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The Special Editions and Horde Anxiety

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The context of this post: Owlcrate released a premium edition of This Kingdom. It is a gorgeous book. It went out to their subscribers, and it is highly sought after on resale sites. They recently released the left over copies for general purchase and the copies sold out in something like 3 hours. The Horde is angry.

::hug::

I’ve fortified myself with the last on my Earl Grey Starlight Sencha tea. One thing at a time.

We have nothing to do with Owlcrate distribution. We didn’t notify you about this sale, because we didn’t know about it. We do not have any backstock of Owlcrate author copies. They gave us 4 books, and we kept one, gave each of the kids one, and I’m saving the last for for Jeaniene Frost at her request.

Much is being made about the exclusive content in Owlcrate edition. It’s a very short story that describes the events you will discover in the first chapter of the next book. We designed it to be a true bonus. It is not essential. You are not missing vital information.

I’m so sorry it sold out so fast. However, there will be other special editions. One is coming up in July. Since I got in trouble last time for mentioning the Owlcrate too early, we can’t announce it, but there is a hint on Maggie’s page.

There is going to be another special edition after that. Look, here are all of the tip sheets (signing pages) we have to sign for it.

A stack of tip sheets wrapped in paper with Nykie the dog giving the whole thing a serious side eye.

We understand the frustration. We are discussing our options in regard to special editions. We will see what we are allowed to do.

On a somewhat related note, there is a sudden uptick in concerns on how the vellum is packaged. This is why we did the trial run. Two out of ten packages arrived damaged, so we’ve leveled up our envelope stuffing skills. The velum is placed into a plastic sleeve with the chipboard and then into a bubble mailer with a cardboard insert.

I made a video for you. It is not as pretty as when the kids do it, but it shows the whole thing. I even set it to lofi music for you.

Each package is insured, so if your vellum arrives damaged, email us and we will fix it. I’m not even going to show you the pictures of our dining room, because it looks like a warzone with fortifications of bubble mailers and cardboard and stacks of vellum a foot high. We are prepackaging your orders. Right now our hold up is Becka’s map. She is putting the finishing touches and as soon as it’s ready, we will print it and rev things up.

Please chill.

Deep breath, everyone. Especially me. I need to handwrite a letter in French this morning for the French special edition. This will be a whole thing.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. thank you for the long snippet – it is a balm after the disappointment of not getting the owlcrate edition. I am looking forward to the other special editions 🙂

  4. Oh, I was wondering if we’d ever get to see how Solentine’s visit home went! Thank you :-).

    • Thanks so much for this snippet ❤️. I work at a library where I stumbled upon this book. I briefly saw someone talking about how good it was on Instagram from book talk and I usually take the recommendations there with a grain of salt. When I saw it come through as a new release I had to check it out. I am eternally stuck on my phone reading books and manhwa/manga and the synopsis immediately caught my interest being a reader of comics and fantasy novels. Plus I knew Ilona Andrew’s was a long standing name in fantasy so I gave it a go. When I tell you I haven’t had a 5 star read in so long in this genre and then I read this omg I was hooked. I stayed up until 5 am reading parts of this. I knew I needed to get a physical copy. When I saw the different editions listed on your website.I knew I needed the Owlcrate edition so bad. Down the rabbit hole, I went trying to see how I could get an addition of it. I almost spent 250 from resales a few times. Looked into Owlcrate and followed all their socials, I did not know there were so many different book subscriptions.My mind is blown. Long story short I managed to snag one. Im so lucky to be able to get on my phone at work I’m super sorry for those that missed it I signed up for the wait list like most everyone else who wanted to get one. Because I had heard that was the best way to get notified. It was just the right place right time. I still honestly cannot believe I managed to get one. I love the French edition too its so lovely. Im so excited to recive the overlays I ordered from you and put them in the book when they both arrive. I hope they fit 🤞, if they dont I’ll just have to get and edition, but that’s no real heart break lol. Can’t wait until volume 2, happy to be part of the horde.

      • Welcome to the Book Devouring Horde! You definitely brlonv here. 🙂

        Separately, I do not recall reading this snippet before, so I think it’s a new one for us. Thank you, Ilona!

