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You are here: Home / Blog / This Kingdom: Lots of Stuff, Read This

This Kingdom: Lots of Stuff, Read This

Blog, Maggie POST A COMMENT February 23, 2026 by Ilona

It’s Monday and I can’t think of a title, because Sookie Jean woke up at dark o’clock and then proceeded to wander about. I took her outside, thinking this was a bathroom emergency. Sookie walks very, very slowly now. She is of advanced age, and I have to hover in case she wipes out. She is 80lbs, and it takes a bit of strength to get her back up. It was cold, I was in my nightgown outside for about 15 minutes, and when I brought her in, she kept huffing and puffing, and waking me up every time I closed my eyes.

The culprit

Let’s all hope I make sense. If I don’t, I don’t care. I’m too tired, and I just want to go back to writing. Phhh.

Reactor Preview

Dear Commonwealth and everyone else who could not download a free preview of This Kingdom, Reactor Magazine is running the preview as a serial with illustrations. You can now access it as well.

CLICK HERE TO READ

UK Special Edition

Remember how I said we can announce nothing? Okay, we can now announce this. The UK now has 3 editions.

Previously we had:

Regular Hardcover
Waterstones

And now we also have the Broken Binding edition.

The Broken Binding is signed. That is to mean, we signed way too many pages and sent them back to UK. Waterstones will be signed also. ::slaps hand over twitching eye::

To learn more about the Broken Binding Edition: Instagram Post. To learn more about The Broken Binding: website. The direct purchase link is here.

To reiterate for UK, AUS, and Commonwealth: flower edges – regular hardcover, gilded pattern – Waterstones, drezmur and tower – the Broken Binding.

The Tour

When the tour was announced, we did a post, but some of the tickets were not yet available. We had dinner with Jessie Mihalik and Mr. Mihalik last night, and she reminded me that nobody remembers by now that you need tickets to attend the tour stops.

Here is the link to the tour again. The information is always available on the Appearances page. If you want to attend, please RSVP.

BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE

I was going to post artwork today, but this post is already full, so that’s a mission for tomorrow. Love you, I’m out, we have a battle to finish.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kirsten Guyaz says

    February 23, 2026 at 12:15 pm

    First?

    • Moderator R says

      February 23, 2026 at 12:16 pm

      Sookie First!

      • Kiri Guyaz says

        February 23, 2026 at 12:21 pm

        Hahaha! Really? Did I finally make it?

        —Kiri 💜

  2. Lee says

    February 23, 2026 at 12:20 pm

    so pretty

    • Karen the Griffmom says

      February 23, 2026 at 12:28 pm

      Now I’m rethinking my Waterstones purchase and coveting the Broken Binding version. Waaahhh!

      • Tamberlin says

        February 24, 2026 at 7:28 am

        Waterstones would have been my pick of I was UK. The Broken artwork is literally Right There & would have bugged me thinking there was a printer problem every time I had the book out.

  3. Metra says

    February 23, 2026 at 12:32 pm

    I hope Sookie Jean feels better soon. You need one of those multiple pens things, like presidents use.

    Also, I got my mug way earlier than expected, thank you very much!

  4. Sharla says

    February 23, 2026 at 12:35 pm

    Ah, Sookie. Hugs and naps?

    BTW, The UK edges are beautiful!

    When you said you had a battle to finish, for some reason I thought with Sookie: why do you keep waking me, what do you want, please let me sleep – battle. But, then I realized you were probably writing…

    Happy Monday!

    • Moderator R says

      February 23, 2026 at 12:36 pm

      On-the-page battle, hehe 🙂

  5. Breann says

    February 23, 2026 at 12:39 pm

    So excited for when you can announce all the US special editions! 🥳

    Hope you get more sleep tonight! 🤗

    • Kristi G says

      February 23, 2026 at 8:30 pm

      Pretty pretty books!! I am eagerly awaiting US special editions. I have my e-copy already pre-ordered.

