I am also curious...they've said that the Romantasy box won't change the picks in the Adult box, which is a shame. I guess the ones they pick for that box are gonna step up the level of romance and with everything that's being published right now, they definitely have the selection to make both boxes have a romantasy pick every month
@@faeryreads Amusingly enough, because I follow an account that posts guesses for the subscription picks for different companies - fairyloot included -, I've already seen what the first romantasy sub book is going to be. Pretty much everyone in the comments of that post was complaining that the chosen book barely has any "spice", according to early reviews. Seemingly everyone in those comments looking forward to the new sub was incredibly unhappy, because they were expecting more graphic romantasy books. Fairyloot definitely does have a very uncanny ability to create new subscriptions that everyone is initially super excited for, but which ends up being very underwhelming because it's not what people were expecting LMAO. It's only the first book, but I just thought that it was very funny.
@isi__1 LOL they do have that uncanny ability 🤣 I think I saw what book it was as well, but it didn't stick out to me at all because it wasn't something I was interested in lol
100% agreed! I've been subscribed from the very start (March 2022), because I was also expecting a different type of adult epic fantasy. I was hoping for books more similar in style to stuff like Robin Hobb or Sanderson. Instead, as you mentioned, almost all of the books have a very heavy focus on romance - which I don't usually tend to like - and most of them felt extremely YA, in some cases almost bordering on middlegrade. Sure, I suppose that's my fault for having wrong expectations, but I've heard that a lot of people seem to feel similarly about it. Thinking back on the books I read, Amina was the only one I loved (but I already adored S.A. Chakraborty's Daevabad trilogy, so this didn't come as much of a surprise) and the only one I liked was - kinda surprisingly, seeing that I disliked These Violent Delights - Immortal Longings. As for the others, I either DNF'ed them, or I rated them 2.5 stars or lower. The only reason why I've stuck to the subscription is that, unfortunately, I really like some of the other special editions they produce. :( As you're probably well aware, the majority of those sell out during early access and never make it to general sale. I'm scared that they will do a ton of editions of the most amazing books as soon as I cancel. Nevertheless, I've decided to not be conservative with my skips this year. As soon as I run out, I am going to cancel and hopefully not regret it. My skips got renewed in January 2024. I've already skipped January and April this year 😅 It's just not worth keeping a subscription only for the benefit of having early access to their other SEs. Especially now that I've gotten off the Broken Binding waitlist. Their books are way more to my taste.
agree all around!! I definitely was expecting that same kind of epic fantasy from them. in terms of their other special editions, I'm trying to convince myself that if I cancel then buy it second hand at an inflated price, it's still cheaper than paying for the subscription 8 months a year 🤔
@@faeryreads That's probably true. I feel like I have extremely bad luck with finding special editions second-hand for anything other than a completely ridiculous price, though, lol.
Why can’t we have an epic adult fantasy subscription? And why do the books all have to be new releases? Sometimes there just aren’t any new releases I care about. Maybe they should do a poll asking us what books we want, and give us some options. They could do new releases half the year, and older books the other half. They could also pick out some indie or self pub books to give those authors some awesome editions.
@@EotuaDawnwalker I mean, if you're in the UK, or are willing to pay international shipping, the Broken Binding does something like that. Which is why I've subscribed to them. Their subscription consists only of backlist series, most of which are extremely well-received, though they do throw in a bit of an underdog here or there. Outside of their sub, they have new releases as separate SEs. They also produce special editions of indie books here and there. They don't really do polls about the series they put in the sub, but they do listen to user feedback a lot, from what I've gathered :) I just wish they would also have a sub for new fantasy releases
I've been feeling conflicted about these books recently also! I'm now curious to look at some of my stats, pretty sure I haven't read most because of there being so many first books in series
I loved getting the boxes years ago but it definitely just feels like none of the books work. I love pretty books but with the price of it, it’s not worth it if you don’t enjoy the books themselves.
I feel like every single time I hear about what the Fairyloot is for the month, it’s a book I’m not excited for. Illumicrate seems to do better in terms of lining up with my tastes, but even then, there are some books I wouldn’t read. But that’s not a problem with the subscription. That’s just my own reading tastes.
I went back to the Illumicrate site to see the books again, and actually no. I’m not interested in most of them. Why did I think I was more interested in those books?
