Fairyloot Unboxing - February 2019 "Beauty and the Beast"

FairyLoot February Box "Beauty and the Beast"

I'm a HUGE Beauty and the Beast fan so there was no way I could resist the February FairyLoot box, especially after I was so happy with the December dragons box. I honestly expected to love everything about this box, I mean how can you go wrong with a theme like Beauty and the Beast? I've seen a lot of love for this box online so it looks like I'm in the minority here but I was so, so disappointed with this one. Apart from the book there isn't a single item in here that I'd actually have chosen to spend my money on, there are a couple of items that are okay but I can think of a million ways this box could have been improved.

The first item in the box was this HUGE wall tapestry with a design based on the ballroom scene from the movie. It doesn't really make a good wall tapestry unless you have a lot of spare wall space though (anywhere I had this much wall is now hidden behind a bookcase!). Size wise it's big enough to completely cover a standard double bed apart from the pillows so it's more like a bed throw than a tapestry. My biggest issue with this is the design though, I just think for such a beautiful scene this is a really dark and dreary design - the predominant colour is navy blue FFS! That glorious golden dress, the romance of the scene and in my opinion it's completely ruined by this depressing colour scheme.

Next we have this plastic tumbler which is okay but I don't think it's anything special. It's full of glittery sequins but they're all stuck together in big ugly clumps that don't look particularly attractive and I don't think the design is anything new or different. I've seen nicer tumblers going cheap in my local supermarket to be honest.

Then we have this little trinket dish with a quote from the movie on it. It's nice enough but not really one of the most obvious quotes to use, there are many others I'd have preferred. Nothing about the design or colour scheme particularly screams Beauty and the Beast to me so if you didn't recognise the quote I don't think you'd associate it with the fandom.

Next is this little roll on perfume inspired by Mrs. Potts, it smells like vanilla and is probably one of the nicer items in the box but again it's not really something I'd have purchased separately.

This enamel pin is probably my favourite item in the box apart from the book, it's so obviously inspired by the show and is really pretty.

I also really like this Belle print but I have so many of these now and nowhere to display them all so I always think of prints as a fairly useless item no matter how pretty they are.

The one thing I'm really excited about is the book, I've heard great things about this Beauty and the Beast retelling and I can't wait to read it. I love the little rose shaped signature bookplate and the artwork on the back of the author letter too. This is an exclusive hardback too, the UK edition of this book is only being sold elsewhere as a paperback so that makes it more of a collectors item.

So that's all of the contents of the Beauty and the Beast box (with an additional cat since Sparrow refused to get out of the way so I could take the picture LOL). What do you think? The only two items I'd probably have purchased myself are the book and the enamel pin so for me this box definitely wasn't worth the over £30 I spent on it but all the other comments I've seen online about this box have been extremely positive.

I think it's probably time for me to take a step back from Fairyloot again for a while, I like the mystery of receiving these boxes but it's very rare that I think they're good value for money as there are always at least a couple of things I wouldn't choose to buy separately. I'm probably better off spending my money on Etsy picking and choosing items that really appeal to me that I'm going to actually be excited to receive.

Review: Spirit - Brigid Kemmerer

With power comes enemies. Lots of them.

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies.

He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.

Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.

With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust…

Elemental Series:
Elemental (Short Story)
Storm
Fearless (Short Story)
Spark
Breathless (Short Story)
Spirit
Secret (2014)
Sacrifice (2014)

Visit Brigid Kemmerer's website for more information

Review:
I've been a huge fan of the Elemental series practically from the very first book so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this latest instalment. As much as I've loved the earlier books I'm afraid this one just didn't quite live up to my expectations, that doesn't mean it was a terrible book but it was definitely my least favourite of the series so far. This is still a series I'd highly recommend though, I LOVE those Merrick brothers and I'm super excited about Nick's book which is due to be published early next year.

I've never been a huge fan of Hunter so that was probably why I didn't love Spirit as much as I've loved the previous books. He actually really grew on me in the beginning, I felt so badly for everything his family put him through and my heart just broke for him when everyone had seemed to turn against him. I absolutely loved the way Michael took him under his wing and tried so hard to help him but that left me feeling frustrated by the way Hunter refused to trust the Merricks. I know he has good reasons not to trust anyone at all but the Merricks were the only ones who were trying to help him and he kept throwing it back in their faces. That would have been easier to understand and believe if he hadn't pretty much immediately accepted new girl Kate into his life. He had only just met her, he had evidence that she had lied to him and was keeping secrets and yet he trusted her more than the people who had given him a roof over his head and put food in his belly. That just didn't make sense to me and it left me feeling really frustrated and annoyed with him.

