This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me is here.
Happy release day to the first volume in the Maggie the Undying trilogy!
Here are some of the retailer links for your convenience. This Kingdom is available in ebook, audiobook and hardback formats. The UK release will be on the 2nd of April.
A Letter from House Andrews
Dear BDH,
This Kingdom is finally here.
You know we don’t do feelings, because we are professionals and all that, but this release is unlike any other we’ve had. So much time has passed between the first clumsy idea of Maggie and today, filled with work, pressure, and sheer effort.
It doesn’t seem real.
Any time you do something different as a writer, you take a risk. And this one is different. It’s an entirely new world, completely unlike our own reality. We filled it with fantastic creatures, strange magic, and archetypes: the Golden Knight, the Noble Assassin, the Fire Mage, the Mad King. The side characters are heroes of their own stories. We wanted to condense the essence of what makes fantasy books… well, fantasy.
We hope you’ll enjoy a plunge into the world of Rellas. It is our sincerest hope that it reminds you of why you love fantastic worlds and the strange people who inhabit them.
And now House Andrews has made us all emotional compromised… release day without treats? Not on my watch.
The unbelievably talented Helena Elias has another character reveal for us.
You’ve probably met him already in the Garden of Soft Blossoms…
Now that the book is out in the world, this is the place to talk about his secrets and everything else in Kair Toren. Reactions, theories, favorite moments, things you need to scream about, whether you’ve just started reading or already devoured the book – we’re here for all of it.
I’ll also be collecting your questions for House Andrews, who will answer them on the blog or in the Zoom release Q&A we’re planning in April.
This is your official This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me discussion thread.
Attention!
There are spoilers in the comments below.
There is one specific plot twist in Chapter 23 we’re asking you not to discuss just yet until everyone catches up. Thank you for your cooperation.
New Here?
If you’ve just discovered Ilona Andrews through this release and you want more, welcome! You’re surrounded by people who understand exactly how you feel.
There’s a Start Here button now on the homepage just for you.
Reading guides, series breakdowns, freebies, quizzes, and so many wonderful adventures await you.
See you in the comments.
Two questions for HA:
Now that the book is out, will Ilona share her Pinterest board for it with us?
When she shared the first snippet, Ilona called the book unmarketable. What do you think has changed since then that made it feasible? (Eg the story itself, publishing industry, demand, etc.)
Ilona shared that their agent thought the book was unmarketable. I think that was proved wrong when it spent less than 24 hours being shopped around before the massive bidding war and Tor snapping it up 😍
As well as all the other foreign publishing houses who have bought the rights since!
Did they get a new agent? Or did the agent just realize how very wrong they were about the marketability of Maggie the Undying?
For some reason, I thought HA thought it would b unmarketable, but possibly the avalanche of BDH assurances that we ALL would pay good money to read it helped.
Same agent, who marketed it anyway 🙂
Congratulations on Maggie’s Birthday! It has been a long journey since those early snippets in the blog and it is great to finally have the book out. I hope that the release is not causing too much stress.
I am w*iting for my hardcover copy to arrive. (UPS says Friday) I wasn’t sure if I would have the time/energy to go find a bookstore that had one upon release, so I pre-ordered. Now I’m considering buying the ebook just so I can start reading. But if I do that, I’m pretty sure I won’t make it to work tomorrow. Decisions, decisions, decisions …
Loved loved the book, just finished after seriously neglecting work today. The no third book is an awful thing. I have two series that I Love with no 3rd book in sight and both ended in cliff hangers. I feel Maggie in this so hard.
Just finished reading TKWNKM. It’s truly a gift from HA to the BDH and all other readers. Ilona Andrews are now at the top of my favorite authors list.
I’m going to have to give it a bit, then reread it to catch all the nuances I may have overlooked the first time. Sigh – what a chore that will be (NOT!!). I suspect this will be the first of many rereads, just like all the other Ilona Andrews books. Plus I’m about to start texting friends to let them know that they need to read it.
Can’t wait for books 2 & 3!!!
Thanks HA!!!!!! 👏👏👏
21.5 hours of listening to an audio book! I’m only about 1/2 through & loving it. I almost didn’t go to a craft meeting just so I could continue listening. Can’t wait to finish.
Who did the map for the book? It’s excellent!
I too hit the end with an OMG they threw a cliffhanger at us. I set the book down and realized to my astonishment that I didn’t care. I opted out of a beloved series because of how another author threw a truly awful cliffhanger when I thought my fave characters were going to get a brief moment of peace and happiness.
But for Maggie? After the first shock of it, I felt it was what needed to happen. Book One is done. Maggie won, but the story isn’t over, and she (and we) needed a push off the cliff to gear up for book 2. There are big questions to answer. How did she get there? Has it happened to anyone else? Was it the story resisting change or is something else afoot? Kair Toren seems to want her there, so many things were ready for her arrival, but then why was there such strong resistance? Is she actually in a battle for the right to tell Kair Toren’s story? If so, does the author oppose her or someone else? To answer any of these questions, Maggie and we need new information and that ending puts us with the person most likely to have answers. Plus, as much as I love (love, love) the romantic choice, there is still a lot for them to work out and some time apart will likely help them both get out of their own way.
So for once in my life, I’m okay with the cliffhanger. I think it was the best move our awesome writers could make for the continuation of the story. Now to settle in for the first of many, many rereads as I sift for any possible missed clues in what might have seemed trivial during the first read. I am well and truly hooked! Thanks for yet another compelling world and a host of new friends!
Yeah, I feel the same about the cliffhanger.
I understand why people dislike cliffhangers, but… maybe because I never really cared for them either way, or maybe because I intrinsically trust HA that I’m going to love the direction and how that final scene will continue, or maybe even because the presence or not of the cliffhanger doesn’t change how much I want the second book (like, even without it I would be obsessed and rabid for the second Maggie…it’s a IA book in a new series, regardless of the ending I would have ended up immediately re-reading, constantly thinking about it and already looking forward to the second book)…
Either way, I actually felt it was a fitting and appropriate (even needed?) ending for this book and for Maggie. It also reflect well Maggie’s relationship with Kair Torren throughout the whole book
Which version is going to have the Sol bonus scene? I don’t want to buy the wrong copy. Thanks!
Yes!! Hoping ModR will let us know 🤞
Actually, that has changed.
