The Archives - Past Boxes

"With Teeth & Claws"

We're thrilled to embark on another epic fantasy journey brimming with magic, adventure, and captivating characters. "Stone & Sky" by Z.S. Diamanti is a heartwarming tale of friendship, defying insurmountable odds, and the enduring power of hope. Prepare to take flight on the backs of griffons as we dive into this fantasy world.
In perfect harmony with the fantastical themes of our featured book, our November coffee blend, "Legend" by One Village Coffee, boasts not only exquisite flavor but also stunning dragon-themed packaging. This decadent dark roast captivates with notes of chocolate, caramelized sugars, and a subtle touch of smoke, making it a treat for any coffee connoisseur. 
To ward off the November chill, we've curated a delightful tea experience with Voodoo from Broken Leaf Apothecary. This savory blend combines the flavors of beignets and aromatic chai spices. Share it with loved ones or savor it in solitary splendor while immersing yourself in this month's literary adventure.
Indulge in the warmth of a gingerbread-flavored hot chocolate from Raaka Chocolate, a delightful fusion of timeless holiday treats and rich cocoa goodness. Crafted from transparently-traded, single-origin cacao powder and unroasted dark chocolate sourced from Zorzal Cacao, this aromatic hot chocolate will envelop you in the scent of freshly baked ginger spice cookies, without the accompanying kitchen chaos.
For those moments when inspiration wanes during the frenetic pace of NaNoWriMo, our handcrafted Pocket Wisdom Cards by Chicaloo Kate offer daily doses of motivation. Whether you're at work, deep in your writing, or simply in need of a spirit-lifting message, these charming cards have you covered.
The best-laid plans often come together over a delicious meal, much like the memorable moments in this month's featured book. To enhance your reading experience, we've included Carmie's Kitchen Italian Herb Dipping Oil Seasoning as a bonus item. Whip up a mouthwatering feast as you devour the pages of our chosen novel.
To capture the essence of our high-fantasy adventure, we've included a playful "This Item Is Not a Mimic" Bookmark, inspired by the author's love of Dungeons and Dragons. Whether you dare to dog-ear the pages or prefer a gentler touch, this quirky bookmark complements the D&D-inspired vibes of our featured book.

"A Magical Conundrum."

Do you crave a good mystery at the beginning of fall as much as we do? Well, dust off your deerstalker hats, as we’re taking off into a new and enchanting fantasy series overflowing with magical mysteries that only one team can solve. The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft is a spellbinding mystery you won’t want to put down, even after the very last page. 
The coffee vendor in this month’s box created this exceptional Ethiopia Blend, the packaging for which goes so well the gorgeous cover of The Hexologists. The main characters in this book are confident in their craft, much like Confident Coffee Roasters! This is a light roasted coffee with tasting notes of berry and a hint of chocolate. 
As we move into October, this Poet’s Study Tea from Chapters Tea was just too perfect for fall to pass up! It’s an Edgar Allan Poe Earl Grey blend, perfect for spooky season. This delicious earl gray tastes like a harmonious balance of robust black tea and citrus noted bergamot oil, with a hint of floral sweetness. Brew a cup of this as you dive into this month’s book to really set the dark and moody vibes.
With days growing shorter and the nights getting darker, it’s the perfect time for a lovely cup of dark drinking chocolate. Moka Origins Pure Dark Drinking Chocolate has just the right amount of sweetness for the approaching dark fall nights. Unlike traditional cocoa powder, Moka Origins uses shaved chocolate in every bag to provide the richest, creamiest cup of hot chocolate. Of course, you can always add extra sugar to suit your tastes.
Keep your detective skills sharp with this bonus item: Mystery Tonic-30 Second Mysteries by University Games. This game couldn’t have been a more perfect item for this month’s theme! This fun-for-everybody game perfectly captures the Victorian-esque setting and “whodunnit” mystery. Use these at your next dinner party, with family, or just guess a card or two when you’re sipping on your favorite drink!

"Delightfully Devious."

image of september unboxing, all items described below.

Get cozy with us this month as we dive into this bingeable fantasy romcom. Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer will have you laughing until your sides ache, cringing until your teeth hurt, and furiously flipping pages until you’ve finished it in one sitting. This book has everything, including loveable characters, laugh out loud scenes, chaotic mishaps, and just the right amount of romance. 
This month’s coffee is Nossa Familia Coffee’s Delicia Do Brasil blend. We selected this coffee and vendor because family is so important to main character Evie, and it’s this reason that she finds herself in a precarious position with the villain in the first place. Plus, we think you can feel good about this company’s mission to give back!
Every smart-mouthed villain needs to have a cup of tea to brood over. That’s why we chose this  Smart Ass Blend tea by ModestMix Tea’s. This is a delicious blend of oolong and green tea with bright herbs. We felt the brightness in this matched the sassy banter between the assistant and the villain!
There is something so magical about the name of this month’s hot chocolate vendor: Spark Confectionary. Plus we couldn’t miss the chance for the pun: Sparks fly between the characters of this month’s book! This decadent hot chocolate is smooth and rich. It was featured in a past advent box, and we just had to bring it back again for such a fitting box!
Our bonus item is a fun fridge magnet from Badge Bomb. The silly quote matches the bright, helpful nature of Evie so well. Plus, a notebook with a fun, snarky quote to represent the villain. We could definitely see him muttering this under his breath while toiling away on one of his projects.

"Batten Down the Hatches!"


Ahoy mateys! We’re taking to the high seas with this month’s book pick! Caffeine & Legends is so excited to have the opportunity to feature Dark Water Daughter by HM Long in our August box! Get ready for high seas adventures, pirates, disgraced naval officers, and a very unique magic system involving the elements! 

This month’s coffee selection fits perfectly with the winter and earthy themes found in Dark Water Daughter. Glacial Till Blend by Cottonwood Coffee is a delicious medium roast that’s great for any type of occasion, whether you’re taming the high seas or just reading about it, this well balanced blend will keep you alert and ready for anything.

We can’t tell you all how much we love working with Embrew Tea. We chose a delicious strawberry Yaupon Hops blend that's a testament to the main character's lineage as a Stormsinger and  the catalyst for the enthralling events that unfold in the book. Drink this and always remember, “you are deeply rooted to who you are”.

Sticking with the theme of Dark Water Daughter, we partnered with Elements Truffles as this month’s drinking chocolate vendor. Their Rose Drinking Chocolate fit perfectly with the elemental magic system and it gives off a lovely floral scent. *It should be noted that this drinking chocolate is unsweetened and you will need to add sugar to your taste.*

No high-seas voyage is complete without a snack and thanks to Perfection Foods we found the perfect salty and sweet treat for you. These delicious salted caramel pretzel twists are gluten free and vegan and are sure to satisfy your sweet and savory cravings!

Finally, we're featuring a custom-made, nautical and pirate themed worry coin with the Latin phrase "Dum Spiro Spero" (While I breathe, I hope). If you’re a worrier like Samuel, it's the perfect way to keep calm during your high seas adventure, or as a prop in your bookish photos. So hoist the sails, and weigh anchor on this epic fantasy adventure. Savvy?

