Illumicrate has revealed its exclusive edition of Dead Beat, the third and final book in Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House trilogy.
The new Royal hardback comes with a redesigned cover, sprayed edges, illustrated endpapers and a digital signature from Bardugo. It will cost $35 in the United States and £25 in the United Kingdom before shipping and applicable taxes.
What is included with Illumicrate’s Dead Beat edition?
According to Illumicrate’s announcement, the exclusive Royal hardback includes:
- A redesigned cover with artwork by Sarah Mason and design by ChattyNora
- Foil on the hardback, also created by Mason and ChattyNora
- Block-sprayed edges
- Illustrated endpapers by ysvyri, with the same artwork at the front and back
- A digital signature from Leigh Bardugo
Illumicrate notes that the images currently being shown are digital mock-ups, so the finished books may look slightly different.
Presale and general sale dates
Illumicrate will hold three presale windows on November 10:
- Previous buyers of Illumicrate’s Ninth House and Hell Bent set: 2 p.m. GMT / 9 a.m. ET
- Active Illumicrate Fantasy subscribers, including box and book-only subscribers: 3 p.m. GMT / 10 a.m. ET
- Silver and Gold Illumicrate Reward members: 4 p.m. GMT / 11 a.m. ET
Presale instructions will be emailed to eligible customers on November 4.
If copies remain, the general sale begins November 12 at 3 p.m. GMT in the UK and 10 a.m. ET in the US. Illumicrate has not announced a purchase limit or stated how many copies will be available.
How it compares with Illumicrate’s earlier Ninth House editions
Illumicrate previously released matching editions of Ninth House and Hell Bent as a two-book set in early 2023. Those books also featured designs by ChattyNora, character endpapers by ysvyri and block-sprayed edges.
However, there are a few differences as well. The earlier covers and hardback foiling used artwork from Signum Noir, while Sarah Mason is handling the artwork for Dead Beat. The original two-book set was also unsigned, while the new Dead Beat edition will include Bardugo’s digital signature.
Dead Beat arrives months before the Illumicrate edition
Dead Beat concludes the adult fantasy series Bardugo began with Ninth House in 2019 and continued with Hell Bent in 2023. The trilogy follows Alex Stern and the dangerous occult activity surrounding Yale’s secret societies.
The standard US hardcover, scheduled too release September 15, is published by Flatiron Books, runs 496 pages and is currently listed on Amazon for $26.99.
That timing gives collectors a choice. Readers who want to finish the trilogy as soon as it releases will need to buy, borrow or listen to the standard edition first. Those willing to wait until spring 2027 can hold out for Illumicrate’s version, which is designed to sit alongside its earlier Ninth House and Hell Bent hardbacks.
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