I finally got to try out a subscription I’ve been waiting months for – but was it worth it?
From cheese and wine to beauty products and crafting kits, it seems there’s a subscription box for nearly everything. Bookworms are particularly spoilt for choice, with popular options including a blind date with a book and Tea Time Bookshop, a monthly delivery of a book paired with your favourite brew and some scrumptious biscuits.
But undoubtedly, one of the most sought-after bookish subscription boxes comes from Fairyloot. Renowned for their intricate designs, striking sprayed edges and months-long waiting list, you’ve likely coveted a Fairyloot book without even realising it.
Like many others, I’m sure, I’ve been languishing on the waitlist for a bit now, so when I was offered the opportunity to try out one month of the subscription, I leapt at the chance.
I’ve always adored the idea of receiving regular deliveries of my absolute favourite things, yet my only current subscription (aside from streaming services, Spotify and the obligatory extra storage needed as an iPhone user) is HelloFresh.
Beyond aesthetics, what attracts me most to Fairyloot is the selection and variety of books in their boxes. You can opt for romantasy, adult fantasy, young adult fantasy or a mix, reports the Express.
There are also some less frequent options like cosy fantasy and epic fantasy, which are dispatched quarterly. Alchemised by SenLinYu, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab and Katabasis by R. F. Kuang are just a few of the books that subscribers to the adult box have received this year.
As someone who spends a good deal of time on BookTok and likes to stay abreast of the biggest new releases, all of these books—and, indeed, most of the books on this year’s list—are ones I’ve purchased standard copies of and read in their respective release months.
So to cut a long story short, I was confident that the box I received would be packed with books I was eager to read.
I received all three of the November books, including To Cage A Wild Bird by Brooke Fast, Fallen City by Adrienne Young and Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton.
My first impressions were positive; the box arrived in immaculate condition, with each of the books wrapped in bubble wrap along with a card sharing the theme and synopsis.
My eye was instantly drawn to Fallen City, having added this to my wish list months ago when I first heard of it. The beautiful cover design, edges and naked hardback easily make this one of the most stunning books in my collection.
I hadn’t heard of the other two books, but the blurbs, character art and a positive review of To Cage A Wild Bird by a friend meant I was pleased with the selection.
Seven Deadly Thorns was somewhat of a revelation for me in that while I enjoy the occasional young adult fantasy, it’s not something I naturally gravitate towards. Similarly, the cover alone wouldn’t draw me in.
But throw in the character art and bare hardback design, and suddenly I’m completely smitten and can’t wait to dive into it.
In summary, my Fairyloot box met my sky-high expectations and if I had to describe it in three words, I’d say it’s worth the wait.
The books make stunning additions to your bookshelves, and it’s a fantastic way of discovering new titles you might not have necessarily chosen otherwise.
For now, I’ll return to scouring Vinted for second-hand copies of my favourite titles, but I eagerly look forward to the day I reach the front of the queue.
Subscriptions start from £20 a month for a YA book-only box to £38 for a two-book combo box and £57 for a three-book combo box. You can find out more on Fairyloot.
