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 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. November’s theme is Alchemy of Us.
The bookish items included this month are a id case and lanyard, one of the secret books, a SJM inspired desk calendar, and a set of hanging storage drawers. The monthly tarot cards feature character art from These Violent Delights.
All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers, generally signed by the author and include a letter from the author. This month the book is The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker which is a Asian inspired high fantasy where the main character wants to become a royal alchemist to provide for her family. This edition also has digitally sprayed edges and foiling on the hardback.
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. November’s theme is Anti-Hero.
The items included in this box are a mug inspired my the Murderbot Diaries, a set of Locked Tomb book ends, an ornament and a foldable bag.
Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and most months a letter from the author. This months book is Starling House by Alix E. Harrow which is a a gothic tale about a small town haunted by secrets. This edition has a full color hardback and digitally sprayed edges.
In October I read six books and watched two movies. I was around this time that I got very busy and posting just wasn’t happening so now I’m catching up.
Books:
The first book I read was The Curse of Moonseed Manor by D. Lieber which is a gothic mystery story set at a possible haunted house in the same vain as Rebecca. I do have a full review already posted and feel like that if you like mysteries and haunted houses you would enjoy this.
To Sleep In A Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini follows Kira who accidently finds an alien relic during a routine survey mission and is launched into events to save Earth and all of Humanity. This is Paolini’s first adult science fiction work and while I loved the characters and enjoyed most of the concepts I feel like I would have enjoyed this more if it had been split into two books.
The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life’s Final Moments by Hadley Valhos is a nonfiction book about her interactions with patients that have impacted her the most so far while being a hospice nurse. While a hard topic with is a memoir that shows hos caring for others can change one’s life and how one deals with grief.
A Fire Born of Exile by Aliette de Bodard is a sapphic Count of Monte Cristo inspired story set in space. I do have a full review posted as well but this is perfect for those that love science fiction with a romantic spin.
Britney Spears memoir The Woman in Me is Britney sharing her story in the music industry and the conservatorship that she was forced into. While at times sad, this memoir allows one to get a glimpse into who Britney Spears really is and how things have affected her over the years.
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein is a science fiction book about Michael Smith who is a human raised on Mars and has returned to Earth. Interesting concepts but you and can that it was written in the 60s and I didn’t enjoy reading it.
Movies:
I watched two movies this month the first was Grave Encounters. Grave Encounters is a found footage horror movie where a team of Ghost Hunters lock themselves into an abandoned asylum that is supposed to be haunted. As the night goes on it starts to become clear that the asylum really is haunted and the team is in danger. Not bad for a found footage movie but the effects could have been better in some scenes but a good horror movie overall for the Halloween season.
The only other movie I watched was Resident Evil: Death Island. This is the newest Resident Evil animated movie to come out and its set in the same universe as the video games. While not a bad movie its made for fans of the games but it was cool seeing fan favorite characters working together.
A Fire Born of Exile is a sapphic Count of Monte Cristo inspired story in space set in the Xuya Universe. This Universe is one in which Asian culture is dominate, scholars administrate different planets, and sentient spaceships have families. A Fire Born of Exile came out in October 2023 but I received a review copy from Netgalley and I’m currently catching up on things that I meant to post earlier.
The story focuses on Quynh an Alchemist who wants revenge for events in her past and Minh the daughter of the ruler of the Scattered Peral Belt who wants to escape her mothers plans for her. I feel like I would have enjoyed this more if I better knew the story of the Count of Monte Cristo but I still enjoyed this book. I love how different the Xuya Universe is to most of the science fiction that I’ve read and I want to read more set in this universe.
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. October’s theme is Enchanted Forest.
The bookish items included this month are an embroidery kit, a mushroom spoon, a photo album, a set of bag clips, and print overlays for the book Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries.
All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers, generally signed by the author and include a letter from the author. This month the book is The Forest Grim by Kathryn Purdie which is a fantasy novel where fairytales come to life but with darker twists. This edition has an exclusive cover, a reversible dust jacket, foiling on the hardcover, and digital sprayed edges.
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. October’s theme is Fairytale Forests.
The items included in this box are a sword replica of Nightfell from the Cruel Prince, a set of page tabs, a desk pad inspired by the Last Tale of the Flower Bride, and a notebook inspired by Once Upon a Broken Heart.
Illumicrate, like other book boxes, includes a new hard cover each month and letter from the author. This months book is After the Forest by Kell Woods which is a Hansel and Gretel inspired story set 20 years after the events of the fairy tale that deals with the repercussions of a childhood filed with magic and what really come after “happily ever after.” This edition has a exclusive cover, a full color hardback, and digitally printed edges.
In September read seven books, watched several horror movies, and started playing a new mobile game that I will continue playing for a while. I’ve been very busy the last several months and I’m currently trying to get caught up on the posts that I’ve been meaning to write and schedule.
Books:
The first book that I finished in September was Tinker by Wen Spencer which is a fantasy/Sci-Fi novel that follows the inventor Tinker who lives in a near future Pittsburgh that now exists in the land of the elves. An interesting concept but I hated how everyone kept assuming Tinker knew certain things without anyone stopping to explain what was happening or going on. Its also very clear that it was written in the early 2000s and has many tropes common in books from then.
Next was Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire which was a reread for me as I continue on with the Wayward Children’s series. This one follows Cora and others from Eleanor West’s school going on a quest to help Rini and save her world. Rini is Sumi’s daughter but Sumi was killed in the first book which has thrown her world of Confection into chaos. To save Rini they must find a way to bring Sumi back to life. Not my favorite book in the series but I liked it better on reread.
