Unboxing Secret Project #3
Since the start of these Secret Projects, Dragonsteel has had some delays in sending out the physical books, due to a combination of problems with the printers and shipping companies. Personally, I don’t really mind, since we do received the books in e-book format in our inbox the first of the month anyway.
Meanwhile, the delays seem to be all but over as my box with book #3 left America for its long journey to Belgium 11 days after I received the ebook!
I did have a small heart attack due to bad communication from FedEx.
The scheduled delivery date was when I was on vacation, but luckily you can change the date to ensure you are home for delivery. But while I was still abroad, I received the notification that my package was delivered to my home on the original date. No mention was made who had received the package and I was afraid they had just left it on the curb!
Fortunately I was able to trace the delivery, which turned out to be delivered to one of my neighbors. But still, not really a pleasant experience! What’s the point of letting people change the delivery date to make sure they’re home, if you then ignore that?
Anyway! Let’s switch to something more fun: the unboxing!
You could already read my review of the story here, but now let’s see what a beauty the actual physical copy is!
![SP3 01 SP3 01](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-01.jpeg?w=476&h=635&ssl=1)
![SP3 02 SP3 02](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-02.jpeg?w=476&h=635&ssl=1)
Unlike my previous two boxes, this box looked almost perfect. The worry this time was about the delivery and not about possible damage, lol.
![SP3 03 SP3 03](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-03.jpeg?w=476&h=635&ssl=1)
![SP3 04 SP3 04](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-04.jpeg?w=476&h=635&ssl=1)
Again the box looks pretty much the same as the previous two times, but again a different quote was placed on the box.
As you can also see, the content is not just the book, but again a few extras.
![SP3 05 SP3 05](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-05.jpeg?w=476&h=635&ssl=1)
![SP3 06 SP3 06](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-06.jpeg?w=476&h=635&ssl=1)
Which is why there is a spoiler card.
![SP3 07 SP3 07](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-07.jpeg?w=408&h=544&ssl=1)
![SP3 08 SP3 08](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-08.jpeg?w=544&h=544&crop=1&ssl=1)
The extra goodies are of the same type as previously, but of course adapted to better suit the book.
First, there’s the collectible pin featuring a character from the Cosmere. This is Shallan from the Stormlight Archive.
This time the sticker is one for the in the book frequently visited noodleshop. In itself a nice idea and very appropriate, but given the beautiful illustrations in the book, I had hoped for something more. I know, I’m getting quite spoiled and possibly desensitized š
![SP3 09 SP3 09](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-09.jpeg?w=824&h=335&ssl=1)
![SP3 10 SP3 10](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-10.jpeg?w=128&h=335&ssl=1)
Finally, the sturdy bookmark with an illustration from the book on both sides.
![SP3 11 SP3 11](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-11.jpeg?w=476&h=635&ssl=1)
![SP3 13 SP3 13](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-13.jpeg?w=476&h=635&ssl=1)
![SP3 12 SP3 12](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-12.jpeg?w=956&h=194&ssl=1)
And now the star of the box, the book!
Another one worthy of a tremendous chef’s kiss. It’s bound yet again in a buttery soft imitation leather in a deep blue colour. The cover art is partially embossed and features details in electric blue, fluo pink and gold foil.
Really, once again so so beautifully made! And I really love the cover illustration (which is also fitting for the story).
You can also clearly see the inspiration from the mock-up version, but unlike book #2, this is really a beautiful new elaboration.
The only thing I’m a bit sad about is that the cover is once again blue. It would have been nice if each secret project book had its own signature colour (Tress = green, Handbook = blue) so that we got a beautiful colour palette in our bookcase. For example, a fuchsia-purple would also have really fit this book #3, while also being appropriate for the story.
Anyway, this is nitpicking on my part and I always want things in purple š . So despite my remark, I still find this such a beautiful cover, blue and all!
![SP3 14 SP3 14](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-14.jpeg?w=476&h=357&ssl=1)
![SP3 15 SP3 15](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-15.jpeg?w=476&h=357&ssl=1)
The inside quality is once again just as impressive as the outside, starting with these endpapers at the front and back of the book.
![SP3 16 SP3 16](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-16.jpeg?w=476&h=635&ssl=1)
![SP3 17 SP3 17](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-17.jpeg?w=476&h=635&ssl=1)
Inside the book, the many accents are in the signature colours of Painter’s world: blue and pink.
The cover artwork is redone in the two colours and the neonhion lines of Painter’s world are used to separate the different parts of the story.
![SP3 18 SP3 18](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-18.jpeg?w=476&h=357&ssl=1)
![SP3 19 SP3 19](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-19.jpeg?w=476&h=357&ssl=1)
Once again, everything has been thought of, right down to the chapter numbering. This time two different mini-illustrations, depending on whose perspective the chapter is told from. Painter gets an appropriate bamboo illustration, while stacking stones were provided for Yumi.
![SP3 20 SP3 20](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-20.jpeg?w=476&h=635&ssl=1)
![SP3 21 SP3 21](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-21.jpeg?w=476&h=635&ssl=1)
Furthermore, there are a lot of full-page illustrations. Either on the same paper as the text, with the line-art having a blue/pink wash.
![SP3 22 SP3 22](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-22.jpeg?w=476&h=357&ssl=1)
![SP3 23 SP3 23](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SP3-23.jpeg?w=476&h=357&ssl=1)
Or on luxurious glossy paper with full-colour illustrations.
(If you do not mind spoilers, I discovered you can browse through all featured illustration on Brandon Sanderson’s wiki: Coppermind Yumi interior art)
The artist for this book is Aliya Chen and she really is the perfect fit! Certainly go visit her website, because, wow!!
So I am once again over the moon to have this beautiful book, which is also a real work of art, in my possession!
Cheers,
Charlotte
![](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/GSDTB-05.png?resize=75%2C75&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/charami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/OCOP-09.jpeg?resize=75%2C75&ssl=1)