Good morning. By now most of you probably have seen the Owlcrate edition announcement for the special edition of This Kingdom. For those of you who haven’t, here it is, I stole it for you from Instagram. If you are viewing this post through your email, here is a direct link.
Mod R has gathered your questions. I’m fortified with Rose Scented tea from Harney and Sons, so let’s get to it.
Owlcrate:
1. Is the OwlCrate edition going to feature art by Luisa Preissler?
Owlcrate features a reversible dust jacket, meaning that there is a paper cover that fits over the actual hardcover, and it has two different images, so you can choose which image to display. One of them is by Luisa Preissler.
The edition features artwork from 5 artists, I think. Sorry, this was a little while ago, so I can’t recall if it’s 5 or more. To my knowledge, the reverse jacket is the only image Luisa Preissler has painted for that edition.
2. Will that artwork appear anywhere else, or is it OwlCrate-exclusive?
All content commissioned by OwlCrate is exclusive to OwlCrate for a period of several years.
3. Will Luisa be creating additional art for This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me outside this edition?
Yes.
4. Will the interior artwork be bright/high-contrast?
Eh. I don’t know because I don’t have the actual edition in my hands, but I saw endpapers and they were beautiful and in full color.
5. Is the OwlCrate edition the one that contains the bonus story, or is that tied to a different edition? Can that be announced earlier so we can actually get the book?
Everything that Owlcrate chose to announce is in that Instagram post. We can’t give you additional information at this time.
6. Do we know whether OwlCrate is likely to produce editions for books two and three of the trilogy?
We don’t.
7. If someone manages to get this OwlCrate edition, will that give them priority access to the part 2 of This Kingdom, like Subterranean does?
You would have to check OwlCrate policies.
To clarify: we did not commission these editions. All of the special editions of this book have been negotiated through our publisher. If it was something we negotiated, we would have more information. Our role in these was to approve the art and sign or stamp the signing pages.
8. “Are they one of those businesses where people can just buy extras in general sales or buy after their subscribers have first dibs?”
Email OwlCrate.
9. “If I subscribe now, can I still get the April box? I looked online and I don’t understand their Horror book and Adult book boxes, I just want This Kingdom?”
Email OwlCrate.
10. “Well damage is done now and I have no chance to get the subscription in time, how else can I get the book? Will it be resold anywhere, or on the Ilona Andrews store?”
Email OwlCrate. This is a separate business, and we will definitely link to any remainder sales, but we will not be reselling these copies through our site. We do not have the rights to do that.
11. Can we have a page with all of the special editions?
Yes. Added to Maggie’s page.
Extra art:
12. I’ve missed the special editions. Are there going to be any art prints or stuff?
Yes.
Commissioned Art
We commissioned art from four artists, in alphabetical order, Candice Slater, Helena Elias, Leesha Hannigan, and Luisa Preissler.
Examples.
Click to enlarge.
And, for the first time, art reveal, drum roll please…
You will be able to purchase character card packs, art prints, custom dust jackets, merchandise (we bought the mug rights), stickers, and hopefully vellum inserts. We will be releasing things through our store and the individual artists will be releasing products through their stores, including card packs, calendars, art prints, etc.
For those of you missing out on the special editions, vellum inserts might be of particular interest because you can slide them into your hardcover and they will stay, so you basically make your own illustrated edition. About vellum – we are having difficulty finding a good printer, but we are working on it.
We are commissioning fully illustrated maps in color. Anchored Designs, who coded the theme on this website, is designing an entire different website just for the Maggie the Undying, which will have lore, art, and freebies.
Bookmark Packs.
Everyone coming to see us during our book tour is going to get a bookmark.
These are being printed by a local printer today and will be shipped to the stores on Wednesday. Additional bookmarks are being designed and will be available in packs on our site.
Companion Book
For those of you who read in ebook but still want the art – we are planning on releasing a companion book of deleted and bonus scenes and all of this art will be in there. That volume will be self-published and you will be able to grab it from our store and all the usual retailers.
Themed Boxes
We are looking into this. I am running into a language barrier with trying to select a plushie manufacturer, but we will likely do some kind of themed box, with the printed copy of the companion book, bookmarks, stickers, merch packs, etc. This will be expensive but we will stuff it well. The target for the box is sometime this summer.
To reiterate, there will be many opportunities for you to throw money at us get pretty art. No worries. There will be plenty of extras.
Boring Conclusion to This Post
There are 40,000 words between us and the end of this book and it must be done by the tour. The book is 140,000 words long already, so it will be another brick unless it gets trimmed in the editorial process.
