No book is ever long enough for the Book Devouring Horde! House Andrews gifted us a little more.
This bonus scene is safe after Page 438, last scene of Chapter 40 of This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me
Lady Maggie.
Doran jogged up the steps to the curtain wall and passed through the keep tower’s wide-open gates. After the bright daylight, the interior was steeped in pleasantly cool shadows. Summer was coming and with it, Kair Toren’s heat. Not that the heat bothered him, but he missed the southern coast. The low hills of the Golden Valley ringed in terraced fields that curved like ribbons along the slopes. The turquoise waters of Ceter Lake, where the air smelled of flowers and blooming trees. The golden sand beaches, gently sloping into a warm ocean filled with bright fish flittering through the translucent depths.
Kair Toren had a rougher coast, the hills more rugged, the sea darker with a harsher surf. The city itself felt rougher too, unlike the idyllic white walls of Dilem. He’d been in this damn place for too long. He knew he was homesick, and she made it worse.
Doran passed through the tower and stepped out onto the terrace overlooking the Citadel Garden. A large table waited for him by the stone rail, offering a glittering glass pitcher of red wine, another of water, and two plain wooden cups. Merro Ridan sprawled in one of the two chairs, his mane of blond hair hanging loose, Doran’s formal breastplate resting on the ground next to him.
Ridan gave him a wave. The wine pitcher sitting on the table was a third empty.
Doran took the other chair and nodded at the wine. “Started early, I see.”
“It’s fucking hot, and your armor is heavy. Do you want me to pass out from the exhaustion?”
“Keep drinking and you might.”
Ridan rolled his eyes, picked up a jug of water and splashed some into his cup. “Better?”
“I’m looking out for you. Be grateful.”
“Oh, I always am.” Ridan took a long swig. “Are you going to tell me why I had to drop what I was doing and play dress up?”
“What were you doing?”
Ridan grimaced. “Having a chat with our Redeemer guest.”
Ah. That. “Anything?”
Ridan shook his head. “It’s a waste of time. I can apply pressure, but you can always tell when a man won’t break. We’re not getting anything out of that one. We can either cut his throat or cut him loose.”
Doran stretched his legs. Trying to gather information about the Order of the Redeemers had proved irritatingly difficult. He appreciated loyalty, expected and respected it, but fanatics grated on his nerves. The way Redeemers revered Silveren was unnatural. He might as well be one of the saints.
He couldn’t get a read on the man. Silveren was… slippery. He trailed the Second Prince like a morose shadow, avoiding attention, dodging conflicts, like he was made of smoke. Half of the time, you forgot he was in the room.
They had invited one of Silveren’s kardars over for a stay. He wasn’t a prisoner, but he’d been strongly encouraged to partake of their hospitality. The man proved savvy enough to understand what the invitation meant.
Like most Redeemers, he had a sordid past. In his former life, he’d been in charge of a fort, tasked with collecting taxes from the nearby domains, which he had embezzled. That by itself was enough of a crime, but he’d dipped into the garrison’s supplies, and when the raiders came, the fort fell. He’d barely escaped Sauven’s wrath and found a place in the Redeemer Tower.
As potential informants went, he seemed like a sure bet. Greedy. Opportunistic. Untroubled by honor. And yet nothing they’d offered him so far had moved him to break his loyalty to Silveren. He was steadfast.
Doran poured a splash of wine into his glass. Looking for informants wasn’t uncommon. Silveren and he were playing an old game, and they both knew the unspoken rules. Killing the Redeemer kardar would escalate things. There would be a time for that later. For now, he would keep it calm and civil.
“Cut him loose.”
Ridan nodded.
That’s what Doran had always liked about him. No matter the circumstances, Ridan always preferred an underhanded solution. Scheming came to him like breathing, and combined with a healthy appetite for violence, he made for a dangerous opponent. But he didn’t let his urges cloud his judgement. Ridan wasn’t conniving; he was shrewd and calculating, the kind of advisor who never lost sight of the big picture. They were rarely at odds.
Ridan studied him now. “Do you want me to try another one?”
Doran shook his head. “Not now. Silveren will be wary. We have time.”
Eventually, he would have to take the Redeemers on, but open warfare was never his first choice. He preferred to trap and contain, and in the case of an entire knight order, the most prudent course would be to remove them from the field. An expedition outside the borders, a long campaign somewhere far enough away, something to keep them busy…
Eventually an opportunity would present itself, and the old buzzard sitting on the throne trusted him enough to be swayed. At the right time, it wouldn’t take much. A word, a carefully planned encounter, and the Redeemers would be off, leaving him free to fight his private war.
“Well?” Ridan toasted him with a cup. “Don’t keep me in suspense. Who is she?”
Doran smiled at him. “I have found the one.”
Ridan blinked. “The one what?”
“The one I want.”
Ridan choked on his wine. “Will wonders never cease? Come on, give us more. Who is she? Which family?”
“I don’t know.”
Ridan set his cup down with some force. “What do you mean you don’t know?”
“I looked into her and found nothing. She’s hiding.”
Ridan’s eyes lit up. “She’s a mystery then. You never could resist a secret. What’s her name?”
“Maggie.”
Ridan frowned. “Odd name. Where is she from?”
“I don’t know. She speaks like she’s lived in Kair Toren all her life, with the best tutors and a proper education, but she isn’t from the city. If she was, she would know what I look like.”
“Of course she would. Perhaps she would have commissioned a drawing of you. Pinned to a wall above her bed so she could gaze upon it as she pleasured herself.”
Doran allowed himself a small smile.
“Is she even a noble? Can you at least tell that much?”
“She is. And from a prominent family.”
“Oh?”
“It’s the way she speaks. She looks you in the eye. She doesn’t fawn, preen, or second-guess herself.”
Ridan nodded. “She isn’t checking in her head whether her words align with her conduct lessons?”
“Yes. She was guarded but sure. Several days ago, I went to see her with Berengur, and she was exactly the same then.”
Ridan sighed. “Still looking for his long-lost brother?”
“Not anymore.”
