ILONA ANDREWS

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

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Maggie the Undying: Acquisition Press Release

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This was not the way this was supposed to go. ::looks at Reddit:: However, hiding anything from BDH is impossible

Tor Books is thrilled to announce a legendary new acquisition from #1 New York Times bestselling author duo Ilona Andrews: an original epic fantasy romance saga that blends elements of heroic fantasy, romantasy, portal isekai, and D&D with the authors’ signature blend of humor, emotion, action, and imagination.

The official announcement from Tor via Reactor and more details here.

The London Book Fair press release, which precipitated this post. Click to enlarge.

Okay then. I am sure you have questions. Please leave them in the comments below. They will be answered tomorrow in detail.

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Comments

  4. All the congratulations! So well deserved! I like the “three book” part of the whole thing.
    Um, any release date announcement?

  5. Oooh, 2026, so we have to wait two year for maggie 😢. But I like Tor so I will wait.

    • OMG, I didn’t even catch the date – 2 years!! So looong 🙁 But we will wait patiently…right? Right!?
      Anyway, 3 books!!!! So happy!

      • What is this “patiently” thing you mentioned? Is it some sort of dish? Paté? Or like a patient in a mental hospital who is rattling at the gates creaming “GIVE BOOK NOW!!”?

      • 18 months minimum. If the Horde hopes and prays for an early 2026 release. How does Jan 1st sound? 🤣

      • Patiently? Patiently?!
        Between COVID, 25 tornadoes in 2 days, floods, fires, a meteor/ite that missed the Statue of Liberty by “thismuch”, politics, war and the Cicadapocalypse, I kindof want the series now…

      • This is so exciting!! I can’t wait to throw tonnes of money at this series 🙂 Before I read the article, I was nervous when I heard Tor bought it; I don’t consider Tor for fantasy/romance. Actually tbh I associated with Robert Jordan’s many descriptions of arms under “bosoms” and braid tugging (oh the 1990s/2000s were dire for fantasy with romantic, er, elements) However, it sounds like the editor has the same enthusiasm I do, so that assuages my fears.

        • Tor is the biggest publisher in the scifi/fantasy space and they have a ton of things better than Wheel of Time. The Lady Astronaut series being one of my fav

        • Ha! I found the braid tugging annoying and distracting. Glad someone else did too. Or that’s how I interpret your comment. 🙂

  10. The level of excitement I am experiencing is concerning.

    I can’t tell you how often my husband has had to listen to me talk about the announcement of this book. Spoiler, it’s a lot.

    • Every time I start a story with ‘so my favorite author just posted…’ he knows what’s coming!

      • *gasps* you too? Same with my hubby and for long time I’ve extended it to “the writing duo”said, wrote, or did blah, blah.

        (Very excited about Maggie & the other work)

        • Hm. Same. In fact, just did this (and had to explain who Tor were… a fantasy reader he is not).

      • Ha! Me too! And he gets such a cute patient look on his face when I read him things from the blog posts…

    • +1

      somehow I thought Maggie is only 1 book. Awesome!

      And the blurb sounds so cool, can’t wait!

      • Me too! I thought Maggie would be a stand-alone, with maybe possible continuation!
        Three books sounds very very lovely, congratulations HA!

  14. So this makes, what, 4 publishers, not including yourselves? How difficult is it coordinating that many publishers? Hopefully it turns out better than the guy who tries to juggle dating two women simultaneously.

    • I think there might be some confusion there. We tend to work with one publisher at a time. We have completed our contracts with Ace and Avon. We knew we were ending our Ace contract before we signed with Avon so while there was a brief overlap, everybody knew what was happening.

      The equivalent would be if I looked at your resume listing all the jobs that you have worked over the period of some years and assumed that you are working all of them still simultaneously.

      • Ah, ok. I was thinking there was more overlap between the various worlds, but it was probably Kate universe and Hidden Legacy and Innkeeper, but Innkeeper was self-publishing, so just a couple of series overlapped.

        Do agreements with publishers say if you can or can’t work with another publisher at the same time, or maybe they have right to first refusal? I could see it being easier if you used different pen names for each publisher, but did Ace give you flack for working with Avon or vice versa, or is that not uncommon in the publishing world?

  15. yeah BDH sleuthing to the max and for the win – congrats – 2026 ergh – like Jan 2026 then not bad!

  19. Oooooh! I saw this on reddit and hoped there’d be an official confirmation sometime soon. Sorry that your official, and I’m sure carefully planned, release announcement was jumped. But I am so excited to see what we get next!

    • LOL I too saw this on reddit, came over here, and the last post was OMG with “Big news annoucement!”

      It was about their cat. ಠ_ಠ

      Trolling champs, that House Andrews.

    • Hi Rhonda,
      When the books will be published, which is still a way away in 2026, they will hit all the major retailers and be available in all the usual formats (paper, ebook, and audio).
      No worries, we will be sharing all the links! 🙂

  21. I love the “this is not how this is supposed to go” ha ha ha. BDH fans are savage and incredibly nosy in the best way. Congratulations House Andrew’s. As usual, we can’t wait!

  22. Very happy about this. Well deserved and I hope it sells crazy good – without attracting toxic people. Hey I’m an idealist…

  25. Looking forward to the contests a few years from now to name books 2 and 3. Maggie the Unyielding, perhaps…? 🙂
    Congratulations. My pocket book is poised.

  27. I have a question about the title. While I love it, it seems to me it’s unusual to have such a title for a fantasy book. I personally love the contrast of a down-to-earth name like Maggie with the epicness and mystery of the undying part. Was this something you had to fight for? Or did they readily accept it?

  28. Luv Luv Luv Everything You Write-Knit-Share!
    Thank You
    My Life Is A Better Place To Be Because Of You!
    Heart Hugs

  30. Ok, I have a (somewhat lol) tongue in cheek question. But do you ever look at your fans (aka BDH) and go, wow, I’m AMAZING (if not you definitely should). But the second part of that question, is then do you look at the BDH and go: I really wonder about their sanity? And I’m NOT saying that our sanity is questionable because we love you and think you’re fabulous and your books are the best. I’m saying our sanity is possibly questionable due to our insatiable and (somewhat?) rabid desires to have all your works ever.

