Illumicrate #37: October 2025
After the somewhat disappointing September box, Illumicrate got a second chance in October. The theme promised those medieval vibes I’d hoped for last month. The title might not immediately sound “chivalric,” but the book it predicted certainly did. So yes, secretly I was hoping for something a bit more knightcore than what we got before.
The October theme is In Every Life, and honestly, this artwork has a real medieval feel to it, doesn’t it? So I was very hopeful!
We’re starting strong with a new book pot! The design by @chattynora might not quite fit the medieval theme I was hoping for, but it is beautiful. The high-contrast color combination of cream and black took some time to sink in, but ultimately, I think it’s a great success. The concept of a book that helps you search for eternal life and defy fate also ties in beautifully with the theme.
We actually received the second item not so long ago: a set of packing cubes. They were designed by @printyourselfmad and are inspired by Our Infinite Fates. The book doesn’t mean much to me, but I find the cubes incredibly handy. The Illumicrate versions are well-made, with a handle and straps inside.
As someone who’s a bit of a neurotic packer, I’m sure these will come in handy again, even though I’ve already received a set in a box.
I thought the first embroidery kit Illumicrate ever released was a great idea, but months later I still haven’t touched it. With this second kit, my enthusiasm has seriously waned. The design by @forensicsandflowers, inspired by Godly Heathens, doesn’t exactly help matters, as it’s not really to my taste.
The last item, unfortunately, isn’t quite right for me again. It’s a keychain with shakeable elements inside, designed by @smurfee and based on Heaven Official’s Blessing. Again, a title I’m unfamiliar with, and the item itself doesn’t do much for me.
After this rather mediocre start, I honestly felt a bit hesitant to unwrap the book.
The book of October is The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri. Her name sounds familiar from her Burning Kingdoms series, but I haven’t read anything by her yet.
In a Britain fuelled by stories, the knight and the witch are fated to fall in love and doom each other over and over, the same tale retold over hundreds of lifetimes.
Simran is a witch of the woods. Vina is a knight of the Queen’s court. When the two women begin to fall for each other, how can they surrender to their desires, when to give in is to destroy each other?
As they seek a way to break the cycle, a mysterious assassin begins targeting tales like theirs. To survive, the two will need to write a story stronger than the one that fate has given to them.
But what tale is stronger than The Knight and the Witch?
In terms of concept, this book already sounds epic. I find the idea of a recurring fate, which repeatedly brings lovers together and drives them apart, incredibly intriguing.
The Illumicrate variant was illustrated by @marosar_art. While this artist is clearly talented, this isn’t the kind of illustration I like to see on a cover at all. The characters are too clearly drawn, too detailed, too prominent.
And yet the standard cover is so, so, so much more beautiful. The symbolism of the reaching hands, that tension between longing and hesitation… truly wonderful. I’m really bummed that Illumicrate doesn’t simply include the original cover on the back, like FairyLoot does.
The illustrations on the bare hardcover, created by @the.flightless.artist, are truly beautiful in themselves. The style is atmospheric, the colors soft and beautifully chosen.
But… they don’t match the cover illustration at all. And the characters seem completely different, which probably has something to do with the theme of reincarnation, which makes sense.
My eye was also immediately drawn to the fact that the title on the spine differs from the actual book title. This, in turn, seems to be the title of the story within the story, which I can appreciate, but also means I can’t simply put the book on the shelf without the dust jacket.
When I compare the two illustrations, I think I’d prefer the one on the hardcover. If characters have to appear on the cover, I’d prefer them a bit at a distance.
The sprayed edges were digitally printed with an illustration by @marosar_art. A simpler design that visually complements the dust jacket.
The endpapers are truly gloriously illustrated by @merceline2174 and have a completely unique style. Very atmospheric, very narrative. It only heightens my curiosity about the story. Here too, the characters look completely different, which confirms my suspicion that we’ll probably see different lives of the knight and the witch.
Finally, the book comes with a bound letter from the author and a digital signature.
Well… this was another lukewarm Illumicrate box for me. The items are 50/50: thumbs up for the book pot and the packing cubes; thumbs down for the embroidery kit and the keychain.
The book itself sounds epic and totally my cup of tea, but the edition feels like a missed opportunity, again. The different styles throughout the book clash a bit, and the new cover really underwhelms me compared to the beautiful standard cover. Of course, it’s not easy to compete with such an original, and I do appreciate that Illumicrate dares to make bold choices, but the problem here is that the results can be very hit-or-miss, and for me this is clearly more of a miss.
I’m therefore unsure whether I want to keep this subscription next year. My six-month renewal just started in October, so there will definitely be five more boxes, but after that, we’ll see!
Cheers,
Charlotte
