Down The Rabbit Hole Book Box (November 2020)

Hello Lovelies,

 

I have a thrilling new book box to share with you and it’s the Down The Rabbit Hole Book Box. This book box is a bit unique because it’s a box that’s been curated around a dark read (more about dark reads in a bit). As someone who has always loved dark, gothic novels, I was intrigued by this book box.  

Here’s a little more about the box before we dig in.

 

What is Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box? Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box is a monthly book box that sends you one dark, mesmerizing, and gripping read (either paperback or hardback) along with 4-6 individually wrapped gifts that’s been curated around the book.

 Website

Price: $34.99 (plus shipping) at the moment this is only offered in the US

Use the coupon code SIMPLYANGELA10 for 10% off your first box or a year's subscription. This code is good for the month of December and is not an affiliate code.

How is it shipped and packaged? The box is shipped via USPS and does come in an outer package. The box itself contains shredded paper packaging that protects the items inside. Each item inside the box (other than the book and pamphlet) is individually wrapped and numbered.

What is a dark read? Per their website, they define dark books as a book without a happy ending. The books we will choose for you will have scary and dark plots, not so nice protagonists that will leave you questioning the world as it is.  There will be no books with happy endings coming from us!

Genres included (but not limited to): Southern Gothic | Dark Fantasy | Psychological Thriller | Horror | Mystery | Dark Fiction | Crime

Because of the content of the dark reads, the website does recommend that this book box is for those 18 years of age and above.

Can I find out the title of the book? Unlike other companies, Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box makes it easy to discover the title. Each month hints will be revealed on their website and Instagram. You can also email the company directly to discover the title. 

Here’s what’s in November’s Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box.

 

November’s Book: The Secret History by Donna Tartt (paperback)—while this book was published in 1992, it’s been on my ‘to buy’ list for ages so I’m very happy that this is November’s book.

November’s Theme: Dark Academia

What is Dark Academia? Dark academia is a genre of literature that generally focuses on the humanities and liberal arts and is set in either a boarding school or university. It often contains gothic elements.

Each month you receive a pamphlet that tells you the theme of the month, a little about the author, and how to open your gifts. Because this is an Immersive Experience Book Box, it’s best to open the gifts as you read (you’ll find a little sticky tab on the page telling you which gift to open).

What is an Immersive Experience Book Box? It’s a box that’s been curated to pull the reader further into the sensory experience of the story with sounds, scents, tastes, and objects of interest from within the story. While items like candles, drinkware, and jewelry could be included, it also includes story specific items such as letters, photos and such.

Item #1—College Brochure from Hampden College, the college mentioned in the book.

Item #2—Bookmark with quote from The Secret History

Item #3—Cup and Saucer from Amazing Ware

Item #4—Wick & Whimsy Soy Candle in Dark Academia (black coffee, bourbon, and burnt sugar) 4 oz, 100% soy

Item #5—Typewritten letter addressed to Julian Morrow

I also received a sticker based on the characters.

 

My thoughts on the November box: This was a great box that fit the book—and theme—brilliantly. The story specific items (college brochure, bookmark, and typewritten letter) were perfect. The college brochure and typewritten letter are straight from the pages. The bookmark is not mentioned but the quote on the bookmark is.

The bookish gifts (the candle and teacup and saucer) are amazing. The candle has a nice throw and burns clean. It’s a heavy-scented candle that has a strong coffee and bourbon scent when cold and a sugared coffee scent when lit. While I’m not a fan of coffee-scented items (I know, I’m the odd one that doesn’t like the smell of coffee) this is going to look great on my bookshelf and as a bookstagram prop. The bourbon and coffee-scents are mentioned in the book. The teacup and saucer (mentioned in the book) is my favorite item in the box. My little teacup collecting soul did a happy dance when I unwrapped this item. It’s a lovely dark-green, scalloped-edged set rimmed with gold that’s nice and heavy. There’s a little crown design inside the teacup and it’s easy to hold.

Honestly, I think this is a great box that really does give you an immersive reading experience. There’s nice mix of bookish gifts and story specific items so you do feel like you get your money’s worth then some from the box.

The only gift that I would have changed would have been Gift #2, the bookmark. The page where the quote is mentioned also talks about a journal, so it would have been nice to have received a journal with the quote printed on it or a post card with fall foliage and the quote (a post card is also mentioned). While I don’t mind getting a bookmark, we normally see these types (standard laminated cardstock) of bookmarks thrown in as extras rather than an actual gift.

Number of Items received: 5 Gifts (3 story specific and 2 bookish) plus the book.

Overall, I enjoyed November’s box. I also enjoyed that this box is going to be curated around dark, gothic types of reads and that’s really what differentiates this box from the other boxes out there. The Down the Rabbit Hole Book Box is off to a good start. It would make a fantastic gift to yourself or someone who loves darker types of reads.  

Code is for December Only

Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and betrayal, and at last - inexorably - into evil.