    Serious question: did you want to make Maggie a series? Or does it ever happen that the publisher reads your manuscript and says oh I love this so much and now I want a series? (And as an author do you wish you had more single books vs series?). Please note that I would like every book of yours to be a series and for basically more of everything, but I imagine that authors don’t always feel that way.

    Thank you for this. Can’t wait for Maggie!!

    • I think mostly we’re amazed that we have fans. You guys are the best. We are seriously lucky to do what we do and that’s all thanks you ya’ll. We don’t sing, we don’t dance. This is really all we can do. As far as a series, I think Maggie just started, as most books do, as an idea. Though it was sold as a finished book, it’s hard these days to just sell one book. It’s a better investment for the publisher if they can get a two or three book deal. They put a lot into it, advance, editing, publicity and so on. Since I’m known for spoilers, two of the three will probably be Maggie, the other thing might be something entirely different.

      • ohhhhh, does that mean that Maggie already spawned some plot bunnies and that there are some amazing scene stealers waiting for us?

        ps: congrats on the 7 figures 🤓

      • Maybe about Almaz??? Please?
        It’s your faults that you two can’t write bad story ideas.

      • Congratulation on a new book deal!!!

        You have all of these fans because your fiction has the right blend of adventure and character development. This Blog is amazing on what you give to us. Free fiction that we read then buy. Mod R who tries to keep us in line. I haven’t found any author website that is so devoted to the fans. I keep coming back for more.

        Thanks for your hard work. I hope Puffle’s world is book 3…..

      • Yes! Commit trilogy! Take it anywhere you want. We love everything you write. SOoooooo looking forward to the upcoming Zoom.

        Also, I’m doing huge “squeeeeeeee” on your behalf for the “… 7 figure” the Tor release mentioned. I hope that’s your advance! Or maybe it’s the buyout? Not sure how your contracts work, nor do I have the right to know. But I hope you are getting serious $$$ from this! We love you! Like most of the BDH, I will buy anything and everything you write. I suspect even your shopping list would be interesting, lol. Thank you!

    • Bookworm! I tend to think of House Andrews as Sirens, and the BDH as being affected by their magic:) at the devouring stage! 🙂

  31. Omg new books! Totally binged otome isekais since last year and this sounds so good ❤️

  32. How exciting! Are the books going to be longer in length than the Kate Daniels series? I’m hoping for some pretty hard cover or paperbacks I can collect on my shelf!

  33. Congratulations on the sale and I can’t wait to buy the book whenever it comes out!

  36. Wooohoooooo!! We get Maggie…. In a trilogy?! This is amazing news! Well done House Andrews for believing in the project – you know the Horde will devour it when it’s released to us

  40. I was happily enjoying a week at the beach. This is absolutely fantastic! Congratulations!!!

  42. If you need an ARC reader, I can sell my first born to pay for the privilege ( sorry Missy, but we’re talking a new Ilona Andrews book here…)

  44. Just curious – why are the French and German rights reserved to NYLA while Tor is the contact for all other translations?

  47. No questions just happy!
    My husband also said he might read this one, he loves Isekai and D&D! So its win win win for everyone.

  48. Knowing that your favorite author reads the same manhwa as you: super cool. Then to have your favorite, romantic isekai manhwa premise– preventing the breakout of a war– which most seem to be incomplete or poorly executed, be taken for a spin by your favorite authors, is soooo exciting.

    I’m sooo ready for the new adventure!

  49. Woohoo!
    Three books?! Awesome!
    Seven figure deal? Awesome!
    But I can’t help wonder what the *original* announcement plan was supposed to be…

  50. Congratulations! So happy for you and for all of us who get to read another wonderful series!!

    Okay so my question is, I see that the announcement says romantasy, so for sure we’re getting some romance? Is it going to be more of a slow burn like Kate Daniels or a slightly faster slow burn like Hidden Legacy?

  51. You wait for ages for the new book, then THREE get announced. Squee!

    So for you. Am happy dancing, and cannot wait for the release date. ❤️

  52. Congratulations! Wow. I read so many SFF authors from Tor, so I know you’ll be in excellent hands.

    This reminded of your “How We Got Published Story,” where you said that you submitted Kate manuscript to Tor and editor Liz Gorinsky really liked it. But it didn’t work out and instead Ace bought the series.

    Time is a funny thing. Now you’re at Tor almost two decades later. Full circle. 🙂

  60. I’m so thrilled for everyone at House Andrews! You deserve this level of success.

    Can’t wait to read them and here’s hoping film/tv rights follow!

  62. This is epic and amazing news!

    But as a loyal BDH’er, my mind goes… But is this the “secret, does not exist” project? We already knew of Maggie’s existence after all… Are MORE WONDERS yet to come? 🙂

  63. Heartiest congratulations, IA! This is the universe acknowledging the guaranteed excellent quality of your work!

    2026?? Sigh. 🙁

  65. So I read seven figures and think woooooooow, could you put that number in perspective for us? How does it compare to your other traditionally published series, and also what does that mean for other othergoing projects?
    Also CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!

    • Congratulations and I hope this enables you to move wherever you will be happiest. (Although I hope you can take that gorgeous blue dining room mural with you).

      so happy for you both!

  66. Congratulations! I have a very simple question. Mostly it’s for clarification. Is Maggie the Undying the name of the first book or the series name or both?

  68. Here’s how I know that I am Horde and that THESE are my people:

    1. Immediate and first reaction for me was, “THREE BOOKS— SQUEE!!!” and this was clearly the Horde reaction.

    2. I shared the universal chuckle at “this is not how this was supposed to go”— Heh! Never underestimate the Horde in ferreting (grin) out book tidbits— be they real or imagined.

