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Print Copies of Ruby Fever

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Print copies of Ruby Fever have been sighted in the wild. This is a soft release, meaning that the publisher is letting the bookstores put the copies out as soon as they get them. Your best bet are BN and indie stores. We know for a fact that Powells in Oregon will ship copies early.

Please don’t worry about hurting our “numbers.” All of the early sales are counted toward our release day. Thank you so much for supporting us. We hope you’ll enjoy Ruby Fever.

Please feel free to share where you bought the book in the comments. If possible, could you please avoid spoilers in the discussion below? We are still 10 days out before the release. We will put up an official spoiler thread a little closer to the release day.

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Comments

  2. Ha! Now I know what I am doing with my respite hours today – coming Barnes and Noble 😀 Three copies is not excessive, surely?

  3. I guess it depends on the Barnes and Noble store you go to in your area. I checked the closest Barnes and Noble store to me, and they show Ruby Fever as pre-order.

    So, I will wait until the book is downloaded on my Nook. I’m glad I will be taking time off from work that day. It’s really a coincidence sine I am going to a concert the day before and will use Tuesday to recover from it. ????????

    • Online my Barnes and noble said preorder but I called and they had it in stock. May be worth a try

        • I don’t think they will put it out early, but they will go look in the back for you if the computer says they have it in-store. They have a lot of books they HAVE to put out as it is.

    • Electronic copies aren’t usually included in a soft release; also, the major booksellers websites won’t show them for sale before the release date. You’ll have to be looking for a paper copy in person to have success.

      • That was not my experience. I went to my nearest B&N, asked to reserve a copy, and since the computer said they had it, a clerk retrieved a paper copy and sold it to me. The computer said it was in-store.

        • That’s the in-store computer which is not necessarily the same information as online. I changed my location on the B&N website to the Boca Raton store mentioned down further, and saw no copies in stock. But when I called they told me to come on over!

    • I would go look in person. My Barnes and Noble showed that print copies were pre-order too, but when I went in person they had it. I stayed up til 2am binge reading it. Worth it 🙂

  4. Are these sightings of copies in the wild only in North America… or do I need to start hunting my native European Shores for an elusive copy?

  6. Barnes & Noble in Columbia, MO.

    As a note, their website didn’t offer “buy online, pick up in store,” but did have a note saying that there may be copies available in store. There weren’t any copies on the shelf, but they were in the back and an associate grabbed one for me.

    • oooh thanks for posting. It’s totally worth me driving an hour to pick one up early. Thank you for the info!

  7. I got mine on Friday from Barnes and noble. I called and the bookseller told me she could put aside a copy for me sale. I walked right in to the front desk and there was my beauty!! I had a great Friday night! Finished it way too fast tho. On my reread now

  11. Ruby Fever purchased 8/13 at Barnes & Noble in Racine/Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin.
    It was on a small display called New in Paperback. I already pre-ordered an ebook but bought this one too because I have little self-discipline. I’m enjoying it very much!

  12. In California San Francisco Bay Area…calling all the BN in area. Getting run around about “the author has to release the book” for a “soft release”.

  14. Ruby Fever purchased 8/14 at the B&N at West County Mall (St Louis area). Was in a display New Paperbacks not near Romance, took me a bit to find it.

  16. I ordered my print copy from Powell’s thanks to the nice person on facebook and said hers had shipped early. I got it yesterday and devoured it. So good. I still have my ebook on order from Amazon.

  17. Found three copies of RF at the Pearland, Texas B&N. My friend grabbed one, and I took one for my sister (I read an ARC and have my signed copy on order at Blue Willow).

    The Clear Lake location was completely cleared out of ALL IA books, so I suspect someone just took the whole shelf 🙂

    Both areas are small cities in the Houston metroplex, so there’s an HL tie-in there.

  18. Due to arrive in New Zealand this week! So ordered mine from Capter Tea shop. Not only sell tea but books!

  19. Barnes and Noble in Mohegan Lake, NY also says it has put aside a copy for me. On my way to pick up now… so much for all the work I was going to accomplish today!! I shall also become a member of the triple version club (ebook, paperback, audio…)

    • I bought my copy from that B&N yesterday!! Sooooo good!! And I’m glad the sale will still go towards their release day numbers. I was worried about that.

  21. I started looking in Fantasy/Science Fiction section but eventually found it in Romance section of BN in Valparaiso, Indiana. ???? Very happy as I just finished Storm Echo today and was dreading the 8 day wait.

  23. Borderland Books in San Francisco has books in warehouse and can get book by this Tuesday. Underground Books in Sacramento said they can get book by this Thursday. Still checking…….

