r/Illumicrate

Evernight January 2027 possiblity?

Evernight just posted a cover reveal for this? It does sound like it would be something Evernight might carry.

Thoughts?

Illumicrate Aug/Sep Team Live Recap

another illumicrate team live means another hour of subscription hints, special edition clues, sequel announcements, and the team trying very hard not to tell us things they clearly want to tell us, so here’s everything from the august live.

september subscription updates

september apparently has one very consistent theme across the board : someone is dead and everybody else has problems.

illumicrate — a study of death

magical medical school murder mystery
follows a group of students sitting their final-year exams when one member of their group is murdered
they then begin receiving letters from her from beyond the grave while trying to solve the murder and pass their exams
multi-pov
the author has actually been to medical school and apparently the medical school trauma is very real
described as The Pitt meets The Raven Scholar
standalone
they especially hyped the way the cover and naked hardcover interact, the color palette and the endpapers

afterlight — fangs for the memories

mm paranormal romance
vampire takes a trip to italy with his talking cat
a murder happens shortly after he arrives that suspiciously looks like it could have been committed by a vampire
he starts working with the local detective to prove his innocence and obviously sparks fly
grumpy x sunshine, except the vampire is actually the sunshine
described as fun, campy and reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
the author has published in other genres before but this is their romance debut

mindsight

snowy ski resort murder mystery
a body is discovered sitting inside a ski gondola when it reaches the top of the mountain
one of the hotel guests happens to have a history of solving mysteries and starts investigating before anyone else dies
technically connected to previous books through a recurring sleuth character, but completely readable as a standalone
described as nostalgic, classic and relatively “cozy” for a murder mystery rather than graphic
apparently very much a curl-up-with-a-blanket-and-hot-drink kind of book
they worked with a fairly major author estate for this one
they especially liked the cover details and sprayed edge design

illumicrate october / november / december

october

sapphic dark academia / magical realism
modern-day paris setting
standalone
main character compared to Alex Stern from Ninth House
deals heavily with the horrors of men in academia
lots of moments where you are questioning whether something supernatural is genuinely happening
apparently very visual and atmospheric

november

this was VERY clearly one of the team’s biggest favorites from the upcoming lineup.

start of a series
follows a main character potentially facing trial for witchcraft
described as having a similar tone to Little Thieves
they specifically compared the characters to slightly older versions of the Little Thieves cast who actually like themselves
also compared to Nina from Six of Crows
main character is extremely optimistic, competent and kind despite being in a pretty awful situation
major male character reminded Zoe of Briggan from Fire by Kristin Cashore
uses humor to explore some surprisingly heavy topics
the witchcraft accusations apparently parallel something that remains very relevant today
they think the book has flown under the radar so far and are expecting people to really love it
they compared their excitement around this pick to how strongly the team felt about The Raven Scholar before everyone else got to read it

december

Brandon Sanderson
standalone
features a magical cat
they described it as a really good entry point for anyone who has never read Sanderson before
edition design is apparently completely different from the trade
they were very excited about finally having him in the subscription

afterlight october / november / december

october

another huge staff favorite.

extremely slow burn romance, apparently the slowest burn they have ever put in afterlight
they repeatedly said the payoff is worth it
intelligent, opinionated female main character who is unapologetically herself and does not suddenly change into a people pleaser
complicated relationship dynamic plus lots of banter
the only romance they have read where they think the Emily Henry comparison is actually accurate
Emily Henry herself has apparently blurbed it
very different from what they normally put in afterlight
Bec called it her favorite afterlight design of the year and possibly one of her favorite afterlight editions they have ever done

november

enemies to lovers
remote arctic resort setting
female main character is a photographer trying to photograph polar bears and save her career
love interest is trying to save his lodge
he is extremely distrustful of journalism
they are forced to work together
apparently lots of tension

december

sexy billionaire vampires. that is apparently where we are ending 2026.
vampire is blood-bound to protect someone who hates them
very established and popular author who has never appeared in the afterlight subscription before
they were apparently discussing this pick for quite a while before securing it
heavily hyped the aesthetic and design
they spent an absurd amount of time choosing the font, including debates over gold vs silver, so please appreciate the font when your copy arrives

final 2026 quarterly hints

evernight — october

this one sounds significantly heavier than their usual picks.

