I turned the cover immediately since the alternative cover matches the end papers. I have read this already and knew it was coming and was totally invested in owning this from FL. I hope you enjoy the story since this edition is very pronounced and singular, in my opinion. Side note, your hair looks amazing, so smooth and glossy.
I don’t blame you; the artwork is really good on this one! I’m glad that you liked it; it’s definitely one I want to pick up soon 😊 Oh that’s so kind of you to say! I’m enjoying it being a bit longer now that it’s growing back 😊
I was so excited for this book, and absolutely adored the artist used for the end papers, but I dnf-ed it at 20%!! :’( I didn’t enjoy the writing style, heartbreaking 💔
Oh that’s so sad Lyzus; but life is too short to not being enjoying the content that you’re consuming. I have just read a non-fiction written by a poet. I should have felt connected to the content that she was writing about, but I couldn’t get over the poetic prose. Hope your next read is better for you ❤️
I love the edges and endpapers on this book! Also glad the main cover didn’t change, but thought the hardcover itself was a bit simple for an adult book! I’ve read the book and really enjoyed it, gave a four star! Overall I’m very happy month! Hope you’re well?! Xx
Ah glad to hear that you enjoyed it Linz! It's definitely one that I want to pick up soon :) I'm okay thanks; exam season is stressing me out ... I'll be happier this time next week! :) Hope that you're well too? x
I’ve heard mixed reviews on this book. I skipped this box, because it’s just not my thing. I’ve actually been very disappointed this year with Fairyloots Adult boxes and am contemplating canceling my subscription.
I agree that there have been a lot of debuts and lesser known authors; they seem to be keeping all of the most anticipated books for add on purchases, which is a bit disappointing.
The butterflies are also a different colour compared to the original 😊 I really love the cover so I'm happy they didn't change it that much :) just started the book en so far so good! Love the atmosphere the author creates :) as for the bookmark, perhaps you can use the spoilercard as a bookmark or cut it to the size to resemble a more normal bookmark. It will at least match the book ;)
Oh I did not clock the butterflies at all! I'm glad that you're enjoying it so far; I think I'll pick it up this month too :) I absolutely keep the spoiler cards in the books every month... I'm just being hyper critical. Maybe I should start designing my own :) Hope that you enjoy the rest of the book Jolan x
Excited about reading the book. The end paper art work is stunning, but the naked hardcover and the edges are a bit underwhelming. The overall design doesn't feel cohesive and I was a bit disappointed overall, but still happy to have it in my collection.
I think its a really pretty edition with some very well done details! Not totally in my favorite style, but I think its super on theme for what the book is and really well done. The only thing I wish is that they had put the reverse cover on the front with the gold foiling on it, because I think it would make the book a bit more cohesive and even if I reverse it the gold foil isn't there which is a bit sad. I also wonder why they listed it as a cover redesign when its really just a color change of the original? But over all I was very happy with it and I love the cute bee theme! Its a bit of a different vibe than the other artwork, but its on the same theme so I think it works :D
@@storieswithskye it’s definitely an interesting one with the cover artwork and reversible dust jacket artwork. You make a good point that the reversible dust jacket would have looked great with the gold foiling! 🥰
@@kiagratho3978 so interesting to hear your thoughts on this; I had a feeling this one would split people in terms of opinion. Hope you enjoy reading this one 🥰
I think this is a very beautiful edition of the book and I am pretty pleased with it, also because I wouldn't have bought this from the bookstore myself, I want book boxes to also introduce me to books and authors that are new to me/a bit out of my comfort zone every once in a while. 🤓
Hi Michelle, Nice all around design on this one. I love the more detailed cover art and the silver foiling on the naked hardback is gorgeous!!! I believe that I have three of Laura Purcell's adult books in my collection but I've yet to pick one up to read. You know how that goes! Have a great weekend!!!
