Illumicrate - January 2020

Theme: The Strength Within

Items: 

• Stardust Beanie by @heyatlascreative  
• Phoenix Feather Bookmark by @chattynora
• Hunger Games Booklight by @thisgirlhasnoname
• Gideon the Ninth Purse by @forensicsandflowers
• Girls of Paper and Fire Holographic Print by @pinktofu_art
• The Sisters Grimm by Mena Van Praag
• Infinity Son by Adam Silvera
• Collectible Coin by @monolimeart

Review: 
The theme for the January box was The Strength Within. I’ll admit I only wanted the box because there was a Hunger Games item and 2 books. I do love it when there are 2 books in a box, it usually means less items though. Not in this case. This box was packed full of goodies.

First item was the beanie hat. Everytime a box had planned a hat, I ended up missing out. I finally got a bookish hat, so I’m happy. The hat is based on the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. Which I haven’t read, but I love the colour of the hat and the quote so I can live with wearing it. 

Then there was a bookmark. This was a wooden bookmark in the shape of a feather and it was based on one of the books featured in the box. It’s a nice simple looking bookmark. 

The item I absolutely loved in this box was the Hunger Games booklight. I’ve never seen anything like it in a box before. It’s basically a light that you can attach to your book, with the Hunger Games mocking jay logo on. I’ve had a booklight before, but I lost it so I needed a new one. It bends really nicely and it is really bright. Great idea, really happy with it. Most unique thing I’ve gotten in a box.

Then I got a Gideon the Ninth purse. I like purses, but they are featured too often in book boxes. I still haven’t read Gideon the Ninth yet but it is on my to-do list. The purse is a nice small purse, I’m using it as my new night out coin purse. It’s a fun dark design.

The next item was a holographic print of art based on the Girls of Paper and Fire. It’s a very pretty artwork, I do love holographic as well. 

As always, there was a collectible coin. I love getting magnets, so keep them coming. This one was very pretty, lovely shades of purple. Might be my favourite yet. 


Onto the books. As stated above, there was two books this month. The Sisters Grimm by Mena Van Praag and Infinity Son by Adam Silvera. The Sisters Grimm sounds really good, my cup of tea. The book looked beautiful. I love naked books with pretty designs and this book was that. It’s one of my favourite books appearance wise now. It also had cool black sprayed edges. It was also signed.

Infinity Son is a book I’ve actually heard of and wanted to read. This was released a little early before it’s official release date and written by a well known contemporary author. I am nervous about this series as contemporary is my most hated genre and even though the series is fantasy, it’s the authors first attempt at it. Fingers crossed it’s good. This book didn’t have any special designs to the cover, it’s just a normal paperback but it was signed. 

Overall, I really liked this box. I had a feeling I was going to like it better than December’s and I was correct. I really enjoyed the useful items in the box, specifically the booklight. So for that, I’m giving the box 4.5 stars.

Rating: 4.5 rune out of 5

Written by Lauren

Illumicrate - January 2020

Theme: The Strength Within

Items: 

• Stardust Beanie by @heyatlascreative  
• Phoenix Feather Bookmark by @chattynora
• Hunger Games Booklight by @thisgirlhasnoname
• Gideon the Ninth Purse by @forensicsandflowers
• Girls of Paper and Fire Holographic Print by @pinktofu_art
• The Sisters Grimm by Mena Van Praag
• Infinity Son by Adam Silvera
• Collectible Coin by @monolimeart

Review: 
The theme for the January box was The Strength Within. I’ll admit I only wanted the box because there was a Hunger Games item and 2 books. I do love it when there are 2 books in a box, it usually means less items though. Not in this case. This box was packed full of goodies.

First item was the beanie hat. Everytime a box had planned a hat, I ended up missing out. I finally got a bookish hat, so I’m happy. The hat is based on the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. Which I haven’t read, but I love the colour of the hat and the quote so I can live with wearing it. 

Then there was a bookmark. This was a wooden bookmark in the shape of a feather and it was based on one of the books featured in the box. It’s a nice simple looking bookmark. 

The item I absolutely loved in this box was the Hunger Games booklight. I’ve never seen anything like it in a box before. It’s basically a light that you can attach to your book, with the Hunger Games mocking jay logo on. I’ve had a booklight before, but I lost it so I needed a new one. It bends really nicely and it is really bright. Great idea, really happy with it. Most unique thing I’ve gotten in a box.

Then I got a Gideon the Ninth purse. I like purses, but they are featured too often in book boxes. I still haven’t read Gideon the Ninth yet but it is on my to-do list. The purse is a nice small purse, I’m using it as my new night out coin purse. It’s a fun dark design.

