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This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me: Cover Reveal

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Drum roll, please!

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This stunning cover is brought to you courtesy of Andrew Davis. It is absolutely beautiful and we are delighted. You can find more of Andrew’s work on his Instagram.

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me

The page-turning politics of Game of Thrones meets the worlds-spanning romance of Outlander in this blockbuster new epic fantasy series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo Ilona Andrews.
DELUXE EDITION—featuring gorgeous sprayed edges!

When Maggie wakes up cold, filthy, and naked in a gutter, it doesn’t take her long to recognize Kair Toren, a city she knows intimately from the pages of the famously unfinished dark fantasy series she’s been obsessively reading and re-reading while waiting years for the final novel.

Her only tools for navigating this gritty world of rival warlords, magic, and mayhem? Her encyclopedic knowledge of the plot, the setting, and the characters’ ambitions and fates. But while she quickly discovers she cannot be killed (though many will try!), the same cannot be said for the living, breathing characters she’s coming to love—a motley band that includes a former lady’s maid, a deadly assassin, various outrageous magical creatures, and a dangerously appealing soldier. Soon, instead of trying to get home, she finds herself enmeshed in the schemes—and attentions—of dueling princes, dukes, and villains, all while trying to save them and the kingdom of Rellas from the way she knows their stories will end: in a cataclysmic war.

For fans of Samantha Shannon, Danielle L. Jensen, Sarah J. Maas, and isekai and portal fantasy, This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me is the beginning of the most epic adventure yet from genre powerhouse author duo Ilona Andrews.

Snippet

Knight Captain Jehan had a dilemma on his hands. I wasn’t sure what he had expected, but I clearly wasn’t it. I wore a gown in a beautiful green. My hair was braided and styled to the latest fashion with silver cord and appropriate ornaments. My makeup was flawless, and I was looking at him as if he were a mosquito buzzing around me. Clover stood behind my chair, her hands demurely folded, her eyes downcast.

Knight Captains acted in the same capacity as police lieutenants in most large cities back home. Kair Toren had four main City Guard stations, each headed by a Station Commander, who had anywhere from four to six knight captains under his authority. The knight captains supervised the sergeants, who in turn supervised the guards. In terms of position, Jehan was upper middle management, and he hadn’t gotten that far by being dense. Intimidating a commoner was one thing, although under Rellasian law, even a commoner could appeal. Detaining a noblewoman without a solid cause was an entirely different matter, and if handled incorrectly, could cost him his career.

I had been ushered into his office three minutes ago, and he had yet to say a single word.

The Knight Captain gave me a heavy look. He was in his mid- to late thirties, maybe even early forties, a tall man with a severe expression and some silver in his hair. He wore a black and teal tabard over dark chainmail. A teal half cloak hugged his throat and draped down his back with a metal pauldron on one shoulder. A complicated belt of dark leather wrapped his waist, offering a variety of pockets filled with various things a City Guard Knight Captain might find handy.

His office was a large square space in the middle of the Southern Guard Station. He sat behind a heavy wooden desk, with stacks of paper and scrolls on both sides. Behind him the Kair Toren flag stretched across the wall, teal, edged with black, with a stylized Skyline of Eagle Roost in gold. The Justice Chamber was attired in royal colors, mostly purple, but as municipal police force, the City Guard had its own color scheme.

One of us had to start this conversation or I would be here all day.

“Knight Captain Jehan, I presume?” I asked.

“Correct. Whom do I have the privilege of addressing?”

“You sent your people to my house. Surely you know who I am?”

“That is what we are here to determine.”

Knight Captain Jehan was treating me to the medieval version of the “you’re in big trouble” cop stare.

“So you do not know who I am.” I crossed my arms. “Is this how you find out? When you’re not sure who lives in a house, you just have them dragged down here? It seems like an odd use of the Guard’s time and resources.”

He didn’t say anything.

“Or perhaps I am a special case? I can’t help but note that the Guard station closest to my residence is in the north. Instead, I had to travel for the better part of an hour and cross two bridges to be brought here. Why?”

He glowered at me. “Here, I ask the questions.”

“Please start then. Whatever we can do to speed this thing along.”

He opened his mouth.

Something thudded outside the office, followed by the sound of raised voices.

“Just one question before we begin,” I said. “Am I charged with a crime?”