    3. And after our initial joy at the announcement, what is close close on the heels of that? The groaning about a 2026 release date— AND we immediately go into baseless speculation on firm dates. This is so Horde. 🙂

    I have found my people here, I feel so welcome and at home.

    • LOL This is so true. Some friends & I use ‚ I resemble that remark‘ in these situations. 😀

    • Hahaha to add to this:
      Point 4. Wondering if this is the secret project not to be named or if there is another project too….

    • I feel the same way!! Home!
      I usually have a silly grin on my face when reading the comments. We are the Horde.

    • lol so true… I did my happy dance with many shouts of joy…. and now the dogs think I’m nuts hehe

      Congratulations to my favorite author duo 😃

  69. I forgot to add my question above.

    1) What’s the editing process like for a brand new publisher and editor? Do you feel like you have a lot of freedom? Is it awkward working with a new editor since you’re not used to each other’s styles yet?

    2) do you think we’ll still get self-published work between the Maggie releases?

    3) Snippet? 🥹 The three-chapter expert disappeared so it would be cool to have something new.

    4) why a preempt and Tor? From what I googled, authors have to be super sure about the preempt publisher because they forego the chance to go to auction.

    5) how long did it take to get a publisher once you went on sub?

    • Yeah, I want to hear about the preempt process.

      Other questions:

      1, Do you already have the ideas for where the 3 books are going? Did Tor want to know if that’s already in your head?

      2, Is this officially a trilogy? Or the 3 book beginning of a series? Or is there a soft ending for Book 3, with the option for more in the series?

      • Another question:

        How DID you want this announcement to go? What plans did we pesky kids at reddit ruin?

  72. Doing the happy dance!

    Congratulations on the publishing deal. I can’t wait to read the new adventures

  73. We all knew from the snippets that Maggie would be special. This is amazing! Congratulations on finding a worthy partner for her debut.

  74. I am so verklempt. I am excited, taken aback. This is astounding. What a… I don’t know what to call it but I’m here for it. Waytogo House Andrews. Can’t wait and I really mean that. You can still do it how you planned and I will act brand new again.

      • +1 do what you planned anyway.

        Also, squeee my fav authors (imaginary besties) are Titans! Did you see? Titans!

        Also – don’t know industry term pre-empted but it sounds Important! So exciting. Major congrats to all.

  76. I saw “titan of the fantasy and romance genres.” and “seven-figure deal”. They are both so well-deserved. Congratulations, I can’t wait to to buy and read the new series!

  78. Thrilled with the announcement. They sound like they are paying a fair deal. Will you be found publicity in the states for the series?

  79. So excited!! Happy happy happy! But 2026! Sad! Also did anyone spot the line underneath where it said something like tv rights? Did I misunderstand?

    • House Andrews have a Tv/Film agent. There is much interest in their work, especially Kate has been shopped around for years 🙂

      • From the moment I started The Innkeepers, I thought it would make a great movie, but only if it was with a great director (like Peter Jackson) who would stay true to the book.

    • I saw the same thing and had a moment. Can you imagine the full CGI of the Inn as the intergalactic bachelor airs? Or Kate saying “here kitty, kitty.” I’d swoon.

  81. Congratulations and yay!!! 🤩so happy for you!

    They do say patience is a virtue… 🤣

  82. I don’t have questions, however I do have SO MUCH EXCITEMENT!! I’ve never read anything like this before (basing my comments on some of the snippets shared) and if the two of you wrote it, then I know it’ll be amazing.
    Can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait!!

  83. Yeah baby!!!

    Soon my precious you’ll be in my clutches! Hehehe🧙‍♀️
    Thank you so much for this new adventure.

  85. I am so glad you did not give up on this story. looking forward to more hours of happy reading.

  87. I am so happy! So, so happy! I love Tor, they publish some of the best authors writing today, and now YOU! Congratulations!

  90. Yay! Congratulations. I do love epic fantasy. Epic fantasy is why I say adventure is for books. I would probably die rather quickly unless suddenly blessed with awesome magic skills and a cast iron stomach.

    • Oh so much agree. I’m more a “nice walk around the woods of the shire” than a “walk to Mordor to save the world” hobbit. But I will listen to Bilbo’s stories with rapt attention.

  93. omg, yay!! I feel too happy to think of a helpful question lol
    I’m excited and thankful for you guys to be moving forward with what sounds like has been a large undertaking, project. That might not be worded well, but I’m not a writer 🙂

  94. Well done House Andrews!! So happy to have new series in 2026! Squeee!!! But up first, Roman!! And hopefully Hugh & Elara #2… please?

  96. Tor is a leader in the science fiction/fantasy world. Congratulations on signing with them. The press release talks about a three book series. You previously wrote that you finished the first Maggie novel quite a while ago. Does that mean books 2 and 3 are already being worked on? I hope so because two years between releases seems interminable!

  97. Yay!!!

    I have zero questions, but lots of excitement at delving into a new world y’all have carefully crafted!

  100. Wonderful news! I’m so happy for you! I believe at this point you’ve worked with three of the “big five”, which is absolutely amazing! (Also, as an author working with an indie publisher, I’m incredibly envious at the same time. Lol)

    My question: What was the most exciting thing about the entire process of bringing Maggie to life, from when you both first came up with the idea all the way to today’s lovely announcement? How did you handle it, and move past it to focus on the next steps without losing the euphoria?

  101. Massive, gargantuan, humongous kudos!! Extremely excited for House Andrews but even more thrilled for the rest of us. 🎇🎆🪄✨️

  102. How exciting! This sounds like such an awesome series! Will it come to the US? What year are we talking releasing??!

    • Yes, of course it will be released in the US 🙂 . The expected year of release is 2026.

  103. Hurray!!! And happy birthday to me— what a lovely bday present!!

    So excited for you, House Andrews and all the BDH!

  104. So incredibly excited!!!

    My question – if a subscription box approached you/Tor to make this one of their monthly books, would you be interested in it?

  105. “Ilona Andrews is a titan of the fantasy and romance genres”, direct quote from the article. Wow that is so nice, you are Titans.