      Sadly, I won’t be in any of the book tour areas. Maybe one day! I am sure you all will have an amazing tour!!! I’m so excited for this book 🙂

      Hope tomorrow is a better day for the functioning. I know how that feels.

  6. Verslint says

    February 23, 2026 at 12:46 pm

    Good luck with the battle and functioning in general. We’re moving this weekend, and I’m still seeing an awful lot of stuff laying around that needs to be packed up…. oy

  7. Sil says

    February 23, 2026 at 12:46 pm

    oh, they are beautiful!
    Hope you’ll get a good sleep tonight.

  8. Renee says

    February 23, 2026 at 12:59 pm

    Wish we had those gorgeous covers here (US). I love a beautiful sprayed edge, the Waterstones one is amazing!

  9. Jean says

    February 23, 2026 at 1:02 pm

    Gentle hugs for Miss Sookie, and also for her mama! It is hard to be an old dog, and hard to be the parents of an old dog. Here’s to some sleep tonight for everybody, and success in writing the battle scene!!

  10. Lora Tyler says

    February 23, 2026 at 1:12 pm

    You are awesome and prayers for the fur baby!

  11. Nancy H says

    February 23, 2026 at 1:14 pm

    I have been holding off getting excited about Maggie until now. Those two chapters did me in. Now I can’t wait. We are in doggie transition. Lost our 9 year old boxer to cancer in early January. But wouldn’t you know it, the feed store had the last puppy of a rescued litter (Aust. Cattle dog, Catehoula, shephard maybe) Nobody wanted the last puppy. Guess what my daughter brought home. She is awake at 5:00am. She is mine because daughter already has two dogs.

    • Moderator R says

      February 23, 2026 at 1:16 pm

      To many beautiful mornings with the rescue pup!

    • Sarah says

      February 23, 2026 at 4:50 pm

      We adopted another greyhound last week so this is our first time with two dogs. It’s been very exciting in a not so much sleeping sense. But she’s cuddly! I may end up calling her Diva, though.

    • jewelwing says

      February 24, 2026 at 9:25 am

      Lucky you! Heeler crosses rock. Do lots of socialization though, like daily if possible, while she’s young. They can get very rigid as adults if you don’t expand their horizons early on. Our extended family takes our dogs with us as much as possible – one had his picture on the feed store website as a popular visitor. She will bring so much love and so many laughs to your life!

  12. Nancy H says

    February 23, 2026 at 1:32 pm

    Hiding under the covers and pretending I don’t notice her doesn’t work.

    • AK says

      February 24, 2026 at 8:06 am

      Ohhh!! I HATE W@ITING!!!

  13. Michele G says

    February 23, 2026 at 1:33 pm

    Love photos of Sookie. She is well loved and that is smazing .

    It was my birthday last week. I am now officially 60 several.

    Because life is tough, I cancelled my Amazon kindle order of “This Kingdom”. I have now ordered an advanced copy of the book from a local bookshop.

    I then proceeded to buy a hardcopy of “the inheritance” from another bookshop. Second hand, but i’m happy.

    Please let us know if you ever want to come to the UK. I will buy lots of books, just for you to sign. ❤️❤️❤️

    • Rebecca says

      February 25, 2026 at 9:44 am

      Sometimes older dogs get dementia or dementia like symptoms. I had a beautiful cavalier that ended up with a brain tumor. She would wander usually around dusk. She also never remembered she’d eaten so she was constantly hungry. After I lost her, I found a moisturizer tube with teeth marks on it

  14. Cynthia H says

    February 23, 2026 at 1:48 pm

    Oh Ilona
    I feel your pain on that issue.

    • Cynthia H says

      February 23, 2026 at 1:48 pm

      I should’ve been more specific it was concerning your elderly pet

  15. Sharon says

    February 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm

    Hugs, about Sookie. Every time I see her name or picture, I fear the worst.
    You are giving her the best home. She won the lottery when she got you as parents.

  16. Patricia Schlorke says

    February 23, 2026 at 1:53 pm

    Go forth and conquer the fight scenes!

    Love and hugs to Sookie.

