Category: Book Box

April 2021 Illumicrate

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Illumicrate is a UK based fantasy and science fiction book box that has monthly boxes or just a monthly book only subscription. Before I was getting the book only subscription but the extra cost of the full box wasn’t that much more so I have switched to the full box. Each box also includes a selection of bookish goodies some more practical, others more decorative set around a monthly theme. April’s theme is Dearly Departed.

The items included in this box where a Book of the Dead book pot (planter shaped like a book), a canvas book organizer inspired by Nevernight, a Mason jar drinking glass from Jacques restaurant featured in The Beautiful, a set of magnets inspired by Gideon the Ninth, and a sickle keyring.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and has a letter from the author. Every month there is also an enamel pin that is inspired by that months book. This months book is In the Ravenous Dark by A.M Strickland which also has stenciled edges. In the world of Thanopolis those who have magic are assigned undead spirits to guard them. Rovan has been hiding her powers but after the death of her father she finds herself trust into a world of intrigue and deception. To escape she finds herself connecting to a rebellious princes and a handsome spirit but to save them all Rovan will have to start a rebellion and find a way to trust those who might just betray her.

May’s theme is Change Your Stars.

April 2021 Fairyloot

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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. April’s theme is Hidden Identities.

The bookish items included this month are a set of metal bookends inspired by Lord of the Rings, handmade soap, a tote bag inspired by Blood and Ash, enamel pins from the Daevabad Trilogy, and a set of bookmarks inspired by multiple series. The monthly tarot cards are inspired by Serpent and Dove. They also included the foil art print that was missing in the March box.

All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers and are signed by the author. The box also includes an author letter for each book. This months book is The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni and also came with sprayed and stenciled edges, artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket, and foiling on the hardcover. In The Prison Healer we follow Kiva who has been the healer at a death prison with the only goal of staying alive. When the Rebel Queen arrives Kiva agrees to take her place in the Trial of Ordeal in hopes of saving both of their lives though no one as ever survived the challenge.

May’s theme is Spellcraft.

April 2021 OwlCrate

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Owl Crate is a young adult book subscription box where every month you receive one new hardcover book and an assortment of bookish goodies connected to the monthly theme. Some of these items are very practical and some are better suited as décor or for a pin/bulletin board. April’s theme is Ruthless Rivals.

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include the Et Cetera Card Game to play with friends, cinnamon hazelnut coffee, a Hamilton inspired phone wallet, a Nevernight inspired pillow case, and a chopstick set inspired by These Violent Delights.

Every month Owl Crate has a new young adult hardback book that has an exclusive cover, is signed and comes with a letter from the author. The enamel pin that is in every box is also inspired by that months book. Lately OwlCrate has also been getting other customizations which for this month are foiling on the hardback and artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket. This months book is Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart. The story follows two rival witches that end up working together to take down their common enemy and nothing but the lengths they will go to are certain.

May’s theme is Expect the Unexpected.

March 2021 Fairyloot

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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. March’s theme is Frozen Fables.

The bookish items included this month are a mug inspired by The Winternight Trilogy, a Winterwood inspired phone ring holder, a pair of socks, a foiled notebook, a headband inspired by the Something Dark and Holy series, and the monthly tarot cards. There was also supposed to be a foiled art pint inspired by Spinning Silver but it was delayed getting to Fairyloot’s shipping partner and is going to be included in the April box.

All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers and are signed by the author. The box also includes an author letter for each book and this editions also has shimmery sprayed edges, foil embossing of the hardcover, and artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket. This months book is The Bright and The Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski. Inspired by Russian folklore we follow Valeria, a young woman who is one of the only survivors of the magical freeze that was placed on her village. After finding out that her best friend who she thought was dead turns out to be alive but trapped, Valeria will lead a group of cutthroats and thieves to go back to the mountain her village is frozen on to help save her friend.

April’s theme is Hidden Identities.

Obsidian Moon Crate March 2021

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Obsidian Moon Crate is a newer 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 six other items. I ordered the March box because it looked interesting and because I wanted to try out the box before I order the special edition box for Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff that they are doing. Based on this March box the items are high quality and I like most of them.

The items included in this box where a gothic enamel pin, a red jasper crystal for protection, a lotion inspired by Mexican Gothic, a Carmilla inspired candle, classical gothic character art, a tumbler with a quote from Frankenstein on it, a wooden bookmark inspired by Lenore from Edgar Allan Poe’s work, a sticker, and the spoiler card with art. The one thing that I was not expecting was a hand written letter from the owner thanking me for my order.

