Illumicrate is a UK based fantasy and science fiction book box that has monthly boxes or just a monthly book only subscription. Each box also includes a selection of bookish goodies some more practical, others more decorative set around a monthly theme. September’s theme is Book Devourers.
The items included in this box are a book organizer, a book pot, a set of snack plates, and a reading prompt card set to help choose your next read.
Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and most months a letter from the author. This months book is The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean which follows a family for whom books are food but they retain all the information from the books. Devon is from a reclusive clan of book eaters but when her son is born he hungers not for books but for human minds. This edition has a full color printing on the hardback, an exclusive cover, digitally printed edges, and is signed.
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory is a rhythm action game that is the latest (at time of posting) Kingdom Hearts game. The gameplay retells the story of the Dark Seeker Saga though the music of the games. While the plot focuses primarily on Kairi following the events of the Kingdom Hearts 3 Remind DLC.
Kairi has put herself in a deep sleep to search her heart and memories for clues for Sora whereabouts after his disappearance at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3. Kairi eventually confronts a version of Xehanort who nearly overpowers her until Sora takes over briefly. The ending tells us that Riku is going to the mysterious Quadratum to search for Sora while Kiri continues her keyblade training under Aqua. Yen Sid also sends Donald and Goofy off the inform everyone else what is going which Mickey is going to Scala ad Caelum to investigate the ancient Keyblade Masters.
Overall the game fun but I do wish that we got to play as Kairi more during the game and personally I wanted Kairi to be the one to fight Xehanort this time but I know this game was mostly to give hint as to where the Kingdom Hearts series will be going next. Though not confirmed I hope the ending means that we will be getting a game focusing on Kairi and Aqua and one with Mickey in Scala ad Caelum.
As I mentioned before I got very busy which caused me to get behind on posts, so I’m currently playing catchup. In August I read three books, watched several things, and finished Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory.
Books:
The first book I finished was Babel by R.F. Kuang which is a stand alone adult historical fantasy. The story follows Robin Swift, boy from Canton, who is brought to London to attend Oxford’s Royal Institute of Translation know as Babel. I received an early copy from NetGalley and I have a full review posted as well. Overall, I enjoyed this book but it does deal with racism and colonialism as well as other heavy topics which at the time put me into a bit of a reading slump.
The next book I read was Sinkable: Obsession, the Deep Sea, and the Shipwreck of the Titanic by Daniel Stone. This is a nonfiction book about the general obsession with the wreck of the Titanic and the many people that wanted to and thought it was possible to raise the ship. The focus is on Doug Woolley who claims to be the owner of the wreck and his many ideas on how the Titanic could be raised. This is not what I was expecting when I started reading this book as I went in knowing it was about the Titanic but that was it however its an interesting story that is not told about those who where searching for Titanic over the years and how obsession plays a role.
The last book I read this month was For The Throne by Hannah F. Whitten. This is the sequel to For The Wolf and continues the story of Red and Neve following the ending of the pervious book. This only focuses the story more on Neve who is now trapped in the Shadowlands while her sister Red tries to find a way to bring her back. While I like the story I much prefer Red as a protagonist and didn’t like how much the focus shifted to Neve however I like this different take on stories inspired by fairy tales.
Movies/TV Shows:
During August I started and finished the Netflix Resident Evil series which is a new live action adaptation that is set in a new universe but does claim to have the video games as the back story which really doesn’t work that well. The Resident Evil movies staring Milla Jovovich I consider guilty pleasure movies and I wasn’t expecting anything great out of this new series but its worse than I was expecting. The only thing I liked was telling the story in two timelines but I felt like Jade as the main character was the worst choice as she is not likeable at all and most of the things that happen are her fault. Netflix has since canceled the show and I’m not surprised.
I also watched Prey this month which is a movie in the Predator franchise set in the Great Plains in 1719. The story follows Naru, a Comanche warrior, who is trying to prove herself as a skilled hunter. She ends up having to protect herself and her people from one of the Predator’s who is on Earth hunting humans. I really loved this movie and I watched it in the Comanche dub as I have never watched a movie in Comanche before. I loved the atmosphere of this movie and how the Comanche language enhanced that experience.
Video Games:
The only video game that I finished was Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory which is the most recent Kingdom Hearts game (as of time of posting). This game is a rhythm action game that retells the Dark Seeker Saga with Kairi narrating the events and also continues Kairi’s story following the events of the Kingdom Hearts 3 Remind DCL. Kairi is going through her own heart and memories in attempt to find clues as to where Sora has disappeared to. I like the game even though I not a huge fan of rhythm games but I do wish that Kairi had more of a part in the main game play. I do plan to post a full review of this game.
Fairyloot is a Young Adult book subscription box focusing on fantasy based out of the UK. Each month you receive a new Young Adult hardback book and 5-6 bookish goodies. Like most book boxes the hardback are special editions and the items are a combination of both practical things and more decorative items. September’s theme is Farewell My Love.
The bookish items included this month are a set of coasters, a trinket dish featuring Cardan from the Folk of the Air series, a tea tin inspired by this months book, a Sic Crimson Cranes blanket, and the tarot cards have character art from Belladonna by Adalyn Grace.
All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers, generally signed by the author and include a letter from the author. This month the book is Belladonna by Adalyn Grace which is a gothic romantic fantasy where Signa is trying to uncover a murderer and makes an alliance with Death. This edition has stencil sprayed edges, artwork on the hardcover, and art work on the endpapers.
Illumicrate is a UK based fantasy and science fiction book box that has monthly boxes or just a monthly book only subscription. Each box also includes a selection of bookish goodies some more practical, others more decorative set around a monthly theme. August’s theme is Knowledge is Power.
The items included in this box are a reading journal/planner, a pencil case inspired by the Atlas Six, a Dark Academia stamp set, a set of Babel bookmarks, and an enamel pin.
Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and most months a letter from the author. This months book is Babel by RF Kuang which is a dark academia historical fantasy novel at Oxford. The story follows Robin Swift an orphan from Canton who is brought to London to attend Oxford’s Royal Institute of Translation better known as Babel. The special edition is a naked hardcover with a slipcase, has digitally printed edges, a bound in letter from the author and is signed.
Small Favor by Jim Butcher is the tenth book in the Dresden Files series. This book follows Harry as he is working for Queen Mab who has called in a favor that he owes her and he is tasked with protecting John Marcone. This is one of the most action packed books so far in the series as it starts and doesn’t stop.
I read this back in July 2022 and I’m now playing catch up on post and reviews so I don’t remember much except that I liked this book and I seem to like the Dresden series more and more as I read them.
Night Owl Reviews 