Because, as Ilona eloquently put it, our last few weeks seriously sucked.
We get a treat, with the caveat (listen closely, Horde!) that it is not the beginning of a new serial, confirmation of the next project or any other secret message for us to divine in the tea leaves.
It’s a Friday short and we are fluffy about it.
The warehouse lay in complete silence. Nine thousand square feet of concrete floor with rows of drive-in bays on two sides and brick walls on the other two. Metal rafters supported a corrugated steel roof, punctuated by industrial lamps. Normally daylight would filter in through the translucent panels above the bay doors, but it was evening, and the lamps were the only source of light.
I left half of them off, and the concrete was a patchwork of light and shadow.
I sat in the middle of the floor, right leg extended and resting flat. I bent my left leg, grasping it by the ankle, and pulled it toward my chest, trying to loosen my hips. I wore a tracksuit with conveniently long sleeves that covered my arms and a pair of running shoes. My hair was up in a ponytail and out of my face. If anyone walked into the warehouse, they would see an ordinary forty-year-old woman sitting on the floor.
This wasn’t just a bad idea. This was a dangerous idea.
Maybe he wouldn’t show.
The warehouse sat on Pershing Road in Cicero, in the middle of an industrial zone. Warehouses lined the entire street, and by night the area was deserted. The traffic noises had receded a while ago. It was quiet.
I closed my eyes. The silence blossomed like a flower, and I sank into it, listening. There was no emotion, no worry, only waiting.
Reality faded. Not completely. It had become an overlay, and beneath it a different place and a different time unfolded. A lithe figure spun across rocky ground, a sword in her hand, her movement fluid one moment and explosive the next. Behind her, a huge purple sun rose in a pale blue sky.
I’d tried meditation before, but my thoughts always ran away in circles. Kids, bills, work. But this wasn’t meditation. I wasn’t at peace. I wasn’t healing or reestablishing inner balance. I waited like a predator, thoughtless and anticipating approaching prey, while my mind danced through someone else’s memory.
A faint whisper of a vehicle sliding into the parking space.
I let go of my left leg and switched to the right one.
A quiet thump of the car door closing.
Footsteps drawing near.
I opened my eyes.
The door in the far wall swung open, and Jeremy Fenlon emerged onto the warehouse floor carrying a long duffel bag on his shoulder. He was forty-five years old, although most would judge him to be in his thirties until they saw his face. His dark battle suit allowed for full range of movement, but despite being slightly loose on his frame, it couldn’t hide his build. People tended to pick up a little weight as they aged, but his body was lean and almost pure muscle, as if woven from steel wire. He was ridiculously strong and abnormally fast.
Jeremy approached and stopped ten feet from me. He had a classic square-jawed face with a very narrow nose, eyebrows that angled up, and smart brown eyes, wrapped in crow’s feet. His brown hair had begun to grey, and he kept it cut longish on top and brushed it straight back, so it curved slightly. He looked like someone who used his brain for a living, was excellent at his job, and had too much work on his plate. A highly competent surgeon in the prime of his career. A genius professor, scuffed up around the edges.
He was none of those things.
Jeremy took the duffel off his shoulder, crouched by me, and surveyed the warehouse. “Love the place. Thinking of changing careers?”
“I rented it for one night.” I straightened both legs.
“Why?”
“Privacy.”
Was I making a mistake? I’d rolled that question around in my head for the last three days, long before I asked him, and I came up with ‘no’ every time. Tomorrow, I would be officially returning to work. I needed a benchmark.
“I need to know if this is covered,” I said.
Jeremy sighed and nodded. He had a quiet, calm voice, and something about the way he talked anchored you and made everything he said seem reasonable.
“I’m still your assigned Peer Support Specialist. Anything that happens here is covered by therapist-client privilege. I’m bound by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HIPAA Privacy Rule. The only thing that overrides that is the duty to warn and protect. Are you planning on making a credible, imminent threat to your life or the lives of others?”
“No.”
“Then we are covered. So, what can I do for you?”
“I need you to fight me.”
He frowned. “That’s it? That’s the favor?”
I nodded.
He looked around the warehouse dappled with patches of gloom and light and turned back to me. His gaze locked on me, unblinking.
“The fastest and simplest reaction pathway is by touch.”
He spoke in a measured, methodical way, his voice almost intimate.
“No thinking required. Touch a hot pan and your body jerks your hand away before you can process anything. It takes an average human 150 milliseconds to pull their hand out of the fire. It takes me 78.”
He really was ridiculously fast.
“A fight doesn’t rely on simple pathways. It depends on sight. For an average human, the response to visual cues takes about 250 milliseconds. Recognition bumps us up to 384 milliseconds, and once we start making choices, we go up to a full half-second. Normal humans also slow down with age.”
He gave me a quick smile. I smiled back.
“I don’t,” he said. “My choice reaction time in a fight is 246 milliseconds. I assess the enemy, make a judgement, and start moving before you can jerk your hand away from the fire, Ada.”
“I know,” I told him.
“Did you look up my stats?”
I didn’t answer.
Jeremy unzipped his duffel, reached into it, and pulled out a sword with an odd, segmented blade.
“This weapon isn’t designed to spar. It’s designed to kill. And I’m not your friendly neighborhood sensei, who teaches kids the value of discipline through martial arts. I’m a flux reaper. I’ve cut my way through breaches for seven years. Remind me, what is your designation?”
“Dimension Breach Resource Assessor.”
“That’s right. DeBRA. A noncombatant. Being in a situation where you are forced to fight for your life is inherently traumatic. Reliving that stress helps you move past it. However, exposure therapy has its drawbacks. There is a high risk of re-traumatization with improper execution. I’m not sure this qualifies as a proper execution.”
I would have to give him more to get him to agree. “This isn’t about PTSD.”
“Then what is it about?”
“Self-assessment.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I can kill you before your mind recognizes my face.”
“When we started this a month ago, you asked me what I needed. I need this.”
“If Monday makes you anxious, we can postpone.”
I shook my head. “Do this with me, and I will be ready for Monday.”
He pondered me for a long moment and sighed. “Okay.”
Jeremy rose with fluid grace, holding his sword in his left hand. He offered his right to me. I gripped it, and he pulled me to my feet.
“Do you need a weapon?” he asked.
“I have one.”
He squinted at my empty hands. I almost felt sorry for him.
Ten years ago, portals opened in large cities all over the planet. We hadn’t known we were under attack until they burst, spilling monsters into the world. Something had opened breaches in reality, connecting us to other worlds, and attempted to invade. From that moment, humanity was at war.
We adapted.
We developed new terminology, created the Dimensional Defense Command, and dug in for the long haul.
In the wake of that first burst, some people gained unusual abilities. We called those people Talents, and they fell into two broad categories: combat and noncombat. The portals became known as gates. We learned that they led to interdimensional spaces filled with terrifying creatures and valuable resources that defied our understanding of science. Resources we required to continue repelling the attacks.
My talent let me enter a breach and assess the resources it contained. I was a government employee, a valuable asset that the DDC loaned to the guilds. A noncombatant. An average human in every way that counted.
One month ago, I walked into the Elmwood Gate with one of the best guilds in the U.S. I was part of the mining team. The guild was supposed to protect me at all costs. Instead, it betrayed me and left me for dead.
Twenty-seven people lost their lives in that breach. For over a week, my children didn’t know if I’d survived, while the Cold Chaos Guild and the DDC were absolutely sure I was dead. Then I walked out of the gate with my dog.
Cold Chaos and I made a deal. The DDC might have had doubts about my account of their heroic rescue, but they had no proof we lied. More importantly, my death had the potential to become a huge PR nightmare, and once they discovered I was alive, they couldn’t wait to sweep the whole thing under the rug.
I’d been examined, interviewed, examined again, and once the higher-ups ascertained that I had every intention of continuing my work, they breathed a collective sigh of relief. Everything could go back to the way it was.
Jeremy was my DDC-assigned therapist. A high-grade combat Talent, trained specifically to work with people damaged by their time in the breach. His task was to get me over my trauma as soon as possible. For the last month, we’d been glued at the hip. Cognitive behavioral therapy, in-the-moment coping strategies, grounding techniques, we did all of it.
Two weeks ago, Jeremy walked me into a breach and walked me right out. We slowly built up the duration, and yesterday I stayed in a breach by myself for half an hour. Before I threw him this curveball, he had expected to clear me for work on Monday.
Right now, he was likely having serious doubts about my mental state.
Jeremy had devoted all of his professional time to me. He was careful, patient, and attentive. And another person in my place might have mistaken it for genuine care. But I knew better.