  25. Yes I’ve seen quite a number offered ‘in the wild’ rofl. But I’ve already paid for print, e copy and audio so I’m just gritting my teeth and waiting. I honestly did think about ordering another one for a few minutes last week tho.

  27. So tempting! But I’m going on vacation the last week of August and had promised myself I’d save RF for my vacation read! Much anticipated vacation… much anticipated book!!! Must. Hold. On!!! Lol!

  28. I guess there is no chance in getting an early copy in Germany….nine more days of patience for me…and I think I’ll need some ice cream to cheer me up now

  30. This is mostly tongue-in-cheek but it’s making me wonder what it would take to get amazon to do a soft release of the ebook?

    BDH, unite? Patience has never been our strong suit.

  31. B&N at Mid Rivers in the STL, MO area had 4 copies they kindly put out after I got my copy they generously pulled out of the box. They were saints!

    (I thanked them profusely and told them I understood if “no” was the answer)

  34. Loveland and Fort Collins, CO B&N do not have them yet. Hope to save others a trip! Apparently I am not the only one stopping by today to check. 😉

  36. I bought it via audio month’s ago. I am patiently waiting for it to go live late August. 😉

    • I pre-ordered my e-book version at Amazon, Brazil. No chance of finding a copy in the wild, then. Oh, well…????

  39. I’ve only just started my re-read today (Diamond Fire) and it’s unlikely my local bookstore will have any (not a major city in the uk like London/Birmingham) so I’ll try and wait patiently lol though I have been checking the countdown on the front page of website hoping it would skip a couple of days so I’m closer to release 🙂

  40. B&N in Manassas, VA on 8/14 – my sister got the last ones they had. Great way to spend a Sunday!

  41. Good info! I’ve seen books out at the store before release and thought maybe it was a store error. I’d been afraid to buy in case it hurt sales. Glad to know I can pick them up without a guilty conscience and I will definitely be checking the B&N’s by me to see if they have any out already.

  42. Now I have to try to get to BN. Not only am I tired of waiting but Patricia Briggs next book comes out the same day and that was going to be a hard decision on which to read first. This might solve the issue.

      • Book releases are scheduled for Tuesdays, so they the best chances to make the bestseller lists, which count sales for the first week post-release, from end of play Monday.
        There are only so many Tuesday in the year, some will overlap ????

      • Me too! I preordered both on kindle, but I got Ruby Fever at Barnes and Noble in Huntsville, AL today.

    • Haha, I had the same thought. I’ve been doing marathon re-reads of the Hidden Legacy books as well as the Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega books in preparation. Can’t wait!!

  43. BNlakeline mall round rock TX.
    Checkout had only been on for half an hour, I was the 3rd person to by.
    Can’t help my self. Finished my reread 2 days ago….

  44. Me: [notices blog post] “So…. apparently some B&N stores are putting Ilona Andrew’s new book on the shelves 10 days early.”
    Husband: “I’m assuming this means you’re about to run out to B&N right now.”
    Me: “Yuuuup.” [Promptly abandons Husband to feed our 3 small kids dinner on his own]
    ????????

    I scored a copy at B&N in Reading, PA! ????????

    Thanks for the early gift House Andrews! I can’t wait to dig in!

  46. I bought it digitally but will likely buy a physical copy as well. I love them so much. My favorite world and characters (and with all the love I have for all of IA creations, it’s a tight race)!

  47. Underground Books in Sacramento, CA taking orders with expected delivery this Weds/Thurs. Avid Reader in Davis, CA will take request with expected delivery sometime this next week. Couldn’t give specific day, but should be in before this Friday. big sigh Can’t find any book sellers that will put a book in my hands today or tomorrow.

  48. I ordered it Priority mail from Powell’s in Oregon after it was reported they shipped early. The day before it arrived, I found out the B&N in Omaha had it in. Hubbie and I left immediately and ended up with two copies so we could both read it. We were up until after midnight that night and it was SO worth it!

    The Powell’s copy arrived the next day. I paid for that happiness, though. I tested positive with Covid this morning after ducking it for 2 1/2 years! Here’s hoping the vaccinations keep it mild and with not being able to go to work, I can do my re-reads in a leisurely fashion. =)

      • Thanks! So far, it feels like a significant cold and I did run a fever last night, but it was gone this morning. Here’s hoping that’s all it is!

  49. Kingston NY Barnes and Nobles has 2 copies left after I asked for one to be put on hold for me!

  50. Wow,
    Went and got my book from BN as I said in earlier comments.
    It has been so long since I got a “hold in your hand book” that I forgot they don’t back light????.
    Ordered my ebook months ago and will get audio as soon as I can.
    Now to rearrange the lights in the room so I can read my first hand held book in 5 years. My husband is very understanding, even offered to bring me food. He knows I won’t stop reading to cook it.