FeedBack by Mira Grant is the last book in the Newsflesh series that retells the story of Feed from the perspective of the reporters covering the Democratic side of the election. While I enjoyed being back in this world, I loved the characters from the trilogy so much and we only get mentions of them I ended up loving this book like the others. The most interesting aspect of FeedBack to me was seeing the reactions of these characters when they find out what is really going on and how that is connected to the characters from the trilogy.
Next I read In An Absent Dream and Juice Like Wounds both by Seanan McGuire to continue reading the Wayward Children’s series. In An Absent Dream follows Lundy’s story and her experiences in the Goblin Market and Juice Like Wounds is a short story following one of Lundy’s adventures. In An Absent Dream is my least favorite of the series so far. I loved the concept of the Goblin Market but I feel like the most interesting things that happen to Lundy are not shone. Lundy has trouble choosing between her world and the family she loves to the point that the choice no longer is hers to make and is forced upon her. Juice Like Wounds is more what I was expecting Absent Dream to be like and it gives a better understanding to the choice Lundy is forced into.
The next book I read was Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling is a book written like a text book for the characters in the world of Harry Potter. I read the illustrated edition which is like a coffee table book and something I think fans should read once.
The last book I read in September was Old Man’s War by John Scalzi. This is a science fiction book where at the age of 75 you can join the Colonial Defense Force in Space. We follow John Perry who takes this deal and learns what humanity is up against in space. An interesting idea that remined me a little of Starship Troopers (I’ve only seen the movie). While this is a start to a series the end is such that you don’t have to continue it.
Movies:
The horror movies that I watched were Hell House LLC and its two sequels. Set five years after the death of 15 people on opening night of the Hell House haunted house attraction a documnetary crew is trying to find out what happened. They get tapes that show events leading up to the opening of Hell House which is set at an abounded hotel and as the movie continues you start to question is the hotel is haunted or not. The first movie is a good found footage horror movie but sequels removes all ambiguity of what happened and straight up decides to make it a battle between the forces of heaven and hell. I would recommend the first one but don’t feel the need to watch the sequels.
Video Games:
The only video game that I’ve been playing has been Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis which is a new mobile game that retells the stories of Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core, and The First Soldier. Currently, I’m having fun with it but I’m making a point to not spend any money on this game. If you are a Final Fantasy VII fan I would recommend trying it out as its free but I can see many people not liking it.
Obsidian Moon Crate is a book box based in the US that focuses on adults with interest in the darker elements of life and books. Each box comes with a new hardcover book, one crystal, one candle, and four to five other items. The theme for September is Vengeance is Ours.
The items included in this box are a Nevernight inspired T shirt, a Poppy War double sided bookmark, a Red Rising enamel pin, a Carrie inspired bath oil, and a Hell Followed Us inspired candle. The crystal this month was amethyst which was shaped like a skull.
The book included was a hardcover copy of The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White. This edition also came with an author letter, a signed book plate, and stenciled edges. Theis book is a historical fantasy/horror novel following Silas who is a medium who communes with spirits. After failing to escape an arranged marriage he is sent to a finishing school where the ghost to missing students start asking for help. I have also heard that you should look up trigger warnings before reading this book.
Overall, if you are interested in a darker aesthetic or darker book this could be the book box for you. The theme for December is Heathens.
The Curse of Moonseed Manor by D. Lieber is an adult mystery novel following Wren who just got a job at Moonseed Manor as a photographer as the manor is becoming a hotel and it might just be haunted. I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for a review and will also include the full blurb and a link to purchase at the end of this review.
Wren is a down on her luck young woman who comes across an add to work at Moonseed Manor as a photographer and decides to give it a shot. When she arrives she meets all the others working there including the mysterious owner Mr. William Courtland Bennings and the sexy caretaker Watt. However, it is clear that things are different here and there are rumors that the manor is haunted.
While this is not a long book over all its a gothic mystery is the same vain as Rebecca that kept me guessing until the end. What is the owners back story? Are the ghost real? And how is the sexy caretake Watt involved. I greatly enjoyed this book and was not expecting what happens in the end and I feel like this is a great book for those who enjoy gothic mysteries.
Full Blurb from Goodreads:
A haunted hotel. A skeptical photographer. A deadly curse that could cost her everything.Wren Mabry’s life is a disaster. Her last few years have been rife with tragedy and hardship. So when she’s offered a job at Moonseed Manor, a Gothic revival mansion that’s never welcomed visitors, it seems suspicious. Even so, this is her chance to finally turn her life around.The gloom that hangs over Moonseed Manor is enhanced by its cold yet alluring owner, Mr. William Courtland Bennings. And the spooky tales of the flirtatious and sexy caretaker, Watt, play up that feeling.Even though Wren doesn’t believe in ghosts or curses, she’s always had a flair for the darker side. And when she finds a handwritten book of poetry filled with longing, terror, and ghostly revenge, it reawakens her very soul—or rather the unknown poet does. Love, death, secrets, and lies await in this gothic romance.
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 My Last Breath.
The items included in this box are a book pot, a window magnet inspired by Belladonna, a bowl cozy, and a If We Were Villains puzzle.
Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and most months a letter from the author. This months book is A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid which is a young adult fantasy following Effy who has always believed in fairy tales. When a contest to design her favorite authors home is announced Effy feels like this is her destiny but the truth may bring her ruin. This edition has an exclusive cover, color printing on the hardback, digitally printed edges and is signed.
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