Illumicrate Review: The Subscription Box For Book Lovers

So subscription boxes have been gaining more and more popularity in recent months and there are lots of fabulous (and weird) things that you can sign up for each month. I love the idea of getting a surprise package in the post each month so I couldn’t have been more excited when Daphne from Winged Reviews revealed that she was setting up Illumicrate, a quarterly bookish subscription box in the UK. Each box will include a new release as well as bookish goodies such as bookmarks, jewellery, stationery etc. There will be 3-5 items per box.

Here’s what came inside my box..

Illumicrate, as the name suggests, is a box of bright and cheery things, which is evident from the very moment you open the box. This service’s signature colours are white and yellow so unsurprisingly the first thing you see is a load of fun, yellow stuffing! But what’s underneath…

So I didn’t take photos of what’s inside separately because I’m stupid and seem to have forgot what the word ‘unboxing’ means but see below for everything included.

Obviously the thing I was most excited for was the book itself which is Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graduin. I’ve never heard of this book or the author but it sounds like it’s going to be a good read! It’s supposed to be Code Name Verity meets Inglorious Basterds and I’ve certainly never heard of, let alone read, anything like that before. Set in 1956 this book is both about Hitler and shapeshifters… An interesting combination. If you’re looking for books on Hilter, check out my review of ‘Look Who’s Back‘ in which Hitler wakes up very much alive in 2011. (It’s funny, I swear!)

The next thing that caught my eye in this box is the beautiful hand painted bookmark by Skinny Hues. This is no doubt related to Wolf by Wolf though as I haven’t read the book yet I can only appreciate it for its beauty. This bookmark is so simple at yet incredibly intricate at the same time and I love the thick paper that it’s painted on.

I was curious about the little packet in blue and white paper but it was so nicely packed I didn’t want to open it! After conquering my OCD, I opened it to find a little mirror with the slogan ‘BOOKS BEFORE LOOKS’ on it, which is uber cute and perfect for your purse or makeup bag. Available from Raspberry Finch.

Next up is the little Hunger Games themed necklace which is shaped like a Mockingjay and bears the infamous slogan ‘YOU BURN WITH US’. I’ve already got a few bits of bookish jewellery, including the Mockingjay symbol necklace so this is perfect to add to my collection. As it’s made of wood it seems to me like something that Katniss herself would actually wear so woo for the rebellion! Available from My Clockwork Castle.

The last thing I opened was the poster, the thing I was least excited for, which then turned out to be my favourite! I am a huge Potterhead and a recovering poster hoarder so I was so excited to discover that this was a Harry Potter poster! I love images like this with a simple symbol per story and with all 7 stories on one poster this is perfect! Available from Abbie Imagine.

There was also a Six Crows mini badge, a postcard and some business cards for other cool things.

Here’s the full list of what’s included:

All in all, I’m really pleased with my first Illumicrate box! I had no idea what to expect from this really but it did not disappoint. Evidently this box is going to cater for numerous different fandoms as this box contained something from The Hunger Games and Harry Potter. There was also non fandom related stuff too which ensues that this will appeal to all book readers.

If you want to get your hands on Illumicrate’s next box, which ships out in Feb 2016 I believe, then head over to illumicrate.com to find out more. Illumicrate has quickly risen to become one of the best book subscription boxes out there and each box is more creative than the last.

One box will cost you £29.99, which may seem a little steep at first but remember it is a quarterly box, not a monthly one. Over the course of one year you’d end up spending £119.96, which is less than £10 a month! There’s free shipping to the UK but if you live internationally you’ll have to pay an additional £4.99 – £13.99 depending on your location.

Voilà.

*Product was received at a discount in exchange for an honest review. All images belong to What’s Hot? and cannot be reproduced without express permission.

If you liked this post, check out these:
Illumicrate Unboxing #2
The Ultimate Gift Guide for Book Lovers
Last Minute Christmas Gift Guide for Bookish People

Laura

Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?

Laura is an award-winning travel and book blogger based in the UK. She studied French literature at Oxford University and is now an IP lawyer at a top law firm in London. She was named UK Book Blogger of the Year in 2019 and loves to combine her passion for books and travel with literary travel.