Jeremy saw me the same way he saw a monster blocking his path or a vehicle that needed to be repaired. I was an issue he had to solve. The DDC entrusted him with the woman who had found the biggest load of adamantite in the history of this war. His primary goal was to put me back together and send me into the breaches, and he went about that task with maximum efficiency. Once I was fully operational, he would put a check mark by my name and never wonder what became of me.
He was good at controlling his emotions, but hiding from my talent was impossible, and when I tested him a couple of times, I sensed his frustration. There was no genuine compassion or connection there, only a skin-deep pretense at empathy. He must’ve promised to get me up and running by Monday, and he intended to hit that goal. He would do nothing to jeopardize it, which was why I invited him here tonight.
“You should prime the blade,” I said.
“I think we’ll be fine.” He motioned to me with his free hand.
There was something predatory in the way he stood. Something tinged with bloodthirst and inner indifference. A kind of selfish anticipation.
Both of us were shaped by this war. At our very first session, Jeremy told me that one Ada had walked into the Elmwood Gate and a different Ada came out. He had no idea how right he was.
I flexed. My talent snapped into being. Jeremy’s image split into layers of color, and I processed the input in milliseconds.
The wide, thick metal bracelet on my right wrist flowed like water. Smooth metal drained down into my hand and gathered there, still hidden.
“Attack, Ada,” Jeremy said. “Or better yet, let’s abandon this plan and go home.”
I moved.
Jeremy was fast. Fast enough to process the strike of my empty left hand but not quite fast enough to dodge. My fingers grazed his forehead, and I spun around him, my whisper floating like the first hint of rising wind.
“Faster, Jeremy.”
The flux reaper whirled around. I gave him no time to adjust. The metal in my hand snapped into an avelier blade, a narrow sword with a split, razor-sharp tip that was born on another world. I didn’t have a purple sun to guide me, but my body knew all of the movements. I had practiced them every day since leaving the breach. They were second nature now.
Jeremy lashed out, his sword slicing in a horizontal arc. I let his sword slide off my blade, lunged past him, and tapped the back of his head with my free hand.
Jeremy’s eyes flared with orange. The flux blade split in his hand, breaking into a whip of metal segments connected by pulsing veins of orange energy. He became a whirlwind of metal and energy, the whip sword striking, spinning, slicing, retracting into a rigid blade, then breaking back into a whip without warning. His breach name was Render, and that is exactly what he did. If he’d been facing a mob of monsters, he would’ve shredded them to pieces.
I flowed between his strikes, waiting for an opening.
Cut, cut, cut, cut…
He lashed at my legs, and I barely avoided the strike. The orange tendrils of energy passed so close that the static pricked my skin through the cloth of the tracksuit.
Jeremy bared his teeth. He was trying to cut me, but I was fog. I was water.
He spun the flux blade in a spiral cut, the end of the whip snapping.
Now.
I lunged into it and caught the energy tendrils with my blade. The sharp segment slid through the twin tip of my sword and stopped, wedged there.
I punched Jeremy in the chest with everything I had.
The flux reaper flew backward, landed on his side, rolled, and sprang to his feet.
I stopped. One of the lamps glowed directly overhead, and I stood in the cone of light. It slid off my sword as I retracted the blade into the bracelet. I learned what I came here to find out. I was now faster than a peak-tier damage Talent.
I knew I could kill monsters. Walking out of the Elmwood Gate breach proved that. The question was, could I kill people who killed monsters? I had my answer.
If I went into the breach and a guild member betrayed me again, I could kill them.
I would kill them.
“Two hundred and fifty-nine milliseconds,” I told him. “Your average choice reaction time.”
Jeremy stared at me, his expression shocked.
Silence stretched.
He opened his mouth. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Adaline Moore. Dimension Breach Resource Assessor,” I said. “Thank you for your assistance, Jeremy. I believe you’re right. It is time I returned to work. I will be in my office on Monday. Please let your supervisor know that I am available for breach assignment.”
He stayed completely still, as if rooted to the floor.
I turned and walked to the door.
“Come, Bear.”
A massive shadow slipped from its hiding place in the corner of the warehouse.
Jeremy’s eyes widened. He hadn’t seen Bear. He hadn’t even noticed her.
The huge German shepherd padded past him, completely silent, showed him her teeth, and followed me out into the night.
Thank You soooooo much! I have been Jonesing for something from this storyline. I despaired of it becoming available anytime soon. So when I read this, it soothed my soul like a much needed balm. Thanks again, now off to re-read this book again.
+1! Happy Saturday for an email reader.
+1
Yeessssss! Re-read! nothing interesting out there right now!
I ❤️ this story!!
+1
+1
This is exactly what I came to say.
Thank you so much House Andrews!
Adaline is my favorite. I love all of IA heroes but her combination of maturity and resilience wrapping around her strong core of love really resonates with me.
+1
Yes, 1k%, I missed Ada so much.
Love this world, adore her.
Thanks House Andrews.
+1 Ditto!
Maggie has been getting so much love lately – and rightly so – but for newish releases, I love Ada as much or more. I’m with you – I’m so happy to see this snippet and can’t wait for more of Ada’s story 🙂 (well, I can because I must, but you know what I mean :P)
I do
+1!!!!! Squeeeeeeeeee!
+1!!! Squee!!!
Oh thank you. I needed that.me too!
+1 also. Preciousssssss…. we wantssssssss… (ignore me, House Andrews – just do whatever is necessary to look after yourselves). But – it is precioussssss 😉
+1 I wish there was a “like” feature on these comments. Alas I guess I have to add my +1 to yours, so so so hoping there is more of this series coming.
+1
Thank you for the treat! I love this story. Bear and Ada are a winning duo❣️
+100
Thank you so much HA for this lovely, *delicious* treat! Looking forward to whenever the rest of Inheritance 2 comes out!
Soooooo many possible responses, but I think the best and only one is this:
Loved it! Thank you and happy weekend to all <3
Thank you!
+1
BEAR!!!
And yes, nice to see Adaline coping, too.
😀 🐕
That was the best!
I had just re-listened to The Inheritance a couple days ago, so Ada & Bear were still fresh in my mind. 💕
I totally thought we would be getting a continuation of Ada & Bear’s adventures into the breach.
So yeah, I’ll continue re-reading & listening to all House Andrews works (and I cycle through them all) while I w**t so very chalant for whichever new snippet, novella, or novel comes out next.
Thank you for all the delightful worlds I can delve into to get through my reality.
right there with you
Yes to all of the above…and I am SO thrilled that Ada has made her peace with the horror she survived. I will love every snippet of this world, as I have loved every world HA has created
Ditto.
Just reread Inheritance and this is perfectly timed.
Thank you for brightening another Friday.
+1 absolutely!
So good! Thank you.
What a delight. I loved your book “The Inheritance”. I’ve reread it while hoping for the next. This short story is such a tempting tease of what will come. I’ll be impatiently waiting for the next book in the series. Thanks so much for sharing this taste.
Best birthday present ever! Thank you thank you thank you!
Happy Birthday!
So damn good. Thank you.
Thank you! Thank you! I love Everything you write but I have been waiting to hear more about Ada and Bear and what happened after they returned from the breach.
Thank you so much! I have both the book and audio. It was great to get a little glimpse into the next steps for Ada. I love her. What a great way to start my Saturday morning
Yes! Awesome little tidbit….
Thank you very much for that 🙂 though it is hard to not want more….
OMG! I freaking love this character. She is a soccer mom turned bada$$ and I’m here for it. Thank you so much!
Squeeee!
Wow!
What else to say? Nothing, but WOW.
Yay! Yay! Great teaser, so looking forward to reading more of this world. Love Ada and Bear!
Adaaa’s back!!! And Bear!! Yayy
Thank you
Despite your “not” disclaimer, you know that if you let out a finger, the horde will devour entire hand? 9_9
Looks like ADA2 is on the way, yay! XD
SQUEE! ❤️
A tisket. a tasket, a wonderful snippet in a basket! Thank you, I’ve been jomesing for a bit of Inheritance II.
thankyou. a wonderful friday fluffy. Go Adaline 😄🐾
so good!!!!!
So good. I love everything you write.
*deep breath* AHHHHHHHHHH…da.
Omg. Wait. No, I am calm. Nonchalant even.
*Screams into a pillow*
+1!
I just reread The Inheritance on audio about 2 weeks ago. I can’t wait for more from this story! Such a good one.
Holy Moly, Ada! Knowing that she will not be taking any backstabbing prisoners…
Now I have to go reread her story
Thxs House Andrews
What a treat. Thank you!