debut author
haunted house story
the house essentially remembers the trauma both it and the land have experienced
rooted in horror but also directly connected to real-world horrors that are still affecting people today
apparently extremely emotional
they literally said to have tissues prepared
very important and personal pick for Yaz
edition is very different from the trade while still capturing the themes of the book

starbright — november

sapphic
cozy
part of a series
by a very popular author they have featured before and consider one of their favorites
apparently quite different from what this author normally writes
they were so determined to get this book that they basically reserved the quarterly slot before even reading it and refused to consider anything else 💀
especially hyped the redesigned cover

mindsight — december

author has previously written extensively in another medium, especially plays, but this is their debut novel
multiple povs with apparently very distinct voices
not set in the uk
one of the major characters is a queer woman going through menopause who is completely exhausted by everyone else’s nonsense
relationship and romance is not a major focus
darkest mindsight pick they have done so far in terms of actual subject matter, although the overall tone apparently does not feel relentlessly bleak
very fast-paced
basically everyone seems suspicious and multiple characters have believable motives
very different design from both the uk and us trade editions

sequel announcements

they are doing a little sequel announcement run this week.

A Thief and the Traitor Bride

officially announced (yesterday)
standalone companion to The Second Death of Locke
can apparently be read completely independently, although having read Locke will make the final section more meaningful because some familiar characters return
new character artist for the cover but they said it still looks extremely cohesive with the first edition
Caitlin actually prefers this book to The Second Death of Locke
apparently expands the world quite a bit and the central relationship has a long, complicated history

two more sequel announcements coming

both are sequels to previous non-subscription special editions.

sequel #1

one of their most anticipated books of the last several years
they have basically been waiting impatiently for the manuscript
part of an existing series
apparently looks just as cool and vibey as the previous editions

sequel #2

sequel to one of their most popular standalone special editions from last year
the original was also one of their most successful shop editions

both announcements should be happening over the next couple of days.

2027 subscription hints

illumicrate

they gave a surprising amount away about the first four months.

january

sapphic
author has previously appeared in the illumicrate subscription
the book actually had to move publication timing for them to be able to include it
significant focus on a central relationship, although they would not necessarily describe the overall book as romance-heavy

february

one of Caitlin’s early favorites
something she would not normally naturally reach for but ended up loving
complicated main character and complicated dynamics between basically everyone
apparently includes important representation they do not see very often
very good banter
edition design is already looking incredible
they think this could be an especially popular month

march

apparently also very good
they proceeded to give us almost nothing useful about it 💀

april

sapphic main character, although the queerness is more part of their identity, worldview and motivations than the central plot
standalone
author has not appeared in the illumicrate subscription before
author Caitlin personally already loves and had been waiting to feature
contains horror elements
apparently there is a significant twist
the artwork is being described as unusually organic to the story, almost like it has “grown out of the book”

Caitlin currently considers april her favorite 2027 illumicrate pick she has read.

afterlight

there will be a sapphic afterlight book in the first half of 2027
they cannot say anything else because the book apparently has not even been properly announced yet
january is by an author they already love who is writing in a new genre
they have known about the january book for quite a long time and were basically waiting for it to become available

evernight

january 2027 pick is sapphic
they apparently knew very early that they wanted it
edition is once again being described as extremely vibey

mindsight

first 2027 mindsight pick is queer

realm of the elderlings

yes, they are continuing.

more Realm of the Elderlings editions are definitely happening
however, there will be no new set in 2027
next continuation is currently planned for 2028
they stressed multiple times that this is only a break and that the project is absolutely continuing

more books in the tortall universe

also yes.

another Tamora Pierce / Tortall project is already being worked on
they cannot announce it yet
currently expected to ship around mid-2027
likely announcement sometime this autumn
they are huge fans of Tamora Pierce and want to keep doing as much from the Tortall universe as publishers and project logistics allow

how early do they choose subscription books?

apparently very early sometimes.

they usually try not to lock things in ridiculously far ahead because it makes balancing genres, themes and representation across the year harder
they have increasingly started looking at subscription curation across entire quarters rather than month by month
however, they recently selected one book for the second half of 2028
at one stage that book was apparently being discussed for 2029
october 2026 was also chosen unusually early
february and march 2027 were selected before Zoe had even fully transitioned into her current role

so yes, some of these boxes are being planned literally years before we ever see them.

special edition set hints

afterlight set

this one feels very guessable. their hints:

“cottage”
they have been “playing the long game”
the finished editions will apparently be “quite unrivaled”

they have been working on the set for a long time and expect a full announcement sometime this autumn.

