SPOILER WARNING: We will going to be talking openly about This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me characters and plot points in the comments.
If you haven’t finished the book yet, consider this your affectionate BDH nudge of encouragement to do it and come join the Horde party. Come back when you’re ready!
Because the Maggie vellums have been arriving in Horde homes, a very important question has emerged: where is everyone putting them?
There is no official placement for the vellums. They’re character art of Clover, Arvel, Sleepless Duke, Solentine, Man from the Garden and the Sun Margrave – where they live is entirely up to you.
Based on comments and the Facebook fan group though, the BDH wants to compare notes!
Have you already found the perfect home for each one? Vote below for your general vellum philosophy, then come tell us the specifics in the comments.
And if you’re still making up your mind, this is the perfect place to browse everyone else’s choices and be inspired!
If you missed out on vellums this time around, don’t despair! There will be future opportunities to get them. You can use today’s debate to plan ahead and have your placements all picked out by the time they arrive.
And as a treat to send you into the weekend, I didn’t want you all to miss this Insta reel. Look, look, Fatefire, sqeeeeee!
First?
Friday First 🏆
Squeee!!! It’s been a week – something to smile about starting the weekend and Sunday birthday (57). Thanks Mod R for everything you do to keep House Andrews running and herding the might Horde!
Hi Darlene, we share a birthday. I will be 59 so happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday Darlene and Caroline!
Happy Birthday Darlene and Caroline!
Mine are going to be displayed in a frame on my wall in my yarn/home office (3 years & counting til retirement!) so I can look at All My Pretties whenever I want. 🙂
I was going to put them in the standard Amazon copy of the book but I read it so often – randomly picking it up whenever I have a moment I think they would be damaged. So I bought an Owlcrate edition but it’s all sealed! So I didn’t open it. Then I got in on the Midnight Whispers edition. Maybe I’ll out them in that one!
Please unseal the plastic from your Owlcrate special edition. The plastic is not “archive grade” so your book could get mold from humidity building up inside the plastic. The plastic is only meant for shipping.
I did the same thing (bought an owlcrate) except I took the plastic off immediately. Velum secured! Saving the bonus content for either a really good or a really bad day… and what is money for if not to buy gorgeous books?
I like this idea.
I am hesitant and unsure about which of my two special editions I’d choose for this honor. So, I think I’ll purchase a third copy from a local indy bookstore and place my pretties inside that one!
I haven’t ordered vellum, but they are really cute. I am, however, still obsessively checking the internet for a copy of the owl crate edition so I can read the bonus chapter. I’m sure I am in good company with many in our Horde. Sigh. Must continue w*iting. Hope everyone has a great Friday.
We are ALL hoping to get an owlcrate edition. Those people are jacking up prices left and right bc of the demand. I wished they make more.
What bonus chapter?
The OwlCrate Special Edition contains exclusive content, a short story that describes the events you will discover in the first chapter of Maggie 2. I wouldn’t call it another chapter, but that is the name that seems to have stuck. https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/the-special-editions/
The content will be exclusive to OwlCrate for a period of 2 years.
After 2 years, will those of us without OwlCrate get to see/buy it somewhere? Hoping it will show up here or an electronic copy will b somehow available. Sigh. Contemplates w*iting…
There are good summaries of it on Reddit, fear not fellow horde member! Have a google and it’ll show up. Not the exact text, that’s copyright. But comprehensive summaries that cover the salient points are there!
I fully support the wish to get access to that content but just as a summary…
Yup same here! I really want that Owlcrate AND Midnight Whispers editions, so gorgeous 😍
I put mine in the front of the book together and next read through will likely put them into the pages!
I’ll have to come back later to tell you exactly where I put mine but the thicker ones I really want to put into frames and have them on my bookshelf or hanging.
I don’t have the vellums yet, but plan to put them at my favorite scene for the character.
Cool. Canadian, here. No vellum. LOVE the books. Follow the blog since early COVID, and thank you from the bottom of my soul for it. It was a tough couple of years. Snippets?
Also Canadian. No vellum and can’t even look at the store half of the time to see what is being sold, just to enjoy what is being created because my web browser has a location in Canada. So frustrating.