  107. I was already excited for it, but the (totally deserved) pre-empting by *Tor Books* somehow adds another level of excitement that it’s gonna be *good*!

  109. YES! Congratulations!

    I am so pleased that the book you had to write, different as you say it is from anything you have written before, has found such a good home. Am I right to assume that this is the hoped for new reader foundation book (I can’t remember what you called it, the book to bring in new readers)?

  112. I’ve been expecting this since the first chapter mysteriously disappeared as I was about to re-read it. I’m so excited! I love portal fantasies!

    Also, seven figures? WOOT!

  114. Congratulations! I am so excited for you, and excited for the BDH too.

    I love this quote from your editor, Stephanie Stein: “For anyone who’s ever wondered if they’d last five minutes in Westeros—or knows they wouldn’t—this genre-savvy, immersive, romantic love letter to portal fantasy and isekai tropes is an adventure not to be missed.” It made me wonder how many members of the BDH could survive in their favourite Ilona Andrews world. Lol. Personally, I have read and reread your books multiple times – they are like old friends – but I don’t think I would last very long in any of them. Lol. Congratulations again.

    • Survive? Probably. Thrive? No idea. Given that my favorite is Innkeeper I would have to first *find* an Inn and then convince an Innkeeper to let me in and give me a job or something instead of wiping my memory. So that would be an interesting prospect. Followed by whether or not I would be able to succeed so, who knows? So I think I would survive but I don’t know if I’d ever get to where I really wanted to go.

  115. OMG I love it!!! TOR IS FABULOUS

    CONGRATULATIONS

    I can’t wait!! But I guess I’ll have to wait. 🥰😊

  116. Congratulations 📚 !! Really happy to show up and see this post! I was hoping for a Roman teaser or a snippet or something — and then awesome news! can’t wait to read!

  119. Oh my god! So awesome!!!! Can’t wait to get my grubby little paws on this book and read it 🙂

  121. Yay, that is so great! I didn’t read the snippets so will look forward to the release – I have bought and loved everything else you have written 😍. And a trilogy😱!

    How do you anticipate this changing your plans for your other series?

  124. Congratulations! What amazing news! I am in full squee mode (but also crying a bit inside about a 2026 release).

    Also: I can pretend to be surprised if you still want to do your big reveal plans! Curious what they were. ☺️

    There’s some great questions in the comments! I’m really interested in the genesis of the project from secret passion project, to possible new anchor series, to possibly only 1-2 books, to a 3 book contract. Sounds like Tor was super excited to snap this up (as they should be!)!

    With it being a 3 book contract, is this a firm 3 and done trilogy or will there be the possibility of continuing?

    Again, super big congrats! Such exciting good news!

  125. This sounds amazing! However, I am a little scared. Both Game of Thrones and Outlander are very violent, and due to all the awful rape scenes, etc, I have not been able to stand either one of them. Will this series be dark? I am used to your funny and not quite but very lighthearted series. I am just looking out for my mental health. Thanks.

    • It is not a grimdark, there is nothing dystopian about it. The world Maggie lands in is harsh, and darker themes are referred to, but the message is hopeful and uplifting, there is resolution and the good guys winning. If you’ve previously read House Andrews books and been ok, this shouldn’t pose problems.

      • Thank you, Mod R, that’s exactly what I was wondering after I saw the post on Reactor this afternoon. Those other 2 series (Game of Thrones and Outlander) are much more violent than I like to read. Having enjoyed the snippets of “Maggie” previously posted, I did wonder. Knowing that House Andrews has always had hopeful resolutions helps immensely. Looking forward to the finished product(s).

  126. Oooh, that’s an impressive press release! Congratulations on the deal, not to mention Tor does have a certain cachet in the SF&F genres. I feel giddy for you!

    (Alas my eyes have also read 2026 and I am saddened by the distance of this date. But my happy heart outweighs the sorrow. . . Mostly anyway 😉

    Three cheers – hip hip hooray!
    Hip hip hooray!
    Hip hip hooray!

  127. This sounds AMAZING. I (like the rest of the BDH) cannot wait. Although may I ask how the announcement was supposed to go? 😆

  128. Omg, so basically if one of the BDH got dropped in the middle of Blood Heir, what would happen, DnD style. This is gonna be epic. I’m so excited!!

  129. 3 books 3 books 3 books!!! I’m so excited!

    But can I (without pressuring the writers because I understand there are many reasons books get delayed or changed) make the saddest of sad puppy dog eyes for an update on the second Iron Covenant book? Is it still planned for soon?

  130. Wow, 7 figures for you, you soooo deserve it and 3 books for the Horde, we probably don’t deserve it lol, congratulations, we are all Blessed! happy, happy dance!!

  131. Congrats!! I am so excited to meet Maggie in 2026! My one click pre-order finger is ready!

  132. Just wow! So happy your new work is valued and appreciated. I cannot wait to read it. Bravo!

  133. Wowowowowow! This is incredible news! Thrilled this is the longest book to date! Thrilled you are working with Tor! Thrilled for the hopefully loads of new fans that will find you with through this. You two are the best and deserve every success!

  134. I (ashamedly) confess I was not excited for Maggie when the first snippets were released. Zero interest. But then the first chapter was uploaded and we saw it was an Outlander type situation of a modern woman being pulled into a Game of Thrones-esque world and I was ALL IN. I cannot wait for Maggie now, but I will be pissed if Bran ends up on the Iron Throne that is all I’m saying. LOL.

    But seriously, am so excited and I confess I am a little bummed that the snippets of the dragon flying girl from a few years ago didn’t come to fruition. It sounded wonderful too. And in true BDH fashion I read that announcement (on Reddit – sorry) and was like, “Three books? Maybe it could be more.” The Hoards gonna do what the Hoards gonna do.

  136. Congratulations!! Can’t wait!! I was wondering what happened to this book and I’m thrilled to find out that it will be a trilogy!

