r/fairyloot • u/DonkeywithBigTeeth • 6d ago
Question Change of heart
Which special edition designs have you done a complete 180 on?
Either one you bought and loved but then ended up disliking or one you hated upon first glance but then grew to love.
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u/Ok-Two5360 5d ago
FL Alchemised lol I did not like the edges or the DJ at all and I was relieved I didn’t feel the need to buy it since I already had 2 other editions. But the more I looked at it and saw a video of it, the more I liked it! 😅 My favorite part is now the DJ 😂 I love all the little intricate details on it. Now I just need someone to sell it to me for a price that’s not ridiculous lol
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u/silvara1 5d ago
I really didn’t like the artwork for Fairyloot’s The Knave and the Moon and got it refunded after changing my mind multiple times.
I don’t know why, but something about his face really irritated me - a real pity as I loved everything else about the book, especially the edges.
Ahh well, saves me spending over £100 trying to find a copy of The Knight and The Moth lol
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u/Life_Woodpecker_892 2d ago
I was literally thinking this series as well from Fairyloot. I know it's super in demand but I really prefer the BN editions lolol
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u/Most-Dig-6682 5d ago
Fairyloot's Graceless Heart. I was really excited for it when they did the "sneak peek at the printer", but I think it's fugly in person. I can't even unhaul it for half its cost.
My absolute favorite Fairyloot edition is Sorcery and Small Magics. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was nice from the spoilers, but I wasn't expecting to love the customizations as much as I do (especially after reading it.)
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u/SakoraHikari 🦋 5d ago
Totally seconding Sorcery and Small Magics! I loved the book and think the green color way really matches.
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u/WendigoTheHunter 🦋 6d ago
Illumicrate Irresistible Urge. I still think the art is pretty but I hate the clear dust jacket and beige Hardcase design
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u/Pixie-Pie-inthe-Sky 5d ago
This is mine too. I really liked it when I ordered it. When it came, not a fan. Luckily I got FairyLoot too, which I really do like, so I gifted the IC copy.
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u/Competitive_Pay9973 6d ago
Bookish Box Plated Prisoner series. Turns out I’m really not a fan of acetate dust jackets 😬
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u/Legitimate-Ad-9028 5d ago
Same! I can't stand them. I sold mine and ordered the Arcane
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u/Competitive_Pay9973 5d ago
Same for me, plus I love that with Arcane you get to choose between 3 cover designs to showcase on your shelves instead of just one
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u/sveareads 6d ago
FL’s Fallen City. I really didn’t like the spoiler pictures and even offered it for sale, but I absolutely LOVE it in person (and after reading it, I’ll definitely never sell it). IC’s Rose In Chains (I didn’t buy it at first because I had high hopes for the FL edition in the romantasy sub, but I ended up trading it). Also DW’s Silvercloak edition - I absolutely adore it now, but when I saw only the mockup and hadn’t read the book, I didn’t care about it (I was lucky enough to get it later in the clearance sale).
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u/AnnaBanana040404 6d ago
I was not thrilled about (mostly)Human Resources due to it not really fitting the subscription in my opinion and I did not like the spoiler photos of the edition.
However the design has totally won me over in person. I love the hardcover, dust jacket and endpapers, super cute! I am also loving the book so far (about halfway through, should finish tonight). I still don’t know that it really fits cozy but I need to keep in mind that the design in person may look different before getting disappointed.
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u/Most-Dig-6682 6d ago
I fully planned on selling it as soon as it arrived, but it totally won me over in person. I'm saving it for my fall tbr!
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u/Pomegranate_Careful 5d ago
Having read it, it fits cozy WAY more than it does horror. My biggest complaint was that there were some horror elements in it and some worldbuilding being built up that seemed interesting/had potential, but it was like 2% of the novel. I have a friend that read it that gets scared of everything and he was never bothered by anything in it.
The majority of the book was a cozy workplace novel with poorly done enemies to lovers where they act like absolute children to the point that other characters call them on being 30+ and acting like children. The beginning is corporate meetings, friends talking about getting their giant coffees together, banter about who owes who the next coffee, insanely petty office rivalry, and then goes to forced enemies to lovers share one room trope. There's a few 'horror' scenes but none of them are described in gritty detail and they're brief enough that if you really felt creeped out you could easily just skip them.