It is 🥰🥰🥰 The Waterstones and Barnes&Noble editions have both been pushed back; sooooo excited to get my hands on this one (and to see what the LL have done with it) x
Oooo I have the arc of this book, that is a stunning copy of the book. For me to say this about this box is quite rare but this is bloody stunning. This is a YA debut from Laura Purcell and I have to say I bloody loved it
@@MichelleReadsandVlogs without saying too much the next Evernight box looks to be a keeper for sure and I don’t have to skip the Illumicrate July book as my goodness…they better do it justice 🫢
@@cleg78 I have cancelled my Evernight… I saw the eyes in the theme reveal and went NOPE 😂 I think that horror just isn’t for me. I think the edition they do will be great though! I hope the next illumicrate is good 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
This edition is SO pretty… but I am with you with WTMH… it’s in my diary already. I have everything crossed that I get one! I hope that you do too Linz 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
I agree with you, it seems like just an average box. I just opened mine and they were all ok items. I usually never use the cushion covers. Nothing stood out to me.
I ended up skipping this box and seeing the full unboxing - i’m not sad that I did! like you said it was just very average. i’m wondering if the publisher had some say in not allowing them to change certain aspects of the cover? some publishers are picky, so i’m wondering if that came in to play. but love your unboxings as always! 🤍
I think that you made a good decision. I have no idea how much input the publishers have, as the authors have no influence on it at all (which I find crazy!). Thanks for being here :) x
Wellllll…My intuitive hunch was right for this book. I almost skipped my combo box but didn’t cause I only have one skip left. But ya know what? It doesn’t matter. I probably would’ve bought second market for endpapers alone-gorgeous! Pray tell me, was it worth it for the adult book? I always force myself not to spoil at least one of my books so I’m all up in the dark here. 😅
@@MichelleReadsandVlogs It must be hard to have to wait to open boxes because you feel like you have to film it all the time. I’d be like “Nahhhhh I’m done with this RU-vid thing.”😂😂.
I had been SO excited for this book as I loved the synopsis and the original cover, thinking Fairyloot could only improve upon it, yet I was so underwhelmed when I unboxed it and saw the final design. It’s just so plain looking. I’m not sure how the spredge matches the theme, either, although it is pretty. I absolutely adored the hands illustration on the reverse of the jacket but not the art of the characters themselves, (as you said- not really sure what’s going on in the picture with what’s in front of her eyes??) so I’m not even tempted to reverse it up. I wish they had gone for an alternate colour way of the original cover. :( I think the only other good thing I have to say about it is the spine, which is probably my favourite part, but otherwise disappointed with this edition.
Hi Michelle. Um ... I do like the cover design especially when compared to the original cover design and of course red will get me every time!!! The end papers are pretty, the reverse cover is ... meh! Looses points for a digital signature ... twice! This is the first time that I've heard of this title but it is YA so I don't pay attention to those. As for the rest of the stuff .... love the tabs and the classical arts book box is pretty but I would have preferred a darker colour scheme. The pin is pretty too but I am not keen on the pillowcase. I'd never use it because I'd be afraid I'd wake up and find the artwork transferred to my face!!! In moving news ... the house is full to the brim with boxes!!! We are two weeks out from the big day and time continues to crawl. We have our first return visit to the condo on the 3rd to measure things and refresh our memories and ask questions. Can't wait. I continue to buy quirky and fun stuff to decorate the library with. Wait'll you see!!! I am currently looking for affordable potion bottles a la Harry Potter. There are lots of places to order them on Etsy etc but the shipping costs are horrendous!!!! Might have to bide my time on that! Hope you're doing well Michelle and have had some good book reading. Cheers!!!
Wow two weeks is not too far away; it's coming up quickly now. Can't wait to see the new library when you get working on it. Oooooh potions theme is fun! I wonder if you could make your own? Might be a lot of work though. Cherry Wallis has opened a magical shop close to me in the UK (it's in Matlock in Derbyshire, so just over an hours drive from me). I've been watching all of the RU-vid videos she's done with the opening, and they have potion style drinks! I wonder what is in them to make them the pearly texture that they have? Anyway, hope that you're well too. Speak soon x
Not liking the cushion cover despite it being Atlas Six inspired which I surprisingly remembered. Too people heavy. Love the secret book, I really like that very much. Going back to the glasses case I don’t think that should have been an item as not everyone wears glasses. Book tabs are ok, I don’t think you could tab an entire book but they are nice idea. I adore the typewriter pin, that is beautiful and very very well made.