    • There will be paper format, not sure on specifically what size and cover yet 🙂

  138. Random question-what do you think Maggie fans will add to the BDH from the Fandom Tea Party? So excited for Maggie, I can’t wait! Congrats!

    • Ooooh, nice one! If it’s an isekai, maybe a new group that’s already familiar with manga/anime? I’m seeing finger hearts for the addition of boba tea to the table 😉😉😂😂

      • Feel like Maggie, from the snippets, might be more similar to Game of Thrones in world building and political machinations. So yes, it’s an isekai, but that’s just the initial plot device.

        I wonder if we should have an anime thread? I know I’m already a pretty extensive anime watcher and isekai is also extremely popular in the light novel and lit rpg worlds as well. I know there’s got to be other hoard members with similar interests.

        As far as the round table goes I’m thinking they’d get along well with the Edge and George’s people.

  143. 3 books… 3 BOOKS!

    SQUEEEEEEE…..

    Congratulations on the announcement/home for the new series!

    *carefully puts her hopes for Metal Rose and Innkeeper weddings in a box on the dresser for safe keeping*

  144. Good news. Unlike some of the others, I can possess my soul in patience. Now mind, once the pre-order is in, I am less and less patient.

    Hopping up and own excited that it’s less than two weeks now for Sanctuary. And I get like that every time. You probably won’t want to know me when 2026 rolls around.

  146. Congratulations 🎊 I’m so happy for you.
    When may we purchase your new books?

  148. Congratulations to House Andrews and to us, the BDH. Seems to me we all win with this one! And with Tor as the publisher, the BDH is likely to grow. Hmm… can a fandom go supernova? Anywhoo, I am like many other Hoardlings; happy there are new IA books.

    Okay, but serious question… how will this impact release dates for Helen & Gerard, Klaus at the wedding, Kate and Curran in the ancient fortress, Julie… ARABELLA!?!? I understand that Maggie 1 is “finished,” but now of course there are deadlines for Maggie 2 and 3 to add to the schedule. Please reassure me 😭!

  151. Congratulations, hope you’re happy with the deal and looking forwards to seeing the results

  152. This is probably a REALLY weird question, but if you can answer this, I’d be eternally grateful. I read extensively. I help beta read for several authors. I’ve noticed a bigger trend (particularly in self published authors) to use the phrase “and the like” – kind of as a placeholder for something like etc. That particular phrase (“and the like”) drives me nuts so I know I’m not objective. But I also searched through many books by traditionally published authors and not found it there. It feels both wrong and (lazy, irrelevant, not needed?) to have that phrase in there. Am I being too picky (keeping in mind that some books use this multiple times a book)? Or is this something that could be better reworded? Is it frowned upon in traditional publishing?

  153. Congratulations on such a great deal!

    So looking forward to the new books. Loved the Maggie snippets and looking forward to more goodness.

    Hopefully the BDH will grow with Tor and its resources thrown into the mix.

  157. Here, please 🙏 take my money!!!
    Happy happy dance!!
    Three books!!!

    So looking forward!!!

  158. Caught it on Reddit and my husband was wondering why I was crying while on vacation.
    So excited.

  159. Congratulations!!! Maggie! Maggie! Maggie!
    3 books… yay for us!
    7 figures… yay for you!
    2026… sigh but will be chalant for all the goodness that is to come!

  161. Knowing that this is the first step in a long process, I still would like your guess to when we can see it.

  162. Great news for BDH, but it sucks that you didn’t get to announce it on your own terms :/

  166. Congratulations! I. Can. Not. Wait! Why will it take until 2026 for a release when one book is already finished? Are you releasing them all at one time? So delighted!

  167. I am at work so my raging ‘YEEEEESSS’ was only internal lol Is there an official release date yet? Where will it be available? omg I’m so excited

  169. Gratz to all of HA! And thank you for adding much needed light to the world. Very exciting news! Now the BDH will be forced to attempt the most challenging thing in our world. Shudder. Exercise pat***ce. It will be difficult, but the reward is great. It may not go well some days, but for HA, we will do our best.

    Also, do I remember correctly, when some early Maggie was posted, Ilona was worried that it might not be commercially viable? Yielding lots of BDH vows to purchase anything HA might offer? Or was that the dragon girl snippets? Did the support from the BDH help Tor decide to dive in? Although, honestly, they’d be nuts not to.

    Looking forward to convincing my partner that he wants to read this. (Plotting ‘cat look) Anything that says D&D is much easier… tc all

    • There a ton and I mean ton of transmigration web serials, This one is unusual in that its a romance as well I guess but HA write to v high standard. I’d have brought if I were TOR, fits right in with the booktok.

  170. I am so happy for you. after kate,This is the book I am most looking forward to reading.

  171. since Ilona had talked about these teasers a lot before on how to sell the book in one sentence – is this the prompt Ilona and Gordon used or is this direction with Outlander and GRRM something from publisher’s side?

    very happy for house Andrew and for bdh

  172. Congratulations on the book deal, and on working with Tor. I’m really happy they loved your book and are confident in its prospects, despite the non-mainstream premise. As a huge fan of transmigration stories, I still find it surreal that HA has written a transmigrated-into-a-novel-world story, and that such a renowned US publisher was smart but also adventurous enough to invest in it.
    I kind of suspected you were working with a big Fantasy publisher (Tor was even the first name that came to mind!) when you mentioned that you didn’t have to worry about the word count this time around–because who else these days still happily publishes those awesome doorstopper books?

    So now on to my nosy questions: is the book still growing during the editing process, and will it surpass a 150k wordcount?
    Do you, at the moment, see this series ending up as a duology or a trilogy?
    Is “Maggie” a fantasy romance (plot & romance get equal focus) or a fantasy with romantic elements (the romance thread is secondary to the main plot development)?
    Last but not least, since Maggie #1 is basically already written (except for what I assume to be small-scale expansions and edits), is the 2026 publishing mainly due to the packed publisher schedule? Is there any chance, then, that books #1 and #2 will both come out in 2026? If not, how long a wait do you foresee, until book #2 is published?