So I’m going to vanish again for a week. You are the best. Don’t worry, we will make sure that you have all the fun extras.
So many pretty things to look forward to.
What if I read this version and don’t like it? Who or whom should I email?
The Management. Always email the Management.
Management: https://ilona-andrews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Tuna-sleeping.jpg
OMG We’re blaming Tuna?? 🙀
🤣🤣🤣
So, the management is now Tuna. Okay… 🤔🤣🤣🤣🤣
Excellent choice. Cats regularly ignore whT they’re not interested in. So any complaints will sit in limbo forever.
Just proves once again that dogs have owners and cats have staff.
+1
+1
+1 😁
Correct!
So … what is Tuna’s email address and how often and how carefully does Tuna check the complaint emails before tapping the Delete key with a disdainful paw?
That is the disadvantage of the digital age for Management: In the old days, Management could provide an Official Complaint Form that had to be filled out (preferably in triplicate – no carbon paper provided of course). The Form would have a space provided for writing in the complaint with enough room on it for about one sentence if written by someone able to transcribe the entire Bible on a postage stamp. With emails, Management has no such control over length and can receive complaint emails 100 pages long.
Disdainful Paw would be an excellent name for a band. Or a brand.
Gordon, we love you, but with those questions I think you are now banned from being a member of the BDH. (Not that you probably want to be lol.). Everyone knows that the only questions that BDH will have will be things like? When more? Who can we pay/bribe to get more now? Where’s Steve and why is he doing that? STOP IT STEVE, you’re going to get us in trouble!!
This book is a major event! And now that I’ve finally read the extended preview it is totally worth it!!!!
How many days left till release day? I’m not sure I’ll have any nails left by March 31st. 😁
hahaha. Sure do love you guys. Thanks for always taking care of us.
Well at least you can laugh about it – at some time, all the love, one of the BDH
Heh. You know your BDH so well 😉
Very best of luck with the 40K words and the tour! I hope all goes swimmingly!
Wow!!! So hard, the waiting!!!!
Woo Hoo! Looking forward to all the cool things! The themed box sounds AWESOME.
We’ll try to behave ourselves while you’re wording.
As an eboom reader, thank you so much for doing the companion book!!!
+100! I am on a strict ebook only diet. There’s no space on the one 😭overstuffed bookshelf in our downsized condo (except for my husband’s wine books and cookbooks, a few of which may mysteriously disappear one night soon).
Art prints are lovely, but our walls are likewise overfilled, so (at best) they wind up recycled as greeting cards. My mugs cabinet is full and I’m even running out of places to put stickers. Maybe on those wine books?
That companion ebook is such an inspired offering, for people like me who love the pretty images and the maps!
Me too – no physical space for books but would like the pretty artwork (and bonus / deleted scenes…)
omg author-commissioned VELLUM INSERTS? we are so spoiled.
re:owlcrate, for anyone who didn’t sub in time –
If they don’t end up with any extras, subscribers who forgot to cancel or whatever will often list their books on sites like pangobooks.
I hope someone does! I asked to be placed on the wait list a long time ago without success.
Omg just looking at Luisa’s page and I’ve always loved her artwork. But seeing her versions of David Tenant and Billie Piper for Dr Who – she is truly amazing!
Also squee for the companion book. I will exercise p*tience
Also to add – as a Brit who recently had to travel to the US for work, the best thing was getting to download the extended preview whilst over there
I now have a craving for a tuna sandwich
Does the regular hardback REALLY have those pretty edges? The pre-order link on Amazon doesn’t show that. Just the very pretty blue. Very excited to throw money at House Andrews for all the stuff. Or at least some of the stuff.
The UK hardback has flower theme sprayed edges, the US hardback has teal sprayed edges 🙂
I need to move to the UK for pretty books
THIS!
Well. Hmmm. It’s probably goofy to plan a trip to the UK just to get prettier edges.
No. No, it’s not. Not that it’s in the budget this year, but it would not be goofy at all, if finances allowed.
For the plushie manufacturer, ask Elisabeth Wheatley? She has gorgeous plushies and I swear she considered ethics when purchasing too (though I can’t find the post exploring it now)
+1
Thank you for all the updates. Good luck with all the words left. May the hands stay flexible to keep on typing.
Also, good luck in finding a printer who can print on vellum.
I am a stationary enthusiast. Many planner and sticker companies print artwork on vellum to offer to people to decorate their planners each month. I am sure that those people would know the companies to use. I have printed on vellum for personal use with some success but not to the level that I could sell commercially.