Anticipation is the best gravy🙂
The way I squealed when I realized this was an Ada snippet! Full body wiggle after I finished reading. Thank yoouuuu! 😍
Squeeee!! Thank you for this little weekend tidbit, I love this storyline so much!
🙂 🙂 🙂
I love this storyline, it has such potential.
trying to be chalant. But WOW. Great job. hope your next week is better.
There will be an Inheritance 2!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!
I could be wrong, but I believe there will be at least three books in the series.
No, House Andrews never mentioned 3 books.
They are planning on the Inheritance having a sequel, that is all we know 🙂
The sequel I didn’t know I needed thís much.
Thank you!
Ada rocks.
Bear rocks.
This story rocks.
Sorry your last few weeks sucked. This was glorious though! Thank you very much! I LOVED the Inheritance!
That was great! Thank you for the treat!
Mod R, thank you for explaining the caveat.
**Breathes in** This is NOT a new WIP **Breathes out** or announcement of any kind. **Breathes in** This is just for fun. **Breathes out**
Otherwise, we (me) get ahead of ourselves and forget to chill out.
So true.
I will be fluffy. I will be fluffy. I will be fluffy.
Do you think if I say it enough it will happen?
Love the breathwork 😀
That was satisfying.
This is wonderful.
Thank you.
OMG. I loved it! Can’t wait for book 2. 🙏 I will definitely re-re- re reading The Inheritance again, today. 🤩
Oh wow!
Thank you so much!
Really do appreciate all that you do!
Squee! Thank you
OMG
I loved that book and seing this just made my day. Thank you
This just made my morning! Thank you so so much for letting us slip back into Ada’s world for a brief visit!
Thank You, thank you!!!
We, the horde, PROMISE to read NOTHING into this.
We are very grateful for all the snippets that soothe our souls that crave whatever next comes our way.
Oh, and by the way, MUST re-read Inherentance RIGHT NOW!!!
+1
So much this! 😁
Awesome!
I love Ada and Bear sooooo muuuuchhh!!! THANKS it is a delicious treat, makes me want more of them and Inheritance 2 but I try to be nonchalant about it. I really love Maggie so it’s ok we will wa*t and re read everything amazing you already give us. Hope next week will be better for you, you give so much happiness to us you deserve a lot of it too.
+1
I won’t ask for more, I’m just happy there is more of this particular world in your brains. Maybe it’s because I am older and Ada is older than your typical heroine, but I really felt a connection to this character.
Thank you for this snippet!
I look forward to whatever you write next
Woah! What a fabulous surprise! Thank you so much. I woke up crazy early with knee pain, so this was even more welcome. Thanks 🌞
OOOOOHHHH, love the scene!
Thank you House Andrews! I’m comtent and fluffy. Patient for when we get Inheritance 2!
oohh that was cold water in the desert delicious. that was nigh on to spiritually cleansing. you all are good, forget good amazing fantastic mesmerizing. wow.
oops, I meant to say the human part, sorry life has been a stinkpants poopy festival.
Oh my goodness!!! Amazing. Thank You.
Happy sigh! Thank you❤️
I don’t knit. I don’t cook. But I do read. Everything you write. House Andrews is the only author that I am willing to fork out the money to buy the new book on Kindle at Amazon even before it is published and to take time to write a review on current and past books. Thank you for the snippet. Loved it so much. Not so patiently waiting for the next book.
+1
It’s lovely to see Ada again and to know she’s only gotten better. Thanks as always!
YES!!!
OMG!!! This was AWESOME!!! Thank you so much!
+1
Yum. This made my heart smile.
The best first read of the day! Thank you.
Standard Horde question: are we getting an Ada sequel???? Please???
Applause!! My last few weeks sucked too. This was just the best treat for a sore soul. Love to you guys!
Ooooooo weee and squeeeeee! 🙏🏾
ahhhhhhh amazing!! We are chill. We are chill. We do not demand more. We will just wait patiently while the author overlords do their thing. We are *chill*
Thank you so much! I was thinking about Ada and Bear and how she was doing a lot. Now I know she might be good.
And for the rest of my thoughts I am going to be chalant an keep them to myself.
Have a great weekend!
That was a brilliant teaser really looking forward to more.
Full body wiggle 2! Great timing, text & teaser.
How marvelous to see a little of who she was “after”… Thanks!
I love it when people underestimate Ada. She is a bad-ass. Was one before the breach, just got tempered further. Let’s hear it for all the single moms!
Thank you for the snippet, you just shot Inheritance back to the top of my re-read list.
Thank you. I’ve been looking forward to an Ada and Bear story.
She’s so cool!!!
I look forward to a return to this world as much as a return to your others. This was a lovely treat.
Thanks for the short! I was just thinking about the Inheritance universe yesterday. I wonder if Jeremy will actually keep this confidential?
Oh yes! Thank you! So nice to see Ada and Bear again. 💕
Thank you! I love Ada and Bear!
That’s NOT a little something, that was amazing and unexpected, but made me SO happy on another sad Saturday morning. The Inheritance was just a great sci-fi with the added bonus of HA as the creators – because that means it is as perfect as a piece of literature can be.
I also just read This Kingdom… over the past few days, finished last night, and loved, loved, loved it❣️
I am late getting to the party because the love of my life for 45 years died of cancer on May 14. I have only begun coming out of serious brain fog in the past 4-6 weeks, but the escape provided by these books has been sorely needed, and I will always be grateful for having found authors-extraordinaire, the native western North Carolinian that is Gordon, and his love, Ilona.
Gratitude and wishes for many blessings – and thank you also to Mod-R, for all your contributions for upkeep of the BDH!
Prayers and well wishes to you. The brain fog is real. I agree – IA books are deeply appreciated for providing moments of relief.
Sorry for your loss, and best wishes to you on navigating your next steps.
I am sorry to hear of your husband passing. 45 years of friendship, joy and love is a blessing. He will always be with you in your heart. Best wishes to you
What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” — Helen Keller
Thank you so much!
so good!
BEST way to begin my Saturday!!! This piece is simply amazing! Thank you, thank you!
this made my week. “Fluffy ” is a huge understatement.
This was perfect timing! I just started re-reading Ada’s story last night (not for the first time, lol). This was a fantastic nibble. Thank you, HA! Oh, and if you get another post from me that appears to be a bunch of nonsense, I have a 5 week old ginger kitten who walked on my keyboard and made my first post attempt disappear. He weighs less than a pound, but makes up for it with attitude and mischief. His name is Goliath, aka Squeak-tone.
So happy I missed Bear and Ada I has to re listen to my audiobook again this week to quench my thirst
Oh, that was fun! Really enjoyed it after I too had an ‘interesting’ week. Hopefully, you will be able to put Adaline into the schedule. (I know you didn’t promise.)
My heart sings in delight! THE FLUFFIEST!!!! ♥
It amazes me that your small snippet is better then the 6 books I read this month. I read those books and thought they were good until I read this small segment and it blew them away!! Now it is gonna take me reading a few books to enjoy normal author writing again. You two are amazing. I always tell people to read your books the only authors I know who could write a grocery list and make it enjoyable. Thank you
+ 1
Thank you!
I really loved Inheritance. Please write more.
I can’t wait for the next book, this was the teaser trailer I did t know I needed, thank you both!
I am bouncing in my seat like Tigger! THIS IS PERFECTION!
YAYAYAY! Love it! Thank you so much!
IA is one of the few writers I reread.
That’s my best compliment to give.
However, and hoping I’m not jumped on, I don’t get what the ‘predatory’ look is.
For example, ‘There was something predatory in the way he stood.’
It refers to the character watching another person or assessing the surroundings in the way a predator watches potential prey: still, focused, watchful.
You can find further definitions of “predatory” and videos to illustrate it online. For example, google gives me as first result: “physical or behavioral posture that signals an intent to hunt, trap, or dominate a target”
Big cat clips will probably help you the most, the way they can look completely relaxed while still seeming ready to move very quickly 🐯
thankyou! that was fabulous
Such a wonderful treat! I have been wondering…..
Thank you so much for this! I’m sorry you had a bad couple of weeks. I feel your pain. This made today so much better. Looking forward to more, sometime. 🙂
This snippet is AWESOME!!!! I will admit that as much as I love Kate, Hugh, and Maggie. There is something that viscerally connects me to Ada. Thank you!
Have a great weekend and get some rest!
Thank you<3
Go Ada and Bear!
I really enjoyed the The Inheritance book. Thank you for letting us know how Ada is doing. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Omg I’m definitely not thinking about this maybe being a serial 👀 but wow a girl can dream ❤️ I love Ada and Bear so much!!! She’s such a badass!
