Last month, I unboxed the 2022 September box by Illumicrate. This time, let’s take a look at their October box!
About Illumicrate
Illumicrate is one of the best known UK book boxes that ship internationally. They offer both a full box and a book-only subscription, and the books they feature are generally YA fantasy, but they also include other genres and adult books. Next to their monthly subscription, they also have special edition boxes and exclusive editions.
The teaser
This is the info we received upfront:
- Debut
- YA Dark Academia
- Stand-alone
- Rivals to lovers
- Forbidden romance
- Atmospheric and creepy vibes
- Inventive magic system
- M/F relationship between main characters
- Deaf main character, bisexual side character
- Content warnings: body horror, death, murder, demonic activity
The goodies
The first item that I discovered was a blanket, inspired by Strange the Dreamer and designed by Yoshi Yoshitani. It seems like a very warm blanket and it’s certainly pretty, but I don’t like the feel of it. I’ll be selling this one (or so I hope).
Next, I found the final Greek mythology inspired tea cup and saucer set. This particular set features Hades and Persephone and was designed by Niall Grant. Personally, I do not mind that this collectable set is completed now. While the sets were always nicely done, they could never really convince me.
The third item included in the box was a set of cable ties, designed by Stacey McEvoy-Caunt and inspired by In the Ravenous Dark. I really like their design, so I think I’ll be keeping these.
The box was also supposed to include the next papercraft kit by Rosiethorns88, but as Illumicrate communicated a couple of days ago, something went wrong and the item will be included in the next box. The kit will be inspired by Ninth House.
The book
The featured book of the month is The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew. The Illumicrate edition has an exclusive cover, art on the reverse of the dust jacket, illustrated endpapers, stenciled edges, foil on the naked hardcover, and it’s signed! The edges are one of the best I have seen lately.
It tells the tale of a deaf student who gets accepted into a rather special university programme. She soon clashes with another student, though, who remembers her from the day he died…