 

"Vices and Victory"

unboxing of our July box

If you’ve never had the pleasure of reading a book by Sebastian DeCastell, you’re in for a real treat with The Malevolent Seven! He puts a very fun spin on the quest trope, building an anti-hero and plethora of unique characters into a captivating world of sword & sorcery grimdark fantasy. Brace yourself for this author’s dark humor and an unpredictable plot that immerses you in a world overrun by warring angels and demons. Take heed, there is a whirlwind of curse words, chilling deaths, reprehensible acts, written within an exhilarating narrative. 

What better way to pair coffee with a rowdy band of characters, than with an aptly named coffee band: Rival Bros Coffee Roasters. This medium roast offers a harmonious balance of malted notes, dark chocolate, and hints of citrus. You’ll notice from the very first page of this book that DeCastell isn’t shy with language, and what better way to honor this than with Whistle & Cuss Blend! 

As for our chosen tea, it not only packs a caffeine punch but also serves as a fantastic cure for (book) hangovers. Introducing Morning Mojo, an organic Pu'erh Tea from The Tea Spot. This invigorating blend is designed to comfort and energize you after you’ve been up reading until the break of dawn.

To beat the summer heat, our drinking chocolate boxes have a more refreshing twist on sipping chocolate. Cocoa Metro's Belgian Chocolate is a delightful treat that can be enjoyed hot or cold. So, if this book makes you feel as if your head is spinning, go ahead and add this to the blender for a delicious summer treat!

Custom made for this box is a “Welcome to the Shit Show” keychain, because really, there is no better introduction to the brand of chaos in The Malevolent Seven than this! To complement DeCastelle’s humor, there is also a custom sarcastic tote to take with you anytime you may need a book at hand. 

"To the Brink and Back"

Our June box featured the highly anticipated and complex high fantasy Witch King by Martha Wells. Inside this beautiful hardcover you'll find a story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose. Filled with captivating mystery and enchanting magic, every detail is carefully revealed along the way.

For our anniversary box, we wanted to feature a business our customers absolutely loved. It felt so fitting and right to bring back Nobletree Coffee with their Gato Preto Blend. This delightful medium roast has overtones of black tea, malt, and plum that go well with pastries like doughnuts and beignets and medium cheeses like cheddar and gruyere.

Did we mention it’s our bookish birthday this month?! To celebrate, we have selected this delectable Old Fashioned Birthday Cake Tea by Piper and Leaf. This savory tea comes in a beautiful cotton drawstring bag and is the perfect black tea blend to make tea lattes with!

We love happy accidents, and that’s exactly how we came to find Videri Chocolate Factory. We stumbled across their shop on a road trip, and haven’t stopped thinking about their magical little place ever since. This delicious organic chocolate can be enjoyed hot or iced, such a fun spin on a classic and timeless beverage! 

Need a treat to satisfy your sweet tooth? We have you covered this month with Hammond’s Candy’s Birthday Cake Lollipop. Enjoy this delicious rainbow treat any time! Our second bonus item this month was suggested by a customer who thought it would be fun to see our dragon as shelf decor. We happily obliged and created these beautiful dragon shelf inserts. Stick them between your books for some awesome fantasy decor!

 

"Cursed in the Aftermath"

The Sword Defiant by Gareth Hanrahan is set in a world full of dark myths and ancient prophecy. This thick fantasy will launch you into an epic tale with a fun cast of characters, a cursed sword, and bloodthirsty vengeance. 

This month’s blend from ReAnimator Coffee is their Foundation Blend. The main character is older and we loved the idea of him trying to fit himself back together for this mission. This coffee blend has notes of sugary fruit and raw chocolate. It is balanced and will keep you caffeinated while you devour this monster of a book. 

Don’t let the name fool you, Plum Deluxe Tea’s Afternoon High Tea can be enjoyed at any time of day. With flavors like Peach Pear White Tea & Vanilla Latte Cardamom Creme Black Tea, these are perfect blends to drink hot, iced, and to try recipes with. 

We are welcoming back another customer favorite this month with Ritual Chocolate, Belize 75% Cacao. A number of rituals are performed in this book and we loved that this vendor's name fits that. Ritual Chocolate will send your taste buds on an adventure as epic as The Sword DefiantWe are thrilled to be able to have two bonus items in this month's box!

The first is a Beeswrap, an eco-friendly and reusable alternative to plastic bags for taking food on your daily adventures. The second item is a High Elf Cider Candle from Game Master Dice Company. This book gives major RPG and Lord of the Rings, vibes and this candle fits that so well!

"Bound by Good Intentions"

Unboxing of April box with aforementioned contents

Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowena Miller is a beautifully written historical fantasy that will take you on an epic journey as you discover the importance of the little things in life, and the ultimate price people are willing to pay to protect what’s most important to them. While there may not be magic on Prospect Hill, we can assure you this book is rife with magic, familial bonds, and fairies! This month’s coffee roaster is one you may recognize. Twin Engines coffee was a customer favorite, and we had to bring them back for this box with their delicious Honey Bear Reserve Coffee. This naturally sweet and balanced blend was a perfect choice for this box, as it plays off of the woodland vibes found in this month’s book. We are invoking all of the spring vibes with this delicious Pineapple Lemonade Tea from Black Hive Tea Co & a Spiced Apple Pie Tea by Octavia Tea. The sisters in this book live in an orchard. These sweet and fruity blends are a nod to the orchard, and perfect drinks for the coming warmer months, as they are also delicious when served cold!
It truly feels like we made a bargain with the fae to get this amazing drinking chocolate. K+M Hot Chocolate delivers a luxurious chocolate experience. Made from the same beans used in their Extravirgin bars, Chocolatiers mix complementary flavors to create a bean-to-cup hot chocolate with intense chocolate character, balanced by a rich creaminess and light nuttiness.
The bonus item this month is a reminder to enjoy the small things in life and indulge a little. Even if it means buying that book you’ve been eyeing, or in this case, book socks by Gumball Poodle! These will keep your toes warm throughout late winter and will remind you that it’s always okay to buy more books!

"Steeped in Conspiracy"

Empire of Exiles by Erin M. Evans is a well woven tale of conspiracy, magic, and rich world building. Complete with ancient texts and murder mystery type detective work, this unputdownable book will have you pulling an all-nighter to unravel the mysteries! Speaking of all-nighters, this delicious Devoe St. Blend by Think Coffee will certainly keep up while accompanying the archivists in this book. With delicious tasting notes of Berry, Chocolate, and Toasted Almonds, this rich and well-balanced blend will be sure to warm your heart and fuel your imagination. It's a mad dash to the end! When the end of this book heats up, keep your nerves calm with a cup of Worry Monster tea from Par Avion Tea. Not only will this cute packaging make you smile, but it’s delicious blend of anti-inflammatory lemon-grass, mood-boosting sage, and green tea leaves will calm your jangled nerves from your intense reading journey. Part of this book’s unique magic system are the specialists who can identify unique things about different elements. Become your own specialist by trying each of these drinking chocolates and creating your own magic in a cup! We were fortunate to include not one, but two drinking chocolates from LillyBean, a Local Virginia company! The first drinking chocolate is a Salted Caramel, and the other is a delicious Double Dark Chocolate. Playing on the element of specialists who have the ability to touch elements and absorb information about them, we included this lovely Hibiscus Salt from Old Town Spice Shop. This versatile salt has a tangy and floral taste of hibiscus, paired with the sweet and citrusy flavor of orange. This beautifully colored salt will add a delicious and fruity zing to a wide variety of food dishes, cocktails and desserts! Our final item is a gorgeous Olive Wood Pinch Bowl from Natural Olivewood, a family owned business that specializes in handcrafted kitchenware from non-productive olive trees. These bowls are the perfect container to hold your Hibiscus salt, or any other sugars or spices you may use in your kitchen! The unique wood grain also makes it a fun prop in photos!

