Practically Magic Unboxing: The Witch

I went shopping at a craft fair with my youngest daughter last weekend. We came across a woman who was selling "Blind Date With a Book" options. In addition to picking from beautifully decorated "blind books" in the $20 - $45 range, she was selling mystery boxes in the $60 to $85 range.

I've tried book themed mystery unboxing services before. They are usually exciting at first, but eventually very underwhelming. However, I like to support local artists, and I enjoyed meeting this woman. So, I bought this unassuming "Practically Magic" bundle box. As you can see, it's just a plain white box about 10" x 14".

I was more than pleasantly surprised upon lifting the lid. Inside, was a beautiful 9 x 12 framed Halloween "Witch" print, a gothic themed tote bag featuring a possible witch with ravens and the tag line "We're all mad here", a lace fan, lace stockings, a black coaster, a small metal black cauldron with a removable lid, a purple rose and clear glass vase, a beautiful metal bookmark with dangles, several Halloween themed magnetic bookmarks, three different Fall teas, sage, a black crystal beaded hair vine, a purple and gold quill, a candle, and a "blind date book".

The book packaging was so adorable with a nod to Alice in Wonderland just as the tote did. As you can see, the packaging was beautifully decorated and stuffed full of goodies. There were multiple themed bookmarks, stickers, a hair scrunchie, ChapStick, sticky notes, flowers, book review and reading list cards, a pencil pouch, a pen, highlighter, more tea, book shaped paper clip, lotion, and eye masks.

The book was a hardback deluxe edition of The Witch by Freida McFadden. This newly released book includes beautifully sprayed edges and the timing is perfect. Not only was this book just released on October 6, but I am also teaching The Crucible right now.

The description for The Witch:

Some secrets don't die―they wait.

When Julia Barlow loses her job and her apartment, she has nowhere left to go but Pemberton, her family's sprawling seventeenth-century estate in rural Massachusetts. Officially, she's there to check in on her aging grandmother. Unofficially, she's hoping the old house will give her a place to disappear.

Instead, Pemberton begins to unravel her.

Every night, the grandfather clock stops at exactly 3:41 a.m. The lights flicker without warning. And a disembodied voice cries for help outside Julia's bedroom door.

As Julia digs into the house's dark history, she uncovers the story of a woman executed for witchcraft in 1692―and realizes the past may not be finished with Pemberton yet. When decades of family lies begin to surface, Julia must confront a terrifying truth: Pemberton may be haunted by women whose voices refuse to stay silent.

While this book and box collection idea may not be for everyone, I am extremely pleased with the purchase.

How about you? Have you enjoyed any unboxing services, blind date with a book experiences, or Freida McFadden reads? What are you doing for Halloween? Anything special planned for Fall?