illumicrate duology set

very popular duology
second book is coming out very soon
storytelling is a major part of the plot
“telling lies” may also be relevant
jacket artwork is apparently so good Bec made it her phone wallpaper

mystery dream project

okay this one sounds insane and potentially very big.

absolutely no actual information yet
described repeatedly as a “dream project”
apparently we are “not ready” and “not prepared”
they were very deliberately secretive about what exactly it is
announcement coming in a couple of weeks

so whatever this is, they clearly seem very excited about it.

overall / what’s coming next

there is quite a lot happening over the next few months, both with the subscriptions and outside of them.

september brings the next Illumicrate, Afterlight and Mindsight picks
october has the next Evernight alongside Illumicrate and Afterlight
november brings Starbright as well as the regular Illumicrate and Afterlight subscriptions
december closes out the year with Mindsight alongside Illumicrate and Afterlight
the two remaining sequel editions should be announced over the next couple of days
the mystery “dream project” is being revealed in a couple of weeks
the heavily hinted Afterlight set should finally be announced sometime this autumn
another Tortall project is also expected to be announced sometime this autumn
and they have already started giving us a pretty substantial look at the first few months of the 2027 subscription lineup

basically, there is a lot coming, and considering how much they were already willing to tease in this live, i feel like the next one is going to have even more to talk about.

personal note

as your self-appointed meeting minutes taker, thank you to everyone who comments saying you appreciate these recaps 🥹 i genuinely just make them for fun because i’m as excited about all of this as you guys are, and i’m very happy to keep doing them whenever we get another live !

a few thoughts from me :

september Illumicrate + Mindsight is an absolute yes for me. december Mindsight also sounds spooky in the best way. both of the upcoming picks have me soooo excited.
october Illumicrate has my attention because i’ve heard great things about the book already. november and december are more up in the air since i don’t know the books particularly well, but the team hyped november like CRAZY, which definitely has me curious… and i’ve never read Brandon Sanderson before, so maybe december will finally be the time.
not an Afterlight subscriber, but some of these picks sound GOOD. december especially has my attention because vampires will always work on me. i may have to hunt that one down on resale.
Evernight october is probably my biggest question mark. the concept sounds really interesting, but after not loving the july pick as much as i hoped and seeing some mixed early reviews for this one, i’m definitely being a little more cautious.

and obviously i’m VERY curious about all these mysterious special editions and projects they’re refusing to tell us about yet 👀

anyways, that is all from me ! thank you again for reading these ridiculously long recaps. i’ll be back and locked in for the next live 🫡

reddit.com

u/hnitch — 1 day ago

▲ 79 r/Illumicrate

Illumicrate Exclusive: The Thief and the Traitor Bride by V.L. Bovalino

We are delighted to announce, in collaboration with V.L. Bovalino (@toribovalino) and Orbit Books (@orbitbooks_uk), our Illumicrate Exclusive edition of The Thief and the Traitor Bride!

Set in the world of The Second Death of Locke, this new instalment follows a cunning spy and her estranged husband who are forced to join forces in order to survive the deadliest of missions.

Our Illumicrate Exclusive edition is a Royal hardback and features:⁠

Exclusive redesigned cover (art by @morganemgl; design by @chattynora)⁠
Full colour art and foil on the hardback (by @pgm.99; design by @chattynora)⁠
Digitally printed edges on all three sides (by @chattynora)⁠
Illustrated endpapers (by @emmagilletteart); different front and back⁠
Digitally signed by the author⁠

Please note, this is a digital mock-up and finished copies may differ slightly.⁠

Pricing:⁠
UK: This edition is priced at £26 + shipping (and VAT if applicable).⁠
US: This edition is priced at $36 + shipping (and tax if applicable).⁠

Shipping:⁠
This edition comes under our 'Book only' shipping category.
Our UK shipping rates can be viewed here.
Our US shipping rates can be viewed here.
It is expected to ship in January / February 2027.

Sale Information:⁠
UK: General Sale begins 15 October at 3pm BST.⁠
US: General Sale begins 15 October at 10am ET.⁠

We will be holding a presale on 13 October. Presale access will include:

Active Illumicrate Fantasy subscribers (3pm BST | 10am ET)
Silver / Gold Illumicrate Reward holders (4pm BST | 11am ET)

An email with presale details will be sent out on 7 October.

u/hazrose — 2 days ago

▲ 20 r/Illumicrate

This week in collectible books (Aug 18 - Aug 24)

Here's this week's roundup of collector's editions that just landed, came back in stock, or are still on the way, across every publisher and producer I track.