"A New Year for Adventure"



A new year means new adventures await within the pages of each book. This month’s signed book was written by a self-published author, and checked every box for us in the adventure and fantasy department. When the World Starts to Fray by Sam Parrish is a sword and sorcery type fantasy, with a wonderful cast of characters on an epic adventure! There are a lot of earth elements in this book, so we picked items that perfectly fit with this theme! Black Sheep Coffee Roaster’s House Blend, is a smooth, balanced, direct trade coffee with tasting notes of almond brittle and cocoa. The beautiful packaging feels like the type of coffee you’d pack into your favorite thermos for a hike through the mountains. Our delicious Weavers Mediation Tea was created by Broken Leaf Tea & Apothecary. This exquisite jasmine tea & lemon pound cake flavored tea blend was made for this box, and inspired by the Weavers in the book.  This month’s drinking chocolate by Flying Bird Botanicals is a real treat! Keeping up with the outdoor and earthy elements of the book, this Cacao Especial Drinking Chocolate is made with only raw heirloom cacao, lightly sweetened with sun-dried cane crystals, and finished with pure vanilla bean. Enjoy a warm mug after a long day of adventuring, whether in the real or fantasy world. Your bonus item this month is the perfect item to take your yummy drinks with you wherever you go! This stainless steel insulated tumbler will keep your hot drinks hot, and your cold drinks cold for long periods of time. The tumbler is adorned with a quote that reads “Adventure awaits, let's go find it”, which rounds out our January box so nicely with the adventure and quest themes found in the book.

 

"Tales of Valor"


The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless is wrapped in this handsome hardcover, brimming with magic and secrets. It seamlessly blends mythology with well-researched history in this amazing debut! Although high seas travel is not required for this tale, this Sea Fog Coffee pairs nicely. Natural Ethiopia is a light roast with tasting notes of wine and simmered fruit tart, perfect for a balanced cup of coffee. On a cold winter morning nothing beats a lightly spiced cup of tea! Embrew Tea carefully blends each tea to perfection, and this Cinnamon Ooling Chai is no different. A rich, earthy, dark oolong, with a final addition of coconut palm sugar brings perfect balance to your cup! You're going to love Verve Culture's Villa Real Vanilla Mexican Drinking Chocolate! Simply add your warm milk of choice, then froth together for a delightfully cozy cup of drinking chocolate to carry you through the pages of this book. You're equipped with bookish weapons of your own in the form of book darts! Flag your favorite spots with these metallic page markers that match the cover. We hope you also enjoy these Sweet Viking Candies by Candy People USA. They will keep you company (at least for a little while) while you read!


"Words Forged from Steel"


November is National Novel Writing Month, so it's fitting that this month’s book is the product of a past NaNoWriMo project! 
Etch by Jal Solski will take you on journey through lush forests, underground villages, crumbling cities, and wraith-controlled wastelands. There is no shortage of dragons, sirens, epic adventures, and magic! The cavernous city of Evevale inspired this month’s coffee selection. Wild Earth Blend by Get Roasted Coffee has tasting notes that are: Earthy, rustic, and pungent with distinctive dark chocolate & wildberry nuances. This month’s tea is a delicious Seasonal Winter Blend from Hale Tea Co. The packaging of their gorgeous tea tins matched the forest aesthetic of the book so beautifully. This tea is an amazing blend of orange, ginger, cinnamon, clove, and cardamom. Hygge is the Danish concept of creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. With colder months on the way, this Hygge Drinking Chocolate is the perfect addition to help you ease into these colder months with a book, and steaming mug from Ritual Chocolate. While you’re adventuring with our elfish heroines, be sure to light this “Constellations & Campfires” candle to connect to a part of the story. And keeping up with the spirit of NaNoWriMo, we included this lovely pen inscribed with the quote “Creation is Magic”. Use it to tell a story of your own!

"A Dash of Defiance"

Front facing unboxing of October's box.

Roll your sleeves up and prepare for the fight of your life as you dodge epic rooftop sword fights and jump between planes to collect rare ingredients! In October's featured book, The Notorious Sorcerer by Davinia Evans, we meet Siyon; a character who comes from a world of hardworking people and that's what we've highlighted in this months box! Siyon loves taking risks and usually grabs life by the horns to get what he wants which is why we went with this "Hell Yea!" medium roast blend  with flavours of Swiss Chocolate and macadamia nut from Drink Coffee, Do Stuff!  Tea with Tae crafted this perfectly versatile seasonal Pumpkin Spice Tea blend by using their own expertise and delicious blends of their own. Coracao Chocolate & CACOCO was hard at work whipping up their own magic with this month's drinking chocolate! An energizing chocolate blend of anti-inflammatory herbs and spices, with notes of warming spice & masala chai; a yummy chocolatey blend to heal your body and warm the soul.  Remember to nourish yourself after frolicking through magical planes with a light snack of delicious citrus, ginger & thyme crisps from Rustic Bakery and if you're nerves are a little shot from the journey, occupy your mind with this "Ocean" Pinch Me Therapy Dough

 

"Between Moonlit Pages"

flatlay unboxing of september's "between moonlit pages" box.

As we head into those cozy "ber" months, we included the perfect book to curl up and get cozy with for this months box! The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna is an incredibly fun, quirky, cozy fantays with the right balance of magic, romance and whimsical writing that will leave you squealing with delight and wishing you could join the meddlesome cast of characters at Nowhere House. With all of the good vibes radiating from this book, we needed to make sure we featured a coffee reflective of that mood. Sundreams "Good Vibes" blend was the perfect choice with its hints of toasted coconut and subtle sugarcane like sweetness. Keeping up with the magically cozy vibes, we included two teas from two amazing vendors this month. Petals and Poison mixes supernatural with the Victorian era and created this delicious ghoulberry pie tea. Our second blend, Moonlight Garden, by Octavia Tea is a soothing herbal tea blend that will be sure to leave you relaxed and cozy. We all look for that spark of magic in our lives and we decided to add a little bit of that with Spark Confectionery and their small-batch premium drinking chocolate. Lastly, while riding the cozy train, keep your book safe with this beautiful zippered book sleeve from Sangrah Shop! The blue celestial patterns on the sleeve matched the cover design of the book perfectly!

 

"A Decadent Betrayal"

items from the august "a decadent betrayal" box lay aesthetically ontop of book pages infront of an open window.

How far would you go for family? In this month's dark fantasy, The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean, we follow a story of a mother that breaks family traditions to save the life of her son. As bibliophiles, we love the concept that books have flavors. What would this book taste like, we wonder? If we had to guess, it would probably be dark, bold, and mysterious which is why we chose Twin Engine Coffee's freshly roasted Cuban Style Coffee, this strong and delicious coffee makes it a great blend to try new recipes with! For our monthly tea, we chose a delicious blend of apple and gooseberry from Simpson & Vail Inc. Devon, the main character, eats a Jane Eyre book and so The Bronte Sisters Black Tea blend was a perfect choice for this box! We chose an organic Belgian Drinking Chocolate from Coco Metro for this box. You can top this European cacao with marshmallows, pretend they're book pages and you are a book eater! Don't forget to keep track of each book you devour with the adorable reading list bookmark from Square Shop and if you're too full from book eating, or found this month's book a little too dark for your tastes, unwind with this relaxing eucalyptus scented, eco-friendly, shower steamer from Lizush!