I knew this was “Inheritance” from the first paragraph. I can’t wait for book 2!
Your timing is great as I just reread the book a few weeks ago, and it was just as good as I remembered. Now I have a strong urge to re-read it again!
Thank you so much for this. Ilona and Gordon, you are both so very generous with your time and talent, and I know everyone here appreciates it.
Just…perfect.
Indeed, the past few weeks sucked. You have no idea how much I needed this, nor did I until now. Thank you sooooo much for the treat that is not the beginning of anything!
love love love. thank you
This made me happy. 🙂
Thank you soooo much! I really love the first book have read and listened to it numerous times!! Very excited for the 2nd.
love it! good start to another 100 degree Saturday..ugh! going out to pretend I’m Ada and I can do this.
Oh, BOY!! All the superlatives. Whenever this is ready, I am ready.
I love it!
Whoo Hoo!!! That was awesome!
Wonderful surprise!! I love everything you write. Inheritance is a favorite and now I need another reread. Also, Maggie was fantastic!! I’ve reread it three times so far. Your books have helped me get through some difficult times. I can’t adequately express how much that means to me.
Thank you so much 🥰
Oh my gosh!!!!!!
This is wonderful! I’m so glad to hear a follow-up to the story!
Thank you!💗
thank you !!!
Nice to have an update on Ada. Always a treat to read something you guys write.
Thank you!
Thank you! Ada did capture my attention and to see a snippet was very nice. Take care of yourselves! hugs, m
Wow! What a great snippet!
Yum!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
im so glad this project isnt forgotten. I absolutely adored book one and have been craving for book 2. Then again, there isnt a single thing you guys have written I haven’t enjoyed… but this was a particularly fun read and thank you for the snippet!
Yessssssssss!
(*absolutely not overreacting*)
You guys are the best at writing scenes like this! And I love kick-ass Ada 😉
Thank you. It was a much needed and appreciated treat.
Thank you!
*boing boing boing*
YAYYYYY!!!! More Ada! More Bear!
And she’s kicking SERIOUS booty!
Thank you House Andrews!
Wow. Thank you for this treat. It is amazing.
OMG!!! Thank you, THANK YOU!!! ❤️ Ada the badass!!! I love that Bear continues to be a key part of her life!
Ada and Bear are backkkkk! The Inheritance has become one of my comfort reads! I’m currently rereading the Innkeeper series so that I can reread Ada and Bear’s story. So excited for this sequel snippet thank you~!
Thank you for the treat! 🥰🥰🥰
Thank you for this snippet! I bought The Inheritance not sure if I would like this new world and almost immediately knew Ada was a great main character for me! Being fluffy (and hopeful) here that this snippet will eventually morph into a new book or books in Ada’s world. *big smile*
Thank you , that was a treat, loving the new story with links back to other worlds.
My weekend is complete. Thank you for this gift!
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Yes! Ada and Bear!!! 🐕
Thank you!! you just made my day!
I have been procrastinating reading this book for quite some time, but this snippet just gave me the incentive to start it. Thank you!
Yay! I was just thinking about re-reading The Inheritance! Thank you. This week has been brutal and this made me so happy ❤️🥰. Go Ada and Bear!
Ohhhh so awesome. Want more 😁
Thank you soooo much! It’s enough to know Ida and Bear are doing well, perhaps even thriving. I can be fluffy and w*it p*tiently. Love this so much. Will re-read soon.
Oops Ada!
I love Ada and Bear! Thank you so much for the treat!
Who knew how therapeutic a vicariously experienced ass kicking could be? lol, House Andrews, thank you. 😊
Amazing!!! That is exactly how I wanted to wake up this morning. I love this world and these characters.
Thank you House Andrews for everything you do for us!!!!!’
love this, can’t wait for more!
Can’t wait for the next installment! I need some Ada and Bear art!!! Thank you so much for the treat! =)
The Inheritance–I love this “little short story” that somehow turned into a book. Great snippet while we wait for the next installment.
My late husband wrote mysteries but almost 60 years of marriage meant I could generally guess where his ideas started. I could not create a story from an experience. Like a painter, a singer, any talent, you either can, or can try to, create. Those that can gift us their talent.
When the writing gets hard and the pressures mount, remember that the Horde is here because we recognize and admire your work.
I am very fluffy about this! I loved Inheritance it gave me the same feels that Sweep of the Blade does. So any peek into that universe makes me 😀😃😄💯😊🎉! Thanks you! Sending up good thoughts and resilience for House Andrews as they tackle edits.
I read this back yesterday (thanks so much)! Then was back here again this morning, to really absorb it. I laughed out loud at the “Two hundred and fifty-nine milliseconds,” I told him. “Your average choice reaction time.” Very nicely done, Ada!
O.M.G.
WHOOHOO!!!
I *love* this series.
Thank you thank you thank you
Oh wow…
Bogowie…jak brakuje mi historii o Adzie …Dzięki okrutne za te okruszki, chowam je jak głodujący ostatni kawałek chleba , w oczekiwaniu na lepszy czas .
Wow! Just, Wow! 😲
Lovely to see how Ada is doing now….
I absolutely LOVED this book and am hoping for more in the series! These characters are great. I am truly looking forward to another book!
Oh how the authorlords love us! Ada is my current favorite character ❤️ I just love how she slowly figures out how much of a badass she really is
Oh wow!! What a gift. You are amazing and so is this.
All the squees !!!!
-satisfied sigh- That hit the spot.
❤❤❤
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Life is a little wonky right now, this snippet is both a gift and a needed reminder of the joy of reading my favorite authors.
It’s time for me to pull out the audible of ‘The Inheritance’ for another listen!!
Whoop!!
Thanks so much!!! Loved to see Ada and Bear again.👍
Oooohh my god! 💜 thank you soooo much for this story!!! I have been rereading this book whenever mood strikes me. This was such a good surprise. You guys made my day. Thank you 🫶🏼
I loved this. I’ve been hoping Adaline and Bear would go back into the breach and meet the Innkeeper maybe. Could this be slated for a sequel? Please. I’ve missed it so much. This made me so happy to read. I’m sorry you two had a crappy week. I have many of them lately myself. Please have lots of good future weeks ❤️
Love this 💞
so very fluffy. I very much enjoyed the end bit where Ada started sounding just a little bit like a Baylor girl educating an unworthy client!
I enjoyed every word! it was an excellent treat and how I wish the story continues.
Excellent, and just what I needed this morning. thank you.
I feel like something in me has been healed, some yearning fulfilled, grounded and at peace knowing all is right with the parts of reality I choose to be aligned with. Thank you for getting Ada primed.
I really would love to read more of this story. This is really good. Thanks for the snippet.
Thank you! What a treat.
You teasers you…I NEED the next book in this series, lol. Seriously, I can’t wait for the next book. Thank you for this.
Thank you so much for another taste of Adeline and the Inheritence world. What a treat! Very much looking forward to another book, it will be worth a wait.
fluffy! Squee 👑👑👑🤩🤩🤩
lovely
Oh, please, please, please give us the next Inheritance book. While all of your works are the best of the best, the Inheritance story really moved me.
I love this!!!! Thank you so much!!!!
Thank you so much! I’m so happy to see Ada and Bear again! I will re read the Inheritance while commencing fluffiness procedures
Thank you! That was fun.
Yay, Adeline and Bear are back!!!
May the coming weeks be wondrous, to make up for the previous awful ones.
I loved this! Thank you! I hope to one day be able to read a book 2.
I love Ada and Bear. I know you made no promises, but please, please, continue their story.
What a lovely fluffy for the the weekend. Thank you!
Thank you SO much for this treat! Go Adaline ( and hello, Bear 🙂
I love that we got another piece of Ada and Bear!! It’s hard to be nonchalant when I’m screaming excitedly on the inside but I’ll try. Thank you so much!!
perfect little Saturday treat after super stressful week. thanks for this. made my day 😍🫠
lovely! thank you
thank you! Ada for the win!
Yay!! Love it. Yes, I want the rest of the story.
That was delightful. Thank You!
Just Wow!
I love this tidbit! So glad to see Ada working through everything. She and her children will succeed.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Can’t wait for more on Adeline, her family and the Guild.
Thanks for this post.
God it is so goooood !!!! Never to fear, I am only fluffy and only patient. Cannot wait for everything you produce Gordon and Illana :))
thank you! I didn’t expect this and it definitely made my day waaay better 🤌
(it’s too late, though. all of my hopes are up)
So AWESOME!!!!!
Eeeee! Yay! And all the exclamations!
Oh, wow. Thank You!!!! ♥️
Thank you! I’ve missed Ada.
