The Lady Lair is a multi-interest subscription box for women that sends 4-6 themed literary, lifestyle, beauty/personal care, and geekish items to subscribers each month.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: The Lady Lair
The Cost: $44.99 + $6.99 shipping
COUPON: Use code FIRSTMONTH3 to save $3 off your first box!
The Products: 4-6 literary, lifestyle, beauty/personal care, or geeky items each month.
Ships to: U.S. only
Check out the Geek + Nerd Subscription Box Directory, Book Subscription Box Directory, and make sure to add The Lady Lair to your subscription list or wishlist!
The info card for this box is an actual card. Cute!
The design on the card is so elegant and romantic. It really sets the tone for the box.
Inside, there's a list of this month's products, as well as the categories they fit into.
RoseBlood by A. G. Howard - Value $11.40 on Amazon (retail price $18.95)
This month's literary pick is a YA interpretation of the classic Phantom of the Opera story.
Book Summary on Amazon:
This YA novel from New York Times bestselling author A. G. Howard marks the beginning of a new era for fans of the Splintered series. Rune Germain moves to a boarding school outside of Paris, only to discover that at this opera-house-turned-music-conservatory, phantoms really do exist. RoseBlood is a Phantom of the Opera–inspired retelling in which Rune’s biggest talent—her voice—is also her biggest curse. Fans of Daughter of Smoke and Bone and the Splintered series will find themselves captivated by this pulse-pounding spin on a classic tale.
Rune, whose voice has been compared to that of an angel, has a mysterious affliction linked to her talent that leaves her sick and drained at the end of every performance. Convinced creative direction will cure her, her mother ships her off to a French boarding school for the arts, rumored to have a haunted past.
Shortly after arriving at RoseBlood conservatory, Rune starts to believe something otherworldly is indeed afoot. The mystery boy she’s seen frequenting the graveyard beside the opera house doesn’t have any classes at the school, and vanishes almost as quickly as he appears. When Rune begins to develop a secret friendship with the elusive Thorn, who dresses in clothing straight out of the 19th century, she realizes that in his presence she feels cured. Thorn may be falling for Rune, but the phantom haunting RoseBlood wants her for a very specific and dangerous purpose. As their love continues to grow, Thorn is faced with an impossible choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or save her and face the wrath of the phantom, the only father he’s ever known.
A. G. Howard brings the romantic storytelling that Splintered fans adore to France—and an entirely new world filled with lavish romance and intrigue—in a retelling inspired by a story that has captivated generations. Fans of both the Phantom of the Opera musical and novel, as well as YA retellings such as Marissa Meyer’s Cinder, will devour RoseBlood.
The author has a whole series of fantasy YA novels if you like this book!
This romantic book comes just in time for Valentine's Day! Even past that, these gray late-winter days are perfect for snuggling up with a guilty-pleasure read like this one.
Hand-Painted Masquerade Mask - Value $9.95?
To help put you in the theatrical mood, the box includes this glittery, pearlescent masquerade mask. It ties in the back with two black ribbons. It could be fun to attend (or host!) a fancy soiree wearing this coquettish accessory!
I couldn't find this exact item online, so I linked to something similar.
Phantom-of-the-Opera-Inspired Tumbler by Down the Hatch Designs - Value $12.00?
16 oz. tumblers are always handy to have around (I like to use reusable cups for iced coffees and things on the go). Phantom fans will recognize the chandelier from the musical. On the other side, there's a quote in romantic red.
The tumbler is plastic, so I'd hand wash it. I'm not sure how lasting the graphics would be otherwise. I do like plastic cups since they won't crack if I happen to drop them as I'm going about my day. (I'm not ashamed to say I can be a bit of a klutz!)
There's a card for Down the Hatch, in case you really love this item and want to find more like it!
Or, if you plan to give the tumbler as a gift, the back of the card is all set up to act as a gift tag.
Cargo Essential Lip Gloss in Prague, 0.08 fl oz. - Value $16.00
Next up is a moisturizing lip gloss. I love the crisp, sophisticated packaging.
The formula is nice and thick, though not particularly sticky. I did notice that it likes to move around on your lips—if I smushed my lips together, for instance, the color would slide to the edges of my lips, which made for an uneven application. I also thought it came across a bit browner in tone than it appears in the photo, which doesn't look as great on my complexion. It did, however, quench my lips nicely. I'm just not sure if it's the gloss for me.
6 Herbal Tea Candles from Nature's Court - Value $6.00
There's a little information about these chemical-free tea-lights on the back of the package.
Each candle has a smattering of aromatherapeutic herbs on top. I was a bit worried they'd start to burn. They did singe a bit, but most ended up getting absorbed into the melting wax.
The predominant ingredient in this mix seems to be rose, which produced a strong aroma even before I lit the candles. Keep in mind that this is more of the rose fragrance you'd equate with herbal tea than the sweet, fresh rose you'd find in perfume. The scent is earthy and has a bit of a sour complexity to it. I appreciate the natural take on scented candles!
Verdict: The romantic slant of this box was perfect for Valentine's Day. The value of the items was around $55.00, which is right in line with the cost of the box after you add in shipping. I was bummed that the lip gloss, which was one of the most expensive items in the box, wasn't really up my alley. And I'm not sure how much use I'll really get out of the masquerade mask (it's not something I'd see using as decor, for example). But I see the good intentions here, and I'm excited to see what subsequent boxes have in store!
What do you think of this month's The Lady Lair box?
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