You could use the coin in a video to be to read OR do something else on your productivity list (during the day). And you can’t stop the vlog until you read X amount of books.
I was a bit unsure about the book when I first read the synopsis but I actually really enjoyed it, I've read it twice, I read the Netgalley ARC and then I reread it when I got the book from FL
I agree with locked library. They had two books I would have picked up regardless of the subscription, but the rest were a let down. I tried for a year before giving up 😅
I think there's a real issue at the moment of books being treated like products - which obviously they are, and book collecting is a whole other thing! - but I see so many books included in boxes and then you see the reviews and a large number of them are mediocre at best. It's almost like book boxes have forgotten their choices should also be good books in terms of their written quality. I say this as an Illumicrate and Evernight subscriber - I love special editions, though very much utilise my skips because there were plenty of books in the main IC box this year I had no interest in. Like obviously there's nothing wrong with people reading books that bring them joy, but there seems to be a real issue online with media literacy at the moment and I can't help wondering how much of that is down to books that just aren't well written or plotted getting this kind of marketing push. I am very excited to dive into The Last Hour Between Worlds, though-I love the idea of following a heroine who's also a new mother!
I can only speak for book of the month (and aardvark which I more recently joined, although so far they seem to include lesser profile titles/books by authors I know have a track-record of actually producing well-written books) but the amount of times I've picked up one of the books from my subscription box and had it feel like a first draft, barely line-edited, no subtlety, bare bones characters, just clunky and messy writing overall.... and then turned around and found out it has a 4 star or higher on goodreads with people saying it's one of the "best books of the year" is honestly astounding. Even outside of book boxes, more and more this year I keep picking up books that feel like they were rushed to market at least a year too soon & they're all extremely popular. Bad + hastily published books have always been out there and in some cases I think the outrage about the current state of publishing is kind of overblown, but at the same time it's hard for me to swallow how many people are exclusively reading these glorified drafts and heaping them with praise. It's encouraging publishers and writers to pump things out at an unreasonable pace because having A Book is apparently better than having a good book. Obviously there still are lot of very good things being published but in my experience they aren't often the books getting huge marketing campaigns and a half dozen exclusive editions and months of online hype. It's depressing honestly
I enjoy East Asian inspired fantasy, too, especially Japanese-inspired. I am a bit of a Japanophile. But I have also gotten in to danmei (Chinese gay romance, usually with fantasy elements).
first of all, that sweater is really cool!! Now the video ❤ the book pot from IC is the only thing that I like from the box xD also I'm not a die hard Stephanie Garber fan but the calendar looks so good!! Seeing the art of the characters kinda has me wanting to give more of her books a try now (Im a simp for some of the guys omfg). omg the edition of The teller of small fortunes is So Stunning!!! what a standout.
I just feel like I haven’t been reading as much contemporary romance recently so I don’t really need any more coming in, especially in hardback and then there were none that I felt stood out enough to me to be an exception 😭
@BeccaandTheBooks Oh i completely get it!! Hoarding and receiving just for the sake of it is not interesting and feels like just overconsumption which is not the best in our times??? But I use this sub because it makes me read more romances that are not just fantasy or general fiction. And those editions are absolutely gorgeous. They always make top costumizations. But I really get it!
I read Fire in the Sky as an arc and I have no idea if you would like it. It’s very…tick the checklist of tropes, and then craziness happens in the last 10%. Not even good craziness. I’ve been using this book to explain the issue with current publishing trends 😅
So far I’ve gotten 2 fairyloot books and they have both been very cutesy looking. I’m not a cutesy reader at all. I’m giving it one more book before I cancel, to see if December can redeem it.
Ooh what was the other one? I can only think of 2 fairyloot’s from this year that were cutesy vibes off the top of my head. I am very excited for both the adult and romantasy fairyloot’s for December but I don’t think the YA will be for me
@ It was called Sorcery and Small Magics. It might not be but based on the synopsis and cover design, I think it will. My reading taste lean a little darker. I only have the Adult Fiction sub though. My budget doesn’t allow me to have many so I have it and the Broken Binding sub.
