Subscription Boxes

Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Darkly Decadent, June 2025

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box that usually features fantasy and sci-fi, and curates a wide range of books, including both young adult and adult fiction. It usually contains a new release and several bookish goodies.

Darkly Decadent sounds like a luscious theme choice, even if for some reason today typing “decadent” just has not worked out well for me (I’ve made every typo possible on it somehow). And I think the theme was done pretty well, so let’s see what the box had, starting from the top and going clockwise:

• A picnic blanket inspired by House of Hollow, this one lives in my car, and hasn’t been used much purely because I haven’t had many outings that are picnic material (most of my use of the car is commuting style rather than leisure drives along the countryside, maybe I should do that more…)
• The monthly leaflet. I admit that I wish the theme was less vague icons, I miss more detailed theme images (though I do like that they’re very good hints of the book inside and I really appreciate that).
• One of the gorgeous mugs by RosieThorns88, these are almost always a keeper (unless a friend wants one or the image is not really my thing). This one is inspired by The Last of the Flower Bride which I have on my TBR.
• Hungerstone inspired recipe cards. This was probably my favourite item because I have several binders of recipes and I also have a recipe card box so this fits perfectly with it.
• A spoon rest that is super gorgeous, inspired by This Ravenous Fate.
• And finally the featured book, A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek, which is still on my TBR, and a very pretty edition.

So I think this is a competitor to best box of the year for Rival Realms (April 2025), and probably just a tiny bit higher on the list, but it is a tough fight. Everything but the leaflet has a use and some are actively in use, and they are all useful items that aren’t just gathering dust. I change my spoon rests and just enjoy a good cup of tea/coffee. I think the only sad side for both boxes is I have yet to read both books.

• Nested Soul Mug, inspired by The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, artwork by RosieThorns88
• The Darkness Within Picnic Blanket, inspired by House of Hollow, artwork by Kristin Heldt
• The Saint Empire Spoon Rest, inspired by This Ravenous Fate, artwork by Adrianne Bresijn
• For What Do You Hunger Recipe Cards, inspired by Hungerstone, artwork by Julie Reinhart

Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Ancient Artefacts, May 2025

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

It amuses me that usually after a really good box (for me) the next one is a bit of a miss. And so I am not surprised that this is the case, but let’s start with the background an then go left to right clockwise:

• A satin pillow case which is all slippery and interesting, but did you know satin is a weave rather than a material? So it is not the same as a silk pillow case (if your aim is to protect your hair and your skin). But I do not expect Illumicrate to be giving us silk pillowcases, this is more a random fact that came to mind. I am not crazy about satin or silk pillow cases as they are a bit slippery for me and a bit too cold. But the design is lovely!
• The main book which was A Song of Legends Lost by M. H. Ayinde, and honestly this is a book not on my radar and not super interested in it, not sure I will read it or maybe I will someday.
• A replica bow, to be a difference from the daggers which I thought was cool and pretty.
• The monthly leaflet with contents, the photo challenge and more info on the book.
• A “Buy a Book” decision coin, I love the idea of it, which is pretty fun.
• And finally a cute little plant pot inspired by What The River Knows.

Overall I can appreciate the contents, and probably will use the plant pot and the coin but the rest is a bit of a miss so it feels a bit weak. I am probably feeling that after the box from April blew me away. Still, decent content and a read that I wouldn’t always pick, making me read outside of my usual sometimes.

Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Rival Realms, April 2025

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box that usually features fantasy and sci-fi, and curates a wide range of books, including both young adult and adult fiction. It usually contains a new release and several bookish goodies.

This was such a purplebox and I really like purple sp automatic love of it, but let’s see what it had inside, and starting differently today at the botoom and going clockwise upwards:

• A Gorgeous tote back which is super spacious, it is a favourite for conventions since it has a zipper (the only other better bag than this is a very similar one that I got at a convention, same design but it had two pockets inside). I’d love more bags like this one.
• Cosmic Fray Suncatcher stickers. You basically put these on your windows and they are like shimmery sun catchers making the sun make pretty glass reflections inside the house, like the effect of having stained glass on your windows, but conveniently in a sticker. I have not stuck them because I am renting but I can’t wait to put them up!
• A puzzle for Velaris, I love their puzzles so no complaints here.
• The Raven Scholar, which I admit I haven’t read yet but it is on my list.
• And the usual leaflet for the box

Overall I think I basically loved everything from this box and the only thing not really yet defined on is the book, but it looks like it is the right book for me. Probably best box of 2025 so far.

Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Haunting Spirits, March 2025

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box that usually features fantasy and sci-fi, and curates a wide range of books, including both young adult and adult fiction. It usually contains a new release and several bookish goodies.