. A bare whisper…I want more….
Excellent…love it! Can’t wait for more!
Thank you for an excellent read on a very hot day.
Oooooo! Nan Nan nanah! * sigh* DROOL!! I await with minnow breath!!!
No…. I’m not anticipating the next Breach War novel, **anytime soon**, uh huh, yeppers… NA,
Thank you!
I love this snippet, thank you!! Ada from Breach Wars is my favorite Ilona Andrews main character so far. Its so refreshing to read from a middle aged character point of view and perspective on the world, and I love the world building. I’m so excited to see what happens next (whenever that may be, no pressure)!
+1
Thank you! Could we have some more please. I really needed that!
Loved to see more of Ada in action! And Bear too!
I feel the love. Thank you!
Thank you. This was awesome.
Thank you so much for this! Definitely a well needed treat!!
This is awesome. I love this world. Go Ada.
YES! But the fool in my head is going nuts trying to find some clue about whether or not Bear got an upgrade too?
Thank you!
Awesome! Thank you
Yes! oooh the possibilities!
Thank you. I think that this is one of my favorite books, and I have read all the Ilona Andrews books. I love slipping back and catching up with old friends.
Thank you for thinking of us, your readers. Looking forward to more from the Inheritance world.
Whelp, that was absolutely perfect! Thanks for the weekend treat!
amazing! thank you. I needed that little snack. ❤️
Oooh! Does this mean we can hope for a new Inheritance book in the next year?
Oh wow, oh wow! How the heck have they found time to start another Ada book? I don’t really care cause I love it so much! On the other hand, stay healthy, strong and safe, HA.We hate to wait but we of the BHD will.
This is exactly what I explained 🙂 – it is not book 2, or confirmation that it has started. It’s only a snippet.
Tkwnkm was a snippet. that became another snippet later on. Hugh ‘s story started as an april fools joke…….
Sooo good. I thought I had resigned myself to waiting for the next book of The Inheritance because of your killer writing schedule for This Kingdom 2 and then 3, so it was really wonderful to get an Ada snippet! The only thing that would have made it better was to have Elias make an appearance, too. I know, I’m greedy. Because I really, really want book 2 of TKWNKM, too. Thank you, thank you!
Thank you 😊 I so very much enjoyed the story 💕
I absolutely love Ada. It is so rare to read a book about a middle-aged woman having her own adventures. It is so refreshing.
Ahhhhhh! This me, patiently waiting. Thank you.
Thank you!
And just like that, my world grew brighter
Loved it!!
I know how insanely busy you guys are with Maggie 2, so thank you so much for the Ada and Bear story. I love them. You made my week. HA really takes good care of BDH. Wish I could return the favor.
Oooooh I love this so much! I mean, I am very chalantly enjoying this. Yeah, that. I’m not squeeing at all. Nope. *silently squees*
Now Mod R you don’t seriously expect the Horde to not lose it despite your caveats.
Adore! Adore! Adore! Thank you!!!!
I didn’t know I needed Ada so much. Thank you!!!!!!!!
This is so cool!!!
Yay, Ada & Bear! Thank you so much!!!
Oh my! Thanks a whole lot:)
I’m very happy Breach Wars is on. I’ll try very hard to be patient.
I love the Inheritance series and definitely hope to see the series continue when House Andrews’ schedule allows. Definitely a new favorite of mine! It’s great to see the crew again.
I needed this. Thank you so much. We just found out my husband who went in for a cardiac cath and possible stent may need quadruple bypass. It’s been a horrible year this year. Reading keeps me sane. This book is one of my favorites, and I love that you shared this snippet.
Lovely, thanks!
Thank you! Just re-listened to Inheritance the other day so perfect timing !
Thank you, now am salivating for Book #2. 😉 Can’t wait!
Awe thank you I needed that 🙂
Squee! Thankyou I loved it
EPIC! Thank you! ❤️
I really got drawn in right away. I want to read the full story. I can’t find it. What is the name of the book and author?
Hi Pat,
This is a short sequel scene set after The Inheritance, written by Ilona Andrews and posted here on the Ilona Andrews blog.
If you want to read Ada’s story up to this point, you can find links here https://ilona-andrews.com/other-fiction/#inheritance
No continuation to this scene is available at this time.
It will be Okay.
Ada and Bear, oh how lovely
Thank you!
. . . but as a Horde member in good standing .. . Chalant! Chalant!
Trying sooo hard to be fluffy, but I keep accidentally slipping into feral instead. 😅
I love Ada and Bear. Thanks for the snippet!
Thank you for the surprise treat! I’m proud to say I recognized her as Ada early in.
Happy dance!
Squeeeeeee!!!! Thank you for this!!! It brought me so much joy ❤️
I know we aren’t supposed to get excited, BUT….
How is it we are to continue our vigilance with patience? Tantalizing…
Love it!!!!
Thank youuuuu!
this is such a fun treat.
now that I’ve re-read it for the ****th time, I’ve been thinking about 2 things.
sorry if this is a repeat. there are 500 more comments since the last time and I don’t think I caught them all.
1. her talent lets her sense Jeremy’s frustration. did we know about this aspect of her talent before or is this a layer she discovered within the last month? was she able to sense Elias’s genuine concern for her?
2. I’m wondering about the difference between Jeremy’s talent and London’s talent. Ada pulled her punch at the last second when she hit London through his shield and did enough damage to require a healer but she hit Jeremy at full strength and he rolled to his feet. It makes me wonder what would happen to Elias if Ada hit him at full strength.
loved Bear’s cameo!
I’ve read this book twice and ready for a third time. I’m crossing my fingers, my eyes, and my toes that there will be a series. Does begging help?
Omgomgomg
When I first came across the the inheritance posts it wasn’t my genre of reading, so I skipped it.
This snippet made me realize I shouldn’t skip any ilona andrews works… So I downloaded the inheritance and spent the last four hours reading it…
Thank you for the wonderful you are… It was fantabulous.
OMG YEAH- love love love
Thank you! This was epic. I’m not sure I trust Jeremy to keep his mouth shut though…
It is “not the beginning of a new serial, confirmation of the next project or any other secret message for us to divine in the tea leaves”… because it is all three!!
*supreme fluff activated*
so good!!
I love this “series “. 🥰🩷 the best thing this weekend 🩷
I will be fluffy I will be fluffy I will be fluffy I WILL BE FLUFFY. You know what else is fluffy? The proverbial brown paper bag I am lightly hyperventilating into. Thank you for bringing some joy to a crappy week. HA is a light at the end of the tunnel for so many of us and we don’t take that for granted. And thank you to Mod R, who reminds us of our fluffiness. (I will be fluffyyyy!!!!)
I loved this! This works as a nice epilogue for The Inheritance. 😁
I do hope we eventually get more in that setting but I am happy with anything they write. ☺️
O M G I shall now zip my lips before the call of Please Please Please comes out
Oh my God. Stellar. A sword fight. A great contest and self-assessment. So much fun. I was thinking about her this week. I was wondering. Thx so much for how much. That was a treat. Rest well Dolly.
Thank you so much!
So glad I joined the email newsletter!! Can’t believe I might’ve missed this treat!!! Thank you house andrewssss
Ada is the type of woman I want to be!
Feel free to do more Friday fluff😇
thank you for the tidbit. Loved it.
Thank you so much for this. As for so many others, my past two weeks have been very trying on multiple fronts. Coming up for air now that the immediate crises have passed, and this snippet was so, so welcome. If your books don’t count as self-care – for us readers anyway; possibly not so much for HA – then what does? Wishing you lots of time for self-care as soon as possible. Tea, chocolate, reading, beach, yarn, naps, whatever. Go for it!
I hope the bad weeks are behind you now.
I was just re=reading The Inheritance and this present of a scene tells me where Ada is at. She’s ready to fight anyone who crosses her and it will take alot for anyone to gain her trust now. I look forward to seeing Elias try! Thank you for gifting this to us.
Words can’t describe the pleasure of even a short segment.
*Raises hand*
Excuse me, I’m sorry to make this point. Please continue with shorts, we love them.
buuut.
We’ve heard something similar before.
“this is not a taster”,
“this is ‘just’ an April fools joke”
*cough* (Hugh 1)
We’re just unsure if you forgot to add the clarification “at this time” or the equivalent.
Also… asking for a friend (Yes Steve I’m asking don’t poke me)
🥳🤣🙏🤣🙏🤣🙏🥳
Feels like a drug dealer giving you a sample. Coming off DCC, Runebound Professor, Shadow Slave, and He Who Fights With Monsters, this is exactly what I needed.