  6. Oh my gosh thank you for this snippet. Sol and the way his mind looks at issues, problems and people are interesting.

    Stay healthy and safe.

  8. Ooooh! New snippet! Poor Sol—love him even more now! 💜💜💜

    Thank you, Ilona and Gordon! Thank you for being patient with us, when we Hordelings are not always known for our our patience! We must be hoardlings, too!

  10. Thank you so much for the snippet.

    The BDH loves you and are working on being P@t!€nt and w@!t.

    The chalant level is high.

    Please let this hoard member know if you ever need chemistry help. (I made soap too).

  12. Hooray!
    Thank you for Sol’s backstory!
    And thank you for all the work you do.
    It is not easy times with greedy Horde, but we love you!

  15. Thank you for this snippet! We will try to chill. We would be much more chill if we didn’t love your work so much.

    I don’t buy print books much anymore. I now have TKWNKM as an arc from Edelweiss, an audiobook, a hardcover, and I have been on the lookout for the special edition. 🙂 I’ve also read it three times and counting, and have accosted random strangers in bookstores to tell them they need to read it, too. 🙂

  17. I don’t think this was ever posted before, not on the blog. I scour the blog every week and I never read it before— it is AMAZING.

    Thank you so much for posting this!

    • Yes we only ot a very short part of this as a snippet. Homecoming or something it was called – when Sol is surveying the castle, I think.

      We are a blessed horde – devouring snippets as they come <3

  18. I loooove these extra POVs and snippets. Thank you!! Solentine is so fascinating to me and I got so excited reading this.

    I really hope you guys will be able to do a special edition yourselves (if it’s not too much extra work of course. The vellum and store reopening already sound like a lot on top of writing). I saw the Owlcrate Instagram post 10-15 minutes after they posted and they were already sold out. I’m sad I didn’t get a copy, but I’m so happy so many people wanted it and at all the success and praise I’ve been seeing for Maggie all over social media!!!!

  19. Excellent Sol snippet – it sucked me right back in to TKWNKM world!

    I’m thinking a 4th read might be in order… 😂

    Thank you for your amazing story-telling skills!!!

  20. Thank you for the snippet.

    Will we have the whole story in the companion book ? is the publication date known already ?

    • There is no official release date or set-in-stone content yet for the companion book.

      • Ooh, I do love a play on words. Is this a reference to the Lord of Selva and everything related to him being “set in stone”?

        Thank you to House Andrews and Mod R for all the treats and responses.

  21. Yay! Snippet!

    Thanks for the update on the special editions. I remember seeing the “coming soon” on special editions and wondering if that was OwlCrate or something else that we might have access to.

  22. Thank you for the snippet. I don’t know how much more chill the Horde can get.

    Oh boy. 🤦‍♀️

  24. Do I need to wait to see what the special editions are before ordering the vellum?
    I haven’t got my hard copy or vellum yet and I want to know if I should wait to seee all the selections before buying. I do want to make sure it fits and is not superfluous.

  26. Thank you for this excerpt! Struggling to be p*tient and w*it. I hope we get to see the conversation between Sol and Griele as well.

    So excited for the companion book and the story reopening! I have to remind myself that TKWNKM just released on March 31. It hasn’t been a full 3 months but feels like it’s already been 6 months or more.

  27. Thank you, Ilona, for sharing this detailed emotion provoking snippet from Solentine’s POV – truly appreciated! You are the best! Sending all the hugs for all the things you are juggling right now!

    Fellow Horde Members: It is realized we are a Horde and with that moniker come certain expectations. But, for heaven’s sake, please cease and desist with direct e-mails regarding whatever singular issue (special editions, other series, etc.) is uppermost in your minds. Ilona and Gordon are AUTHORS of All.The.Words. Our Horde aspects are now requiring them to not be able to write ALL.THE.WORDS to package vellum, write up PSAs and other sundry things that do not result in ALL.THE.WORDS. They treat us VERY well and we should not be taking advantage of their kind and gracious hearts. Grab your favorite beverage, go outside, take your shoes off, stand in the grass (as long as it is safe – Texas, looking at you), look at the clouds and box breathe for a few minutes. Trust me it helps!