Ridan glanced at him, surprised.
“She told him where Pelegrin has been, and why he chose to stay there.”
She had told Berengur a lot more than that. The way she’d spoken moved him. He’d kept turning her words over in his head on the way back to the Citadel.
“How would she know that?” Ridan demanded. “I’ve had people looking for Pelegrin for months. Nothing. Not a trace.”
“You said it yourself. She’s a mystery.”
“A mystery with access to a wide web of informants?” Ridan tapped his finger on the table for emphasis. “This worries me. Is she an imperial agent?”
“No.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“She doesn’t have the ruthlessness.” Doran recalled her limping and smiled again. “She is smart and sharp, but there is little pretense there. She’s genuine.”
Ridan groaned. “By the Aspects. She’s got her hooks in you. And what did this paragon of virtue ask in return for Pelegrin’s location?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s worse. She’s playing the long game. What did she want today?”
“She came to warn me. We have a man hunter.”
Ridan sat up straighter.
They had run across that type of predator in Dilem. It was a gruesome affair, savage enough for Doran to seek outside counsel. Fortunately, a priest of the Scholar in Dilem had made a study of man hunters. They were rare, afflicted with a particular sickness of the mind, often unable to distinguish between lust and murder. For them it was one and the same, and they chased the thrill of torture and death as if possessed. Sooner or later, they made mistakes and they got caught, but not before they’d reaped their bloody harvest.
“This one hunts knights,” Doran said.
“Shuhoven,” Ridan breathed. “Damn. I never liked that asshole, but he was good.”
“So is the hunter. He has magic, and it makes him faster. Eliarde is his next target.”
“According to your Lady Maggie?” Ridan leaned forward, no trace of humor on his face. “Let me guess, she warned you and asked for nothing in return? Does this not worry you? You have been baited, you have taken the hook, and now she will reel you in.”
“Don’t get ideas.”
“Let me kill her. It will be clean and quick. Think of what’s at stake. Of what we’ve worked for. Think of how high you’re aiming. Why would she show up now, when you are on the cusp of attaining your goals?”
Doran shook his head. “You’ll understand when you meet her. Merro, I mean it. No accidents. Not a hair on her head. She is mine.”
“Fuck me.” Ridan stared at him. “Of all the women you have had, why this one?”
He had enjoyed many women. Some were beautiful, some intelligent, ambitious, innocent, dangerous. But he’d never wanted to take any of them home. The game of seduction had grown stale ages ago, so much so that he could predict how things would end from the first conversation. Years had passed since any woman could hold his interest.
There was something about Maggie that pulled at him. They sat in the garden, talking, and he kept picturing her on the balcony in Ar-Vellen, with the sapphire blue sea behind her. He wanted to show the castle to her, to see her smile at him, to carry her off to his bed and have her until she was exhausted.
If she hadn’t left, he could’ve sat in that garden with her for hours. She was gone now, and the moment he had loaded her into a carriage, he’d realized he’d wanted her to stay. He would rather be talking to her now instead of Ridan, and it irked him that she wasn’t here.
He didn’t feel like explaining all of that, and Ridan wouldn’t understand it anyway.
“It is reason enough that I want her.”
Ridan slumped in his chair. “I swear, you will put me into an early grave. Have you communicated your interest?”
“I hinted.”
“And?”
“She ran away.”
Ridan threw his arms up. “At last, there is justice in this world. The one woman you finally want doesn’t want you. I’ve changed my mind. I like her. Just a bit. Not enough to keep me from killing her…”
“Merro,” Doran sank some command into his voice.
Ridan grinned at him. “I got it, I got it. Not a hair on her head. Can I at least look into her? Is that allowed?”
“Yes. Find out what you can. Be discreet.”
Ridan put a hand on his heart. “When have I ever been otherwise?”
“I want to know who she belongs to, and where she comes from. Tell me as soon as you have something.”
Ridan beamed at him. “As you will, my lord.”
Nice! Thanks for this!
Thank you so much for the gift, what a wonderful surprise! Arvel sounds more like an obsessed weirdo than a man in love – although that obsession and his focus on the Redeemers may come in handy given how Book 1 ended. However, I am still Team Sleepless all the way! Time for another re-read….
I agree. that’s possession not love and Maggie will never stand for that. it seems he is aiming for the kingship; another possession to make him feel awesome. i hate him already. this is such a fabulous book!
I honestly didn’t get “possession” vibe, or at least any more so than the other male lead when he says the same thing under the same circumstances. Both are making it clear to their respective friends that she is under their protection and killing her would dissolve their relationship.
He doesn’t want Maggie as a trophy, like Hreban and Galiene. She doesn’t have the status for that. He wants her because she feels like someone who could understand him. Someone he could trust. Someone he could take home. The issue here to me is that he’s attracted to what she represents, rather than who she is and he’s not great at listening.
+1
+1
Yes, it really feels like it is coming from the head nit the heart.
He has decided that she would be good for him, but it feels in no way as if feelings were involved.
I don’t like him, there is no drive in him to find out what SHE wants, to understand what is important to HER. She intrigues him because she is different. His whole choice of words shows nothing different.
To be fair, I was very dissappointed with Ramond for suddenly pulling a “you are mine and you will gladly take my hand” but at least he has gotten to know her for several weeks and has shown through his actions that his feelings are engaged. He has to learn to give up total control of the relationship like Curran and Connor had to, but I believe he will get there.
Doran seems way more selfish in my opinion.
Yes, his desire for Maggie is selfish. He is all about how he sees her benefit him. He won’t even defend her from sexual jokes at her expense. 😡
I could be wrong, but I thought the joke is meant to be at Arvel’s expense, at his arrogant (though perhaps not inaccurate) statement that EVERY noblewoman in the city knows what he looks like. His friend is taking Arvel’s speculation a step farther to illustrate the vanity and pomposity inherit in the assumption.
exactly what i thought!
love me some intelligent commentary
He has fallen in love with his therapist.
Maggie has the natural instincts of a therapist in a world where therapy hasn’t been discovered.