Now there is a different bonus story for the special-edition-which-shall-not-yet-be-named, and the Sol special is for House Andrews to dole out at will. Maybe in that companion book they’re planning, hmmm https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/art-owlcrate-and-other-things/
I just finished chapter 23 and I’m not going to say anything except wow! I’m dragging my feet on finishing this book because one I don’t want it to end too quickly and two I heard there’s a cliffhanger…. But knowing myself I will finish it soon enough. I’m completely in awe of this book! It’s steadily moving up in my top five favorite series of all time. Hidden legacy being my number 2. This one from what I’ve read so far looking to be a 3!
I don’t want spoilers so can’t read through comments, is there any way to get the city map larger? it’s super tiny in my ereader. I don’t remember seeing it posted where I could enlarge it.
Here is a post with the enlarged map 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/this-kingdom-preview-art-maps-and-questions/
I started rereading and it’s so much funnier now that we know who is who 😭 hindsight’s 20/20! And the double meaning behind (I’m paraphrasing, I can’t remember the exact words) “green suits you” 👀👀👀
Happy Book Birthday.
Fantastic read, cannot wait for the next book.
Taking breather tonight and then diving in for read 2.
I just finished it and I am so mad! I want so much more of the universe and it just came out and now I have to wait! And i’m mad I can never read it for the first time again. i’m thinking about restarting it.
I would not have expected people in This Kingdom to understand forensics, but they seem to.
Maggie clearly missed some subtext in the scene where she gets her papers. Is there a cultural significance to the phrase “let me be your shield?”
We know Maggie’s magic lets her come back to life, but it also seems to do other things like protect her and others from the Exultant Call. How extensive is it, and when she breaks the Exultant Call on others are they permanently immune moving forward?
Umm, we don’t really know much about the rules of magic: maybe all powerful magic users are resistant and it’s not specifically Maggie; maybe it can only strongly target one person at a time and any powerful magic user can break that person’s spell- we just don’t know yet.
I absolutely devoured this book. I don’t remember a time when a book has captivated me so entirely.
The plot, the intrigue, the characters, the intertwined storylines… I couldn’t keep it to myself and started telling my hubs all about it!
The delight that this book brought forward is absolutely delicious.
Thank you so much for this incredible escape, I can’t wait to read it again.
Got it downloaded at 12:02 am Tuesday morning. Read until 5:30, then back up at10. Just finished reading it at 12:30am Thursday morning.
I’m tired, sleep deprived, and decidedly unfluffy. It was wonderful. I didn’t see the love interest twist coming. Did pick up on the hints about the king’s nephew surviving, but not who he was.
Now, I needs me sequel. Cliffhangers are EVIL!!! Sequel Sequel Sequel, Barsa Barsa Barsa!!!
who is Maggie’s favorite character that was left standing on a box with a noose around his neck for a decade. the reread is just starting and I love it even more, but now I know enough to have questions 😁 I hope I get the answer.
omg!! me too. I started wondering about this while I was re-reading.
Could it be Pelegrin? He could be a PoV character (a favourite one, even if it was just one or two chapters) in the original books who was considering self- exit but maybe it was never explicitly spelled out that he’s dead, only that his brother was in mourning. So if he doesn’t die in the new timeline, maybe he has a bigger role to play and we get to meet him 😀
Or it could be Sol, or someone we haven’t met yet:)
I think Sol. Bellenger was already in morning.
Could it be Kaiden as a thief?
River Fog the thief was killed by his employer in a chapter Maggie doesn’t like much because of that. We don’t have another candidate for an adult Kaiden, so I think not🙂
River Fog was only able to dig the tunnel because he was stuck there during the Cholera epidemic, which isn’t happening when Maggie gets there.
Ahhhh, chapter 23!! barsa barsa!! Fluff
Ahhhh!! The complex back stories for every character. That dance — such a good scene! Loved that Isadau basically said “you’re on your own” but pops back into the fortress and goes to “her room” to take a nap. Can’t wait to see more of her kicking butt, hopefully on Maggy’s side. I thought this was a stand alone book and can’t decide if I’m happy there’s more or in agony that I don’t know what happens next. Love seeing the Great Families doing what they do best individually as part of the greater whole. Nice touch. Love your writing, you two!!!! Thank you.
*Isadau. Darn auto-correct!
Fixed 🙂
I’m looking forward to her meeting a certain pair of knights who will undoubtedly be getting into a pissing contest at Maggie’s house. Also dollars to donuts the Arland like one is going to end up with her.
“This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me”
Only kidnap me.
Twice. XD
+1.LOL
It is absolutely a magnum opus and I am so proud to say I read and loved IA back before Maggie 🙂 because the Maggie era will be insane!!!
Finished it and started round 2 immediately so I could savor the lead up to chapter 23. !
Happy book birthday! That was amazing after that super long, agonising wait! House Andrews has outdone themselves once again! Spent the entire 11 hr flight reading and now I have to start the re-read to really get all the details. The cliffhanger….ARGH! How long do we have to wait until Book 2? Book 2…book 2…
Is there a page dedicated to all of the artwork from this kingdom?
There will be an entire website!
And I will make a post on Friday 🙂
Yes!!!!! Thank you!
omg just got to chapter 23!!!!!
Just wait until you get to Chapter 40. I can see why those in the Horde who got there, said that was another “whoa” moment. 😉
I finally finished the book. All I can say after reading the Epilogue is “uh oh, uh oh, uh oh” and laugh. Just wait until someone in green and black shows up and finds Maggie gone. Clover will be the one to tell him, and what happened to her. Oh boy.
Yep, it’s a Frodo dangling over the cliff after the ring disappears in the fire scenario.
An announcer voice saying “To be continued” would be good right now. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣 I can totally imagine that scenario playing out in my head. Like something out of a Crdama or Anime.
I was going to be patient and wait for the hardback version to come in from the UK, but I realized that I am only human and bought the audiobook because I can’t wait to get my hands on the physical copy. Just finished it last night and am wrecked. I’ll have to find time to go through it again. There were so many little twists and details that added up at the end. Sneaky, sneaky! Cannot wait for more!! Thanks HA, Mod R, and to all of the other amazing people whose hands have touched this book. It was more than worth the wait!
Eeep! Book devoured, book hangover activated. This was so amazing and I’m still digesting it. The world is so rich!! The characters !! I love Maggie most of all. She’s so clever & genuinely stands on her own two feet! Not infallible but formidable nonetheless! I also love how you lean into the isekai tropes. This would eat in webtoon form, actually. And the romance, OMG. The tension is killing meeeeee (BDH scream). BRB. Must reread.