He unhinged his jaws. “Not yet.”

The commotion got louder and closer.

“Am I being detained?”

“Not exactly.”

“If not, am I free to leave?”

Welcome to twenty-first-century police-encounter protocol.

“Just a moment.” He turned toward the door.

“If I am being detained, I request the services of a law scribe.”

“Hold that thought.” Jehan rose, stepped outside, and shut the door behind him.

Behind me Clover snickered.

A deep male voice roared something in the distance. I couldn’t quite make it out, but it might have been “Where?” Whoever he was, he sounded pissed. Rhythmic thuds drew closer. Somebody was coming down the hallway in heavy boots.

The door flew open.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • I would read this book based on the enchanting cover.
      It promises the reader a legendary journey to a magical world full of intrigue and wonders. I’ll unapologetically take the day off to read it because of the authors.

  9. This is beautiful! Can’t wait to read the book! Oh…will there be wide wallpaper versions of this? Pretty please…

  15. That cover is gorgeous!

    Thank you for the snippet. In words of the Horde, it was too short. 😁

    Not much longer for my eventual birthday gift! 🥳

  16. It’s gorgeous!!! I can’t wait! I am now very tempted to buy a print version instead of just reading it on my Kindle!

  21. omiiigosshhhhh I’m super duper excited, the snippet is amazing, the cover is GORGEOUS, the special edition MUST be mine.

    I’ll see if I can get it shipped to France, because it’s not a want, it’s a NEED. Considering I tried to order a special edition from my local bookshop 4 months ago and still no book to show for it, I think I’ll have to find another way AND purchase the ebook to ensure proper in time reading ! It’s so worth it.

    • Eve,

      If you need it, I can buy it in English in the US and mail it to you next year.

      • Hi Ruth ! Thank you for the thoughtful offer, I’m really touched ! I think I’ll manage, there is always amazon even if I’m not keen on using them 🙂 But thank you for being lovely !

  24. can’t wait. altho I’ll wait more patiently with the Inheritance in my reader… but I’m really looking forward to this…

  26. So lovely, and thank you for the snippet! I am looking forward to reading this book in March.

  27. I am so so happy for you both, and this “unpublishable” idea (I think you said very early on as you began writing it, something about it’s too dark?). And I am even more happy at how long it is. I devour your words. I always want more.

  28. Andrew Davis did a phenomenal job on the cover! He has made a lot of amazing covers (check out his instagram page), but I truly think this one is it best.
    The snippet has me so excited for next spring.

  29. incredibly gorgeous artwork. I am so excited for this release. Between Kingdom and the Inheritance serial, the new worlds are SO EXCITING . So much chalant 😂

  33. omgosh omgosh – new snippit and lovely cover I can not….I just can not.

    thank you btw!

  36. don’t think I have read isekai before so happy to be introduced to it by IA powerhouse. are there plans to release the book in paperback at a later time?

    • I just pre-ordered the ebook from Bookshop. DRM-free, so I can side load it to my kindle or read in their app online. I’ll see how it compares to BookFunnel for ease of side loading!

      Bit of a hassle, creating my account and making my first order, because I’m on Android/Google (easier for Apple users. Should be easier next time.

      I love that my local bookstore gets a cut and I can minimize my use of Am@z0n, though!

  39. The only reason I haven’t preordered a print copy is because I am hoping for signed copies or (fingers crossed) a tour stop near me.

    If a tour does end up happening, PLEASE come to NYC or Philadelphia or Boston. I can go anywhere on the Northeast Regional amtrak. I’ve always wanted to meet you guys!

  40. Gorgeous cover.

    “Welcome to twenty-first-century police-encounter protocol.” made me laugh out loud.

    checking pre-order. . .

    WHY do we have to w@!t soooooo long?!!!

  41. HAPPY DANCE!!! The cover is absolutely gorgeous and I can’t wait to read the entire story. I usually buy a lot of e-books and try to only buy physical books that are out of print or special collectible editions, since I’ve got way more books than space, but this will be a double purchase…both kindle AND a lovey physical copy for my library shelf…it’s just Too pretty!