When it comes to FL not choosing better books…maybe they need to hire someone that would be better at doing the research to make better book choices. Sometimes I’m confused as to why one book is in the subscription and the more anticipated one is put in the shop. The only book that was a FL sub books that I’ve DNF’d were The City of Stardust and their first Romantasy pick. A Dowry of Blood is the only one I gave 3 stars. And I’ve really enjoyed (4-5 stars) all the other books I’ve read. I did canceled both my boxes last June, but of course I’ve still read some of their picks. Well, it sounds like this isn’t the subscription company for you. If someone is specifically looking for LGBTQ authors there’s Illumicrate, The Dazzling Bookshop and Fae Crate. They seem to have lots of LGBTQ authors/stories. It’s not horrendous that FL doesn’t normally do LGBTQ authors/stories. It must not be what the majority of their readers must want or I’m sure they’d be doing them more. I’ve never heard anyone complain…except you. Most book boxes do books heavy on the ROMANCE and they don’t always consider them “romantasy boxes!” The Bookish Box, Illumicrate, Owl Crate, Fae Crate, Fabled Co, Midnight Whispers, Fox & Wit, The Locked Library, Legendary Box…I can keep naming companies if you’d like. Oh, you get my point? Great! You clearly don’t know your own reading taste if you were subscribed to FairyLoot for TWO years and you’re complaining that every book is heavy on the romance and that most books are the start of a series 🤦🏻♀️ They have had many years to determine what their readers mostly enjoy. I don’t think you even have a right to complain. You didn’t cancel your sub after the first year or even the first 6 months when you didn’t really enjoy it to begin with. And clearly didn’t do your research on other subscription boxes and what they have available. Subscribe to The Broken Binding. It’s an EPIC FANTASY subscription box. Maybe you’ll like it more, but they do previously completed trilogies for their subscription box. They’ve only done one standalone. Their trilogies are predominately by white male authors. I’ve seen one trilogy by a female author. See, you can never win. It’s always one of the other; you can’t have it all!
Well, we are all entitled to our own opinions! For example, it's my opinion that asking for diverse book choices isn't too much to ask for. I think we all have the right to complain anything, whether it be me about books I spent my own money on or you about the video that I posted for the public to watch.
That's rough numbers 😢. I found booktube while searching for a subscription box but glad I never ordered any. The fantasy has too much romance-focus for me, and often is too young. I'd rather see a wide variety like what the Advent of Winter project pulled off.
I’m intrigued what will happen to their picks when the fantasy romance box comes out coz these are pretty much all romantasy
I am also curious...they've said that the Romantasy box won't change the picks in the Adult box, which is a shame. I guess the ones they pick for that box are gonna step up the level of romance and with everything that's being published right now, they definitely have the selection to make both boxes have a romantasy pick every month
@@faeryreads Amusingly enough, because I follow an account that posts guesses for the subscription picks for different companies - fairyloot included -, I've already seen what the first romantasy sub book is going to be. Pretty much everyone in the comments of that post was complaining that the chosen book barely has any "spice", according to early reviews. Seemingly everyone in those comments looking forward to the new sub was incredibly unhappy, because they were expecting more graphic romantasy books.
Fairyloot definitely does have a very uncanny ability to create new subscriptions that everyone is initially super excited for, but which ends up being very underwhelming because it's not what people were expecting LMAO.
It's only the first book, but I just thought that it was very funny.
@isi__1 LOL they do have that uncanny ability 🤣 I think I saw what book it was as well, but it didn't stick out to me at all because it wasn't something I was interested in lol
100% agreed! I've been subscribed from the very start (March 2022), because I was also expecting a different type of adult epic fantasy. I was hoping for books more similar in style to stuff like Robin Hobb or Sanderson. Instead, as you mentioned, almost all of the books have a very heavy focus on romance - which I don't usually tend to like - and most of them felt extremely YA, in some cases almost bordering on middlegrade. Sure, I suppose that's my fault for having wrong expectations, but I've heard that a lot of people seem to feel similarly about it.
Thinking back on the books I read, Amina was the only one I loved (but I already adored S.A. Chakraborty's Daevabad trilogy, so this didn't come as much of a surprise) and the only one I liked was - kinda surprisingly, seeing that I disliked These Violent Delights - Immortal Longings. As for the others, I either DNF'ed them, or I rated them 2.5 stars or lower.
The only reason why I've stuck to the subscription is that, unfortunately, I really like some of the other special editions they produce. :(
As you're probably well aware, the majority of those sell out during early access and never make it to general sale. I'm scared that they will do a ton of editions of the most amazing books as soon as I cancel.
Nevertheless, I've decided to not be conservative with my skips this year. As soon as I run out, I am going to cancel and hopefully not regret it. My skips got renewed in January 2024. I've already skipped January and April this year 😅
It's just not worth keeping a subscription only for the benefit of having early access to their other SEs. Especially now that I've gotten off the Broken Binding waitlist. Their books are way more to my taste.
agree all around!! I definitely was expecting that same kind of epic fantasy from them.
in terms of their other special editions, I'm trying to convince myself that if I cancel then buy it second hand at an inflated price, it's still cheaper than paying for the subscription 8 months a year 🤔
@@faeryreads That's probably true. I feel like I have extremely bad luck with finding special editions second-hand for anything other than a completely ridiculous price, though, lol.
@@isi__1 same, I've had good luck one time, but on the rest, I usually just keep them in my cart hoping for a deal, then cave and buy them 🙈
Why can’t we have an epic adult fantasy subscription? And why do the books all have to be new releases? Sometimes there just aren’t any new releases I care about.