    • jewelwing says

      February 24, 2026 at 9:32 am

      Seconded on all counts. My 10yo Texas heeler got into the bad poop again over the weekend. Back on with the ground meat and rice diet and the coccidiostat, *sigh*. She can spot where the feral cats went and grab it way too fast for me to stop her. But she’s a real sweetie for the most part, and having her around is so good for my other dog.

  17. Di says

    February 23, 2026 at 2:03 pm

    Besides Owlcrate, have all the USA special editions been announced yet? Or are we still waiting for something else?

    Just trying to figure out my March purchases.

    • Moderator R says

      February 23, 2026 at 2:19 pm

      No 🙂

  18. Anna L says

    February 23, 2026 at 2:05 pm

    Sadly I was too slow for the Baltimore event. I will wait for the zooms.

    • jewelwing says

      February 24, 2026 at 9:33 am

      +1 I was too slow on the first day, lol.

  19. Régie says

    February 23, 2026 at 2:21 pm

    Sending hugs and virtual pillows to you and warm wishes to Sookie.

    Thank you for sharing the beautiful U.K. Special Editions.I am p*tiently w*iting for U.S. Special Editions…

    I am not pre-ordering anything before I see it all, lest I find myself with 4 or more different copies of This Kingdom 😂

  20. Bev says

    February 23, 2026 at 2:51 pm

    Sometimes you have to catch your sleep whenever you can. My spouse is currently snoring gently as he rests his eyes while watching T.V. I will do quiet things for a while! Sookie Jean is such a sweetie! Try to pamper yourself today, the B.D.H. can strive for patience!

  21. Bev says

    February 23, 2026 at 3:04 pm

    Thanks for all the work you both do! On a totally different note, I tried out an old recipe yesterday. Pork chops cooked in hard cider and maple syrup with sliced apples. It came out fairly well for a quick one skillet meal. You just put 1/2 inch pork chops in a skillet with 1/2 cup apple cider or hard cider and 1/4 cup maple syrup. Bring to a boil then lower the heat and cover and cook for 15 minutes. Remove the chops and cover them. Add 1 thinly sliced apple add 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Then add the pork chops and cook until done. I froze the extras. I hope today goes well for everyone today. Please keep warm, safe and rested!

  22. Nicole R. says

    February 23, 2026 at 3:32 pm

    How did I miss that you’re coming to St. Paul, MN?! Thank you for planning to come so far north, and for reposting about this so that I saw it! I’m so excited and just got a ticket!

  23. Gail Lefkowitz says

    February 23, 2026 at 4:33 pm

    All of them are gorgeous. I hope Sookie et al let you sleep tonight.

  24. Carla says

    February 23, 2026 at 4:56 pm

    My first impulse was to say “Love you too!” Lol Thank you for the post. Sorry about the bad sleep. We have a fat (13 lbs) ginger cat that stomps on us and yowls because he wants outside at 3 freaking AM. He HATES the litter box, so he potties in the yard like a dog. He will also boop your snoot with increasing pressure and eventually claws to wake you up to get fed. He sometimes nips my hunny’s nose if the boops don’t work. I hide from him under the pillow bc I am an adult like that lol

    • Ilona says

      February 23, 2026 at 5:07 pm

      I probably should not share this, but I will occasionally say, “Love you” to random people on the phone on autopilot. In my defense, I only speak to family and close friends on the phone and possibly our agent, and I am very, very tried right now. So yes, Jeanine Frost and Grace Draven, I think, both accidentally got told “Love you” at the end of long phone calls.

      • Mechcat says

        February 24, 2026 at 2:16 am

        I’m sure they didn’t mind. And it’s better than responding, “You, too.”, when someone wishes you a happy birthday.

        Sending wishes for a good night’s sleep for the entire household.