AAAAHHHHHH!!!! HELL, YEAH!!!!!!!
Fluffy. Must be fluffy.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Wheeee! Thank you!!
Yah! Thank you for the gift of Ada! I was hoping to see her and bear again. I needed the lift after particularly horrid week.
Thank you!
I had just reread Inheritance. This is a real delight.
Thanks sooo much, love this new series! Go, Ada!
I read and understood what you said in your email, but I just re-read The Inheritance for the time, so … YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!
Lovely story tie bit thank you.
Will miss Dolly and Tim but part of them will live forever . I recommend Dumplin on Netflix. It owes a bit to both Dolly and Frankenfurter
love it. thank you for the story
I’m sorry. I’m not fluffy. I’m very very Very excited. This is what I most want after listening to The Inheritance twice in the last few months. I know nothing is promised. I love you all. 😊
Love, love, love! Thank you! ❤️
Ada! My most recent favorite! Thank you, a thousand times!
OMG OMG OMG!!! “Thank you” doesn’t begin to express my happiness right now but I’ll start there. You lovely people are amazing 🤩. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend.
i was just rereading Inheritance! Oh, for that glimpse of Ada and Bear!
Thank you author lords – your munificence knows no bounds.
w*nt the next book in this series so badly. can’t w*it.
This was like rain on parched land.
Such a treat! You are amazing talents and we are grateful to be your BDH. We appreciate the way you manage the tribulations of life to allow time to create wonderful worlds for us. If you ever feel it’s not worth it, just look at the 48 hours worth of comments to feel the love.
Oh. THANK you. I was just thinking it was was time for a reread of Ada, before I read this! Ow I really have to reread
Thank you for this gem of a scene. I enjoyed its facets!
I’m excited for more Breach war stories.
Thank you, thank you! I loved The Inheritance and was so excited to read this. Ada and Bear are the absolute best!😍
I love Ada and bear.
I just finished re-reading Inheritance last night. This was such a treat ❤️ I loved seeing Bear again, I’m glad Ada is coping and training herself.
ooooh so awesome, yaaaaaay!!!! love it 😀
Yes! I love this story. I have reread the first book so many times. I’m on pins and Needles for my next fix of this storyline.
You know this whole storyline would make a great graphic novel. With all the super heroes, aliens and the world saving plot. The artistry would be amazing!
Yay! Ada is back and open for business. YES! And Bear is priceless.
Thank you for this snippet.
Just what I needed! I’ll never turn down more inheritance. It’s amazing and I can’t wait until y’all are able to pick it back up again.
Thanks for the teaser!
Thankyouthankyouthankyou! 💗💗 My absolute favourite, more and more! 🥰☺️
love love love. thank you! so what i needed this week, as well.
I am utterly, unreasonably excited by this tiny slice. I can’t wait for the whole book to appear.
Thank you! I was hoping you guys would continue this story. I can’t wait to read more.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! oh i needed this.
thank you thank you!
Thank you! Looking forward to Inheritance 2 and 3 and Maggie 2 and 3 and some resolution at the Gertrude Hunt. Anything House Andrews writes is an exceptional source of pleasure.
love it. please be the opening of the new book…..
Yesssssss!,
Yay!
Thank you!
🙏 Thank you!
I loved The Inheritance. Great characters and fabulous world building. Thank you for this piece and I hope this will be the beginning of a beautiful series friendship
LOVE this!
Thank you! I LOVED this storyline/series-potential and was hoping we’d be able to get more. Love, love, love.
Thank you!! Love Ada! Love the Inheritance world! More, more, more!
Thank you for this little excerpt!
I have listened to the Inheritance at least 5 times. Absolutely love this book. Hoping for a sequel! Even if no sequel is in the queue, just wanted to say thank you, for this book and your others. Wishing you all the best.
So much intensity in this short story! Much gratitude for your generosity in providing this treat.
The screech I scrumpt when I saw this! I love Ada, and I’m glad she and Bear are still percolating around in y’all’s brains. Thank you so much for the snippet, it really made my day 💜
Sorry to hear the last few weeks have sucked. Hopefully things are on the upswing now. Even with sucky things you have released some joy into the world with the Ada and Bear snippet. Thank you. Loved it.
While I am in denial with what Mod R wrote I will go back and do a reread again while patiently(?) awaiting the next House Andrew release
Nice!
Bravo!
Yay! Secret project and serial story!! 😂
Yum. Kickass. Fluffy. Fluffy. Fluffy. Breathe.
Inheritance! Inheritance!
*dances happily through the room*
I love all of HA books and stories, and all of their characters, but Ada is most dear to my heart.
Why? Because I’m a 64-year old woman, a bit overweight, with arthritis, definitely not sportive, and I will never find that fairy lover, be part of a great adventure, or be chosen by a darkly handsome guy who sees me as the love of his life.
So reading Ada’s adventures is a bit like being allowed to peek into a place, where even someone like me might have those adventures… 🙂
I love that she’s older. I love that she has family, and bills, and responsibilities, and laundry and all the ‘normal’ stuff. And yet she’s become extraordinary. And absolutely owns it!
Thank you, HA, for this lovely short!
+1 For House Andrews giving us Moms who are dragging themselves forward and making it work, somehow. Ada, Maude, Penelope, grandma Frida, Arrosa and Shana. Survive, keep moving forward.
Thank you.
This short leaves me hungry for more of Ada adventures. I hope there are.
Color me a huge fan.
Thank you!!
Fluffy fluffy fluffy!
Omg, more please!!!
NEW BREACH WARS CONFIRMED!!!!!!
“that it is not the beginning of a new serial”
It’s not a “NEW” serial. It is the continuation of the current quintet. Yes, five books the horde will not be satisfied with a trilogy.
We, the horde, did this for “New KD CONFIRMED” for years. Please don’t make us wait so long for this one. Also thank you for feeding us. We love you and hope you have less sucky weeks.
If you haven’t figured it out yet we adore Ada and need more. 🤣 Ty for the short.
thank you wow wow wow
Squeeze!
I have had a trying two weeks and this is PERFECT as a pick-me-up!
THANK YOU!
Thank you for this wonderful pop back into the Inheritance world. It really brightened my day.
Omgosh 🥹. there is something about this mom getting back to her kids, that gives me all the feels. I know this wasn’t an announcement that the next side story is Ada’s but it definitely filled the void as we wait for the next project.
Love 💕 I’ve missed her.
What your book-devouring horde has been waiting for! Thank you! Now if we could only see the next installment of the Innkeeper storyline. The potential is fraught with promise, especially if there will be a crossover with The Inheritance!
I think I speak for most of the BDH when I say that my favorite storyline is the one I just read (except Steve, we have doubts about Steve…) I forget how much I love each character until you refresh my memory.
same
Wow, just wow!!
The excitement and tension I got to experience during the fight scene, that was fun and cathartic.
How do you guys accomplish in so few words what I sometimes can’t even fully gain from watching a two hour highly rated suspense/action movie or reading a suspenceful book for 5 hours? and I will say I notice it does add suspense to the scene seing two sapient beings/humans battle compared to like when a protagonist fights against a monster.
like in Solo leveling when they had full consciousness versus not (or whatever you call it) I wouldn’t always pay attention to the monster/creature battles as much. I imagine others are the same.
Yes!!! As much as I have loved all of House Andrews’ stories (and I do; I re-read/listen to them all the time), this is the first one I’ve loved as much as the Kate Daniels books. I can’t wait for more!
This is great! Thank you very, very much. It’s been a bit of a week and your story is a perfect tonic.
I love surprise treats! Best day of August, 2026.
It’s so good! It’s so good! Oh my goodness!!!!!! (Said in the highest squeee possible!)
Omg that was amazing! Ada you badass.
What a super delicious food for my mind.
thank you!
This story will be riviting, just like the 1st book.
Love Ada!!
Such timing! Something in me demanded I re-read this book. I finished it this afternoon then came to your website to see if there was anything new about it. This was the cherry on top of the sweet sundae! Here’s hoping more comes soon.
Listen, I fully believe that House Andrews fully believes this is just a fun short for us. I don’t even have any expectation of more. Really. But the real question is, having started down this path, can Ilona resist continuing it?
Yay!
Thanks for this. Going to reread this first novel in the series again. She is very inspiring and tough. I can’t wait for the next one!
Ahhhhhhh!!!!! I LOVED the inheritance, my fav book so far. Thank you for this short read, it was a balm for my soul!!! I really am hoping you guys add more books and make this a series, but I’m not pushing; thankful for this short read ♥️
“with the caveat (listen closely, Horde!) that it is not the beginning of a new serial, confirmation of the next project or any other secret message for us to divine in the tea leaves.” Oh, Dearest Mod R, I applaud your attempt to rein us in, but have you MET the Horde? You know we want more, even if we are *trying* to be chalant.