    Sending peace, safety, health and chill to all!

    • I totally agree with this comment!
      Yes, we love Maggie with all our hoarding hearts and want all the everythings, and Ilona, Gordon, and family are doing all they can to give the everythings to us.
      We need to try remember we are “The Book Devouring Horde” and need written words to make the new books we can devour, as well as the everythings that can come with the wonderful books that are created from those words.
      Our amazing authors just finished a HUGE number of words for Maggie 2, and are already doing all they can to give us the everythings from Maggie 1.
      The horde loves new writings from HA, and them being able to rest and renew so they can contemplate the next project creates a very happy outcome for the horde.

      • Same only not sorry. Books to devour require time to write. There is a time cost to all the extra stuff. Not that it’s not fun for us, but when it requires so much time and attention, it’s not fun for HA. Less stress and more chill all around!

        Also, so much thanks to HA for this snippet! Loved it.

  29. Thank you for this snippet filling out the story more. Now to going back to being p*tient and w*iting.

  30. This is amazing, thank you!

    I don’t want to add any pressure but… is there any word on when the vellum might be available outside of the US? My fingers are crossed and wishing on a star that it’s possible to find a distributor in Canada and other countries. I (and many others) appreciate all the work you’re doing and the hurdles you’re navigating to try and share this with an international audience. Thank you!

  31. Thanks for the snippet:-)
    Now I am forced to be patient and not start a reread- as I have company coming from out of town this evening.

    The BDH endures what it must so challantly- lol

  32. Thank you for this snippet! I think it’s my favorite of them so far.

    Yay!

    Can’t wait for Maggie 2!

  33. The snippet was wonderful. But, like an addict, I am left in need of more. Patience is all I can muster. 😁🤗

  34. Thank you for this. I missed the Owlcrate version after emailing twice that they would email a warning to the waitlist first. They didn’t, because “there were so few copies and they just cleared the waitlist” (I had just been approved for June). I can’t be on social media during the day. Thank you for your beautiful work.

  35. Thank you for this snippet! And thank you for the special editions update, gives me hope that I may get my grubby lil hands on one eventually 🥹

  36. I know if it’s in your power to approve a reprint, you will. You take care of us as much as you’re able and we love you both for that.

    You keep us fed, the Horde is happy!

  37. I don’t think you posted it before so it was such a treat!
    Thank you for the Sol POV – like him all the more for it!

  39. Thank you for the snippet. Also for the video…I think some people take a perverse delight in ignoring pleas to handle Fragile things carefully and in bending things that have DO NOT BEND…either that, they don’t understand the words…maybe have graphic pictures….of not bending.

    Anyway, all this special editions are worrying….I only have so much funds to spend on all my interests and activities…I will have to say the vellum inserts are wonderful and I did order a set and when Ramond’s color changing mug goes up on the merch store I hope to snag on. Hazzuh!

  40. What a delightful snippet!! I wondered what had turned Sol’s attitude around, he definitely thought Maggie needed to be eliminated when he left the city.

    I wonder who first suggested she be adopted? Although it fit in perfectly with Everard’s ambitions.

    • If I understand correctly the order of events here, the pages he was reading were containing information about Hreban taking over and the upcoming war that Maggie gave him. So that is someone definitely worth keeping alive!

  41. Ah the special edition…. they look so good . The french one looks just as good as the owlcrate one. However i don’t much like reading translation. (I’m French) There’s always something that get lost and of course you have to wait extra for them

    I’m happy they are more special edition coming I rarely buy physical copies nowaday ( I have too many books ! I need a bigger place )I really want one… need to store those vellums somewhere once I can get them up here that is.

    Thanks for the tidbit and if you had it posted before it wasnt here. I really hope we get the part where sol tell them about the silver mine that doesnt exist and how the lets adopt maggie decision was taken

  46. I loved this Solentine snippet. It was wonderful.

    I’m glad Maggie is receiving so much attention and getting special editions. I really loved her story and have re-read it so many times. I just wish the special editions were available widely so that fans who actually wanted a copy could buy a copy.