@ ohhhh yeah! If I remember correctly I think someone in the comments of my last unboxing said it’s not as cutesy as it seems but I might actually be making that up so 😂
Lol some of the comments! I actually skipped everything for November as none appealed to me. Its like we all have a choice or something?! 😂 Enjoyed the video regardless, you do a good job of showcasing them!
Love your unboxings but what is it with the Forbidden Kingdom trying to copy another book box with colour and aesthetic 🤔 Not a big fan of the original book let alone the new flouncy one. 3/10 for effort I guess but combine it with the Goodreads rating…damn it better have something magical in the pages. Look forward to your thoughts on that one definitely 😮💨
But they’re only showcasing books by their own publishing house? They’re not doing anything anyone else isn’t doing, in fact they’re doing less because they have a smaller pool of books to choose from AND other subscription boxes are also choosing books from them making the pool even smaller. Ratings on goodreads may mean nothing to you, but my opinion means something to me and I’ve disliked every locked library book I’ve picked up so 💀
@BeccaandTheBooks I don't like the format of the books in Forbidden Wing, but the list of books so far sounds interesting, stuff that no other box would look at. January, especially The Baby Dragon Cafe sounds absolutely adorable! That's the point of these subscriptions for me, discover books I wouldn't usually look at, and Locked Library has the most unique selection, The Bell Witches was great... the amount of times Illumicrate, Fairyloot, and Owlcrate have done the same books as each other. That's not going to happen with Locked Library.
@ it’s not going to happen with them because they’ve made a point of saying that is isn’t but that doesn’t mean the books are better just because nobody else is doing them. There are also many books they could publish that aren’t the ones they’re choosing that may be better. I skipped the Bell Witches bc it didn’t appeal to me and now continue to skip most of the books that I’m not interested in, but for the first year of books that I did not skip I was seeing a decline in quality that means that I now skip many more books than I’m purchasing
To play devil's advocate.....have you actually tried any of the Locked Library/Harper books that are lesser known? From what it seems to me, most of those "huge" Romantasy books are objectively badly written and sacrifice plot and world-building for spice. Yes, they are popular but that doesn't equal quality and since you like a lot of well-written, high fantasy series, I'd think maybe some of the unknown releases could be hidden gems? I swear I don't work for them or anything 😂 I just don't hear many good things about these popular Romantasy books from readers who like smart, good fantasy. 🤷🏻♀️
Like I said in this video, harper voyager is my favourite fantasy publisher, so yes I have read and loved A LOT of their books, which is why their locked library selections seem like they’re intentionally using their subs to push books that people would otherwise never pick up. The reason I signed up to locked library is because most of what I’ve read from them I’ve really enjoyed and so this sub is super disappointing imo.
The calendar card flipping turned into an ASMR moment 😂
There's just something about the Fairyloot edition of For She Is Wrath that I am obsessed with!!!
You could use the coin in a video to be to read OR do something else on your productivity list (during the day). And you can’t stop the vlog until you read X amount of books.
👀👀
Ma'am, your lighting lately! You look stunnin!
That weak winter daylight has to do something for someone I guess 💁♀️
I was a bit unsure about the book when I first read the synopsis but I actually really enjoyed it, I've read it twice, I read the Netgalley ARC and then I reread it when I got the book from FL
I personally like the color way change of The Last Raven the red dress really pops off of the cool colors.
The Teller of Small Fortunes has so many pretty covers, it's hard to choose which one I like most.
I enjoy these videos. I look for it every month! Thanks!
The Teller Of Small Fortunes is my favourite edition!
