The tour began on March 31 at BN in Arboretum at 5:00 pm. We came in a little early, were led to the back room, and shortly after they brought us out. We follow the nice bookseller to the signing space and see 200 people. And they all go, “Yay!” except that there is 200 of them and it sounds more like, “Rawr!”
We have a short Q&A, we got to signing, and we sign until 10:30 or so. Author math: 1 new book plus 3 books from home = 4 signatures x 200 = 800 signatures. 500 signatures is about 3 hours. We have an awesome time, and then the readers leave and we stay and sign stock. And more stock. And more stock.
We finally get through it and call our Uber, and it takes us home. We land, eat something – I am very proud of myself for ordering takeout to be delivered with perfect timing – it was left by the door by the time we arrived but it did not sit long enough for racoons to steal it. We eat, finish packing in a tired stupor, and pass out for about 4 hours.
We get up at 5:00 am, and by 5:30 am we are on the way to the airport with our bags and our airline apps. We get there, check in the bags, go through TSA Precheck and they send me right back. My TSA precheck is not there. It turned out that there was a typo in my KTN, the frequent flier number. Now that I know about it, I manually fix it everywhere.
We grab some kind of weird breakfast – airport food is always a little sus – and get on a plane. We land in Minneapolis at 12:30 pm. We get to the hotel, which is amazing. It’s called the Graduate and it is straight out of a Dark Academia novel. It’s right by University of Minnesota and there are lounge spaces and long, ancient looking tables everywhere. The students use it as a secondary Student Center. I stole pictures for you from their website.
It would be an amazing event space. Like I want to write a dark academia novel so we can have the book release party there.
We drop our bags off and get an Uber to Tropes and Trifles. The city is under siege. Every house and business along the road has signs ICE OUT and WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS. Minneapolis’ community game is strong. Deepest respect.
I will say that if you would like to visit, do not hesitate. We felt safe, and Tropes and Trifles takes great care of their visitors.
We arrive to the store about 2:45 pm and we are shown to the table filled with books. We keep signing but somehow the boxes keep coming.
We also meet a very good boy.
We presign the books until about 5:00 pm, when we get a little break to grab a bite. The only options around Tropes and Trifles were a BBQ restaurant and a bakery, so we grab an uber back to the hotel and eat at their restaurant. Nothing wrong with a BBQ, but for a signing event, you want something light.
We eat quickly, grab an uber, and arrive to the signing venue, which takes place in this amazing church. Except that there is no table. Usually there is a table, but this time, there are only chairs.
I have a pantsuit that only looks good when I am standing or half hidden behind the table. Had I know this, I would’ve worn a dress. I went with the suit because an ice storm was coming and it was cold. More on that later.
The signing starts and again, there are many people. We do a short Q&A and at some point, I do a Vanna White impression with a giant cover. Except I am not quite that fabulous, hehe. The session goes well, we switch to the signing, and we sign. And sign. Tropes and Trifles has a 6 book limit, so the presigned hardcover plus up to 6 books from home.
It takes a little bit, and we get everyone through, and arrive to the hotel around 11:00 pm. We grab a little sleep, get up at 5:00 am, and by 6:20 am, we are at the airport. We are due to fly to Chicago, where we need to catch a connecting flight to Lexington.
Remember the ice storm? It is spreading across the Midwest. Chicago is not accepting planes. The flight is delayed. We sit. We wait. We board. We sit. We wait. We deplane with our bags. We sit. We wait.
At this point I call Jocelyn, who is Tor’s publicist, and explain that there is no way we are connecting in Chicago. She magically manages to rebook us on a later flight. We should be getting into Charlotte at 5:00 pm now. The signing is at 7:00 pm. Plenty of time.
We sit. We wait.
We board. The plane is de-iced. We wait. We wait.
We finally take off.
We land in Chicago, speed march to the right gate, and stop. The domino effect is in full force. Our connecting flight is now delayed by two hours.
More texting to Jocelyn, who connects to Joseph-Beth, and the store graciously agrees to move the event to 8:30 pm. We had an unprecedented level of support for this. Thank you so much to everyone involved.
I check the email, and see a message from Mod R, which says, “Everything is fine,” which is usually a code for “The sky has fallen, but Mod R picked it up and put it back.” The website had crashed, and she had to contact the host support, who got it fixed in record time. I thank her and ask her to post the delay announcement.
We sit. We wait. We talk to other people who are sitting and waiting. We look for some place to charge things. We sit.
Finally we board and fly to Lexington. We land at 8:10 pm, grab our bags, and call an Uber, except the uber driver is 12 miles away. What? So, we cancel the uber and grab a taxi, and it takes us to Joseph-Beth. We are reasonably sure that everyone has likely left by now.
We make it to the store at 8:30 pm. Joseph-Beth – a beautiful store, by the way, and if you have a chance, you absolutely should visit – has two floors of books. As we are riding the escalator up in our travel clothes with our bags, we hear the “Yay-Rawr!”
Nobody left. We go straight into Q&A, and there are pictures of us with readers where Gordon looks amazing, because he always does, and I am wearing upscale sweatpants and a T-shirt that says “Easily Distracted By Dogs.” Sorry. It couldn’t be helped.
We get through the line – one person flew in from Germany, omg – and by that point it’s 11:30 pm and there is a lot of stock. The store graciously offers to stay with us until we sign it all, but we feel bad about keeping everyone late, so we agree to come back in the morning.
We get to Origin hotel, which is also gorgeous, fall on our faces, and fall asleep.
We are up at 6:00 am, we grab breakfast. Breakfast at the Origin in Lexington is a religious experience. Like it is so delicious, and it looks like one of those highly edited food shots. It was perfect. By 7:30 am we are in an uber and on the way to the store.
We get there, we are let in, and we sign stock. And we sign. And we sign. At 9:15 am, we had to leave for the airport, but we got through all of This Kingdom stock and we will be sending bookplates to Joseph-Beth for the rest.
We get to the airport, and the plane is delayed. We wait, we wait, we wait, we we board the plane, and then we are finally in Baltimore. As we are going to get our bags, Jeaniene Frost, who is co-signing with us, is texting me wanting to know if we are alive. I confirm that we are alive and we agree to meet for dinner. It is Gordon’s birthday.
We end up at a Brazilian steakhouse. But this point I am so tired of eating highly fried and rich food, that I find some marinated eggplant on the salad bar and I eat it like there is no tomorrow. Midway through dinner, a woman comes over and gives us this hesitant look.
Me: Hello.
She: ILOVEYOURBOOKS.
We took lovely pictures, chatted, and it was a very cute moment. She couldn’t get a ticket to the signing because it was sold out and ended up at the restaurant by pure chance. Serendipity. On tour all of our time belongs to the readers and book stores, and all of us are very glad that we were able to meet her.
The next day, we make a quick excursion to Collector Corner and Black Sheep Yarn Store, where I buy yarn I do not need. Black Sheep Yarn store is lovely and they tried very hard to explain their return policy to me. Returning yarn. Heh.
We meet with Jeaniene and her sister for a quick brunch, get back to the hotel, change clothes and arrive to the BN. We are welcomed, led to the back room, and then brought out.
No table. Oh, and it’s worse. It’s not chairs. It’s tall bar stools. Note to self: dresses next time.
We have a ton of people again, everyone is asking questions, I scroll through Maggie 2 to prove that it existed. Jeaniene Frost is MC’ing like there is no tomorrow, and then we all transition to the signing.
There were some heavy moments at this signing and some happy moments. At one point someone accidentally grabbed my phone instead of theirs, and somehow took a bunch of pictures – I must’ve happened to unlock it just before – and then apologized profusely. I texted the pictures back and took a photo for posterity. Hehe.
