Subscription Boxes

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

Subscription Boxes

Clever Ruse Illumicrate Unboxing

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This is the full unboxuing of Illumicrate and it’s still one of the first few themed boxes they make. I am a bit undecided about them. I love the special edition boxes they make, however I think I loved the non-themed boxes more than the themed one. I feel a little like trying to stick to the theme adds items that have less value. But I blable, let’s unbox it!

Starting from the banner on the top left and going clockwise:

  • Caraval/Circus inspired Banner. This one was very much a “why?” item. I do not use banners, bunting is even a bit too much (who has all the wall space and everything for all of it?) And it didn’t feel special enough, I even initially thought it was a Hufflepuff inspired item rather than circus, which doesn’t really help the item sadly.
  • Underneath is an utterly striking gorgeous Mulan isnpired scarf (it is silky, soft and it is more one of the old “bandana” silk squares that can be used for hair or as a scarf, or many other uses) and I do love it very much!
  • Wooden bookmark. I am also on the verge of this item, don’t get me wrong it is lovely, but I prefer paper bookmarks. Woodmarks are too thick for most books and crack more easily than paper bookmarks.
  • There was an envelope with the origami instructions for This Mortal Coil promo stuff. I had preordered This Mortal Coil, so I had on my bookcase one already made to showcase how it should look once completed 🙂 I liked it.
  • Poppy War promotional bookmark.
  • Stag (I am told it is Sarah J. Maas books inspired but I thought more of The Light Between Worlds and Narnia than of her books when I saw this) necklace.
  • Coffee cup “wrap”. I was pleased to get this one (though I know others weren’t). I have several travel mugs and only one has a “heat” protecting wrap, and now I have this one to use too! Welcome item that wasn’t the usual (and this made me think a lot of the core of Illumicrate and why I have been subscribed for so long to them).
  • Two books!!!! Tamora Pierce’s Wild Magic (I am told this is a good book and I am eager to read it soonish) and the main event, Empress of All Seasons, which I am very excited about (and it came with bookplate and letter).

All in all I liked the box, though I would’ve prefered a bit more variation and less sticking to the theme, but that’s the way most book boxes work nowadays (I loved the randomness and non themed bit of Illumicrate, but that’s my opinion, doesn’t mean I will stop getting them now, I won’t until I am not getting happy feelings out of receiving and unboxing my boxes).

Subscription Boxes

Magical Creatures NPC Crate Unboxing

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The baby Nifflers got into the box, they surely could smell some “gems” in it. So here’s a quick unboxing (because we don’t want them to get sick by eating candles or a shiny pin).

All NPC crates come with three candles, a pin and a bookmark. (Nifflers not included or the jigsaw behind as background)

The candles are Thunderbird which had a fresh smell, citrusy but also “clean”. Probably my least favourite of the three (but it doesn’t mean I don’t like it); Jewellery Mole (the Nifflers really loved this one, wonder why?) which was the yummiest home baked chocolate chip cookies just out of the oven smell, absolutely delicious, no wonder the Nifflers wanted to have it all to themselves. Finally we have the Magical Zoologist, which has a more natural smell, and of course it has bergamot which automatically makes it a winner in my books, so loving it too.

And of course there was the shiny enamel pin, which is a luggage case with the words “Just a Smidge” and the bookmark with a quote and on the back of it the Quest/Challenge unlocked and the ingredients/scents of the candles in detail.

I love this crate even if it doesn’t have books and usually burn the candles on the days I work from home (I am on my last one from the previous crate), and it makes the time working just that little bit more special and nicer. They’re not over pungent in scent but also they aren’t too discreet, you can smell them, and it is nice.

Highly recommend it 🙂

Subscription Boxes

November YumeTwins Unboxing

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YumeTwins still seems not that well known here in the book blogosphere but I find it a nice cuteness dose. The theme for November was about Transforming things, so they tried to include items that stuck to the theme.

  • A super ultra cute dog dressed up as a duck plushie. There were other choices, but come on, isn’t this one adorable? Definitely has “puppy” eyes, and you can take the “duck” hoodie off and see the dog ears.
  • A set of notes to change and transform someone’s day, which I thought was a cute idea even if the notes are tiny and not sticky (but mine has four different cute animals and it was lovely)
  • This was supposed to be a sparkly change when you rub pencilcase but somehow mine is just a cute pencilcase, but it is quite sturdy.
  • A bonus good luck charm/bag
  • Note spins (or note holding clothespins), they’re super cute and could totally see them going alongside some bunting and hanging pictures or something with them.
  • A charcoal duster sheep. It can be used to dust and to take smells away, very handy indeed!
  • Last but not least eh super cute “Sailor Moon” glasses/screen cleaner. I am loving it so much that I kinda don’t want to use it, but at the same time, I have glasses and this is extremely handy.
  • All in all it was a cute fun box that made me smile, so points for that.
Books, Subscription Boxes