I might have a suggestion for a person who designs and works with factories who makes the plushies. I messaged ModR with the suggestion. I didnt wanted to spam the blog with example products
*You* are the best and thanks for the newsy post!
I can answer some of the questions above:
– If you are already an adult fantasy subscriber for Owlcrate, this is the April book and your credit card will be charged on April 1. Books are shipped at the middle-end of the month, so we should see spoiler photos of the book by end-April.
– It is too late to get on the adult fantasy box for April. If you signed up right now, you would not get off the waitlist in time for April renewal.
– However, if you are interested in purchasing Owlcrate Maggie, you should sign up for the waitlist anyway. This is because a few months from now, after all copies are mailed to subscribers and damaged copies are replaced, Owlcrate will email waitlist folks with the first opportunity to purchase leftovers.Waitlist folks have first dibs. Use code OWLCOMEBACK for a discount.
Waitlist: https://www.owlcrate.com/pages/adult-fantasy-subscription
– If there are copies remaining after being offered to the waitlist, Owlcrate will then list the book on their website for general sale. They might advertise it on their social media when this happens or it might be a quiet addition to the website. I’ve seen both scenarios happen (usually readers just stumble on to the fact that the listing is public). See example below (some sell out quickly, hence why there is no “add to cart” option for the sold out books). Use code OWLCOMEBACK for a discount.
https://www.owlcrate.com/blogs/adult-fantasy
– if you purchase the book directly from Owlcrate (as a subscriber or in general sale), you WILL get early access sale/first dibs for future Maggie books if Owlcrate chooses to make special editions. They will email you the details and post on social media.
– if all else fails, you can try to purchase the special edition from resale websites (Mercari or Pango or Facebook BST groups). This might be more expensive than purchasing from the retailer, though, since the individual seller has the discretion to set the price.
Thank you so much for all the insights, Di!
Thank you for that! Even though you crushed my dreams that maybe there was still time for April. 🤣
Same 😂 But I did get off the Broken Binding sub in time. Fingers crossed still for Arcane. They’re still my favorite.
Thank you, House Andrews!
Is it just me or is this turning into a veritable circus, though?! Adoring it!🥳
First time ever I actually pre-ordered a book (normally I just have reminders in my calendar…). From abroad. And it’s a special edition, too.
Ahem. Yes, I am a card-carrying member of the BDH. Anybody else here p*tiently waiting?🤣
I think the Fluffy branch of the Horde is, but underneath all that is the “wait is soooooo long! We wants the precious now!”
I honestly don’t think the people at Tor knew what they were really, really getting into when all this started. 😁🤣🤣🤣🤪
They never do. Hopefully they will know to stand back as the Horde races in all directions at once, then races back by in the correct direction, eventually. Possibly after a couple sideways stampedes. I’m sure they will come to appreciate our dedication, if not our collective sense of direction.
(Attempts to restrain the excited jumping up and down. It’s SO close! Sadly on today’s trip to check out the brand new Barnes & Noble store, they not only did NOT have a lucky, mysteriously available early copy of This Kingdom, they are still stocking and did not have ANY HA books. I politely pointed this out to the staff and mentioned the upcoming book. To b fair, saw some half-empty bookshelves, and also nothing by Bujold. )
Thanks for the update! Hope the words flow smoothly (and painlessly)!
I think I am going to die happy with all the Kingdom loot options. I think I may make my own watercolor bookmark for this book too, I am so inspired.
Wow! Maggie’s art by Luisa looks gorgeous!
I am definitely going to buy the Companion book!
Thank you for your humor and your endless care and feeding of the BDH (which is amazing considering how busy you are) and for taking care of us e-readers. I can’t wait to throw more money at you for hardcover books and goodies. Plushies..Squeee!!!
Thank you thank you,
Loads of good news. The upcoming treasure box does wonders, because at this point, I am seriously doubting I can get a Special Edition (unless I go to the UK…) Will there be one more announcement of Special Edition?
Thanks for the art and fabulous merch we have to look forward to!
There will be more announcements 🙂
Oh Thank Heavens Mod R….
Happily back to w*iting… never thought I’d be happy to w*it 😂😂
When has the horde given you the impression we don’t want a brick. Give us a brick of a book the satiate our hunger if only for a moment.
The great thing about your bricks is that they are solid gold. Looking forward to this summer’s extras. And all the things.
+1 If the book is engaging, then brick status is a feature, not a bug. And there are never, ever any worries with HA about whether the book will be engaging.