As far as the book goes I kind of like the dust jacket new design. The colour is very Tempest of Tea with the vibrant colour choice. Yep more I see it I do like the dust jacket. Marbled edges are very vintage and were a thing years ago. The hardcover I am not keen on as it seems really quite basic and lazy tbh considering it is The Temptation of Magic the naked hardcover isn’t very tempting. The endpapers I like just take the characters off. The reverse of dust jacket is awful and the wispy thing going on across the mid face of female character makes her look odd.
I agree that they have been SO good recently... then this one feels very average in comparison :( ... i didn't know that marbled edges were a thing three years ago (I'm pretty new to special editions). It is all nice... but that's it... just nice. Hope that you're well lovely! x
@@MichelleReadsandVlogs marbled edges are very much a vintage thing, who would have thought that marbled edges with matching end papers would be a thing in the 1800’s. If they had just tweaked the book to give it that vibe it would have been perfect. I think though Illumicrate are a bit more of a struggle just now, I have skipped so many books it is crazy. They need to come back with some strong book titles that spark an interest in all.
The book was the most disappointing to me because I think the cover looks boring. And I don’t like that they’ve done so many red books recently. I don’t like the cushion cover because I hate character art on furniture decor. I agree this box was only okay. I loved the endpapers but that’s it. I’m still glad I got the box because I wanted to read this but I think the original cover is prettier tbh
I think a lot of us agree that it was all a bit 'meh' (great word to use to describe it!). It does sound like a good book; I hope that you enjoy it Nicole :) x
At first I found the book disappointing. The cover seemed too simple and lazy to me. Moreover, the red color is a repeat of Tempest of Tea, which also disappointed me. But with each passing day I become more and more confident in the book's design. Especially when I started reading it, I felt that the project fit its atmosphere. <3
Half and half on this. The eye glass case and pin and tabs are fantastic, the cushion cover is a waste to me, and the hidden book I’ll use but meh (they just did one with the scarlet alchemist box, so recently) but the boxes those come in I put behind my books on the shelf to space away from the back evenly. The book looks great and it is a fun read. So overall I’m happy with this box.
I am SOO happy that I have the romantasy box, I have LOVED both of these books, they are soo beautiful. Cant wait to see what the next months book is! <3
I am curiuos. Have you only read Spy Familie or you have seen anime as well? And as comparation have you seen Buddy Daddies? [it is original show as such no manga exists]
@@MichelleReadsandVlogs Yes. Because you like SF and I find this anime has more of grounded and believable story line even with them getting in trouble in so many ways. . . . 🤔Please give manga BLAME! by Nihei vol 1 a try- for me a masterpiece! If you read horror than manhua The Horizon by JH [ finished in 3 volumen]. Try anime Kino's Journey as it is like anthology with one main character...and a good exploration of humanity.
Hey, I regularly watch and subscribe to your RU-vid channel videos. I really pay attention to new videos but I noticed on your RU-vid channel that your channel videos are not getting views. There are several reasons for this. Below, I found your channel problem: 1. Video SEO is not done. 2. Videos are not released on time. 3. Video Perfect Title is used. 4. Perfect keyword research is not done. Solving these issues will give your RU-vid channel better results. I can help you if you want.❤❤
I skipped this month's box because I already have the self-pubbed version on my kindle. This edition is stunning though, I love the blue and red colour combination 😍
@@MichelleReadsandVlogs I haven't yet but I'm hoping to pick it up in June! I'm planning a vlog where I read the first 3-4 Fairyloot romantasy picks (currently halfway through Lore of the Wilds and it's not going well 🥲)
I skipped this one, because the book was a 1 star for me, so what it actually looks like is interesting…. The sprayed edge is beautiful but the cover isn’t as exciting as it could be… I don’t know, it’s pretty but I’m not upset to have skipped it. Sometime if you do a review of it, I’d watch to see what you thought of the book.
Seems I am the odd man out. I really have been loving their picks so far. I have read the June book and really enjoyed it. I have skipped April May and June’s Adult FL subs. I have a few other subs and will be canceling a few of them here in the next month or 2. I will be keeping the Romantasy sub.
