Illumicrate Box with Goodies Comparison 2024: Ongoing

FantasySci-Fi

May 24

Have you seen those stunning exclusive edition books with sprayed edges, redesigned dust jackets, and character artwork? If so, chances are you’re familiar with Illumicrate!

Illumicrate is a monthly book box with multiple subscription options, including a box with a book and 4-5 merchandise items. And that’s where this page comes in! As the year progress, I’ll post everything you need to know regarding this subscription right here. It’s a one-stop-shop for information!

Get ready for unboxing videos, book reviews, and my thoughts on whether the subscription is indeed worth its pretty penny. You can check back monthly to see updates, or sign up for the newsletter to be notified! Either way, we’re hoarding the love and reveling in the gems received. What more could a book dragon ask for?

THE BOXES SO FAR

Currently Reading: To Cage a God by Elizabeth May

Okay, okay—I’m behind. Like ULTRA behind. For some reason, every time I grab one of these books to sit down and read, I just can’t get into them. The January and February reads, I was unable to get on audio, but even March and April, which did come through as audiobooks, just didn’t hook me and I let them lapse. I’ll catch up at some point and force myself through. But just by the fact I’ve resorted to pressuring myself to read means I’m not too impressed by the content. At this point, it’s finding the motivation to plow ahead!

I usually check The Story Eater for book box spoilers, and they have predicted Of Jade Dragons by Amber Chen as the June release. I’ve actually seen this all over the place of late and CAN’T WAIT! I think it’s going to be a top read for me and have my fingers crossed that this is in fact the case. Especially since I’ll be getting two editions, seeing as it’s also the Owlcrate pick for June.

DESIGN: Good! Not fantastic, and I think it varies month-by-month as to whether the exclusive features rival competitors. What loses points for Illumicrate is that they typically: only do a colour-way change of the trade cover as opposed to a redesign, don’t have a reversible dust jacket, don’t always do character-artwork endpages (and even when they do, they aren’t always different front and back). Are the books pretty? Yes, 100%! Are they better than the other subscriptions that I have? No.

CONTENT: I’ll have updates later! For now, these books keep putting me into reading slumps. I hope that changes!

GOODIES: MARCH! Oh my gosh, the goodies from the March box were INCREDIBLE! It hands down has beat every other box from every subscription so far this year, and I honestly think it will be hard for Illumicrate itself to top that box. I do think Illumicrate has some incredible merchandise items that, in some instances, sell for big $$ on resale markets. Namely, the book pots, which I adore. I also love the book jackets they put out, which I consistently get complimented on and which do protect my books. They have the best replicas, they do glass tumblers (which, as an iced coffee fanatic, I can never get enough of), and so much more! I think, hands down, Illumicrate has the best merchandise items, followed by Owlcrate. I use so much of what I get. I’ve got a jigsaw puzzle out on my table right now, and I’ll work on it occasionally. I’ve put my gardening gloves to good use, as well as my plant pot which houses my newest aloe vera. I could go on and on!

PRICE: Once I’ve read the books, I’ll have more to say here! If you’re hoarding more for the sake of the items and the aesthetic on your bookshelf, I’d say Illumicrate is an okay subscription for that. They have some lovely decor pieces that are unbeatable, and the books have nice stenciled edges that will spruce up any room. Plus, having a subscription means you get first dibs at the exclusive editions that Illumicrate puts out in their shop and that don’t come in the boxes. Occasionally, those sell out in subscribers and the general public doesn’t get the chance to grab a copy. (Though Illumicrate is very good about stocking up and having plenty of copies for the general public, keep in mind that’s not a guarantee.) There is a waitlist for Illumicrate subscriptions, and they typically take a few months. If you’re still hesitant to jump on the subscription train and want to pick and choose specific books, many people resell the ones they aren’t interested in keeping. That’s a whole different ballgame. Illumicrate editions vary on the resell market. Depending on the specific book, you may get a deal and pay less than the subscriber, or you may have to gnaw off an arm to snag the copy you want. For 2024 subscription books, everything seems to be reselling for a below-subscription price.

GET ALL THE DETAILS

Want to know more about a specific month? Check below for unboxings, book reviews, exclusive edition details, and sneak peeks at upcoming subscription picks!

January: Murder Mystery

*Voyage of the Damned* by Frances White
Our exclusive edition book features: Colourway change cover, foil embossing on the hardback, digitally printed edges, illustrated endpapers (from the publisher, by Sally Taylor at @artistpartners), bound-in author Q&A, and an author signature

The Best Stories Reusable Sticker Book (fandom neutral; designed by Jane Tibbetts), Cinnamon and Gingerbread Apron (inspired by T. Kingfisher’s A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking; designed by Joanne Palmer), Ministry of Alchemy Phone Grip (inspired by P. Djèlí Clark’s A Master of Djinn; designed by The Bitter Season), Light it Up Bookmark Set (inspired by Sara J. Maas’s Crescent City; designed by Merwild), and Eleanor West’s Library Stamp (inspired by Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series; designed by Anna Vehling).