I placed my vellums where each character reveals themselves in significant ways. Clover when she tells her backstory and then asks if the food is not delicious. Everard and his fatefire in the square. So not the first appearance but when you really see them for who they are.
Same!
+1
Same!
+1
This!
I love this idea!! Those are excellent scene choices, Powerful!
Me too.
My placement is a mix of first appearance and meaningful scenes, because I place the vellum in the first scene that matches the art. I placed the man from the garden at the dog market scene and the Sleepless Duke at the big reveal, rather than when he first technically appears. Clover is placed at the beginning of the chapter when she is sharing her back story, etc. I’ve moved them back and forth between facing left and facing right so many times. These were so fun to place!!!
I picked exactly the same places! My initial intention was first appearance, but for both “The Man from the Garden” and Raymond, at least, that felt like spoilers for anyone I was sharing the book with, so the plan was modified.
”Sulks in european who have not yet had the chanse to get Vellums”
If i had them i would place them in were the characters first show up at least to begin with.
Do you have any news regarding a possible postponement of the *Beast Business* audiobook? I can’t find it anywhere.
The preorder is not live yet, that’s why you cannot find it.
The audio files are complete, the book exists. However, there is a lot of work happening behind the scenes to sort out distribution for it atm. We will update as soon as we have news, thank you so much for your patience 🙂
Thanks, I’ll be p..tient Lol
I didn’t get the vellum copies. At the time I didn’t have the physical copy of the book. 🙂
That Instagram showing of Fatefire was cool. Dangerous but cool. 🗡
I’m still w*iting p*tiently for UK orders to start. I guess I’ll be evntually putting mine either where the character first appears in the book, or the scene where the pic looks like it is happening 😊
My Imagine books TKWNKM arrived today I’d forgot there were 2 vellum included so *happy dance!!* I didn’t have to decide where to place them because they put a note in saying which pages they go.
Also SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE at seeing Fatefire in action!! 😍😍😍🤩🤩🤩
That reel was SO cool!! Really puts into perspective how terrifying that would be on a battlefield.
I’m putting the vellums at my favorite scenes. THE reveal scene for you know who, the ball for Arvel, etc.
I’ll get vellums on the next go around. At the first offering, I didn’t have a physical copy, wasn’t sure if I’d get one, and was trying to A Responsible Adult and not just grab the preciouses because they were the preciouses.
Midnight Whispers edition is on order, so Woo Hoo! I can make an argument (to myself) that getting the vellums is now A Responsible Adult decision. Because I will have a physcial copy and the physical copy neeeeeds vellum.
Of course, I didn’t think about the agony of deciding where to put them . . . right now I like Gericke’s approach.
Oh I wish I had the chance to get it but it sold out so fast!! I’m hoping for a restock but I am not holding my breathe
+1
Thank you Mod R for the vellum reassurance – I was hoping, but waiting to ask (book 2 for the vital final edit!).
The Midnight Whispers edition hath destroyed any possibility of Adulting frugality…
Books are life…unless an earthquake tips over the bookcases surrounding my bed & I have an Ascendance of the Bookworm style death…
If we get vellums in the UK, mine will be going in my favourite scene for the character – and of course that scene might change from time to time but that’s why the vellums would be so fun to have. Is there any update on progress with the non-USA vellums please?
I’m with you in the UK and this does sound like a plan. well wait until the store opens on the UK once a supplier is found. but hopefully if that has to be postponed because right now things postage wise are a bit crazy in UK and Europe, and the books in progress have to take presidence, I’m all about the books so will have to wait Pat*ently for extra goodies
I placed most of mine the first time Maggie describes the characters as they are depicted in the velum image. I also got the imagine books velum as well as the ones from the Ilona Andrews shop, so here is where I placed all my vellums:
Map: the map page lol
Man in the garden: page 34
Solentine: page 49
Clover: page 110 right at the start of part 2
Everard(s)(one from IA site and one from imagine books, I put the IA site first): page 233 and pages 243
Lord arvell: page 430
Everard and Maggie (from imagine books velum): page 441
Sun margrave: page 454
And I put my sushi and Maggie bookmark at the beginning when they first meet too!