"Answer to No One"

Flatlay unboxing of July's "Answer to No One" box. Featured in the photo is a copy of the featured book, Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald, a drink recipe card, the featured "Sol Blend" coffee and a signed letter from the author above the red spoiler card.

Dare to venture into the dangerous, suspensful and supernatural world of Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald. This epic fantasy is full of likable characters, fearsome warriors and adds a healthy dose of mystery to this fantasy. Our monthly coffee was inspired by one of the main character's abilities to commune with the dead. Zodiac Girl Coffee Company's Sol (Soul) Blend was the perfect brew to pair with this book, this dark roast blend has a deliciously sweet flavor that'll heal even the darkest of souls. This month's box also featured a delicious orange creme black tea from Plum Deluxe, a deliciously nostalgic orange creamsicle flavored tea jam packed with all of the summer beach vibes. For all you chocolate lovers, we couldn't leave you out of the summer drink fun! Flying Bird Botanicals created this delicious organic vanilla drinking chocolate you can enjoy hot or cold (we suggest adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream!) The last item we featured in this fantastic summer box was a daily planner designed by yours truly, use it to organize monthly reading lists, household tasks, daily to-dos, and more!

 

"Dark & Violent Glory"

a flatlay unboxing of June's Dark & Violent Glory box. The featured book is The Bladed Faith by David Galglish. Also featured is our stoneware "death by tbr" mug, a signed book plate, and a white box of our featured coffee.

 

The Bladed Faith by David Dalglish is an action packed book about revenge, rebellions, and the dedication it takes to be revolutionary. This box also included a custom roasted batch of "Legendary Brew", and a carrot cake tea to celebrate our birthday month! Also featured in this box was Crow & Moss Chocolate's European style drinking chocolate. And since we've shipped close to 50 different titles in our boxes over these past 3 years, we had a custom "Death by TBR" gray glazed mug made for the occasion!

 

"Righteous Power"


Don’t let the size of Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel intimidate you, it’s an unputdownable book from start to finish. A twin born under the full moon, she is supposed to have the favor of the gods, though for most of her life, she has to take matters into her own hands.

Amani Coffee’s packaging has an old world feel, inspired by the gods. This Dark Roast has notes of cocoa, butter, vanilla, orange, and cranberry. It’s organic, sustainably-farmed, and direct from their co-op in DR Congo.

Kaikeyi learns to navigate her roles by building a small community around her. We are featuring Oribe Tea Co. in this box because of the commitment to their own community in Hawaii. The Mango Loose Leaf Tea is made with Kona Mangoes and high quality Assam black tea. Plus, it’s delicious hot or iced!

Xocolatl crafted this Single Origin Drinking Chocolate, inspired by the first Europeans to consume drinking chocolate: the Spanish royal family. The perfect fit for a heroine who transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and beloved queen. It is made of rich, ground chocolate, with recipes for three different ways in which to enjoy!

"Whispers of Revenge"

This month’s book is going to require a nice warm drink in your favorite reading spot. The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller is a twisting, dark fantasy with a political whodunnit set-up, and a dash of chaos. Little details will be revealed along the way as Charm and her boneghosts work to uncover who killed the last Emperor.
Charm is an incredibly strong main character, who has been through a lot and overcomes so much more. We chose this Peru coffee by Amerpand Coffee Roasters, because this company strives to empower women across the globe. Plus, this 100% organic and fair trade coffee has some of our favorite tasting notes: milk chocolate, hazelnut, and cashew.
There are a lot of nature inspired elements in this book, complimented nicely by Justea’s botanical packaging and their commitment to sustainability. All of their tea is directly from farmers, and this Purple Mint tea has more antioxidants than green tea! Over 80% of their employees are women, and we encourage you to learn more about their mission.


Raaka Chocolate roasts and crafts their own cacao, and we couldn't wait to get our hands on this Winter Spice Hot Chocolate. It was part of a limited specialty batch with single-origin Tanzanian cacao. We hope it brings you some comfort in the darker parts of this book!

It’s going to take some courage to make it to the end, so as this spoon rest suggests: Be Bold! It’s made from natural terra cotta by Dicksons. We also included a bookmark for spring, you can plant in damp soil when you’re finished with it to encourage wildflowers to bloom.


"Fascination & Fatality"



This month’s box had some pretty delicious and comfy items. Bonus item of some rad socks, Embrew Tea, OnyxLab Coffee, and the Raven Spell as our featured book. Cultivating this box was a blast and hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! Any extras we have are currently available in our shop.


"Ruthless Adventure"

Get out your adventure gear, you're going to need it against goblins, battle ravens and a kraken! The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman is a true gem in the fantasy world. It's long enough to get lost in, but so witty and fun that you might just binge it over a long weekend.⠀

This month's Earl Grey tea matches the cover, and is unapologetically flavorful and refreshing with a splash of the finest bergamot citrus. Made by Teatulia Organic Tea, it's wonderful on its own
, or as a latte!⠀

Can't put this book down? When you're torn between staying up or getting some sleep, toss this Go to bed/Stay up copper coin to help you decide! Handmade by Shire Post Mint, we hope it's a treasure you'll keep safe from the thief, Kinch Na Shannack! ⠀

We also could not miss the opportunity to have a kraken related item: DKNG Studio made this Kraken Postcard - be sure to send it to a friend when on a great adventure of your own!⠀




"Claim for Victory"

January Subscription box featuring Wolf Coffee & PinkUp Tea

Loyalties are tested in this exciting fantasy by J.T. Greathouse. The Hand of the Sun King has complex characters, unique creatures, and a magic system that was crafted perfectly for this setting. We chose the items this month to represent both sides of the main character’s family.

This box featured Organic House Blend, with notes of caramel, malt, and almond. Freshly roasted by Wolf Coffee Company, this represents the wolves, the old gods, and the main character’s secret he keeps during his upbringing.

Tea is an important part of the culture in this book. Many important conversations seem to happen around a cup of tea. To balance the secrets and dark elements of the book, we picked a bright and fun tea! Sugar Cookie is a delicious White tea, made by Pinky Up!

It’s a new year, and we thought this journal would be a fun way to kick it off! The main character has to push his own personal limits, which is why we picked this quote for the cover. “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”, and we hope 2022 is the start of a great year for you as well!

 

"Brutal Entanglement"

We closed 2021 with an epic adventure! The Empire's Ruin by Brian Staveley is an aching symphony of beautiful world building, complex characters, and a plot full of intrigue and action. It’s long enough to get lost in, but awesome enough that you might just binge it over a weekend.  
As you sail through the pages and find yourself on the shores of the Annurian Empire, curl up with a cozy cup of Coastal Wonderland tea by Beach House Teas! They’ve sourced local Long Beach Washington Peninsula cranberries for this tea, and blended them with red rooibos, juniper berries, and orange peels to bring you a scrumptious holiday blend.  
Maybe you need a little extra caffeine as you navigate the holidays, or maybe, like us, you just enjoy a little extra kick in the morning. Either way, you’ll love this Death Grip Coffee by Honduras Coffee Company. Plus, how awesome is the logo?! 
To help lighten the heavy load of this ambitious read we designed a snarky custom coaster set as this month's bonus item. Use them to help pause your reading with your brew of choice, and enjoy a good chuckle.

