Subscription Boxes

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

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: From Beyond Death Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: From Beyond Death, October 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.

In this blog, you are never too late, you’re just travelling through time because I am totally not behind in my unboxings and my blog wasn’t offline for a while due to server issues outside of my control. Instead, you get you to enjoy what was inside this box and not feel like they are spoilers!

Starting from the leaflet at the bottom and going clockwise:

  • Leaflet with contents and makers.
  • The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew, with very pretty edges as usual.
  • Underneath, slightly bunched up but soft as anything and very pretty, Moth Amongst Dreamers blanket.
  • The next teacup and saucer set, this time for the Underworld.
  • There was also a papercraft design that did not come withe the box and was sent afterwards.
  • Cable ties, which are cool designs and not just cute.

Overall, I have a love of blankets, particularly in blue so this was one gorgeous and I am happy with it. The cable ties are handy, and I do like teacups and saucers even if I don’t have enough space for them which is a shame. I still live in hope of more dessert dishes like they sent last time because those I could use everyday or some cereal bowls, soup bowls, something like that. I admit that I have fear of ruining pretty things and haven’t tackled the papercraft yet, but I am slowly making my way through my hobbies pile and hopefully will get to it at some point.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Pause for MIND

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Subscription box: Pause for MIND

What it is: A box by MIND to provide you with an activity for your mental well-being or me time and to also support their work.

Where to get it: The website is extremely basic, but you can donate/subscribe here.

Let me start this post by saying that this is the first box of the series they have made, and there is obviously a lot of effort into reducing costs or keeping it “simple”. Be aware of this and set your expectations because the point for me was to donate to MIND and also get a subscription box that would make me take some time from my routine and maybe do something for me.

When I subscribed it almost made me doubt since all I got was a direct debit confirmation email and nothing else. I also didn’t get a dispatch email or anything, so the box was a complete surprise. It arrived last week and I kept it aside to do whatever came in it during the weekend, as it was going to be a hectic one.

As much as there is a lot of simplicity, I appreciate it. The box was tidy, small and had a couple of cards with quotes and suggestions. In this particular one it is to READ a book which is an easy ask for me. It also comes with a little mini booklet about MIND and the box. There was a mini notebook to almost journal in it or something which I appreciated.

Then there was the actual “craft”. I will admit that before this box I had never made a pompom in this way (my approach would be more like a tassel) and so I was happy to give it a try. So I did and broke some scissors (they are the only thing pictured that wasn’t part of the box) because I read the instructions and apparently decided I had to do everything super ultra tight and therefore it was almost impossible to actually cut the yarn which is not a phrase I thought I’d use. It also didn’t help that by the time I was doing this, I had rope burn on my hands unrelated to the activity and they were seising a little. I guess that does tell you that the craft was good enough to do even on a bad health day.

I have to tell you that I find my pom pom bookmark so fun, it kinda bounces a little so I just use it almost like a whip with a “heavy” ball at the end and whack my table, the sofa, etc. It releases stress and hurts nothing and no one and just makes me giggle.

So where am I going with this? I think that for £7.50 it is a wholesome thing, it was a lot of fun, very simple but soothing and I have a stress relief bookmark that makes me smile. The recommendation is to not make it too tight on the yarn and there won’t even be any broken scissor handles.

Consider subscribing, as it goes to mental health charity and to your own wellbeing.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Knowledge is Power Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Knowledge is Power, August 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.

We knew Babel was going to be part of this box, and gosh, it did not disappoint, plus a dark acamdeia or “academia” kind of box can be a hit or a miss, so let us see what this had for us:

  • Babel by R. F. Kuang. You can’t see it in the picture but it has stunning edges, the box to keep it is absolutely amazing and it blew me away as an edition. One of my favourites.
  • Reading Journal Planner, design is stunning, however I am not big on reading journals or planners at all, so this was a bit like a miss in functionality but win otherwise.
  • Split apart, but a bookmark set for Babel’s characters which is nice but I am not huge on bookmarks of characters.
  • A writing workshop enamel pin which is very bunny themed and wen tot my sister who loves rabbits.
  • The monthly leaflet with all the details on what was inside the box and vendors.
  • Dark Academia stamp set which is one of those that I find odd in how the set is created, win for those who love journalling but not so much for me.
  • And finally a pen holder with a dark design which is a good win. I like them when you can extend them so they can be a holder while you travel.

Overall it was a mixed box for me. The book was the absolute winner here, but a lot of the content was focused on journalling and therefore not as much for me, however I can appreciate it being cool and therefore enjoyed it.

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.