    Thank you, and congratulations once again.

  175. Congratulations on the book deal!! 🎊
    I am really excited to read the Maggie series!

  179. Happy, happy joy, joy for the amazing benefactors of incredulous and fantastical word patterns. This member of the BDH is officially salivating! Thank you, thank you and again thank you.

  182. I have loads of questions, but given the timeline before release I’m sure many will be answered soon enough. Most importantly, are you guys okay? Not feeling too blindsided or stressed?

  184. Congratulations!
    No questions. Just excited for the new release.

    Given the (hinted at) length I think I’ll plan to take leave to really enjoy Maggie in 2026 when it’s available. Hmmm…time to plan a reading vacation.

    And bonus more books to look forward to!

  185. Congratulations! As always, I look forward to buying and enjoying anything you write. Thanks for sharing your creativity, talent, amazing world building, incredible characters, and just plain stellar storytelling with us.

  186. No questions, just happy dance and heartfelt congratulations.

    Wait – one question. When can I get my grubbies on it?

  187. If the figure they’re hinting at is true, I’m so phenomenally glad for you! And even if it isn’t, it’s wonderful to see another amazing series you’re creating being picked up by mainstream publishing.

    Congratulations! We now look forward to the next book to devour. 😁

  188. Congratulations! I am really looking forward to this, and I hope you will be happy at Tor. Tor is my favorite SF publisher, and I hope this will lead to many wonderful House Andrews books in the future!

  189. So excited – thank you! Its like being invited to a party you don’t have to dress for! Love it!

  190. Woohoo!!!

    If the first book is written, does the 2 year wait mean that all three will be ready for release in 2026? Or does traditional publishing just take that long with edits, promo and printing?

  191. Congratulations on your latest book deal. It must be really gratifying for you that a book you weren’t sure had a future actually really does.

    Is it too cheeky to ask for Jan 1 2026 release date? Pretty please? 🍒

  192. Congratulations! You deserve all the good things, so I hope this is one of them. 2026 is shaping up to be a good year.

  194. 2026???? Two years???? Nooooo!!!! I’m going to go cry in a corner.

    Please may we at least have Blood Heir 2 in the meantime.

  195. Ah!! So excited!!! I was *thrilled* to hear you will be working with Tor. Some of my all time favorites have come out of that publishing house (Jacqueline Carey, Nnedi Okorafor, TJ Klune, Brandon Sanderson, VE Scwab, etc.) so I am BESIDE MYSELF and hoping that they treat you like the rock star authors that you are and that you have an amazing experience with them! They can’t be one of the biggest names in fantasy/sci-fi publishing for nothing!

    Questions:

    Was the reason you couldn’t say anything because you were being optioned by other publishing houses and couldn’t say anything until they finalized the deal?

    Was there a particular isekai series you read or watched that you enjoyed that helped inspire you to write in this genre? I adore isekai and am firmly part of the isekai trash clan so I am eager to hear your answers to this.

    What font did you write this in? Also do you write your different series in different fonts as to keep the “flavors” distinct in your head or do you have one that you enjoy so much you use it for everything?

    Thank you!

  196. Congratulations!! This is amazing news!! 7 figures! 3 books! Wow! I hope you have a great experience with Tor. Looking forward to 2026!

  197. Gimme!! Gimme now!!!!! Omggggg I cannot wait for the link so I can buy it!! Thank you for this great start to my day!!

  198. sooooo exciting 😃

    Congratulations to you both

    It’s well deserved, you are an amazingly talented duo ❤️ 💙

  202. WHERE IS THE PRE-ORDER LINK?

    oh, excuse me, I meant:

    1. congratulations! I’m so glad and impressed that even though the idea was initially shot down you preserved to get a traditionally published “series in a three-book, seven-figure deal”

    I’m so glad there will be more than one book, but no pressure!

    2. 3.5 million books in print! both astounding and totally believable. Does this include ebooks or audiobooks or just print books?

    3. I’m glad that between no word limit & the quote about good editorial collaboration it sounds like it’s finally work that feeds both the soul and the pocketbook. hooray! I hope it goes well throughout the whole series. (did I do a little happy dance typing the word series? yes, I did.)

    4. previous film/tv rights?!? they were mentioned briefly in a previous post but I wondered for what series or book.

    • more questions .

      is this the first time working with Tor?

      was it a goal to work with them or just worked out that way?

      are you a fan of any other Tor published books?

      I’m familiar bc of Brandon Sanderson.

  203. Congrats!

    3-book deal = very nice/good

    2026… can‘t wait, hopefully I‘ll still be alive then

  204. No question really, but I can say I’m a bit miffed that this happened. I, for one, don’t want to know what’s going on as far as the parameters of the book, the characters, or what the new Universe is predicated on. If it’s a new book in an ongoing series it’s more “When’s the next Kate D or Innkeeper coming out????? or How the h*** is Dresden going to get out of this one that evil dungeon master J. Butcher cooked up? (For the record he did sorta resent that Evil Dungeon Master title when I called him that at a book signing Q&A) What’s next for Charles and Anna over in Patty Briggs’ universe?” things like that. Knowing how a book goes through so many changes, rewrites, etc. why on EARTH would I want to know before the author and the publishing house are ready? I am looking forward to this one, but I wish people understood that not everything has to be known RIGHT NOW!!! as if we’re all 3 years old still. So, Ilona and Gordon I am so sorry this happened. I am staunchly going to wait until pre-orders are up and ready to go. Then I’ll start devouring every hint and snippet available.

  207. New fan here so I’m not sure what BDH stands for.

    I’m here for any and all things Ilona Andrews! You could write out a freakin’ grocery list and I’d read it!

    My question is… is this the super secret project you guys have been working on or is this something else entirely???

    Thank you for all your amazing books!!!

    • BDH: Book Devouring Horde, the name of the Ilona Andrews fandom. Have you read the Innkeeper Chronicles yet? The name is patterned after the Hope Crushing Horde in that series.

      • Thanks Sam!