I also never found myself warming up to Kate, she kept too many secrets and I just didn't feel like I could trust her. I was never clear which side she was on and was wary that she was going to end up betraying not just Hunter but also the Merricks. I have to admit that even though I didn't love either main character I did really enjoy their text banter, it was so well written and very funny to read. There were also some fabulous action scenes that had me on the edge of my seat and some really heartfelt moments when Hunter finally started to open up to Michael and the others. I went into complete shock over the twist at the end and although I can't tell you any more because I don't want to spoil things for you it did help to explain some of the things I had problems with earlier in the story.

Although Spirit wasn't my favourite book of the series it is still a worthwhile read that I'm sure fans won't want to miss. This is a series that I would highly recommend (I've said it before but it's worth saying again - I LOVE those sexy Merrick brothers!) and this instalment does include information that is going to have an impact when it comes to later books in the series. Now I'm just waiting impatiently for Nick's story because I know that one is going to be amazing.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Paperback:

Review: Breathless - Brigid Kemmerer

Too many secrets. Not enough time.

Nick Merrick is supposed to be the level-headed one. The peacemaker. Since it’s just him and his three hotheaded brothers against the world, that’s a survival tactic.

But now he’s got problems even his brothers can’t help him survive.

His so-called girlfriend, Quinn, is going quick as mercury from daring to crazy. Meanwhile, Quinn’s dancer friend Adam is throwing Nick off balance, forcing him to recognise a truth he’d rather shove back into the dark.

He can feel it—-the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out that sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace.

Elemental Series:
Elemental (Short Story)
Storm
Fearless (Short Story)
Spark
Breathless (Short Story)
Spirit
Secret (2014)
Sacrifice (2014

Visit Brigid Kemmerer's website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of the Elemental series so when the chance came up to request Breathless on Netgalley I couldn't wait to start reading it. Nick has always been the quietest of the Merrick brothers, the one who keeps the peace but mainly hangs around in the background and the one who had made the least impression on me throughout the series so far. That's not to say I didn't like him - it's more that the others have so much presence that they kind of eclipse him. Well I can tell you now that Breathless gives Nick a chance to shine and my only disappointment was that this is just a short story, I wanted more of Nick and I can't wait to read his book!

It was so nice to get to know Nick a bit better, he tries so hard to always do what is best for everyone else - he looks out for his brothers and even for Quinn and he always puts everyone else's needs before his own. He tries to deny the way he really feels because he worries about how his brothers, and especially his twin Gabe, will react so he goes along with dating girls just because it is easier. He does genuinely care for Quinn but more like a brother than a boyfriend and the last thing he wants to do his hurt her but it reaches the point where he has to be honest with her. I absolutely loved the scenes between him and Adam and I have very high hopes for their future romance! I think Nick has a tough road ahead of him but I'm sure that is going to make the ending all the sweeter.

I did find myself feeling a little sorry for Quinn, her home life is horrific and Nick has been a lifeline for her that she desperately needs but I do think that both of their feelings towards each other are more friendship than love so I don't think she's going to get her heart broken. I do hope we'll get to see her find love at some point in the series though because she deserves to get a happy ending.

Any fan of the Elemental series won't want to miss this latest short story, it's just increased my excitement for Spirit which thankfully comes out next month so there isn't too much longer to wait. I just wish that was Nick's story rather than Hunter's, although, if I'm honest I'm sure Brigid Kemmerer will have me swooning over Hunter in no time!

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Review: Spark - Brigid Kemmerer

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

The fuse is lit…

Elemental Series:
Elemental (Short Story)
Storm
Fearless (Short Story)
Spark
Breathless (Short Story)
Spirit
Secret (2014)
Sacrifice (2014

Visit Brigid Kemmerer's website for more information

Review:
After really enjoying Storm and the short stories Elemental and Fearless I couldn't wait to start reading Spark. The Elementals series has really captured me and I'm happy to say that Spark was even better than Storm. This is a series I can't recommend highly enough but I do recommend reading the books in order though so if you haven't started it yet please bear in mind that this review will contain spoilers for the previous books.

I already liked Gabriel for his snarky humour but the more we get to know him the more we see how his bad boy attitude is a front to hide the guilt he feels over his parents deaths. Gabriel is a deeply troubled individual, he blames himself for the accident that tore his family apart, he feels inadequate when he compares himself to his perfect twin Nicolas and he is distanced from his older brother Michael who he resents for being the one to tell him what to do all the time. My heart broke for him as I watched how hard he tries to control his powers and how much he wants to do the right thing but how everyone is always quick to believe the worst of him. There are times when Gabriel is so lost and lonely that I wanted to climb into the book and comfort him! Gabriel is the kind of guy who uses his attitude to drive people away so when he is afraid that someone is getting too close his defences kick into high gear and the insults start flowing. It makes him hard to get close to but he is well worth the effort!