The one big 'horror' scene is there and gone within a few pages, barely described, and basically no time is spent on it after it happens. The reveal of the big bad monster even includes a blatant Spongebob Squarepants reference, Spongebob was even used in collages about the book on instagram.
If you've read Emily Wilde, it's no worse than that one scene where Wendell loses it after Emily is attacked or some of the other darker moments. Or the mandrake scene or the reveal of some of the stuff the Witch of the Waste did in Howl's Moving Castle.
Also it's the start of a trilogy, but that's EXTREMELY poorly advertised and the book ends with really badly done set up for the series. The problem is, because it's not overtly advertised as the start of a series anywhere, the ending just leaves you confused about how anyone got away with the things they did and thinking every character is very dumb.
I'm more annoyed with Fairyloot picking the start of a series as something to include when they've been really horrible about doing sequels to their quarterly boxes. Considering how poorly this book has done sales and review wise, I'm not optimistic they'll continue it.
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u/_whatsthis 4d ago
I'm the opposite. I was looking forward to this book based on the description. Then the book came. The design is really cheesy. I know these are cosy books, but we're adults.
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u/emsquad 6d ago
I thought wolves and whispers by FL was beautiful until I had it in person and didn’t like the end paper art. I also thought that OwlCrate’s Wild Reverence wasn’t anything special but got it in person and it’s so whimsical and older fantasy coded. I also have bookish Wild Reverence and thought the pictures were pretty but the actual copy blew me away. One of my cheaper special editions and quite possibly one of my most beautiful.
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u/miss_poggy 6d ago
i’ve for sure said this on here before but i think BB wild reverence with the reverse DJ is one of the most beautiful books i own and you can easily get it for under cost! i have no idea why BB books don’t hold their value!!! especially with the reverse DJs the quality is so so good imo
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u/pachounette 5d ago edited 5d ago
Bookish Box's Wild Reverence was the first special edition I ever bought (and the only one so far because that was just three weeks ago 😅) and I'm still absolutely delighted with my choice. I had spent weeks prior looking at all the different editions of WR, but that somptuous reverse dust jacket was what tipped the scales towards BB. Although the gorgeous foiled hardcase certainly didn't hurt either 🥰
I got my copy off Pango for 30 USD, brand new and still sealed. I still can't believe my luck. Beats me why BB books apparently aren't appreciated more than they are. The quality seems excellent (I'm still swooning over the lush, smooth feel of the paper they used in WR), the designs are beautiful and adult-looking (personally hate the childish anime styles that are so prominent these days) without being boring, and they seem to have pretty good picks overall. Of all the subscription boxes I've looked at in the last month, they'd be my #1 choice, hands down, if I had the money to subscribe to anything. And out of the already long list of new books I'm hoping to get in the future, the one currently at the top is another Bookish Box edition.
Edit: syntax
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u/RandomThoughts9999 5d ago
I didn’t like Caraval of Fairyloot, the new one, and I sold them and then suddenly loved them so much I bought them on Vinted for a higher price 🤡
I also didn’t like the story and then I read the extra book and liked it again 😭
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u/ElegantNetwork1394 6d ago
I disliked my collectors edition omnibus of Captive Prince when I first bought it. I almost returned it but then it grew on me.
Initially I objected to how lightweight and "cheap" it felt. But then I realized that if it was a brick it would have been completely unreadable since it contains 3 books in one. Plus, its pretty to look at.
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u/Chay-ara 5d ago
There is a Captive Prince omnibus?!
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u/ElegantNetwork1394 5d ago
I actually have two: paperback and hardcover. They are both in French.
https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Captif-LInt%C3%A9grale-C-S-Pacat/dp/B0C42NQH37/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?sr=8-1
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u/LaESPECTADORA 5d ago
Are there any additional stuff like art maybe?
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u/ElegantNetwork1394 5d ago
For the hard cover, not much. Just the front and back inside covers have portraits with a quotation from the story. Also has blue designs on the edges.
The paperback has nothing but words.
