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. July’s theme is Never Enough.

The items included in this box are a mug with characters from the Poppy War series, an acrylic frame with a character print from Red Rising, a pocket mirror, a hand fan, and a bust of Lila Bard. I don’t understand the bust at all and I find it creepy.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and often a letter from the author. Illumicrate also does monthly enamel pin inspired by the book. Other exclusive detail for the book include sprayed and stenciled edges, art on the reverse of the dust jacket, and foiling on the hardback. This months book She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan. Set in 1345 China the Zhu family’s eight son is given a great fate but when he is killed his sister takes on his identity. She enters a monastery but when her sanctuary is destroyed she decides to see if she can fulfill her brothers fate.

August’s theme is Dark Academia.

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. June’s theme is Out of the Woods.

The items included in this box are a Lord of the Rings puzzle, an art banner featuring the characters from The Darkest Part of the Forest, a water bottle with a bookish quote on it, a wooden bookmark, and a wooden pin inspired by We Hunt the Flame.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and has a letter from the author. This months book is The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid. This edition also come with an exclusive cover, art on the reverse of the dust jacket, foiling on the hardback, and stenciled edges. The story follows Evike the only woman without powers in her pagan village who is given to the Holy Order of Woodsmen as a sacrifice. But when the group get attacked Evike must work with the Woodsman Gaspar Barany who happens to be a disgraced prince. Together they must stop Gaspar’ evil brother and determine where their loyalties lie.

July’s theme is Never Enough.

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.

Another Collectors edition that I bought in 2020 was the Illumicrate Collections: Daughter of Smoke and Bone box. Personally, I bought this box more of the book than any of the items but I did like most of the items included.

The items included in this box are all themed round Daughter of Smoke and Bone and the rest of the series with one items inspired by the Strange the Dreamer Duology. These items include a set of bookends, a replica soul thurible, a book sleeve, a metal book tin, an enamel pin and a foiled art print. The Strange the Dream item was a mug designed by Rosiethorns88. Overall, I liked the items though I feel like I have too many mugs at this point.

The book itself is an exclusive 10th Anniversary signed hardback copy. This edition also includes light blue sprayed edges, a foiled design and quote on the hardback, and art on the reverse of the dustjacket. This is a gorgeous edition of this book and Illumicrate due have matching editions of the rest of the series planned.

Illumicrate Archives is a new box type from Illumicrate where they take popular series and release a whole special edition matching set. I have only just recently started the Poppy War series by R. F. Kuang but I already love the characters and the series. So, when Illumicrate announced this box I knew that I had to order it.

This set is primarly focused on the books but there where a few items included. These items where a phoenix and dragon enamel pin set, a foiled art print, and a double sided metal bookmark.

The books themselves are gorgeous. Each book comes with the cover art printed on the hardback, signed end pages, smoky sprayed edges that match the color of the end pages, and exclusive art on the reverse of the dust jacket. I love these editions and can’t wait to finish the series.

Sometimes I order more than one book subscription box to see what other companies are doing and if there are any boxes that I want to continue getting. 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 In Search of Doors.

The items included in this box are a Hogwarts book sleeve, a Night Circus Ticket key ring, a key necklace from The Archived, a wardrobe wooden pin inspired by Narnia, a ceramic book pot (planter shaped like a book), a Starless Sea bookmark and the collectible coin that features Lazlo Strange from Strange the Dreamer.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and has a letter from the author. This months book is The Starless Sea by Erin Morgernstern. The book follows Zachary who discovers a hidden book that has a story from his own childhood that could never be in this book. When he finds three clues that led him to multiple places including an ancient underground library he must learn more about this place. As their are those who want to protect and those who want to destroy this library.

I have purchased Illumicrate boxes in the past and for me their specialty boxes are amazing and well worth the cost and shipping but the monthly boxes can be very hit or miss. However, I can see myself purchasing boxes in the future.

December’s theme is Secrets and Schemes.

When Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff was being released and preorders started I got sucked into buying multiple boxes which I’m glad I did. So I ordered three book boxes, one candle boxes, and two preorders which meant that I ended up with five copies of Darkdawn.

Each box included different items and each box will get its own post as this would be far too long to include all in one. First box is the Illumicrate Bloods and Blades box. This box included the book with is signed, has yellow sprayed edges and come with an author letter. Also included is Three a deleted scene from the book.

The bookish items are a mug featuring Mia and Ash, a wonderful Mr Kindly and Eclipse blanket, a booksleeve, a wooden map of Itreya, and enamel pins. Other items where a Mr Kindly bath bomb that smells like blood orange and tints the bath water red, a foil art print of Mia, a Corvere crest necklace, a Mia figure designed like a Funko Pop, a character bookmark set, a collectible coin, and art and an interview from the cast of the Nevernight short film by Piera Forde.

What I love about special boxes is that the items are all from a favorite series and I like if not love most of the items. The only one that I don’t care that much about is the figurine but that’s because I’ve never been a collector of figures and I don’t really like the Funko design. I love that some of the items are very useful and not just items to display because I like everyone I don’t have a ton of space to keep bookish things.

Illumicrate’s special edition boxes are amazing and I will order form them in the future for special editions. Their monthly boxes are also goo but if I don’t love everything the international shipping to the United States isn’t always worth it.

Recently I have decided to try out several different monthly book subscription boxes. 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 High Stakes.

The items included in this box are a ceramic travel cup inspired by Children of Blood and Bone, a note pad loosely inspired by Good Omens, a Blackcliff Academy wooden postcard inspired by An Ember in the Ashes, a scarf inspired by Carry On, and a DNA lanyard from This Mortal Coil. Each month Illumicrate also includes a magnetic collectible coin this months features Katniss Everdeen.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month that is signed and has a letter from the author. This months book is Kingdom of Souls: The Last Witch Doctor by Rena Barron is a special edition with sprayed edges. The story follows Arrah who come from a magically powerful family but has never had her own powers. Shortly after she decides to sacrifice some of her life for magic children in the village start to disappear and Arrah is determined to find the culprit but she might find something much worse.

I have purchased Illumicrate boxes in the past and for me their specialty boxes are amazing and well worth the cost and shipping but the monthly boxes can be very hit or miss. Most of the items in this box I won’t use and are from series that I don’t care about. This can be a problem with any box that you don’t know what you will be receiving but Illumicrate is often just to expensive with international shipping. For me, specialty boxes will most likely the only boxes that I buy from them in the future.

October’s theme is With Great Power.