Almost first
They don’t realize that she isn’t anyone’s. She is hers.
On my 4th reread and it just is the crème de la crème.
Seriously, Arvel meets her TWICE and essentially decides he can call dibs on her. It never seems to occur to him she won’t want him.
No, he just thinks that it doesn’t matter if she THINKS she doesn’t want him. He thinks that ofc he will change her mind because of how overwhelmingly awesome he is. Ofc she will want above all others. (Rolls eyes)
To b fair he has no idea of who his real competition is. Arvel gets a 10 out of 10 for being full of himself. Which, oddly enough, modern women can find off putting.
This makes it clear that Arvel is aiming to replace Sauven as top dog, although it was implied that all the families probably constantly try to do so.
But Arven has already lost Maggie. When he lied about who he was by claiming one of his minor titles, that was one thing. But to outright lie about the man on the stairs, let alone have actually gone out of his way to set that up! Oh, that’s crossing a line!
This is a great scene! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
In other news, I convinced my husband to read Maggie1, and I’m so happy! He just finished Part 1. And I visited a B&N near my brother’s house this weekend and saw the multiple copies they had. (I’m w*iting for the US special editions before I decide which to buy.) I also chatted w one of the employees who is going to read Maggie 1 and recommend it to customers. I hope he will eventually make his way here to become one of us. For the Horde!
Reminds of certain handsome bouda, no?
I ran here from Instagram!!! I had to read it
Me too!
My favourite book so far by the authorlords and I loved all of them
I took the pre release quiz and the hidden legacy was the result. It’s a wonderful series. I still love the Innkeeper series. It’s very unique with the Inn having power and all the visitors are so otherworldly and gorgeously described. Then there is the first love of the Kate Daniels series. They are all great! Thank you Ilona Andrew’s for the quality and care you’ve taken in writing your books
I’m done for this love triangle
*down
But is it a triangle? Its clear that she isnt interested in him and that her heart is already set on sb else. I think the problem will be that he doesn’t understand the word no. or maybe he will think she deceived him after all when he finds out about you-know-who. Cannot wait to see HIM jealous.
I can’t wait till he starts teaching her to put her dagger through the joints in armor.
To be fair we don’t know how he views his male competition for Maggie since he hasn’t had much competition for women at least, they throw themselves at him (power money looks and nobility, checks the list for some ladies) And the Green Duke wasn’t noted for women swanning after him (or we were not told so if they do..)
I m here so early for once. 😆 devoured the like the bdh we are
loving this pov!
+1
And extras so early?!
THE HORDE IS SPOILED!!
+10!
Ooooh, the plot is even more thicker than we thought.. love this! Love Maggie! Love This Kingdom.
thank you. and the second book is out in what month, of what year? I need to pre-order.
+1!
That man needs taken down a peg or three. I loved how she got away from him at the ball. Not trying to spoiler here but it was priceless.
ahhh!!! love love love it!
THANK YOU!
Ahhhhhh! Do many twists. I’m shipping the Sleepless Duke!!!!
Exactly! Team Sleepless all the way. I love a morally grey, but generally good guy!
Same!
+1. also he is one of the only main characters in whose head Maggie didn‘t live…
Amazing. Yes. Thank you!
thank you, thank you, thank you! 💜
definitely looking forward to any more tidbits & bonus scenes!
it’s so wild seeing the other perspectives. I love it. lol
We need the second book please! 😭😭😭
Thank you for this! Rules out one theory of mine. On to the next!
It’s nice to have more about him since he doesn’t get much “screen time” in the first book. He’s intriguing.
Loved this. Tells me more about his ambitions, and plans for Maggie. But it also confirmed my nagging feeling… she’s a respite for him and he wants to sleep with her…but what would she get out of the deal? There’s a certain amount of arrogance that is hard to overcome when you’re the golden knight.
Love how both the right hand men are like, threat! let me take her out!
+1
Yes, because altruism in Rellas is so rare among nobles, as to be immediately declared an obviously calculated and evil seduction strategy.
Ha! I love the idea of kindness as the highest form of flirting and raising suspicion.
Amazing book. 4th re-read as well. Loved the plot twists as if the book is fighting back! This is going to be fun.
Daaang that’s good. I liked him in the book but he’s really scary and his way of thinking is all wrong. Love the crazy tho keep it up my boy ! I just hope Maggie will get to make her own choices, no matter who she ends up with.
Oh thank goodness, I thought I was the only one seeing the warning flags.
Ooh, nice. Thank you!
Oh!!! Interesting to see what Arvel is thinking but I don’t think Maggie will pick him. 😁
On no, Maggie doesn’t even know she’s assembling an eager harem
😂😂 she (and Sushi) would be appalled. I wonder what Clover thinks?
Clover seems pretty open-eyed. But I’d love to see her POV regarding her thoughts on all the men in Maggie’s life!
Wait I would love a Clover’s POV on all of her Lady’s suitors!!
Oh you know Clover is Team Sleepless. First he’s the other half of the duo that saved her. Second she know how big his reaction to Maggie’s kidnapping was. She knows he risked his life to search for her while the Conquerors were searching for him. She knows he posted up outside Maggie’s bath and slept in a chair afterwards. Reputations be damned, to her this man is a big damn hero. Arvel on the other hand hadn’t done anything nearly so impressive. In fact he’s making a nuisance of himself. Clover prior to her tragedy would have undoubtedly favored the Golden Knight, but afterwards I thing she puts a lot less stock in appearance and popular opinion.
You have a very solid point. I absolutely concur.
Same.
Agreed.
Absolutely – well put!
+1
Good points and well stated. Would be fun to discuss.
Thank you so much! I enjoyed this book so much and I don’t want it to end ever.
Doran is a liiittle late to the wooing Maggie game haha I’m glad we saw a glimpse of his pov!
Thank you!
And I like him even less now…
+1
+1
excellent! Awesome! Worthy of the Author Lords. Yes, BDH can never get enough. Thank you.
The many layers of this book and so very interesting characters are amazing. Every time I read I find something new.