Now we really need a video with that coin xD Maybe instead of going to sleep you have to do chores or switch books
I agree with locked library. They had two books I would have picked up regardless of the subscription, but the rest were a let down. I tried for a year before giving up 😅
I think there's a real issue at the moment of books being treated like products - which obviously they are, and book collecting is a whole other thing! - but I see so many books included in boxes and then you see the reviews and a large number of them are mediocre at best. It's almost like book boxes have forgotten their choices should also be good books in terms of their written quality. I say this as an Illumicrate and Evernight subscriber - I love special editions, though very much utilise my skips because there were plenty of books in the main IC box this year I had no interest in.
Like obviously there's nothing wrong with people reading books that bring them joy, but there seems to be a real issue online with media literacy at the moment and I can't help wondering how much of that is down to books that just aren't well written or plotted getting this kind of marketing push.
I am very excited to dive into The Last Hour Between Worlds, though-I love the idea of following a heroine who's also a new mother!
I can only speak for book of the month (and aardvark which I more recently joined, although so far they seem to include lesser profile titles/books by authors I know have a track-record of actually producing well-written books) but the amount of times I've picked up one of the books from my subscription box and had it feel like a first draft, barely line-edited, no subtlety, bare bones characters, just clunky and messy writing overall.... and then turned around and found out it has a 4 star or higher on goodreads with people saying it's one of the "best books of the year" is honestly astounding. Even outside of book boxes, more and more this year I keep picking up books that feel like they were rushed to market at least a year too soon & they're all extremely popular. Bad + hastily published books have always been out there and in some cases I think the outrage about the current state of publishing is kind of overblown, but at the same time it's hard for me to swallow how many people are exclusively reading these glorified drafts and heaping them with praise. It's encouraging publishers and writers to pump things out at an unreasonable pace because having A Book is apparently better than having a good book. Obviously there still are lot of very good things being published but in my experience they aren't often the books getting huge marketing campaigns and a half dozen exclusive editions and months of online hype. It's depressing honestly
the book boxes socks always get a hole in after the first wear for me 😅
Damn I’ve been getting them for years and I think I’ve only lost 2 pairs to holes at this point
I would buy the crap out of subtle book tea towels like that is there a artist/maker mentioned?
The spoiler card says their instagram is Chloe.Z.Arts
I enjoy East Asian inspired fantasy, too, especially Japanese-inspired. I am a bit of a Japanophile. But I have also gotten in to danmei (Chinese gay romance, usually with fantasy elements).
first of all, that sweater is really cool!!
Now the video ❤ the book pot from IC is the only thing that I like from the box xD
also I'm not a die hard Stephanie Garber fan but the calendar looks so good!! Seeing the art of the characters kinda has me wanting to give more of her books a try now (Im a simp for some of the guys omfg).
omg the edition of The teller of small fortunes is So Stunning!!! what a standout.
Afterlight was so nice! But you have to go with your guts, so hats off to you!
I just feel like I haven’t been reading as much contemporary romance recently so I don’t really need any more coming in, especially in hardback and then there were none that I felt stood out enough to me to be an exception 😭
@BeccaandTheBooks Oh i completely get it!! Hoarding and receiving just for the sake of it is not interesting and feels like just overconsumption which is not the best in our times??? But I use this sub because it makes me read more romances that are not just fantasy or general fiction. And those editions are absolutely gorgeous. They always make top costumizations.
But I really get it!
Who thought putting that run on sentence as a synopsis was a good idea 😂
Literally pickled my poor brain 😭
I read Fire in the Sky as an arc and I have no idea if you would like it. It’s very…tick the checklist of tropes, and then craziness happens in the last 10%. Not even good craziness. I’ve been using this book to explain the issue with current publishing trends 😅
Becca!!! Where did you get your sweatshirt? I NEEED itttt 😩😩
It was from an Etsy shop called Taylor and Lucas but I don’t think they exist anymore 😩
So far I’ve gotten 2 fairyloot books and they have both been very cutesy looking. I’m not a cutesy reader at all. I’m giving it one more book before I cancel, to see if December can redeem it.
