Showing posts with label special. Show all posts
Showing posts with label special. Show all posts

Friday, August 26, 2022

Unboxing: Fairyloot's "Tell Me Lies" (August 2022)


Another month, another amazing Fairyloot box. This is my eighth box since I resubscribed and I absolutely adored it, yet again. This month's theme was "Tell Me Lies" and in the reveal we were told it would also include an item Fairyloot had never included before. I absolutely loved every item and the book they chose so let's just not wait any longer and dive into the unboxing! 



The first item included was a bookshelf-patterned tote bag designed by @chattynora. This is absolutely stunning. I love useful items in book boxes and this is one that I can see myself actually using, especially for bookish events. The books on the shelves on this tote are actually all books Fairyloot have featured in their boxes or done special editions for in the past, which I thought was pretty cute. 

The next item was a Romeo & Juliet inspired list pad designed by @catarinabookdesigns. The quote they included is also very reminiscent of the R&J retelling, These Violent Delights, that I love. I am a big fan of stationary and I am 100% going to be filling this with meaningless lists and to-dos. The only thing I wish is that there was a sticky bit so that I could stick it to places when I wanted to use it. 

Then is the item that they've never included before: a celestial-themed travel jewelry box designed by @jezhawk. For starters, this is absolutely stunning. It's also fandom-neutral and feels quite sturdy and well put together for a book box item. I will definitely be using this, either for bookish jewelry or for my growing collection of pins. 

The next item was an enamel pin inspired by Gilded by Marissa Meyer and designed by @no0nedesigns. This is a stunning little pin and the design is quite intricate for how small it is. I am very much looking forward to finally reading this book soon, though I'm probably going to wait at least until the sequel is out to dive into it. Marissa Meyer hasn't steered me wrong yet, though. 

The last proper items are the next in the collectible mythology bookmark series designed by @gracezhuart. This month we have Anubis from Egyptian mythology and Apate from Greek mythology. I'm a big fan of this collectible series and I also love that they're including mythologies from around the world (as I originally thought it would only be Greek as that's what their first two were). I find bookmarks to also be a very fun item as a reader can never have enough bookmarks.

This month's tarot cards are from Only A Monster by Vanessa Len. We have Joan as Justice and Nick and Aaron as Wheel of Fortune. I've not yet read this but it's on my list closer to the sequel's release. I also am just really enjoying the tarot card series (mainly because the artwork is completely gorgeous). One of my favorite things is that they are doing tarot cards after the books they include in their boxes. 

The book this month was Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen. This edition features an exclusive cover, ombre sprayed edges, artwork printed on the hardcover and endpages designed by @_saintdri, and comes with a signed bookplate. I'm absolutely in love with the cover changes as it created this beautiful sunset imagery that goes well with the sprayed edges. I am very much looking forward to reading this as well. 




Overall, this was another stunning box from Fairyloot. I know not every month will be a winner but Fairyloot have been smashing for the majority of this year. I will use everything in this box and I think the quality and design are beautiful. I am incredibly excited for September as it's been revealed there is going to be a blanket and I think their blankets are some of the comfiest things ever. 

August was also the last month that included five items. Due to inflation and the rising costs of everything, Fairyloot announced that from September onwards there will only be four items. This is so they can keep the quality high and not have to raise the cost of the box. Honestly, I'm happy with that decision and I look forward to the boxes nonetheless (especially as it feels like the tarot cards and various paper items that come with the book work very well as bonus items). 



Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren



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Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Unboxing: Fairyloot's "Chosen Ones" (June 2022)


Another month, another Fairyloot unboxing. I got my shipping notification for this box the same day it got delivered (just a couple hours between the two) and I am so happy with it. I was quite excited for this box and it didn't disappoint. I like or love every single item. We also got two exclusive books this month which is always exciting for me. So, without further ado, let's dive into Fairyloot's June 2022 box!



The first item in this box was the next in the trinket dish series. This one in particular featured Rin from The Poppy War trilogy by R.F. Kuang and was designed by @arz28. Once again, this artwork and dish are absolutely stunning. I still am not sure how I feel about getting a bunch of trinket dishes as I'm not sure what use I have for them right now but I still think it's a stunning item that's one of the better ones in Fairyloot's repertoire. I haven't yet read The Poppy War either but it's on my soon-ish TBR!

Up next we have a set of paper tabs inspired by the Sting dagger from Lord of the Rings designed by @jezhawk. I have to admit, I'm a casual fan of LOTR so these definitely hit their mark with me. Also, they're just beautiful and I will definitely be finding some use for them. I doubt I'll use them to annotate books but they will be used in some capacity, I expect. 

The next item was a book sleeve inspired by The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake designed by @chattynora. This is a faux-leather feeling sleeve and I wonder if it's potentially waterproof like their sleeves used to be. I like the design a lot and I thing that these sleeves were nicely made (especially with the inclusion of a zipper top). I always like book sleeves in boxes so this is another winner for me. 