Such a nice bonus scene so soon after the best lest book drop that ever dropped.. The BDH is truly spoiled😍 love the pov from Doran and am soooo intrigued about his real goals and I know this sooo greedy but cannot wa*t for the next book
Thank you for the yummy little tidbit!
Excellent! I love this peek into Arvel <3 Thank you!!
Rellas seems to have a problem with its knightly orders: supposedly “holy” orders devoted to worshipping aspects of the Warrior Aspect of the Divine, but at least two of them are controlled by men interested mainly in using them as bases to gain temporal power in the kingdom.
Silveren wants to use the Redeemers to destroy the current ruling family – and then probably ascend to his “rightful” throne over a heap of smoking corpses.
And now Arvel appears to be using the Defenders as a springboard to the same throne. The only difference is that he doesn’t seem to be planning to burn the whole place down as a feature of his own takeover.
Now we just need to see what Lord and Lady Bors want to do with the Conquerors and it will be a perfect sweep.
Shades of the Templars…
I mean, someone’s gotta do something. Sauven’s batty ass can’t keep running the country, and the dauphin is just as bad. They need a way better monarch.
The second prince might be a reasonable option.
Where was the second prince mentioned and was he on the pages at any time?
True, though I was a bit wrong about Arvel. I honestly thought he genuinely was just running around behind the scenes, trying to keep the lid on the pot, because he made a vow to serve the throne and takes his honor very seriously. Perhaps he considers it a greater moral imperative to stable the realm?
With this in mind I must re-examine my belief that Arvel was innocent of killing Kiel in the books. Hmmm…I did consider him potentially on the throne, since as the Golden knight it wouldn’t get as much push back from the people. Still, it would be a regime change so it may be better if it is inhan…God do I want to meet the second prince!
Thanks for this insight into the Golden Knight. The story just keeps getting better!
As I was reading this POV, I was saying “oh no!” quite a lot. First Ramond, now Doran, and the guy at the end of book 1 (not saying his name so I don’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read the entire book yet). Plus, the hair ornament.
This is one huge conundrum. Epic fighting commences soon!
I just read the part where “Lord Bellen” (aka Doran Arvel) basically kidnaps Maggie to save her from the Knight Captain’s interrogation. I know Maggie has to be polite to him during all that. However, that’s just taking it too far. Just wait until Doran finds out about the hair ornament and the other kidnapper is (possibly finding out in the second book?).
After reading the above POV, “not a hair on her head” to be harmed is going to come in handy later.
As Sushi would say “oh my fish”. 🤦♀️🤔🫖🐟
Oooh Doran and Evarard really are mirrors of each other. Interesting how they basically had the same conversation with their seconds about Maggie. But something tells me Evarard will learn that Maggie is her own much faster than Doran.
Ramond is already learning that. lol
team Ra-ggie 😉
That might be a better ship name than a possible Mon-ie, or other ships like that. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😉
I vote for the new team name to be Sleepless in Kair Toren 😂
Hahahaha yes that!
Ooohhh this one!!!
😂😂😂😂👏👏👏
I love it! Or maybe, Sleepless Maggie (wink wink)??
Ra-ggie!! +1000
Awesome! Team Raggie for sure!!! 😁
I like it. I can get behind Team Raggie!
Oooh! A Monday snippet, to cheer weary Horde hearts! This makes my smile–and totally uplifts a hard day–thank you so much, Ilona and Gordon! Love, love, love Maggie! And Stelkas…!
Ooo hopefully we do get to see Maggie at the beautiful coast he’s describing but he’s not the one for her. She has her sleepless Duke already but I love that he loves her. She can use that to her advantage later. I’m hoping the golden knight will take a fancy in our deadly fire mage. They’d make a beautiful couple.
Works for me! And by then he may have figured out that simply declaring a woman “mine” doesn’t make it so. If not, pass the popcorn!
I’m shipping Isadau with Solentine… she came back to Maggie’s to take her nap. She’s already part of the family of strays Maggie is collecting and Solentine and her makes the most sense. They would be an insanely hot power couple! He would never presume a relationship status without her consent or hold her back. He would use every trick at his disposal to support her rise into her own tower. She would decimate his enemies in the light while he stalked hers in the dark. When she exhausted herself in a blaze of glory and needs a two week nap, he could keep her safe.
Yeah, I’m team Isa-tine!
True! I only favor Doran is ready definitely ready to settle to down. Sol reminds of me of Augustine early in Hidden Legacy, consumed with his family stuff and not looking to start anything romantic. Doran reminds me of Arland in Innkeeper, looking for partner, infatuated with the idea of the main character, then in comes a hot redhead allied with the MC who is equally badass in a different way.
Yeah, idk about Isadau. She is described as being a monster, and she needs to resolve her current tangles before starting any serious romance. But she was smart enough to come take her power nap in safety at Maggie’s, so she will once again owe Maggie for that. So we will see what her future choices look like.
When is she described as a monster? I know the Archmage is a lunatic, but Maggie said she won’t kill everyone in the house because that’s not the kind of person she is. But yes to her sorting out her stuff first. Arland had to be p*tient, and Arvel should be no different. Slow burn!
I support Team Isa- Tine. Sol will definitely need a bada$$ partner to keep up with him. 🤣
Yes I love this +1
This could also work, and in fact is what I thought in passing while reading the book.
Isadau bringing Doran to his senses would be pretty amusing though. It’s going to take a rock-solid ego to get through that hard head. If not Isadau, the only one we’ve seen with that capability yet is Galiene.
Class-wise, Galiene would be a better match with Solentine. It would be great to see that class system reorganized along with the dynastic power structure, which would open the way for a Galiene-Doran alliance. That might be an if-only thing though.
On reread, I think Digi and Solentine could also work. Digi and Doran would be a steeper climb, but HA could absolutely pull it off. I also think Damaes and Isadau may end up together if Damaes ever pulls his head out of his nether regions long enough; there’s some of that energy there.
I’d kind of love for the second Savaric prince to have escaped the family mental issues, and just be keeping his head down so no one removes it from his shoulders. He could turn out to be the savior of the dynasty, or abdicate due to wanting no part of that craziness.
