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 now given up on any semblance of order on my unboxings. I have lost the plot and will now just add them as I find them in my media library because I still want to share the contents of them. So let’s go!
Lord of the Rings cutlery kit, this was stunning, however I gifted it to a friend who loves Lord of the Rings because I already have other lovely sets from Illumicrate (but I do like the cutlery sets)
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner which I still haven’t read, because what is time, but the edition was stunning.
Lying card holder. It’s like a mini wallet and I love this one, it’s just quirky and fun.
Pen/brush/crochet hook holder, I like these they’re nifty for craft or art supplies.
Wooden map. I do wish these were heat proof and then I would have the most awesome trivets ever.
The leaflet of contents.
A bumbag that can also be turned into a shoulder bag, unexpected multi-use even if I am not huge on bumbags overall.
Most of the items are useful and well curated and the only miss for me is the wooden map in that it collects dust more than anything and I never really know what to do with them. Overall it was a good box.
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.
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.
Welcome to The Luminaries blog tour, in which you discover all the clans and maybe a new book to entice you into this universe.
The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
Rating:
Disclaimer: Receiving a review copy from the publisher does not affect my opinion of the book. If you think I review it highly it is due to me knowing my taste well and therefore not requesting books I won’t enjoy. And I am not obligated to review the book if I do not like it, so you may not see bad reviews due to me preferring not to hype down a particular book. I only do reviews of books I disagreed with if I think it is worth bringing a topic or warning to light.
Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.
I love all the Narwhal and Jelly books, which I have reviewed most of them but if I missed posting a review at least I have definitely read them. I discovered them in London on a trip with a friend, fell in love with the first two books, and have been preordering the rest ever since.
This actually came out just before Halloween, so I ended up reading it the week of Halloween, which was a perfect fit.
In this one, Jelly is a bit scared and not sure about getting dressed up for Halloween or even about anything scary, whereas as usual, Narwhal is all excited for it and ready to be all the things, ideas just keep coming about what to dress up as, so a party is decided to happen much to Jelly’s scaredy-cat spirits and reluctance.
However, there appears to be a true spirit/monster/ghost suddenly lurking in the ocean, and it seems to have gotten Narwhal (or be stalking Narwhal, who knows?) so Jelly decides to be brave and try to gather friends to save Narhwal because that’s what best friends do!
Adorable as usual, the artwork is fun and fitting, I loved the cute little story and the tiny extras that split it, and well, what else can I say? Grab a copy of this or any other of the Narwhal and Jelly books for a lovely dose of joy!
I remember when Susan Dennard was tweeting the follow your own adventure tweets and so when The Luminaries was announced, I was very excited for it! I wondered if it would stick to the ending and the path we had “chosen” for our characters, or if things would change, what would be kept, what would go?
As I read The Luminaries I can say that overall, it retained the same feels of that choose your own adventure twitter thread. However, it lead to character development, and to pondering choices, maybe even lengthening the story or something, and you can see hints of that. The story is the same and yet it is also, very different. This difference was at first hard to adapt to, since I was expecting the same feel of the “snippet” I had read, but a thread on Twitter is very different than a proper book and novel.
However, Winnie and Jay still are the same in their own way, and the overall feel was kept through and I loved that. Once I got past the initial oh this is a little different, I started to fall in love with this story, with how much Winnie was trying and how circumstances just seemed to be and no spoilers, but wow.
The characters were fun to read, there is a big focus on relationships, belonging and peer pressure and in part also on that small town/village feel and that closeness or otherness and what makes one part of it or not.
The ending was quite interesting and leaves a lot to find out plus a lot tied in, at least on of the main plot points that the book starts with is resolved, and the overall running one that will tie the rest of the books is there but we get some more information on it. Believe me that it is hard not to squeal about everything that happens and so the best I can say is “you need to read it!”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