We signed until just after 9:00 pm, and as soon as we finished, the lights went out, and we had to go. We got back to the hotel, fell on our faces, and slept until 4:00 am, at which point the uber came to pick us up so we can be at the airport in time. We got there at 5:00, gave them our bags, somehow dragged ourselves through the security and to our gate, waited again, got on a plane, flew, landed, ubered, and at noon walked through the door of our house.
We put the bags aside, changed clothes, sat on the couch, and fell asleep until 4:00 pm, when it was time to pick up the dogs from boarding.
It was an amazing tour! We got to meet so many people. Thank you for all of the smiles and the old, well-loved books. It was our privilege to spend time with you!
And now I have the grand announcement. Ta-da!
Here we go:
- #9 New York Times Bestseller in Hardcover and Ebook
- #10 New Times Bestseller in Hardcover
- #14 USA Today Bestseller (We have #14 bestselling book out all books in US)
- #2 Sunday Times Bestseller in UK – huge thank you to Waterstones
- #6 Independent Books Store Bestseller
And we have regional lists:
- #13 North California Independent Bookstore Alliance
- #14 Southern Independent Bookstore Alliance
- #7 Mountains and Plains Independent Bookseller Association
- #8 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association
- #9 Great Lakes Independent Bookseller Association
We haven’t had a true hardcover edition since Magic Triumphs. Hidden Legacy had very tiny hardcover runs, primarily aimed at libraries. We are coming back from an almost 4 year traditional hiatus (Ruby Fever came out in 08/2022.)
I love Maggie, but I also understand that it is a dense book with a lot of worldbuilding. It is not a YA/NA, it is not that spicy, and it is in a genre largely unknown to Western audiences. Books like that don’t usually hit the lists unless they have a film or TV tie ins. Tor had gone above and beyond to promote it, but between the long break in our publishing career, the hardcover price, and writing in a different genre, I didn’t expect any fireworks.
This is unbelievably amazing. I was shocked. Absolutely shocked. How did this even happen?
We worked so hard on this book, and right now all of it seems worth it.
Thank you.
You are the best.
As Dina once said “Release the Horde.”
Yeah, that.
+1!
Yay-Rawr!
and we ate well *nom-nom*
+1
+1
+1
I loved this. I was unable to meet you all on your tour but this glimpse helped with the FOMO.
Same
+1 same!
Congratulations! Well deserved.
Yay! Congratulations!
Congratulations on all the accolades for This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me! Wow, that tour sounded nuts with the winter weather. Glad you made it back home safely.
Mod R handled everything, including us, while you were on tour. She kept us from climbing up and down the walls while reading.
The Horde rules!
also, #10 on publishers weekly bestselling fiction this week, and # 24 for romantic fantasy at amazon and #19 for epic fantasy at amazon. all those multiple sarah maas books in the mix. You rock and we appreciate.
Please come to Houston one day!
Jo-Beth is the BEST! I hated I missed you guys there. We were in town for NCAAs and I couldn’t get the stars to align.
The book is great. As you promised it’s very much a traditional high fantasy and not really a romantasy. It’s nice to see that difference hasn’t hurt the sales much if at all (no offense to romantasy fans).
Sounds like a stressfully awesome trip! I’m jealous of those who were able to be there and I’m appreciativd of you and those that have shared their photos with us .
YAY-ROAR!
Mazel tov! You hoped the audience would find it AND IT DID!!!!!
So happy to meet you in Baltimore. Hope you can do a signing in New York soon!!!!!
This is SO well deserved. Congratulations. ♥️
Welcome back home!
Who else wants to cuddle under a warm blanket on the couch after reading through this tour madness?!? I’m amazed you made it out alive on the other end, and that you still have functioning hands…
All the kudos for the tour, and all the kudos and all the thanks for Maggie 1. I’m on the obligatory instant re-read, that’s a hard feat to pull off!
+1. Rest and recover. yay-rawr and we are looking forward to maggie2
Congratulations on the books success. We never doubted it would be a big hit, so glad all your hard work paid off.
Took me three days to read it, but it was worth every minute and I probably will read it at least two more times. Thank you for brightening our world with your genius.
Congratulations! And I know you are shocked, but it’s like a masterclass on writing. You did an incredible job and I think it actually has really wide appeal.
No.
Thank YOU. YOU are the best😊
Your book tour sounds exhausting! But, I was so happy to get to go to one!
Now, relax and enjoy a few moments. I expect the pups and the BDH will not let you rest for long.
The tour sounds exhausting but fun. Now relax and recharge.
Then please go finish Maggie 2. The cliffhanger ending in book 1 killed me. I an not Undying.
Agree. Ready to pre-order Maggie 2 right now! Rereading entire backlist as part of my own personal Maggie celebration! Loved Maggie so much!
She says: Dark academia novel…
I say (in my best Jack Nicholson impersonation): Is there another kind?
I know…. Imagine a dark academia novel by Ilona Andrews. Yes, please!!
+1
Lolllllll
Ilona, mind your words with the Horde, you may have unleashed a post-Maggie monster….
+1!
When I read that part, my mind went to the scene in Blood Heir when Aurelia (aka Julie) and Luther talk in the library at Emory University. The place Luther realizes that’s Julie talking like Kate and practically blackmails her into finding out what’s going on or else he will let the Lennert family know she’s in Atlanta.
Hmm…more library shenanigans for the next Julie book in the far, far future? 🤔
This +1 or Dark academia yes please
Damn it now i am going to have to reread Blood Heir again 🤪
The hardship! You can do this.
Congratulations!!!!!
Well deserved
It is an amazing book! I couldn’t put it down and have already planned to reread it!
Congratulations!
Congratulations! Happy belated birthday to Gordon!
That tour sounds like a whirlwind.. I am sure you are happy to be home with the pets and tea.
The book is fantastic… Yay-Rawr!
Congratulations! Its absolutely well deserved! Thank you for writing it and your time spent traveling to meet the Horde!
Congratulations!!!
As a wise Yogurt once said…
“Never underestimate the power of the… Horde!”
I’m not sure how you managed that crazy schedule. I was exhausted just thinking about it.
BTW, we don’t care what you wear as long as you keep writing such awesome books!!! 😉
It happened because Maggie is your best work to date and House Andrews are genius at world building and character development. Y’all are also hard working and you make every word count in the whole scheme of things. I am so happy for you both!
Congratulations! the accolades are well earned – y’all are fantastic writers.
We the Horde are very lucky that you are so generous to your fans.
Happy birthday wishes belatedly and I hope you both enjoy several days of complete rest!
I am soooo happy for you. Y’all deserve all the recognition. Thank you for writing wonderful books.
Congratulations!
Love hearing about your adventures, trials, and tribulations.
I got to see y’all in Austin at the first signing; I was at the tail end and I did not want to pester you more than just to sign and get out of your way because even then I was sure you had to be exhausted. I cannot imagine the level of deflated you must be back home now. 🙂
Congratulations on the highly deserved accolades for a wonderful book.
RAWR! The Horde is mighty!! And truly, I’m seeing this book everywhere! Thank you so much for the love and effort you poured into it!
Me too! *highfive* ❤️📚
Heck yeah you did! Congratulations! We’d love to see you in Boston for Maggie 2 (Electric Bugaloo?) Tour, just so you know…
(And you know the BDH would eat up some IA dark academia…)
I am so so happy for you both! This is well deserved and TKWNKM is a fabulous book! Can’t wait for the sequel!
I totally begged my local bookstore to carry it – I told them how amazing it was and showed them pictures of how **pretty** it was and talked about how good it would look on their shelves!
IMHO it should be higher on those lists!
Congratulations! I just finished the audiobook. I can’t wait to read about the Sleepless Duke’s reaction.
You say tea- that sounds like 2-cocktail emergency post whirlwind tour to me. Cheers regardless. Awesome book and phenomenal authors! All the accolades are well deserved.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Maggie deserves all the love in the world, I’m so happy for you guys!!!! Hope you guys get time to relax lots!
Congratulations on this well deserved recognition of your amazing creative spirits!