In the latter case, he and Galiene might want to stay together. Possibly in the former case too, but that pesky class system! It’s long past due for a shakeup. Maggie is up to the task, and Ramond will have her back if it’s going to happen.
Second Prince Inhan might be the perfect choice to advance a constitutional monarchy. Someone smart enough to keep his head and wise enough to play the other great families off each other while willing to let the people have more of a voice which will also help with keeping the Great Families in check.
Hell, Galiene of Sosna would make a great queen likely soon to be loved by the common people. Her not being connected to any of the other great families could be a plus.
If Inhan is willing to listen to her…
Well he could have a very long and relatively peaceful reign with minimum effort on his part.
After all many of the problems facing his father and older brother are self inflicted.
Hm… I was wondering whether S. would become the next King. No idea how this can be, but it seems to me, that S. And Maggie might have a family relationship. He seems to be also undying- and she was able to interrupt his exultant Call (I think this is his chocolate voice). So they seem to have similar magic, which shall be hereditary. If he finds new family, this might change his wish for revenge – and Maggie with all her supporters would be a good fence post against him and civil war. He is intelligent, Great at scheming, and seems to inspire great loyalty in his followers (see the POV by Arvel on the Redeemers) – and both Kiel and Inhan seem to be not suited. So he is of the Right family and if he overcomes his wish for revenge, I think he would be a good king.
That was a very interesting bonus scene. Arvel is serious about Maggie and trying to marry her. But it sounds like he is also plotting “something”. Probably trying to become King.
Thanks for the bonus scene.
Really, what else could he b plotting? There’s not anything else that’s ‘up’ from where Arvel is now.
Love this scene, love the hints at Arval’s long term plans are. Now I have to go back and read TKWNKM again 😄
Thank you for the bonus content!!
I knew there had to be much more to Doran. He couldn’t have achieved his position without being more than a pretty face.
This adds to the complexity of this amazing world and characters!
Haha, I totally thought about the prince from the movie enchanted. Like he’s amazing vapid and genuinely so likable. I may have read him wrong based on this snip
I think while Arvel isn’t as vapid or naive Edward, I think there is an element of that character in the mix. We’re all the main character of our own stories, but Edward and Arvel believe they are the main characters of everyone’s stories. They are the hero, full stop. It’s why he’s so rude about Sol. He wants to look down on Sol being a scheming, womanizing, killer? Dude, look in the mirror! I’m sure Maggie will make this point down the line.
This is one of the reasons Maggie is such an interesting person to interact with, not only for Arvel, but Sol and the ML. Someone whose sees their past and future deeds can provide an interesting perspective. I’m sure the ML had some uncomfortable soul-searching moments thanks to those early conversations with Maggie. For Sol I think its an unexpected reassurance. Sol loves his family, but he doesn’t show them the worst part of himself because he doesn’t think they’d still love him if he did. Maggie though? She is stranger who knows the worst of him and still she cares about him. That’s got to be mind blowing.
Now I like him because he truly cares about Maggie for Maggie
Although not enough to respect her autonomy.
Oh interesting. I guess this means they will run into each other again quite frequently.
well, this certainly seems to give us a big hint of things to come……and might confirm one of my theories!
spoiler
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+
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seems as though Silveren is propping up the second prince perhaps. one theory i have is that the second prince is behind a lot of this chaos.
But Maggie says Silveren kills the second prince. So unless that is on big ruse i think Silveren is working for himself
Oooh explanation on why he wasn’t wering his own armor! I bet he flexed extra at archery when he met Maggie! I mean he knew she was coming.
Yeah, he deliberately set the armor thing up so she wouldn’t realize the Golden Knight was him. And when made such a spectacle of his (admittedly excellent) archery skills he was like a proud peacock spreading his tail to attract a mate lol.
*snicker* perfect!
I think we the BDH are so spoiled. But alas – I don’t care 😁
Thank you House Andrews and Mod R. This was a wonderful surprise 💗💗💗
This book and its world are amazing!!
Thank you for having mercy on us, the BDH. We are your (somewhat demanding) slaves. I don’t know if I like Arvel or not. He’s a step away from smug. I like a man who knows his own worth but doesn’t need to flaunt it. Like, oh gee, what *is* his name . . . ah yes. Ramond. That one.
👍
Ramond is so much like Rogan and I am SOO HERE FOR IT!!😍
Doran Arvel reminds me of Arland. It’s not the looks. It’s the “no matter what you say, I will be here whether or not you will have me” kind of thing.
It’s getting spicy (in a good way)! 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Team Raggie!
Arvel deliberately arranged to deceive Maggie, for his own amusement. He lacks respect for her as a person. Not unrelated to his huge smugness, which I find deeply unattractive.
Can’t disagree about the smugness, but the deception wasn’t for his amusement. He’s more cunning than he lets on. He’s trying to see if she is fooled, so he can figure out where she comes from. As he said, a Kair Toren noblewoman would recognize him. She didn’t, so that gives him some more information. She is also more likely to be more forthcoming with a lower ranked knight than the Lord Commander. I think he’s in need of some humbling, but I think he’ll be a good ally, in the end.
Pardon the double reply
I love reading your thoughts.
You reminded me that they both deceived Maggie. This is a more cut throat world than HA usually builds (💜 the risk and it paid off for sure).
It could be my jaded-ness, but Doran gives off stalker vibes. HA can turn anyone around and make it totally believable, so who knows? I’m loving the ride. Looking forward to the next book buffet. Yum!
I love reading your thoughts.
You reminded me that they both deceived Maggie. This is a more cut throat world than HA usually builds (love the risk and it paid off for sure).
It could be my jaded-ness, but Doran gives off stalker vibes. HA can turn anyone around and make it totally believable, so who knows? I’m loving the ride. Looking forward to the next book buffet. Yum!
