors, lived in these rooms. These are the tales of an extraordinary house, a place that straddles our world and whatever lies beyond; a place that some are desperate to discover, and others to flee. At one time an asylum, at another a care home, sometimes simply a home. The residents of Irongrove Lodge will learn that this house will change them, that the stories told here never go away. Of all who enter, only some will leave.

Chilling! And it sounds like it's right up my street. I totally trust these guys and their book choices!

Now for the rest of the box. Possibly my favourite inclusion is the Edgar Allan Poe tote bag. Wow. Heart eyes for days! This is definitely going to be my new laptop bag. It's bound to get a few envious glances in Starbucks or in the lab. Another awesome edition is the 3D skull double shot glass. Pour in your drink of choice and admire the 3D skull that lies within. As a King fan, I'm also excited about the 1408 hotel keychain, in reference to the short story "1408" in Everything's Eventual. I wanted to attach it to my keys right away...but also don't want to potentially damage it! Does anyone else suffer from this internal conflict?!

There's also a NerdWick Candle, "The Hideous Heart", which does not smell hideous AT ALL. It's beautiful! And I love my candles, so I was very happy about this item. I'd be tempted to order more from their website. Lastly, there's a beautiful bookmark with artwork by Sierra Bancroft, as well as a postcard and another piece with the artwork done by Saranit Klinklaykun.

Absolutely amazing box this month! Looking forward to next month's box which has the theme "Paranoia". I'm intrigued...

Johann
x

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