    • I explained to my husband that I have to read the whole book tonight because I have callbacks, for a play I am directing tomorrow night, so to be fair to the actors I “gotta get it done!”

  53. Barnes and Noble on 8/12 in Oak Brook, IL (outside Chicago). You couldn’t buy online and pick up in store, but the store itself had copies out. There were copies in the Wisconsin stores on 8/11 and all Illinois stores got it in on 8/12 when I checked online.

    It was AMAZING and I loved it!!

  54. B&N San Mateo, CA (Hillsdale Mall) noted the publication date is Aug 23 and at that point I didn’t want to be pushy so I wrapped up the call.

    B&N Redwood City, CA said it hadn’t yet arrived but the helpful person took my name and number and will call when it arrives. She also said she’s been getting a bunch of calls so go Bay Area chapter of the BDH!! Lolz.

    • I DID notice that a whole lotta comments on this post are from the greater SF Bay Area.

      We definitely need a meet-up.

  55. BN in Tampa at Kennedy and Dale Mabry. ????

    This is the first physical book I have bought since I got my first kindle 10 yrs ago. I’ll have to buy the ebook when it comes out for ease of rereads. ????

  57. No luck for me at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park or Barnes and Noble in Woodinville, near Seattle. Both were very willing to reserve a copy when they do come in. BN didn’t find any in the area, either. I guess we’re farther from the distribution site. I’ll try again tomorrow.

    • Finally found on release day at Third Place. Checked there on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Monday. Also checked BN at Totem Lake Tuesday, no IA romance, Northgate Thursday, 7 copies of Burn For Me and representative others, Silverdale (Kitsap Penninsula) Saturday. Looking forward to seeing how the Snippets fit and the HEA.

  58. I used to love seeing books out early in Forbidden Planet and Murder One, it was like an extra special treat, especially on imports. Now I’m just happy to stay awake until midnigh to switch my kindle on!

  60. Yay! I called the Barnes and Noble nearest to me and they had it available so I bought it as soon as I saw this post. I can’t wait to read it!!

  61. I love seeing all the enthusiasm. I’m going to wait for my pre-order to arrive and in the mean time I’ll finish my reread that I carefully planned to end on Ruby Fever release day eve :-).

    Happy reading, everyone!

  63. I called B& N and they saved a copy for me behind the desk. I bought this afternoon and I almost done. My dad gets a turn after.

  64. I can’t believe how long I have been looking forward to this release, already preordered LONG ago, and planned an entire day to myself to just read it through the first time. Now, turns out I am flying out to NJ to escort my father-in-law out here to Oregon because he has dementia and is no longer safe on his own. What day is that? Just guess. 8/23!!!!! Why, oh fate???!!!!!

    It could be worse. I do actually love this guy, and in the scheme of things that is more important. But I’m still whining inside.

    SO excited for Ruby Fever!!! Thank you House Andrews for giving us something to look forward to so much!

  65. It’s a good thing I didn’t see this earlier because I had a lot to do today. Tomorrow however it’s supposed to rain in the morning, so I will be heading for the bookstores to see what I can find. I finished my reread of HL Friday, and am currently on the Mercy Thompson series (starting with Frost Burned, because I know the earlier ones well enough to skip at this point). So I’m well-positioned to take advantage of early purchase if fortune favors me with a copy.

  67. I wish I had read this earlier. I just checked online and a nearby BN is showing it as “in store and on shelf” in Falls Church VA so I am heading there in the morning. I have already ordered the ebook but I can’t wait. I have an off day tomorrow so it should be an awesome day.

  68. For anyone that can’t get an early copy (like me), I found an extended sample you can read online that is even longer than the one Mod R mentioned would be on the Apple books app. If you go to the Overdrive website (it’s a legitimate site that my public library links to when I want to check out ebooks and audiobooks), and type in Ruby Fever, you can read an extended sample online. This is the link to the actual book: https://www.overdrive.com/media/7873876/ruby-fever

    I hope it works for those that are disappointed their local BN stores didn’t get the book early like I did 🙁 This is a late comment though, not sure anyone will see it. Thank you House Andrews and Mod R!!! Very excited for this book I’ve been stalking the BN website for a few days now.

  70. Thank you! I saw your post, immediately researched the closest B&N with a copy. Jumped in my car, drove 21 miles and persuaded the guy at the customer service desk to check in the back. I’m on vacation tomorrow. It’s a book day!