In fairness… Maggie deceives them right back. She only tells the truth about herself way after the MMC reveals his truth 🫣
Yeah, most books would be a whole lot shorter if characters were honest with each other upfront. So while it annoys me as a human that they aren’t straight with each other, as a reader I can’t really complain about it. There’s a reason trust is a recurring theme.
And honestly, this is true IRL as well. It’s very hard to be straight with someone when you’re afraid of their reaction, and the same thing is often happening on their side of the conversation. Literary lies of omission and commission are a high-stakes representation of how communication tends to go IRL.
Ooooo so true Mod R. Maybe I’m being partial because Maggie was in survival then fix it mode while the other two seemed to be plotting for other reasons. The characters and the plotting and scheming are so multi-layered. Love it!
Ooooo more depths to that man than I thought. The story just got even more interesting! So many hints in this little snippet! I loved Maggie 1 so much. It wasn’t that bad waiting for it tbh, but the wait for Maggie 2 is really going to be hard. (Insert big gusty sigh) Thanks for making my Mon worth getting up!
I love it! Awesome book – well worth the wait – read it on Kindle and now am impatiently waiting for my hard cover copy!
yes! more snippets!! I really really want to like Doran. please please don’t make him slimy
I really really hate him right know😂
Too late. He made himself slimy.
wow….. shiny 🙂
Thanks for the snippet.
Happy Monday
Another Kair Toren soul lost to Maggie!! How many will there be before the end??
Geez what an arrogant piece of work, damn. I knew he was arrogant, just not THAT arrogant.
Good Luck, Maggie! You’re gonna need it to deal with that one.
I hope she knowcks him down a notch.
Sooo I take it Doran has his eyes set on the Throne? 🫣
Love these snippets!
yikes…are we taking a tally of all the characters who say “X will put me into an early grave”? I feel like a few characters have said that already.
this flavors the perception Maggie and others have about Arvel. perhaps he did not “run away” after a failure and because people no longer admired him. he isolated himself to regroup.
Ooohhhh so exciting! However, I’m still shipping the sleepless duke!!
Ahhh!! I absolutely love this! I wish we could get this mixed in with the main POV but this is such a great surprise! I’m rereading for the 3rd time right now!
I just finished my second read of Maggie. I loved it so much!!! I got it as an ebook on release day, but after finishing it I had to get a physical copy too for my second read. I actually think I’m about to read it again… I don’t want to leave this world. Thank you for the bonus content!! I’ve loved all the art and I love these other POV scenes. I know Arvel doesn’t stand a chance against Ramond, but all his scenes in the book are soooo much fun. I love that Ramond has a rival.
Thank you, House Andrews & Moderator R.
thank you for the bonus scene.
does it take place at the end of chapter 25?
I get calling dibs from a friend, but the whole assumption that she is his for the taking is too funny! Especially since this is before throws him out of her garden. A clue bat might have hit him at that point. It will be interesting to watch!
Yeah, I think the clue bat will need to be swung several times, since he’s got no idea what is going with Maggie, and until he sees the full picture he’s not going to be sure she isn’t being coerced.
It’s like no one ever told these dudes “you can’t always get what you want” growing up. Definitely needs a clue bat.
Really big clue bat, requiring multiple applications!
Especially when everyone finds out that Maggie has been kidnapped again. It’s going to be not only the clue bat swinging away. It’s going to be who gets to her first to “save” her from her kidnapper scenario.
That hairpin is going to be a huge clue bat for Arval.
maybe she will save herself from her kidnapper, again….
The hairpin went with her, it was not left behind and few will know its significance in the city, as it was worn by the Duke’s mother and likely not in the city but at home…she not travelling much. So. Kidnapped yes, Clover will tell it all, but the hair pin? nope nope nope. That secret stays semi hidden, Ramond is not so stupid as to come right out and say she’s his fiance.. that would put huge target on her, and as for Silveren, Maggie can defend again the voice, but it seems no other characters can.. or at least if they can we’ve not seen evidence. Silveren calls the dragons, Ramond calls the shadows, and Doral glows with light 🙂 Of the 3 who can deal best with Maggies special brand of just a regular person?
The term “clue bat” is new to me. I am here for it. This appears to be a huge untapped market opportunity.
Now I hate w**ting for Maggie Book 2 even MORE…waaaah!
Wonderful snippet. I loved the dance scene and escape from Doran.
thank you!
This was juicy, thank you! The love interests are exciting. 🙂
Love this so much. Maggie give them all the runaround!
Love this!! Hearing the other POVs in these snippets just keeps the re-read even more engaging than the first time.
Also – not quite a spoiler but warning!!- does anyone know what happened to her money she was keeping at the apartment she had rented from that couple who were trying to make ends meet? Did my brain just skip over it on my second re-read? I can’t find it and I know it’s minor but brain just keeps going back to that lol (well that and the monster from the river where she first died… what is it??)
That bag of money isn’t mentioned again, but I think it’s safe to assume she retrieved those funds after she made Derog’s home her own, as she was strapped for cash at the time and every bit would have counted.
More than that, I’m itching for Maggie & team to go on a second raid on Hreban’s safehouse, and this time aim for the treasure. So much treasure. After all, isn’t all that gold and jewelry basically derelict now that Hreban is getting beheaded?
the doors to the Hreban’s safehouse shut and disappeared beyond them so they might be able to go back raiding with the help of their new magical friend but that might provoke another battle and are they ready for that?
I just assumed she carried it with her. I think leaving anything in that place would mean losing it to the owners.
I considered that, but I found the logistics of carrying the money bag into the slavers’ den, where she was being sold, and moreover while claiming she was mentally challenged, a hurdle. Would she have chanced being discovered with so much money on her if the slavers decided to do a body search?
At most, she did take the bag with her when she went out in the morning, but stashed it with Reynald before leaving with Darotha.
Agreed, she’d keep her money with her (apart from Everard’s coin tucked in her sleeve pocket)
Okay, I like this line of thinking. Stashing with Reynold to then retrieve later clicks for me. And knowing Maggie, she probably found some small (or big) way to fund the bakers. Maybe she has weekly orders for the home or she “encourages” Doran to hire them to cook for all of the Defenders lol. Or Solentine to hire them for extra ears in the markets as they sell their pies. All of the other people who she met and interacted with who were struggling had a touch of gold (dare I say green??) enter their lives, except for this family. Hoping it’s in a future short story or snippet! Or a sentence in the second book. Fingers crossed!!