I’m almost certain I’m going to cancel this sub. I’ll use up my four skips (only two left after skipping May and June!) Based on the picks so far, I’d be shocked if I don’t end up skipping July and August, too. I was pretty sure when they announced the sub that romantasy wasn’t my thing, but FOMO made me sign up anyway. I just find it very cheesy and predictable. Btw, lol at your comment about how it would be a much shorter book if the MC managed to avoid the guy in the woods. Based on my experience with romantasy, I’d probably enjoy that story much more! 🤣
I feel the same. I definitely signed up with the excitement of it! I think I’m more into fantasy with a side of romance, rather than romance with a side of fantasy. Gimme a strong plot over the smut!
I am in the same boat with this Romantasy sub. I applied to the waiting list in May 2023 and got the 1st book, but I think I'll cancel it because I skipped the May book and June will soon follow. I noticed that because the market is so saturated with romantasy options that I tend to get more picky with what I choose, but of course that doesn't happen with a book box where I can't pick the specific book that I want. I just assumed they were going to have more backlist popular romantasy books in their box and not just new releases. Maybe in the year that passed since me applying to the waiting and now finally receiving the books, my reading taste has developed/changed, so I am not as excited as I thought I was going to be. On top of everything, they're expensive for me considering interational shipping costs. I'm sure that someone who's more excited than me to get their hands on these gorgeous books will appreciate me cancelling my subcription lol
I agree. I’m wowed by the design but not by the books (nothing against the chosen books, but they’re just not something that I would pick up in a shop). I might have to do some skips and see how I feel 😬
Definitely coming to the realisation that I am not really a fantasy or romantasy person, but the books are always so beautiful, and I get fomo when I get people opening their book subscriptions 😂😂 I wish some did the same for thrillers which are much more my thing
That’s fair Jeanette. I definitely like a mix of genres, but fall in love with some fantasy worlds. There are channels out there that focus on other genres; and have you looked at Goldsboro for thrillers? They do some AMAZING editions of so many different genres. Definitely read what you enjoy the most ❤️ (maybe I’ll have to look for more thriller special editions! 🥰🥰🥰). Hope that you’re well lovely x
My issue with romantasy is that the main relationships often romanticize toxic relationships. While some people argue that we should be able to separate our reading from our real lives, I can’t help but think that some of this will bleed into the kind of men some women would end up choosing (especially with the whole thing about book boyfriends being better than our actual men). It’s easy to say we should keep them separate, but who is guiding the more impressionable women who won’t be able to do that on their own? Of course this also applies to queer relationships too, but the common toxic relationships are written between a male and female main character.
This is my main problem, too. The guy is almost always jealous, possessive, stalker-ish and threatening violence to people other than the MC- if not outright violent. If someone could write a romantasy with all the fantasy elements and a normal, non-toxic romance, I’d read it!
Absolutely agree! … and I hate it too!!! Normalising toxic relationships makes me so angry. This is why I’m so confused how this character can be ‘in love’ when she’s never even laid eyes on them 🤬
@@MichelleReadsandVlogs yup! I have started just quitting and dnf’ing books like this (or not even starting them). I hate that we are romanticizing unhealthy relationships ugh!
I really love the look and sound of this one! I think this subscription is right up my street, but feel the way you do about Illumicrate! I’ve only enjoyed 2/5 of their books so far this year, but I love getting the goodies! It’s a hard choice to make, but not fun to push through books we don’t enjoy! Hope you’re well!
We are very much on the same wavelength then Linz! I’m going to keep going with Illumicrate for now; but I might have to do some skips if I feel the books aren’t for me 😬 which makes me so sad, but no point min having books on my shelves that won’t ever be read. I’m good thanks lovely (just busy with work at the moment). Hope that you’re well!!! X
That's a really pretty book. Blue is my favourite colour. I also love the edges; probably prettiest I've ever seen. The inside of the dust jacket is nice, but not as pretty. And the hardcover is the best of all these covers. I love it. As for the end pages; I'm not a fan of this style of character arts, but backgrounds are really nice. I've got Fairyloot's "A Tempest of Tea" form a reseller today, and they even send it in the original box. I'm so excited to start reading it.
