Tag: Illumicrate

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Live Like Legends Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Live Like Legends, March 2023

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.

As much as the previous box was incredibly visually cohesive this one is not and feels more just cohesive on theme, So let’s see what was inside, starting from the leaflet on the top right and going clockwise:

  • Content leaflet, as usual includes artists and photochallenge alongside book summary.
  • Journey to the underworld lunch bag, with a Persephone and Hades vibe, which looks cool and not too in your face for fandom specific.
  • Greek mythology stickers, and I always love good stickers!
  • The featured book, Lies We Sing To The Sea by Sarah Underwood, and another book I have yet to read (partly because I am burnt out on greek mythology inspired books, just stop please).
  • A Greek Myths book pot. One I didn’t keep as I only keep a few and this was not for me.
  • Realm of the gods mini teapot, this is adorable and I have yet to use it but hopefully soon.

Overall, a decent box with a few everyday use items (the teapot isn’t used because I already have a work horse type of teapot that gets used often, this one feels more delicate) and a few decorative items.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Into the Fire Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Into The Fire, February 2023

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 think this was one of those boxes super on point for the theme with all the items looking very cohesive between them, but let’s see each in detail, starting from the leaflet and going clockwise:

  • Contents leaflet
  • Celestial Kingdom book light, which is more or less a “book” that opens into a lamp which is pretty cool!
  • The featured book which was Song Of Silver, Flame Like Light by Amelie Wen Zhao, which gorgeous design and printed edges.
  • Phoenix book jacket. I like these book jackets since they’re almost like a slip on cover and can be used for notebooks too and make them look nicer, very pretty design (my only downside is that it is a lot of white and can get dirty easily)
  • A zipper charm for Pendragon, which initially I was like “a zipper charm” but then remembered some annoying zippers that are always a pain to grab and pull, and decided this was a very useful little thing, and so far it has been.
  • Lighten the darkness water bottle with a sleeve. I like the glass bottles and it is very pretty, and I love a nice sleeve for it, but I am also always slightly scared of breaking it (the sleeve helps a little).

I admit that more than a year later and I have yet to read the book, woops, but the contents have bene used and enjoyed so it was overall a good box.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: The Winternight Trilogy

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Back when Book Box Club existed they did “The Bear and the Nightingale” and “The Girl in the Tower” as one of their monthly books, and I absolutely fell in love with them.

Then there was an author visit and signing in a library and turns out there were only like 3 of us there, so we sat in barefeet on the floor and chatted with Katherine about books, the story and more to come. No lies here, it was one of my favourite book events ever, we had Pom Bears and Capri suns, and just enjoyed the time in the library.

And of course, my original paperback of back then, has one a great dedication:

So of course I had to get this edition from Illumicrate (I did not totally deviate from the original content intended, at all, promise).

It came with the stunning version of the book, a print, a necklace a bookmark (it’s so dainty, so perfect) and a spinning tealight holder (I find these so fun to watch). It was such a big win and just fit perfectly with my love for this series.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Journey’s End Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Journey’s End, January 2023

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.

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: 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.

Book Review

Moon Reads: The Luminaries

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Friday Crest design by Jessica Khoury, © 2022 by Susan Dennard

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: MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px Grey

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.

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.

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!”

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: 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.