  72. Mod R, Mod R, Mod R!
    Can we get a recipe list from the books please? In my reread I got to the Mango habanero salsa and just saw “super healthy vegan muffins” (p 223 EB, Arabellas muffins with loads of chocolate chips and nuts). Thank you, you are the best! Also I now need to go make the homemade ice cream recipe again.

  73. Called 3 barnes and noble and one put it aside for me!!!! Finished it and book was glorious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  74. Got a copy from Books A Million today. They only had one in stock but said they can ship.

  75. As soon as I saw post about BN in St. Pete I drove the half hour to get it. After I had been reading a couple of hours, saw the post that the BN in Tampa at Kennedy & Dale Mabry had it. Darn, that would only have been a 10 or 15 min drive. Oh well, it was so worth it.

  76. No Barnes & Noble’s in Toronto. But once it downloads at 12:00 am, I’m up for as long as it takes to read. And it’s fun to see the notification come up from Amazon.

  77. BN in both Asheville and Johnson City TN. Ps I would like an award for not staying up on a school night (hs teacher) and finishing it. Just 1/3 to go.

  78. ok, still have a question about Matilda and her prime hood, was she not originally introduced with no special magical abilities, or at least not as prime potential? when did she evolve?
    ‘thanks

    • No, there was no mention of Matilda not having powers. In fact, she has always showed affinity with various animals in the text, and her eyes shined golden when she embraced her aunt. We met her when she was very young, only 5 years old, and she was already manifesting her talent. It’s not a showy combat power, so perhaps you missed the clues and will see them when you reread.

      Outside of administrations of Osiris Serum or military enhancements like Nevada’s murena shockers or Bug’s swarm, people in the Hidden Legacy don’t really “evolve” – you can’t study your way into being a Prime.

      Children manifest their power at various ages, as we know from Wildfire and Rynda Charle’s son, but they are born the rank and power that they are.

  79. I got mine august 5 from independent store Bobs books in Lincoln city Oregon. They might still have copies. 541 994-4467. Read it four times already.

  80. No, no please don’t spoil. I’ve just finished my reread and I’m wondering what the heck I’m gonna read for the next few days. Thankfully Patricia Briggs has her new Mercy Thompson coming out the same day and while I plan to read Ruby Fire first, what an abundance of riches ????

  81. Local B&N, but y’all, it’s in the *romance* section. I went to Fantasy, said “hey” to Kate, saw no Baylors.

    Almost left, then remembered the whole “romance” clarification blog posts, lo and behold, one copy for me, two more waiting for you lucky BDH members.

  82. If you search for it under Romance on B & N it will give you a list of stores with what they have (hardback, paper, audio,etc)

  85. Hey TrueMyth this is Christie in Vacaville. Please check my posts at 1:38pm and 3:57pm today for more info. I checked book stores in Napa, Fairfield, Concord, Danville, Brentwood, Vacaville, Woodland, Davis, Sacramento and more. The trip to San Francisco is easily a $35.00 road trip (includes 2 bridge tolls) so I’ve put my faith in Avid Reader in Davis. Good luck.

    • You can try calling the bookstores first or checking their website online before you drive ????.
      Remember Ruby Fever will be in the Romance section.

  87. I am green with envy – not available early where I live (High Wycombe, UK). Probably good as its a bit frantic at work this week, but would have been wonderful if I could have got a copy for weekend!

  88. Ordered from a Swedish website that has books up for sale now! I ordered slow shipping though so I won’t be getting them early still, but so thankful, because on the Swedish website the release date is marked 09-15. Don’t want to wait so long!

  89. Listen to me.. Babeee.. I literally ran to the B&N near me and found the only, “not available” copy and bought it. Monday is definitely looking up..

  90. I just called B&N on route 22 in NJ, and they reserved me one of their 2 copies, I’ll pick it up in 2 hours. Can’t wait!

  91. San Antonio, Texas- Barnes and Noble. Thanks to the other reported early release sightings in the wild I got up the courage to ask one of the associates to check the back and they brought it out for me. So glad I did! It is a fabulous book.

  92. I literally put my debit cards on “lost” this morning because an unexpected bill came through and left me with 59$ in my acct til end of week, boy am I glad I didn’t pull the blog up until now????????‍♀️???? just crossing fingers they don’t allow any other debits to come through to make it negative????‍????

  93. Darn it. I don’t think there will be copies out here in SG. I’ll wait patiently for my Apple ebook preorder. 🙁

  94. B&N, The Mall In Columbia (because some enterprising person had the two remaining copies at the EC store on hold). Later!

  95. Sigh, it’s never the audio books that get released early. Or offered in free give aways either for that matter. I protest! LOL Looking forward to my copy on the 23rd.