Book tours sound brutal….
Thank you, Ilona and Gordon, for sharing your gift with the world!
May we all find peace and safety in this moment.
It was terrific seeing you in Lexington! Thank you for persevering!
“[G]enre largely unknown to Western audiences” is doing a lot of unnecessary work there. Isekai is a very close cousin if not identical twin to portal fantasy, and portal fantasy is a staple of Anglophone fantasy. I grew up on Harold Shea. Series like Seventh Sword and the Gandalara Cycle in the 1980s even include isekai’s resurrection motif.
Isekai tropes differ quite a bit, which is why certain readers who had expectations based on the older Western portal fantasy trends were taken aback in reviews 🙂 Meta descriptions provided in the beginning of Prince/villainess, the knowledge of the plot, the multiple men courting the heroine etc – this is all out of isekai field.
Congratulations on everything! The most shocking part of this story was that someone exists who thinks yarn will be returned. I am not familiar with this concept.
Me either. The yarn would have to be losing its twist for me to return it.
💯
Ditto! Strange that a yarn place doesn’t understand SABLE….
Congratulations on the book success! With it being at no2 in the UK, maybe a trip to london would be in order. We have good tea and yarn here and a very polite BDH faction 😉
Yes! Come to London!
We have many delicious restaurants, multiple international airports, extensive public transport and – should it be needed – international rail or a short flight across to fellow fans on a European tour!
And ModR lives here too!
All of the UK is great and accessible to be fair, you can easily travel across it by car if you wanted to and see beautiful historical landscapes and towns every step of the way.
(Quick, someone else also needs to big up the UK; or I could probably get to Paris or Amsterdam for a signing with moderate ease and cost, work with me people! We need to sell this! Let’s make it happen! Bruges could work even – where are all the proud Belgians at?)
Yes come to the UK, we are very friendly and we have Shetland yarn, Stoke-on-trent pottery, liberties fabrics. Knitting and stitching show, Palaces.
Beautiful gallery’s and museums and the Angel, Big Ben, Staffordshire hoard, Roman baths in Bath. Wallace and Gromit (a keen knitter), Clangers, lots of places with afternoon tea, Welsh cakes, the white cliffs of Dover.
All things Shakespeare, go to the west Midlands and see where Tolkien got his inspiration, dragons (because it’s on the Welsh flag, so counts), Selfridges in Birmingham, all things Beatles in Liverpool, castles in various parts of the country.
(ahh what else? Help my brain crashed, what else is there in the uk?)
York, wonderful medieval architecture perfect for a Maggie 2 signing. The whole of Scotland!
From a US visitor: Fabulous public gardens. Neolithic burial mounds.
If you need a little break on tour, the island of Jersey is a 5×9 mile microcosm with a fabulous castle, Neolithic burial mounds, tide pools, excellent seafood, and the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust – not sure whether that’s the current name. It’s the most beautiful zoo I’ve ever visited, established specifically for the conservation of endangered species. The whole place is beautifully landscaped with plants native to the areas the animals came from, and a cafe worth visiting on its own.
Rachel, I want to take your UK/London tour!
Well , I don’t know about our favorite authors , but I’m now planning a UK tour with this list as inspo…
Soooo when is the dark academia book coming out? No! Wait! She said other things… go back and read it….
I’m so sorry about the ice storm!!! So is there a plot yet or.. No wait stop it! Read it again.
Congrats on so many best selling lists…. will it be a novel or novella?
Oops I did it again 🙂 The horde cannot be stopped!!!! Seriously though, you deserve all the love and awards and attention This Kingdom brings. It is an incredible story.
LOL, this made me laugh!
Congratulations!
The book is phenomenal and the feedback is well deserved. Thank you for taking the time to meet people!! I’m sure the people who got to meet you guys won’t forget it! ❤️
Yay!!
You have uncovered the secret BDH plot. We give you all the monies so you can give us more books! 🤞🤞🤞
Much secret, very plot! 👀👀
congratulations! You need to take a tour of the PNW. Look, you’re #8 already, and the horde here is ready to take you to #1. Please, please do an event in the PNW
Yes! That would be amazing!
Congratulations!
Congratulations on the well-earned list achievements! Maggie is AMAZING. I’m so grateful I got to meet you both. I was so impressed by the time and care you took. I met you toward the end of the line at your last stop, during the phone heist (only an observer, not the perpetrator!), and STILL didn’t feel rushed. Thank you!!
The Horde is not shocked!!! Y’all are amazing and I’m thrilled for you.
Congratulations on a job WELL DONE!!
Have a fabulous weekend and and hopefully get a little R&R in.
“Not spicy.” Ha! Ma’am. I felt feelings I’ve never felt before. It wasn’t explicit, but it sure was hot!
💯
Wonderful book
The book is amazing! Of course it’s doing well!!
congratulations – it’s a well deserved honour! It is dense, but I have to say that the world building is my favourite part. It reminds me of the older, more traditional fantasy I gobbled up as a kid, and have actually missed (without realizing I had missed it).
I’ve been reading it slowly because it deserves slow, and enjoying it all, so thank you for writing it!
+1
Thanks for reminding me.
I need to reread those.
YAY! That is awesome! Sadly I couldn’t make the Austin one even though it was in my backyard. I can’t imagine not taking a few days to relax in the middle of all that.
“and I am wearing upscale sweatpants and a T-shirt that says “Easily Distracted By Dogs.”
I laughed so hard at this! I’m pretty sure you could wear a potato sack and the BDH loves you so much we wouldn’t care at all🤣
It sounds like you had an amazing whirlwind of a tour and I love that you got to do cosigning with Jeaniene!!
Happy belated birthday to Gordon 🎂
TKWNKM is a truly fabulous book. My husband is reading it, and he typically isn’t a reader. But I’ve raved about it so much (I’m on my third read through, lol) that it snagged his interest. I so rarely get to discuss books I love with someone who has also read said books, so I am thrilled.
Thank you for all you do. You share your talent with the world, and the world is a better place for it.
Of course the Book did well. It was amazing!
I am so glad the tour went well if not on schedule. You deserve a good rest now. Next time come to Portland and visit Powell’s! I couldn’t justify flying halfway across the country for a book signing but I could make it to Powell’s if you add it for Maggie2.
They have been to Powell’s in the past! I saw them there!📚
This book is amazing. I can’t wait for the next one, but after reading what you all have been through, I’ll happily wait however long it takes—books don’t write themselves and you deserve a break! 🙂
It happened because you guys are one of the hardest working entities in the business, and your fans love you for it, and you deliver a quality product every time, with all the traits and levels that entails, plus fan service second to none, and the BDH is kind of evangelical about you guys.
Very well said! I agree with it all!
+💯
Congratulations. Well deserved! The book is amazing!
A well deserved Congratulations to House Andrews. And it happened because you’re awesome writers and Maggie rocks!
When Maggie 2 comes out, and you come back to Minneapolis (PLEASE!! I got sick at the last minute and couldn’t come) you must, Must, MUST schedule time to go to Steven Be’s yarn store (https://stevenbe.com/). It’s a really good yarn store with a rock star personality, and there’s no other place like it!!
O_O Will Steve be there?
You can tell from the first chapter that you genuinely enjoyed writing this book. I could feel your glee at times. That alone made it a really great read – add in an overall amazing book and no wonder it is hot, hot, hot!
Wish I still lived in MD so I could have met you in Baltimore. I’m betting the Brazilian steakhouse was Fogo de Chão. The family has eaten there a few times. I always hit the salad bar for first course and the men in the family are all “don’t fill up on salad – there’s meat!”.
I am exhausted just reading about your book tour and experiences. I hope you guys get to take some time to recoup and recharge. I knew the book was going to do great but I am so happy for you guys with all the work you put in. It deserves all the praise!
