Tag: Illumicrate

Books, Subscription Boxes

It’s a Kind of Magic Illumicrate Unboxing

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I really like the vibe of this box, it feels very fitting to the book it featured. So let’s dive in, starting from the top left corner:

  • Discovery of Witches pin. I struggled to read this one due to the main love interest so I gifted my copies away. But the pin is cool
  • Uprooted Tote, which is a super dreamy eerie tote and I love it. It is perfect!
  • Magnetic coin (not bothered by it, as you may already know).
  • Theme booklet, I love the design is eerie, witchy, green.
  • Bellatrix promotional booklet.
  • Witchlands pin banner underneath the book (I like the size and that it is black).
  • Sanctuary, by Vic James. I have been really looking forward to it since I knew it was going to exist. (And I won a proof copy plus some extras at YALC so this is awesome!)
  • Wicked Saints Tiptych, love the artwork.
  • Second half of the bookends. I am a little bit disappointed by them as they are much too fragile and the pointy bits are bending even before I have used them just by moving them. But I do like the idea of the design.
  • A “book” Magic Spells ceramic pot. I am bad with plants but this makes me want to plant something in it and see it grow and be magic…

I was a bit of two hearts on this box. Some items are awesome, some I am not that crazy about but what definitely goes is that gorgeous totebag, favourite item for sure and I am very happy with the gorgeous green sprayed edges of the book.

Subscription Boxes

For Book Lovers Illumicrate Unboxing

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A double book Illumicrate, dedicated to books and the love of books, yes please of course I want it (I mean I know in general I like Illumicrate, but this one was so tempting). Let’s start with the contents on the top left corner and going clockwise (back to normal):

  • Birthday by Meredith Russo. You can kinda see the sprayed rainbow edges on the side (gorgeous). This book wasn’t really in my radar, so unsure what to expect.
  • For Book Lovers zine/booklet.
  • Underneath everything we have a Goddess of Reading Tapestry. I like it as a light blanket type of thing but wouldn’t hang it up. Maybe turn it into a curtain… I do wish it was mroe blanket type than a wall tapestry (why do book boxes think we have endless wall space?! We just DON’T!)
  • A sampler of The Paer & Hearts Society, which I read and it confirmed I wasn’t feeling the book, so I was glad to have it there.
  • The main book, This Time will be Different. I have been looking forward to this one for a very long time so I was really happy to see it included.
  • A TBR Jar, which is cute, but we already established that I have two TBR bookcases and several piles fo books strewn around the house, so this jar just won’t fit all my TBR in it (not even in tiny pieces of paper).
  • Part one of the Bookend, which is gorgeous. This is meant to be the Reality part and there’s a Fantasy side in the next box (looking forward to it and to compare). I will say that this is cute but I prefer the other bookends that came ina different book box.
  • Page tabs/flags. I never use them or if I do they get all crumpled and horrible so I get annoyed them.
  • The collectible coin, still NOT into them but whatever.
  • The book came in this cute booksleeve. Thoguh being a bit plasticky it isn’t as foldable, adaptable as the fabric ones but I like it.

All in all a nice box and kept a love of books at the top of it so I was happy with it.

Books, Subscription Boxes

The Final Frontier Illumicrate Unboxing

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I am glad I chose a six month subscription when Illumicrate moved into monthly boxes. Because it meant easily being able to get this box. Yes, it had Aurora Rising in it and it is pink! But let’s go around and see every nice thing in it. Starting from the book and going clockwise:

  • A hot pink Aurora Rising with sprayed edges also in hot pink. I thought purple was awesome, but hot pink is also awesome!
  • An engineering dreamy pillowcase (this is how you do awesome pillow cases) with Kaddy and Ezra on one side and AIDAN quotes on the other.
  • A sampler of Emily Eternal peeks from the right corner (I really wanted to showcase that pillowcase, so much case here!).
  • Another sneaky sampler, but this time for The Furies. This sampler has been in almost every single box I’ve had recently, did they not sell enough copies or what? Instead of selling the book to me it’s making me not want to read it.
  • Howler luggage tag. Snazzy, relatively discreet but unique and matches my suitcase.
  • Illumicrate items booklet.
  • Space sticky notes. They have a moon for this Moon so I am in love. (All the gorgeous Moon themed stuff and I will love your book box)
  • Squad 312 (characters from Aurora Rising) glasses pouch. I’ve never used one of those despite wearing glasses most of my life. Probably won’t keep but it is nice (it’s due to not using it, not to not liking it).
  • The collectible magnet coin thing. I am still not sold on them and find them a waste of “space” (but they are small so whatever)
  • And a Lunar Chronicles cooler bag. I like cooler bags but this one doesn’t have a self closing system. I gave it away to a friend that loves them so that made her happy (I do use cooler bags).

All in all, a box that made me quite happy with only a couple of items I won’t keep (and that collectible but it seems I am just not into this thing and I am not seeing any reason that will make me like it) and I am still happy with the exclusive edition and that pillowcase.

Books, Subscription Boxes

Your Majesty Illumicrate Unboxing

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As you may know Illumicrate are doing monthly boxes now. This is their second monthly box, and they had kind of spoiled the book by sending the signed bookplate for it by mistake in the box (for the previous month). However, I have to say they do not cease to wow me.

Just look at that bounty! Starting from the bottom left corner and going clockwise:

  • Theme leaflet. What I like is that it “sorts” the items into categories. You have the general items, the Book, the Collectible and the Photo Challenge, all neatly inside it.
  • A Once Upon a Time Book tin. This is gorgeous and made me sqeual a little. It is delicate but also beautiful and useful.
  • We Are Blood and Thunder sampler.
  • Descendant of the Crane, the book for this month, and I have been wanting to read it so yay! Plus it has soft deep red sprayed edges that match the red of the book cover.
  • Another sampler, for A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, which everyone should read.
  • Crown of Power candle, very fruity scent.
  • Moth and Mirth mug. I love this item the most because this type of mug is gorgeous. Plus the artwork is stunning. I love love love this item so much.
  • Scattered around the picture are the character cards. They were also preorder incentives so I had already seen them but they are still gorgeous and are a nice bonus to have.
  • Descendant of the Crane print with author letter on the back.
  • Travel psoters for Three Dark Crowns. I am not into paper bits but this are simple yet stunning and I don’t need to be into the fandom to enjoy them.
  • Iron Throne phone ring. I like the idea of it, but I only have so many phones (work and personal) so yeah, this won’t get used sadly.
  • And to me, the most puzzling item, the collectible. A Magnetic coin. The silly coin kept falling off the “necklace” so I do not recommend wearing it (and that only while I attempted to set this photo up, not actually wearing it, very little movement made it fall). Apparently we get collectible “magnetic coins”. It is an original collectible, I’ll give them that, but I am not into it (we shall see, giving it a chance). And most definitely will not be wearing it as a necklace.

So overall it was a box that gave me two favourite items, one puzzling one and oen I just won’t use btu the rest is good, so not bad at all. Plus it felt full of stuff even if there aren’t that many items (or not many more than usual) and absolutely feels like value for money.

Books, Subscription Boxes

Adventure Awaits Illumicrate Unboxing

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First proper monthly Illumicrate. I have liked their quarterly boxes (and their special editions) for too long to not give this a go.  So here we go. Startin from the theme card on the far right bottom corner and going clockwise:

  • Theme booklet. ~I like that you have to open it to see what is in the box, so you don’t spoil yourself accidentally.
  • LOTR pins. That Eye of Sauron, is so beautifully detailed!
  • The red and blue notebooks aren’t together but they’re meant to be a set of them inspired by The Raven Cycle (interesting that also Book Box Club box had something to do with this fandom, however, totally different items and both gorgeous).
  • Excalibur water bottle, which came at a good time as I have resolved to drink more water at work, so this one is now on my desk.
  • Muse of Nightmares postcard
  • Mistborn socks. I have a soft spot for socks, and this pair is discreet enough but also gorgeous, so win.
  • The Grand Tour mug rug, I have used it as a “teapot” rug instead and a “cooking pot” one too, and it is great at that. I had no clue what fandom it was at a glance and Grand Tour to me means cars and Amazon Prime show, so I knew I had it wrong. It is from The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice & Virtue and their tour (I wasn’t into this series, so yeah, wouldn’t have guessed).
  • Once & Future, the book and a “card” with the author letter. The book ahs gorgeous teal sprayed edges and I was smitten immediately!
  • PROUD bookmark
  • Do you dream of Terra Two? sampler. (Interesting but doesn’t feel like my thing…)

So overall, I liked this box. It felt a little more hodgepodge than the usual quarterly boxes but I am hoping this gets better as they make more monthly ones and figure out how to make it work.

Books, Subscription Boxes

Gods & Monsters Illumicrate Unboxing

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This has been one of the hardest unboxing pictures I have ever taken. One handed while trying to hold the umbrella upright so you could see how gorgeous it is and trying to not kill my phone or myself. But it was worth it.

Now let’s check what else we had in the box (the umbrella is the most obvious thing here), starting from the left side and going clockwise:

  • Strange the Dreamer Umbrella, what are the odds that two book boxes would send a gorgeous umbrella in the same month? Can’t complain as living in the UK means I have an umbrella everywhere so now I can swap boring black cheap umbrellas with the gorgeous bookish ones.
  • The Orphanage of Gods, this is one book that wasn’t in my radar at all, but it looks very interesting and I am intrigued.
  • A character bookmark set from A Daughter of Smoke and Bone. (This almost seems like a Laini Taylor fanbox, not complaining though). I like the bookmarks but I am not crazy about them and they’re one of the items I am not keeping.
  • A sampler of The Binding.
  • Girls of Paper and Fire chopsticks in a little case. The chopsticks are kinda just plasticky, which is sad given that the box is gorgeous. My boyfrined was all excited since I have a pair of fancy metal ones engraved with Mushu. He was planning on stealing this pair but he felt they weren’t as cool as mine.
  • Cassandra Clare sampler. Not interested at all, not a fan.
  • Keep Me pencil case (or at least I thinkof it as a tin pencil case). I like the design and it is a nifty little thing that will end up full fo drawing/art supplies.
  • Beautiful Thing pouch. It is a gorgeous pouch but the size just isn’t right for me so another one that won’t stay around.
  • Nectar of the Gos lip scrub. I will admit I have never used a lip scrub. If I put “yummy” stuff on my lips, I end up chewing them, so I avoid anything that will leave a texture or the feeling of one. Sad because this smells SO good.
  • A metallic notebook. Aboslutely love the design!

It was a fun box, with some items I don’t love, and it feels a little underwhelming for the usual Illumicrate signature. I decided to subscribe to them for the “monthly” box and I am hoping it keeps the high quality. One thing I like is that it doesn’t feel cheap even though there’s an umbrella in it.

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).

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.

Subscription Boxes

Hidden Talents Illumicrate Unboxing

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Woops, for some reason I erased all my content before posting this. Have an ammended version of it.

I was so pleased to receive PaperFury’s book in this box and it was packed full despite the delay in delivery 🙁 Contents were:

  • A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews (aka PaperFury) which I was so looking forward to reading and it certainly needed to be part of at least one book box.
  • It is Your Time Book Sleeve by risarodil. It is very very soft.
  • Camp Half Blood Enamel Pin which is very lively and has a pegasus so I really like it!
  • #prefersfictionalworlds box, which has a Fangirl kind of feel that I absolutely loved and it is great to receive such a nice box, you what I would love to receive? A lunch box or a bento set in a book box! I could take it with me every day to work and smile.
  • Infernal Devices Cards which were easy to identify and oh so gorgeous!
  • Elements Page Markers, they’re kinda metal bookmarks which are lovely and I was very pleased.
  • A lot of bookish goodies included 🙂