#rcoct23

[stardustandrockets]

No question today, but look at how gorgeous this new cover forTHE SPELLS WE CAST by Jason June is!! I'm in love!! 😍

I'm not usually into cowboys, but the few cowboy stories I've read (The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy mainly 😂) have definitely won me over. I've got a good feeling about it.

• Cover art by @samairu, designed by @manicfemme

• print by @ace-artemis-fanartist

[stardustandrockets]

What one genre/trope you want to read more of?

The synopsis for The Wicker King by K. Ancrum says it's about mental health and explores a codependent relationship fraught with tension, madness, and love. If that doesn't sound like my kind of book, I don't know what does.

This may be one of my favorite color palettes for a magnet. Between it and the synopsis, it's definitely at the top of my tbr. Which is one thing I love about Rainbow Crate. They're always adding to my tbr by reccing books I've never heard of or haven't seen suggested much.

[stardustandrockets]

OCTOBER RAINBOW CRATE SPOILERS

I swear I fall more and more in love with these redesigned covers with each box. manicfemme is knocking the typography and junk out of the park along with the cover artists!

This month's @rainbowcrate included:

• The Spells We Cast by Jason June—dust jacket art by @samairu with dark silver foiling and glow effect, signed bookplate, and author letter on the jacket

• In the Roses of Pieria by Anna Burke—dust jacket art by @otuscops, maroon foiling, spot gloss, foiled in-world hardcover, end papers by manicfemme & @jamielynnlano, printed edges by @mrosedesigner, a letter series, author letter, and signed art bookplate

• monthly collectible magnet inspired by The Wicker King by K. Ancrum

• letter opener inspired by These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling; designed by @kitstercronk

• spoiler card art as always is by @ace-artemis-fanartist

[stardustandrockets]

What's the last dark academia book you read?

I believe the last true dark academia I read was The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore. Though The Honeys by Ryan La Sala was inspired by the dark elements of dark academia despite taking place at a super sunny camp. (The horrors lurk.)

I hadn't heard of In the Roses of Pieria by Anna Burke before it was the Rainbow Crate October pick, but it sounds really good! I flipped through it and it looks like a quick read once you get going. Look how STUNNING this edition is!! RC never disappoints!

[stardustandrockets]

Do you have a pen pal, or have you ever had a pen pal?

During college I had several pen pals. I was paired with some through a service, facebook groups, and even tumblr. Some of them were friends I asked if they wanted to exchange letters. At one point I participated in a postcard exchange where you'd send one to someone and people would send them to you. I've gotten postcards from Japan, Germany, Belgium (I think), and a few others. This particular letter is from a friend I met on tumblr who lives in New Zealand. We're still in contact, via snapchat mostly. Some of my old snail mail (especially the postcards) is archived on @musical-mailbox

This letter opener is inspired by These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling. Again, not one that I've read, but it sounds really good. It was designed by @kitstercronk

[stardustandrockets]

What's a book you've read that's set in your city/state/area?

It's not often I read books I'm actually interested in that are set in my state. I can think of maybe three in recent years off the top of my head: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Ander & Santi Were Here, and this one—The Heartbreak Bakery.

The Heartbreak Bakery was a book that had been consistently recommended by @rainbowcrate and when I saw a copy in my favorite used bookstore, I had to snag it. It's different than what I was expecting. The magic is subtle, the friendships are fantastic (Syd and Harley are such a good duo!), queer rep off the charts (both sexual and gender identities), and it's such a good time! There are recipes sprinkled throughout as chapter breaks—some you can actually bake up and some are recipes for a good day, etc.

Highly HIGHLY recommend picking up your favorite baked good and a copy of The Heartbreak Bakery!