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY GORDON🎉 Wishing you long life, perfect health and many more moments of mischief and joy and boatloads of good clean money 💐✨️🎉
House Andrews we stand by your work and this was most satisfying. Please soak it in and absorb the fact thar YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING 😁✨️🙌🏿
Thanks for the glimpse into this tour…yay-rawr it is 🤣
We love your books, even new to us genres. What’s not to love? Great world building and delicious characters! We are the Book Devouring Hoard!
I was explaining to my grandkids how great Maggie was and why I have already reread it. We talked about how Maggie changed the book and what would they change in a book? It was a great conversation.
Love this.
I am not surprised…from the moment I read the snippet of Maggie meeting Reynald at the teahouse, I knew this story was special, and you delivered.
Congratulations!!! It’s an amazing book!!!
Congratulations on the success! We’re all so happy for you.
As someone who had the privilege of attending one of the signings (Baltimore), I cannot thank you enough for doing the tour. It was so much fun to connect with other fans, listen to the Q&A and get to talk to you for a moment. No joke, I think I would be less nervous to meet a major celebrity than I was to meet you 😂😂
The book is amazing, your work has brought me so much joy over the years. Thank you so much!
I want to make a tiny point.
if you had come to Argentina I would have sold my house to come and see you.
Another thing, after the book hangover I went into a rabbit hole on every media. Facebook, Reddit, threads, etc. There were many many discussions, some people were “absolutely and totally loved it, more, more, more!!! give me or I will complaint, do you want to discuss?”
Some others were like “I enjoyed this and that, but not the other, either way I want more”.
There were different ships sailed (as if could be any other option, green really suits her well), and many discussions for that.
But even in the deepest of the internet seas, all I saw was respect at the moment of interchanging opinions.
Even in desolated places without our beloved Mod R.
It gave me a very happy feeling, being part of a too much well behaved Book devouring horde. I’m so so proud of what I saw.
This books, this authors, they bring the very best in all of us.
PS: any itty bitty clue of when we can have more, pretty please?
Yay-Rawr! This book deserves everything!! ❤️
I’d also like to start a petition for a stop within a 4hr drive of Charlotte, NC for the Maggie 2 tour. I read “Charlotte” in the post above, and my heart nearly stopped thinking I made the biggest mistake of my life and missed a signing here 😂
It’s well deserved and I am glad it is getting the recognition it deserves.
Congratulations! I absolutely loved Maggie 😍 I can’t wait to see how badass she gets in the future.
That is so exciting. I’m happy for you and for us, the BDH.
Thank you for all that you do. Get some well deserved downtime if you can.
I attended your book signings at Powell s Books years ago. You always did a great job at talking with your fans. You still do. Congratulations!
We all knew from that first snippet that Maggie (except we didn’t know it was Maggie) was something special. I’m so happy for you. All of the risk and hardwork. Well done! Yay-RAWR!!
So proud and happy to be BDH!!
The Hordes have been released. I forgot to warn my friend in MN who is the friend responsible for winning the Arc of Maggie from Tor giveway about the signing. she did go to the bookstore 2 days after and the signed book stock was already gone. Minneapolis is a great city so Im glad yall were able to experience it. Someday I will be able to make it to the tour. And then the hard part is figuring out what books to bring. Probably at least Gunmetal Magick
You deserve all the good stuff! We absolutely love your world building! Thanks so much for all you do!
This is unbelievably amazing. I was shocked. Absolutely shocked…to find a book devouring horde in this establishment. Looking over shoulder…your chalance sir.
The book is amazing and deserves all of the accolades. Congratulations to both of you for sticking with the dream that you had and bringing us all along for the ride.
In book parlance we will always be your ride or die Horde 😃
and you know we’ll all be there for Maggie two too 😉
This Weather Will Not Stop Us Book Tour!! Holy cow – that was a most amazing travelogue!!
Loved, loved, loved Maggie!! All the the words – this is what I lived for as a kid, reading has always been as essential to me as breathing. It took me five days to finish because I didn’t want to miss anything, and I wanted fresh brainpower every day to get maximum enjoyment of this amazing adventure!!
Looking forward to the re-reads, and of course, finding the details I missed the first time. “Ah ha!” moments trigger the reading endorphins!!
(Also, where do I get an “easily distracted by dogs” t-shirt?!?)
Wishing you rest, tea, lots of down time to love on your critters, and family time with your kids!!
Girl. Y’all had a bidding war on this book. Why are you shocked? It’s amazing. You have put so much work into the craft of writing that I’m pretty sure any idea you guys develop will sell. You got this.
My introduction to portal fantasy was Stephen Donaldson’s Mordant’s neeed duology, and it was my favorite books for years. Only Maggie has top it so far. It’s a bit similar; a good héroïne, a lot of politics, a romantic subplot… but Maggie is funnier, and the worldbuilding is bigger.
Mordant’s Need is the only Stephen Donaldson I’ve ever actually liked. I bought the books in hardcover when they first came out and I still have them. I’m sitting at my desk right now and if I turned my head to the right, I would see them on the self where they’ve lived for 20 some odd years now.
I’m finishing a couple of books right now to clear my weekend for This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me.
Only a little similar, in my opinion. Those books I read a long time ago, but clearly recall that the characters were less well developed and human (especially the sleazy Eremis (sp?); the world less well-built, the plot more trope-ish and less humorous, and so many other differences. It has not aged well, IMHO.
It is because you are the best authors! We know that everything you put out will be wonderful! Can’t wait for the next thing!
Wow, what a tour! Thanks for the play by play! I’m wiped out just reading about it!
We knew it was going to be special! Yay-rawr indeed!
I told my local independent bookstore in Bellingham WA that it was going to be big on Day 1, when all of their copies were already taken.
Happy late birthday Gordon!
Bask in the accolades, it’s a great book.
I just reread your post and teared up at the end. You are so kind to the BDH, even with our devouring, grabby nature. “Give us the words, all the words, and do it now!”
Thank you for your hard work!
And yes, come to Powell’s in Portland! I can take the train down! Just a polite request!
a HUGE congratulations to you both!! very well deserved!!
I finished This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me yesterday, and it was very different from what I’m used to from you, but yet so unique and interesting and I loved it!!i can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
I’m also wanting Hugh book #2 though, I have been waiting years to know what happens next for Hugh..any word if you are still planning to write it and maybe a hint of when we might see it??
Thank you both for the AMAZING books you write, I will read anything and everything you both write!!
Books will not be announced until a firm release date is decided – the first place to check for new updates is the Release Schedule page https://ilona-andrews.com/release-schedule/
They’ve been giving us Hugh #2 snippets, and a fair chunk of the beginning chapters before they had to stop to get Maggie on her way.
They will continue Hugh’s story when they can – they’ve never promised us anything they didn’t produce; but there are only the two of them and they are very busy on Maggie #2 at the moment.
I think book 3 is in the works. If not, it’s about to be.
I still think Steve, the ferrets, and Sushi should steal the manuscript for book 2 for the Horde to read. 😉🤭😁
🙂 Maggie 2 draft is still in the works
I live in New Zealand, and work at a book store. I checked our new release calendar yesterday, saw Maggie on it, and squealed in joy. Seriously. One of my coworkers stopped and checked that I was okay.
I’m going to have so much fun selling this. I’m midway through the kindle version, and absolutely loving it. Thank you for such an awesome book!!!!!
Ilona. Gordon. It is so good.
The book is so good.
It was everything I wanted and needed and more.
Bestseller! Amazing tour!
I’m so so thankful and so so thrilled
Thank you!
I’m so glad you had a nice (if hectic and spring weather-plagued) visit to Minneapolis! And yes, please come visit us. We need your tourist dollars because we are spending all of our money supporting our neighbors.
I never doubted that Maggie would make the best seller lists for a moment, I won’t be surprised when you announce a movie or tv series deal either. congratulations. Know that I am telling people every where I go they have to read it. I wish my friends read faster though. I’m eager to discuss and they are still reading. Okay I will wait. Love you and your books and Happy belated birthday Gordon!