  48. Having a dance party in my head, because it would be weird if I actually did so at work!

  50. Great cover – even better snippet!
    Thank you. I am looking forward to giving you money…

  53. It’s so gorgeous!! Oh I’m so very excited to be able to read it when it comes out! <3

  54. It’s a lot brighter than I expected!

    And there must be more than one Andrew Davis in the world, because the one I know isn’t this artistic. Go figure…

  55. I really really REALLY REALLY REALLY cannot wait to get my grubby little hands on this one. YAY!

    And LOVE that cover.

  57. LOVE IT! (Yes, that deserves to be in caps.) And what I really love, is that it doesn’t look like all the other books out there. This really grabs your attention. If I was browsing, this cover would make me pause and look at it. 😍

    I’ve been sticking to mostly e-books, due to space restrictions, but will be getting this in print and e-book. It’s too pretty not to!

    Thanks for the snippet too! Really looking forward to the book. 🤗

    • Yes, I do get genre cover fashion fatigue sometimes. I literally thought, this may be a new trend starting, and I’m here for it.

  58. I forgot. Things to do. Cover is beautiful. Snippet absolutely appreciated. We get a snippet weeeeeeeeee!

    So…we got a Chapter on Monday, a Snippet on Tuesday, and we get a …. on Wednesday????

  70. Oh I can’t wait! So excited to see the cover which is beautiful and very happy to have a date to look forward to for publication. Thank you so much House Andrews.

  71. Great cover! Am I right in assuming those are the 3 moons?

    And another snippet to tide us over! Very interested to see who’s doing the yelling…

  72. Oooohh, I cannot wait to read it!! I loved the snipped, and the cover is gorgeous!!
    Quick question, though, shouldn’t this post be under the “Maggie” tag? I clicked on the tag by mistake and got a little confused..

  73. I am in the UK and have ordered through Waterstones, please I has pretty cover and sprayed edges too? 🥹

    Also, that is a mean place to end a snippet, mean I tell you! Who is in the hallway? Why must I wait spray interminably long for the book whilst reading tantalising snippets? Woe is me…

  76. According to my emails, I pre-ordered this in April. The cover is, indeed, lovely. And I’m looking forward to it with great anticipation.

  78. the excitement that I have for this book is off the charts. I am wailing, gnashing my teeth, rending my tapestries to read this.

  79. 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🪘🪘🪘🪘🪘🪘🪘🪘

    Congratulations!!!

    Amazon still shows the Cover.😉
    It Looks Like a painting, i could Imagine hanging at Home.

    Plus two new snippets.😊

    Thank you and happy tuesday.

  83. Uh oh. I wonder who’s at the door? I like the cover. It’s very pretty and bright. I was expecting something more grim-dark with a keep and soldiers.

    • Maggie is not grim-dark at ALL! The world she travels to has its cruelties and injustices (much like ours), but Maggie’s story is full of hope and fighting for what’s right 🤩. The snark is snarking, the found family families, and the badasseries pile up!

      • Well, that’s a lot better than the found family foundering — which wouldn’t be good at all….

  85. The door flew open…then what!!!
    Ugh, it’s so long before 2026. Ive been waiting and it’s so close. I learned how to sew, I made a tote! I even tried knitting but it didn’t really stick yet. I made a pot holder😖That’s how looooooog ive been waiting for Maggie, Maggie, Maggie🥹.

    Oh well, its just another year😞.

    Congratulations!!!🎉 Love the cover and hey it has some bragging rights on it “#1 NY Times bestselling Authors”!!! Whoot

  92. Love the cover, and the snippet. I can picture Clover desperately trying not to break into laughter as she watches Maggie twist the knight up.

  93. so frustrating, kobo nz/Australia doesn’t have this book listed….. I’m not sure where else I can buy the ebook in nz.

    • Link will become available 🙂. The countries in the Commonwealth are getting the links replaced with the TOR U.K. preorder and it seems to be taking a while to be replaced through the system 🙂

      • thanks mod r, that’s really reassuring, I’ll stand down from contemplating a full e-reader change to an Amazon brand 🤣🤦🏼‍♀️

  96. For some time now my physical book purchases have been limited to limited editions and leatherbounds and the like… but this cover and the beautiful sprayed edges… Cannot wait to add to my shelf!

  99. Castle! Solitary turret! Gold letters! This has all the hallmarks of the humongous and beautiful fantasy tomes of my youth that have no doubt given me the painful wrists of my middle age! Bibliophilic desire abounds. . .