Congratulations!!
I didn’t think anything would ever come close to unseating Kate Daniels as my favorite series ever.
But Maggie does. I love this book so much. I’ve read it a half dozen times since I got it and I’m rereading it again.
Thank you so much for this world and these characters!
I read This Kingdom once, then re-read immediatelly to appreciate all the plot twists and foreshadowings even more. I loved it! Outstanding, amazing, unforgettable. I have no idea how I will be able to w*it for book 2.
I loved so many characters and details, I was simply charmed. But my personal favorite must be chapter 29. I loved Solentine, I loved that Maggie got a family and was she being proposed to??? “Let me be your shield”??? Was that the context Maggie missed 😭😭
I devoured the book in a day. I had to wait for the ebook to be released here. I have already ordered the hardcover but it hasn’t been delivered yet.
I absolutely loved the story!!!!
At the start I definitely thought Maggie would have 3 love interests. 2 “good guys” and 1 villian who is obsessed.
I had no idea what was in store.
The plot twist in Chapter 23 was amazing!! And I didn’t see it coming. Sure I had my doubts like Maggie did, but I had moved on.
I love how Maggie is totally fangirling over the characters 😍 I think we would too if we were pulled into a book.
I’m glad that the book didn’t much focus on the Romance aspect. The political maneuvering, murder mystery and intrigue were more than enough. That being said, I am curious to know how Maggie’s suiters are going to react to that cliffhanger.
I have always been partial to the found family storyline. I love all the members of the household! Even the new mage. I can tell she and our Maggie are going to besties. At least I’m hoping they will. 😀
The STELKA!! I need an illustration on how she looks!! 😍😍
Reading this book felt like I was watching on of the Cdramas. I loved how I didn’t have to imagine much, it played like a movie/tv show in my head. Definitely loving the portal trope.
I can’t wait to see how Maggie’s magic is going to evolve. I don’t think the undying is the only aspect.
I’m very eager to read how her journey back to Modern world will be handled.
There are still so many questions about the author. I’m thinking it could be Matteo or Everard.
One of Maggie’s inner thoughts that stuck in my head was “I’m looking for a man in armor. Six five, blue eyes.” 🤣🤣🤣 I was laughing and then I promptly played the song on Spotify!!
Congratulations to the authors for another brilliant story!!
P.S. I just read the the bonus story in Clover’s POV 😀 hilarious and quite insightful on how the society expects people to stick to their roles. Anything different and it is perceived as weird or outrageous.
I almost forgot. I’m re-reading it now, listening to the audiobook.
Here’s Sushi 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/this-kingdom-drops-hints/
You can also see her on the homepage https://ilona-andrews.com/, sitting next to Maggie and giving the stink(fish) eye 😀
Thank you!! 🥹❤️
Ooo, I’d forgotten the Dame Pressida snippet! From Maggie2!
I so loved TKWNKM. Flew through it and now need to reread it to get the nuances. (Which will have to wait until my daughter finishes it. Sigh.) I reeeaally want the extra book with the artwork, since I bought it as an ebook (vision issues).
My question for House Andrew’s is : was Sushi inspired by Tuna?
I stayed out of this spoiler thread until I was able to finish the book. I am very proud of my restraint.
The Duke spoiler legitimately surprised me so much I had to get up and run around my bedroom in circles muttering “Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod…” for a minute to calm down.
I am proud that I clocked a couple of the other spoilers ahead of the reveals.
I’m genuinely shocked at how much was reveled in the first book. This is great.
Okay – so when Sauven sings his exultant call, how does he not uplift the “enemies” also? How is he able to target his call just to his own team members? Because all other magics described are proximity based (rage glow, golden safety thingy).
+1 Great question!
It’s magic? Intent matters? Good questions…
As I’m re-reading this, I’m curious to know if all the events mentioned by Maggie from Book 1 and 2 are already done ? I’m not sure if I missed it, but does it imply that Maggie can now no longer gain insights of the future? Since events from book 2 already happened?
Someone please correct me if I’m wrong. Quite anxious to know about it.
Yes, I kind of see this as two diverging roads. At first, the two roads are very close, but they slowly grow apart. The road-from-the-original-books is becoming further and further from the road-changed-by-Maggie. That means some things in the books won’t happen in Maggie’s timeline. Actually, in broad strokes that’s what Maggie is working toward!
However… 1) Maggie will still retain knowledge of what the characters are like and what motivates them, and that will still be relevant regardless of events. 2) She’s becoming less and less like a fish out of water — think how off balance she is in the beginning, and by the ball she is much more secure. She is growing into her new life/role, and that will help offset her dwindling amount of future knowledge.
Besides, 3) I trust House Andrews to take care of us. Everything will be fine (deep breaths to soothe myself).
Happy belated book birthday! Thank you, House Andrews. Once again you don’t disappoint. Have read all your stories multiple times over and this will definitely include Maggie’s. Love what you do and thank you for your patience with the BDH. Amazing!
I was doing a reread and noticed someyhing about the character River Fog, it looked to me like he was Kaiden before Maggie saved him in a alternate future. Will she realize this or will it be revealed? Or does it even matter?
ohh I was wondering that too.
I think she already knows this (and gave him guidance)
i totally thought kaiden grows to be river fog too
Amazing book. I adore the relationships that IA characters build – the loyalty, respect, understanding and love.
The 2 plot twists were great and I did not see them coming (even with the clues).
I was tickled when we learned where the fish and the notes were coming from. Thanks for revealing that in book 1!
I am curious what else they got in the chests from the vault. Why do I think Clover would have brought out more than just scrolls?
The last chapters (starting with the ball) brought so many pieces together…and then we got to the epilogue (the note and the hairpiece – wow) and then the cliffhanger. Maggie rocks!
Thank you for an thrilling first book!
Right after finishing the book, I went through *all* the comments in this thread. The sheer number of supportive responses is proof of what a powerhouse HA is – and how deeply loved they are. Thank you so much for this wonderful book! ❤️
I laughed so hard at the ballroom scene. The MC is incredibly swoon-worthy, practically creating a harem of male characters pining after her 🤣🤣
I’m wondering whether the fact that the MC doesn’t own her house, along with the trade permit issue, will become a problem in the next book.
