Lit-Cube July 2015 “Mermaid Kisses” Review

Lit-Cube sends you books and bookish goodies every month. For a bibliophile, this could be a dream come true. I adore reading and spend a portion of every day with a book. I tend to read more science fiction/fantasy and historical steampunk type books but that’s mainly because I’ve read all the classics way too many times. Of course, I also read regular mysteries like Sue Grafton and Elizabeth Peters but not anything scary or too suspenseful because I get nightmares.

The last Lit-Cube had a Steampunk theme and I absolutely adored it. I read the novel (it was okay) but it also came with some free downloads for other lesser known authors that I loved. Yay for finding new authors to read!

The Cost: $29.98/month

What You Get: A hand selected book accompanied by high quality literary-themed items to create a great reading experience.

How to Be a Mermaid by Erin Hayes– Oh, dear. I was pretty excited for this but it’s… Sure, it’s a novella so the plot moves fast but there could still be some background given for what the heck is happening. I’m not a big fan of modern settings but one more reference to Ariel might have been the death of me. I didn’t finish it. The writing is lackluster, the wording repetitive. It’s basically blah.

Talk Less– Read More Sticker– Pauline Creeden is an author who has a mermaid book coming out.

An Officer and a Mermaid by Blaire Edens– It felt like a third of the book dealt with the Officer staring at the Mermaid and her breasts. Another case of poor writing as well. Don’t set a book in 1791 and then use modern day verbiage, even if it is only for the first chapter. It’s definitely not YA since there’s a sex scene and many sexual references, especially for a book this short. So many loose ends and the finale made me want to throw the book across the room. Yeah, that’s the kind of guy I want to end up with. Not. I can’t even think about it. Everything about this book was strange and uncomfortable.

Mermaid Tote Bag by Victoria Faye– This is so cute! I want to keep it and give it away. I know that makes no sense but I feel like I shouldn’t be the only one toting this cute thing around. It’s a nice big tote, too, and it’s quite thick. Good to take to the library to hold all the books after you check them out.

Zeno’s Saltwater Taffy– This is such a fun addition to a mermaid box! I love how they included the cheat sheet so you don’t have to guess what you’re tasting.

Beachy Bookmark in Fifty Shades– I never read Fifty Shades but applying it to a bookmark packed with sunglasses works for me. It’s nice and sturdy, too.

Mermaid Charm– Oo! I can add this to my Owl charm that I have. This was stapled to a little card advertising an author named Kelly Risser but I’m not sure if they are supposed to be together. The author doesn’t write about mermaids… I don’t know. I just think this is cute.

Mermaid Journal by Victoria Faye– It appears that Victoria Faye can do anything! Design tote bags, do journal covers, etc! This is a gorgeous journal cover. It has 80 pages and a little calendar section at the back. It’s a little weird to get a journal two months in a row but they’re both works of art.

Free Download of Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser– The last free downloads we got were amazing so I’ll definitely be downloading and reading this one. I like to find new authors. Not mediocre authors though. Good ones. You never know until you read them.

Falling in the Deep Tales of the Sea Teaser– This is a booklet that showcases fifteen authors and their mermaid tales. I’ll look them up and see what I think.

VERDICT: I really like what Lit-Cube is doing. I do not mind at all that some of the books come from lesser known publishers or are self-published. That’s how you find new, great authors. However, I have a hard time believing that someone read these books and thought they were so excellent that they should be shared with the world. They’re not. They fit the theme but they are not worth reading. I’d say maybe if you were 13, you might find these fun and interesting (except the Officer and a Mermaid would be wildly inappropriate) but an avid reader is not going to be too thrilled. I feel bad ripping on these novellas but ermahgeeeerd, plot holes galore. /sigh

Aside from the books, the contents of this box fit the theme so well and are wonderful inclusions. Bookish and useful. That’s what I love about Lit-Cube. It’s not just a book, it’s an experience. 😀 Still, this box was a dud for me.

If you would like to sign up for Lit-Cube, you can do that right here. Your first box will now be the September box which has a theme of “We Will Never Be Royals.” I can’t wait!