Illumicrate #39: December 2025
The last Illumicrate of 2025 was another one I seriously hesitated about, but ultimately gave in to my FOMO. I knew beforehand that the book of the month would be by an author I’d already seriously burned myself with, which significantly reduced the chance that I’d ever spontaneously feel the urge to pick up another one of hers.
Anyway, the synopsis of this book sounded so much like the perfect fit for me. And shouldn’t you give an author a second chance? Besides, this box also contained a highly sought-after item, so yeah… I just had that box delivered again.
December’s theme was Stories Within Stories, and yes, that’s something I always love to see in books: multiple stories nestled together like babushka dolls. That theme alone was incredibly appealing. Moreover, Illumicrate described this box as perfect for readers who enjoy books about books, sassy animal companions, and enemies who become lovers after a long struggle with sexual tension. Yeah, that just sounds so good, doesn’t it?
Oh, this first item is an absolute hit! A pre-printed reading journal full of handy and fun templates, designed by @rosdottir, with beautiful artwork by @rinfishe, inspired by a whole range of literary libraries and bookstores.
It’s actually a bit crazy that I haven’t kept a reading journal for two years. I do miss it, but at the same time, I also felt a bit burned out because I tried to put too much of myself into it. Maybe I should try using a pre-printed reading journal for a year and see how it feels?
Oh, this is such a fun item: an album to put bookmarks in! All my beautiful bookmarks are currently scattered across different boxes, but in this album, I can really look at them and browse through them. Yes, I genuinely think this is a really great idea.
This item is inspired by A Study in Drowning and designed by @annguyenart.
Speaking of bookmarks, the third item is a metal bookmark with artwork by @saiyre.art, inspired by The Isle in the Silver Sea.
It’s so shiny it’s difficult to photograph, but the linework is beautifully detailed. The title on the bookmark is “The Knight and the Witch,” which is the book-within-the-book on which this illustration is based.
The fourth item is a set of sticker sheets with twelve sticker, one for each Illumicrate book from 2025. I actually received all but one of these books in the monthly box… but I haven’t read any of them yet. If I do start a new reading journal next year, these stickers might just come in handy.
The adorable illustrations were created by @moehrenkunstshop.
The book of December is The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers.
If you want a story that will change your life, Chiron’s bookshop is where you go. For those lucky enough to grace its doors, it’s a glimpse into a world of powerful bargains and deadly ink magic.
For Cassandra Fairfax, it’s a reminder of everything she lost, when Chiron kicked her out and all but shuttered the shop. Since then, she’s used her skills in less ethical ways, trading stolen books and magical readings to wealthy playboys and unscrupulous collectors.
Then Chiron dies under mysterious circumstances. And if Cassandra knows anything, it’s this: the bookshop must always have an owner.
But she’s not the only one interested. There’s Lowell Sharpe, a dark-eyed, regrettably handsome bookseller she can’t seem to stop bumping into; rival owners who threaten Cassandra from the shadows; and, of course, Chiron’s murderer, who is still on the loose.
As Cassandra tries to uncover the secrets her mentor left behind, a sinister force threatens to unravel the world of the magical bookshops entirely…
Look, this blurb sounds truly phenomenal. But at the same time, I’m also very cautiously enthusiastic, because the blurb for The City of Stardust by this author sounded amazing too at the time, while that book ultimately only got a single star from me because it completely squandered a story with so much potential. So I really hope she manages to inject a little more soul into her story this time.
Illumicrate designed a completely new cover for this edition. I already liked the original cover, but this wraparound illustration by @joseeshimazaki simply captures the atmosphere of mysterious, old bookstores. The use of gold foil is also beautiful, and the font is really interesting and chic, put together by @chattynora.
Oh yes, this is special. Truly stunning use of matte and glossy textures in this full-colour illustration, with gold foil running across the entire hardcover. The matte section depicts a neglected, abandoned bookstore, while the glossy sections reveal a vibrant, mysterious bookshop. Cleverly and atmospherically executed by @harkalelinai.
The edges of the book feature a digitally spray-painted illustration, again by @joseeshimazaki, which perfectly complements the dust jacket. And yes… you can never go wrong with an illustration of a bookcase 😄
The endpapers are illustrated by @amaretta_. They’re beautifully crafted, but for me, they make the whole thing a little less mysterious and magical, because they show fairly standard characters in modern clothing. Nothing wrong with that at all, it’s just a little less mysterious than I’d hoped.
The book also comes with a bound letter from the author with a digital signature and extra bonus content at the back.
All in all, I think this is a great way to end 2025 for Illumicrate. Despite my reservations about the book, I can’t deny that if I hadn’t read anything by this author before, I would absolutely be eager to discover this story. The items in this box are also really great, with the pre-printed reading log being the absolute highlight.
I’m very curious to see what Illumicrate has in store for 2026. Like every year, I’m resolving to give in to my FOMO a little less and skip more quickly if I’m not really excited about the upcoming book. Starting next year, you can do that a maximum of six times per calendar year before losing your subscription… this year I managed exactly one skip. Lol. We’ll see how it goes.
January certainly won’t be skipped, because that box promises to be phenomenal. Hopefully, I won’t be disappointed!
Cheers,
Charlotte