The book included was a hardcover copy of Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft which also included an author letter and a signed book plate. Down Comes the Night follows Wren who has been dismissed from the Queen’s Guard for reckless use of magic but she in called to Colwick Hall to cure a servant of an illness. While there she learns that her patient is none other than Hall Cavendish, Wren’s countries sworn enemy. They must join together to try out the secrets of the estate and save both of their kingdoms.

Overall, if you are interested in a darker aesthetic or darker book this could be the book box for you. I do plan to order other boxes from them in the future.

Book Gizmo March 2021 Deluxe Box: Harrowing Adventures

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Book Gizmo is a small independent business that mainly does book sleeves and accessories. I’ve ordered multiple times from Book Gizmo and have loved everything that I’ve ordered. The owner has been doing monthly boxes for a while now but I never order one until now. The March box theme sounded amazing and the knowledge that there where going to be Grisha verse items sold me on it. Especially since I’m very excited for the Netflix Shadow and Bone adaption coming out in April.

The items included where:

  • a new book “jacket” style book sleeve inspired by Shadow and Bone
  • a Lord of the Rings art print
  • a Fable inspired book band
  • a candle inspired by the Iron Fae series
  • a Lord of the Rings magnet
  • a face mask
  • a Witcher face mask

The Deluxe Box included three items that where not in the base box these where a Second Army T-shirt and mug with that you could chose which order of the second army you wanted. The last item is a soap dispenser inspired by Kaz Brekker.

Illumicrate: A Court of Silver Flames Box

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Illumicrate did a mini box in celebration of the release of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Mass. As a mini box it didn’t contain very much and Sarah doesn’t do special books for book boxes however all the items included are high quality.

I like Sarah J Mass’s books and though I need to catch up on this series I did want the items in the box. The main reason I purchased this is I absolutely hate the cover change for the series and they included a full set of matching dust jackets. The other items where a copy of A Court of Silver Flames and an enamel pin set.

Overall, I like all the items in this box and the dust jackets are amazing. I have no idea why the original covers where changed but at least there are other options.

March 2021 OwlCrate

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Owl Crate is a young adult book subscription box where every month you receive one new hardcover book and an assortment of bookish goodies connected to the monthly theme. Some of these items are very practical and some are better suited as décor or for a pin/bulletin board. March’s theme is Of Witches and Wonder.

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include a sketchbook, a fabric bookmark holder, a springtime travel mug which is the first in a new seasonal collection of drinkware, a ceramic tea bag rest aka a trinket dish, and a roll on perfume.

Every month Owl Crate has a new young adult hardback book that has an exclusive cover, is signed and comes with a letter from the author. The enamel pin that is in every box is also inspired by that months book. This months book is Sweet and Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley and has light purple sprayed edges. We follow Tamsin who is the most powerful witch in her generation but she commits a crime where her punishment is to never feel love unless she steels it from others. Wren is a person who is made of magic but when her father falls ill she makes a bargain with Tamsin where if she helps catch the witch who made her father sick Wren will give Tamsin the love she feels for her father.

April’s theme is Ruthless Rivals.

February 2021 OwlCrate

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Owl Crate is a young adult book subscription box where every month you receive one new hardcover book and an assortment of bookish goodies connected to the monthly theme. Some of these items are very practical and some are better suited as décor or for a pin/bulletin board. February’s theme is Magic Unleashed.

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include the first in a new collectible book tin series with four book tins inspired by the different London’s in the Shades of Magic series, an enamel keychain, a hairbrush, a zipper pouch, and some bath salts.

Every month Owl Crate has a new young adult hardback book that has an exclusive cover, is signed and comes with a letter from the author. The enamel pin that is in every box is also inspired by that months book. This months book is The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna. The story follows Deka who is about to undergo the blood ceremony to determine whether she becomes a member of her village or not. If she has read blood she will be fine but if her blood runs gold she will be sacrificed to the gods. Deka is given the choice to either submit to fate or fight in the emperors army to help save the world.

March’s theme is Of Witches and Wonder.

January 2021 Fairyloot

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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. January’s theme is Greek Mythology.

The bookish items included this month are a trinket dish, a book sleeve inspired by Circe, an enamel bookmark, a wooden spatula with a quote on it, an iron on print, and the monthly art print. Each box also come with two tarot cards with character art on them.

All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers and are signed by the author. The box also includes an author letter for each book. This months book is Lore by Alexandra Braken which also has sprayed and stenciled edges, art work on the revers of the dust jacket, and foiling on the front and back of the hardback. Lore is a young adult fantasy novel inspired by Greek Mythology where every seven years different Greek gods are forced to walk the earth and are hunted down. Those who kill the gods gain their power and now Lore who fled this brutal hunt must stop the rise of a new god.

February’s theme is What the Future Holds.