I think that’s it!
Squuuuuuueeeeeeee!!
That was awesome!!!
Love the green fire reel! so much better and more dramatic than I was imaging. 😊
I’m probably going to frame mine (with a white piece of paper behind so the image shows better). I just love this artwork, especially of Clover and the Sun Margrave. Those 2 are done really well.
Mod R, do you think there will be a vellum of Maggie herself?
I’m wondering the same…
My vellums are scheduled to arrive today.
::checks tracking::
It’s at the P.O.Box! Yea!!
Argh! I don’t have time to go to the post office today! Boo! It will have to wait until Monday…
::pout::
I havent pyt mine in yet but I plan to put them in for first appearance on all characters except for Clover.
For her, I’m debating on where to place because the tense situation she’s first seen in doesnt feel right for the more assured and self-possessed representation of her in the vellum.
I’m thinking in one of the earlier times in organizing the house, maybe when she is particularly bossy or instructive to Maggie!
also still debating which I will place in the book and which I will do something else, since I got both sets!
They are staying in their packaging as I am moving early next year. Safe and sound
I literally just got/opened mine!! Omg they look AMAZING!! Such quality. Super pleased. Thank you so much 🙂
My vellum collection is proudly displayed on my Author Lords section of the bookcase!
I ordered a thingy from a different book special edition that displays vellums like in a window and you can put an electric tea light behind it so it will be illuminated. That’s where I think I’ll put 1 and rotate them. I did get both sets though, so I will probably put 1 set in the book, where the character feels impactful and also matches what they are depicted as doing/wearing. 🤷♀️
Thanks for the clip!
Ohh what a great idea. Sounds like it will be stunning!!
Well that was a fun video. Thanks! I keep moving my vellum. Haven’t decided where they’re going to live.
Love the green fate fire!🔥 I haven’t received my Vellum yet but expect to place them near the character’s first meaningful scenes.
That really puts into contrast reality versus fiction (or I guess versus old school warriors from history). He looks super fit, yet just swinging that big sword a few times and he sounds winded.
I bought two, one went into the shredder so my other one would be more valuable. (Sorry, I could not help trolling a little).
😆😆😆
It’s what Saiman would want you to do.
Loved the fatefire!
Is there any chance of us getting our greedy hands on the full story of Solentine going back home and Everard’s aunt extra until the end of the year or the extras can only be released after the last book in the series is published?
Sorry for the anxiety! Major abstinence vibes here! 😀
I’m in Canada, and I plan to buy the vellum version when I can. Is there any chance you’ll also offer it as a regular illustration? If so, I’ll definitely buy both.
For regular art prints, please head over to the artist’s website 🙂 https://www.helenaillustrated.com/artshop
Mine are going on the wall in shadow box frames with LED lighting behind them.
That sounds amazing!
I got both sets (with and without border). the set without the border is going in the book at the character’s first appearance. The set with the border is getting framed.
That Fatefire is very cool, but had it been really wielded by our Duke he would have got all the pallet at the end!
Opened mine yesterday. Currently, they reside approximately where they first appear, but I expect things will move a bit the next time I reread the physical book.
I usually reread the ebook, since it’s less wear on the book, easier to haul around, and I can switch from the iPad to the phone if charging is needed or I am not home.
Well, one set is in the book. I haven’t decided what to do with the second set…
GREAT topic. I wanted to know the answer to this question or if there was an official placement.
I’m in NZ so won’t be in this particular party unless I can order them and you bring to Australia because if I can get a ticket will going over to meet you.
Has there been any progress on selling it in Europe? I hesitated with the first batch because I kept waiting for that and am kind of frustrated with myself for that. More local shipping would be great, but I don’t want to miss out on these waitig for that.
Should the international delegates be voting in this poll? As a long-standing member of the European delegation, subdivision UK, I was uncertain if this poll was open to us?
But seriously should we overseas vote for still waiting or just skip the poll altogether?