Interested in the book? Read my REVIEW

*No unboxing video—yet

Trying to choose between subscriptions? See a breakdown of all of my book boxes for the month of January here. Which one would you have been most excited to receive?

February:

*To Cage a God* by Elizabeth May
Our exclusive edition book features: Redesigned cover (from the publisher), foil embossing on the hardback (by @rosdottir), digitally printed fore-edge (by @chattynora), illustrated endpapers (by @rinfishe), a bonus chapter exclusive to Illumicrate, and an author signature

Altan’s Trident Replica (inspired by R.F. Kuong’s The Poppy Wars; designed by Stacey McEvoy Caunt), FairyTale Feast Keyring (inspired by Sunyi Dean’s The Book Eaters; designed by Marta Vale), House of Night Drinking Glass (inspired by Carissa Broadbent’s The Serpent and the Wings of Night; designed byFez Inkwright), and Crow’s Foot Pouch (inspired by Rachel Gillig’s One Dark Window; designed by Gretchen Cobaugh).

*Book review to come

*No unboxing video—yet

Trying to choose between subscriptions? See a breakdown of all of my book boxes for the month of February here. Which one would you have been most excited to receive?

March: Fantasea

*Fathomfolk* by Eliza Chan
Our exclusive edition book features: Colour-way change cover, full colour printing on the hardback (by @danlinz_art), digitally printed fore-edge (from the publisher); block sprayed top and bottom edge, character art endpapers (by @tropicalgloom), BONUS CONTENT, a bound in author letter, and an author signature.

Mythical Sea Creatures Book Pot (fandom neutral; designed by Jane Tibbetts), Underwater Haven Plant Pot (inspired by Eliza Chen’s Fathomfolk; designed by Anna Stead), Kracken in the Deep Book Jacket (inspired by Shannon Chakraborty’s The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi; designed by @no0nedesigns), and Beneath the Waves Sticky Notes (fandom neutral; designed by Marigona Suli)

*Book review to come

*No unboxing video—yet

Trying to choose between subscriptions? See a breakdown of all of my book boxes for the month of March here. Which one would you have been most excited to receive?

April: Magic vs Science

*To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods* by Molly X. Chang
Our exclusive edition book features: Colourway change cover (from the publisher), full colour printing on the hardback (by @alawinans), digitally printed fore-edge (from the publisher); block sprayed top & bottom edge, character artwork endpapers (@hoanglapdoan), and an author signature

The Science Fiction Bookcase Puzzle (design by Olivia Gibbs, art by Jane Tibbetts), Choose Me Bookmark Tin (inspired by Amélie Wen Zhao’s Song of Silver, Flame like Night; designed By Adrianne Bresijn), Moths And Poppies Reusable Wash Pads (inspired by Samantha Shannon’s The Bone Season; designed by Carly Watts), Botanical Constellation Gardening Gloves (inspired by Kritika H. Rao’s The Surviving Sky; designed by Cristina Panebianco)

*Book review to come

*No unboxing video—yet

Trying to choose between subscriptions? See a breakdown of all of my book boxes for the month of April here. Which one would you have been most excited to receive?

May: Magical Bonds

*Goddess of the River* by Vaishnavi Patel
Our exclusive edition book features: Colourway change cover (from the publisher), foil embossing on the hardback (by @chattynora), digitally printed foredge (by @chattynora), illustrated endpapers (by @zookie_art), a bound-in author letter, and a digital author signature

Awaiting box—Due to a change of the original May book, Illumicrate has informed us that the boxes will be coming in late July

*Book review to come

*Unboxing to come

Trying to choose between subscriptions? See a breakdown of all of my book boxes for the month of May here. Which one would you have been most excited to receive?

June: I Will Fly

*Of Jade and Dragons* by Amber Chen
Our exclusive edition book features: Colourway change cover (from the publisher), full-colour printing on the hardback (by @huaepiphany), digitally printed fore-edge (from the publisher), character artwork endpapers (@jhocaaa), bound-in author letter, and an author signature

Forgotten Dreams Print Album (inspired by Natasha Ngan’s Girls of Paper and Fire; design by @annguyenart), Mephi Metal Bookmark (inspired by Andrea Stewart’s The Bone Shard Daughter; designed By @dalandan.ielle), Singing Hills Mechanical Pencils (inspired by Nghi Vo’s Empress of Salt and Fortune; designed by @stellabookishart), Bandits of Liangshan Enamel Pin (inspired by S.L. Huang’s The Water Outlaws; designed by @saiyre.art)

*Book review to come

Interested in more details? View the UNBOXING

Trying to choose between subscriptions? See a breakdown of all of my book boxes for the month of June here. Which one would you have been most excited to receive?