Illumicrate November 2019 unboxing

This unboxing contains spoilers!

Theme of the box

Description by Illumicrate

Our November theme is IN SEARCH OF DOORS! This theme is all about the the books that first got you into reading, and the ones that truly transport you.

We’re just gonna come out and say it: our book this month is THE STARLESS SEA by Erin Morgenstern! We’ve got a completely exclusive edition of the book that’s different to all other UK editions! Our edition is a gorgeous naked hardback with foil embossing and sprayed edges, and the author letter from Erin Morgenstern is bound inside the book! We don’t want to ruin the surprise too much, so lets just say if you’re a fan of the UK ARCs for this book, you’re gonna want to get this box ?

Our items this month are inspired by fairytales, Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, and in honour of V.E Schwab who inspired the theme name, The Archived. We will of course also be including items inspired by The Night Circus AND The Starless Sea!

This is our four year anniversary box and we are so so proud of it! We’re including some truly beautiful items and we can’t wait to bring you some reveals!

Item 1

ARTWORK BY: PAUHAMI (@PAUHAMI)

This sleeve features Hogwarts castle, doors open ready to welcome the first years as it once welcomed us.

Woohoo my booksleeve collection grew a little bit! I love sleeves. This one has a leather-ish feel to it. Interesting fabric. I might pet it often…

Item 2

DESIGNED BY: DUST & PAGES (@DUSTANDPAGES)

Be ready to enter the Night Circus at a moment’s notice when you’re carrying this ticket keyring.

Yay! A ticket to the Night Circus!!! I REALLY love this item! Night Circus merch makes me happy❤️ I really enjoyed reading this book but I don’t own any merch of it if I’m correct.

Item 3

DESIGNED BY: FABLE & BLACK (@FABLEANDBLACK)

Inspired by the crew keys the characters use to open doors to the Archive this enamel necklace features a quote from the series.

Gorgeous necklace! I really things with keys for some reason. I haven’t read this book yet but I really appreciate this merch.

Item 4

DESIGNED BY: HANNAH HITCHMAN (@HANNAHHITCHMANART)

Wear the doorway to Narnia proudly with this lovely wooden wardrobe pin.

A portal back to my childhood! I remember reading this series… I really should buy it so I can read it whenever I want. All those memories…

Item 5

DESIGNED BY: CHATTY NORA (@CHATTYNORA)

Show off your love for stories with this beautiful ceramic book pot, perfect for storing all kinds of things.

This ceramic book is so beautiful! I am afraid of breaking it since I’m clumsy so I immediately put it back in the box after taking this picture!

Item 6

OFFICIAL ARTWORK BY: RICHARD MERRITT

With 3 possible designs, this bookmark is your clue to the ancient library in our chosen book this month.

There are three different versions of the metal bookmark. I got the key but you could also get a bee or a sword. I like the key the best though!

Item 7

COLLECTIBLE COIN BY MONOLIME (@MONOLIMEART)

Featuring Lazlo Strange

I have no idea who this guy is or where he’s from. I suspect he’s from The Starless Sea but I’ll only find it out when I read the book! He is handsome though.

Book

Zachary Ezra Rawlins discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks, As he turns the pages, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues-a bee, a key, and a sword-that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and througha doorway to an ancient library, hidden far below the surface of the earth.

What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians. He learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect it, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also those who are intent on its destruction. Enjoy your exclusive Jllumicrate naked foiled hardback edition with sprayed edges and the author letter bound into the book.

MY BOOK IS HERE! So I won’t lie… one of my main reasons to get this box was the book and I’m so happy that I did. It’s gorgeous, I love the sprayed edges, it even has a cute ribbon that matches with the sprayed edges and look at the end pages😱 It was definitely worth the wait!

Conclusion

I’m super happy that I managed it to get this box. I was too late with the public sale but I did manage to get it after the renewals. So thank you subscribers that skipped this box! You made me really happy with it❤️ My favourite items from this box are the bookmark, the Night Circus ticket, the sleeve and the book! I’m really looking forward to the December box! The description made it sound like it’s a really good box!!!