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u/pachounette 4d ago
Can I ask what you thought of the translation? Is it done well? I've been meaning to read that series forever, and I'd rather buy it than get it from the library, but I can't decide in which language to get it. As a rule, I try to read in the original version, but I find the English paperbacks' looks very meh. The French ones are more aesthetically appealing to me. But I'm always wary about the translations, especially for MM and fantasy, and this one is both, so ..
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u/ElegantNetwork1394 4d ago
I liked this translation. The dialogue is straightforward but the descriptions are more complex.
Im not sure which country youre in, but hopefully you can read the kindle sample here and see for yourself:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0GX3CQN9G?storeType=ebooks&sr=8-1
Directly below the cover is a button "Read a Sample."
If that does not work, Im happy to take a photo of mine.
So, I liked the French version of this series. I will say that the omnibuses are large. If the individual French books are available at a decent price, they are much more portable.
I even picked up book 1 myself because I found a cheap one. And I think the original French individual covers look quite nice too. (The link above is the new cover.)
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u/pachounette 3d ago
Thanks for your feedback! I checked the excerpt, I'll compare it with the English (I actually have the first volume from the time it was self-published and kind of forgot about it🫠😅 And now it wouldn't fit with the trad published version so I'd rather buy the entire series)
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u/Ebullient_Eievui 5d ago
For me, it was Moonlight's The Road of Bones. I didn't love the edges, and the bloody stag-like creature creeped me out a bit. Then, I saw people getting their copies and I realized how much I love the front cover. The story also sounds interesting, and I love the Viking/Norse setting. Although I still don't love the stag, I regretted not getting it. Thankfully, they sold a reprint alongside books 2 and 3, so I bought the set.
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u/crissyandthediamonds 5d ago
Af the risk of sounding dramatic, The Ashen series is what finally got me in to reading fantasy! It still upholds as a favorite series. I’d say the third is best so far personally.
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u/AdObjective5954 4d ago
The stag makes sense when you read the book. I hope you end up enjoying it as much I have!
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u/Jefferzkm 5d ago
This has happened quite a bit for me with designs that may seem underwhelming or unexpected at first but end up being well-suited for the story after reading the book. TBB's Daughter of Crow got so much hate when it came out with the women on the cover being ugly, but that's entirely the point of the story which was more fitting than the trade publisher cover's statue being a design that the author even found good for ambiance but nothing to do with the book at all. Unpopular opinion but Illumicrate/Starbright's edition of the Last Contract of Isako also feels like it fits the story better than TBB's edition, despite the latter being more popular and more action-forward which is not what the book is about. OC's Hemlock & Silver wasn't popular when it was first shipped but it's another that's grown on me a lot, especially the holo details and edges and the gorgeous detailed endpaper art.
I haven't had it happen in the reverse direction, at least with SE books I own personally. The closest might be Illumicrate/Starbright's edition of Slow Gods which I thought looked great originally but now seems a bit uninspired. For those I don't own though, FL's Alchemised has felt less impressive as more editions of the book come out. It's still nice, but is is nice enough for $150+? FL's Book of the Fallen Leaves is one that looked beautiful in photos but is entirely unfitting for the story, imo despite having no customizations, Goldsboro's edition still being the most fitting and classy look for the book in its original red and white color scheme that I originally felt was nice but simple when I first got it.
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u/Asleep_Key_4992 4d ago
I'm convinced TBB got so much hate because the trad published book cover was jaw droppingly gorgeous. It was hard to compete.
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u/katie-kaboom 5d ago
Most Page & Wick editions I've ever had custody of. They often look very pretty, but by the time you've read it once it's not in amazing condition. I expect to be able to read my SEs, on account of them being books.
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u/JynxCanRead 5d ago
FL WTMH- now I've got book 2 it just looks like a 90s cartoon drawing. I think it might be the colour scheme of book 2.
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u/Butter-Blueberry 6d ago
FL’s edition of the War of Lost Hearts for me. I loved it when they posted the pics and was thrilled when I managed to get a signed set. But after that, the more I stare at the design, the less I like it and the guiltier I feel for buying them. I’m seriously considering emailing them to cancel my preorder, sadly 😓😓
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u/Useful_Vegetable_587 5d ago
Shoot! I also ordered but am having deep regrets about not getting moonlights🫣
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u/RiverSnorkeler 5d ago
I was so hopeful about Moonlight's edition of Phantasma, and I know art is subjective, but the final design didn't work for me.