    If you get a choice in the future, some special editions books are open to everyone like Aurora Crate. Aurora Crate does not have monthly subscriptions, they just announce a special edition book and anyone who wants it can order a copy during the preorder period. They ship internationally to some countries. They have amazing character art in their special editions too.

  47. Oh that was soooo goood! Wow!

    I am p*t!ently w*it!ng for the other US special edition. July? I can make it to July. 🙂 Thank you, HA, for putting up with us.

  48. ahhh….. so blood thirsty, our Sol 😉

    I’m glad his aunt thinks long term, now Maggie’s family

    thanks much for the snippet

  49. Fantastic snippet – it really pulled my heartstrings.
    I will get a special edition eventually. It wasn’t this one, it will be another. That’s OK.

  50. Thank you for the snippet.

    I see the sad side eyes. Much love for the travail requested from the horde.

  51. “events you will discover in the first chapter of the next book”

    *hungry noisessssssssss*

    Thank you for the post!

  52. I had never seen that snippet before.

    By the way, something was wrong with the loading of the video. It would load a fraction of a second, and then spend a long time loading the next fraction.

  53. I would 100% back a Kickstarter for SEs of any of your series (if publishing rights allow).

    Thank you for the snippet!

  54. Thank you so much for the snippet! I just wanted you to know how grateful I am for your stories.
    Huge thanks for all you do.🥰🥰🥰🥰

  56. Thank you so much for the beautiful snippet. I would have loved to have been able to get an owlcrate edition, but I have a first edition print and I’m getting the vellum package with a signed book plate which will satisfy any cravings that really need to be satisfied. I’m just eternally grateful that you share words and stories with us, because the world would be a lesser place without them.

  57. Thank you for the snippet!

    Is this complete? Or is there more to this short story of Solentine.

    • This is so BDH. We turn a mention into a full book (Hugh) and a snippet into a short story.

      P.s. I would buy it!

  60. Thanks for posting this fun snippet. I don’t think I’ve read it before, so it made my day. Love all the TKWNKM content. Enjoy your tea.

  61. The French special edition? Is there another one? Because the release date is the 24th and Bookmark editions already sold some. They had a pop-up store in Paris in May and they had stock already. I couldn’t go but I saw some videos.

  62. I’m so serious I hope you are making enough off the vellum to pay your helpers!!!

    • Particularly the supreme gourmet organic catnip for Batty, who worked very hard to add that indefinable extra something to the vellum video…

  64. omg people need to chill! HA doesn’t have control over all these things. Especially not now, when Tor is the publisher.

    Sending all the tea and cuddly pets to get you guys through the massive amount of vellum orders and signatures.

  65. Thanks for the snippet. It was new to me, but it could have been posted somewhere I don’t go. (Social media is not my thing…)

    I wish I could have held out for a special edition. I love beautiful books and extras but I needed to read that book *ASAP*. And it was worth it, oh *so* worth it.

    Thank you even more for Maggie, in all her glory!

  67. Good luck (bonne chance) with your French and thank you from the french speaking fans !

  68. Haha, the sad dog eyes, as if he were the one having to sign those sheets!

    Weeee, thank you for the snippet! I love reading Solentine’s pov

  69. I have loved the character art and vellums you have released so far for Maggie. They are so colorful and perfectly match the story descriptions.

    Perhaps you could run a Kickstarter or Backerkit campaign to produce your own special editions of Maggie?

    For example, Mercedes Lackey is running a Backerkit for the Arrows trilogy in her Heralds of Valdemar series. Any fan who wants a special edition copy can preorder during the open preorder period. The fan / buyer promises a “pledge” and then pays their “pledge” once enough pledges have been collected to fully fund the printing, and the book gets printed and sent to you a year later.

  70. Thank you for the snippet. I like Solentine. Who said this is the devil’s eyes? And I’m French I can help you with your letter if you wish.

  71. Hi, Mod R! Ilona references “Maggie’s page” in this post. Is there a Maggie’s page? How can I find it? 😊

  73. thank you so much for the update on future special editions, and this generous snippet!