My prediction: the ML will buy her house, and she’ll get furious – much like what happened with Mad Rogan 🤣🤣
Her new family should help her buy her house. Much like the created identity I think Sol has the best ability to forge the documents she needs. That would further the back and forth of Sol and the Duke which is so funny to watch. If the Duke bought her house I think she’d be furious just like you said.
I agree Sol will forge the paperwork to reflect a purchase by the Demarr family. I look forward to the interrogation by Arvel, who I’m sure will have found out who the house used to belong to. “Why exactly did the former owner sell?”, “He indicate he strongly desired to make a holy pilgrimage.” “That what he said?” “His actions spoke for him.”
Amazing!! Thank you! As always, your stories are simply the best! Now I must reread this book again and again until the next one comes out.
Will the Duke arrives in time and kill the beast and Maggie falling and dying ? Will the beast absorb so much of her magic that dying will send her back to our world ? I despair, I want #2 right now
I think she’s got to spend some time with Silveren first. Some answers on the “Why not dead” thing at least.
I truly tried to resist. I saw it published and said “Noooo, no, no”. Then late one evening ( and I blame the wine) I bought it and now I am caught.
Why oh mighty authors do you ruthlessly exercise your powers upon us hapless readers? Sucking us into your stories only to spit us out at their end, gasping for more, bereft and balanced unhappily on that sword edge of love and hate for the misery we feel. ARGH!!
Books by these authors should come with a warning label – “ May cause addiction and obsessive re-reading”
did anyone else laugh hysterically at the chase scene? lolol
yesssssss, it was so much
yes!!! that whole ballroom sequence and the chase were so funny!
Finished the ebook and soon to start on the audiobook – so excited to jump back into Rellas! Then of course another re-read and re-listen, etc. etc. etc.
Thank you so much HA! For the dedication to us, for the outstanding world building and amazing story. I was already sucked in with the extended preview. I think the ending was cliff leaner and was needed to launch us into the next book. I think this is your best book to date. 🥰
Happy bookday (belated, I was busy reading!)
I love This Kingdom will not Kill Me. (I love all of your books) I do like details though and I would really enjoy seeing family trees for all the relevant characters. ( I would actually love to see them but wanted to change up my descriptor use lol) – such as how Earl Sunner and Ulmar Hreban are related, etc.
Thank goodness there’s a book two! As always I’m left wanting more, more, more!
I just finished devouring the book and loved it enough that I’m excited for a re-read, and just a little scared I’ll end up in Kair Toren myself. Thank you for yet another fantastic world to enjoy, and curse you for this cliff I’m dangling off 😂. Cliff hangers make it harder not to join the hungrier portion of the Horde.
OMG! This book is amazing! The plot twists- totally unpredictable. I had no idea! I just finished reading it but I think I need to read it again!!!!!!
Is there a portal fantasy with an exploding oven?
Enjoying listening to the book! It inspired me to try a new hobby and I ordered soap making supplies!
Love love love! I’m on my second read and just realized… on page 6 they totally put a spoiler there, down to the last sentence! ON PAGE 6!!! House Andrews, you get us every single time!
I am reading/savoring/loving every page… I am taking my sweet time, and am only halfway through… but I have to ask:
Please pleeeease PLEASE can HA do some stelka art in the next round of merch? Dare I even ask for a stuffie? I desperately want to see how HA envisioned the wee beastie. I am in luv 😅
There is stelka art already, and it will be part of the next merch roll – when the store opens again mid-April 🙂
My e-reader says I finished the book in 9 hours and 4 minutes. About an hour of that was definitely me flailing in reaction to each twist and turn. I did somehow manage to pause midway through and get some sleep overnight, and literally had dreams full of what-ifs as my brain contemplated what might come next. Now that I’ve finished, it’s time for a reread! Except for the epilogue, because surprise cliffhangers after being promised there weren’t any is definitely mean! LOL
The one thing that bothered me/the one question I have is about the thing Maggie encounters in the river. She commandeers the cloak, saves Sushi, and has to sprint for the bridge because whatever is in the water is terrifying. To me, this unknown thing feels like one of those random scenes Latour put in the original books that suddenly becomes incredibly important later on. Maggie is so focused on changing the timeline to save everyone that she appears to have forgotten, but I have a sinking feeling she might have missed a clue about a greater evil lurking.
Been doing my second read as a listen. Big fan of Kristen Sieh! She is amazing and I’m loving her as Maggie (and the Reynald).
Agree, her voices are FANTASTIC!
Finished the book yesterday! Read well into the night on the 31st. When I was reading it I wasn’t sure about it. It didn’t hook me the way KD did- I thought.
It was like those ube pancakes from Trader Joe’s. At first, I was unsure because thin purple pancakes are questionable and not my usual, but holy sh*t were they delicious in a different and totally unexpected way. I crave them now.
I am absolutely craving so much more of this world, its characters, and Rellas. I’m thinking of a reread, honestly.
I, of course want to read this series that Maggie read that gave her so much insight into the world and characters in an unfinished series. I kept thinking of it as an allusion to Name of the Wind (IYKYK). I keep thinking about it, keep wanting more of the world, Maggie, Everand, Clover, the mercs. All of it. It’s so detailed! I am enamored.
I need a Sushi plushy, please- to get me through w*iting till the second book.
Happy book Birthday! Yayayayayayayay!
Mod R, I’m really sorry to ask this, because I’m nearly certain it’s already been covered: will we be able to buy poster art of the characters Helena is doing, like this one? (Fans face) She says on her site that she’s on maternity leave, which yay, but I couldn’t find anywhere it said we could buy posters or whatever.
Thank you, also, for letting us know when there are spoilers. I’m reading my book v e r y s l o w l y to savor it.
As soon as the artists put the art prints on their websites, we will let you know 🙂
In the meantime, there will be merch with the art when the store opens again in mid March.
There will also eventually be printed vellum inserts which you can slide into your hardback and make an illustrated edition. Fancy!
It has now been 12 hours since I finished my 1st run through of the book. Sleep, food, and processing time later I’m finally ready for my next run through!
The book isn’t dark, really, but theres definitely enough darkness that I’m struggling a bit with it. I usually prefer light hearted reads, and this is not one. I knew it wouldnt be, I expected it, but its still taking me some time to process.
Current thoughts… “CLIFFHANGER!!!”
Arvel is an ass, and that plot was not unexpected
I heart the adopted cousin and the few comments about her ‘brother’ made me happy inside. And Maggies defending of her adopted family was possibly my favorite scene in the book.