Fantasy Lands Book Box Club Unboxing

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After a wonderful Clubhouse for The Other Side of the Lost, an unboxing of their October box, Fantasy Lands. I was very excited for this one because I immediately knew what book it’d be and wanted to see what else would be included to go alongside it. Starting from the top left corner and going clockwise:

  • Courage, dear heart beanie. I don’t do beanies but it is ever so cute and I am trying to convine my bf that he can wear it.
  • Bridge of Clay promotional postcard.
  • Fantasy Lands theme card, this included the descriptiobns on the other side and feels very Narnia-like.
  • As Travers tote bag, which was also lovely (totebags tend to be welcome here as I use them for shopping).
  • Alice in Wonderland inspired tea, chocolatey if I remember correctly and yummy
  • A Coraline biscuit which didn’t last very long and it was hard to resist chomping it as soon as it arrived.
  • A gemstone soap with an actual gemstone inside, which also a bonus as I like gems and soaps, so all good.
  • The Light Between Worlds by Laura Weymouth. I haven’t read it yet but apparently I love it so much I forgot to cancel my preorder, and had an ARC for it so now I have 3 copies of it.
  • Clubhouse invite, personalised (the personalised bit is one of my favourite things).
  • Three strikes sampler.

I am really looking forward to the buddy read next Monday of Light Between Worlds and to actually reading it (it was hard to wait because I really just wanted to curl up and read the book alongside a cup of tea and the biscuit, but somehow I managed to resist on one of those things).

Books, Subscription Boxes

Lost in the Bookstore Owlcrate Unboxing

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Not exactly a creepy post (and I guess it isn’t exactly anyone’s nightmare to get lost in the library/bookstore, maybe?) but it is a gorgeous box and I had to post the unboxing. Plus it had two books! Starting from the top right corner and going clockwise:

  • Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa. This is a special edition cover and I am eager to read this book as I have heard good things about it.
  • Owlcrate heart tea infuser. Absolutely cute, but not for me (why? because I am a tea nerd and prefer an infuser that fits almost any mug or teapot and lets the leaves move around freely). However, I do love they included one since there’s also some tea in the box.
  • Owlcrate theme card and pin/badge. Loved the artwork for this one so much!
  • Book Nerd socks, which coincidentially I am wearing as I write this post. They are soft, and comfortable and very bookish.
  • Chocolate Mint Truffle Tea. It definitely tastes like a minty chocolate and it is actually refreshing as a tea.
  • Books are a unique portable magic “clutch”. I love this little thing and have been keeping one of my crochet projects in it. It protects it well and is handy, plus it means the hook won’t disappear beyond the clutch.
  • Pride, a remix of Pride & Prejudice, more in a modernised setting.  I am intrigued and unsure what to expect.
  • Mirror of Erised print (potentially the less interesting part of the box for me, but I am not a big fan of prints).

As you can see it was glorious and cosy and just right. I was actually glad that it wasn’t a “spooky” box as that sometimes can be too much and too many boxes doing it.

Subscription Boxes

Dreams & Nightmares Litjoy Crate Unboxing

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Look at this gorgeous box! I couldn’t resist getting Litjoy’s special edition crate for Muse of Nightmares. I already had the gorgeous Fairyloot edition of Strange the Dreamer, so I wanted a nice edition to match, and this one is definitely gorgeous.

The box was full of purple delightful things as you can see below.

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Starting on the book and going round clockwise:

  • Muse of Nightmares, it came with an auhtor letter and signed. And this is the American edition (I have UK edition for Strange, but somehow find this one matches beautifully the blue).
  • A gorgeous quilted booksleeve with a button (I liked that detail and the print of the fabric).
  • Lull Tea.
  • Shiny charm bracelet wiht a purple moth. <3
  • Logo pin which is also delightful and very detailed.
  • A hardbacked journal with a dreamy scene. It has a ribbon bookmark and elastic band.
  • Mug cake, old fashioned one (I have yet to try it, but looks intriguing).
  • Goddess of Dreams fabric/linen spray.
  • Trading cards.
  • MY favourite item, a gorgeous potion bottle with a candle inside.
  • And of course the theme and contents booklet.

It was a very purple edition and I was extremely pleased by it.

Subscription Boxes

Yume Twins Unboxing

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Hi everyone, sorry, I know the picture is dark, but it’s a sign of autumn and the days are darker so I come home to less light and picture taking is affected a little by it.