Then we got an art print of the Adelina from The Young Elites by Marie Lu that was designed by @damian.in.the.den. I've not yet read this series, though it is on my TBR. However, I did let out a small gasp when I saw this print as I think it's absolutely stunning. Art prints, for me, can be hit or miss. Sometimes I don't see the value in a print over another item despite beautiful artwork. On the other hand, I do like art prints because I can store them easily and they don't take much space. 

This month featured a bonus book instead of a fifth item: Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber. I actually was going to pick up this book from Waterstones until I saw Fairyloot's announcement and realized this was going to be the second book. I absolutely love how they did this book. It features a new cover and has stencil sprayed edges. I think it's stunning and I'm so happy to add it to my bookshelf. 

The tarot cards this month were featured after From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout. As always, they were designed by @arz28. They feature Poppy and Hawke as The Lovers and Kieran as The Chariot. The artwork on these is stunning and I'm so thrilled with the level of design on them. While the previous deck had multiple artists, this deck (I believe) is all illustrated by @arz28 so will have a consistent look to them despite different characters/series. And I love the art style. I cannot wait to collect a full deck of these.

The book of the month was This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede. Per Fairyloot, it is a "swoon-worthy romantic comedy set in an Italian inspired fantasy world where a young girl's gift can either save...or kill." This edition has an exclusive cover, stenciled edges, foiled hardcover and artwork on the endpages designed by @gabrielleragusi, and is signed by the author. It comes with an art print of the main character with an author letter on the back. I do think such a bright yellow was a brave choice but I'm actually vibing with it a bit. I do love my purples and blues that Fairyloot often do but I also like other colors. It's particularly exciting to have a rainbow of colors to brighten my shelves up a bit, in my opinion. 




Overall, I really liked this box. I think the quality and usefulness of the items was fantastic. The books included are stunning and ones I'm incredibly excited to read. I think that fewer higher-quality items over numerous lower-quality items is definitely the way to go with me. What stands out for me with Fairyloot is that I could easily pay the same price for just the book if I were buying it secondhand (which is what I used to do before I just subscribed). But for the price of the box, the value is great. Even just looking at the two exclusive books this month and a large book sleeve, you're already at way more than the cost of the box itself when buying from Etsy or other sites. Then factor in all the other goodies you get as well. 

This box was definitely a hit with me and one that I think is on the higher list of my ranking of Fairyloot boxes I've gotten. I am even more excited for July, though, as we are apparently getting a new item they've never included before that's been highly requested and a book I'm quite looking forward to. Did you get this box? What did you think of it?



Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren



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Sunday, April 10, 2022

Unboxing: Fairyloot's "Threads of Fate" (March 2022)


Another month...another Fairyloot unboxing. Fairyloot has been smashing it so far with the boxes this year and March was no exception. This box was beautiful and I'm quite happy with it. Like usual, not every item is a favorite but I don't think I've ever had a box where that's been the case. So, without further ado, here is my unboxing for March's "Threads of Fate" box. 



The first item this month was a woodmark inspired by Circe by Madeline Miller and designed by @avendellart. Woodmarks are absolutely gorgeous and I'm thrilled to add another one to my slow-growing collection. I haven't yet read Circe but it is on my TBR and I've enjoyed everything else I've read from Madeline Miller. Even if I don't like the book, this woodmark is stunning enough that I would use it anyway. 

The next item was a sticker sheet inspired by the Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater and designed by @vvivaa. I have read the first book in this series and it was just okay. However, I've lately been wondering if I should give the series another chance. But, for now, I don't have much use for this item. Whereas some items can be used no matter the fandom, stickers of book characters are pretty specific. I'm not sure if I'll end up giving this series another go so I'm not sure if I'll end up keeping these.

Up next was a cushion cover inspired by Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko and designed by @blanca.design. This cover is absolutely stunning! Coincidentally, I recently ended up needing a new pillowcase for our couch pillows and I had yet to pick up a replacement. This one has some gorgeous colors and the back is just the design without text so it can serve as a neutral item if needed. I plan on reading Raybearer within the next few months and if I love it I'll definitely be happy to have this pillowcase.

The next item was a tea tin inspired by the book of the month, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh designed by @chattynora. This is actually the third tea tin I've gotten from Fairyloot and I'm always happy with the quality of it. These are great for little knickknacks (bookish or otherwise) and are great for keeping out dust and whatnot. I just hope that I like this book enough to want to keep this. I also am looking forward to the day that I have proper bookshelves again and can properly display this with my books.

The last item was a foiled deck of playing cards inspired by characters from four stories and designed by @naiivu. According to the spoiler card, "the artwork on the Diamonds suit is from Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim, Spades are from Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan, Clubs are from Only A Monster by Vanessa Len, and the Hearts are from Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan." All of these stories were previous Fairyloot books and the art is beautiful. I do like a good playing card deck and this will definitely get used. 