Don’t you understand yet that the Horde will read anything you write?
The BDH loves you guys. Also, we (very enthusiastically) talk to everybody who even mentions fantasy or science fiction. You deliver more than you promise and we know it.
You were both so gracious at the Austin signing. Thank you thank you for making yourself available to the BDH. It was such a treat and most appreciated!!
At this point I’d probably pre-order a telephone book if you wrote it, and this is not meant to induce performance anxiety or pressure, but just to say that I have faith that whatever you write will have the perfect mixture of humor, exciting plot and romance for me. Congratulations to the instant bestseller! Honestly speaking, I couldn’t have imagined anything else but roaring success for Maggie, and I am so excited for the continuation of the Maggieventures!
Were you around when we told them we would read a grocery list if they wrote them? We got three – one from Kate, one from Curran, one from Jim.
😄😁😄
TKWNKM was awesome and should really be number one everywhere in my opinion. I doubt anyone was bothered with what you were wearing and was just happy you came. Enjoy some well deserved rest. Your hand must be so sore!
The hoard is not shocked. The hoard has done their work and is pleased. The hoard expands.
I hadn’t bought a hardcover since 1988, but NEEDED this one! Must have checked the Amazon delivery tracker every 20 minutes, more or less, and was at the gate to take ‘the precious ‘ from the driver’s hands , not even waiting to get into the house to unbox it.Had read the first 10 chapters on the Sookie-connected Reactor link, but re-read them again; while I tried to pace myself, at a point, The Hunger to read this took over on Friday, and I handed it over to my husband Saturday.
He can read much faster than I can, has held back better, longer, though did hit a place where he’s progressing quicker, sometime between yesterday and today. I don’t think he’s reading on his breaks at work. He dislikes Spoilers, but asks questions, not wanting the answers; had asked less than a day in, when the Second was to come out.
Our library has been getting very few physical books, but this has 5 Ordered, and though we like book-in-hand best, we both have voracious book appetites, and can’t W*it, sometimes!
My husband has been really great about my Plant-hunger, and has helped with some of my money obligations, so this was a Surprise for him (just couldn’t let him be the first for this, sorry/not). As he’s taking, for him, longer to read, am better pleased I read it before he did. And can’t w*it until we can discuss the book!!
Congratulations on the successful tour and release for Maggie. It took me a little longer to read than usual because, well, sometimes life gets in the way. This was a wonderful escape. I loved it and can’t wait to reread many times in anticipation of book 2.
Well, it is a very good book. I think that helps explain it.
I can’t wait for book 2 and then 3.
Clever, devious plotting, intricate , Fabulous book.
Felicitation …
Tkank you
Murielle (Québec-Canada)
I love how Amazon has listed it as an Editors’ Picks: Best Science Fiction & Fantasy books of April! Congrats!
It is the first book I have ever finished and felt like i needed to pick it up and read it again right of way. so much world building. I just know there are little hidden gems that will only be revealed on a second read!
Congratulations! Maggie is such a special book I’m so happy it’s done so well!
Congratulations on all the accolades for This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me.
This schedule sounds brutal even without the weather.
I still hope the book success would bring an European book tour. Pretty please? 🙂
“Yay-Rawr!”
The BDH
(idea for a shirt 😂, but no, seriously, I would buy it)
I’d wear that, lol.
Wow, I got dizzy just reading about how busy that was! I think a LOT of naps should be penciled into schedule for at least a week to recover… Also, that sweatshirt sounds AWESOME! I would have shamelessly begged for a selfie lol. Maggie was amazing. I was enthralled. I saw a video on Facebook with a person who had a pet Russian Sable and it made me think of Sushi. It was adorable, fierce, bouncy, and tons of attitude lololol
YAYYYYYYYYY Congratulations! Awesome and so very well deserved! Awesome book, fantastic covers, love love love the extra artwork!!
I am so bummed that I missed out on meeting you at 1 if the events. But…
I got the audiobook and the actual book – which just arrived today – I been listening to the book in the car while driving and while working around the house. I’ve had many conversations with Maggie. Many, many conversations with Maggie. one of which was yes, you go girl keep it up.
Congratulations! You both deserve it! And thank you all the enjoyment you’ve given me for the last 17 years or so and continue to do so with Maggie.
I think you two are established enough that you can negotiate a slower paced tour going forward.
Congrats on the success.
Congratulations on a wonderful release! I’m Australian so I will not make it to a tour – but can I say that sounds exhausting and all I could think was “your poor hands” from all the signing. Much sympathy on your efforts but hope you get a rest now before writing anymore – that sounds like A LOT!
Sounds like a whirlwind book tour! Fun and exhausting…the Horde loves you! Rawr!
So happy for the books success…of course we all knew it would be fabulous. Congrats!
So glad to hear you survived the tour and the book is doing so well.
My suggestion is to convince one of your author friends to write that dark academia book and have a release party at Graduate. then you can attend without handwork/silly
I have seen several social media posts in fantasy book channels talking about This Kingdom and inevitably a few of the BDH find the thread to welcome them to the horde. Your audience is growing with this book. I also recommended it to my staff and my sister, so doing my part. hehe
I don’t know why I have tears in my eyes as I read this. BDH, new & old, this is our magic
+1
Next tour, come to Omaha. We can take a tour if Mishmar!
WOO! CONGRATULATIONS! Both on the best seller and on surviving the tour. oh my gods. I would have died in Chicago.
It was lovely to meet y’all in Austin.
Thank YOU for writing the worlds that drag us in and keep us enthralled. Y’all deserve ALLLLL the accolades!!!
Congratulations on the accolades for Maggie (so not surprised) and having a great tour! I’m in the middle of a re-read – such a great world and characters. You two are amazing authors and you just keep getting better with each book.
Happy Belated Birthday to Gordon! 🎂
It is so well deserved. I’m in my 50’s, have been an avid reader all my life. I can honestly say that you guys are the only authors that I buy books unseen, knowing nothing about them, and know that they will be fantastic. I have never been disappointed. I can’t wait for the next one! (official member of the BDH)
I absolutely love it.
Merch idea: ereader covers that look like the real book cover.
What a wonderful recounting of an amazing tour – thank you! It sounds like you had lots of fun, even with the weather, the Ubers and what sounds like a truly astonishing amount of book signings!
I was SO happy to meet you at Barnes and Nobles! I was the last one in line that night and felt so bad for you guys that you had to stay so late. And then I stepped away and the bookstore brought out even more books for you to sign. I can’t believe how little sleep you’ve had over the past week. Hopefully you get some days of well deserved rest to catch up on sleep now that it’s all over! And then I would love to hear all about Maggie #2. : )
Congratulations. I’m glad I could help.
Congratulations.
The hoard is mighty in its reach and great devourer of all things written by House Andrews. We rawr and spread word far so more might come and rawr with us.
Wow that tour schedule sounds full but fun. It was great to meet three of my favorite authors. And please forgive those of us like me who have switched to reading ebooks. So even though I brought my favorite couple books to get signed that I have read 10 time for Sweep of the Blade and 5 time for The Inheritance. It might not of seemed like if with the new looking physical copies. 🙃 Also loved the proof of Maggie to with the at least 30,000 words to go hehe.
high fantasy is like Russian literature to me if it’s well done. complex, confusing, so very very rich and complex. but like Russian literature, i just dive in and if it’s good, it’ll carry me along. you did such an amazing job of world building. you always have but you just keep coming up with the most amazing worlds.
Congratulations! What an adventure the book tour was. It is wonderful your vision and hard work created an incredible story. Rawr!
No YOU are the best!!
Absolutely amazing!
Thank you for sharing your amazing combined talent.
This is a new to me genre and I’m probably missing a lot of nuance, but it doesn’t matter, it’s fabulous
YAY! YAY! YAY!!!! Love our Ilona Andrews books. You ROCK! Thank you for the amazing reads!