        The Innkeeper Chronicles are next on my list! I already read the Kate Daniels series twice this year and JUST finished the Hidden Legacy series! I love them so much!!!

    • Welcome to the Horde (full title Book Devouring Horde). 📖

      We are plenty, and when necessary fluffy so we don’t get in trouble with Mod R. Ilona, and Gordon. 😁

  208. Woohoo!!! I KNEW it would get picked up! Congratulations! So they decided to keep ‘Maggie the Undying’ as the series name? I love it. And it’s a three-book deal? Yes!

  209. Congratulations!!! I’m sorry it was discovered before you wanted *sorta LOL* but I’m very happy for all of us! 🎉

  210. also congratulations too! always well deserved for all of the hard work you both put into these wonderful works

  211. Since you introduced us to Tapas, I have devoured webcomic. One of my favorite genres is transmigration, where a character dies and is transported to one of the books they recently read. This news is very exciting for me. Thank you so much for being the amazingly talented people you are.

  212. I’m pretty sure the BDH has extra-sensory perception when it comes to House Andrews announcements! Can’t wait to see the books come out and congratulations 🎉.

  216. 7-figure? Hot damn! CONGRATS HOUSE ANDREWS!!!
    Bring on the new series. My wallet is ready!

  217. I was thrilled for a nw HA series, giddy with my predictive prowess (I knew it was Maggie!)… and then I saw “2026”. I mean, as a loyal member of the BDH, I am obviously the soul of p*tience, but… 2026?? Why so far away?

  219. Congratulations to HA! And to us for getting new books to squee over.

    I’m probably being rude, but I am curious. A 7 figure deal sounds fabulous but how does it actually work? Some of that goes to your agent Nancy, right? Is it paid as a lump sum or over time? Taxes for a lump sum would be terrible. With this deal, does it mean there won’t be any merch for Maggie in your shop?

    2026 sounds far away, but I’m already seeing Christmas items in the store. Best wishes to you on everything

  220. I am SO excited to hear this! I can’t wait to meet Maggie and her motley crew. My Granny and my niece are Maggies. It’s a great name for a hero.

  224. After reading the posts detailing the labor that went into creating Maggie, I am overjoyed that you found a publisher who will let her flourish. Congratulations.

  226. Congratulations on getting on with Tor! I’ve heard only good things. Can’t wait to read more Maggie

  228. This might be very stupid or very rude and I hope it’s neither. This is from a genuine place of ignorance. Does pre empted for 7 figures mean the contract is for (however many million dollars) for the three books? If so, what happens in the publishing world if (god forbid) the book isn’t successful? I know it will be. But theoretically like the publisher is just out an enormous amount of money? Do they gamble on authors? Or does 7 figures mean something totally different in book world and it’s not even about money?

    For what it’s worth if it is a 7 figures of money deal, they’re probably still going to end up underpaying because it’s GOING to be a success.

    I’m really excited.

    • Ilona has explained this before. They don’t get all the money up front. There’s a starting advance, with more paid once the book is delivered, and I believe possible incentives based on how well it sells. Kind of sort of like how baseball players perform, except I don’t think IA get health or life insurance from the publishers.

      P.S. Is Maggie the 1st already completed? Cause that would be great, just 2 to go.

  229. It’s another contract, but you seem to have arranged things as you want them to be so GREAT!! Congrats!!!!

  231. I already love Maggie from the snippets you’ve released here on the blog. I can’t wait to fall more in love with the book once it comes out!
    How long are the books? Do they have a release date yet? Is it a romance? I’ll take any information you’re willing to part with!

  233. Gahh! I’d almost rather not have a date… 17-29 months away!! It’s a good thing my IA collection is mostly digital… that’s a LOOONNGG time to wait…
    But seriously, Congrats!🍾🎉 and can’t wait!!

  236. No question, just a yay! Love, love, LOVE this addictive world and book. My favorite of your writings, and that’s saying a lot considering your incredible backlist. I’ll close with, “Survive, get paid!” (You’ll get the joke later, BDH :))

  237. Congrats on your new contract! Sorry about reddit haha. It’s definitely like that over there.

  238. Exciting news!!! I can’t wait to read it!!! In all honesty, I checked the blog as soon as I woke up thinking there would be a continuation to the Tuna story. I need a Tuna Part 2.

  240. 7 figures…😮

    now that’s a payday. 💰💸🤑👏👏

    Congratulations! And of course we win with new books to read!😏📚

  241. I will add my congratulations with everyone else. 🎉👏👏👏👏👏🥳

    Wow, the Horde is out in full force. Tor better not underestimate the power of the Horde. They will get more money than they will ever realize just from the Horde let alone anyone else.

    I keep picturing my Horde t-shirt right now and laughing after looking at all the posts.😁😂

  242. Congratulations! Great to hear. Portal fantasy isn’t my thing, but I’ll definitely need to give this one a try!

  243. WOW! CONGRATULATIONS!
    Best laid plans and all that, you know. Tuna tried that and lost, too!

  244. Omg omg omg! I am so excited for you!! And the new series you wanted! Can’t wait to read it!!

  247. And the cat is definitely out of the bag! It’s going to be a long couple of years with the BDH salivating for updates on a regular basis. Hearty congratulations to both of you for finding Maggie a home and getting the commensurate paycheck for the quality of your writing. I’m hoping for new shorter works as palate cleansers from the Maggie books so we won’t be shut out of new reading material until 2026! (I’m having trouble finding new writers that I really like.) Did you have a huge contract signing party with the girls? Oh yea and speaking of the girls how is the future author doing on her manuscript you teased us with?