When Maggies ‘people’ stand up to the duke on her behalf gives me all the happy feels
And, most unpopularly, I really _really_ REALLY, dislike Maggie with the male MC! He lies to her and treats the whole thing like it was the most sensible way to go about it. He tries to lock Maggie up, like shes a naughty child, in her own home. And then when she stands up to him he basically says Im right and your wrong and I will win. Umm excuse me? Yes I know, hea trying to protect her, and he obviously is a Good Person, and Ive little doubt that he genuinely cares for her (its IA go to romance plotline after all) but dang that level of arrogance makes me want him to lose so hard. Grrrrr
I want my own fish fairy! wait.. I dont even like fish…. but still! So cute!
Actually, once we know who he is, the male MC very much reminds me of Rogan. Powerful, with a “my way or the highway”-attitude, somewhat outside society. His war experiences haven´t been completely fleshed out, but given that he´s been on one battlefield or another since he lost his parents as a teenager, there´s definitely some trauma there as well. And Maggie reacts quite as Nevada does, fighting for her boundaries and trying to establish her own power base that´s independent from him.
There was at least one scene of Solentine and and the male MC arguing that reminded me a lot of the scene between Augustine and Rogan in Nevada´s office when Augustine made the creepy shadows appear and Nevada seriously contemplated a restraining order against them both. They´re actually friends, but their experiences have created a distance between them and they are mostly wary of each other, bordering on antagonistic.
But I disagree about Arvel. He isn´t an ass, he´s just a man used to being completely invulnerable because his type of magic makes him so. It doesn´t enter his head that he might not be able to protect Maggie. She just needs to say yes to him and she´ll be untouchable as his wife. Aaand of course he thinks no sane woman would refuse him – he´s definitely among the top three of most eligible bachelors in Kair Toren, probably since he turned sixteen or whatever the youngest marriage age is in Rellas. That man has probably never been turned down by any woman in his whole life!
Arvel reminds me a lot of Arland. They´re both old-school, chivalrous knights in positions of both military command and high social rank whose charm hides plenty of deadly power. He just needs to find his Maude the Magnificent.
Also, I loved the way Maggie was poking fun at isekai tropes in the beginning. There was one line about having a lot of powerful, good-looking men interested in her, which she found quite ridiculous while she had literally nothing. At the end of the book, though… well, you need a couple of fingers to count them all, don´t you.
And yes, the stelka is cute!! Clearly, cute pets are also an IA go-to, and a much beloved one at that.
Baahaahaa
Rogan and Curran both annoyed me no end because of their arrogance and need to control everything. I ended up loving both of them, but rereading certain scenes still greatly irks me.
Im half way through my second reading and I snickered so hard at all of Maggies commentary about portal tropes. Pretty much all of them come true!!!
As far as Arvel… I guess we shall see.
luckily for Arvel, a certain Omelyana is available
Hello to all
Do any of you Thank, that Silveren is somehow also from the real world
Perhaps the Author ?
Its delicious!!! The twists just keep coming. Im not reading any further in the thread but i had to say, I am over half way done, and its midnight and I love it so much
Congratulations Ilona Andrews! Magnificent book. I stayed up around the clock and read it all in one go, because I could not put it down.
********Possible spoiler ********
I’m wondering . . . Could Silveren of the Knight Order of the Redeemer actually be Adrian Latour, the mysterious author of the books that this magical world derives from?
So, I am back onto this thread since it’s the only spoiler one. Did my read, and am now on my listen, which makes me take in all the details. So, there is this “repeating” point where Maggie goes (shortened) “this isn’t in the books, so it makes this world ‘real’.” But what if those things/people actually are but never properly identified? Like I am very very very convinced River Fog is just Kaiden. And I can see Clover as one the nameless women (girl being attacked that causes Raynald’s injury, etc…)
Also, yes Arvel is Arland. Prove me otherwise. Although a part of me can’t help but picture a musclebound Gilderoy Lockhart…
Curious to see maybe Isadau and Digi have some rose-colored spotlight?
Here’s to W**TING ! Need more tea.
My first thought was that Arvel is like Arland as well but after the end I disagree.
He is an asshole and hides it under an Arland-like facade. He hardly knows her, to me it comes across like “Oh that one is special, I want to posess this”. His interest feels dishonest and that is nothing like Arland in my opinion.
Well, certainly not Arland with Maude, but Arland’s courtship of Dina is similar. Isn’t not just that Dina is awesome. He thinks Earth woman are exotic. Innkeepers have mystic. Part of the attraction was that a rival was interested. He doesn’t think at all about how there is no way Dina, an Innkeeper could leave her inn and marry into his house. He’s embarrassed by it when he talks to about Maude later in the series. It why he won’t end up with Maggie, but it doesn’t mean he can’t still be a good ally and a love interest for someone else.
Just wow! Devoured it yesterday. Will happily go back for re-reads. Just wow!
Huzzah for the new series!
I read it twice already. Might even read it a third time this weekend, more slowly, more savoring.
Question for fellow BDH who have re-read all of IA like they were Maggie:
Did this book give you a “greatest hits” vibe with several of the characters? That is the one thing that kept throwing me out of the story.
Specifically, there were lines that were callbacks. I am sure these were meant to be fan favorites or something akin to that, but every time I hit one of those, it tossed me right out of the story. For example, “a nice big target” (think they cut off with tar… and the Duke didn’t finish the sentence). Thanks Curran (it’s his line from Kate Daniels series). That kept happening to me throughout the book.
That was my only issue with the book. It might be a complaint about myself LOL. Maybe I need to stop re-reading IA series heh 😉
No, I haven’t noticed anything like that.
The thing I noticed and absolutely loved was that Ramond has the dominance of Curran, the ruthlesness of Connor and the seriousness of Mattias and it was glorious!
I did notice a couple of variations on some favourite quotes from previous books, but I took it more as a ‘writer style’ thing than a deliberate choice. I might be wrong though.
That’s a feature, not a flaw 😉
Definitely loved that feature also the “looking for a man in finance “ callback they did, had me ROTFLOL 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣💕💕 loved it.
About to start a 3rd read through/listen through.
Really enjoyed it and looking forward to the next.