This is October’s Yume Twins box. And one of my favourite ones surprisingly. Starting from the top right corner and going clockwise:

  • Cute fluffy bunny plushie.
  • Origami Ghibli sheets (mine are Spirited Away themed which of course is not a bad thing and the only thing better would’ve been Howl’s Moving Castle).
  • Cat fingerless gloves. They are super soft and fluffy and come with a string so you can attache them to each other and hang around your neck.
  • Nyan Vampire Cat stickers (I didn’t know of this cat but I am loving him!)
  • Pokemon mini towels. They seem the perfect travel face towel size and good quality and there’s three of them (I had fun trying to find a way to show all three without actually opening the pack).
  • Kiki’s Delivery Service mug. It is a plastic cup/mug and it was the first thing I unboxed and I loved it. It reminds me of my childhood (I didn’t have a mug Kiki themed, but I had Disney and Winnie the Pooh ones in similar shape and style).
  • Finally, the gorgeous file holder (I think it may also be called a file pocket?) with Nyan Cat on it. It has like an envelope thing inside to hold your files so they don’t just slide down and out of it.

I loved this box and it was very very cute (plus all the Ghibli stuff, yay!)

Books, Subscription Boxes

Into the Wild Book Box Club Unboxing

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This is their second anniversary box! And it was gorgeous and made me smile a lot. Starting with the theme postcard at the bottom and going clockwise:

  • A forest in a theme card.
  • The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby which makes me think of “Wild”(the book) though I haven’t read yet Other Side of Lost. Will buddy read next week.
  • Clubhouse invite, personalised as always <3
  • The Lost Boys Notebook, by Georgine Makes. It is a bit dark so hard to appreciate all the details but the design is very much witchy and dark and full of nature.
  • Peeking from underneath is a multipurpose scarf (the bag it came in has all the different ways you can use) making us ready to survive anything in style!
  • Camper’s Picnic Bag by Sass and Belle. I love anything by them most of the time and this isn’t the exception.
  • Adventurer’s Remedy Massage Bar by Naked Sister. I recently got introduced to the magic of massage bars and they’re good! So ti was nice to see this in the box.
  • A sticky notepad from publisher’s promoting Dear Evan Hansen.
  • Damsel, a proof copy of it, which made me squeal because it was one fo those books I really wanted to read!
  • A nice postcard about being reading.
  • A Reader’s Pin
  • And a CabeswaterCandle by Bookworm Candles & Crafts.
Subscription Boxes

September NPC Crate Unboxing

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I love Steph’s candles, so this crate that also includes a delightful pin abnd a bookmark is a great thing for me.

This month’s box was all about Dungeons and Dragons, and of course it will feature dice.

Stealth check is a delightful soft scented candle with a bit of intrigue. Then there is also Natural 20 which just smells like a berry pie and it is delicious to smell.  And finally we have Magic Missile, which has a delightfully refreshing intriguing scent, and I love lemongrass, so bonus points.

And a cute pin with gorgeous purple colour and wings (because anything with wings is a winner).

Books, Subscription Boxes

Magic and Mayhem Illumicrate Special Edition

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Look at that, you get a massive outside the puzzle picture, because this box was jampacked with delightful V.E. Schwab themed things and I was running out of table to showcase them!

Starting from the top left corner and going clockwise:

  • Double sided tote bag by Rowa Tree. It is a very sturdy bag and it is grey, so happy me.
  • An enamel mug by Temporary Places (I have a love/hate relationship with enamel mugs. They’re good for camping, but they can burn your hands easily as they get quite hot).
  • A pouch (decent size) with one of my favourite quotes from VE. Schwab, by Stella Bookish Art.
  • Tarot style cards by Lorena Lammer (They made me think a lot of Mucha style).
  • Vengeful special edition. It is very similar to the original but in red. There was also a letter from Victoria herself.
  • Four Londons scarf (it is quite thick and I am looking forward to wearing it) by Fable & Black
  • Character bookmarks by Merwild.
  • Villains inspired pin by Fable & Black.
  • Lila and Kell at the ball by Victoria Ying.
  • Illumicrate Victor Vale style book sleeve, which made me very happy to see in the box (and that the book was inside).
  • Four Londons postcards by Moledro Craft Co.
  • Four Londons candle (I squealed when I say that it was layered) by Amelia’s Kitchen Candles.
  • As Tascen water bottle by Crini.
  • As Travars keyring (absolutely made my day and made me smile also by Fable & Black.

I’ve seen other special edition boxes in general but this felt absolutely perfect to me, and it was amazing.