I have trouble deciding which sword-wielding woman is more fun to spend time with, Adaline or Kate. I am certainly looking forward to reading more about Ada, Bear and the world that seems to be adjacent to so many. Thank you for the lovely gift.
Im Tigger bouncing all over the room!
I love Adaline’s integrity -thanks for sharing this.
I LOVE treats!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!
LOVE!!!
Thank you!
This was a fun read- thank you for sharing!
I hope this means we’ll have more Ada to devour someday soon.
Thank you!
Love Ada so, so much! A moment ago, my husband asked me why I was smiling… Yep, happy camper.
Sooooooo cool! Cannot wait for Inheritance 2 🙌
I was so busy this weekend that I didn’t see this until Sunday evening. This was an absolute treat that I didn’t expect. Like a chocolate pot de crème found overlooked in the fridge. I didn’t know it, but my subconscious self was wondering what was up with Ada and Bear. Yay! (And thank you)
Damn b! That was good, so good. I love Ada so much.
eek eek !!!!!! 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤩🤩🤩🤩😍😍😍😍🤯🤯🤯🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳😻😻😻💥💥💥💥💥👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀.
I have reread inheritance and listen to it on audio so many times. This has amped my need for the sequel. thank you for this morsel !!!
Whoa! Love this! Ada is so angry. Should be interesting. Looking forward with a smile 🙂
I LOVE BEAR SO MUCH!
Omg, ADA!!!! I looove her so so much! (shhhh, don’t tell Katie, my other most favorite female character of all time). Thanks for this snippet/ morsel/ piece of delish chocolate cake!
+1 🙂
This is fire! THANK YOU!
What a great way to start my morning! Thank you, House Andrews!
I know I’m supposed to be totally chill and normal about this. But I was so not chill and very much chalant that it took me literal days to be able to comment at all.
This snippet filled me with joy.
Thanks. <3
I needed this. thank you
Thank you for the snip-it. It was a great way to start my Monday. Ada and Bear are so cool!! I’ll just go now with the picture of Bear’s teeth to get me through Monday!! LOL
I LOVED LOVED LOVED “The Inheritance.” Ada was awesome–but Bear was the bomb. I strongly feel Bear and Grendel should have puppies. Thank you for this short–it was the story I didn’t realize I needed!
oh wonderful re read time
This made me very happy. thank you.
Love the fluffy,will it purr?
Thank you!!! I love Ada
Yes ! Yes ! Yes ! More, more, more PLEASE. This story line has sooo much to offer, love it to bits
I found this on Monday and am very fluffy about it. So fluffy I’m taking up two seats with my fluff!
I wants it, I wants it, I wants it!!!! Trying to stay fluffy. This brought me so much joy! I freaking love this storyline!!
Go ADA!!!!!! Yes!!!!
Me like ADA, me want more ADA!!!!!!!!
You guys rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love Ada and Bear! Thank you!
FLUFFY! Thank you so much. I really ejoyed The Inheritance. I have however enjoyed Maggie so much I have recommended her to my daughter-in-law.
You continue to amaze me with your writing.
Yesssssssssssssssssssss!!! Thank you House Andrews!! I’m so excited to come back to Ada, even for a little bit. Best of luck with this new week!
Thank you for the treat, it was perfect :).
Thank you
Thank you! Can’t tell you how many times I’ve reread The Inheritance. I wondered how she was doing.
Man, I love Ada.
Side note: whatever happened to the Lawn Orphans?
I just finished The Faraway Inn, and was reminded how good the Innkeeper chronicles were. Thits all.
When The Inheritance was first announced here, I had understood the intention of IA was to dive into the LitRPG /Isekai movement and continue publishing chapters here on the website. I was excited at the prospect of continuous new content for this universe and cast of characters. I’m not sure if I misunderstood or if circumstances changed the release plan, but getting an ADA vignette is a terrific treat! Looking forward to new inheritances content in the future!
No, continuous updates was never the plan 🙂.
The Inheritance was a serial, just like the ones the blog has been hosting since 2013 with the first Innkeeper.
There have been 10 serials so far on the blog by my count – and we hope for many mode! But we also understand the authors cannot constantly produce bonus material 🙂
Has it really been 13 years since the first blog serial?!
OMG.
Thank you so much for the snippet. The Inheritance has become one of my comfort reads so it was wonderful to get a peek at Ada and Bear.
More Ada, pretty please <3
WOW.
I loved this surprise last week.
I’d actually just started another re-listen of The Inheritance last Thursday.
I couldn’t comment initially because..yay, a new serial… or… ooh, when, when… or, hey wait…that dude isn’t Elias shaped, where is Elias .. kept slipping out..but we have that under control now. Almost.
So, thank you House Andrews for this unexpected and appreciated surprise.
Thank you, thank you. I came to the website looking for my next read after This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, and this will be it!
Oh, yes!!!
I exactly what I needed this Monday morning – thank you!
Very chalant, here.
Not expecting more, are we? 😉
❤️
(Unfortunately, I have a busy week, or I would be rereading Inheritance right now!)
🙂
WOW Love it.
Wow!
Thank you for this wonderful short! And thank you again for writing about a “mature” woman who kicks ass.
I love this book! Ilove everything about it, from the world building, to the characters, to the endless possibilities. Thank you so much for writing it. When the time comes for it’s continuation, I’m sure I’ll love that as well. In anticipation of future happiness, thank you again, it’s lovely to have good things to look forward to in the time to come.
Patiently waiting(not really-but what choice do we have)?
Absolutely delightful. Love her. Thank you!!!
Yes! I’ve been waiting! 🙂
Adaline is my favorite character in your books. I’m fascinated by stories that function as alchemical transformations, reshaping a person into another version of themselves. But the best thing about Adaline is that every transformation is in service of her goals and beliefs. She is not a blank slate. She is not a kid looking for a purpose. She is doing what has to be done to achieve HER goals.
Also, I am so fluffy and will not be a nuisance.
So happy! Thank you!! Love this series and so many others you’ve written- can’t get enough!
Hahahaha! You are trying to talk down the people who took your April Fools joke and ran with it. (love the treat though)
One wonders who will counsel Jeremy now? Many thanks for this excellent snippet!!!
oh wow! i am so happy to read about Ada and Bear! love this snippet! and a render, how cool is this character! i want his story too! makes so happy becaus Ada is such a new fave character!
Sorry, one more thing… a 40 year old heroine, with some aches and pains, kids to take care of, bills to pay. And as one of your Horde said, a total bad*ss.
Great characters, not a 20 year old YA size 0 heroine.
Imagine that??!
Glorious!
Love! Love, love, love! And now the dreaded four letter word w**t! Argh!!
Thank you.
*squeeeeeeeeee*
I love The Inheritance so much!! Thank you thank you thank you for this delightful window into that world again!!
Thank you for the snippet setting the stage for Ada and Bears revenge tour. It’s been a heavy week and I appreciate your attempt to bouy our spirts. I’m going to reread this in a few days when I’m not so damn sad. This is the story arc I’ve been waiting for, but right now I need some sweet tea and garden therapy. Hoping to see the Lee’s again, so cute and mischievous.
Oooh, happy, happy, happy!!!
How exciting to read this! 🥳🥳🥳
I feel like I cant breathe. Omg I was just talking today about how this might be the best thing Ilona Andrews has ever written. This story is just so amazing. I can’t wait for more. I am re-reading hidden legacy for like the million time, its my favorite series.
Love love love Ada and Bear!! Love the short! Feeling very fluffy. Just waiting patiently for more lovely things to come our way.
Thank you. I needed this.
Thank you! This was a wonderful read. I hope there is more.
Sending you love, appreciation, and thanks from Canada. Tonight I was revelling in the joy of listening to Magic Tides narrated by Graphic Audio and I came to the blog to report on how great it is… then discovered this! What a treat! Thank you!
Nice that Ada got to show off, sad that no-one much in her world would hear of it.
Ada! Bear!
yay….treat, yes, yummy…..trying to be a challant BDH member…..
no that squee you heard must be wind in the trees…
begging….well one has to prepare for Halloween…..
thank you
Omg, thank you! Cannot wait for more on Ada!
Thank you! Love this story. I hope to see a sequel one day to The Inheritance. Seems like every book you both write is better and better.
Lolololololololol. RIGHT to be ‘fluffy’!!!!!!
Wendell Berry died today. I was feeling quite sad. Thank you for helping me feel better!