I was in a massive reading slump before Maggie came out, and not only have you given me a new favourite, but have reignited my reading passion again, so thankyou! The book was so much fun. Congratulations on what sounds like an epic tour.
As an Australian though I do have a question – is it normal in the US for authors to sign so many extra books or are House Andrews that generous? If you turn up to a signing in Australia you bring the new book to be signed and that’s it!
Wow, your book tour sounds completely exhausting. So glad you survived. Does it take days to recover?
Love the dog pic. Is that how you pictured Grendal?
I can’t wait to see if you use the “dark academia” table/hotel lounge in a future book.
Read the kindle, listened to the audiobook. Loved both.
love this recap! you two have been having a hectic time! thank you both for Maggie, I’ve enjoyed every page and every additional glimpse. it’s a really wonderful book, and it gets even more wonderful with rereading. there’s so much more to discover.
“How did this even happen?”
Well, you “worked so hard on this book”. and it’s great! Maggie is a great character in a treasure box of great characters. The world building is tremendous but the pacing is energetic.
And so much humor! “Good. Then we’re on the same page.” He nodded. “I like that turn of phrase. It’s clever.” They are *literally* on the same page, in a book inside a book!
So, it happened because you write good stories and you create community for your readers. The BDH has faith and has never been disappointed.
Ok- I WAS NOT excited about Maggie- for some reason the posts here on HA site about it didn’t grab my interest and I was disappointed actually because I just wanted more Innkeeper content. Dina is the BEST. Love love the other series but def OCD innkeeper groupie here. But I bought Maggie because I buy everything from HA – I love them & support them regardless of my interests. BUT I was so so blown away by Maggie. She is US! Everything we wish we could be & do – and the plots- the delicious twists and threads for more and more amazing people and their own adventures- wow. Wow wow wow. Come to the UK or the Netherlands (currently live in Maastricht:) and I will travel to your book signing! I’m reading Maggie for the 4th time now 😂
Yay-rawr!!!
We are BDH and are all powerful in all things!!
Thanks for the great recap of your signing adventures!!
When is the next book?thank you
Yay! It’s so exciting hearing these results – I was stalking Amazon and it was lovely to see you moving up the charts there as well (although I forgot to check how you were doing in ‘Learn Business English’ this time)
Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Yay rawr you deserve every cheer going x Congratulations and hopefully a little quiet time to reset x
It’s an absolutely amazing book! A fantastic world built with rich characters. I read it in a day then went straight back to re-read it the next day (which I have never done for any book & im a prolific reader!) I hardly ever buy hard copies of books anymore (I chew up books for dinner ha!
So mostly read on e-reader) but I will definitely be buying this one. Such a beautiful hard cover edition as well.I love you work guys & have been reading all your work for many years through all series! I am so looking forward to the next instalment in this series! (As well as hoping for Arabella’s series also!) Wishing you a wonderful weekend from Buderim, QLD Australia 😊
Dear HA
Of course you are topping charts everywhere! You are THERE with your faithful BDH! You send newsletters, share snippets, share book serials, and more.
Yes, the BDH is beloved, but you are loved right back!
Congratulations on your well-earned success!
People can spot the difference between an idol phoning it in and one who’s really present, and we all know where you fall in that mix!
It’s an absolutely amazing book! A fantastic world built with rich characters. I read it in a day then went straight back to re-read it the next day (which I have never done for any book & im a prolific reader!) I hardly ever buy hard copies of books anymore (I chew up books for dinner ha!
So mostly read on e-reader) but I will definitely be buying this one. Such a beautiful hard cover edition as well.I love you work guys & have been reading all your work for many years through all series! I am so looking forward to the next instalment in this series! (As well as hoping for Arabella’s series also!) Wishing you a wonderful weekend from Buderim, QLD Australia 😊
I love you and your books, thank you for the hard work! I read Maggie’s book twice already! Respectfully, when is the sequel out????
You must have been zombies when you arrived home.
The book is amazing, and of course I want the next one yesterday :)))))
Loved everything about it, and it’s the only book I am re-reading in 5 years. I think I’ve re-read only 2 books since I started reading (30 years), so that speaks for itself.
Thank you for being amazing writers.
….does House Andrews not realize that we would buy a Zamboni operating manual if they wrote one?
I find it hilarious and touching that you are shocked that any book you write is doing well.
I’ve been reading for 66 years and have read thousands of books. I read or listen to at least one a day. I say this not to brag but to illustrate that I know where of I speak. House Andrews are some of the finest Storytellers ever. In my opinion, you rank with Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey, Anne McCaffrey, Elizabeth Moon, Faith Hunter, Heather G. Harris (Newcomer but so good,) B. R. Kingsolver, Nalini Singh, Patricia Briggs, J. R. R. Tolkien, Robert Heinlein, Charles de Lint, Guy Gavriel Kay, C. S. Lewis, Yasmine Galenorn, Suzanne Wright… all of these authors draw you in and you BELIEVE.
You never disappoint, your characters are relatable, your worlds and your “magic” systems are believable, your non-humans unique- even the so-called normal ones, your dialogue- inner and otherwise- masterful.
Thank you for taking with you on some of my favorite vacations from life.
BDH! Hoorah!!
Katy
Yay, I’m so glad you were able to make it to Minneapolis! As a Minnesotan, I am so proud of my state; especially the Twin Cities and how everyone has banded together. And thank you for encouraging people to visit because it is a wonderful city and a wonderful state. I’m so sad that I wasn’t able to attend the book signing but I’m very happy that you came.
The way, if the two of you ever make it back to Minneapolis, you may want to visit the Museum of Russian Art, which is really wonderful!
One more thing, I don’t know why you’re surprised at getting all those awards! I read a lot (several hundred books a year) and your writing really is a gift.
I haven’t started Maggie yet. I’m leaving for Seattle next week, and I’m waiting until then so I have something really good to read on the flight and while I’m there in the evening. But I fully expect it to be well worth every award. I can’t wait!
Your restraint is amazing! Happy reading!
Yay-rawr! Glad you are safe and sound.
Did any other BDH members look at the Bestseller list, think “We can do better then that. I haven’t bought my X copy and I have three friends I could gift it to, too?” 🤣
We are a care-full Horde. We love our authors.
Making it through that travel marathon is very impressive. Not the least bit surprised that it’s on all the bestsellers list. But what boggles the mind is return policy on yarn? Who returns yarn? Never heard of such a thing. Can’t fathom how there would be someone who would want to do that.
Good things do happen to good people- you are so talented and so deserving. Big standing ovation from this fan!!! Can’t wait to see you in Columbus!!! Yea
What a lot of work touring is, I had no idea! I am not surprised at the amount of fans. Congrats on such an amazing release of this novel. I know that I loved it, just as I do everything you write—thank you for that!
It happened because your books are amazing. You never disappoint or fall to exhausted troupes. Even when you “tongue-in-cheek” a troupe you add HA flair. I do go, on but I mean it. I love your books and am sorry I missed you in baltimore. Get some sleep.
You deserve all the accolades! I’ve never been disappointed in a single book you’ve written! Apparently I’m not alone. I was lucky enough to attend the Baltimore signing. Lovely event! Thank you for all the wonderful stories ♥️
Because Mod R released the Kraken. I mean, Horde! Just kidding! The reason is you two continue to polish your skills, and just keep getting better and better, and your Horde is deeply devoted and goes out to share the love with an almost religious fervor! Truly, we are thrilled with your words and stories that always have so much heart. And even on a FB group that is more male-oriented and traditional old-school, in both posting and recs, there have been guys on there, multiple times, asking, “Who is Ilona Andrews? I’m seeing this book (TKWNKM) recc’d everywhere–is it good? Should I read it?” To which I and several others start working the Horde magic. We Barsa the heck out of them! ILONA ANDREWS, we salute you! We who will read, salute you!