 

"The Edge of Darkness"

Nover's box included a signed copy of Aparna Verma’s The Boy with Fire! This book is a wonderfully descriptive tale of assassins, monarchs, and profits, set in a really unique alternate world. We’ve touched on the elements of fire, darkness, and the phoenix for this month’s items.

Yassen, one of the main characters, prefers stealth and melting into the darkness to complete his mission. We love that Coastal Coffee Collective has an Into the Darkness blend, with robust tasting notes of brown sugar, dark chocolate, and toasted almond. This woman owned company roasts this ethically sourced, fair trade, small batch coffee in Santa Barbara, California.

Fire is such an important aspect of this book, that when we saw Embrew Tea’s description of their Bourbon Smoked White Tea, we knew it would be a perfect fit! The flavor is kind of like sitting in front of a fire pit on a cool night, it’s distinctive and delicious! Don’t forget to compost your tea bags and packaging when you’re done.

Angela at Dattura designed a custom phoenix artwork for this dictionary print, printed by Fresh Prints of CT. Each print is made on vintage dictionary paper and are one of a kind! We were inspired by so many details of this book that we also designed these custom matches, that say “Light a fire that they can’t put out”. 

"Star Glazed Donuts"

This box featured a delightful science fantasy: Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki. ven at the worst of times, there is a joyful and vivid element to her writing that will leave you feeling good about humanity when you’re finished.

We wanted to keep the coffee as fun and whimsical as possible, without overloading your box with a lot of flavors. The packaging of this Nobletree coffee just matched so perfectly, that we couldn’t resist adding it! Inside is an award winning Tesouro blend coffee, with tasting notes of dried fruit, melon, and nut.

The tea this month is a Cinnamon Apple Tea by Bespoke Provisions. This small batch tea combines the flavors of sweet cinnamon and apples in a base of organic mild black tea. It really smells like you’ve just made an apple pie when you brew it!

If you’re anything like us, just reading about delicious donuts is going to make you crave something sweet. We almost included a single bonus item, but decided you needed a sweet snack as well. In this box was a delicious smelling Vanilla Donut Sugar Scrub made by Feeling Smitten (don’t eat this one!), and some tasty Raspberry Jam Petits made by Jocelyn & Co. to curb that sweet craving. 

"Cloaked in Mystery"

There’s something nice about having an epic fantasy with a slice of adventure at the start of fall - especially one with a little bit of dark magic. The Pariah by Anthony Ryan is the featured book this month. It’s a complete package: swords & sorcery, a scribe raised as an outlaw, great battle scenes, and a main character you can’t help but to root for the entire time.

The hero of this story was adopted by a band of outlaws who reside in the forest. This book, though long, will probably keep you up all night; making Late Night, by Methodical Coffee the perfect coffee pairing for this book.

A slightly spicy Canyon Chai tea, made by Nature’s Vine Tea, is a fitting pair with the dark magic in this book. We also love the nature inspired packaging to go with the main character’s upbringing, and wanted to make it easy to try the spoiler card drink this month!

The first of two bookish items is a quote magnet, handmade in Ann Arbor, MI by ChicalooKate. As we’ve just added another book to your TBR, this quote seemed appropriate! The second is a custom designed, eco-friendly cotton tote, exclusive to Caffeine & Legends!

"Espionage"

If you closed your eyes and imagined an environmental Utopia what would it look like? Claire North dreams up a world like this in Notes from the Burning Age, with a fresh take on post-apocalyptic society. Threats of conspiracy take this fantasy into the realm of being a thriller that packs an emotional punch.

Speaking of imagination, the team over at Coffee & Tea Junkie have dreamed up so many unique and delicious coffee flavors, that we decided it was the perfect time for a sampling of coffee!

This month’s White Sage & Wild Mint Tea was made by Juniper Ridge, a company that would fit right into an environmental utopia. They use sustainably harvested and local plants for their teas, Sustainable Forestry Initiative packaging, and environmentally friendly inks on their boxes! The best part, though, is that the tea has a wonderfully complex and delicious flavor, perfect for a cozy reading day.

The main character, Ven, is skilled in translating ancient texts, and must decide how far he’s willing to go as a spy. We wanted to send some gear that’s useful in your day to day life, that could also get you out of a sticky situation. This Tactical Pen by Trixie & Milo encompasses all of these things! It is strong enough to shatter glass, is made from aircraft grade aluminum, and has a standard refillable ink cartridge, so you can use it over and over. 

"World Between Realms"
A Master of Djinn

Immerse yourself in a world of secrets, magic and mystery (with a dash of humor) in this month’s new release! A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark is filled with unpredictable twists in this fantastic steampunk alternative history.

With summer around the corner, we included Summer Breeze blend from Fidalgo Coffee Roasters. This lovely medium-light coffee has cupping notes of cherry, caramel, apple cider and pear.

Don’t let the name fool you, Winterwoods Tea Company’s Sahalie Rain loose leaf tea was selected to match well with the idea of summer as well! Inside the gorgeous sunflower yellow packaging is a fruity mango black tea that is delicious hot or iced.

The bonus item with this box fits the unique features of the book, specifically the deep green Djinn you’ll meet in chapter two, and the steampunk elements that Clark sprinkled throughout the story. MicroPuzzles made us a custom puzzle exclusive to Caffeine and Legends! It is compact, and easy to take with you if you’re traveling.

"Untamed"

Untamed - shadow of the gods

May's book was The Shadow of the Gods written by @John_Gwynne_Author, published by @OrbitBooks_US. This first in series is a gritty tale, with monsters, magic, and wild creatures. The author was also kind enough to include signed bookplates that feature this epic cover!

The bones of the old Gods hold enormous power in this book, which is why we chose Deadman’s Reach coffee. Roasted by @ravensbrewcoffee, it has tasting notes of dark, bittersweet coffee and hazelnut with a sweet bite.

We have included a custom quote pint glass, so you can enjoy a refreshing cup of your favorite chilled brew!

"Acts of Treason"

The Unbroken by C.L. Clark is a new release, diverse epic fantasy. It will break you apart before slowly putting you back together. Written in such a way that you may not know where your own loyalties lie, we’ve assembled a box of items to help you through this tense, thought-provoking read.
Sometimes you have to be a misfit to break the mold and set out to accomplish great things. Revelator Coffee roasted this full-bodied Misfit Blend. It has tasting notes of butterscotch, praline, and toasted pecan, with warm tones and a chocolate finish.

If there was ever a time for a Badass Babe tea, it’s now, with a book that features two female main characters. Made by ModestMix Teas, this spiced green tea blend is earthy and smooth. It has a nice caffeine level to give you the kick you need to get through your day.
Anya’s Apothekere has a mission to promote health and wellness, and we hope you’ll take a little time to heal any heartache this book may have caused along the way. Use this Healthy Bone Soak in the bath, or as a foot soak to relieve any aching muscles.