    I was so sad to have missed out on the owlcrate edition but happy knowing so many others have also LOVED this release 🙂

    Hope all is well, can’t wait for more!!

  74. THANKYOU!!!

    I’m so grateful for these snippets. Thank you so much for these! 🙂

    And… I’m so so happy for the extra long Sol snippet! I love seeing his pov. 😀 100% my favorite character.

  75. No – have never seen this scene before. And I pretty much read the blog on a daily basis. So thank you thank you thank you for the extra peek into Solentine’s self.

  76. Thank you for the snippet! I don’t understand the subscription thing with owl crate and the other one that had the Hidden Legacy books. I just want to buy a book. Oh well. I feel bad for everyone who wanted one. They were really pretty.

  79. Oh, this is wonderful. Thank you so much. I’ve literally been listing to this audiobook on repeat since it came out. 3 months. I have never even listened to an audiobook more than 10 times. And that was some of the Innkeeper books– as I re-listen when new ones come out.

    It’s insane. But this… this helps so much. Thank you. For the book and the snippet.

    I may have to splurge for a special edition of this series.

    • samee!!
      the number of times ive reread the book is surely in 2 digits now.

      o never thought my fav authors would write an isakai book, both of my worlds collided lol

  82. Thank you! One question – when will vellum pre-orders for uk-sized books be open?

  83. This was soooo wonderful! Now I want a romantic interest for Solentine! Thank you, HA!

  84. Ugh I needed a Kleenex reading Sol’s POV. Thank you 🤍 And can’t wait for other special edition chances!

  85. Excellent! Thank you for the snippet. I love all Ilona Andrews’ work but TKWNKM is something else entirely. I’ve done one re-read and hearing up for another soon. What a gift!

  87. Just for the record there are Horde members on the other end of the spectrum, at least one, which would be me. My idea of a special edition is when I find a book I want on sale at the used book store, preferably paperback because that takes up less space. Maggie is the first book I have ever pre-ordered.

    • Right there with you, Ginny! I regularly adopt/rescue books from thrift stores and the local library resale area. And, like you, This book was the first dead tree I have ever preordered.

  90. Vellum, special editions, other goodies…..yeah, they’re nice too. But it’s the words, you had me with the words! 🥰💕💕💕💕💕💕

    Such a wonderful snippet! You are far too good to us!!! Thank you for being the best authors EVER!!!!!!!!! 💕💕💕

  91. Oh wow oh wow. Will we get any of this as a flash back in book two ? I love to story. I treat really like Soletine not as a romantic interest but as future family. Oh I hope he first die. I’ll the Duke for all I care but keep Maggie’s cousin aive

  92. I looked on the Maggie page and since I don’t speak Spanish, the title to me translated as
    “In This Kingdom, I Am Immortal.”

    True.

  94. Authorlords: Please chill.
    Horde: Fatefire burns within my heart and all around me. There is no chill to be had. No peace will take the sword from my hand. Beyond death! We are… The Sleepless Horde! *distant roaring like a wildfire* MAGGIE! MOOOOAAAAAR!
    Authorlords: Here is a small snippet for you to reassure you…
    Horde: *pounces* oo, shiny. Time for a reread…

    I love that we got a bit of Sol’s perspective. Thank you.

  95. I just want to say, I’m not in the US, and I’m patiently waiting for the special edition of all the books together plus the fun extras *hint* *hint* 🤗

  97. You work so hard to give us the goodies, I appreciate it very much. Thank you for the snippet. Preordered the special sprayed edges hardback UK edition because it looks so pretty and will enjoy it being on my shelf of treasures.

  99. thank you so much for the snippet, so good. I’d not been keeping up with the owl crate stuff. it’s pretty, but know that it’s completely separate from you all, so it’s a shame that part of the BDH have forgotten that.
    hopefully things will be better for the next editions for those that really want it, or i fear that you both will turn the packaging first into real ones and turn off the tinternet (be warned fellow horde members !)

  100. itvwas soo short😭😭😭 i need it to be
    longer…..like a 500 page book😭😭😭😭

    anyways THANKYOU! i live for these crumbs and never miss a single email for a chance of missing them.