Illumicrate Unboxing – August 2016

This month I received my third Illumicrate subscription box. Illumicrate is a quarterly subscription box service for book lovers with boxes arriving in February, May, August and November. Illumicrate costs £29.99 per box which includes free shipping in the UK. There are additional shipping costs applied for international customers.

If you would like to see what was inside May’s box you can find my unboxing here. And if you would like to see what was included in February’s box I unbox it here! Without further ado, here is what was inside this month!

I was thrilled to see that in August’s box there was not one, but two books! There was one in particular that caught my eye straight away as it is a book I have heard so much about and one that has been on my wishlist – Nevernight by Jay Kristoff:

‘Be advised the pages in your hands speak of a girl who was to murder as maestros are to music.

A girl some called Pale Daughter. Or Kingmaker. Or Crow.

A killer of killers, whose tally of endings only the goddess and I truly know’

This is a hardback book and a particularly stunning one as well (it even has maps!) I adore the striking cover art so was really happy to see that a print of this cover was provided along with a bookmark and signed bookplate.

The second book was one I was not familiar with but which looks and sounds brilliant, The Graces by Laure Eve:

‘Everyone said the Graces were witches. I was going to make them mine.

Just like everybody else in her small town, River is obsessed with the Graces.

And just like everybody else, she’s been seduced by their wealth, their exclusivity, their beauty and their glamour. Perhaps even their magic.

But unlike everybody else, River knows exactly what she’s doing.

Doesn’t she?’

This is a beautiful paperback edition which has been included in this box a month ahead of its official publication date which is very exciting. Accompanying the book was a letter from the author, temporary tattoos and a signed bookplate.

Along with a book each month, each box contains a selection of book themed gifts. I had heard that one of the items this month was inspired by The Cursed Child and there were two coasters by Taratjah Art featuring illustrations of our favourite trio ‘then and now’. These are lovely designs and quite delicate so I am going to use these for display rather than as actual coasters. These coasters go nicely with the next item which was a packet of ‘Drink Me’ strawberry tea from Post Tea featuring a quote from Alice In Wonderland. I am not a big fan of flavoured teas but I may give this one a try.

Next up there was a ‘In Omnia Paratus’ tote bag by Colorful Geekiness which is inspired by The Gilmore Girls. Whilst I am not familiar with this show I am a fan of tote bags so this will come in handy. There were also two colouring in quote cards from Ashley Poston. These are inspired by Six of Crows and Grisha.

 

The box also featured some extra promotional items. There was a sampler for Sabaa Tahir’s forthcoming novel A Torch Against The Night. There was also a set of four Red Rising prints, a discount code for Unboxed by Non Pratt and a discount code for My Bookmark.

 

I was impressed with this month’s box as I felt that with the inclusion of a hardback and a paperback it was good value for money. I am looking forward to reading both of the books and I also loved the Harry Potter coasters. I will now look forward to finding out what is in November’s box!

If you would like to find out more about Illumicrate, you can check out their website here!