  96. I work at BN College bookstore so orderd mine as soon as I saw it was available. I bought it Friday and am rereading it now. Weeeeeeeee!!!!!

  97. Woohoo! I scored a copy at the Strongsville (OH) Books-a-Million this morning. Had to drive an hour in crazy traffic and navigate the perils of the mall (it was deserted and I kept thinking of Catalina’s adventure there O_O), but I’m thrilled to have it now rather than 2+ weeks from now with the preorder.
    Thanks to everyone who suggested BAM; I’d never been to one and hadn’t realized it was an option!

    • Interesting. I checked their site last night and they said preorder only, which is why I went to Strongsville instead. Lovely to see another member of the BDH in my area!

  100. I’m back, because I just read the dedication page, which I believe contains no spoilers for the book:

    “The war in Ukraine started when this book was in its final editing stages. It is still raging as we write this dedication. We cannot stop the war, but we can help the survivors. A quarter of this book’s royalties will be donated to the UN Refugee Fund.”

    Thank you for this.

    “

  101. Well, now, I might just have to swing by BN on my way home tonight. Hopefully any BDH in my area won’t take all the copies.

    • Went to B&N after work. Spent a few minutes trying to remember what genre it would be in. I don’t pay attention to genres, I pay attention to authors. Finally remembered Ilona said it classified as Romance. Found 2 copies of Emerald Blaze. Asked a guy at the info desk. He had 1 copy… on hold until the 18th. ????????

      I’ll try Target tomorrow. Their shelves were bare (except for a slew of Bridgerton books), so maybe I’ll get lucky tomorrow.

  102. Waterstones in the UK has the paperback release date as 15th September!
    Just double checked my Amazon ebook pre-order and it is definitely showing as 23/8 – phew!

  103. I changed my plans today and stopped by Barnes and Noble. I got lucky and I’m over the moon happy. I feel like I need to thank the Academy. But will instead thank for IA and Mod R for the heads up.

  104. I bought my copy in Pembroke Pines, FL at a Barnes and Noble last night. It wasn’t on the shelf yet, but a nice employee got one from the back for me. So make sure to ask at the help desk if you don’t see it on the shelves.

  106. B&N in Northern Virginia either has copies in stores or will be having them as soon as their trucks arrive.

    Of course the three closest stores to me don’t have any copies but I was put on a wait list. The truck is supposed to be arriving now.

  107. Headed out to The B&N at The Summit on 280 in Bham, Alabama. Website says they have in stock but you can’t order online. I’ll report back if I was able to purchase a physical copy!

    • B&N in the Bham area have them in store, you can’t order them online. Have to go in store to get them! So excited to start reading.

  110. In the Metro Detroit area Barnes & Noble had two copies left on Saturday. I crabbed one!

  111. ooh.. found it at B&N in Firewheel Mall in Garland, Tx (near Dallas).
    BDH they had 2 more copies on the shelves in the romance section.
    Off to read!!!!!!!

  113. If you live in Fayetteville, NC the B&N has copies out on the New Release Romance table! ????

  115. I got my copy at my local bookstore, Paperbacks Galore. As soon as it came in I got it. Thank you it was very satisfying. Oh I got it last week and read it twice in a day. Passed it on to my daughter

  117. ok wow this answers my request heading for BN in the morning for more copies

    i ordered from
    https://bookshop.org/books/ruby-fever-9780063243187/9780063243187

    they mailed it early..but i want more for some friends

    first read thru i went too fast … second read thru ok now we’re talkin
    i hate to say this but read slow – it really is better and the end is more enjoyable
    boy is it hard not to be a spoiler

    the book shop dot org says:

    “Every Purchase Supports Local Bookstores. A Better Way to Buy Books Online..”

    is now my on line go to

    • If you buy from Bookshop.com, 10% of your purchase will be donated to a local bookstore. If you buy from the bookstore’s website (assuming they have one), their normal cut of the entire list price is at least 30% and up to 45% or so.

  118. Please add people with brown skin and curly hair to your special people. It’s a big space. Surely not all the special people have white skin.
    In addition, adding important people who have an (Edit Mod R re: outdated term: Asian, North African and Middle Eastern) appearance.

    I have family (multigenerational IS citizens) with brown skin. I would like to share this with them, but not if they are excluded.

    • Hi Migs,

      Thank you for your comment.

      The world of Hidden Legacy has BIPOC characters, including the main protagonists, non-American characters, from Nigeria to the Basque region, LGBTQA characters etc.

      There are Black Houses, Asian Houses, Latino etc, the Baylors themselves are mixed heritage. I am a tad confused what you are referring to? Is it the cover? Unfortunately, authors do not have input in the design of the cover of traditionally published books, they are decided by the publishing house. Nor are they literal interpretations of the content of the book.