  248. Way to go! That is awesome! Only…2026? I’m old and I might die before then! 😱

  249. Congrats!!!!!!!!!! I’m so happy for you, for Maggie, for the BDH…..just SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Now please excuse me: I’m off to do happy dances for the rest of the day, and possibly for the week!!!!!! 😂💕💕💕💕💕

  253. Congratulations!!!

    If you are getting a large pile of money, I would recommend the mountain west for your summer lake house. It’s very pleasant here, when it’s not on fire 🙂

  254. Congratulations! I can’t wait to dive into yet another HA world. I’m sure it must be scary to try something new when you have so much support for your established worlds but I feel like your books just keep getting better and I can’t wait to see what you’ll come up with next<3

  255. Thank you for the joyful news! My day started on a sad note, but this is the best Band-Aid ever. My loving spouse endured my psychotic turn from tears to happy squealing with barely a twitch. He is a fan of Innkeeper via Graphic Audio, so he is smiling. Best wishes and congrats on the fab deal with Tor

  257. I can’t wait. I’m doing what I can to pre-order so I can get the book ASAP.

  258. Such great news! this is my first time coming into a whole new series as a hardcore fan!

    I’d love books recs from fellow BDH peeps that are similar to Maggie and/or published by Tor.

    thanks!

  259. I was so confused how GoT meets Outlander would work, but then the description explains perfectly. I’m super excited! Lots of room for fun with all that.

  262. Definitely sounds worth checking out. I need more good things like books from one of my favorite authors to look forward to these days.

  264. YES!!!!! More, more, more from one of my favorite authors. (two, actually, but that is cumbersome. 😁)

    Can’t wait to enter a new world. Thank you.

  265. Congratulations! I hope the deal is as fantastic for you both as it sounds. Tor (along with DAW) have always been synonymous in my mind with great fantasy releases. I hope they give you a fantastic launch experience!

  267. Overall, a great news, I am looking forward to the books!

    Few questions of mine:

    Will it be a 3-book series like hidden legacy, or will it be possibly longer, may be 3-books story arcs, like KD? Will the book have independent story in each, following closely (KD, Innkeeper), or will it be a cliffhanger type of continuation like in Hidden Legacy 2 and 3?

  273. Yay for 7 figures, which you completely deserve, yay for publisher that does need to go in romance section of a store. Yay cause you are brilliant, funny, kind and have too many pets.

    But Arabella. Her degrees, smartness, magic brilliant skills revealed. Augustine. Leon. Vicky baby and Linus.
    Sigh. I am turning 74. I may never know the endings.

  277. Authors sometimes get burned out of long-running series and need to break them up with newer projects. This doesn’t mean those other series have been trashed. They’re farther down the pipeline. There are readers like you who have a tough time with this, and other readers who are fine with it. The authors have to work in the way that works for themselves, or else flame out entirely. No one wants that, right?

  279. Books are not widgets. Sometimes we don’t feel like writing a particular book because we are not in the right place emotionally. Sometimes the market makes it impossible or financial considerations take precedence.

    All of our books have complete arcs. None of them are cliff hangers. So even if we do not continue any of the series you mentioned, you are still left in a good place.

    As a reader, you have to make a choice: do you read a fun story now or do you wait until all of the series will be out. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that any series will be finished. A writer might get inspired while writing the final novel and decide to do another trilogy. Or they may never finish the series at all. Such is life.

  280. I only just realized: Maggie is a BDH member 🥹: her tools to survive are her extensive knowledge of plot, characters etc of the series she reads and re-reads. That’s us with HA series (absolutely me with all things Kate)… ok, so she is also undying… which is cool, but yeah, not something the run of the mill BDH member can say about themself … but anyway: she is essentially Horde member.

    • I’m so excited for everyone to read it and see how much love for fandom there is in it! Maggie would definitely be of the BDH! 😊

  281. I have no questions, I’m just really pleased to hear, this series already sounds totally like my kind of thing!
    Sorry they blew your big reveal, I’ll wait as patiently as I can, rereading your other series every 6 months or so, just like normal

  283. Congratulations! I’m sorry that the opportunity to share this wonderful news in your own time, in your own way, was taken from you. But I hope you are still able to feel happy and celebratory! Can’t wait to see what new direction your imagination has taken you. Rooting for the Authorlords always.

  285. I’m thrilled that there’s going to be a new series. I buy every one as it comes out. But please finish Hugh’s story.

  289. Oh this is exciting news! I can’t wait to get hold of the new series! However, I have discovered that I can reread or listen to all of your previous books over and over again and still be entertained. So when I feel I need a hit of IA I will just reread everything, and try work up the courage to try other authors until your latest bit of awesomeness drops.

  291. Super exiting news! I just hope that we get Blood Heir 2 before 2026! I’m so eager to know more about Julie and Derek! My favorite couple. <3

    • Thank you for linking that, Heather 🙂.

      The contracts in question have been changed already (the video is from February), so happily this is no longer a current issue.

      And they would not have affected House Andrews either way, but thank you for your concern! 🙂

  293. When I got the news that Sanctuary comes out on my birthday, I thought I would pass out from the sheer pleasure. Now I have frosting and sprinkles on all that pleasure. Not only is Maggie off and running, but with a 3-book deal. Giddy giddy squeeeee!

    I notice at the bottom of the London Book Fair press release it says, “Previous Film/TV rights represented by Sean Berard, Grandview.” Does this mean there is a movie or show coming?

    • No, it means that film and tv rights are represented by an agent 🙂. Several House Andrews projects are being shopped around and shown interest by studios and have been for years.
      There is no official news to share yet 🙂

  295. yay Maggie! I haven’t read any excerpts because I don’t like spoilers, but excited to read when it comes out! new universes are so fun.

    I don’t have any related questions, but I’m just curious. do you have a favorite sci-fi author? reading kinsmen over again got me curious 🙂

  296. 7 figure pre-empt… I read that part really fast in excitement and for a brief moment thought it was how much they’d get paid! 😂 Mentally giving ya’ll a high five and ‘Nice $ signs’.
    Then my mind cleared and realized that’s not what it meant

  304. Can’t wait, as usual for the BDH. Also having severe Innkeeper withdrawal issues. Obviously must have new story

  305. Just finished Sanctuary! Loved it!!! But are you going to make plushies of Romans menagerie??? I would love to have a Fedya or melalo!!! I would actually buy them all!

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