Theme of the Box
Description by Illumicrate
Our October theme is: REVENGE IS SWEETER!
Our featured book this month is a YA science fiction book with a China-inspired setting. In a world where boys pilot giant mechanical robots to fend off alien attacks, assisted by girls who often die during the battles, one girl refuses to play her part. Paired with the pilot responsible for her sister’s death, she gets her revenge and kills him through their psychic link instead of dying herself. Paired with a stronger pilot, she is determined to survive, to understand how the piloting system works, and to play it to her advantage. Because her revenge doesn’t end with the death of her sister’s killer.
The Items
Deal With The Devil Mug
Inspired by: Kingdom of the Wicked
Designed by: Rosiethorns88
This mug is stunning, I think it might actually be one of my favourites!
Made of Memories Book Organiser
Inspired by:
Designed by: Fez Inkwight
Another beauty with the box and something I will definitely be using!
Revenge is Sweet Measuring Cups
Inspired by: Caraval
Designed by: No0nedesigns
As someone who loves to bake, I can always appreciate measuring cups and they were inspired by Caraval!
The Convergence Candle
Inspired by: Black Sun
Designed by: Amelia’s Kitchen Candles | No0nedesigns
Another candle to add to my collections – I don’t know what it’s based on but it smells lovely.
Revenge of the Witches
Inspired by: Witches Stepped in Gold
Designed by: Toyin Ajetunmobi
This is a stunning print, and is based on a book that I’ve been meaning to read for a while.
Featured Book: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
This edition has stencilled edges, art on the reverse of the dust jacket by Joanne Castro (@jhocaaa) and a signed bookplate and digital signature!
The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.
When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it’s to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.
To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.
Monthly Collectors Pin by Stacey McEvoy-Caunt
Designed to look like a pilot’s pin for the Vermilion Bird.
This box was full of stunning art. The girls at Illumicrate delivered! I found that I would use a lot of the items included this month which is always a sign of a good box to me.
Do you subscribe to Illuimcrate? What was your favourite item?