Question for you, Mod R: will this series be kid-appropriate? My daughter (preteen) absolutely loves IK, and I’m considering giving her this one, but I don’t want to if it’s going to get sexually explicit in the later books. It doesn’t have the feel of HL (which I adore, but, um, she’s going to have to wait a few years!) but I don’t want to start her on the series and then have to pause her on the next volume.
Also, I can’t remember the last time I read a book with a Maggie in it that I actually wanted to be like, so thank you. Where was this when people were calling me “Muggy Maggie” in middle school? 😅
Hi Maggie! Justice for Maggies everywhere!
Unfortunately, I’m unable to make pronouncements on the content of books that have not yet been written. At the moment book one is the best reference point we have for tone and content – as you have seen, it contains fantasy violence and darker themes.
House Andrews always recommend that parents/guardians make the decision based on their own comfort level and, if possible, check in once the books are released and reviews/content guidance become available 🙂
Thanks a lot for the answer! Bummer, I was hoping they’d settled on the ultimate tone and were willing to let us know. Well, nothing’s set in stone until the book is done, I guess!
Please let them know they’ve got some readers who would appreciate a heads up whenever they do settle about the tone – would just like to know where it falls on the spectrum of their work. My daughter will enjoy it just as much in 7 or 8 years, but she’d probably love to read it sooner. 😀
I loved Maggie so much! The characters are so compelling. On my first reread now and I love how at the very beginning, Maggie bemoans that she landed in the world without the usual portal fantasy tropes: she is not “ 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 noble, 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.” Of course, by the end of the book she has worked herself into exactly that position, fulfilling the portal fantasy tropes.
Right?
IKR 😀 She worked herself up to that position and is surrounded by multiple handsome dudes. 😍🤣
I bet the authors had a grand time making that list just perfect 🙂
I just wanted to say – Thank so, so much! I just finished the book and it was pure awesomness! I would have liked to read faster but I have little kids, so…
My heart was litteraly pounding from the moment of the ball until the end and I am not exagerating when I say this has NEVER happend to me before.
I always thought your world building is amazing but the amount and detail that went into thus – wow! Just WOW!
So excited for book 2!
I mean….you know the first question has to be when is the next one coming out??? This book was so different and so excellent. Great work guys. Just when I think you can’t possibly get any better you go and do this.
There’s a character in a book scene that betrays the other, even though they’re childhood friends and the families are longstanding allies, but in a different scene where Maggie is negotiating, the character that did the betraying implies that even if it was expedient to go back on his word he no longer would because Maggie wouldn’t like it. Just wondering if the character themselves realizes that things they might have done at one point they would no longer do.
Separately, something happens in Chapter 23, but the plan couldn’t possibly have been for things to fall out like that, so just wondering what the actual plan was and what the timing would have been.
I’m not sure the betrayer changed much. My guess is when it all goes to hell, he’s torn between his allies/friend and his duty to his people. He gave his word to both, so he had pick his priority and live with the shame and guilt. This why he is so committed to stopping it getting to that point.
I think the plan was stop the bad guy without certain thing being apparently. Had Maggie not acted as she did, things could have continued for a bit longer as they had been, without the fallout.
It took me 3 days to read the entire book. I had my first “what??!!” about 1/3 of the way through the book. Yes, yes, there were clues, but I was justifying them as Maggie was. Then I just sat back and had my mind blown for the rest of the book. There were so many twists and turns.
Did everyone hear my screams of outrage at the end of the book? How dare they leave a cliffhanger? To be fair, I was expecting it, but still… When is book 2 being release?
When Maggie has the thought about the MC that it would be wrong to get involved with him because she might find herself transported back to Earth, did anyone else think it was a very “citizen of a mostly stable country” thing to think? A man of Rellas lives his whole life very aware loss can hit at any time, particular given his personal history. Would he do everything he could to prevent it, absolutely, but the uncertainty wouldn’t be the dealbreaker she thinks it would be.
Okay, so the more I’ve thought on it – which is a lot more than I’d like to admit, I don’t want to ship Maggie with anyone in Kair Toren. Instead, I’d hope for the more Inheritance-like happy ending where she takes her new ruthlessness back to her regular life on Earth & uses it to complete the help-people goal that was her initial motivation in life. Becomes a kick-ass public defender or social worker or Non-profit owner or whatever. While in the backend, she has the ability to step into Rellas’ world whenever the need for a Maggie arises. Like a future where she steps into the Crimson Empire and heals whatever ails them. Because we KNOW that no life can be just pure evil, as how the Crimson Empire is currently shown to be. And that the current main ship goes on to have his future, but with more humble pie eaten. So that sounds a lot like Narnia I just realized. But that would be my hope for Maggie.
Narnia is one of the classic portal fantasy examples, exactly like Maggie’s own isekai adventure.
So it’s actually a genre-specific pattern to end up with this sense of frame parallelism 🙂
If Narnia is the example, though its not time travel, they do do some weird things with time. Time pasts faster in Narnia. Not only that, but the travel reverses changes done to the children’s bodies. They are adult when they return from the Narnia side of the portal and children when they pop out on the Earth side. Hmmm…
Umm, I was kinda hoping it’s not over and there will be more Inheritance to come…
As r we all! I think it has been implied that there will eventually b more Inheritance, but obv there’s no firm timeline.
Pretty sure if I woke up from a multiyear coma, after making sure my loved ones were ok, I’d b very interested to see what books HA had published…
+1 on the coma thing;P
This book is amazing! I couldn’t put it down. Thank you!!!
The beginning of Chapter 29… I *cackled*. I think that might be my favorite chapter. The whole book is just amazing! And the audiobook! Absolute *chef’s kiss*! Diving back in for a re-read/re-listen now!
This was fabulous. I didn’t think anything could surpass my love for the KD world, but this just might be it! ( and I have been re-reading and re-listening to KD since the very first book ever released (regular and Graphic Audio too).
Loves:
Maggie is changed by her experiences, getting more savvy and confident, also being traumatized and having to struggle with that; she wonders if her changes would let her fit back into her old life. So good!
Shout out to H-E-B, woohoo!
Maggie’s struggle to build her own team, power base, and safety, while feeling so safe with and tempted to depend on a certain guy. Not pressing the Easy button.
The slippery fluidity of altering history. Already different from the book on day 1. Progressively shifting from what she read. People are startled by changes she initiates and do other things in reaction. Love this!
The horrific potential of being undying, think Promethius. The unknown limits of it. Sentient pig crap!
