Subscription Boxes

All the unboxings and details about subscription boxes (bookish or not)

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Fight For Your Future Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Fight For Your Future, June 2022

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, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.

After a lot of delays (for the past few weeks WordPress keeps crashing my posts when I try to schedule or publish them so I had to resolve those issues first. But I am ready to get back into all the books and nice things I have been reading, doing and unboxing, so let us start from the top left and going clockwise:

  • We All Fall Down by Rose Szabo, which I still haven’t read.
  • Book Cover like a slip on jacket with a Library scene.
  • Author letter
  • Passport cover which is very very pretty and I like it a lot.
  • Leaftlet on contents and who made what.
  • A mug for Girls of Paper and Fire series which is so dainty and gorgeous art.
  • Jade Bookends which are so stunning and amazing.

Overall a lovely cohesive box, maybe not my favourite book but the items are pretty good and I love those book ends and the mug, followed by the passport cover and the book jacket. Not a bad box at all.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: In the Dark Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: In the Dark, May 2022

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, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.

I have to admit themes like the one for this month always give me hope for good items. The unboxing will go from the featured book a the top and clockwise:

  • The Book of Night by Holly Black, which is apparently the first adult book from her and I am still to read it but curious. This edition is utterly stunning.
  • A replica “Gravebone” dagger, I have mixed thoughts about these because they are cool but Id like them to be longer so I could use them as hair sticks or some other use beyond a fancy enamel looking blade. But they look cool.
  • I love fancy bookmarks and this one is stunning, plus it it for Monstress which rarely features as part of the merch and I am loving how graphic novels are being included more into fandom items.
  • Nyx, Goddess of the Night teacup and saucer. The photo does not do it justice but it is a gorgeous one again.
  • Dark the Night blackout journal which looks cool and gorgeous and I am hoarding it until I have a use for it. because that is how it is with notebooks and journals.

Overall the contents were very good, fitting the theme well but also being useful and probably my least favourite is the dagger, but the rest I am quite happy with and will get some use out of all of the even if I am precious about the teacups and saucers, because they are fancy.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Powerful Me Tales by Mail

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Subscription box: Tales by Mail

Theme/Month: Powerful Me, June 2022

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Tales by Mail subscription, you can do it on their website. They have a new owner and I did not resubscribe because I am curious to see what happens.

Tales by Mail is a bi-monthly middle-grade book box that comes with two books, some activity pages you can collect, or copy or use in various ways, a pin and one or two items.

I think this is their last box and so let us unbox starting from the left and going towards the right:

  • Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun promotional bookmark
  • Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun, which looks really awesome as a book and I am excited for it.
  • Underneath it there is a Tales by Mail patch
  • Powerful Me activity pages
  • Make Every Day Brilliant notepad, with little mood-boosting boxes to tick and fill, Cute idea and does help cheer up a bit or at least have a more positive spin on things.
  • The Unmorrow Curse, which looks intriguing and I am very curious about.
  • Promotional bookmark for The Unmorrow Curse
  • Promotional bookmark for Magicborn
  • The Light Thieves promotional postcard
  • and somehow missing form the picture, the collectible pin.

Overall, I think it was a lovely last box from their old way and I am loving the positivity and empowering look of this box.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: A Life of its Own Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: A Life of its Own, March 2022

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, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.

Nevermind the fact that I accidentally scheduled April before March, because what is time? Instead let us look at what was inside the box, because with that colour scheme matching so well, you have to just go for it. Starting at the top left and going clockwise:

  • Theme leaflet, as usual, details the contents and makers.
  • Cushion cover, which honestly, the artwork is very pretty, but I genuinely do not like cushion covers like this one or actually 99 of the ones included in book boxes as cushion covers. They tend to be dark or have a quote on side or both sides, or just do not appeal to me. I don’t want cushion covers with faces of people. I want cute animals, nice patterns or maybe good quotes I relate to, but not the usual fandoms. And I mean this one is gorgeous, but damn, I do wish for less of these or a different approach to their design. Something I would actually display in my living room.
  • The main book, Gallant, which I read and reviewed a while back.
  • A notepad list type thing. I love these and usually magnetise them so they can go on my fridge for all the chaotic lists. Win 100
  • Gideon the Ninth mug, gorgeous, gorgeous.
  • A camera case? Not sure why this item since I haven’t used a camera that would fit here in almost a decade and it is such an odd size that you cant really fit anything else but I do like the case as a design choice just sad it is utterly useless.
  • Howl’s Moving Castle keyring. An odd choice of design but ok.

Overall, the theme was on point and I loved how cohesive it looks. I sadly didn’t like half of the items or found them useless which was a little frustrating. But points for the theme and content looking amazing.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: In the Post Tales by Mail

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Subscription box: Tales by Mail

Theme/Month: In the Post, April 2022

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Tales by Mail subscription, you can do it on their website. They have a new owner and I did not resubscribe because I am curious to see what happens

Tales by Mail is a bi-monthly middle-grade book box that comes with two books, some activity pages you can collect, or copy or use in various ways, a pin and one or two items.

As usual the box was small so let us start at the top and go clockwise:

  • A set of postcards for Adventure Awaits.
  • The Boy int he Post by Holly Rivers, which looks like an interesting adventure.
  • The theme activity pages.
  • A pencil for notes and writing
  • Collectible pin
  • Page holder also theme based
  • Ajay and the Mumbai Sun, more adventures to come.
  • Promotional bookmark

This was a cute one, even if I didn’t know the books, which usually makes them a bit of an odd box, since it surprises me and the theme wasn’t as exciting as others but I liked it still.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Nothing but Thieves Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Nothing but Thieves, April 2022

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, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.