If I did have the vellum sheets I’d probably keep them in a hard binder and look at them in admiration without too much touching unless we were allocated enough copies in the store that I felt it fair to buy two sets for myself and then one would be for special occasions and the other stay in the binder untouched.
Mine should arrive today or by Monday. I will probably place them by vibes. I’m also waiting for a cover art print I ordered at the Dragoncon art show to arrive too. I’m having a very artful weekend.
I got, and love my vellum. I have put them in a combo of places. Solentine and the Sun Margrave are when we first meet him. Clover when she tells her back story. Everard at the big reveal in the plaza (which still gives me chills and makes me want to run back and read it again). Arvell at his big reveal (can’t believe you got us twice with the same trick).
The character art (and, of course) Maggie’s comments on appearance) is what clued me into Reynald not being who we expected, since he didn’t have specific art. But I was still shocked at the reveal – for him and Arvell.
Tricky, tricky House Andrews, keep it up!!
Forgot about the Man from the Garden – hmm. I’m actually having trouble remembering where he went – which seems oddly appropriate.
Since I ordered both the white border and the no border, I plan to have one set in the book and one set on display on my bookshelves! I’m ordering some IKEA Billy Bookcases and getting the glass doors attachment, so I’m going to see if they fit well in there. If they don’t, then they’re getting framed.
I am doing a mixture, The Man from the Garden and the Margrave when we meet them, but the Everard during the reveal and Clover when she reveals her background. I am putting Solentine in the scene where he “outsmarts” Everard by making her a cousin (I think that look in his face matches that scene more) and Arvel is going in the spot where he blusters into her house after the ball in all his arrogant glory and gets roundly rebuffed.
Mine are framed and up on the wall. Too beautiful not to look at each day.
I just got mine a couple of days ago. I plan on putting one set in frames to hang on the walls and the second set will go into the Moonlight SE when I get it next spring.
Mine are still in the packaging. By the time I got them, one friend was borrowing the book. Then when she tried to return it at book club another friend borrowed it. Once the book makes it home I’ll decide where to put them.
My will is slowly crumbling on buying a physical special edition. If another one comes out, the credit card may be coming out….
I went pretty near all out on art. I bought print from Helen Elias, Candice Skater, and Luisa’s Priessler. That is all up on walls. The velum is in my Tor hardcover – pretty much where they have their important scenes – Clover backstory; Everard reveal; Arvel reveal (may move this to when they dance); man from the garden when he is released. Solentine and the Sun Margrave when first met.
My vellums are going in a display case in my library. So I can see them on display
Most I put at the first appearance except for 2. Clover, I put when she is getting frustrated with Maggie cleaning. And the green eyed man with the green and black smoke at the first appearance of said smoke
I’m slowly going through the physical book trying to find a moment that to me best fits the illustrations. Which has lead me to not permanently place any yet 😅. There will be a scene that I feel emotionally it resonates with the art for imapct, but seems to match a written description in a different area. It also doesn’t help that I’ve only listened to the audiobook so finding the place in the book is an adventure. They’re definitely going into the special edition I hunted down so I can lend out the OG hardcover edition to friends without stress over art handling.
They need to be evenly distributed throughout the book, so I vote putting them at any scene referencing the character at the approximate 20% 30% 40% 60% 70% 80% marks.
I would also never put them in the book I actually read that is all used and possibly has creases or smudges. Nope, these go in special edition shelf trophies that I will lovingly caress and flip through for nostalgia. Since I have both vellum versions, they are going in the moonlight and owlcrate versions I collected for my pretty shelf.
That’s my story.
I’m one of the ones who won’t be putting the vellums into a book because my overly ambitious plan is to build a lightbox with the map in the middle and the stunning art around it so that the characters glow. They are so beautiful that I want to be able to see them every day and not hide them away in a book. I’ve been listening to the book almost constantly since it came out and keep giving copies away so I can talk to my friends about it.
I might be a little, teensy bit obsessed.
Good morning to House Andrews and BDH.
Living at the rear-end of the universe, as I do (South Africa), I have despaired of getting grubby mitts on merch, any merch, never mind vellums.
If I could, I would place each vellum at a favourite scene featuring a specific character.