      I hope this helps.

      PS: As per blog policy, I have had to edit a term in your comment which is outdated, generalizing and signalled as harmful by many of the people it concerns. It has been eliminated from legal documents last decade and has fallen into disuse in everyday speech. Here for more details https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/05/13/the-long-history-and-slow-death-of-a-word-used-to-describe-everyone-from-turks-to-the-chinese/ and https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112465167

    • There are many white authors you can accuse of only writing characters who look like them, Ilona Andrews are not on that list.

      • Actually I noticed IA will describe a characters as ‘white’ instead of just assuming that is the skin color. I like that. Runa is almost translucent, but there are a lot of darker skin colors in the books.

        • Truth. I have seen posters complain about it, in fact – not necessarily on this blog, but have definitely seen it happen online – because they don’t want to be told when a character is white. O_O

          And I like that IA describes the different shades, because if you hold up a white sheet of paper to a white person, or a black one to a black person, the skin is not going to match the paper. As for brown, the more said, the better.

    • Hi Migs,

      If you are looking for books where the cast isn’t uniformly white, we have you covered. Lenora Jordan, a very powerful and competent DA, is a Black woman. House Jiang, legendary water mages, are of Chinese descent. There is a Nigerian House of weather mages, Matilda, one of the most beloved characters in the series, has a Korean mother, who sadly passed away, and so on.

      However, if you are looking for stories that explore what it’s like to have a non-Caucasian ancestry and the problems and tribulations POCs face in our very flawed society as told from the point of view of a non-white character, you will not find that exploration in our books. That is not our story to tell. We haven’t lived through those problems because both of us are white.

      The issues of racism and discrimination are very important, and we do show them and their effect on people in our books, however we are not going to pretend that we know what it’s like to be a POC in US. Our voice would unauthentic, and it would bring more harm than good. There are many excellent writers who deliver authentic voices in that particular fantasy space. I have a couple of lists for you:

      https://www.hypable.com/20-fantasy-books-by-woc/

      https://pima.bibliocommons.com/list/share/324401457/1143825377

      In particular, I think Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri might be a good fit, if I am reading your comment correctly, but you can’t really go wrong. There are some excellent books on that list.

  119. Just got my copy of Ruby Fever at the Tyrone Mall B&N in St. Pete, FL

    woohoo!

    There is 1 copy left.

    Cannot stay up all night reading!!!!

  120. Found it in Salt Lake City!

    The dedication made me cry. Thank you so much for being wonderful people.

  121. I went to a local BN and got a copy today in Fairfax, VA. I have been reading all day. The book is wonderful. I am looking forward to getting my ebook and I also love to listen to books on audible. House Andrews is one of three authors whose book I buy in both ebook and audible. But I couldn’t wait so I had to buy a print copy too.

    This was awesome!

    Thank you House Andrews.

  122. Our B&N didnt have it last week when hubby went to D&D at the store. When he walked in today, one of our book sellers had one waiting for him, well for me. Either way I was so happy. I’m going to miss my booksellers at this B&N when I move in two weeks.

  124. So I’m confused. Was Ruby Fever the last contracted book you had to write? Do first day sales matter for self-published books? I thought you were done with big houses, unless RF was the last one.

    If you are self-publishing, I don’t know who would give you a bonus for big first day sales except the extra money you get.

    Love all your stuff, and really looking forward to the next Hugh book.

    • Yes, Ruby Fever was the last contracted book with Avon HarperCollins 🙂

      First week sales always count, whether trad or self published, as they decide whether the books makes it on the famous Bestseller Lists, like NYTimes etc, which impact visibility.

      Hope this helps!

  127. Congratualtions on your book-birthday!
    And thanks for the ‘soft release’ tip;
    I just called B&N and will pick up my copy tomorrow morning.

  128. Congrats to everyone who’s been able to get a copy early. Called the B&N around Phoenix, AZ. None of them have received the books yet. Will keep trying for this weekend.

    • My local B&N didn’t have them in the computer yet, but were able to find 5 copies of the book when I explained that the book was having a ‘soft launch’ so we didn’t have to wait for the formal release date. Hope this helps.

  130. Both BN in Tucson patiently explained to me that the book won’t be released until next week and offered to place an order. I called Powell’s and paid for overnight shipping.

  131. I visited the BN store at the Fountains at Farah in El Paso. Monday afternoon, they will not release Ruby Fever until the 23rd. There is another BN on Sunland Park Drive, but the freeway is too filled with orange cones to make the long drive comfortable. I’ll wait until the 23d.

  132. I’m not sure if we have them in stock yet, but I work at Toadstool Bookshop in NH, and we will ship them as soon as we have them.