“Barsa the heck out of them” absolutely made me snort tea up my nose 😀 😀 😀
Phewww!!! And that was just two stops! I hope your yarn allows for many removals from where it’s kept to ponder projects while your hands rest.
Thank you both for being caring, courageous and extraordinarily talented. And Mod R is the bee’s knees too!
Here’s to delicious tea and cozy re-reads! This time I’m taking notes💜.
Four stops 🙂
Austin, Kentucky, Minnesota and Baltimore .
I sense a new BDH stick figure drawing yelling ‘YAY-RAWR’ in the near future 😆 the tour sounds exhausting, thank you so much for all you do for the Horde. Are all the editions out yet? I’m itching to order the hardcover hehe.
Good morning- Regarding-“understand that it is a dense book with a lot of worldbuilding. It is not a YA/NA, it is not that spicy”…. I appreciated the character development and worldbuilding, and am disappointed by authors who use”spice” to sell books. Thank you so much for your wonderful book and I cannot wait to see where Maggie’s adventure takes us.
Yay! I am so happy everything is going so well with Maggie. Also, I include myself a little bit in the Waterstones’ efforts: as a spaniard who loves beautiful books, I bought my copy from them. It is actually in a place of honour in my bookcase.
Congratulations!
PS: So Maggie #2 release… When?When! When?!!
I have to be honest I was really worried about you guys being so stressed out writing the second Maggie book right after doing the first one. I wanted you guys to be able to relax and enjoy life for a bit. Recenter and do the oooom thing However, the minute I finished this amazing imaginative story I was thrilled that the next one was almost done -just saying. I really am part of the book devouring hoard. Hehehe
Congratulations!! You are both truly amazing and you put in so much work and care that you deserve only the best. YAY-RAWR!
Also happy belated birthday to Gordon; that is true dedication to your craft to spend your birthday travelling and sitting in airports!
I loved Maggie, as I do all your books, and it’s clear that not only are you talented, but you put in the hard work and grit to make your own success. I’m so grateful that we live at a time that we get to enjoy your writing, but also be part of this bigger community of the BDH that you have inspired and nurtured.
Also Mod R is the BEST and we would be so lost without her, thank you Mod R!
Quick question – and I apologize if it was already listed and I missed it – but is there a page that explains the different hardcover editions and especially the signed copies, if any are still available? (I’m in Canada, if that helps to narrow things down) I’ll keep looking myself, but just wondered if someone could point me in the right direction.
Also I fully support any heist plan that involves Steve and the ferrets – I’m sure Sushi would make a great addition 🙂
Hi Dee, please see here 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/maggie-the-undying-2/#special
Thank you Mod R! (proof that you are indeed the greatest of mods!)
I’m amazed how you were able to stay awake and alert after all you went through and all that signing……your hands and wrists must have been so sore.
I saw you in St Paul and loved you interacting with your fans and willing to sign so many books (I brought four but before leaving I bought 3 more books). We hit that awful weather driving back to Des Moines and worried about your flight. I guess going north is going to be more limited to summer and fall.
Tell Gordon happy belated birthday. Mine was the 7th 🙂
I finished the Kingdom book in record time and thoroughly enjoyed it! I can’t wait for the next one.
Mind you, I am still waiting for more Hugh and Elara (hint hint…lol)
Glad you had a good trip and not too many delays. We got 8″ or more snow on my birthday (c’mon spring, you’re a month late) and that was a big enough storm to ground flights so I’m happy you didn’t hit it. But speaking of that, are you two ever going to do some signing in Canada?!?! You have fans here and we ARE right next door. It’s not like you have to cross oceans to get to us! 🙂
“I want to write a dark academia novel”
Now you’ve done it. There’ll be frothing masses
*reads the comments*
yep, there they go.
Congratulations on a terrific release! I have to w*it for the special edition I bought. I got the audiobook to tide me over.
We’re so getting a dark academia story at some point- and I’m SO here for it!
It was so amazing to see you/meet you in Baltimore, and now after hearing how the rest of the tour went, I’m even more amazed at how entertaining and gracious you both were! Also pretty amazed that you got out by 9, I left at 8:15 and the line was still very long.
Wow! The glamorous life of authors!! Ha, ha! Congratulations! Glad you found some good food and some yarn!
Absolutely loved the book! I finished it in three days and had to go back for a reread. I can’t wait to see what you write next.
Everyone is out of the signed copies. i know, I tried. My DH said “you mean it isn’t autopen”? Thank the Divines for you and all of your effort to connect with the Horde.
Q: How did this even happen?
A: That is what happens when you write a great story that is engaging and fast paced with good character portrayal. Hated the cliff hanger at the end but full marks on the suspense. Now eagerly awaiting Maggie 2.
As has been mentioned above, I think YAY-RAWR should be a new merch phrase.
Have been really sucked in into the characters and the layers woven into the story. Am already on my 3rd re-read of entire book. I can only imagine how much went into the choices about what/how much to reveal throughout the story that I’m still discovering new things / connections on multiple re-reads.
Would love to get a larger map that delineates each dukedom etc. & neighboring countries. Can’t wait for the notebook merch.
It’s because you are the best! And also have enough previously published material that a new fan (like moi) can read it all while waiting for new books! Hope you get some rest, sorry I missed you both in Minneapolis.
Congrats! I loved the book – the characters, the world-building, the twists and surprises (there was so much I didn’t see coming!). The way you describe places, the love interests, the “found-family” and community. I enjoyed it all immensely. I’m not familiar with isekai, but that obviously isn’t at all necessary to have a wonderful time reading Maggie.
Thanks for the recap- what a tour!
Yay-rawr! Congratulations, but I’m not at all surprised. I loved Maggie and had to re-read as soon as I was done with the first read.
I’m smiling and almost crying from happiness for you. Having read your blog entries where you were so worried about the book’s success, and now seeing the amazing welcome it had, it’s so moving. You’re both amazing writers and deserve every bit of love This Kingdom is getting <3
Yay-roar!
You give us the best book gifts. Thank you and you deserve every bit of this!
You absolutely deserve all the accolades , the book is amazing, glad you’re back home and…. that dog is soooo cute!!
Wow, what a trip indeed! So very happy for you both! Maggie is an amazing story and you deserve all the accolades.
Okay this is an embarrassing question but I have to ask…. Is the dog pic a real dog or a craft project at the yarn store? Because I can totally see Ilona creating that dog for Kid 1 or 2. Seriously – I could go either way on this!
Glad you are home safe! I wish I could come to one of those someday but it will never happen.
If we are the best it is because we have great taste and love amazing Authors!!
You deserve all the wonderful things, just ask Orro he will explain
House Andrews is amazing!
This is why you have many Horde minions. We are here to serve and shamelessly promote you.
I LOVE THE NEW BOOK!! I have read it, listened to the audio book.and im.thibking of starting to read it again. I think my little longing heart is telling me.that if I just keep reading it the second book will be there when im done….ah well, soon….
an amazing world, easy to read, and fun and action packed!
thank you for all your amazing imagination and skill and creativity and most of all commitment.
thank you. 🙏
and congratulations on hitting all the lists!!!!
Loving Maggie and the world. So glad this is a hit. When all the hype these days seems to revolve around “spice” -which does not replace good storytelling or world building- it makes me cherish your work even more.
Lovely summary 🙂 I also have a question. if serendipity were ever to strike me one day, if we ever spot you in the wild, are you both okay with readers saying hi, or would you prefer privacy? Completely understand either way, just thought I would ask!
Readers can say hi 🥰
Flying is a nightmare! So glad you survived, but sounds like you should stipulate chairs reg size & table.
Great reward for so much hard work!
The book is a huge success because you write phantastic stories. Even your travel and book signing story is super entertaining (just saying)
An exhausting journey but thank you so much. Your book is amazing and we appreciate you so much, for everything you all do for us. Congratulations on your amazing success, it is so deserved.