I wondered the same thing
wuhoo! You spoil us!!!
I’m in the middle of re-reading and it’s so fun when you know the secrets, I’m paying extra close attention to everything, haha.
Even though you have already spoiled us so much, I still hope we get spoiled some more, nothing is better than HA tidbits, the hoard will eat any crumb you throw our way!!! ❤️
Oooh this rounds out more of the story. I like seeing this perspective… can’t wait to learn more
Beautiful I love it!!
I didn’t know That’s what posters were for, until Just now, aged 63!! I laughed so forcefully, my hubby insisted he be told! As he hasn’t read the book yet, I only gave him the select part above the “commissioned drawing…(to) herself”; he laughed as hard as I did, saying pretty much the same thing about posters!!
I had a feeling early on Doren was plotting something. It is reassuring to learn that he is just as underhanded and manipulative as all the rest of the nobles. I think one has to be to survive in Kair Toren. It remains to be seen just how much of a hero or villain he will become in book 2.
I love the bonus scenes from different POVs! We tend to take Maggie’s word for everything, but it is wonderful to see reality spun to fit each character’s perception of it.
Thanks HA and Mod R!
Oh.
He’s sincere.
I honestly couldn’t tell. He came on so aggressively that it made me suspicious, but no. He genuinely likes her.
It’s a shame she’s already got a hot shadow daddy on the hook. I kinda like Arvel better. I hope they can be friends. I wonder if he has the ability to like a woman without romance involved.
He’s kinda screwed, though. How is he going to find someone to love if he’s literally looking for someone like Maggie, who’s from an entirely different world?
Oh, buddy. My heart hurts for him.
Yeah, he’s condescending, overconfident and cocksure, has too many secret ambitions and plots -buuuut – now I feel a bit sorry for him too. Dammit authorlords. Still rooting for the other team though!
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, but the cliffhanger ending just might.
(((sigh))) Bonus scenes and rereading will have to do until book 2.
Same
Huh another one at this point maggie should just have a hareem no more guessing, coz i like them, no need to choose.😉😉
Oooh he made the inquiries and must have been the guard Arvel brought with him when he confronted Maggie after the Joedurar. Arvel is a bit obsessed and slick
I decided to dislike Dorran. And now you are doing it again, making him
.
.
.
nice. He is nice. I understand his feelings.
Aargh!
giving me some tine between reads to think about the story and people.
I need a notebook for my next read.
thank you so much for the book. I love it.
i started a list of characters etc after my first read and i apparently still missed things.
The Sleepless ship has sailed , Doran doesn’t stand a chance .
Happily sailing o! seas of Raymond/ Maggies HEA ( hopefully !! )
Thank you for the awesome POV
Love this bonus scene! Thank you!!
Also, librarians are the best. I requested This Kingdom from my local library, even though I own a copy, trying my BDH best to help others find it. Heh
They ordered. 👏🏼
Then I received notice today that they also ordered 43 new items from IA! (Some are audio)
Whew. Amazing! And just think of all the new little BDHies.
More of us! More of us!
Good work!
Love these! Especially since I have the WORST case of book hangover. These bonus scenes and art help. 🙂
ooohhhh thank you
Thank you for the bonus scene and such a great POV choice! I knew Arvel wasn’t all white as snow (he is from one of the eight families) but it looks like he has ambitions for the throne. So far it looks like he would be a better fit for the kingdom than the current pickings of the dynasty (unless Galiene whips the younger prince into shape), but he’s definitely got some issues and I’m not sure how bad they are. I certainly hope he doesn’t have some evil plot running, cause his deviousness behind the goody-two-shoes knight image is kinda hilarious.
I’m still team Sleepless&Undying. Arvel is way too self-centered when it comes to wanting Maggie even when she’s clearly not interested.
“team Sleepless&Undying”
Thank you for this! ❤️
Unsleepless, perhaps?
I didn’t think of this until you brought her up, but doesn’t Galiene meet the requirements that Arvel provides to Maggie while they’re dancing? She’s discreet, good at politicking, attractive, and understands hardship, loss, and personal sacrifice. She’s not of the most noble background, but Arvel explicitly says his name and reputation will make up for any lack of that in a partner.
I think I may have launched a ship.
Here for that one. I don’t sail myself, being more of a kayak person, but am happy to wave from the shore.
:SQUEEEEEEEEEE:
Best surprise ever.
Squeee …it was delicious.
Thanks I really needed that.
How hilarious that twice now eye contact and confidence=She is clearly a noble. It is doubly funny with Clover to whom she repeated tells that she is not a lady. Though a part of me believed (prior to the first bonus scene) Clover calls her that because of her experiences. Maggie may be poor and she may be willing to scrub a toilet, but she embodies the essential trait missing from the first lady she served. Maggie is a powerful woman who wields that power to protect the vulnerable, most especially those who serve her.
There is a whole natural and social history there, of rules about eye contact involving predator-prey interactions and dominance relationships within species. In human history, rules about this have been codified into laws and regulations in many different contexts.
Eye contact rules are still codified into some celebrity contracts, as one of many current examples. In the first half of the 20th century, they were part of US racial code laws. They have in common disallowing eye contact by the subordinate person, rendering that person prey for the dominant person in biological terms.
So there’s that.
Absolutely. Its a thing makes total sense, its just that Maggie comes from a society where looking someone in the eyes when you speak to them is the default and she doesn’t even think about it (I wouldn’t either). It’s the thanking servants thing habit all over again, except this time it is working in her favor as the norm for a noblewoman. I’m sure Silveren noticed as well when she spoke to him in the Garden, dressed in her Tress dress. Everard too for that matter.
Yep. Although she kept her head down at their first meeting, when she thought of him solely as a predator.