        • Tasha says

          February 24, 2026 at 5:29 am

          haha! or saying you too, to the TSA or desk agent at the airport when they say” have a safe flight”! sigh

          • Tasha says

            February 24, 2026 at 5:29 am

            damn meant saying ” you too” not eating. it’s early! 🤦‍♀️

            • Moderator R says

              February 24, 2026 at 5:39 am

              Fixed 🙂

      • jewelwing says

        February 24, 2026 at 9:40 am

        I think that’s socially acceptable these days. A couple of my female friends of four decades and counting routinely say “Love you” at the end of conversations, by text, phone, email, or in person, and I have started to reciprocate. Our kids’ generational comfort with expressing love has rubbed off on us.

  25. GlassGalChloé says

    February 23, 2026 at 5:55 pm

    Wow, these editions are PREEEEEETTY!
    I can’t wait to get my copy… March feels like a million months away!
    Love you guys so much.

  26. Izzy says

    February 23, 2026 at 6:03 pm

    Absolutely gorgeous editions! I love gold against dark backgrounds.

    All the best to Sookie.

  27. sarafina says

    February 23, 2026 at 6:33 pm

    Just asking, is there a chance the US version Barnes & Noble will make us buy to get into the tour events will have fancy page edges, or just solid gold? Or do you even know that yet? Not trying to be pushy, but those 3 you showed today are really gorgeous.

  28. Erin says

    February 23, 2026 at 8:33 pm

    How do you decide where to tour? Are those cities where your megafans are? Or are they just nice cities? Or are they close cities? Or are they cities where people will pay you to come visit with them? Inquiring minds want to know please and thank you.

    • Moderator R says

      February 23, 2026 at 9:22 pm

      This is a publisher-led tour, so the publisher decides 🙂

  29. Rosemarie says

    February 23, 2026 at 9:07 pm

    Does the US get fancy edges? I saw blue ones but the UK ones look so pretty!

    • Moderator R says

      February 23, 2026 at 9:21 pm

      The US special editions haven’t been announced yet, so we don’t know at the moment 🙂

      • Mechcat says

        February 24, 2026 at 2:20 am

        Do u know when we can b told about the US fancy editions? I’m not sure if it will help us w*it, but seems worth a try. (Big ‘cat eyes)

  30. mz says

    February 23, 2026 at 9:48 pm

    We were on Gigi watch late fall of last year. 19 yo Cat. He was losing weight but still going downstairs to the litter boxes. Many visits to the vet while we watched and worried.

    In the meantime, there was Leonardo, the foster. We were worried about introducing them, especially since Leo looks exactly like a Norwegian Forest Cat (biggest honking cat I ever saw).

    Gigi crossed the Rainbow Bridge before any meeting. We think he did it on purpose when there was another cat in the wings for us.

    We now have the 21 lb. Failed Foster to keep us company.

    All this to say that they tell us when it’s time but the love remains. Sookie will let you know. Others around will keep the love going.

    Wishing you strength.

  31. angela says

    February 23, 2026 at 11:53 pm

    Love you, Have Fun Storming the Castle!

    • djr says

      February 24, 2026 at 7:32 am

      +1

  32. DonnaA says

    February 24, 2026 at 2:35 am

    To be honest I still like the regular hardcover best but I feel like maybe I’m supposed to want a fancier one. But I really like the white flowers so I think I’ll get it anyway. It’s really messing up my pre-orders though. At least the ebook is just an ebook.

    My sister in law has an Instagram so she made me get it too (I hate social media) and I saw the Solentine thing which is making me think actually I’ve been missing out and maybe I should thank her instead 😉

    • Ilona says

      February 24, 2026 at 8:32 am

      Donna, the cover is the same everywhere. Only the edges are different. 🙂

  33. Allison says

    February 24, 2026 at 3:29 am

    Ohhh, this is great news for us European fans (ordering to the EU from the UK is doable)!

    One question because the publishers are a bit unclear in their description: Are both UK special editions singed by hand or both stamped or one signed and the other stamped? I know you handled the book either way, but if possible I would prefer an actually signed book if available.

    Thank you!

    • Ilona says

      February 24, 2026 at 8:30 am

      Waterstones and Broken Binding are signed by hand. Although not all Waterstones. I think that they are adding more copies because of the demand, but we are only able to sign what they already sent.