Just finished “This Kingdom…” read it in two days and I loved it!
Can’t wait for the sequel …!
How did you survive that tour. The airport waiting alone is enough to give me nightmares! A few hours sleep and then another city–if the plane leaves. I’m in awe of your stamina. I’m so glad that Tor took good care of you.
Actually Tor giving that large chunk of the beginning really got folks involved in the story and the city. That was a really, really smart decision on their part and I’m really glad it worked out for them and for you guys. BUT,
I thought it was going to be a duology! In true Book-Devouring- Horde fashion I had resigned myself to waiting for Maggie to figure out everyone’s real identity and real motives in Book 2. ARGHH! Now I have to wait until Book 3. If you guys pull a GRRMartin and put it off, I will stalk you down and you will face ripper-cushions.
I hope you are still celebrating and resting well! Maggie is amazing!
Down the road, when you are thinking about your store, I wonder if you might consider a mug from Maggie: “Good morning. I see the assassins have failed.” I would buy more than one.
Excelsior!
ooh, me too!
On chapter 17. I didn’t get my hard cover until late, then didn’t want to mess up my HC so I went elsewhere than the ‘zon and got a digital copy (thank you for the DRM-lessness!). I’m s a v o r i n g it. And it’s amazing so far.
House Andrews,
I am exhausted just reading your tour schedule.
Also, I adore the world you have built with Maggie.
Thank you.
It happened because you are awesome! And you have a Fluffy Horde. Who are *not* all screaming “When are Maggie 2 & 3 coming out?!?!” Well, not out loud anyway. Muffled into a pillow maybe.
You totally deserve this! I don’t know how you survived the tour or all the signing; I wouldn’t have. Author superpowers.
I bought your book but haven’t read it yet. I retire in July after 37 years of teaching and I am a little unsure of what I will do with myself. What I do know is that I can become immersed in anything you write. So, I am trying to wait so that my first days of retirement will be something that I can look forward to and so that there is no doubt that I will enjoy them and not focus on my uncertainty. After that, I figure it will be time for a reread of the Ilona Andrews catalogue of work! Thank you for the awesome stories you share with us. I am not sure if you realize that sometimes they are a lifeline.
You write wonderful stories, incredible characters with interesting voices (and the amazing dialogue to go with) and last not least create worlds that are so so stunning!
I devoured TKWNKM and loved every page (ok, I had to swallow hard at the last page, but since I trust you, I can aw*it the things to come).
So nope, not surprised about the book‘s success 😁🤓
So glad you all had so much fun!
While I love my BDH life, for Maggie I am embracing a new membership — The Book Savoring Horder. Actually Nonchalant. 30-40 pages a night. Make it last.
It is … hard. Alien.
But I have had Maggie dancing in my head since release, and I still don’t know how it is going to turn out! Glorious. And I console myself with the knowledge I will immediately reread it.
Merry Horde to you all!
Thank you for writing and for letting indy book stores share their infos! I happily completed my Christmas shopping for 2026 and got beautiful lovely copies of Maggie for everyone on my list.
Maybe I will do Christmas gifts in April so they can share the joy.
I would totally do a YAY-RAWR!!!! for you guys.
It also seems that the BDH practiced a huge amount of self-restraint at the signings. I can imagine all sorts of creative appreciation we could have gotten up to.
Does anyone else think it’s funny when House Andrews is *shocked* that their books do so well?😆 Like the time there was a survey;
“Guys here’s a list, which book do you want us to write next?”
“Yes.”
“What do you mean ‘yes’?”
“Yes. All of them.”
We are called The Book Devouring Horde for a reason.
The reason is your books are amazing and we want more.
I’m sitting here going, Where is the Pre-order for Maggie 2 and Maggie 3?! Whatever you write, I want it.
If there could just be a “Life-time Pre-order Button” that would be great.
Still laughing at that, Ilona and Gordon are the only two here who are surprised how well their books do.
Looking forward to the dark academia series 🤣😜
It was such an honor and privilege to meet both of you. Your books have gotten me through so many hard times and getting to share that with you was awesome. Meeting Jeaniene Frost was such a treat (I believe her very sweet sister gave her seat up for a friend who was also going through chronic illness flair ).
I read the book and loved it, the characters, the world, the skelka, everything. Now I’m listening to the audiobook and am falling in love with them all over again. Thank you.
And it reached #28 in the entire kindle store!
https://www.facebook.com/share/1NvzY9Yi5Y/
saw this today and thought of all the yarn dragons here at the BDH.
Is it me or has “Yay-Rawr” officially entered our lexicon?
Congrats!!!! As a card-carrying member of the BDH, I am not at all surprised by how well the book is doing.
Thanks for sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the book tour for those of us who couldn’t make it 🙂
Thank you for all that you do! Fun story – the fan who stole Ilona’s phone is my sister and today is her birthday. Happy birthday, Sarah!
We both love your books (thanks for writing, Ilona and Gordon) and Mod R! My sister had a blast at your signing and was happy/embarassed for almost stealing your phone. She could be a ferret in another life.
*Small humble brag on my big sis – she also sewed the dress she’s wearing in the photo! Possibly while listening to one of the Graphic Audio IA books…
Happy Birthday, Sarah! May you have many more!
Thank you!!!! She just turned bright red and then exploded with joy. Happy belated birthday to Gordon, thank you again, and Maggie is/was fantastic. Thank you!
Happy birthday, Sarah, we’ll put you in charge of the BDH ferret division after your field heist 🤩
Congrats, I think it is wonderful and well-deserved. I have been reading the genre for a while so didn’t know it was somewhat obscure in some places. But you always work hard on all your novels. You put your hearts and souls in there. We know it. We love it. Even if it weren’t a genre I normally read, I’d give it a shot! So glad the tour went well and that you were able to meet lovely people.
I also have all your books and have reread most of them. I really loved the Inheritance and wondering if a second book will be coming. I know Maggie is in the works and I’m looking forward to it but I really need more of Adaline and I’m old so hope it happens…lol
A sequel the Inheritance is planned but it had no official release date as yet 🙂
Ilona and Gordon, I love that you are so genuine and humble, that you could be actually truly shocked that the BDH is on your side, in ever greater numbers! Even more, I love for you guys that you get to do something phenomenally creative and brilliant—and have blistering success at it’ And that means so much to so many of us! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love that for you!
(You inspire me. I’ve been wishing I hadn’t felt unable to pursue my creative dreams for so long. And now? I’m actually writing again. Thank YOU!💜🦋💜)
Maggie 2?
Dying to know when we will see her again?
Yay! What a whirlwind trip. It sounds exhausting. Thanks for the details about cool places and people. I’m not sure why, but your closing section brought a tear to my eye. in addition to being great authors, y’all are wonderfully thoughtful, kind, and caring people. Thanks.
I am so happy for you. It’s a great book and I see several people on reddit who said that this was their first book by you guys and that they will definitely check out your other books because they liked it so much.
Congratulations, really well deserved
So many congratulations, solidarity on the pants suits, and happy birthday Gordon!
Right now, I feel like many people can really use a story set in a grimdark world with a protagonist determined to rewrite the awful fates of good people and prevent a tide of violence from sweeping the land.
I mean, I pre-ordered it. But now I’ve already read it twice, because it is so engaging, such a satisfying read.
Good timing!
This book is incredible. Full stop.
Listening to GA’S Magic Triumphs again…so the “Rawr!” from the crowds says “toddler Conlan” to me!
Is there a chance for a Europe tour? I don’t know… Berlin maybe?
Love the Grendel-ish pic! You deserve all the things! Thank you againg for MTU and Rella.
I have been a fantasy reader since the 1970s and this is one of my favorite books EVER. I’ve read and enjoyed all of your books, but this one is on another level. I bought it when it came out and I’ve been re-reading it continuously ever since.
Tl;dr when it’s this good, people find it.