The next item was a holographic print of art based on the Girls of Paper and Fire. It’s a very pretty artwork, I do love holographic as well. 

As always, there was a collectible coin. I love getting magnets, so keep them coming. This one was very pretty, lovely shades of purple. Might be my favourite yet. 


Onto the books. As stated above, there was two books this month. The Sisters Grimm by Mena Van Praag and Infinity Son by Adam Silvera. The Sisters Grimm sounds really good, my cup of tea. The book looked beautiful. I love naked books with pretty designs and this book was that. It’s one of my favourite books appearance wise now. It also had cool black sprayed edges. It was also signed.

Infinity Son is a book I’ve actually heard of and wanted to read. This was released a little early before it’s official release date and written by a well known contemporary author. I am nervous about this series as contemporary is my most hated genre and even though the series is fantasy, it’s the authors first attempt at it. Fingers crossed it’s good. This book didn’t have any special designs to the cover, it’s just a normal paperback but it was signed. 

Overall, I really liked this box. I had a feeling I was going to like it better than December’s and I was correct. I really enjoyed the useful items in the box, specifically the booklight. So for that, I’m giving the box 4.5 stars.

Rating: 4.5 rune out of 5

Written by Lauren

Cold Falling White (The Nahx Invasions Series, book 2)

By Gabrielle S. Prendergast

Blurb: 
Two teens fight for their lives after an alien invasion in this heart-stopping follow-up to Zero Repeat Forever.

Humans. Clones. Aliens. No one is safe anymore. It’s the end of the world.

Xander Liu survived the alien invasion—just barely. For more than a year, he has outsmarted, hidden from, and otherwise avoided the ruthless intruders, the Nahx, dodging the deadly darts that have claimed so many. When the murder of his friend leaves him in the protective company of August, a rebellious Nahx soldier, Xander is finally able to make his way back to human controlled territory and relative safety. But safety among the humans is not what it seems.

When Raven awakes on a wide expanse of snowy sand dunes, she has many questions. What has happened to her and the other reanimated humans gathered around her? What is the meaning of the Nahx ships that hover ominously above them? And most pressing of all, where is August, who promised to keep her safe?

In the shadow of an unforgiving Canadian winter, Xander and Raven find themselves on opposite sides of an alien war. Left with little choice about their roles in the looming battle, they search for answers and allies all while being drawn back to the place where their respective fates were determined, and to the one who determined them: August.

Review: 
I never did a reread Zero Repeat Forever. which was the first book in this series, I wish I had slightly but then I'm also pleased I never did. It was just a bit difficult remembering certain things after 2 years.

I feel like this book started straight after the first one, and overall I feel like the book could have been shorter.

I like how we still get to enjoy the adventure with Raven and her friends and to read their point of views throughout the book. But I just feel like it was just dragged on and half of the characters were just doing stuff to get on my nerves.

I liked the part where we got to meet the other snowflakes and fight against some bad guys but then just getting to those moments just seemed to take ages, certain events I felt kept repeating or at least the same activities. Hence why I feel this book could be made a hell of a lot shorter. I loved meeting Autumn again but the scenes just felt forced and complicated and then I wasn't sure how I felt about the love anymore.

Generally, I felt these characters could have definitely acted a lot more adult like when they were considering the events that they have experienced. I feel that Raven was quite mature about the events that effected her life but her friends were just so childish and just kept doing things that annoyed me.

It was quite nice meeting a new character Mandy and meeting more defective Naux as it allowed you to see the different personalities and the difference between the working ones and none working ones. 

The ending of this book makes me tempted to increase my rating but after writing this review I feel like it doesn't really deserve anymore than a 3.5 stars. I feel like the ending means that there is going to be another book but I'm quite certain that I will not read the third book sadly. I just feel like it is too childish for my age now with all the jealousy and childish commotion. Which just shows that my reading style has actually developed in the last 2 years.

Favourite Character: August

Read: 16/12/19 - 19/01/20

3 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

Cold Falling White (The Nahx Invasions Series, book 2)

By Gabrielle S. Prendergast

Blurb: 
Two teens fight for their lives after an alien invasion in this heart-stopping follow-up to Zero Repeat Forever.

Humans. Clones. Aliens. No one is safe anymore. It’s the end of the world.

Xander Liu survived the alien invasion—just barely. For more than a year, he has outsmarted, hidden from, and otherwise avoided the ruthless intruders, the Nahx, dodging the deadly darts that have claimed so many. When the murder of his friend leaves him in the protective company of August, a rebellious Nahx soldier, Xander is finally able to make his way back to human controlled territory and relative safety. But safety among the humans is not what it seems.

When Raven awakes on a wide expanse of snowy sand dunes, she has many questions. What has happened to her and the other reanimated humans gathered around her? What is the meaning of the Nahx ships that hover ominously above them? And most pressing of all, where is August, who promised to keep her safe?

In the shadow of an unforgiving Canadian winter, Xander and Raven find themselves on opposite sides of an alien war. Left with little choice about their roles in the looming battle, they search for answers and allies all while being drawn back to the place where their respective fates were determined, and to the one who determined them: August.

Review: 
I never did a reread Zero Repeat Forever. which was the first book in this series, I wish I had slightly but then I'm also pleased I never did. It was just a bit difficult remembering certain things after 2 years.

I feel like this book started straight after the first one, and overall I feel like the book could have been shorter.

I like how we still get to enjoy the adventure with Raven and her friends and to read their point of views throughout the book. But I just feel like it was just dragged on and half of the characters were just doing stuff to get on my nerves.

I liked the part where we got to meet the other snowflakes and fight against some bad guys but then just getting to those moments just seemed to take ages, certain events I felt kept repeating or at least the same activities. Hence why I feel this book could be made a hell of a lot shorter. I loved meeting Autumn again but the scenes just felt forced and complicated and then I wasn't sure how I felt about the love anymore.

Generally, I felt these characters could have definitely acted a lot more adult like when they were considering the events that they have experienced. I feel that Raven was quite mature about the events that effected her life but her friends were just so childish and just kept doing things that annoyed me.

It was quite nice meeting a new character Mandy and meeting more defective Naux as it allowed you to see the different personalities and the difference between the working ones and none working ones. 

The ending of this book makes me tempted to increase my rating but after writing this review I feel like it doesn't really deserve anymore than a 3.5 stars. I feel like the ending means that there is going to be another book but I'm quite certain that I will not read the third book sadly. I just feel like it is too childish for my age now with all the jealousy and childish commotion. Which just shows that my reading style has actually developed in the last 2 years.

Favourite Character: August

Read: 16/12/19 - 19/01/20

3 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

Book Box Club - January 2020 

Theme: Deadly Secrets

Items: 

• The Good Hawk by Joseph Elliot  
• The Pure Heart by Trudi Tweedie
• Clubhouse Invite
• Voldemort Magnetic Bookmark by Magic Bookmarks
• Deadly Bath Skull by Pretty Suds
• Mia Corvere Candle by Amelia's Kitchen Candles
• Dracula's Castle Pouch by Iron & Ink
• The Unforgetting Bookmark 

Review: 
Check out Sammie's first impressions in the video.

One of the items in this box was a Voldemort Magnetic Bookmark. I absolutely loved this item, it has to be one of my favourites that I've ever received in their boxes. Purely just because I love Harry Potter, so it now goes with my collection with all my dragons, my Demiguise and my Hagrid one. I've not took it out of the packet yet so I'm not sure if it is flimsy or whether it is good quality.

The next item was a deadly bath skull, it's a bath bomb in the shape of a skull. This was also pretty cool, it was berry scented. I found that it was a humongous bath bomb though and could easily do 4 baths. It's a pretty cool colour too, so I like that.

The next item was a candle by Amerlia's Kitchen based on Mia Corvere. It is a black currant and clove scented candle. It is a hot pink shade with glitter on top. It smells quite nice but I've not actually lit it yet, so not sure if the scent changes when it's burning. 

The last real item in the box apart from the books was a pouch based on Dracula's castle. I think it was included because Dracula has been airing on TV recently and he sort of fits in with the theme.

The only other item in this box was a bookmark promoting another book.

There was 2 books in the box, they were both paper backs too. I do much prefer a paperback to a hardback especially if there is no sprayed edges just because they're lighter and easier to read for me. The Good Hawk by Joseph Elliot seems to appeal to me more with the synopsis and the cover so I will be reading that one first for certain. The Good Hawk is hand-signed where as The Pure Heart is a signed bookplate which is stuck in a weird place. I personally wouldn't have stuck it there, and I'm not sure I appreciate the book box actually sticking it in all together. But that's one of those things, and obviously just my opinion.

Like I've said on past reviews for Book Box Club, there doesn't seem to be many items within these boxes, but they do seem good quality, and at the end of the day it is a cheaper alternative to FairyLoot. I think in the future they may listen more to the customers feedback and hopefully it'll be 100% worth the money. I'm sure I will get more of their boxes at some point this year.

Written by Sammie