Wowee the themed box sounds amazing!! Thank you beloved House Andrews! Hope absolutely everything will go smoothly!
Chalant is how I’m feeling about wanting all the pretty things, but I do trust House Andrews. Best wishes with the writing. Y’all are the best!💖💖💖
This was lovely info, thanks muchos!
So excited! I do Kindle but I also got my lovely nephew in law from the UK to order the Waterstones version for me😍
FYI: This is possible without a lovely nil if you use a proxy buying service and a mail forwarder. Both are just a Google search away and most countries have them.
Are the ebook readers and other people who buy the normal book going to get all the main illustrations? I always love the art because my head cannon and HAs is different. Like seeing the pictures of the Baylor sisters or Diana really helped me. I like how it’s done in Innkeeper. But I’m greedy so I want more pics.
The question about art availability is answered in the post above 🙂
Mod R…either it was the “w@it for details” or I did not craft the question well enough. Besides the cover, for the Kindle/E-book/normal version, Are we getting pretty pictures inside the book? Or is only the Owlecrate version have pretty pictures for a few years?
There is no art in the ebook and regular editions beside the map.
Several of the special editions, not just OwlCrate, but Imagine Books, Broken Binding, the ones as yet unannounced – will have commissioned art.
Art will also e available in companion books, merch, character cards, vellum pages etc separately for everyone who does not have the special editions.
Just throw it all at us, Mod R! You know the Horde will catch and run with it. 🤣🤣🤣
Just came across the Broken Binding cover https://thebrokenbindingsub.com/products/this-kingdom-will-not-kill-me and came over to see if it had been mentioned yet.
So many pretty pretty editions!
Isn’t it lovely?
It has been announced a couple of weeks ago on the blog and mentioned several times since, yes 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/this-kingdom-lots-of-stuff-read-this/
I am worried about this book – so much merch means it will be REALLY REALLY GOOD. But then I will read it and it will end and I will cry…
YOU are the best! Thank you for writing all the words!
oh give us the bricks! We will build walls for our new world you created for us.
And THANK YOU for the companion book! And other goodies. I need to use ebooks because 1. I live in a very small home and have no room for more physical books (I’ve had to sell over 500 already). 2. I have pretty severe nerve damage from spinal cord injuries, so I can no longer hold a large physical book for longer than a couple of minutes. Being able to get the extras/great art is such a gift.
I would read the brick. I have read other bricks and liked them.
The end of the month is nigh! Just three more weeks! The w*it is almost over, yet still so far away 😭
Such beauty!!! You guys are so good to us! All is amazing, especially Luisa Preissler’s. I’m still flipping her calendar over each month – don’t care it was from last year.
Thank you!
So excited about the companion book! And MAPS IN COLOR! Wow thank you so much for all the art and things! I’ve been looking forward to this book since we first saw Maggie on the blog.
I don’t know how she does it, but Luisa’s Maggie is my mind’s version of her. I’ve read an ARC, so I hope I have a pretty full sense of her character. Beautiful job on bringing Maggie to life.
Maggie gives good eyebrow, courtesy of Luisa. I adore.
I need pretty hardcover so bad… I already have pre-ordered the ebook though. :’D
Amazing stuff in this! Any idea what might be included in the paperback version, whenever that might become available next year?
Any idea when the companion book will be available?
Thanks.
At least a couple of months after Maggie’s release. We do not want to compete with ourselves. 🙂
Good to know when it will be out. 🙂
Oh you have all the things!!! I am so excited, can you see me jumping?
Tuna definitely deserves a raise dealing with the BDH. We need more Tuna!
is this series going to be a trilogy?
Yes 🙂
Thanks for the update and the news about all the potential loot that the BDH can plunder.
Good luck with the tour.
Also best wishes with finishing the remaining 400,000 words — you DID mean 400K instead of 40K, didn’t you? 40K to complete the “brick” you are currently writing, then the remainder for the next one(s) in the series…. Barsa barsa barsa!
Very excited for all things Maggie!! Love Luisa Preissler’s art very much, as always!! Also, Tuna is the executive in charge of sleeping!!
Also, finally got my grubby mitts on the adventure of two very cool people, and I must say that I loved it, and it was charming, in a very intense rollercoaster way!!
Here’s to tea, strength, and fun for the last 40,000 words!!
Any word yet on special editions for Canada?
Most of these special editions ship internationally 🙂
As always, you are so good at feeding the BDH!
I’m so excited to nosh on the companion book whenever it comes out as I am an e-reader only.