  134. I was the second person to purchase Ruby Fever earlier today at the Barnes and Noble in Brentwood TN. I called first to put a copy on hold and the woman who answered goes “let me double check because I just sold a copy earlier” so I’m not sure how many copies that location received. BUT the other Barnes and Nobles in Murfreesboro supposedly had copies too according to the BN website.

  136. I’m a NYT bestselling author at HC and I just found out that it’s not true that all early sales will count for the NYT list in any case. They only count sales that are paid for on release day or later, so preorders that are only shipped out on pub day do count but nothing paid earlier. It’s actually stated clearly. Another author with massive Book of the Month sales didn’t make the list because BOM rings the sales through as they are ordered and the order date began in the week before their pub date. None of those sales counted for NYT. That all early sales count for the list is something everyone in publishing tells authors but it’s not actually true.

    • The BOM author’s entire team at FSG and her agent were shocked when she didn’t make the list as well because everyone believes all early sales count. The NYT states:

      Sales are defined as completed transactions by vendors and individual end users during the period on or after the official publication date of a title.

      https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/methodology/

      • PS. Forgot to add, as unfair as it is, money is money. Boo on BOM, but huge congratulations to your friend for the massive sales. 🙂

    • Hey JK,

      Yes, a publisher can make sure that presales are reported during the release week and no earlier. It works like this: the store sells the books, records the sales, but sits on that data until the release week when they sent it into USAT and NYT. It depends on how big the publisher thinks you are and on the terms of your contract.

      The first is screwed up but true. If an author is coming up on the list but falling just short, you would think the publisher would make sure all sales were counted on release date to give that author a push, and you would be wrong. But if you are a BNA, they will make sure that only release sales count when they need to be counted.

      The second depends on whether or not the contract has a list bonus. Our contracts with PRH used to pay use extra if we hit a list and the higher we hit, the bigger chunk they would advance us.

      Here is how you can tell when the sales are counted. I forget which book it was, I think maybe Magic Strikes or Magic Bleeds, but the soft release was so large, the book hit NYT the week before it was released. I couldn’t believe it. Our editor wasn’t even looking so I called her and told her we were on the list. Our agent came out swinging, because instead of a single week and much higher number, we had two weeks of lower numbers, which cut into our bottom line. Never happened again.

      To be blunt, at the volume we sell, we would chart on USAT/NYT next week if they just count the mass market print sales. We’ve had a soft release on every single title in HL series, although none of them 3 weeks before the damn release date like this one, but they were all soft released, and we never charted earlier than we were supposed to. So let’s wait and see. I don’t expect it, but given how epically screwed everything about this book went, I wouldn’t be awfully surprised.

      As far as NYT, their rankings are determined by dark druids sacrificing a black chicken in the depths of the woods by the moonlight. They are heavily biased toward traditional print.Jennifer Armentrout hit #1 on USAT but NYT refuses to acknowledge those sales exist, because the title wasn’t available through Ingram.

      You will hear weird numbers about how many copies you need to sell to hit the lists etc. It heavily varies from week to week, but overall, 4-5Kper week is a safe number. So if you friend had 4,000 of sales and none of them counted, this is on BOM. NYT doesn’t have magical access to their data. They either chose to give that data early to NYT or NYT chose to not count it. If your friend sold at least 4K units in one week and charted on USAT, then it’s on NYT. If she didn’t chart anywhere, it’s on BOM. I would have the agent invite the editor to a lunch and have a serious discussion regarding this issue.

      • Fascinating, I had no idea the publisher had that amount of control over the reporting. Had to laugh at the dark druid black chicken sacrifice. I’m not sure what my friend’s pre sales were but the final BOM number was around 35K so I imagine she must have hit 4 to 5K early. I think it was definitely a BOM issue but I think also their policy to report early.

        Anyway, thanks for the info, I’m a huge fan and can’t wait to read Ruby Fever.

        • P.S. She’s extremely annoying in that she doesn’t need the money but she’s a good friend anyway.

  137. ARRAGGH, RAGING. Kindle version.

    7 days, 7 days, 7 days, 7 days, 7 days, 7 days, 7 days, 7 days, 7 days, 7 days, falalalala. At least the kids will be back at school. Wait, they’ll need to be up early so I can’t lie in bed reading it until I’m done.

    I CANNOT WIN.

  140. What are you planning next after Ruby Fever? I know you are still working on Inn Keeper but what other projects are in the pipe line?

    • The main drive at the moment is Sweep of the Blade (Innkeeper 5).

