Fairyloot Adult #45: November 2025
Despite the fact that I’ve been trying to be more intentional with my reading lately — focusing on my reading goals and actively picking up books from past book boxes that I was genuinely excited about at the time — I’ve noticed that I’ve been far less disciplined when it comes to my subscriptions.
One of my goals for 2025 was to make better use of the allowed skips, especially when a book didn’t really appeal to me beforehand. And yet… that intention clearly seems easier said than done.
All of that to say: I had absolutely no idea what the theme for the November FairyLoot Adult box was, let alone which book I could expect.
The theme for November was Fated to Fall. The design of the theme card is pretty, but also rather generic, making it difficult to predict what FairyLoot might do with it. So I was still very much on edge — especially since I don’t read the back of the theme card (which is photographed here) until I’ve fully unpacked the book.
The book of the month turned out to be Fallen City by Adrienne Young.
Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city’s Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.
Maris Casperia was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel’s inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.
As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.
OMG, Adrienne Young!
I’m actually quite a fan of her writing style, but I realised while unboxing this that I haven’t read any of her fantasy novels yet. In my head, I mostly associate her with YA fantasy and her adult mystery novels with a touch of magical realism. So seeing her name on an adult fantasy release makes me incredibly curious.
And then there’s that FairyLoot cover…
Wow. FairyLoot truly outdid themselves here.
The stunning illustrations are by @superstarfighter and immediately give off strong Ancient Greek / Roman Empire vibes. That wasn’t necessarily what I expected based on the blurb, but it only heightens my intrigue.
Grey is usually a colour I find rather dull, but it works beautifully here. It’s not flat or lifeless, but smoky and atmospheric, with depth and subtle variations that perfectly support the gold foil details. Absolutely gorgeous.
On the back of the dust jacket, we find the standard UK cover. It’s undeniably beautiful in its own right, but it completely fades in comparison to the FairyLoot design by @aeadraws, paired with the illustrations by @superstarfighter.
The hardcover itself is bound in black cloth and decorated with elegant gold foil designs by @rosdottir.
Perhaps a little more restrained than some of the heavily embellished FairyLoot editions we’ve seen before, but to me this is the embodiment of understated luxury. It feels mature, refined, and perfectly aligned with the overall aesthetic of the book.
And then… the sprayed edges. Truly stunning.
Design elements from the cover illustration by @superstarfighter have been carried over, including the smoky grey background and the intricate gold-toned linework. Everything flows seamlessly. Everything makes sense.
As if that weren’t enough, the endpapers completely finish the look. They were illustrated by @celestarly and are nothing short of breathtaking.
The same colour palette returns once more, complete with gold foil accents, and the symmetry is just chef’s kiss:
the front endpaper features the female protagonist on the left, looking right; the back endpaper shows the male protagonist on the right, looking left. You can almost place them side by side and see that they were originally one single illustration. Such a clever and beautiful detail.
It’s also incredibly clear how closely FairyLoot’s artists collaborate: each illustrator retains their own distinct style, yet everything comes together harmoniously through consistent colour choices and visual motifs.
The book also includes a bound author letter with a digital signature, as well as a bonus chapter.
It won’t always be the case, I’m sure, but not knowing what the November book was going to be worked entirely in my favour this time. What an absolute gem.
The theme card didn’t excite me at first, but this edition?
Understated yet luxurious, elegant yet indulgent. I am a huge fan of this one.
Cheers,
Charlotte