The tarot cards of the month are from a new celestial deck (the old deck ended in February). This month's cards were illustrated by @arx28 and are The Fool and The Magician, featuring characters Xingyin and Wenzhi from Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan. I do quite like the artwork on these but I wish the Fairyloot tarot cards were designed a bit differently this time. I wish they were sized differently and a bit higher quality considering the fact that they're doing another entire tarot deck after spending the last few years on it. As long as the artwork stays high quality, though, I am interested in collecting these this time.

The book of the month was The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh. This edition features an exclusive cover, two coloured stencil sprayed edges, artwork on the endpapers, foil embossing on the hardcover, and is signed by the author. Included was also an author letter with an art print designed by @naiivu on the other side. This book was one I was looking forward too and I'm in love with the edition. I can only hope that I enjoy this book as much as I hope I will. 





Overall, I liked this month's box quite a lot. I will be using most of the items (minus the sticker sheet, which is a small item anyway) and the book is stunning. I'm also quite enjoying Fairyloot's recent trends of including items inspired by their monthly books. I think it's a great way to incorporate new fandoms rather than repeating the same big ones (like Schwab, Clare, SJM, even though I'll never say no to SJM). 

I am skipping April's box because I'm not as interested in the theme or books as of yet and need to save some money. However, they've announced the May theme and I am quite looking forward to that one (the items and the book!). 

What do you think of March's box? Let me know in the comments!



Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren



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Friday, April 8, 2022

Unboxing: Fairyloot's "To the Moon and Back" (February 2022)


This is my third Fairyloot box since I re-subscribed and, I have to say, it's my favorite. This is one of my favorite Fairyloot boxes of all time, in fact. The book this month is not only one that I've been looking forward to for a long time, but it's also stunning. Though there were a couple items I just felt neutral about, the main items are absolutely gorgeous and completely make up for any neutral feelings I had about others. The February box features five items, the monthly collectible tarot cards, and an absolutely stunning book. Let's go ahead and dive in! 



The first item this month was a pair of socks inspired by The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern and designed by @jezhawk. This is one of the items that I'm more neutral about because I haven't read this book and don't have it on my immediate TBR. On the other hand, I do love socks and these will most definitely get used despite me not having read the book. 

Up next was a necklace inspired by Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas designed by Fairyloot. This is one of my favorite books and I'm in love with this necklace. It's just discreet enough to wear about without people knowing it's a fandom item. It's also beautiful and very simplistic, which is exactly my style. This is a perfect item for me as well because I just read the second Crescent City book in February.

The next item was a pair of metal bookends in a fandom-neutral celestial theme that were designed by @jezhawk. I was so excited when these were announced and, I have to say, these definitely are even better than I anticipated. They are stunning and seem to be very high quality. I also have a bookshelf right now that doesn't have sides so bookends are 100% needed and I'm happy to actually have a use for them. 

The fourth item was a tote bag inspired by the book of the month, Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan, designed by @rosiethorns88. This is a beautiful tote bag but I don't think it's very practical for me for everyday use. I don't think I would use it while out and about in the city or when grocery shopping but I would use it when going to book conventions/events or while moving. Plus, I like that Fairyloot has been including items inspired by the books each month the past few months. 

Lastly, there was an art print inspired by Wicked Fox by Kat Cho and designed by @cyt_draws. Well, there was supposed to be one included but my box was missing it. I'm okay with that, though, as I haven't yet read the book and art prints aren't as important to me as bigger items. I was able to get in touch with Fairyloot, though, and had a replacement within a few days! It did come bent and dinged but that's okay as I was able to mostly flatten it out. 

The tarot cards this month were the Queen and King of Pentacles and were designed by @lizzart_zardonicz. They're inspired by Red Rising by Pierce Brown and feature Mustang and Darrow. Like with January, I haven't yet read this book series but it is on my TBR and these cards are stunning. I don't particularly like a monthly tarot card, though, and would prefer a different item. However, I will use these as mini art-prints for Red Rising instead so they will still get used.

The book of this month is Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan and it is absolutely stunning. I was really excited when I got saw the announcement for this month as I was hoping they'd do this book. And this edition absolutely blows me away. This edition features an exclusive cover, digitally sprayed edges, artwork on the endpages designed by @gracezhuart, foil embossing on the hardcover designed by @gracezhuart, and is signed by the author. Additionally, there is a character art print designed by @rosiethorns88 on the backside of the author note that is stunning.





Overall, I am very happy with this box. The book itself is absolutely stunning and I'm so happy to have a copy of it (especially when people are reselling it for twice as much as I paid for the box). It was a bit touch and go when the shipping carrier lost a bunch of my packages but, thankfully, they found them and finally delivered them at the beginning of March. 

I think that while all the items aren't to my taste, the ones that are make up for the others. I am thrilled to have the necklace and bookends and will definitely find a use for the other items. But, for me, the value in this month's box definitely comes from the gorgeous edition of Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Now I can't wait to see what they do for March...



Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren



You can follow my bookstagram here for more bookish content!

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