      There are other projects in progress, but House Andrews have decided not to announce what they are working on until it is ready and they are comfortable announcing a release date. More details here https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/on-being-difficult/

      “In the past, we always shared with you what we were working on. That’s not working so well anymore, because no matter what we choose to work on, someone is always unhappy that we are not working on the thing they like the most. From now on, we will be like Beyonce dropping her surprise album. We will quietly work and then go, “Here it is, all done!”

      We both want to work at our own pace and take our time. We don’t want the stress of not meeting a deadline. If we don’t meet one, nobody has to know. When things are ready to be published, they will be up on the Release Schedule. We will announce them on the blog and in the newsletter. The retailers will also notify you of availability. We got this.”

  141. So I am moving to the San Diego area from Germany on Thursday. I am considering taking a drive up to Oregon just to find a copy but that might be overkill for my first couple of days in the US!

    • LOL! But it would be a great drive!

      And really, since people are reporting copies all over California, if the book was your only goal, you likely wouldn’t need to drive all the way to Oregon to get it. If it were me, I’d stop driving the moment I found the book, bc reading paper copies of books while driving is strongly discouraged. Also, you’d miss the view. It’s lose-lose.

      • That’s what I get for commenting before I read all the comments. Will be checking out every BN in San Diego tomorrow – and letting my friend be my chauffeur so I can read ????

    • As far as I can tell, no. I looked on Monday in Westminster with no luck, it looks like Monday in Ft. Collins was no luck and Tuesday in Aurora and Lone Tree was no luck.

  143. I just finished last night. WONDERFUL!! I can’t wait for my preorder of the audio to hit.

    I got mine Sunday night at the Barnes and Nobel in Cary NC. They had 5 or 6 copies but I know people were heading to get them. I’d call to see if they still have them.

  144. I got a copy from the Destin, FL B&N and they still had a couple of copies after I grabbed mine. No buy online pick up in store option so I did call the store and make sure they had it on shelf before I drove there. Thanks Paul the Bookseller!

  145. I am on vacation and my Amazon account will deliver me the e-edition and the warehouse will mail me a paper copy but when I saw that BN may have them early, guess who stopped at a nearby BN on their vacation? I got two paper copies! Woo-hoo! I can’t wait to ignore everyone and hole up in the hotel room now!

  147. Well you cannot get the books in Northern Virginia as they were all sold out and will not be available until next week.

  148. I tried B&N in Lone Tree, Co on Monday but no luck. I drove on Tuesday to BN in Aurora Co during a rain storm but no luck. I am grand cat sitting in Colorado but from Texas. Darn the luck. When ever it comes out here I will get my copy for a good cause.

    • Nooo! Please call the bookstore first, if that’s an option, save yourself the drive, especially on wet roads!

  149. The definition of insanity is calling every bookstore in the greater Sacramento area and asking if they have a copy of Ruby Fever and expecting on of them to miraculously say yes
    Welp, at least I’ll be in the Midwest in a few days, then I can walk into just about any Barnes and Nobles and find it!

  151. After seeing some of the earlier comments, I went to B&N at One Loudoun after my house guests left. The guy I asked said he had just gotten one for someone 20 minutes before me and thought they had one more. They did. Sorry (okay, not sorry) I got the last one at One Loudoun.

  153. B&N website showed paperback in-store late Sunday. Called just before closing to reserve. Picked it up Monday morning. Read straight through to finish and am now rereading and lingering. Adore. My ebook should arrive on 8/23, so I’ll have that copy, too.

  154. Arrived in Auckland, New Zealand today. My favourite bookstore, Chapter, let me know and delivered it because I am stuck at home with covid. Such a wonderful surprise ❤❤❤

  158. Chaucer’s in Santa Barbara, CA hadn’t even pre-ordered RF yet so that was quickly remedied! They said my copy should arrive before the official release date. Phew ???? I cannot waaaaaaaaait!!!!

  161. My print order from Powell’s arrived yesterday – my family saw me carry the book around all day :). Ruby Fever is, no surprise, amazing!

  162. Ordered mine from Powells. It arrived yesterday and was waiting for me when I got off work. I finished it around 1 AM. It was absolutely perfect. I know HJ didn’t have a good time writing it, but it’s a fantastic book. It checks all of the boxes!

  164. Dymocks Adelaide has had my copy waiting for days! I finally made it in today and read it immediately. No spoilers but dammit I thought that xxx was Ceasar and you talked me out of it!

  166. Picked up my print copy today at Chapters in Ontario Canada!

    Innkeeper Chronicles on Tapas, new chapter of Innkeeper and Ruby Fever! This has been the best Friday !!

  167. It’s like having nothing interesting or really good to read during the year and then having the books of my 2 favorite series the same day!!!! Next Week will be great!

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