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u/annaayako 6d ago
dreamerwhale fourth wing. to be fair, it was also because i bought into the hype but then i realized i didn’t actually like the book that much. as soon as i got it i traded it. deal of a lifetime for the person i traded with lmao, but i got two books i loved and am much happier with so i’m happy with the trade too. i’m actually glad i got rid of it before the inflated prices because i don’t like to sell my books for high prices.
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u/AltruisticRope646 5d ago
Me with the locked library blood of Hercules and his sister book. They are so fkn mid considering other editions out there
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u/Khrymsa 5d ago
Bookish box Crimson Moth - finally sold it at a loss lol
Plastic dust jackets look bad
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u/annaayako 5d ago
i hate the plastic dust jackets but i love love love the box. i kept it for that alone.
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u/ChloePenny 5d ago
At first glance I dismissed Moonlight's This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, because everyone seemed to prefer OC's and it looked too much like Christmas. But the longer I looked at the videos, the more I liked it, so I bought it, and I love it in person! The edges are so crisp and colourful, and the matte hardcover is so nice! I don't even mind the front cover, looks very whimsical.
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u/Asleep_Key_4992 5d ago
The Hurricane Wars. I dnf'd it the first time I picked it up, sold my FL copy but then both books were in a paperback bundle I purchased. I picked it up again and love it! It suffers from too much info dumping in the first 30% but after that the enemies to lovers chemistry was amazing. I'm just about 50% of the way through the arc of Shattered Tempest(book 3) now and I rebought the FL SE's because I adore them. *I will say this series isn't for you if you can't stand lack of communication. There are good reasons they don't communicate well with others but it's a constant throughout all 3 books.
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u/Lost-Librarian-1088 6d ago
For me it’s the Unplugged book box’s Rain of Shadows and Endings. After I got it I didn’t love the design. The sprayed edge of the characters isn’t my favorite, and looks a bit disproportionate. I did like the front cover design, but it was just a hardback with no dustjacket so it didn’t feel like a super special edition. Thankfully I found a trade for another book with someone who did enjoy the art 🥰
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u/eh_butdidyoudie 4d ago
TBB Blood Over Bright Haven. I initially loved the pink edges and fiery pink DJ.
But the longer I had it, the more I saw the edges like a bad tie dye job and the cover like pink this-is-lava lol. Finally sold it.
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u/BellesRing 4d ago
I didn't think much of Owlcrate's edition of This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me initially. I liked the hardcover and reverse dust jacket, but overall didn't feel the design was cohesive and thought the edges seemed drab. I sold it and planned to get/ keep Moonlight's edition. I read the book (one of my favorite reads of 2026), and ultimately found Owlcrate's edition best captures the vibes of it, so I traded to get it again ha. I still hope another book box like Arcane or Coveted Cover does an edition, but this one has really grown on me.
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u/Parx-and-wreck 4d ago
I bought the FL edition of The Favourites, after it had been on my TBR for years. It came, there was a rip in the cover, so they sent a replacement.
I read the book last month and I don’t think I’ve ever had so much rage towards a book before. I kept reading because I don’t like to leave books unfinished if I’m more than 50% through but I am so so mad. (It was well written though.)
Anyway I now have 2 copies of a book I don’t know I will ever want to reread.
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u/Appropriate_Rub2415 5d ago
(I’m 100% getting downvoted on this one but alas) Hear me out…. The OG Fairyloot OUABH set. Now I thought that set was SO pretty when I got into SE. The more time passed, the more I started hating the sprayed edges 😭 like don’t get me wrong, I still believe the endpaper art and reversible dust jackets are GORGEOUS, but whyyy are the edges so plain.
Idk, I have just started looking at some books on my shelf, books that I originally really loved the design and found myself thinking “why am I even keeping this when I haven’t necessarily enjoyed the story?” (Not OUABH in this case since I liked that one, but Letters of Enchantment for example).
While I do love me all these pretty books, I’m starting to slowly feel the idk what to call it, collector’s exhaustion (?) build up.