Oh my fish, indeed! Spoilt horde member revelling in the extras and wa*ting, semi patiently 🙄😁
I’m not here yet so I am scrolling down without looking to post –
Hurrah!! The new Graphic Audio Diamond Fire has dropped!!
Now back to my previous book.
(Something to look forward to after my Maggie high wanes!)
And they mentioned #4 at the end!!!!
I have to admit I was a glutton not just a book devouring horde member but I went through this one in two days. No regrets
Oh my, I did not realize Arvel had specifically tricked Maggie, by sending another dude out in his armor. I’d originally thought Arvel always had a decoy him in cool armor running another and the knights were trained to answer “Yes” when anyone asked if the decoy was Arvel. I’m sure that was weird and random for Ridan “Quick, put on my armor and march across the stairs when this woman walks by! I’ll explain later!”
That must have been why he had her wait at the gate on the stool. Get everything set up with the decoy and the show off archery “practice.” ‘Gotta appear in shirt sleeves to display the physique and flex the muscles on the draw. Better stand in the light too just to be sure.’
Honestly when I first read the scene I was wondering if the light was to the Enduring Flame what the smoke is to Firefate. He’s was manipulating the light a bit to make an impression.
It was honestly the same thought I had. Like “well he must have been framed very nicely.”
Thank you authorlords! I really enjoyed the book, and the first and second reread as well.
Thank you for the POV and for already working on M2, I can hardly wait!
Now, if you could please hurry up, it will be wonderful 😉
Again thank you for providing a much needed break from reality.
Don’t hurry up, we’ll be here waiting (im) patiently.
I know Arvel is all wrong for Maggie (like, talk about someone who wouldn’t let her have her freedom), but I am OBSESSED with this snippet and this storyline.
I mean, I’m team Sleepless in Kair Toren, but to fair to Arvel…Ramond tried to put her under house arrest…twice. Also Maggie and Sol seemed pretty sure he would have flown off with her to Selva if she got on the Fearbird.
delishhhh!!! Love that we are getting his side 🤭
Yum yum. Devour the tasty snippet.
Thank you!
Just because Doran wants doesn’t mean Doran gets, looking forward to Maggie bursting his huge Ego . It’s like being a kid going to the cinema to watch the weekly serials, Cliffhanger and all. Need the next book Please.
Oh boy, this is my favorite thing. Two long term friends. Talking shop. Giving each other crap. Making plans. House Andrews does this so well – chef’s kiss!
I confess I thought Doran was a pompous pretty ass. Now I understand and like both these characters better. I woulda left this scene in if I were the editor.
Thanks for sharing it!
+1!
Nice. This snippet makes me like Arvel a teensy bit better. Thank you. We are the luckiest horde there is, HA gives us all the yummy snippets.
I love how conceited he is, he has no clue. Love the scene! Thank you!
This is so wonderful that I copied it and pasted into a “Note” in my ebook right after Maggie leaves Lord Bellen. Now every time I re-read TKWNKM I can savor it again. If I had the hardback, I think I would print it out and keep it in the book.
How distressing it is that any part of what HA writes must be edited down! Precious gems! (My Gollum is peeking out!)
This is not a deleted scene that was edited down, it’s a bonus scene written just for us, like the Curran PoVs 🙂
Oh!! That makes it more special. Thank you Mod R for telling us and Thank you House Andrews for spoiling us!
Loved learning more about the Golden Knight.
An even greater treasure!!🥰
wow that is so special! thank you <3
Thank you, Mod R for all you do! But I do think your sentence at the top -explaining where the extra fits into the story – is mistaken: “this is after page 438, end of Chapter 40” “.
Chapter 40 is the joedurar ball, where Arvel hits on her big time and she runs away. The extra scene here clearly references itself as being directly after she warned Lord Bellen (ahem) about Eliarde and the Butcher , which is after page 386 / the end of Chapter 35.
Again, not a criticism, you’ve been WONDERFUL not only year after year but especially through this huge release. Thank you for ALL that you do!
And THANK YOU, THANK YOU to the Author Lords , for a fantastic book AND these amazing snippets and bits!!! I’ve already read, re-read and listened/ re-listened multiple times and still love it every time!
The sentence does not say “this is after”. It says “this is SAFE after”. And it was written by Ilona herself that way, in order to not spoil Arvel’s romantic interest in Maggie.
Thank you for the kind words.
Ahh, thank you, I missed the “safe” clue.
And I messed up the Lord Bellen / Eliarde warning scene placement within the book myself- it’s actually the first half of chapter 25, for those who want to re-read it and then this Bonus scene, back to back.
This is so juicy, love reading from other characters’ POVs!! Thank you HA, super excited for the companion book (and the sequel of course 🙈)
We are sooo spoiled amd I love it!
Thank you for Doran’s pov it was fabulous!! More please lol
So this may have been brought up already but I started my first re-read tonight and noticed a paragraph on page 6 that sent me rolling. “I knew exactly how things were supposed to go. I was meant to appear in this new world as a woman of prophecy with magic holy powers so I could assist the kingdom with their blight or curse problem. I would be met by a prince or some high-ranking and stunning nobel, and upon heroically demonstrating my abilities, I would become the center of attention, while a gaggle of ridiculously handsome men followed me around, pledged their swords to me, and pleaded with me not to overexert myself.” 🤣🤣🤣
This is one of the reasons I can read and reread and reread any House Andrews book – so well written, the humor and poking fun. Love it- thanks for highlighting!
I saw that as well on my reread and laughed! Finding so many Easter eggs and nuanced behavior.
Thank you House Andrews for the bonus scenes.! 🥰. It helps with the “book hangover” noted by an earlier BDH member.
+1 on my first reread. I am a happy human.
appreciate the bonus scene.. please may we have one from Ramond’s pov too..please and thank you.
also, hope you get a bit of rest too in between your hectic schedule. bless you dear House Andrew and Mod R
Wow! He is really smitten with Maggie! Maggie is unwittingly collecting VIP suitors! So many twists! Chaos! I LOVE IT!! 😍
Please keep spoiling us. Go BDH!