It's going to take a special kind of girl to break through Gabriel's tough outer shell and find the sweet and caring guy underneath but luckily Layne is up to the task. Layne has her own issues that she is dealing with and she is very wary of letting anyone get close to her but there is just something about Gabriel she finds hard to resist. Layne has had it tough with her family, her mother has to be one of the most useless and stuck up women I've ever come across and her dad has kind of fallen apart since she left them. Layne is the one who has been holding everything together for herself and her brother Simon but she is struggling to keep it all going. On a side note I just have to mention how much I adored Simon and I really admired his determination to prove everyone wrong about him, the bond that grows between him and Gabriel is so sweet and I loved seeing them spend time together. To get back to Layne and Gabriel I want to tell you how much I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop, this is no case of instant love, in fact they don't even really like each other in the beginning but as they get to know each other a real bond grows between them. There wasn't a single point where their relationship felt rushed or forced and I liked that their romance was given more page time than that of Chris and Becca's in Storm (not that I didn't enjoy Chris and Becca's story because I did but the romance was more of a sideline in the first book and in Spark it is front and centre).

One of the best things about this series has always been the relationship between the Merrick brothers and that is no exception in this story. As twins Gabriel and Nicholas have always been the closest of the four of them, they have been practically inseparable since they were small children and they tell each other everything. That starts to change in this book as Gabriel gets jealous when Nick starts doing things without him and a rift forms between them. It was hard to see them so distanced from each other but I was glad to see that they come out stronger on the other side of their argument. I think that their fall out did them good in the long run because it allowed them to find out things that they had both kept secret from each other in the past. My favourite thing was watching the way Gabriel and Michael started to understand each other better. Gabriel resents Michael for being the one in charge and hates that Michael spoils his fun by telling him what to do but he has finally started to grow up enough to see just how hard things must have been for Michael. It isn't easy for anyone to suddenly go from being a teenager who is looking at going to college to becoming the guardian of 3 younger boys who are traumatised by the deaths of their parents. Michael never really had time to grieve himself because he had to throw himself into the task of taking care of his brothers and it's about time they started to realise what he gave up in order to keep the family together.

Alongside the romance and the family drama we also get to learn a lot more about Gabriel's powers and watch some quite heroic behaviour on his part as he practices with Hunter. There is plenty of action since an arsonist is wreaking havoc and managing to successfully place the blame in Gabriel's direction but can they figure out who is behind it all before someone is seriously hurt? I think I've given you more than enough reasons to pick up a copy of Spark immediately, if you're a fan of the previous books then you're going to love this latest instalment and if you're new to the series then you really don't know what you're missing!

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Fearless - Brigid Kemmerer

Being a force of nature doesn’t keep you safe.

Hunter Garrity is used to watching his back. The kids at school sense something different about him. And they’re right.

Hunter has powers that have nothing to do with how hard he can throw a punch.

Maybe that’s what Clare Kasten is picking up. She’s shy, quiet, and intense, but she’s sought him out. There’s no telling what she wants from him.

But Hunter knows enough to sense a secret when it’s close. And getting close to Clare is a danger he’s ready to face…

Elemental Series:
Elemental (Short Story)
Storm
Fearless (Short Story)
Spark
Breathless (Short Story)
Spirit
Secret (2014)
Sacrifice (2014

Visit Brigid Kemmerer's website for more information

Review:
In the Elemental series time line the events in Fearless actually occur between the first short story Elemental and the first book but as this would give you major spoilers I want to point out that it is very important not to read this before Storm.

Fearless gives us a glimpse at Hunter's life before he meets Becca and the Merricks and it was really nice to learn more about him and what his life was like when his father and uncle were still alive. I'm not going to go into the plot because it is far to easy to give spoilers on such a short story but this really gives an insight into Hunters beliefs and it goes a long way to explain his actions in Storm.

It isn't essential to read this story before Spark but it is always nice to learn a bit more background information about the characters we've met and I'm happy to spend extra time in the Elemental world any way I can get it. Brigid Kemmerer has created a fantastic series and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Source: Purchased

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Kindle:

Review: Storm - Brigid Kemmerer

Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys all the ones she doesn't want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They're powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming.

Elemental Series:
Elemental (Short Story)
Storm
Fearless (Short Story)
Spark
Breathless (Short Story)
Spirit
Secret (2014)
Sacrifice (2014

Visit Brigid Kemmerer's website for more information

Review:
So many of my friends have been raving about Brigid Kemmerer's Elementals series and I really enjoyed the prequel short story Elemental so I had high hopes when I picked up Storm. Thankfully the story lived up to my expectations and this is a great debut novel. I loved the fact that it was a YA paranormal book that has moved away from vampires and shapeshifters and come up with something different. Here we have people with the ability to control the elements which is definitely a power I've not seen much of but can't wait to learn more about.