 

"The Fire Within"

 

The Fire Within Dragon Box

In Duncan M. Hamilton’s Dragonslayer. This epic high fantasy has a heartfelt redemption story, complete with magic, dragons, knights and plenty of action to keep you turning the pages. We've incorporated many of these elements into the March box.

Speaking of Knights, your coffee this month has the cutest little Owl Knight on the package! Golden Hour by Sir Owlverick’s is an organic, delicious Medium Roast with notes of black tea, caramel, and chocolate with a smooth and crisp finish. Sir Owlverick’s is a SoCal Small Batch, Certified Minority Women-Owned Coffee roaster.

You have two amazing teas to try this month from Plum Deluxe Tea! To highlight the element of magic, the Butterfly Pea Flower “Magical” herbal Tea changes color when you add citrus! Hint: it’s also delicious when you add some lemonade for a refreshing spring drink! Stay in bed and read with some Blackberry Hazelnut Black Tea, which has flavors of toasted hazelnut, tart blackberries, with hints of vanilla that gives the cozy comforter feel.

Although technically from a different fantasy book, we are super excited to have this Golden Game of Thrones Sculpted Dragon Egg Candle from Insight Editions! Everything in this box was curated with our Bookstagram friends in mind. The items all have gold or blue elements to match the cover, and we hope this dragon egg really helps your photos stand out!

"Fate or Fealty"

Curated Fantasy Book Box

Grab your sword and shield, you’re going to need it on your journey through Knight’s Ransom by Jeff Wheeler. This new release is packed with battles, resilient characters, lore and betrayal, so settle in and let this book take you to new and exciting places.
Every knight needs their trusty steed, provided this month in the form of coffee. This freshly roasted Warhorse Blend by Copper Horse Coffee is a dark roast with a firm backbone and bold overtones of dark chocolate and toasted walnuts.

Gear up your inner warrior with Fire Roasted Warrior’s Yaupon Holly Tea, by Yaupon Brothers. This tea is sweet and smoky, boosting your energy and focus. Organic Yaupon is the perfect addition to your daily ritual.
How about a little sweet, to balance out the intensity of the rest of this month's items? Frangosia Farms sources this Artisan Raw Honey, using only the most environmentally sustainable practices. We’ve also included recipe cards so you can try crafting your own specialty drinks at home!


"A Touch of Madness"

 

The Obsidian Tower by Melissa Caruso was January's featured book. I know some of our subscribers have binged it and are waiting for book two, so here's to hoping it comes out soon!
The featured coffee this month was Defiance dark roast coffee from @nobletree.coffee - selected for this box, because the main characters family are the guardians, and some really neat magical ties to the land.
This is also why we selected the coconut bowl and spoon from @rainforestbowls - plus we love their mission to create something so sustainable!
 Last but not least, was the Arch Cape Dark Tea by @beachhouseteas - a dark tea just seemed the right fit for a book featuring a dark tower, hosting even darker magical elements. Plus, this tea is delicious! It has a subtle taste and aroma of pears, paired with the warm flavor of ginger root


2020


"Laws of Nature"


December's box included a hardcover copy of W. Michael Gear’s, Outpost. This Sci-Fi Fantasy has thrilling worldbuilding, is delightfully dark, and has plenty of action to keep you flipping the pages until the new year.

We couldn’t resist curating items to go with the space theme this month. @kllrcoffee's packaging was absolutely perfect, and tastes as amazing as it looks! This small batch, single origin coffee has tasting notes of sweet fruit acidity, chocolate, and toffee.

In keeping with this space theme, @paraviontea’s Twilight Blend has just the right amount of glitter and sparkle to add a little night sky pizazz to the last box of the year! It’s a lightly sweet Chamomile tea that will send you right to dream land.

We are excited to have @flypaperproducts in the box this month! They made these “The Adventure Left Off Here...” wood bookmarks, so you can always find your way back to your reading adventure. As a way to round out 2020, we’ve also included a sweet treat from @candypeopleusa!



"A Dance with Murder & Magic"

Grab your suitcase and get ready to head to London with Spellbreaker by C.N. Homberg.
As you journey between the pages to follow witches and wizards in secret, you can curl up with a nice cup of coffee, roasted by @geekgrindcoffee. Wizard’s Mist light roast is full of flavor, with notes of red fruit, tamarind, red wine and caramel.

Inspired by the thought of a nice cup of tea in Victorian England, these Orange Cinnamon Roll @myteadrops are a scrumptious blend of black assam tea, orange peel, cinnamon and clove. Flavors that will compliment any fall baking!

The bonus item this month is a custom journal, designed and created for this month’s box. The journal features a gold and black magical inspired design to fit the theme of the box. November is also National Novel Writing Month, and we hope this journal can inspire some future authors to write some epic stories.

Nevada Buckley did the beautiful spoiler card artwork, that represents the little animals in the book that are trained to deliver mail.
📸 This lovely unboxing photo is by the amazing @bibliomaniacamanda
!!


"Silent Threats"

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart was a new release featured in October's box. Get ready for this epic fantasy to take you into a world with a new and dark magic system, neat constructs, and plenty of intrigue.

Most characters in this world have to contribute to the magic system. We resonated with the idea that everyone has magic in their bones, so we created these custom “You Are Magic” mugs! These campfire mugs are microwave safe, though we do recommend hand washing to maximize the life of the design.

It takes real strength of character to stand up for something, which is why we are proud to feature a dark roast from Kikos Coffee & Tea. Born into a family of farmers, the owner of Kikos faced the challenges of a society immersed in violence, where those who suffered were always the poor. They started this company to make a difference, just like the hero’s we read about in books.

Islands are an integral part of the story and character locations. Nothing says ’island’ more to us than notes of tropical fruit! This Maui Tea is a green tea crafted by Art of Tea, and has tropical flavors of pineapple, mango, and papaya.


"Out of the Darkness"

Legendary September Box

September's featured book was The Lightest Object in the Universe, by Kimi Eisele. It’s an uplifting story, with just a touch of the mystical. A nice change from dark, heavy fantasies!

Methodical Coffee freshly roasted this “Belly Warmer” blend. Their photo worthy packing is reminiscent of the nature themes in this month’s book. The male lead, Carson,  journey’s across the country, and this blend reflects the strong cup of coffee you’d have on an early morning road trip.

Two teas matched this month’s book, so we included both! The first is an Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake tea by Simpson & Vail. Apples are one of those easy fruits to come by in the wild, but it also has hints of orange blossom, something that always reminds Carson of Beatrix, the female main character.

The second tea this month was a small bag of Organic Yerba Mate tea by Octavia tea. This tea is important to Beatrix because it is from her travels abroad, and symbolizes friendship. It’s key to her building an important relationship, and thus her progress in the story.

As cool fall nights approach, we thought it would be fun to include evening, outdoors-inspired items with the box this month: S’mores! Warm up with these fun S’mores Socks made by Pavilion. 

Though we couldn’t make you a nice warm s’more by a campfire, we included S’mores Marshmallows made by XO Marshmallows. When you’re on an adventure you need a good snack along the way!


"Grudge Fueled Vendetta"

Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler is a post-apocalyptic fantasy, written from opposing perspectives. It’s brimming with mysterious tech, arcane magic, and of course, some epic fight scenes!

To highlight the charged rivalry between characters, we’ve selected Double Dead, a potent whole bean dark roast. Raven’s Brew Coffee freshly roasted this batch, with tasting notes of dark, bittersweet chocolate, toasted nuts, and an extra charge delivered in a rich, heavy body with a sweet bite. Also included is a Double Dead foiled postcard, so you can share the tales of your coffee adventures!

Stones and crystals are integral to the arcana that keeps Maya, one of the main characters, alive. The tea this month is part of Par Avion Tea’s ‘Magical’ collection, and this Citrine tea has rock sugar crystals to represent this heroine. The flavors of apple, rosehip, orange and sunflower also feel like the perfect way to round out summer.

Recycled materials are critical to the success of the rebels in the story. The canvas bag in this month’s box is created by Maika, and is made from recycled cotton canvas, and hand-printed with eco-friendly inks. Use it as a gift bag, to store or carry books, to organize your desktop, or even as a planter!

The rebels also need metals for their craft, and we thought this moon coin would be a fun addition to your box! Shire Mint Post is a small business that had a successful start making coins for George R.R. Martins A Song Of Ice and Fire series. They hand-tool each design before striking them into different coins.



"In Pursuit of Magic"


The July box includes Scarlet Odyssey by C.T. Rwizi, a hardcover with a beautifully designed naked cover - great for photos if you're an Instagrammer!

We wanted to switch things up a little this month with a sampling of coffee. JavAroma Roasters freshly roasted the coffee in this box. Ethiopian and Morning Jolt sampler coffees accompany the two packets of cold brew! Each cold brew packet makes about 7 cups of coffee. So whether you're looking for something hot or iced, we have you covered!

Tea drinkers, gear up for a magical treat with this month's Creme Brulee Flowering Tea, by Pinky Up! Flowering tea, or blooming tea, is made by wrapping tea leaves around dry flowers. When the resulting dry bundle is steeped, it unfurls to create a beautiful flower while infusing the water with delicate but flavorful tea. This seemed like a beautiful, fun way to incorporate the magical theme.

Last but not least, Black Jack Coffee Scrub is this month's bonus item. Made by Southern Rhoades Apothecary, this item looks like it's straight off the shelf of a warlock, and will leave your skin feeling fresh and revitalized.

"From the Ashes"

This month we celebrated our subscription box’s 1 year anniversary!

The idea for this box came years after starting a book blog to support new and independent authors. We’re excited to feature independent, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author, Shannon Mayer, in this box. Her book Fury of a Phoenix, is best described as a magical, John Wick type book with a female assassin who refuses to back down.

The proverb on this month’s bag of coffee, “One who listens carefully hits his target” pairs perfectly with a book featuring a magical assassin! A medium roast by Civilized Coffee, this month’s brew will have notes of brown sugar, citrus and caramel. Civilized Coffee sources their coffee beans directly from small-scale farmers, before roasting them in small batches, ensuring fair wages are paid to farmers, and high quality coffee is delivered to customers.

Chai is Shannon Mayer’s tea of choice, and Apolis Tea crafts this incredible, fragrant blend of Nirvana Chai Tea! It’s a nice, smooth chai with black tea and vanilla, and is excellent as a latte, or over ice!

While things catch fire in Fury of a Phoenix, cool down and stay hydrated with this custom Be A Warrior stainless steel water bottle. It uses vacuum technology to keep your drinks hot or cold for hours!

"Legendary Adventures"

(Photo Credit: @read.and.wander)

We've curated the May box to be a little extra fun, and take readers on a literary adventure through 3 very different paperbacks! The fantasy books include: An Illusion of Thieves by Cate Glass (a fantasy adventure); They Promised Me The Gun Wasn't Loaded by James Alan Gardner (superhero fantasy); and Priest of Bones by Peter McLean (dark fantasy). We hope you enjoy the variety!

Tea Drops made the really unique and fun Vanilla White Tea. High in antioxidants, but low in caffeine, this tea is calming and can be enjoyed anytime especially as an after meal tea. This packaging is also super fun, and seemed to fit in a quirky way with the bright cover of They Promised Me The Gun Wasn't Loaded. Tea drops have been such a huge hit with our customers, that we've decided to stock them. Be sure to check out our coffee & tea section to view all of the fun flavors!

Grab your favorite mug, and read into the night with a cup of Midnight Glare. Founded in our businesses home state of Virginia, we’re really excited to include Dan River Coffee Co. in the May box.

Take your literary adventure back in time, have some fun, and stay busy with the bonus item. It’s a Pandora's Elpis puzzle made by Project Genius. The Elpis was the last item in Pandora’s Box, and in mythology, the symbol of hope. A running theme in each of these books, and something we can all use a little more of these days.



"Scribes & Scholars"


 


(Photo Credit: @Read.And.Wander)
Our April box featured a hardcover edition of Turning Darkness Into Light, by Marie Brennan

With tasting notes of plum, fresh walnut, and vanilla, this April’s coffee was roasted to a medium level, by Think Coffee in NYC. Their company name perfectly fit the Scribes & Scholars theme, and we love that this company gives back to each community from which they source!

Have some fun with this month’s bonus item, a Fountain Pen and Journal Set designed by Ooly. This company dreams up all kinds of fun and creative products for adults and kids alike. Practice your penmanship, journal about your day, or write to friends and family! These pens are also re-fillable, so you can get quite a bit of life out of them.

"Risks Are Worth Taking"

 

In the book world, nothing says taking a risk more than independently publishing your very first novel. We’re proud to feature epic fantasy, Souls of Magic’s Dawn by G.A. Lungaro. Destiny, prophesy, and anarchy unfold in this new series.

Recover from the chilly winter with this Passionfruit Jasmine Tea, from Art of Tea. This blend is quite unique; wonderful hot and iced. It’s has also won the award for the best flavored black iced tea at the world tea expo! There is 4oz of tea this month, so you have a little extra with which to experiment!

Coffee drinkers: you also get to try new things! Included are 3 different coffees, the makers of which have all taken a risk and tried something unique! Caribbrew Coffee has partnered with small farmers in Haiti to sustainable jobs to areas impacted by natural disasters. Copper Cow has created really unique and delicious pour-over coffees. We have included the classic Vietnamese pour-over so you can try something new! Finally, we’ve partnered with Cooper’s Cask Coffee so you can try this distinctive “Battle Cry” Rye Whisky Barrel Aged coffee.

Step out of your comfort zone and try a new drink this month! A clear mug, with recipe cards are this month’s bonus items. Use the clear mug to see clearly if you’ve nailed the layers of these delicious drinks. You may be surprised by what you find!

 

"Beasts & Blades"

In this box, we’re reading Kevin J. Anderson, author of the internationally acclaimed Dune series.

- Spine of the Dragon will whisk you on an epic journey filled with political drama, revenge, and incredible creatures. An age-old conflict between the Three Kingdoms and Ishara erupts in a thrilling battle that unites enemy forces. Star Wars fans will enjoy Anderson’s emphasis on balancing fantasy with human drama. His artful storytelling breathes life into this genre.
-Fable Grounds Coffee single origin beans complement the strength of Isharan warriors. Harvested from Columbia, the Book Dragon blend yields wonderful caramel and nutty tones.
- This month’s tea is a spicy-sweet blend that will chase away the cold. Brew a cup of Golden Dragon Pearl blooming tea and wrap up in the rich aroma of chocolate, pepper, honey, fig, and notes of molasses. Made by Octavia Tea Company.
-Insight Editions created the gorgeous “You’re a Dragon” candle modeled after dragon scales for a dash of mythic ambiance.
- As a bonus, invoke your literary warrior with a double sided, handmade sword bookmark!

