Tag: book boxes

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: 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: 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: 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: Royal Secrets Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Royal Secrets, January 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 box had two books which is always a gamble because sometimes that means not as good a content, but let us see if it was true this time, starting from the top left corner and going clockwise:

  • We Hunt the Flame jigsaw puzzle, which I love this collection that looks like books in a box
  • This Woven Kingdom, which I still haven’t read but it is gorgeous
  • The Ivory Key, I was excited for it.
  • A pair of super comfy soft fluffy socks
  • A Never Tilting World inspired necklace for both “sides” and I love it.
  • Theme leaflet.
  • Mobile phone stand with a keyhole and “Youre a survivor”. I amdit I prefer the wooden ones over acrylic.

Overall not a bad box, I am still using the socks, love the necklace and the puzzle. Was not crazy about the phone stand but otherwise it wasn’t a bad box, and having too books didn’t really take anything away from it, which is always nice!

Subscription Boxes, Uncategorized

Moon Hauls: Secrets & Lies Book Box Club

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Subscription box: Book Box Club

Theme/Month: Secrets and Lies, January 2022

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.

Starting from the top and the theme card, we can see the contents slowly and go through it:

  • Theme card, I love the old school type of style
  • Fiction Fan mug with some lovely artwork.
  • Book Lover Lies coaster
  • Promotional bookmark
  • The Revelry, which I had preordered so I ended up with two copies.
  • A Secret Agent pen set, there was a lovely happy squeal when I saw it!
  • The Secrets Act which was also in my wishlist
  • A Mystery Machine soap

Overall I loved that it had a small joyful item and then two books I wanted to read which was a win for me. Definitely loved the box just sad that it has come to an end.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Cursed Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Cursed, December 2021

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 am slowly catching up, just 6 months behind, right? But let us investigate the contents nevertheless and see what I liked and didn’t like or what my thoughts were, starting from the book at the bottom left:

  • A Marvellous Light with an interesting jacket made of like a plastic see-through version.
  • Starcrossed Lovers calendar, I admit in general I don’t really use wall calendars so this was wasted on me and I am less into quotes but still, I appreciate the free calendar in case it would be used.
  • Gorgeous pin flag, one of my favourite ones sent so far, with a beautiful design, even if I don’t use them. You can totally see a theme of me not hanging things.
  • One of my favourite items in the box, is a pencil tin, I love the tins that protect pencils, and this one is creepy awesome and with a great quote.
  • A Winternight trilogy inspired mug is one of my favourite ones now. But in general, I love the mugs and this is the other favourite item.
  • The collectible pin which is now not a thing but still, lovely to see it.

Lovely box overall, however rnow I am here thinking about how sometimes they don’t consider we don’t all have loads of space to hang things or won our house and therefore in a rented place you cant really fillt he walls of items, so I do wish here were alternatives to hanging things like a desk calendar which would limit the hanging items here to just the one? But this is me just thinking of more possibilities that fit more people.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Spellbound Book Box Club

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Subscription box: Book Box Club

Theme/Month: Spellbound, December 2021

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. Sadly they have announced they are now on their last box so you can’t buy it anymore.

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.

I am still way behind on unboxings, woops, but this December box was a lovely one to have and I am sad that I am behind because there won’t be any more boxes but also glad I’ll have a few to talk about even once they have stopped. But I digress, let us talk about the context of this one starting at the bottom left and going clockwise:

  • Spellbound theme card
  • Crane pencil holder. I love these for fountain pens or for brushes, very useful and the roll up is kinda fun to do.
  • A Rush of Wings by Laura Weymouth. I love her books, what can I say?
  • Clubhouse invite
  • A little Reading Journal notebook to keep track of that reading goal if you do one every year.
  • Stickers for the reading journal which I thought was a fun approach to encourage you to use it and adorable extra.
  • A hanging wooden sign to say “This is where the magic happens” and its witchy and spooky but cool.
  • I forgot to mention but it obviously came with a cute pencil to put in the pencil roll up case.

Overall, a lovely little box with useful items preparing you for the new year and reading goals but also a little bit of magic and decoration.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: On a Quest Tales by Mail

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Subscription box: Tales by Mail

Theme/Month: On A Quest, December 2021

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.

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.

Who doesn’t like a good quest and adventure? So let us venture into this box and see what was inside, starting from the far left and going clockwise:

  • The Chime Seekers promotional bookmark
  • Sister of the Lost Marsh by Lucy Strange, an intriguing quest for a set of sisters
  • On A Quest review and activity pages, these are always fun to collect and I like the ideas they have or the puzzles or whatever the activity is.
  • The Chime Seekers by Ross Montgomery, a more magical quest than the sisters had but also intriguing.
  • Sisters of the Lost Marsh promotional bookmark.
  • Do not disturb wood sign to hand around the door or a wall or somewhere.
  • Walker Books Calendar for 2022, with lots of adorable illustrations
  • A Penguin sticket
  • And the collectible pin

Overall a good end of year box with even a surprise calendar and some very interesting stories.