So this is coming a little late but better late than never.
This box was hands down the best book subscription box that I have ever gotten. It was 100 times worth the price and that shipping price (which is super yikes) but I absolutely loved all the items. This is a company that I have been eyeing for a while, mostly because their V.E. Schwab special edition box was so awesome and I then I knew that I needed to try them out. This is also the first quarterly box service I have ever tried and I do love that it is not every month because this box feels that much more special. Additionally this was Illumicrate’s Third Anniversary box so I hope their next box is just as impressive and it was not just because this was the anniversary box. Without further ado unboxing pictures and thoughts are below:
I absolutely loved this scarf. I was wary when it was first revealed that they were including a fabric item and it was Mulan inspired. Mulan is one of those movies that left its mark as a child and is one of my fundamental movies that influenced me growing up. So I was iffy that it was not going to meet my ultra high expectation, but it did and it is so gorgeous and this photo does not do it enough justice. The scarf is very silky and soft and the design was done by: Feifei Ruan.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before cosy cup holder thingy. It is so pretty and it is also my first march item from this fandom and it is so prefect. It makes me wanna reread the books and finally get around to the final book. (It literally been on my TBR since it came out, so maybe this is a sign that it is time?) The cosy was designed by @gicatam on Instagram.
Wooden bookmark with a Marie Lu quote on it! The quote itself is from Warcross, (which I haven’t gotten around to yet, I’m a terrible Marie Lu fan…) “Every locked door has a key.” Even though I’m not enlightened on the context of this quote, it is still very inspiring and the design is very pretty. I especially love the rainbow colors that are going on and this was designed by @chattynora on Instagram.
So this one was the one that they released was a sneak peak and it is from one of my favorite fandoms, Throne of Glass. This stag amulet is very pretty and I really love the design. The only thing is I’m not sure if I will ever wear this. I just can’t think of an outfit that it would go well with, any thoughts? But I do like that I have it because Throne of Glass is a fav. This one was designed by Fable and Black.
The gold and black top banner is another item that I loved but I do not subscribe to the fandoms behind the inspritaiton: The Night Circus and Caraval (but these are definitely on my TBR). But the design is so simple and elegant that you would never know which fandom was behind the design. I love the colors they used because they pop on their own and will display pins beautifully, if that is what you want to use it for. (I definitely will be using it for that purpose)
Now, for the most exciting part the book! books! Ah, this box came with two books! That is so exciting and they’re both sound like kickass fantasies! The additional book was a paperback version that was an exclusive edition for the box, Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce. I have heard of Tamora Pierce for forever, because she is kinda a legend in fantasy but I have never owned a single work by her. So I am so excited to dive into this one and I am even more happy that I do not have to pick a diving point into her books.
The featured book that inspired this box was Empress of All Seasons by: Emiko Jean. I have since this around but I did not ever look into what it was about until this box. This is a Japanese-inspired standalone fantasy about a girl named Mari, who is competing to become empress. This is so exciting for me because of three main reasons.
- I am half Japanese and I do not know a lot about Japanese folklore, which makes me so excited to see Yokai represented in a YA fantasy book. I’m going to learn more about my heritage’s folklore and have a fanatical adventure. Plus, it is so wonderful and awesome to see so many Asian inspired fantasies that came out recently! This is making this genre much more diverse and mixing things up.
- My older sister’s name is Mariana but growing up we have alway referred to her as Mari. Like my sister’s name is the same name as the main character! Like, what?!
- I am secretly Bachelor/Bachelorette trash, so any book where there’s a competition to marry one, um, yes. It is my guilty pleasure trope.
- It is a standalone! I don’t have to commit to adding a whole series unto my TBR (if I end up loving this, which I probs will and then want 100 more books in this series.)
Okay I know that was more than three but I am really excited for this book and it is one that would not have been on my radar if not for this box. Overall, I am very pleased with the quality of all of these items and the detail that was put into this box.