I skipped February last year, the book and fandoms just weren’t my particular cup of tea (I think I usually skip one box a year if at all and I love that you can do this). So let’s see how March was, starting with the featured book and going clockwise:

• The main book was The Prince Without Sorrow by Maithree Wijesekara which is on my list to read but still hasn’t been read.
• Story book Setting magnet inspired by One Dark Window (we like this book so big win here), but in general I like the collection of storybook settings. The magnets are so pretty and perfect for my recipe cards that end up on the fridge.
• A super awesome coaster inspired by The Jasmine Throne and the deathless waters (you’d need to read it to understand).
• A book pot and I like the desing of this one so I kept it, but it’s currently packed in storage still.
• Warden of the Wood embroidery kit which is on my pile of crafty projects to do because it is very cool, but I haven’t got to it yet (embroidery and crochet are the slowest craft projects for me at the moment since I don’t have a set space to do them so I keep having to setup, then move then lose momentum).

Overall the box was full of awesome bits and fandom I like so there wasn’t anything really wasted, big win in this case and I am pretty happy with the contents and over all the box and the look of it.

Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Time is Running Out, November 2024

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box that usually features fantasy and sci-fi, and curates a wide range of books, including both young adult and adult fiction. It usually contains a new release and several bookish goodies.

Time is running out is a hell of a theme, makes me think of Catch me if you can or inception, or similar films, so let’s see how we did with the theme and items, startingwith the featured book and going clockwise:

• The featured book was The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso. And I have actually read (and reviewed) this book, before I even got the book box, and really enjoyed it, it was a really good choice.
• The Vagabond Quick tumbler, which I like these but I already have one I keep so this went as a gift since I only really keep one or two of them, but they are quite hardy and long lasting.
• Socks, divine rights socks. I love getting nice socks in book boxes, so this was a win and they are still in rotation and have been used a lot.
• The monthly leaflet.
• A Jump into Alternate Realities book pot. I love these pots and I think I kept this one because it is very fun!
• One More Chapter coin. Basically to help you stop reading when you say “one more chapter”, toss and it will tell if you go ahead or not. Love the idea of it and I rarely ever actually follow it but I still find it very fun.

This was a very good and nice bok, and I have fond memories of reading the book, which was super enjoyable, and the socks are as always awesome to get, so I was pretty pleased with Novemeber and what it brought even if there was no running around to try to make time last longer (though if you get philosophical, then time goes back to normal around this time of year and the darkness wraps around making time seem shorter).

Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Colours of Magic, October 2024

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box that usually features fantasy and sci-fi, and curates a wide range of books, including both young adult and adult fiction. It usually contains a new release and several bookish goodies.

Colours of Magic makes me think of Terry Pratchett, and so let’s see how the box did starting at the top left corner and going clockwise:

• A Moth to Flame chain enamel pin set which I think is very cute and pretty.
• I used to be obsessed with book covers, and I admit I prefer these that wrap around than the ones that are more like a sleeve, and this cute dragon one is gorgeous.
• A bottle travel set, which I ended up gifting to someone who travels since I already have one, but this was utterly pretty and got lots of admiration.
• Leftlet of the month
• Washi tape, though I don’t remember the theme. I kinda like washi tape but forget to use it enough.
• The featured book was Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan which is on my reading list but haven’t got to it yet.

Overall, definitely a magical box with lots of colours and different fandoms, which was pleasing. Nothing really unusable or gone to waste, so also a win there. I’d say it was pretty good for October even if I haven’t read the book yet.

Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Darker Academia, September 2024

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box that usually features fantasy and sci-fi, and curates a wide range of books, including both young adult and adult fiction. It usually contains a new release and several bookish goodies.

I have mixed feelings about Dark Academia but let’s go into this with open eyes, starting bottom left and going clockwise:

• The Dark Academia Bookcase jigsaw puzzle. I love when they send jigsaws, because they’re very fun and I find it a nice activity to do, so this is already a win.
• A task journal (interesting concept) with a gorgeous cover.
• Reading prompt cards, not a concept for me particularly since I am a mood reader and being prompted or forced to choose something does not work, but I did like the idea behind it. It has genre suggestions but also things like “a book with dragons” and so forth, which is quite fun.
• A satisfying closure glasses case, which I don’t use simply because I don’t use a glasses case for my all the time on glass except when I sleep.
• The monthly leaflet as usual.
• And the featured book which was A Dark and Drowning Tide, which is on my list to read and I haven’t got to it annoyingly. But still looking forward to it.

Overall a very dreamy box, which had some very good items and some less useful for me but still creative and useful for others. Visually it’s one of my favourites of the year and the book was also a big favourite.