Ooh what was the other one? I can only think of 2 fairyloot’s from this year that were cutesy vibes off the top of my head. I am very excited for both the adult and romantasy fairyloot’s for December but I don’t think the YA will be for me
@ It was called Sorcery and Small Magics. It might not be but based on the synopsis and cover design, I think it will. My reading taste lean a little darker. I only have the Adult Fiction sub though. My budget doesn’t allow me to have many so I have it and the Broken Binding sub.
@ ohhhh yeah! If I remember correctly I think someone in the comments of my last unboxing said it’s not as cutesy as it seems but I might actually be making that up so 😂
@@BeccaandTheBooks I keep saying I will pick it up and give it a chance but it’s very low priority atm.
Lol some of the comments! I actually skipped everything for November as none appealed to me. Its like we all have a choice or something?! 😂
Enjoyed the video regardless, you do a good job of showcasing them!
Imagine having personal preferences. Wild right? 🤪😂
I have The Last Raven as an arc and was told I'd hate it. 🙈
The last hour synopsis sounded like it was written by chat gpt
I want to read for she is wrath!!
I loved the last raven it was 4 stars it’s ACOTAR but vampires not fae to me but i do prefer the original book cover
I feel the red just goes so much better!
Love your unboxings but what is it with the Forbidden Kingdom trying to copy another book box with colour and aesthetic 🤔 Not a big fan of the original book let alone the new flouncy one. 3/10 for effort I guess but combine it with the Goodreads rating…damn it better have something magical in the pages. Look forward to your thoughts on that one definitely 😮💨
I'm so sad For She is Wrath wasn't a win for me because that edition is STUNNING
Hopefully I love it 😭
Nice Video and you look so pretty cute and beautiful.
😻😻😻
House of Flame and Shadow was amazing!!! That ending! So nice and hopeful.
I’m glad you enjoyed it
I love Locked Library BECAUSE they are showcasing books that aren't in other boxes.
Ratings on goodreads means nothing
But they’re only showcasing books by their own publishing house? They’re not doing anything anyone else isn’t doing, in fact they’re doing less because they have a smaller pool of books to choose from AND other subscription boxes are also choosing books from them making the pool even smaller.
Ratings on goodreads may mean nothing to you, but my opinion means something to me and I’ve disliked every locked library book I’ve picked up so 💀
@BeccaandTheBooks I don't like the format of the books in Forbidden Wing, but the list of books so far sounds interesting, stuff that no other box would look at. January, especially The Baby Dragon Cafe sounds absolutely adorable!
That's the point of these subscriptions for me, discover books I wouldn't usually look at, and Locked Library has the most unique selection, The Bell Witches was great... the amount of times Illumicrate, Fairyloot, and Owlcrate have done the same books as each other. That's not going to happen with Locked Library.
@ it’s not going to happen with them because they’ve made a point of saying that is isn’t but that doesn’t mean the books are better just because nobody else is doing them. There are also many books they could publish that aren’t the ones they’re choosing that may be better. I skipped the Bell Witches bc it didn’t appeal to me and now continue to skip most of the books that I’m not interested in, but for the first year of books that I did not skip I was seeing a decline in quality that means that I now skip many more books than I’m purchasing
To play devil's advocate.....have you actually tried any of the Locked Library/Harper books that are lesser known? From what it seems to me, most of those "huge" Romantasy books are objectively badly written and sacrifice plot and world-building for spice. Yes, they are popular but that doesn't equal quality and since you like a lot of well-written, high fantasy series, I'd think maybe some of the unknown releases could be hidden gems? I swear I don't work for them or anything 😂 I just don't hear many good things about these popular Romantasy books from readers who like smart, good fantasy. 🤷🏻♀️
Like I said in this video, harper voyager is my favourite fantasy publisher, so yes I have read and loved A LOT of their books, which is why their locked library selections seem like they’re intentionally using their subs to push books that people would otherwise never pick up. The reason I signed up to locked library is because most of what I’ve read from them I’ve really enjoyed and so this sub is super disappointing imo.
Why don’t you show everything in the boxes? It would make your videos more inclusive.
Please tell me what I left out? Which was nothing 😂