The ending. As cliffhangers go, this one is great, why so many people saying aaargh? Book 1 action tied up in a satisfying way. Then the next book action kicks off with a bang! More like a last minute plot twist than a true cliffhanger.
Next books:
So much more of this world to visit! The mage tower. The temples of the aspects. Other countries and cultures (Crimson empire!).
Maggie’s own magic, she has a ton of it, what could she learn? Great family powes described but what can mage magic do in this world?
Maggie’s language genius, makes me think of the Blacktongued Thief, super powerful when magic is spoken spells, what else besides magic might this be useful for? Listening in on people who don’t know you understand them, reading lost languages…
Where/who is Latour in all this? Did Maggie travel to the past, or did all the books’ action not actually happen yet and Latour made it up? Is the same amount of time passing for Maggie’s family and she is tragically missing? How did Latour get access to Rellas and return to write about it?
All the open questions! Huge cast of characters, many moving pieces in the power dynamics, lots of things mentioned but not fully explored…
Now for some reason I’m craving a pastry and a cup of tea 🙂
Amaze! Amaze! Amaze!
I managed to wait the entire day Tuesday at work without even peeking at the book. I was so adult and restrained I impressed myself. I made myself wait until I got home from work before starting the book. And it was worth it!!! So rich and detailed and complex!
I do have one thought on the cliff hanger. There was a scene posted a while back of someone flying on large winged animals. i thought they were dragons but now I wonder…
If u mean Puffles, as far as we know that is a different world entirely…as far as we know…
Okay,
I have to ask,
is anyone else going crazy trying to figure out where Bluestone Square is?
Normally I can extrapolate from known points to find a place on a map.
This time I seem to have nothing, even on the first third of the reread.
can anyone help?
Before I really get going, THANK YOU House Andrews for this amazing new world and story. I truly believe this is your best book to date and we of the BDH so appreciate you time and creativity and dedication.
Ok, now to all my thoughts and ships down the Dokkon River. Here’s hoping someone wants to chime in!
****SPOILERS (will try to be as neutral as possible but please remove if I go too far).
Do you wish to discuss??
1. River Monster – large magical creature that ties into future troubles, of which may possibly be connected to Latour disappearence from Earth.
2. Shipping Clover and a Magnar brother.
3. LOVE a comment made earlier that the epilogue present is equivalent to an engagement.
4. Main Baddie and Maggie are opposites of the same coin, and share the same undying magic.
5. Maggie’s “Favorite Cousin” was willingly manipulated so he could give his favorite aunt a present.
6. The mirroring of Earth family with adopted family – I hope that the relationships flourish!
7. Who was KR family that Clover worked for and can there by major ripper cushions?!
There are so many things in my brain but those are the ones at the start.
I am also shipping Clover with one, or both, Magnar brothers. She’s better than any milkmaid! 😂
7. What does KR mean ? I would like to know too.
I’m confused 🙂 Am I supposed to know who the man in the garden is?
End of ch 27.
The book arrived at 6pm UK time for me yesterday and I finished it by 4pm today. What a read!
I didn’t think I’d love a heroine more than Kate in the IA books universes, but Maggie I’m afraid has just overtaken Kate! The reason for this I think is that I know that as much as I’d love to, I could never be Kate. But drop me in my favourite book world, I’d probably react similarly to Maggie! I can see my decades of devouring fantasy stories finally coming to fruition.
And the delicious tropes in this book!! The archetypes, the found family, the subtle romance, ALL the hot guys and most importantly Maggie growing more and more into her power is so cool!
I can’t wait for the next two books. And it would simply be lovely if there could be a book on our “favourite cousin”! I mean Everard is awesome and perfect for Maggie. But I just fell in love with Sol! Tortured assassin with a golden heart…. 😍
Thank you Ilona and Gordon for this absolutely epic story. Can’t wait for everything else from this world!
We truly are a Book Devouring Horde which demand a new book immediately on release 😀 similarly I thought we might get a Novella out of Solentine if we play our cards right 😀
Ok, first of: SQUEEEEEE! That was amazing! I got the delivery notice for my kindle at 6AM on Tuesday, just as I was getting up for work and I couldn’t resist taking a peek at it (just the cover and dedication page, your honor). So I did ride at dawn. I was also late for work as I couldn’t put it down 😀
Maggie is great, she’s smart and kind and she does exactly what I would do in her place – dies horribly within a few days. I seriously love her. I love the members of her little family and I love Rellas.
I don’t know how HA did it, but they managed to achieve the multifaceted plot and political intrigue and complex characters of Game of Thrones, humanize it with Maggies kindness AND keep the focus on the larger picture of the plot throughout the many branches. I love it!
Although that cliffhanger!
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I was going to go for the hardcover as well, but local retailer is sold out. Sad I wont get it yet, happy that it’s doing well.
the dedication 🥹
💕💕💕 loved this book. i haven’t been sucked into a book world for awhile and i am so so very thrilled!
also 😩the w*iting may kill me. but i will resurrect to read the sequels.
fascinating that maggie’s entrance corresponds to the death of a character that died later in the original book story.
wondering if maggie is related to silveren… because undying maybe? or resisting the magical call?
and surely house andrews will share more maggie snippets with their most loyal and p*tient horde? 🤞🏻
for now i will re-read and make notes! for science.
Sure, for science. But also: For the Horde!
The plot twist in chapter 23 did indeed surprise me, even though there was a bit of foreshadowing, in hindsight. You got me there.
Loved it. I was scared to start it but I truly enjoyed it all.
1. Do we think Maggie still has enough story knowledge for Book 2? Though I do know the timeline is messed up and things have deviated a lot.
2. I hope at the end of it all Maggie can bring her Earth family to stay with her (if they want).
3. Why did Maggie’s mum hand her that particular book as a teenager? How did her mum come by it?
4. Will it be a year’s wait for Book 2? I know HA has already been writing Book 2 for a while now.
I have a couple chapters left.. I am torn between reading the rest in one gulp and savoring the rest in small bites, a few pages at a time, to make it last. I am, of course, planning to immediately reread/listen to it, as one does.
Oh my gosh! So thrilling! Thank you HA for such a great book, I’m on my second listen to see if I can spot any of the “clues” for the big plot twist! I guess now I have to w**t for the next book to come out….
