UNBOXING ¦ Illumicrate: Magic & Mayhem - The V.E. Schwab Edition

When I saw that Illumicrate were selling a special edition V.E. Schwab box, I debated for myself for a while before I gave in and decided to treat myself to it. I decided it was definitely not a box to be missed out on, especially since I adore everything I've read by V.E. Schwab so far, and I am very glad that I decided to make this purchase. This was such a perfect, gorgeous selection of items, including a very lovely edition of V.E. Schwab's new book, Vengeful. I've listed each item below, with a picture and link to the designer or shop that each item came from (although quite a lot of the items were exclusive to the box which was very exciting!).

Signed copy of Vengeful with a cover exclusive to the box, along with an Illumicrate designed sleeve featuring quotes from Vicious and Vengeful.

Mug drawn by Temporary Places, bottle lettered by Crini.

Pin designed by Fable & Black.

Keyring, also designed by Fable & Black.

Candle from Amelia's Kitchen Candles.

Bookmarks with exclusive character artwork by Merwild, illustration of Lila and Kell by Victoria Ying, tarot style cards featuring artwork from Lorena Lammer.

Tote bag featuring artwork from Rowa Tree, pouch/make-up bag designed by Stella Bookish Art.

Postcards of the four Londons by Moledro Craft Co, scarf featuring the four Londons by Fable & Black.

There was also a letter from V.E. Schwab, and I think overall this box was brilliant and a worthwhile purchase for any fan of the author, and I would definitely consider buying another box from Illumicrate in the future. Everything was so beautifully designed and really good quality! If you want to find out more about Illumicrate, you can find their website here! V.E. Schwab's website is here, and you can find Vengeful on Goodreads here.

BOOKS ¦ Review: An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

Name: An Enchantment of Ravens

Author: Margaret Rogerson
Publisher: McElderry Books
Date Published: 2017
Rating: 5/5

A skilled painter must stand up to the ancient power of the faerie courts—even as she falls in love with a faerie prince—in this gorgeous debut novel.
Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes—a weakness that could cost him his life.
Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love—and that love violates the fair folks’ ruthless laws. Now both of their lives are forfeit, unless Isobel can use her skill as an artist to fight the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.

- From Goodreads.

This is the first book I have read in quite a while that I read in almost one day. I kept picking it up whenever I put it down because I kept wanting to know what happened next. And because I kept wanting to know what happened between the two main characters, Isobel and Rook. I really loved reading them, both as individual and together. They made very intriguing characters in their own rights and also worked well with each other, creating an enjoyable dynamic that kept me invested in the book.
I was also invested in the world of the story, it felt very creative and imaginative. The idea of the different seasonal faerie courts was made unique with the descriptions of each and both the settings and the magic system seemed very inventive. I would have liked to see the Autumn court, since that was the court Rook was prince of (and because Autumn is my favourite season) but I can see how that might have been difficult to fit into the story. I didn't know what the actual enchantment of ravens would be when I was going into the book, but I thought that was a very inventive detail too and I liked how it became involved in the story.
The writing style was very enjoyable to me, I don't always like the first person, but I found in this case it was well-written and I didn't really notice it most of the time. I also enjoyed that it was quite descriptive and almost poetic, which I know not everyone likes but I found it suited the story, and suited Isobel's narrative voice. I also found it quite a funny style, it was definitely and entertaining story and the humorous moments, especially those between Rook and Isobel, made it even more enjoyable.
I think it would have been nice to have a slightly longer ending to see how Isobel and Rook adjusted to everything after the events of the novel, but I think I mostly want that so I can see more of the characters together, as the ending itself is still good and the book did not necessarily need more to it to feel like a well-rounded story.