All dates listed are general sale dates. Where a book has its own page on the publisher's site, I link to that. Otherwise the link goes to the book's page on Lazy Book Collector (which I run), where you can see its specs, compare it with other editions, set alerts, and more.

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ON SALE THIS WEEK

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Once Upon A Broken Heart
by Stephanie Garber · FAIRYLOOT · Fantasy, Romance

£108 · General Sale Aug 18, 9:00 AM UTC

✦ Patterned edges
✦ Illustrated endpapers

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Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™
by Rebecca Roanhorse · CONVERSATION TREE PRESS · Literary Fiction, Science Fiction

$110 · General Sale Aug 19, 2:00 PM UTC

✦ Signed by the author and illustrator
✦ Illustrated by Winona Nelson
✦ Limited to 500 copies
✦ Artisan/bespoke cover
✦ Textured Endpapers
✦ Letterpress printed
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

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Turncloak
by L. K. Steven · FAIRYLOOT · Fantasy, Adventure

£25 · General Sale Aug 20, 9:00 AM UTC

✦ Signed by the author
✦ Patterned edges
✦ Illustrated endpapers

Compare 2 editions of Turncloak

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Earthbound
by Saara El-Arifi · FAIRYLOOT · Fantasy, Romance

£25 · General Sale Aug 21, 1:00 PM UTC

✦ Signed by the author
✦ Patterned edges
✦ Illustrated endpapers

Compare 2 editions of Earthbound

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Suntup's August Title
SUNTUP EDITIONS

General Sale Aug 22, 4:00 PM UTC

✦ Illustrated
✦ Limited edition
✦ Artisan/bespoke cover
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper
✦ Full details to be revealed

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Blacktail
by Scott Hawkins · THE BROKEN BINDING · Fantasy, Horror

£25 · General Sale Aug 23, 11:00 AM UTC

✦ Signed by the author
✦ Patterned edges
✦ Specialty endpapers

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LAST CHANCE

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Discount Dan, Mythic-Grade Hardcover
by James Hunter · SHADOW ALLEY PRESS · Fantasy, Horror, Humour, Adventure

$85 · Campaign ends Aug 21, 3:59 PM UTC

✦ Signed by the author
✦ Illustrated by Ameilee (A.M.) Sullivan, David Stonebraker, Levi Cleeman, Odysseas Theodoratos, Robert Stoica
✦ Hidden fore-edge
✦ Illustrated endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Slipcase

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The Odyssey, Special Edition
by Homer · WRAITHMARKED · Literary Fiction, World Mythology

$65 · Campaign ends Aug 21, 10:00 PM UTC

✦ Clothbound
✦ Gilded edges
✦ Illustrated endpapers
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

Compare 3 editions of The Odyssey

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The Dark Heart of Fairy Tales
by Abigail Heiniger, Intisar Sabah Alshammari, Kristiana Willsey, Lisa Schneidau, Martha Bayless, Paul Quinn · Crowdfunding · Literary Fiction, Essays & Criticism, Folklore & Legend

Campaign ends Aug 21, 11:00 PM UTC

✦ Illustrated by Abigail Cossington, Carl Offterdinger, D. J. Munro, Fenghua Zhong, Fen Wen, Gustave Doré, Walter Crane, Zefiro Batista
✦ Illustrated endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker

Exclusive Hardcover Edition: CA$70
Premium Slipcase Edition: CA$95

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SHORT-NOTICE RELEASES

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The Emperor's Enemy, Deluxe Edition
by Jasmine Mas · LITJOY · Fantasy, Romance

$29.99 · Available now

✦ Signed by the author
✦ Patterned edges
✦ Specialty endpapers

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Shutter Island, Signed Edition
by Dennis Lehane · EASTON PRESS · Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Horror

$159 · Available now

✦ Signed by the author
✦ Leatherbound
✦ Gilded edges
✦ Specialty endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

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Attila the Hun and the Fall of Rome
by Christopher Kelly · EASTON PRESS · History, Politics & Social Sciences

$103 · Available now

✦ Leatherbound
✦ Gilded edges
✦ Specialty endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

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Rembrandt: The Complete Paintings, Collector's Edition
by Marieke de Winkel, Rudie van Leeuwen, Volker Manuth · EASTON PRESS · Biography & Memoir, Arts & Photography

$199 · Available now

✦ Illustrated
✦ Leatherbound
✦ Coloured edges
✦ Illustrated endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

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The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · EASTON PRESS · Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime

$420 · Available now

✦ Illustrated by Frank Wiles, Frederic Dorr Steele, Sidney Paget
✦ With an introduction by Vincent Starrett
✦ Leatherbound
✦ Gilded edges
✦ Specialty endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

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Lost Tales of Middle-Earth
by J.R.R. Tolkien · EASTON PRESS · Literary Fiction, Fantasy

$344 · Available now

✦ Illustrated
✦ Leatherbound
✦ Gilded edges
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

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A Christmas Carol, Deluxe Edition
by Charles Dickens · EASTON PRESS · Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction

$250 · Available now

✦ Signed by the illustrator
✦ Illustrated by Mark Summers
✦ Leatherbound
✦ Gilded edges
✦ Illustrated endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

Compare 2 editions of A Christmas Carol

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Essay on the Principle of Population, Deluxe Edition
by Robert Malthus · EASTON PRESS · Essays & Criticism, Politics & Social Sciences

$400 · Available now

✦ Limited edition
✦ Leatherbound
✦ Gilded edges
✦ Illustrated endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Sewn binding

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Last and First Men
by W. Olaf Stapledon · EASTON PRESS · Literary Fiction, Science Fiction

$103 · Available now

✦ Leatherbound
✦ Gilded edges
✦ Specialty endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

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From the Earth to the Moon, Deluxe Edition
by Jules Verne · EASTON PRESS · Science Fiction, Adventure

$276 · Available now

✦ Illustrated
✦ Limited to 800 numbered copies
✦ Leatherbound
✦ Specialty endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

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The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
by Robert Louis Stevenson · EASTON PRESS · Literary Fiction, Horror, Gothic

$89.9 · Available now

✦ Leatherbound
✦ Gilded edges
✦ Specialty endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

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The Poems of W.B. Yeats
by W. B. Yeats · EASTON PRESS · Poetry, Folklore & Legend

$89.9 · Available now

✦ Leatherbound
✦ Gilded edges
✦ Specialty endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

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RESTOCKED

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Flesh and Fire series, Unsigned Edition
by Jennifer L. Armentrout · THE ARCANE SOCIETY · Fantasy, Romance

$160

✦ Patterned edges
✦ Specialty endpapers

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The Odyssey
by Homer · FOLIO SOCIETY · Literary Fiction, World Mythology, Folklore & Legend, Adventure

£115

✦ Introduction by Emily Wilson
✦ Clothbound
✦ Gilded edges
✦ Illustrated endpapers
✦ Ribbon marker
✦ Slipcase
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

Compare 3 editions of The Odyssey

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Dracula: The Evidence, Immortal Edition
by Bram Stoker · BEEHIVE BOOKS

$800

✦ Signed by Dacre Stoker and Josh O'Neill and Paul Kepple
✦ Illustrated
✦ Limited to 250 numbered copies
✦ Acid-free paper

Compare 7 editions of Dracula: The Evidence

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War Master's Gate
by Adrian Tchaikovsky · THE BROKEN BINDING · Fantasy, Adventure

£30

✦ Signed by the author
✦ Coloured edges

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The Ruins, PREM1ER Edition
by Becky Docton · GOLDSBORO BOOKS · Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction

£34.99

✦ Signed by the author
✦ Limited to 1,200 numbered copies
✦ Patterned edges
✦ Illustrated endpapers

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Split Second, Crime Collective Edition
by R. C. Bridgestock · GOLDSBORO BOOKS · Mystery & Crime

£34.99

✦ Signed by the author
✦ Limited to 750 numbered copies
✦ Patterned edges

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The Castle and the Cloister, Fellowship Edition
by Laura E. Weymouth · GOLDSBORO BOOKS · Literary Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

£34.99

✦ Signed by the author
✦ Limited to 2,000 numbered copies
✦ Patterned edges
✦ Specialty endpapers

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Venus, Vanishing, Fresh Ink Edition
by Rebecca Birrell · GOLDSBORO BOOKS · Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

£34.99

✦ Signed by the author
✦ Limited to 500 numbered copies

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The Echoes Saga 1-3, Indie Endless Edition
by Philip C. Quaintrell · THE BROKEN BINDING · Fantasy, Adventure

£75

✦ Signed by the author
✦ Patterned edges
✦ Illustrated endpapers
✦ Head & tail bands
✦ Sewn binding, acid-free paper

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Mistress of Bones
by Maria Z. Medina · THE LOCKED LIBRARY · Fantasy, Romance, Adventure

£17.6