The Merrick brothers are all very powerful elementals each with control over a different element. Because they are so strong they are considered dangerous by the other families in the area who have less power than they do. The others worry that the Merrick's will expose them all and they will stop at nothing to keep their secret. The boy's parents made a deal with the other families though, a deal that should have kept them protected. As long as the Merrick's don't expose their powers or harm others then the other families must leave them alone but the younger generation don't agree with the deal that their parents made and they have spent years attacking the brothers trying to get them to break the pact first.

Michael is the oldest and most powerful brother, he is an earth elemental and has had to take over the role of breadwinner and surrogate parent to his siblings since their parents were killed. I loved Michael in the prequel short story and at first couldn't understand why he was so different in this book, he comes across as very moody and uncaring but when I found out why I was completely heartbroken for him. His attitude was completely understandable and he is under so much pressure trying to keep his brothers safe, he really has the weight of the world on his shoulders and I hope we get to see things become easier for him as the series continues.

Next we have the twins Nick, an air elemental, and Gabriel who has power over fire. Nick is the peacemaker in the family, he is always trying to smooth things over between Michael and Gabriel and he is also the most easy going of the brothers. Gabriel is the troublemaker, he resents the fact that Michael is always telling them what to do and he hates the fact that he refuses to stand up for them against the other elemental families. Gabriel is an expert at flirting and has a way with the ladies but he also has a quick temper and you wouldn't want to get on his bad side. Last but by no means least you have the youngest brother Chris. Chris is a water elemental and he is only just beginning to learn the extent of his abilities, he still finds it difficult to control his powers and is the one most at risk of exposing them. Chris is a really sweet guy and I loved the way we got to see part of the story from his point of view.

Becca has been in the same class as Chris for years but they never really spoke until the day she sees him being attacked by two other students in the parking lot. Becca may be half the size of the boys attacking Chris but she can't leave him there helpless and alone and rushes to his aid. You have to admire Becca, she has been through hell at school thanks to the bullies who are making her life miserable but she refuses to let them see her cry. She holds her head up high and does her best to rise above them, it isn't easy for her but she is tough and has survived things that would have broken most people. Thanks to Becca's bravery in coming to Chris's aid she soon finds herself in a whole heap of trouble though and the bullies are now the least of her problems. Chris's whole family is under attack by an extremely powerful elemental and if she isn't careful Becca could find herself hurt in the crossfire.

I don't want to say more about the plot so you'll just have to read the book yourself to find out. With four hot brothers, a selection of kick ass characters with unusual powers, fast paced edge of your seat action and a different romance with every story this is a series to watch out for and one I can't recommend highly enough. Now I'm off to pick up my copy of Fearless!

Source: Purchased

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Review: Elemental - Brigid Kemmerer

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they are more than you dream.

As an air Elemental, 17-year-old Emily Morgan doesn't have much power. That’s okay—she knows what happens to kids who do.

Like Michael Merrick. He’s an earth Elemental, one with enough power to level cities. Which makes him sexy. Dangerous. And completely off limits. At least according to Emily’s family.

But her summer job puts her in close contact with Michael, and neither of them can help the attraction they feel. When forces of nature like theirs collide, one misstep could get someone killed. Because Emily’s family doesn't just want her to stay away from him.

They want him dead.

Elemental Series:
Elemental (Short Story)
Storm
Fearless (Short Story)
Spark
Breathless (Short Story)
Spirit
Secret (2014)
Sacrifice (2014

Visit Brigid Kemmerer's website for more information

Review:
Elemental is a short story set five years before events in Brigid Kemmerer's debut novel Storm. It may only be a short story but it worked well as an introduction to the series and definitely left me keen to pick up Storm as soon as possible.

The story introduces us to powerful earth elemental Michael and air elemental Emily. Michael is so powerful that the other elemental families fear his abilities and worry that he could expose them all, they are so frightened of him that they would prefer to see him dead than let him live his life. Thanks to a deal made by his parents Michael is safe for now but only if he keeps to the conditions that his family agreed to. He doesn't want to cause trouble but the other elemental families will do anything to provoke him into breaking the truce. Emily's family have always warned her to stay away from Michael, in fact they have banned any kind of contact with him, but when they are thrown together due to circumstances out of their control the attraction between them is hard to resist.

I really enjoyed Elemental and am looking forward to continuing the series. We haven't been told much about the different elemental abilities yet so I can't wait to learn more. My main complaint about this story is that it ended on such a cliffhanger and from what I understand the story isn't picked up immediately in Storm. In fact Storm is about Michael's younger brother Chris so I'm a bit worried we won't get a full resolution to the events in Elemental. I am however looking forward to getting to know Michael's family better and I hope that we see more of him and Emily throughout the series.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle: