October 2023: Fairytale Forests image

October 2023: Fairytale Forests

Our October theme is . . . FAIRYTALE FORESTS!

Step into a fairytale forest where shadows shiver beneath arching trees, and tread the overgrown path through to a lamp-lit cottage where you can rest your feet.

Our October Illumicrate book is a standalone fantasy debut! On the cusp of debt due to her brother’s gambling addiction, a young woman turns to a strange magical grimoire to make sweet treats for profit. But when dark magic begins to lurk, the woman realises that the grimoire—and her own magic—may be the only thing that can keep her home from harm.

Our Illumicrate Exclusive edition is a B-format hardback and features:

  • An exclusive redesigned cover
  • Full colour printing on the hardback (by @chattynora)
  • Digitally printed edges
  • Endpaper artwork (different front and back, by @lothlenan)
  • A bound-in author letter

Items this month are inspired by Bitterthorn, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, Once Upon a Broken Heart and The Cruel Prince!

The book at a glance:

  • Standalone fantasy debut
  • All exclusive: redesigned cover, full colour printing on the hardback; digitally printed edges; endpaper artwork; a bound-in author letter
  • M/F main relationship; female main character; fairy tale retelling; historical fantasy; early modern German-inspired world.

Content warnings:

  • Blood
  • Body horror
  • Fire causing bodily harm
  • Gore/ knife violence
  • Kidnapping/ Imprisonment
  • Torture (off page)
  • Violence against animals
  • Cutting/self-harm, self bloodletting
  • Scarring and burn scars
  • Child abuse
  • Ableism/ableist language
  • Body shaming
  • Grief/loss of a parent
  • Trauma/PTSD
  • Drugging/being drugged/ hallucinations
  • Drinking & alcohol abuse
  • Forced betrothal
  • Strong language/cursing/swearing
  • Threat of sexual violence

Subscription spots for October will be offered exclusively to our Illumicrate waitlist. You can join the subscription waitlist here

News October 2023: Fairytale Forests