Hello Lovelies! I’m back with another Bookish Box unboxing! This month’s box was quite late due to the book’s release date, but it ended up being a great box so I was happy to wait!
The Book:
Exclusive Cover
Exclusive Endpapers
Artwork inside the book
Reverse Dust Jacket
I LOVED THE BOOK PICK THIS MONTH!!! I literally cannot say that enough! I was so sad when no other boxes decided to include this book, so I’m so happy that Bookish Box did! Add on all their beautiful customizations, and I could not love this edition more if I tried!
The Items:
Crown Bangle Bracelet
From Blood and Ash Book Sleeve by @merwildandco
Art Print of May Theme Art by @morlev_art
Throne of Glass Pillow Case by @letterpiece
Monthly Collectable Pin: Lord of the Rings Pin by @pinsbyarisamon
This items were pretty great this month! Even though it’s not my fandom, the book sleeve is absolutely stunning and the pin is one of my favorites that they have done!
I said it last month, but I feel like it’s worth mentioning again: I don’t really like the fact that one of the items included is the future theme art for the next month? It feels like a waste of an item and it’s not a choice that I would make, personally.
Next Month’s Box (May):
As far as next month’s box goes, I am so incredibly excited, it’s unreal!!! The book will be Realm Breaker which is one of my most anticipated releases for this year and the customizations sound amazing! The fandoms sound mildly intriguing, but none are my top fandoms so we’ll see. I do find it very peculiar that they are including FBAA two months in a row? I guess we’ll see!
Overall, I enjoyed this month’s box. The book makes it all worth it to me, but the pin and book sleeve made it doubly worth it! I can’t wait for next (this? lol) month’s box!
Hello Lovelies! I’m back with another Illumicrate unboxing today! This box was a bit late but it’s here now and I could not be more excited!
The Book:
In the Ravenous Dark Cover
Stencil Sprayed Edges
Art Print
Author Letter
Exclusive Endpaper Art by @lilith_saur
The book this month is absolutely STUNNING!!! First off, I could not be more in love with the book pick itself. A dark, polyamorous romance you say??? HELL TO THE YES!!! Add on the stenciled edges, exclusive endpapers, and one of the prettiest art prints I have ever seen and this has GOT to be one of my most favorite books I’ve ever gotten! I can’t wait to dive into this read!
The Items:
In the Ravenous Dark Bookmarks
The Beautiful Mason Jar Glass by @thatslovelydearshop
Dread Nation Sickle Key Ring by @palaceofresin
Gideon the Ninth Magnets by @_saintdri
Monthly Enamel Pin by @stacey.mcevoy.caunt
Nevernight Book Organizer by @rosdottir
Book of the Dead Book Pot by @chattynora
As far as the items go this month, I think Illumicrate did well for the most part. A majority of their budget had to have gone to the book pot, so with that in mind, the other items were better quality than I would have thought.
While gorgeous, the book pot isn’t my favorite they’ve ever done. I love the Egyptian mythology theme, but their Forgotten Fables and Folklore book pot is still my favorite.
My favorite item BY FAR is the Nevernight book organizer! I am not ashamed to say that I’ve already put it to good use, housing some of my books! My least favorite item has to be the key ring. It’s not awful, but it’s not my fandom and you run out of enthusiasm for them after a while!
Next Month’s Box (May):
I’m excited for next month’s (this month’s lol?) box. I love me some stenciled edges so I’m looking forward to those. I am also looking forward to the Addie LaRue and City of Brass items!
Overall, I did enjoy this month’s box. The Nevernight item made the box pretty much worth it items wise, but what really sold me was the book! It’s probably my favorite pick from Illumicrate so far this year, not gonna lie!
Hello Lovelies! I used to do unboxings on this blog a while back and I missed it so much that I decided to bring it back! I receive so much bookish merch (seriously I have a problem lol) so I really wanted to share it with you all! SO today I have the March Illumicrate box to unbox for you all! Hope you enjoy as much as I did!
Cover
Signed
Red Sprayed Edges
Exclusive Naked Hardcover
Description
First up in this box, we have the stunning book! The edges are a beautiful shade of red which happens to be my favorite color so naturally, I loved what the IC team chose to do! The naked hardcover is also beautiful and the description sounds awesome!
The Items:
Court of Miracles Pin Hoop
Bone Witch Heartglass Necklace
Kingdom of the Wicked Woodmark
Winternight Tote Bag
“There and Back” The Dark Artifices RosieThorns88 Mug
I LOVED these items!!! This box was amazing and all of the items are pretty useful! The RosieThorns88 mug is one of my absolute favorites they’ve ever done (I am biased though because it’s Cassie Clare lol) and the pin hoop is fantastically designed! I already have so many plans for it (involving some beautiful Reylo pins 😍) but it is beautiful on its own! The tote bag is probably my least favorite (just because I have so many) but it is still pretty!
Next Month’s Box (April!!!):
Y’all have no idea how excited I am for next month’s Illumicrate box!! The book is one of my most anticipated releases with a POLYAMOROUS relationship 😍! And the fandoms…. omg the fandoms are going to be THE BEST!! I NEED some more Gideon the Ninth and Nevernight items in my life so this box is automatically a win because it has BOTH!!!
Overall, I highly enjoyed this box! It’s one of the best ones I’ve gotten and I KNOW Illumicrate’s boxes are going to improve as the year goes on! The items are all great and the book is beautiful which is what I go into a box wanting so MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Her teen crush is now a ruthless killer and powerful mafia heir. Will one life-altering night unite or destroy them?
Bennett Mazzone grew up ignorant of the truth: he is the illegitimate son of the most powerful mafia boss in New York. Until it suited his father to drag him into a world where
power, wealth, violence, and cruelty are the only currency.
Celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Sin City should be fun for Sierra Lawson, but events take a deadly turn when she ends up in a private club, surrounded by dangerous
men who always get what they want. And they want her.
Ben can’t believe his ex’s little sister is all grown up, stunningly beautiful, and close to being devoured by some of the most ruthless men he has ever known. The Vegas trip is about strengthening ties, but he won’t allow his associates to ruin her perfection. Although it comes at a high price, saving Sierra is his only choice.
The memory of Ben’s hands on her body is seared into Sierra’s flesh for eternity. She doesn’t regret that night. Not even when she discovers the guy she was crushing on as a teenager is a cold, calculating killer with dark impulses and lethal enemies who want
him dead.
Understanding the risks, she walks away from the only man she will ever love, stowing her secrets securely in her heart. Until the truth becomes leverage and Sierra is drawn into a bloody war—a pawn in a vicious game she doesn’t want to play. As the web of deceit is finally revealed, Ben will stop at nothing to protect Sierra. Even if loving her makes him weak. In a world where women serve a sole purpose, and alliances mean the difference between life and death, can he fight for love and win?
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Just as I was starting to lose my anger, it returns full force, slapping me in the face. “I don’t want your dirty money!” I hiss, prodding my finger in his chest. An amused grin spreads across his mouth, and I want to scream. “I run several successful legitimate businesses. I assure you my money is about as dirty as yours.” He has an answer for everything. It’s infuriating. “You truly have no shame,” I seethe. How dare he invade my privacy like this. He has no right. “Next, you’ll be telling me you know my bra size.” His eyes lower to my chest, and I scowl, wanting to wrap my arms around myself to deprive him of the view. But I won’t give him the satisfaction of letting him know how much he is getting to me either, so I don’t move a muscle. “You were definitely a B cup in Vegas, but I’m guessing you’re a C cup now.” He steps a little closer, and though my instinct is to fall back, I stand my ground, refusing to let this asshole intimidate me again. Bending down, he presses his warm mouth to my ear. “I would need to conduct a physical exam to make an accurate assessment.”
I push him away, glaring at him. “You’re a pig.” His lips pull up at the corners. “I don’t remember you complaining in Vegas. In fact, I distinctly remember you begging me to suck harder on your nipples as I plowed my cock into your greedy pussy.” “Get out!” I bark, pointing at the door. “Just go.” He winks, and I invoke every shred of willpower I possess not to lunge at him and gouge out his eyeballs. “Until tomorrow.” He gives me a curt nod before exiting my kitchen, and I slump back in my chair, relieved he is gone but a little disappointed too.
Her teen crush is now a ruthless killer and powerful mafia heir.
Will one life-altering night unite or destroy them?
Condemned to Love, an all-new dark mafia stand-alone romance from USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis is coming January 31st and we have the official trailer!
Bennett Mazzone grew up ignorant of the truth: he is the illegitimate son of the most powerful mafia boss in New York. Until it suited his father to drag him into a world where power, wealth, violence, and cruelty are the only currency.
Celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Sin City should be fun for Sierra Lawson, but events take a deadly turn when she ends up in a private club, surrounded by dangerous men who always get what they want.
And they want her.
Ben can’t believe his ex’s little sister is all grown up, stunningly beautiful, and close to being devoured by some of the most ruthless men he has ever known. The Vegas trip is about strengthening ties, but he won’t allow his associates to ruin her perfection. Although it comes at a high price, saving Sierra is his only choice.
The memory of Ben’s hands on her body is seared into Sierra’s flesh for eternity. She doesn’t regret that night. Not even when she discovers the guy she was crushing on as a teenager is a cold, calculating killer with dark impulses and lethal enemies who want him dead.
Understanding the risks, she walks away from the only man she will ever love, stowing her secrets securely in her heart. Until the truth becomes leverage and Sierra is drawn into a bloody war—a pawn in a vicious game she doesn’t want to play.
As the web of deceit is finally revealed, Ben will stop at nothing to protect Sierra. Even if loving her makes him weak. In a world where women serve a sole purpose, and alliances mean the difference between life and death, can he fight for love and win?
Hello Lovelies! This wonderful book is out in the world today and I was given the amazing opportunity to be a part of the blog tour for its release! I have an excerpt from the book for you guys below to check out!
Synopsis:
Thea Hope longs to be an alchemist out of the shadow of her famous mother. The two of them are close to creating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone—whose properties include immortality and can turn any metal into gold—but just when the promise of the Stone’s riches is in their grasp, Thea’s mother destroys the Stone in a sudden fit of violent madness.
While combing through her mother’s notes, Thea learns that there’s a curse on the Stone that causes anyone who tries to make it to lose their sanity. With the threat of the French Revolution looming, Thea is sent to Oxford for her safety, to live with the father who doesn’t know she exists.
But in Oxford, there are alchemists after the Stone who don’t believe Thea’s warning about the curse—instead, they’ll stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone. But Thea can only run for so long, and soon she will have to choose: create the Stone and sacrifice her sanity, or let the people she loves die.
EXCERPT:
My mother was screaming at the Comte. Again.
I slammed the front doors behind me and walked down the carriageway, under the dappled shade of the poplars that lined it. A hundred paces away, I still heard her, though at least I could no longer hear the Comte’s frantic endearments and low, rapid pleading. He should know by now that wasn’t the way. Perhaps I should tell him. Adrien was the first of my mother’s patrons I had ever liked, and I did not want to leave Normandy just as spring was breaking. Just as we were beginning to make progress.
Though perhaps we were not. Mother would not be screaming at the Comte if the work were going well. She would not take the time. Alchemy was a demanding science, even if some scoffed and called it charlatanry or magic. It required total concentration. If the work were going well, the Comte would scarcely exist to her, nor would I, now that she would not let me be of use. The com- position must have broken again. This was about when it had, last round. I could not be certain, since she had taken away my key to the laboratory. She could hardly have de- vised a worse insult than that if she had tried, and lately she did seem to be trying. The laboratory was mine as much as it was hers. If she did succeed in producing the White Elixir—which turned all metals into silver—then it was only because of my help. She had found Jābir’s text languishing in a Spanish monastery, but it had been I who translated it when her Arabic wasn’t nearly up to the job. I had labored for months over the calcinary furnace to make the philosophic mercury the text took as its starting point. I had the scars on my hands and arms to prove it. And now that success might be close, she wished to shut me out and deny my part, and claim it for herself alone.
But if she was acting ill and cross, it meant she had failed. A low, smug hum of satisfaction warmed me. I didn’t want the work to fail, but I didn’t want her to suc- ceed without me, either.
A distant smashing sound rang out from the chateau. My mother shattering something against the wall, no doubt.
I sighed and shifted my letter box to the crook of my other arm.
I knew what this meant. Another move. Another man. The Comte had lasted longer than the rest. Over two years, long enough that I had begun to hope I would not have to do it all again. I hated the uncertainty of those first weeks, before I knew what was expected of me, whether Mother’s new patron had a temper and what might set it off, whether he liked children to speak or be silent. Though I was no longer a child, and that might bring its own problems. A chill passed over me, despite the warm afternoon sunshine. God only knew what the next one would be like. My mother had already run through so many of them. And with the recent changes in France, there were fewer rich men than ever looking to give patronage to an expensive alchemist, even one as beautiful and famous as Marguerite Hope.
I veered off the carriageway, into the soft spring grass, dotted here and there with the first of the lavender anemones. I sat by the stream, under the plum tree.
There was no screaming here, no pleading, no signs that my life was about to change for the worse. I inhaled the soft, sweet scent of plum blossoms and opened my letter box. If this was to be my last spring in Normandy, I wanted to re- member it like this. Springtime in Normandy was soft and sweet, sun shining brightly and so many things blossoming that the very air was perfumed with promise. Everything was coming extravagantly to life, bursting out of the dead ground and bare trees with so much energy other impossible things seemed likely, too. I had always been hopeful in Normandy when it was spring. Especially last spring, when Will was still here. When we sat under this very tree, drank both bottles of champagne he had stolen from the cellars, and spun tales of everything we could achieve.
Owning up to your mistakes doesn’t mean you won’t make more…especially when the right woman is involved.
Hindsight is 20/20
A lot of people ensured Aidy’s future was filled with endless possibility.
She never saw the guy like me—who belonged behind bars—coming.
So, I’m going to make sure he pays…
And in the meantime, do whatever it takes for Aidy to smile again.
There’s no doubt she makes meaningless existence worthwhile.
If I had a shred of decency, I’d have left it alone.
Because if Aidy’s determined to stand alongside me, it will destroy her perfectly planned out life.
—Morgan
**This book contains sensitive scenarios that may trigger readers. Please consider reading reviews or contacting the author if you have questions.
This is the first full-length novel in the Shattered Hearts of Carolina series. Don’t forget to read the short story, Splinter of Hope releasing September 10th.
Not all storms bring fear. Some cleanse wounds and heal souls.
One stormy night breaks Kane Austin. Moving deeper into the Pennsylvania woods doesn’t heal the heartache of his tragic loss, nor does it offer the peace he longs for. He certainly can’t bear the thought of loving again.
Charley Woodhill blames himself for his sister’s and niece’s deaths. He feels he doesn’t deserve Kane’s forgiveness, and especially not his love, but that doesn’t keep him from watching over his best friend from afar, coveting what he can never have.
Determined to live a quiet life, Jill Walters isn’t looking for a man or complications. But flames of desire bright as a lightning strike can’t be denied, and the consequences of falling for not just one but two men shakes her unstable foundation.
Will Kane let go of the ghosts from his past? Can Charley find the strength to share the man he’s longed for since childhood? Or will Jill choose for them and flee to keep the two men safe?
“Just…one kiss.” She looks up at me and I see the water building in her brown eyes; it feels like a stab to my already racing heart. I can’t breathe. I feel like air isn’t getting to my lungs and on top of that, I’m getting harder by the second in my slacks. She’s this insanely gorgeous siren sitting in front of me begging me to kiss her.
Love her.
But what if she wants more?
“One kiss, Stassia.” I give in, much to my own disappointment. I’m not drunk, but the whiskey flooding my veins is making me hornier than usual and all I want is to pull her into my lap and kiss her until the sun rises.
“Really?” Her eyes clear from the unshed tears and I nod. “You know this changes…things.”
“Things have already changed,” she whispers back.
Her words knock the rest of the wind that I’ve been struggling to get into my lungs out of me and I stand up, to put some space between us and hopefully give myself some clarity.
“Wait!” she squeals as she stands up and grabs my hands. “I need to feel something. I feel so numb sometimes and I just… even if it’s guilt or shame, it’s better than feeling nothing.” Her lip wobbles slightly.
“Don’t you think I’m pretty enough to kiss?”
You’re fucking pretty enough to eat. The sinful thought crosses my mind before I can keep it at bay and I ball my hands into fists at the rage building inside of me for lusting after Stassia so fucking aggressively.
“Stassi…” I back up and run a hand through my hair. “What you’re asking me…”
“Is not incest. We aren’t blood related and it’s just a kiss…”
“Something tells me you won’t just stop at a kiss.” And once I kiss her, I’ll be powerless to stop anything she wants after. “I think you are beautiful, Stassi. So fucking beautiful sometimes it hurts to look at you and know that you’re you. Someone I can’t ever fucking have.”
*This is a taboo novel and is intended for mature audiences only.
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