Keep well and safe! Summer is approaching here, so wishing all in the North a suggly winter with good books!
Lynda
Lynda, Happy Spring! I visited South Africa this time of year, and you have beautiful countryside, the breathtaking Cape region architecture and vineyards (the best WINE). Wonderful people. And you have those magical, captivating warm weather PENGUINS!!!
Maybe in Maggie 2 there could be magical PENGUINS (add during editing?) 🐧🐧🐧
I am relatively new to the BDH. I had to wait 5 months for my hold on Libby because limited means. I first read it at the beginning of August and just finished it for the 4th time last night. I’m obsessed 🤩😍 I will be getting the vellums as soon as they are available again! I’m so bummed I missed the special edition through Midnight Whispers… THAT is what I really want to come back in stock as much as the vellums!! I’m officially a card carrying member of the BDH and cannot wait to dive into more House Andrew’s! Such creative and fun stories to lose yourself in and it’s so easy to do!
Insta Fate Fire is fricking awesome! That had to have been a difficult thing to swing around, but I’m glad they did – very cool!🤺🗡️🔥
I placed heavy white cardstock behind the vellums and framed them and have them up in my living room circling the map of Kair Torin
When I finally get mine, I’m going to turn them into a Light box lamp, and have it on a rotating platform so I can see all sides.
Happy Birthday fellow Horde members. I ordered the add on also so. I have one set I use in the book and the other s I keep on the bookshelf with my Andrews books. I don’t want them messed up. I am hoping for Inheritance vellums. I love the colors that were used in the paintings from that book.
Of course more than anything I am hoping for new stories……
I was sitting in a chair admiring the vellums when I held one higher and the light shining through REALLY makes them glorious. I don’t know if I’ll build a light box, though.
I feel silly, but isn’t Silveren the Man in the Garden? Not the rando that first scared Maggie?
I cannot show my kids the green fire – they would 100% want a flaming green sword for their next birthday .
My vellum order has arrived, but I haven’t placed in my book yet because life. Saving the moment of placing the vellum for when I do a reread. I will probably place them as the characters first appear and then move them to the place where the characters first makes an impact on how I view the story.
I want to put them where the characters show up as themselves. So, not the first appearance of Clover (& ect), but when she starts taking charge of the house.
I have the special Waterstones edition. The vellum hadn’t arrived by the time I read the book. Afterward, I listened to the book on Audible and when I thought a good scene arrived for a particular character’s portrait, I located it in the book.
So here’s what I have (things could move in future, you never know):
1. Solentine Dagarra, Pg 50, Waterstones edition, “I was standing in a sound-proof room, the servant was likely a trained killer, and I was looking at Solentine Dagarra.”
2. Man from the Garden, Pg 177, Waterstones edition, “The man from the Garden stood mext to me. He wore a plain brown cloak and a lancer’s coif that hid his face, but the eyes were unmistakable.”
3. The Sleepless Duke, Pg 233, Waterstones edition, “Green fire streaked across the cobblestones, like a jet of arcane napalm, straight between us. The front end of the butcher’s blade slid off and fell to the ground.”
4. Clover, Pg 395, Waterstones edition, “It’s a two-grest dress and we got it for 30 nomas. Let’s go fast before someone arrests me for this robbery.”
5. Lord Arvel, Pg 430, Waterstones edition, “Lord Bellen looked at me. His colors were blue and white and his clothes were cut like Everard’s, armor replicated in cloth and leather with exquisite detail. His white boublet clasped his frame widening already huge shoulders. A stunning inlay of pale blue curved across his chest with gold. His sky-blue cloak dripped from his left shoulder. He looked enormous, his blond hair nearly glowing in the light of the enchanted chandeliers…”
6. The Sun Margrave, Pg 449, Waterstones edition, “In the middle of the tower stood a massive wooden desk, heavy and ornate. The man behind it was in his early sixties. He wore a black tabard with a stylized gold sun embroidered upon it.The symbol of his rank for, like the sun, he was meant to see all and purge the darkness.”
I kept looking for the right place for Clover, but there is so much there to choose from, I just couldn’t, but the deal she made on the dress was too good!