      In US, one of the editions is signed and the other is stamped due to a very large number of copies.

      • Allison says

        February 24, 2026 at 1:54 pm

        Thank you so much for explaining!! I miiiight have to order both (if I get the chance in the Broken Binding open sale) 😅

  34. Allison says

    February 24, 2026 at 6:14 am

    This quote from Maghie “I had been rereading those two books for the last ten years. Whenever life got to be too harsh, I would grab them off my bookshelf, and they never failed to pull me out of whatever funk I had going on at the time. I could quote passages from memory.” describes me and House Andrews books perfectly. Whenever life is getting to me I pick a series and reread the entire series and it pulls me back. THANK YOU for my sanity.

    • Allison says

      February 24, 2026 at 6:15 am

      sorry “Maggie”

  35. Nancy says

    February 24, 2026 at 7:11 am

    Hi, can you please let me know how to get a signed special addition? I am in the US, but really love the UK versions, is it possible to get one of those?
    TIA

    • Moderator R says

      February 24, 2026 at 9:53 am

      Waterstones does international delivery 🙂, but you may wish to wait until the US special editions are announced.

      • Nancy says

        February 24, 2026 at 11:20 am

        Great advice, thanks!!

  36. Donna says

    February 24, 2026 at 7:26 am

    Ilona, Snooky may benefit from Taurine added to her diet if you haven’t already added it. It helps older dogs and cats. I get it at the human health food store and powder and add to the food. My vet said pet food companies add it to their food, but it loses value as the food is pkged and shelf life. Also you can order it at places like chewy or Walmart and it is pkged for pets. It is about 35 dollars cheaper at the human health food store. Runs between 9 to 16 dollars. My vet says its ok as most pet meds can be bought at your personal pharmacy so he says the health food store Taurine is probably the same product, maybe better. I don’t know if it will help. My love to all your pets.

  37. Mary Ellen says

    February 24, 2026 at 9:03 am

    Thank you for adding the link, I was just able to get my tickets for the Austin date.
    My mugs arrived yesterday and the packaging was great! They were in perfect condition, nothing broken.
    Just saw that the giant battle of all battles is written. Considering the previous ones it must really be epic, waiting chalantly to read it.
    Hope you and Sookie can take a breather.

  38. Hanna says

    February 25, 2026 at 1:53 am

    Does anyone know if Waterstones ran out of the signed copies? It looks like I can’t preorder it, only get notified when available. If that’s the case I’m going to be so angry with myself for not ordering it sooner

    • Moderator R says

      February 25, 2026 at 1:59 am

      It lets me add to basket and go through checkout without any issue in the UK 🙂 https://www.waterstones.com/book/this-kingdom-will-not-kill-me/ilona-andrews/2928377374549

      • Hanna says

        February 25, 2026 at 3:31 am

        There is an additional signed version that only says notify. Are the one you sent signed as well? Realize as I’m typing I should maybe bother the store before you guys…I will ask them directly. Here’s the link to the signed version though:

        https://www.waterstones.com/book/this-kingdom-will-not-kill-me/ilona-andrews/2928377372866

        • Moderator R says

          February 25, 2026 at 3:51 am

          Yes, it’s best to ask the store 🙂 . It maybe means they’ve divided their stock between the special edition signed and the special edition ? which they then called “exclusive”, but they’re the best informed to explained what each is in detail.

          • Hanna says

            February 25, 2026 at 7:27 am

            Waterstone confirmed they are out of signed copies but still have special editions without signature.

            • Moderator R says

              February 25, 2026 at 8:16 am

              Thank you for the update, Hanna!

  39. Tai says

    March 3, 2026 at 11:13 pm

    I love the flower edge ‘regular’ hardcover. Is that on a special website too or is that what I’d get if I ordered off Amazon UK?

    • Moderator R says

      March 3, 2026 at 11:22 pm

      The UK (darker cover) hardcover sprayed edges have flowers, yes 🙂

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