May 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. Each box also includes a selection of bookish goodies some more practical, others more decorative set around a monthly theme. May’s theme is Change Your Stars.

The items included in this box are a Spinning Silver book sleeve, a Girls of Paper and Fire Dress enamel pin, a sketchbook, a Daevabad Trilogy inspired tea tin, an the new collectable item an enamel key.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and has a letter from the author. This months book is The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri which also came with a signed book plate, stenciled edges, and foiling on the hardback. The story follows Malini who has been imprisoned by her brother in the ancient Temple Hirana her maidservant, Priya comes every night to clean but she is hiding her true nature. When Malini sees Priya true nature their destinies become entangled and they will change the fate of the empire.

June’s theme is Out of the Woods.

May 2021 Wrap Up

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In May I only read three books but I did start a new part time job recentlyke and I’m still getting used to going back to work. I also have been playing Persona 5 The Royal and I’m past the half way point in the game. I hope to finish Persona 5 sometime in the next month or so and post a full review for it.

Books:

Keeping Their Marbles: how the treasures of the past ended up in museums…and why they should stay there by Tiffany Jenkins is a museum nonfiction book about how museum collections ended up in museums, why they should stay in the museums, and a discussion of the place and purpose of museums. I really liked this book as it articulated many things that I personally believe but didn’t know how to best put it into words. This book is great for those in the museum field or those that want to better understand museums.

Five Nights at Freddy’s Fazbear Frights #6: Blackbird by Scott Cawthon is the sixth short story collection set in the FNAF world. The first two stories are not as connected to Freddy’s or the different characters from the Pizzeria but I like seeing different aspects of this world. Overall, I liked this collection more as less horrible things happened to people in the wrong place at the wrong time or dumb kids being kids. However, the small section of the story at the end that connects all the book did get a bit too ridiculous.

Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers is the third book in the Wayfarers series. This one focuses primarily on life in the Exodus Fleet that consists of the descendants of the humans who left Earth but never settled on another planet but just stayed in the Fleet. I love this series but I found that this book had too many perspectives of characters that I didn’t like. I ended up skimming some of the perspectives and think that I would have liked this story better if there had been less characters. I do plan on reading the next book in the series.

May 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. May’s theme is Expect the Unexpected.

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include a Rule of Wolves scarf, a corduroy bag with a quote from Obsidio on it, a Gilded Wolves vinyl Sticker, a metal tassel bookmark with quote on it, and the second book tin is the series inspired by the Shades of Magic.

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 Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He which also comes with a foil design on the hardback. This book is being described as the YA thriller We Were Liars meets Black Mirror and add in a little Studio Ghibli which sounds really cool.

June’s theme is Go Your Own Way.

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 Wrap Up

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In April I read nine books including two short stories, two graphic novels, and one audio book. Besides reading I have been playing Persona 5: The Royal and got through about 60 hours by the end of the month.

Books:

Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo are the second and third books in the Shadow and Bone Trilogy. I’m talking about them together as I don’t want to spoil anything that is in these books. In Siege and Storm I like how Alina grew as a character, and loved Nikolai. However, I absolutely hated Alina and Mal’s relationship and that made me not enjoy the book that much. Ruin and Rising I liked more but hated the ending and what happens to Alina. I didn’t think she would or even want her to end up with the Darkling but I her and Mal’s relationship is still very toxic. Though Nikolai made the ending better. I haven’t watched the Netflix show yet but I hope that some of the issues I had with the books have been fixed.

The Tailor was a short story at the end of Siege and Storm that tells some events from Genya’s point of view. I liked being able to see the world through Genya’s eyes and why she works for the Darkling. The Demon in the Wood was a short story at the end of Ruin and Rising that showed us some of the Darkling’s back story. I know the Darkling is the villain but his reasoning for wanting to expand the fold do make more since after this story.

Labyrinth Coronation 2 and 3 are the last volumes in this short graphic novel series. I like how this series show how the Goblin King became who he is and how his story connects to Sarah’s. I loved the ending and how everything turned out all right in the end. If you are a fan of the Labyrinth movie I think you will like these graphic novels.

You are a Badass Everyday by Jen Sincero is a self help book companion to Jen Sincero other books and is more a set of tools to help you live your best life. I’m listened to this as an audio book and liked it well enough. After I finished it I felt more motivated to do some things that I’ve been putting off. Good for those looking for motivation or self-help books.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is Andy Weir’s newest science fiction novel. I received an early review copy from NetGalley and have a full review posted. In Project Hail Mary we follow Ryland Grace the only survivor of a space mission that’s goal is to save all life on earth. However, he doesn’t remember that but he’s earth’s last hope. After gaining an unexpected ally, Grace might be able to figure out what’s going on and how the save everything. Great for fans of Andy Weir’s other work and those who love hard science fiction.

The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm by Christopher Paolini is a short story collection with stories taking place after the events of the Inheritance cycle. I liked being back in this world with character that I love but I do think that I would have enjoyed these stories more if I had reread the series first.

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.

Book Review: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

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Project Hail Mary is a new hard science fiction novel by Andy Weir the author of the Martian. I received an early copy through NetGalley. The story follows Ryland Grace the only survivor on a mission to save Earth and humanity and he is the worlds last hope. However, he doesn’t know that because he doesn’t remember his name or what he’s supposed to do on this mission. But its up to him and an unexpected ally to find the solution to an extinction level event that threatens all life on Earth.

Project Hail Mary is very had to talk about without spoiling some aspects of the plot and story. I really like book though most of the science went over my head. Ryland Grace is much more of a Mark Watney style character so if you liked the Martian I would recommend this book. At this point to say anything else I will be getting into spoilers so stop reading if you don’t want to know anything more.

The story is told through Ryland Grace’s perspective but switches between current events and the memories of his past that tells the read who he is and why he is on this mission. Because he doesn’t have his memories we are thrown into the story and learn with him what is going on. Through the flash backs we learn that something is causing the Sun of get dimmer and if not stopped then it will cause catastrophic problems on Earth. It is soon determined that this is happening because of an organism called Astrophage is feeding on the energy of the Sun. I’m not going to discuss any of the science of the book because that is one aspect that I had trouble understanding but I got the overall plot, relationships, and emotions of the characters. Grace determines that he is on this space ship because they were headed to the one location that the Astrophage do not seem to be affecting.

Shortly, after waking up and remembering what he is meant to do Grace sees another space craft that he knows can’t be from Earth. He ends up communicating with the other space craft and meets an alien life form that is very different from humans. Grace calls him Rocky. They learn how to talk to each other and together the figure out how the Astrophage work and how to stop them. As they figure out what they need to do Grace finally gets back all of his memories and why he is on the ship which he now knows is a suicide mission. I don’t want to spoil the whole ending but together Grace and Rocky save their planets and Grace gets to do what he’s best at in the end.

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.