I have loved looking at the previews of all beautiful editions that are coming out – glad there will be many happy BDH members enjoying them!
“To reiterate, there will be many opportunities for you to (throw money at us) get pretty art.” YES PLEASE! 😄
Soooo exciting!
thank you for all the updates, only 3 weeks to go, can’t wait.
Are there any options in the US for people who would like a signed book but can’t attend the book tour and are just buying a hard cover?
Not that I want Ilona and Gordon to wear out their hands! Just wondering!
Happy writing the last bunch of words! I’ll read whatever you write!
Getting very excited for the end of the month!
I’m SO SO excited for the release.
I’ve know ever since I finished the ARC that this book was going to launch y’all into the stratosphere. Y’all have been my very fav authors since I was kid picking up the brand new release of Magic Bites, and there is no one nicer than you—you deserve this so much!
Bricks are good!
I couldn’t hold myself back anymore and read the extended preview. I want this story sooooo bad !!! Thank goodness it’s only a couple more weeks till release day.
Bricks are my very favorite kind of book!
Thank you for all the extras. Soo excited.
ooohhh, thank you. and I’m hoping that the editors and TOR find it so hard to edit anything out as it’s so good, helps the story rather then getting classed as unneeded padding (which you all would never do) that we get a lovely brick of a book to help us build our library 🙂
Mod. R: you could edit out the placeholder label text.
No.
The label is intentional. It indicates that the mug image is a placeholder mockup, which is part of the post’s context. Removing it would alter what Ilona means.
Silly question, forgive me if the reason is already mentioned somewhere:
why does the Owlcrate announcement not mention the title of the book?
I thought someone was plagiarizing TKWNKM when I first saw it.
Very confused and chalant here.
That is their marketing strategy, getting discussion and speculation going and creating interest 🙂
Um. Okay. Thanks.
Interesting angle. I guess. 😐
Guess I’ll add a non- to my chalant. I can’t get my greedy little hands on it anyway, being in Switzerland, so it’s moot.
I’ve been on the owlcrate wait list for about a month, so we’re all missing out. I did receive a link to buy last month’s offering, so fingers crossed we’ll get one for Maggie
Arrrggh! I desperately want a UK copy. Sooo moody. Thank you for this. ALL OF THIS. 💕
So glad to hear about the companion book. I really liked the Broken Binding edition (I like the dark moody UK colors), but couldn’t even find your name mentioned on their website let alone a link to buy it.
Hi Elena, here is the Broken Binding link, I have also emailed you with it, hope that’s ok 🙂 https://thebrokenbindingsub.com/products/this-kingdom-will-not-kill-me?
We want a brick! Yes! *punches the air*
3 Maggie Bricks please.
Will there be any tour dates in California?
Hi Kimberly, there are no Californian tour dates announced yet.
You can check all the details and updates on the Appearances page on the website 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/appearances/
Thankyou for everything. You are amazing. Dont burn out as you work your tail off.
So BDH,
While p*tiently w*iting for next announcement of goodies, I was looking into the possibility of getting a sprayed edged version from the U.K (for those of us who like our sprayed edges).
As of this morning, March 10th 9:50 AM, Blackwell HAD the “regular” UK version (very nice edges) for $31 plus tax, including shipping to the US….
Cue lunch time (I do have to work from time to time, because pretending to work while refreshing the blog page so NOT to miss another precious announcement only goes so far), it was SOLD OUT!!! On Blackwell!!! 😱😱😱
BDH, come on…. seriously now…
As of 5 minutes ago, it was still available on Waterstones ($50 including VAT and shipping)…
I am eying you BDH 👀👀 😒
Regie, just checked Blackwells – they still have it! Bought mine yesterday and it ended up cheaper shipping to US than my original (Non-Amazon) US hardback!
Thanks Amy,
I went back on the site and for some reason I am seeing two copies of This Kingdom… one that’s sold out and another that is available for preorder…
Could be a glitch with my tablet, I’ll try on my computer.
Thanks
That quote on the bookmark makes my heart skip a beat every time I read it! I so hope it’s from the MMC because I don’t see how Maggie could hear this and not swoon.
::bills fluttering around:: wait, I thought we were throwing on 3! Steve!
I just ordered from Blackwells – looks like they have 2 hardback formats, one with gilded flowers. It’s a Cdn$2 difference; guess which I got 🙂
I just need to SQUEEEEEE for Louisa’s art. Every artist is absolutely amazing and her picture just knocked me off my feet.