Do not perceive I have somehow not got March in the right order. Let us instead look at the goodies of April, starting on the leaflet in the top centre and going clockwise:

  • Theme leaflet
  • Portrait of a Thief, which I have currently leant to a friend, I am not sure this is my kind of book but I like the look of it.
  • Song of the Spirits Papercraft, which is one of my favourite things in this box because it is so cool and I squealed when I saw it!
  • A print album inspired by Addie LaRue which is very pretty.
  • Art History book pot which matchesIllumicrate very nicely in yellow
  • And a set of bookmarks from Gilded Wolves which is pretty cool. I am never very excited about bookmarks, I have too many, ok?

Overall a nice box, the absolute winner for me was the papercraft item and it made me so happy, however the rest of the items weren’t really my thing since I don’t do much with prints and do not collect the book pots, but it was still a nice box to have.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Peril at the Party Tales by Mail

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Subscription box: Tales by Mail

Theme/Month: Peril at the Party, February 2022

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing a Tales by Mail subscription, you can do it on their website. They have a new owner and I did not resubscribe because I am curious to see what happens

Tales by Mail is a bi-monthly middle-grade book box that comes with two books, some activity pages you can collect, or copy or use in various ways, a pin and one or two items.

February was very rockstar-like and interesting, so let us see what was inside, starting from the bottom left corner:

  • Theme and activity pages. I keep collecting them in the little binder and it is lovely seeing them together.
  • First book was Rock Star Detectives and it looks really awesome
  • A peril at the party colouring poster which I can see as a fun idea for kids.
  • Tiny collectable badge.
  • The second book is Sleep Over Take Over and also looks like kids fun and intriguing.
  • A promotional bookmark for Rock Star Detectives
  • A promotional door hang Do not Disturb for Sleep Over Take Over
  • Colouring pencils

A lovely little box and with a lot of entertainment including the colouring poster and mini colouring pencils which are adorable.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Bad Blood Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Bad Blood, February 2022

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, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.

This one had one of those big collectibles in the series, so let’s see what was inside starting from the bottom left and the theme leaflet, going clockwise:

  • Bad Blood leaflet. I like keeping these in case I use something I loved and want to know what it was and get more or seek the artist or something.
  • A couple of themed coins/badges I can’t remember
  • Medusa tea cup and plate where I forgot to show the teacup because I am an idiot but the plate more than makes up for it because it is gorgeous, just look at it!
  • A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross, I admit this isn’t high on my list but still a pretty edition.
  • Butterfly dust bath bomb which is delightful.
  • Quote pouch in a gorgeous blue with gold, I like pouches and usually find a good use for them one way or another.
  • A nice drinking cup, which I actually gifted away because I have too many but nevertheless, these are sturdy and last long.

A lot of big items, some cool stuff and lots of art that I liked. Maybe not the strongest box, but still a good box.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Cabinet of Curiosities Book Box Club

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Subscription box: Book Box Club

Theme/Month: Cabinet of Curiosities, February2022

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. Alas this is a discontinued subscription box.

Book Box Club is a young adult subscription box, the unique thing is the Clubhouse where you can chat to the author a month (or so) after the box was shipped and ask questions and just chat around. It also includes several goodies and usually, the choice of book is one that is unique and not in other book boxes so very few chances of duplicate books and a lot of new reads discovery power.

February had a very old school dark academia vibe and it was interesting also I didn’t realise the text of the picture was blurry but cannot take another picture so please forgive the quality). Starting on the bottom left corner and going clockwise:

  • Theme card. I did love the artwork to represent the theme
  • A little pandora pin which was very cute.
  • A tiny picture frame by Sass Belle which is cute and dainty.
  • Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman
  • A book satchel with a curiosities shelves illustration and honestly this was really cool to get and maybe my favourite item.
  • A candle inspired by the Lord of The Rings and smells divine

Overall not the strongest box from them but the theme always stays true and cohesive which is one of my favourite things of this box. And I love that from this box.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Illumicrate Archives Presents The Bone Witch

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Illumicrate Archives Presents are a branch or version of Illumicrate, a book subscription box, that do special editions of books that have already been published but they think could do with some extra love or special editions and usually come with gorgeous little extras.

I have a very soft spot for The Bone Witch so when this was announced I knew I would buy it and so I did. I am a special little thing and forgot I had done so until the lovely box arrived and it cheered me up a lot. So now to proceed to the unboxing, starting from the leaflet about the box on the right and going clockwise:

  • The Bone Witch leaflet, it has details on the contents and I love the look of it, plus it was a great preview of how the books would look.
  • Underneath everything there is a gorgeous daeva scarf that I died when I saw it, it is perfect and matches a little kimono jacket I have.
  • Hard to see but next to the leaflet there is a gorgeous heartglass chain bookmark that again, nailed the little charms and just the vibes perfectly.
  • A foiled print from a scene in the first book which is just amazing and I liked it very much.
  • The Bone Witch in a glorious purple, with creepy edges and a skull.
  • The Heart Forger, now a white and red one which again glorious and a little heart motif on the edges
  • The Shadow Glass in a black, deep navy kinda look

Overall really loved that they are naked hardbacks with foiling and those edges are glorious, the inside of the book is also stunning and I loved how simple the items are in a way and yet elegant and fit the story really well. There is that mix of elegance and also not being too much, just perfect.