Maybe they should do a poll asking us what books we want, and give us some options. They could do new releases half the year, and older books the other half. They could also pick out some indie or self pub books to give those authors some awesome editions.
@@EotuaDawnwalker I mean, if you're in the UK, or are willing to pay international shipping, the Broken Binding does something like that. Which is why I've subscribed to them. Their subscription consists only of backlist series, most of which are extremely well-received, though they do throw in a bit of an underdog here or there. Outside of their sub, they have new releases as separate SEs. They also produce special editions of indie books here and there.
They don't really do polls about the series they put in the sub, but they do listen to user feedback a lot, from what I've gathered :)
I just wish they would also have a sub for new fantasy releases
At this point im keeping it for the early access special editions i think. I do give their selections a shot, but it rarely works in my favor
I feel like that's a common feeling haha
I've been feeling conflicted about these books recently also! I'm now curious to look at some of my stats, pretty sure I haven't read most because of there being so many first books in series
right, I'd be way more interested in standalones! I'm so glad I went through my stats, I knew was bad but I didn't think it was THAT bad lol
I agree...I am not looking for romance when I am picking up a fantasy!
I loved getting the boxes years ago but it definitely just feels like none of the books work. I love pretty books but with the price of it, it’s not worth it if you don’t enjoy the books themselves.
100% agree! they are fun to get until I read the book and hate it so I guess that's not actually fun 🤣
@@faeryreads they’re good display pieces at least lol😅
lol true 🤣
I feel like every single time I hear about what the Fairyloot is for the month, it’s a book I’m not excited for. Illumicrate seems to do better in terms of lining up with my tastes, but even then, there are some books I wouldn’t read. But that’s not a problem with the subscription. That’s just my own reading tastes.
I went back to the Illumicrate site to see the books again, and actually no. I’m not interested in most of them. Why did I think I was more interested in those books?
Ohhhh, it’s because going back to like 2020-2021, I was interested in their books. Wow, alright. Things have really changed.
I agree, I think they are choosing books based on certain publishing trends, which I may or may not be a fan of, so it makes it kind of hit or miss
Fairyloot confuses me because 90% of the books you mentioned sound like YA Romantasy, not Adult Fantasy imo.
right!! I 100% agree. the choices just don't line up with what their boxes are supposed to be
When it comes to FL not choosing better books…maybe they need to hire someone that would be better at doing the research to make better book choices. Sometimes I’m confused as to why one book is in the subscription and the more anticipated one is put in the shop. The only book that was a FL sub books that I’ve DNF’d were The City of Stardust and their first Romantasy pick. A Dowry of Blood is the only one I gave 3 stars. And I’ve really enjoyed (4-5 stars) all the other books I’ve read. I did canceled both my boxes last June, but of course I’ve still read some of their picks.
Well, it sounds like this isn’t the subscription company for you. If someone is specifically looking for LGBTQ authors there’s Illumicrate, The Dazzling Bookshop and Fae Crate. They seem to have lots of LGBTQ authors/stories. It’s not horrendous that FL doesn’t normally do LGBTQ authors/stories. It must not be what the majority of their readers must want or I’m sure they’d be doing them more. I’ve never heard anyone complain…except you.
Most book boxes do books heavy on the ROMANCE and they don’t always consider them “romantasy boxes!” The Bookish Box, Illumicrate, Owl Crate, Fae Crate, Fabled Co, Midnight Whispers, Fox & Wit, The Locked Library, Legendary Box…I can keep naming companies if you’d like. Oh, you get my point? Great!
You clearly don’t know your own reading taste if you were subscribed to FairyLoot for TWO years and you’re complaining that every book is heavy on the romance and that most books are the start of a series 🤦🏻♀️ They have had many years to determine what their readers mostly enjoy. I don’t think you even have a right to complain. You didn’t cancel your sub after the first year or even the first 6 months when you didn’t really enjoy it to begin with. And clearly didn’t do your research on other subscription boxes and what they have available.
Subscribe to The Broken Binding. It’s an EPIC FANTASY subscription box. Maybe you’ll like it more, but they do previously completed trilogies for their subscription box. They’ve only done one standalone. Their trilogies are predominately by white male authors. I’ve seen one trilogy by a female author. See, you can never win. It’s always one of the other; you can’t have it all!
Well, we are all entitled to our own opinions! For example, it's my opinion that asking for diverse book choices isn't too much to ask for.
I think we all have the right to complain anything, whether it be me about books I spent my own money on or you about the video that I posted for the public to watch.
That's rough numbers 😢. I found booktube while searching for a subscription box but glad I never ordered any. The fantasy has too much romance-focus for me, and often is too young. I'd rather see a wide variety like what the Advent of Winter project pulled off.
agreed, way too much romance and too young. I'd never heard of that project, but that's really cool!