I was so excited to read, I was bouncing on my chair so hard the text kept on blurring, thank you for this treat! <3
thank you for sharing!
This was so awesome, thank you so much! I love the Inheritance world and storyline. Will go back to reread chalantly while giving copies of Andrews books to friends and coworkers to grow the BDH. Thanks again!
Oooh I must be nonchalant…. Nope. I can’t wait for sequel! Thanks for the short story!
love love love love Ada and Bear. thank you for this amazing look in to how they’re doing.
Thanks so much for the Ada snippet. I was so glad to get any glimpse into Ada’s future. Can’t wait to read more.
That is great. Thank you for the snippet.
I didn’t know how much I needed this. I haven’t read a book all summer (i used to read two a week)…Maggie just sits there beckoning, but I can’t bring my self to pick it up. My mental health has been crap and this proves to myself that I need to read to be healthy…screw the voices that say ‘don’t pick up a book, you don’t have time, or the spell slots to get attached.’
I need the characters and the time. Thank you for the snippet and the reminder that reading is a very important part of keeping me sane.
Thank you! I just re-read (again) *The Inheritance*, and was itching for more Ada and Bear. Can’t wait until book 2!!!
Well, look what you did. You MADE me have to re-listen to the audiobook. This is ALL YOUR FAULT. What do you have to say for yourselves?
Thank you! I just re-read (again) *The Inheritance*, and was itching for more Ada and Bear. Can’t wait until book 2!!! Yes, I read the caveat…still can’t wait for book 2…
Loved this! Thank you for the taster of more good things to come some day!
I’m so thankful for this snippet! I LOVED The Inheritance, and I’ve been eager for more in this universe.
Oh my GOD!!! I’m sooo excited!! I love this universe so much and hope that more will not be too far out in the future!!!
Thank you so much for this snippet which lets me keep the hope alive ♥️♥️♥️
Oh thank you for a snippet!!
I read the story on the blog. I didn’t like it enough to buy it. Maybe I should revisit my decision…
I recommend it. There was added material in the retail version that I would not want to have missed.
I love this story!! I can’t wait for more of The Inheritance. As some other readers said, Maggie is great, but Ada is amazing. She’s one of my favorite IA heroines. Please don’t keep us waiting too long for more of this story.
Really enjoyed this! More!
eeeeeee…. (high pitched little girl scream)…..
I was hoping to see more of this world. Thank you. I would appreciate more but will take whatever you want to give.
Thank you for pulling me out of my reading slump with a new desire to re-read. YES! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Give us more… when you find a spare moment ;).
This was a delight to read, thank you!
I love this story. I loved the book. You said not to ask’ you said before there was more coming. I am waiting..not easily but I am. This book hits me like Kates books did. I really really love it……
I’ve waited long enough and came back for a second read. Glad Ada is doing well.
OMG YAAAAAAAAAAAS. I AM HERE FOR THIS. I love Ada!!!
Arrrggh! Give us more or we will burn down your house tree… Do you want to discuss?
Yes! Thank you for this post. it made my day.
Thank you! The day that I discovered your books is one of my favorite author discoveries of my life ❤️
This was like a much needed balm. Thank you.
You sure we can’t expand this in a nice follow-up/sequel novella ?? It’s ok if the answer is no but know that if you do we will be there for it all the way.
Thank you. As always, a great story. Hope for more in the future.
I don’t know how so much talent can be in two mortal imaginations.
Please let this be a new Inheritance novel,please, please.
Ada! I love her so much. The Inheritance is my single favorite book from your collection and I absolutely cannot wait for the next part of Ada’s story. Thank you from the bottom of my stressed and tired heart for sharing this awesomeness with us!
Love powerful women stories!
THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!!!!!!
NEED MOAR!
Yesssssssss.
Every scene you write has so much meat to it. Thank you for the tasty meal. So satisfying!
Tried to take a break from HA, but after a few books (which were very good but more like Cheetos than steak) went back to Inheritance, then Beast Business and now am filling my soul with Kate and Curran again.
Thank you for giving us a fresh breath of your worlds. Can’t wait for more.
Thanks so much for this! I always love reading your “little something”s and this one did not disappoint. I love all your work except Dina and the Inn books.(I liked her sister’s story though). But I enjoyed Adaline’s story. And I could see why she would want to test her skills against an offense talent. Especially to see if they worked the same in her home dimension.
Oh! I was hoping, and waiting for this. I loved this book and was wondering if one day soon it would come. You guys have been busy!
I would buy the pre-order copy tomorrow, today, even if the book wasn’t finished yet.
Take your time, don’t burn yourselves out, we’ll be here when it’s finally finished. Love to you both.
I know you said no new book, but can we get more? More would be good. Please?!
I absolutely loved The Inheritance so much and look forward to the next book whenever it comes. But until then I absolutely cannot wait for book 2 of This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me!!!!
Marvelous! More, more, more Ada, please!
I know i am late to the party but…YESSSSS!!!!!!
Thank you! That was fun.
Dunno if this is the right place to leave this, or if it is a repeat comment, but I feel I should say that one part of this almost caused me to lose my suspension of disbelief.
In the previous book, Ada punched a ‘tank’ through his shield, *pulled her punch*, and only the immediate intervention of one of the planet’s best healers kept him alive.
Here we have:
“I punched Jeremy in the chest *with everything I had.* [emphasis mine]
The flux reaper flew backward, landed on his side, rolled, and sprang to his feet.”
Seems too inconsistent to me. But fixable with some sort of addition.
Oooooh. I know we were told not to expect anything more…but how can I not want it???
I LOVE ITTTT!
Squee!!!
So fun. I can’t wait until you have time to revisit Ada and Bear.
Yay!!! Thank you so much for the snippet!! I ❤️ Ada & Bear!
Thank you for this snippet. I ❤️ Ada & Bear and have their story on reread.
Looking forward to more when time and inspiration hits y’all.
Squee!
As Kylo Ren once said (calmy), “MORE!”
Absolutely fantabulous ! I needed this like Ada needed Bear… once you have it, you know how much you need it!
Thank you !!
Thank you!!
Been waiting for something from Ada and this was great.
Hopefully, her therapist will maintain therapist/patient confidentiality.
I LOVE HER.
Thank you! It was fun to be back in Ada’s world!
I haven’t read the Inheritance yet. So, this gives me a taste of the book. I’m going to have to put it higher on my list of next books to buy.
Just a quick suggestion to a fellow BDH member……
Join a public library and put The Inheritance first on your list.
You will not regret that decision.
Oooohhhh that. That was good. Thank you for the generous and on so promising gift.
“ not the beginning of a new serial, confirmation of the next project or any other secret message for us to divine in the tea leaves” are you sure sure? Because I need more and my imaginations doesn’t live up to your story telling!
YAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!
Happy Dance!
le amé gracias
A snippet! A…SNIPPET! A wee little morsel of snip.
Lovely.
I like this one, and I await more with glee and gusto.
Omg I’m sitting here squeeing in my seat!! Happy dance happy dance!!! I know I know!!! I am fluffy..I am water..I am fog… I am fluffy…
Thank you so much for this! I really needed it. It has been a tough summer and this just made my day.
Totally rocks. You guys are the best. Thank you so very much.
This Ada and Bear update is gold. Struggles chalantly.
Love it! Thanks for reassuring me that this story will continue. I thought it was very creative and intriguing and really hope to be able to read more. I know Maggie, which is great, is very consuming right now but I look forward to vanquishing the monsters!
Thanks for giving me hope that The Inheritance will continue! I really enjoyed the premise and am looking forward to more, always more lol.
Amazing. Thank you so much for this snippet! I look forward to more adventures with Adaline Moore and Bear, someday.
Thank you for this snippet, I have been waiting to see what Adia is up to now. This is looking good, the next stage in her life will be worth waiting for. Awesome, bring it, you have made my day!
It starts so casually yet within a paragraph or two I’m there, in the warehouse with her and that’s the skill!
No matter how short or indeed how long the book, it is always a shock to come to the end.
thank you
Aw, Bear! ❤️
Love it!!
I did not realize how much I needed this today
Thank you
This is a beautiful tidbit. thank you so much
Thank you for this!! I love Ada and Bear, it was so good to read a snippet of how she’s doing after coming out of the breach! I’m going to patiently wait for any news on another book with fingers crossed!
OMG!!! LOVE IT, wanted more, need more.
thank you for the gift
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
This is confidential right? Oh, good XD. Eeeeeee! It’s so good! Thanks!
I Love, Love, Love it!
Thank you very much. sending hugs and fluffy feelings to house Andrews!