Hi everyone! How are y’all doing? I’m back after taking a short Blog break last week. But I read a lot and I visited the Boekenbeurs, the biggest book fair in Belgium. I’ll probably write something about that in the coming days/weeks, because there’s a lot to be said about it. But for now, let’s focus on today’s unboxing of the October 2019 Fairyloot box!
The theme of the October 2019 Fairyloot box was Love at First Bite. That’s right, it seems like vampires are making a comeback! So let’s dive right in and unpack all the goodies!
First of all, we have the spoiler card with artwork by Taratjah, which you can see in the big image at the top of this post. Look at those details: the bats, the street lanterns, the old-fashioned balconies,…!
Book sleeve and beanie
The first item in this box was something I always love getting: a book sleeve! This one was designed by Noverantale and features a quote from Dracula. It reads “There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights.” I adore this gorgeous design! And what makes it even better is the fact that this sleeve has a waterproof lining and a zipper, to keep your books safe.
Next up, we have a beanie designed by KDPLetters. It says “Bite me”, which is not only very vampire-y, but also pretty sassy. Imagine walking around with this quote practically written on your forehead!
Coasters and candle
After these two items for when you venture outside, it’s time to look at the goodies for indoors. We start with a coaster set designed by Blanca Design. These are delightfully gothic! The edges of all four coasters feature crosses, crescent moons, skulls and black roses. And the background also has skulls! But the designs in the center are all different: a red rose, a goblet, a bat and a dagger (with a drop of blood on the hilt). They’re absolutely gorgeous, but I’m not sure if they’re appropriate for a cozy family dinner…
Speaking of cozy… How about a candle?! This scented candle was created by The Melting Library and is inspired by Interview With A Vampire. It’s called My Last Sunrise, which is from a quote in the book, and on the inside of the jar is a dust cover with the rest of the quote: “That morning, I was not yet a vampire. And I saw my last sunrise. I remember it completely, yet do not think I remember any other sunrise before it.” The scent of this candle is blood orange, damascus rose and cashmere musk. Which is divine. Honestly, this candle smells lush and exotic and sensual and I just can’t stop sniffing it! Oh, and for those of you wondering: I’m pretty sure this is a 2 oz candle, so it’s on the smaller side.
Pin and sticker
When I think of vampires, I also think of bats. We’ve already seen bats on the monthly artwork, the book sleeve and one of the coasters, but there’s also an item that focuses entirely on these creepy creatures. Taratjah created this enamel pin of an adorable little bat. Look at its ears! I love that it’s a pretty subtle pin, if that makes sense.
Of course, no YA book box about vampires would be complete without Twilight. Which is why Catarina Book Designs created this vinyl sticker with a quote from those books. It reads “I like the night. Without the dark, we’d never see the stars.” And here we are at the point where I admit that I’ve never read Twilight (nor watched the movies)… So I can’t say much about this, other than I recognize the chess pieces, ribbon, flower petal and apple from the book covers. But it’s a pretty sticker and I love the quote, so I might use this sticker (once I find a suitable place for it).
Print, tarot cards and more
The next item is a gorgeous art print by Monolime Art. It features two female vampires and I absolutely adore it! This artist’s style just works so well to portray the dangers and sensuality of vampires, in my opinion.
And finally, before we move on to the featured book, we have the tarot cards. This month, it’s the Hierophant and Two of Cups, both inspired by Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me series. I love the look of these cards, but I haven’t read the books, so I have no idea who these characters are. If you do know, please let me know in the comments below! There’s also the Fairyscoop newsletter and the bookmark featuring this month’s artwork.
The book of the month
And so we have reached the moment suprême: the unveiling of the featured book of the October 2019 Fairyloot box! It is… The Beautiful, by Renée Ahdieh!!! This book is about Celine, a young woman traveling from Paris to New Orleans to start over. But soon after her arrival, she finds herself entangled with the dangerous Court of Lions and a bloodthirsty killer roaming the streets of the city.
I read Ahdieh’s Flame in the Mist a while ago and loved it, so I was incredibly excited about this book. I am currently reading this and absolutely flying through it, because it’s A-MA-ZING! So you can expect a review soon! Oh, and just look at this book! It has red sprayed edges, artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket by Merwild and Co, and is signed by the author! It also comes with a map of New Orleans and a letter from the author, which has character artwork by Kat Adara on the back!
And that’s my unboxing of the October 2019 Fairyloot box about vampires. I never was obsessed with vampires, to be honest, but this was still a fun box filled with beautiful items. My personal favourites are the book sleeve and the candle. What are yours? Let me know in the comments below!
