Illumicrate #24: August 2024
Two weeks after I received my July Illumicrate, I also received this August one.
The theme for August was Look what you made me do, referring to what can happen when someone pushes you too far.
Item #1 is another sword replica.
This sword was designed by @Stacey.McEvoy.Caunt and is supposed to be the sword of Oraya from The Serpents and the Wings of Night. I haven’t read this book yet and I’m not really interested in it. This replica sword doesn’t change my mind either.
I think replica swords are always a really cool item in theory, but of course less fun when they come from unknown books, but as always, this item is beautifully and solidly made.
Item #2 in contrast is something hyper practical!
A set of packing cubes designed by @CarlyWattsArt, inspired by Bride by Ali Hazelwood. I have read this book and therefore find the design of dog paws and bats hilarious. Regardless of the design, super handy and will definitely come in handy!
Item #3 is also something practical, but not really for me (thankfully!).
An organizer for your daily medicines, designed by @chattynora and inspired by One for My Enemy, a book I’m not really interested in. It’s nicely made and seems practical, but maybe a bit too big to take with you everywhere.
Item #4 is an absolute win for me.
A set of bowls designed by @_Studio_Ao and inspired by Silver Under Nightfall, another book I’m not really interested in. Even though the book doesn’t mean anything to me, I still really like the design of the bowls. And yes, even though my kitchen cupboards are almost overflowing with bowls and mugs from book boxes, I still can’t get enough of them and I’m always very happy to receive more.
These are just a bit too small to use for breakfast, but these have already been a great help to store small leftovers or for appetizers.
And then the book of the month: Mistress of Lies by K.M. Enright, a fantasy debut for adults.
The blurb promises a story that seems to combine blood magic, vampires, a strong female character and an intriguing murder mystery. Yeah, sounds fun!
The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan LeClaire has spent her entire life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge.
Samuel Hutchinson is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he’s drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he’s worked so hard to avoid – and is pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king.
Tasked by the Eternal King to discover the identity of the killer cutting a bloody swath through the city, Samuel, Shan and mysterious Royal Bloodworker Isaac find themselves growing ever closer to each other. But Shan’s plans are treacherous, and as she lures Samuel into her complicated web of desire, treason and vengeance, he must decide if the good of their nation is worth the cost of his soul.
The Illumicrate dust jacket uses the same illustration as the standard edition, but with different colours. The red has been replaced by silver foil, which in combination with the gold gives it a completely different, more decadent look.
When I took the cover off I had to blink a few times. This is an incredibly impressive illustration, that seamlessly runs across all sides of the book. Absolutely breathtaking! It almost makes me reluctant to read the book, for fear that I won’t like it and I’ll therefore have no reason to hang on to this stunning edition.
Is that why I generally read bookbox books so slowly?
Anyway, wow, really wow! The illustration is by @danlinz_art, which was also used to illustrate the book block at the front.
The endpapers are two unique illustrations by @spookgeist, further maintaining the decadent feel created by the other customisations.
The book also comes with an in-bound author letter and a digital signature.
Yep, for me another very solid Illumicrate box. Despite two items that I have no immediate use for and the fact that the books chosen as inspiration mean little to me, everything else doubly makes up for it.
The book is an absolute stunner! I am really a fan of the illustrations of the über talented @danlinz_art and I really hope Illumicrate continues to call on this artist! Once before I received a book from Illumicrate with cover art by this artist and it also blew my socks off. So yes, really hoping for more!
Cheers,
Charlotte