Actually, I’ve watched enough Chinese short dramas with this kind of plot- I really don’t want Maggie to end up back in RL and “miraculously” meet her ML as she wakes up in the hospital or drops her papers and he picks them up or has him stop by her office/apartment for something. That just always feels like cheating. Can’t wait to see what Ilona and Gordon plan to do!
I have to agree there.. I’m hoping HA does something different than the typical Cdramas
Thank you for an amazing adventure! Can’t wa*t for book 2!!!
I just startedy re-read and immediately thought of a question – why didn’t Maggie recognize Everard’s voice? He spoke to her when he first arrived and gave her the coins….
I thought of that too when they did the reveal. But she really heard just a couple of sentences while he was wearing a helmet and she was panicking. Reynald doesn’t recognize the man from the garden and he must have met him on more than one occasion. I know it took me like half of the first Harry Potter full cast audiobook to differentiate between Harry’s and Ron’s voices.
I had the same thought. I’m assuming she was freaking out so hard and he only said a few words.
Just finished my reread…I still yell at the end but it’s worth it and I know I have to be p*tient for the next book but I really really don’t wanna be😩😩.
As for the original author of the world I wonder if he was the body we see after the bag of money chapter? Or is he possibly floating around in Sauvens head somehow and that’s why he is the way everyone says he is?
Oooh Especially since the body was weighed down and only recently brought back to shore because of a storm…? Maybe the authors magic ran out dying so much under water and that’s how she got pulled in…. Alternatively if he is somehow sauven paranoia would make a lot of sense..having an extra voice in your head somehow would be horrific. Can’t wait to find out which way everyone is leaning on the author who what where when why’s!!
Not finished reading…I’m savoring…
I have to share this quote…”Gold is soft and heavy, Maggie. You cannot make a sword out of it.” There’s so much meaning behind those words in and out of this book.
So far and not surprisingly, I’m loving these characters!
I’m team Sleepless in Kair Toren! Poor Arvel just started and is already late to the party. I hope Silveren can be redeemed or that the second prince has hidden depths. Someone has to rule. I appreciate the amount of attractive male leads. I’ll take Solentine for myself! 😂
Just finished rereading: he must have bought back the hairornament from his trip to Selva. Already wanted to gift it to her then 🙂 he has some issues but he is a cutie pie
Not surprising. He told Sol he was locking Maggie down right after she signed the adoption papers. She was simply too busy freaking out about the adoption to notice.
I have a question about the adoption papers. If Maggie was supposedly adopted at age 9, why did she have to sign anything? Does it have to look like she agreed to the adoption at 9 and signed the papers then?
I had the same question
so trying not to add any spoilers past chapter 23 because omg!!!! but re e end, was that a case of the BDH commenting so much about cliff hangers that HA decided to properly show us what a cliff hangers is?!!!! I NEED book two 😭
Thank you, thank you, thank you House Andrews! I don’t know how to emphasize this more. I feel loved!
Since the first snippet of Maggie on the blog, I knew I would love this book. And then I learned that the release was more than a year away. I thought the wa*t would kill me.
But also, my expectations were so stellar that I was also terrified that I was hyping it too much (I know, shame on me). But as always, House Andrews delivers. And by deliver, I mean they went far above and beyond anything I dreamed.
This book is my all time favorite, I love it. I read it once and I know it by heart, and all the scenes are constantly replaying in my head, and I cannot choose a favorite scene.
Now I need to let my brain cool down before I can re-read it. There is no “not re-reading” this book. I know the re-read will be just as fanstastic as the first read because of the new perspective of knowing what’s coming.
I might get fired from the BDH for saying this, but here goes: This is the first time ever that I am happy that I will have to wa*t for book 2.
Book 1 had so much fireworks, I need the time for my brain to process. If book 2 was already out, I would not be able to stop myself from reading it immediately, and the whole experience would suffer.
I love how book 1 answers all the pressing questions that I would not want to wa*t for, and still promises an awesome book 2. In a way, book 1 is so good as a standalone that it does not even need a follow up, it leaves me full of happiness on its own. No misunderstanding there, I will absolutely devour the follow up!
Now to the wild speculations!
Somehow in my mind, king Sauren is the true villain, while Silveren might redeem himself (hehe) and end up join team Maggie. Although he does not seem the most balanced person so far.
I hope Isabau builds her own mage tower in Demarr, to guard the border and protect Maggie’s family.
When Omelyana’s obsession with Ramond was described, the song Animal from Jim Yoseph popped into my head and stuck. It got re-stuck with every subsequent mention of “Omelyana” or “Obsession with Ramond”. Now I have an earworm. Of course I cannot miss this opportunity to contaminate someone else
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NewMQgLA3rQ&list=RDNewMQgLA3rQ&index=1&pp=8AUB
ahaha! that song is soo appropriate!
Reading TKWNKM brought me so much joy, thank you HA!
Question from someone who is not a medical professional: are we sure that Silveren actually died? I assumed when I read it that he had passed out from his injuries and Everard was sloppy in not confirming that he was actually dead. But others’ comments here and on Facebook seem to assume that yes he did actually die. Given Maggie‘s lack of experience in combat is it a sure thing that he died from the injuries she gave him?
Medical professional here: it is possible to die quickly from a stab in the kidney, but only if a large blood vessel is injured, otherwise it would take time and infection. It’s certainly a surgical emergency, but not necessarily instantly lethal. Maggie had never stabbed anyone before, so hitting large blood vessels around the kidneys or in the thigh would be a bit hit and miss (ooh, I made a pun and I’m not even a native English speaker ^^).
So he may be undying or he might have been healed with other magic and we have a long time (though hopefully no more than a year) to contemplate (ooh, again^^).
After a couple of re-reads, I noticed that Maggie was in fact taught how to hit the femoral artery, so we may have another undying character- still not 100% certain though.
Definitely too many variables and not enough data yet. Just because one was taught doesn’t mean one is going to succeed completely in the moment. It’s not instantaneous, and there was a lot going on at the time. His people are fanatically loyal to him, and there are a lot of magical options available that don’t require him to die.
Huzzah! I dodged all spoilers, including the preview, and finally finished the book!
I am not at all good at envisioning, so my question is, what is the bird on the cover? Is it the bird that sushi carries off in the beginning, or is it one of the enormous critters at the end? There’s also a bird in the middle, but I don’t think it’s that one.
Thanks so much!
It is the cover artist’s interpretation of a drezmur 🙂
I was wondering if there will be art for Reynald? Or is he to be left to our imagination?
Keep reading, please 😌