Illumicrate #41: February 2026
I was actually planning to skip the February Illumicrate entirely.
Although the predicted book seemed cool, it wasn’t exactly something I necessarily wanted a special edition for, especially since the standard cover was already very beautiful. Moreover, starting this year, Illumicrate is switching from four to just three items per box, while the price remains the same. In itself, that doesn’t have to be a problem if the quality of the items remains high. But for February, one of the announced items was a set of bookmarks, and I felt that felt a bit… well… “cheap” and easy when you only get three items.
Unfortunately, my request to skip the box arrived too late to be processed before the payment was taken. Really stupid, actually… So yes, I was mainly hoping that my lack of enthusiasm for this box would prove unfounded now that I was going to receive it anyway.
The theme for February was A Crew of My Own.
That immediately brings to mind a seafaring adventure with a found family, which is quite a fun theme.
The first item is a large fleece blanket, featuring an illustration by @joseeshimazaki, inspired by the Great Cave of Socotra from The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi.
The colours are really beautiful and the size is also very decent. However, I find the image itself a bit vague. It feels more abstract than representing a clear place. That is not bad in itself, but it does make it slightly less impressive than it could have been.
The second item is a set of ceramic coasters featuring illustrations by @well_dipper, inspired by Godkiller.
These are great. They are sturdy coasters and the illustrations are very detailed and nicely executed. Practical and beautiful, always a good combination.
The third and final item is the previously announced bookmarks. There are seven in total, each featuring a character from the series The Illuminae Files, illustrated by @merwildanco.
It is a nice set in itself, but since I am not really a superfan of this series, I honestly don’t remember who all those characters are anymore. 😅
And yes, as expected, I find this to be the least interesting item in the box. Especially considering that this is one of only three items.
This month’s book is Saltswept by debut author Katalina Watt.
A pirate faces the gallows drop. A farmer is given a terrible ultimatum to save her daughter. An acolyte ascends to priestesshood… only to find that a blessing really can be a curse. These unlikely bedfellows band together with an inscrutable pickpocket and a talking ottercat in pursuit of the most hopeless of quests: to sail into the Maelstrom – a raging whirlpool from which no one has ever escaped – and the mysterious treasure hidden within it.
The quest will test their fragile allegiance to its limits, but there is more at stake here than getting the treasure: the magic of the world is in peril, and the barrier between life and death has never been so thin. And in the Bastion, the seat of power in Paranish, the queen has an unquenchable thirst that threatens the world and everyone in it.
Can there be honour amongst thieves? Without it, they might never see another sunrise.
This was indeed the book that was predicted online for this A Crew of My Own theme. And as mentioned: it sounds like a fun adventure, but at the same time, not really something that makes me super excited.
For this edition, @alterlier illustrated a completely new cover.
Overall, I think it is quite beautiful and unique. The most interesting part of the illustration is actually on the back, and the whole thing features nice colours and a really cool font.
Still, I have to say that the standard cover has just a little more impact for me. Those more saturated colours and the perspective of looking down into a vortex convey more of a sense of threat and adventure. By the way, something about this Illumicrate illustration reminds me remarkably strongly of a comic book style. For some reason, I immediately thought of Alex by Jacques Martin.
The naked hardcover features a continuous illustration with gold foil accents by @perrycuffdesigns.
Although the drawing is beautiful in itself, it feels a bit meaningless to me? I’m missing that element that really sparks the imagination.
The edges of the book block received a colourful digital design, again by @perrycuffdesigns. I think this turned out quite well and it matches the colours of the cover nicely.
The endpapers contain beautiful illustrations by @annalisejensen. The funny thing is that that first illustration actually reinforces my comic book association a bit more. In any case, they are very beautiful images that undoubtedly gain even more meaning once you know the story.
Additionally, the book contains a chapter annotated by the author and a bound letter with digital signature.
All in all, this is an okay box, but one I could have skipped without FOMO if my email had arrived on time.
To be honest, the items feel a bit meager, especially now that there are only three per box, even though fortunately there are two that I can actually use.
The book itself is nicely done, but it doesn’t immediately give me that big “must-have” feeling.
So yes, the intention to skip this box was there, but my timing was off. So I will have to keep a closer eye on it from now on.
Cheers,
Charlotte