2019

"Lore & Lies"

This box featured a paperback that artfully combines lore, curses, and mythical creatures, with a Viking vibe.
Each item, including the coffee and tea, was be selected to match the theme, or one of the creatures from the book. (photo by rq_davis)


This box included:

- The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon (paperback)
- Wake Up blend whole bean coffee by Wolf Coffee
- Golden Summit, Loose Leaf tea by Beach House Teas
- Two ceramic coasters by Lantern Press, inspired by the book’s map
- Vegan Sour Viking Gummies by Candy People USA

 

"Crazy, Magical Mayhem"

December's box featured a signed copy of Born in Fire by K.F. Breene. The author added a few fun goodies to go along with it!
The tea edition was from Pinky Up Tea, in a Cranberry Bar flavor for the holiday season - complete with white chocolate pieces in the mix!
We also featured Tentera Coffee's organic ground Sumatra in the coffee boxes.

(Photo by @beckys_bookshelf_)

"Into Dark Nights"


The Into Dark Nights theme was inspired by nighttime castles.
This box celebrates the long nights and change in seasons through fall and winter!
-The Witchwood Crown, by Tad Williams, was the featured book.
Other famous fantasy authors, including George R. R. Martin and Christopher Paolini, were inspired by Tad, and even reviewed this book. We hope that as you curl up into your favorite reading spot this fall, this book will take you far away, to new and exciting lands.
- Bonus Item: Journals with a water resistant outside. Velvety smooth to the touch, with a beautiful foil detail. They are unlined, so you can use for notes and sketches.
- Coffee: Keep sleepiness at bay with this Colombian blend coffee. Freshly roasted by Copper Moon Coffee, it is a light medium roast. This coffee is slightly sweet, with a full bodied finish.
- Tea: The featured tea this month is Edgar Allen Poe’s black tea blend, crafted by Simpson Vail Tea. It has a slightly smoky, earthy, flavor. The color is really nice deep red, reminiscent of the dark tales of entries and macabre by Edgar Allen Poe himself. (Photo by _Bookwormed)

"Crowns & Flames" 

This box was curated with Halloween in mind!
- The book was The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons - the next book in the series came out at the end of October!
- October's coffee was whole bean, and freshly roasted by Red Rooster Coffee Roaster. The raven on the bag seemed so fitting for October’s box!
- The tea was crafted by Swallowtail Tea - the sister Company to red rooster located in Virginia. It’s called Firetower tea, which fit the “flames” part of the theme so well!
- Speaking of flames, the bonus item this month was reminiscent of dragon fire! Included in this box were small bars of salted sriracha chocolate (both milk and dark). Plus, chocolates seemed fitting with Halloween coming up!

"Fierce and Mythical"


- Featured book: In the Region of the Summer Stars
"Ravaged by barbarian Scálda forces, the last hope for Eirlandia lies with the island’s warring tribes. Wrongly cast from his tribe, Conor, the firstborn son of a Celtic king, embarks on a dangerous mission to prove his innocence. What he discovers will change Eirlandia forever. For the Scálda have captured the mystical Fae to use as an ultimate weapon. And Conor’s own people have joined in the invasion."
-
Featured teas from Loose Leaf Tea Company
• Black Summer (‘A wonderful orange pekoe blend with a bit of sweet and tart.’ Includes elderberry, organic raisin pieces, & hibiscus petals.)
This one has been my favorite this month
• Irish Breakfast tea chest (‘A stout robust blend of February Kenya and Assam. Superb colour and very full bodied. Excellent in the morning and afternoon.’)
They also included biodegradable filter tea bags!
- Featured Coffee: Highlands Blend by Vienna Coffee Company
This coffee has remained one of our absolute favorites! It has a natural sweetness that gives this blend a delightful flavor.
- Featured bonus item: A GORGEOUS Celtic inspired book sleeve made by CreatedByRaeMn. We love her handmade book sleeves, and this one is so special because it was made exclusively for this box!

"Forest Magic"

 

Our "Forest Magic" book box was centered around the featured book: The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley.

 

Synopsis Excerpt: Surrounded by local stories of lost time, cursed woods, and living rock, Merrick must separate truth from fairytale and find out what befell the last expeditions.
- The featured tea in this box is Left Coast Tropic, crafted by Beach House Teas. Left Coast Tropic is 100% organic loose leaf tea blended with both organic Assam tea and green tea. Tropic vibes are brought in from organic thick cut coconut and locally harvested Pineapple Sage.
- Coffee in this box was from Badger Bro's Coffee. Refuel with this medium roast coffee! The smooth and satisfying flavor and aroma of the "Refuel" blend is sure to give you that pick me up you need!
There are two bonus items in this box!
- This first is a scoop clip by Talisman Designs, featuring an adorable hedgehog.
- The second is a hedgehog spoon rest, which is also a great size for tea strainers. 

Event Box for "The Girl the Sea Gave Back"

 



Featuring the book: The Girl the Sea Gave Back, by Adrienne Young
This box makes a really wonderful gift! Every item was selected to match the blue ocean theme of this box.
- The Coffee: Cafe Femenino, from Peru.
- The Tea: Truth Spell, by Par Avion Tea
This box also included two bonus items pertaining to the theme: Sea Salt Caramels, and a custom magnetic bookmark!


"Hope In Chaos"

This was our first time featuring a new release!
There Will Come a Darkness was the book featured in this box; it’s been compared to Six of Crows and Graceling.
This coffee was freshly roasted by Pintail Coffee NY (and has become a rep favorite!). The coffee is yummy, and the packaging just fit the theme so well, we couldn’t resist! Plus, the have a wonderful give-back program.
Tea this month was from @shopcallmesweetea - it’s a blend that she made just for this box! She just had her grand opening, and we’re so excited to have been able to work with her to place an order and help her small shop open!
This month’s bonus item was a mug we designed and had custom made for the box. It’s an 11oz ceramic mug that says: “I’m not a bookworm, I’m a book dragon”. It's dishwasher safe, though we recommend hand washing so the print lasts a little bit longer.

"Hope In Chaos"
Our very first box!



Our June book box features The Lost Queen by Signe Pike. This epic fantasy will take you on an adventure to a lost landscape.
This months tea was a delicious caffeine free blend for the summer, by Cup & Kettle Tea. Titled Lemon Honeybush, the ingredients originate from South Africa, and the United States. It has a sweet, juicy, and clean flavor. •
The coffee in this box was from Java Roma Roasters, it included 4 different blends: Blackout (dark roast), Morning Jolt (breakfast blend), Stomping Grounds (Dark Roast) and Guatemala (Medium Roast). There are 4, 2 ounce packets, so you can try them all and pick a favorite!
This months bonus item was inspired by the love of libraries! It's a personal library kit by Knock Knock.
Use it to lend out your personal books, or as a way of keeping track of how many times you've read your favorites! 😍There was a bonus bookmark that just matched the insignia on the cover of the book so well, that we couldn't resist adding it in!

Photo credit to @librarianofazkaban for the stunning coffee box pic!