Illumicrate #38: November 2025
After two Illumicrate boxes that disappointed rather than convinced me, my enthusiasm for the November edition was, frankly, rather low. I hesitated for a long time about whether to pick up this box, especially since this month’s book would be a YA title, a genre I’ve been burning myself with more often than I’ve truly enjoyed lately.
But there was also one item in this box that comes back every year and that always makes me genuinely happy. So yes, I’ve given in again.
November’s theme was Academic Rivals, and the book itself was revealed along with the theme. As mentioned, it’s YA, which still left me hesitant. But the synopsis sounded surprisingly good, and combined with that one item I really wanted, I decided to give the box a try.
Before I reveal the book further, I’ll first take you through the four additional items.
The first item is another Illumicrate puzzle, this time specially designed to celebrate their 10th anniversary. The illustration shows a bookcase full of Illumicrate books and was created by @oliviagibbsillustration.
A really cool and beautifully crafted item.
However, I recently finally admitted to myself that I’m just not a puzzler. I’ve already posted all the puzzles from previous book boxes on Vinted, so this one will probably appear there soon as well.
The second item is the one I ultimately chose this box for: the new Illumicrate calendar.
Unfortunately, my initial reaction was a slight disappointment, as this is a classic wall-mounted calendar. The previous one could be placed upright, which I found ideal for displaying on my desk or in a bookcase.
Fortunately, the illustrations by @golightlyfinch make up for a lot. The calendar’s theme is, of course, academic rivalry, and I definitely recognize some of the illustrated duos.
Although I would have preferred a standing version again, I’m sure I’ll find a nice spot for it.
The third item made me smile. I have a feeling there’s someone at Illumicrate who’s currently working hard on “items that are handy for traveling.” Last month we received packing cubes, this month it’s a laundry bag!
The illustration on the front is by @nong247 and is inspired by Where Sleeping Girls Lie, a title I’m not familiar with.
But practical? Absolutely. This is definitely coming with me on my next trip.
The fourth and final item is an iron-on patch, inspired by A Deadly Education and illustrated by @chocolateraisinfury.
The book of the month for November is A Rather Vengeful Accord by Danielle Knight.
St Penderghast’s is an elite college for necromancers and gladiators, promising glory to those who can perfect the arcane arts of graving or spiring. Graving is the notorious act of raising the dead and shaping their decaying flesh into eldritch abominations. Spiring is divine-fuelled combat against undead horrors in grand arenas, thrilling crowds of thousands.
Halen Kilchoir would kill (and resurrect) anything to study graving at St. Penderghast’s under the guidance of her hero, master necromancer Mortritis. But Hal cannot enlist the only way she can secure admission is to enter a dangerous accord with her mortal rival, Alastair Faulton – accomplished spirer and the infuriating, formidable exiled scion of the great Faulton dynasty. If they team up as spirer gladiators, fighting gruesome creatures in a cut-throat competition, they could both earn their prestigious places at the college.
As Hal and Alastair fight grisly monsters and ghastly peers side by side, mending their years-long feud in the resplendent halls of the college, Hal faces the horrors of graving, spiring, and the revolting prospect of a romance with her own nemesis.
A magical school is something I’m always up for, and this one sounds really, really awesome. So yes, despite the YA label, I secretly have a lot of hope for this one. Fingers crossed that this one actually works for me.
And then that Illumicrate cover… oh yeah, I absolutely love this one. The original cover is beautiful too, but this rework is really cool! The illustration is by @tommyarnoldart and it looks a bit creepy and incredibly intriguing.
On the bare hardcover, Illumicrate once again opts for a coloured illustration with foil, this time by @tomrobertsillustration.
And yes: electric purple, lightning, and a fantastic atmosphere. The colours beautifully complement the hardcover with the dust jacket, and the illustration only makes me more curious about the story.
The sprayed edges are digitally printed and complement this perfectly. That purple again, those lightning bolts again, everything feels coherent and well-thought-out. A success!
The illustrations on the endpapers are by @m.emityy and have a slightly different style and colour palette than the rest of the book. But that doesn’t bother me at all.
If there’s one place where the colours could be different, it’s the endpapers. And they’re really beautifully done.
The book also includes a bound letter from the author with a digital signature and additional bonus content.
All in all, I feel that Illumicrate has made up for the two previous, somewhat disappointing boxes. I’m truly delighted with this edition of the book: beautifully illustrated, well-composed, and visually strong.
The items are enjoyable, though not all of them are absolute gems for me, but the book more than makes up for it.
A successful box, and hopefully a sign that Illumicrate is back on track.
Cheers,
Charlotte