  100. Noooooooooooooooo- not when the door opened! Naughty overlords!! March is a loooooooong way away!

  102. Wantwantwantwantwantwantwant………..

    I am SO looking forward to this one! I will not count the time yet to wait, rather I will concentrate on the big achievements between here and then as taking me a step closer with each item crossed off my list…

  103. Love!! Beautiful cover and very distinct. Can’t wait to get my own copy. 😉

  104. I was so excited to see the snippet. Having read it, I am now depressed that I have to wait so long for the rest. Happy sad!

  105. This was always going to be an ebook purchase but I may have to buy the special edition with sprayed edges hard back too. So pretty!

    Mod R. Would we be able to have a post about best places to buy ebooks and books? TIA

    • Hi Tam, there are links at the end of the post 🙂, please buy or take the books out on loan from libraries however is more comfortable to you. The only thing the authors ask is that you do not pirate 🙂

  106. The cover is gorgeous! 😍 Can’t wait to get my copy. I will not be chalant about this, lol

    • So what you are saying is you’ll be nonchalant and wait patiently?
      I guess…. I don’t have it in me to be anything but SUPER CHALANT!!!

  109. It’s beautiful— I love the sprayed edges. This is something new (to me!) and wonderful. It really makes the books seem extra magical. Can’t wait to read!!

  111. Congratulations! It is a wonderful cover and snippet. I am looking forward to when the book comes out.

  113. the cover is absolutely gorgeous 😍 thank you for sharing it and the snippet with us 😸

  114. Still waiting to see the UK version which will be the one on sale here in Australia 🙁 Any idea when that will be up for preorder?

      • Thanks and I saw the later thread where Ilona thinks it could be about three months before the release

  115. Yaaaahs! I can hardly wait. I will have to take a vacation day when it comes out.

    Thank you for continuing to write such wonderful, exciting, and enjoyable escapes! Your books are my favorite to read, and reread and reread…

  119. Oooh such a tantalizing snippet! It is a lovely book and if I still bought actual books I would buy it asap! I can’t sadly but I am set to get my ebook ! Thanks!

  120. I love the cover art!! Bringing back the glory days of childhood YA a bit haha but it’s very pretty 🙂

  121. The repeated circles on the cover-an endless or “undying” pattern- are elegant and eye catching. Love that the title and author names are within them. The bird is amazing, the city makes me want to explore the world. Well done, great choice, wish it were arriving in time for Christmas. But THANK YOU for giving us “Inheritance” to tide us over. You are saving lives within your BDH!

  122. Ahhhh I want to know who comes through the door already! Very excited for Maggie – would not be my usual go to genre but I trust in anything House Andrews writes – especially if the authors themselves are so excited about the project. Also very pretty cover! Cannot wait to add it to my shelf, my first hard cover from you guys 🙂

  127. I love the cover. I love the snippet. I can’t wait until the book comes out in March.

  128. Wow! It’s striking! It’s unlike any fantasy cover art I’ve seen in a very long time. I love the composition and the colour palette.The nod to old school fantasy novel covers 😍 I can’t wait!

  129. The cover is beautiful
    The colours – the turrets – the moat – twin moons – a portal hole all protected by a pale gold avian predator
    Only guessing 💛 🙂

  130. Every time I see the word “snippet”, I tell myself “DON’T read ! You’ll only end up frustrated !” And every time, EVERY TIME, my eyes catch one (ONE !) word and I helplessly read the next one, and the next, and the next,…
    Now I’ m FRUSTRATED !!!! Almost nine months of waiting ahead ! I need DISTRACTIONS (like the Inheritance, but Hugh 2 would be nice, or, well, anything really…)

    But the cover is beautiful

  133. I can’t wait to read it in it entirety. Thank you for showing us the cover. It looks fantastic and very appropriate.

  134. March! I have to wait till March??? How will I survive?!

    Ok I’ll stop being a drama queen, but really? My pre-order is in and it will make me nuts knowing I have to be patient.

    BTW, I really want to be Maggie when I grow up. (I’m 62…lol)

  135. Beautiful color! Intriguing snippet with a female character I aspire to be – confident and well-spoken and definitely ‘take no cr@p’ kind of attitude.

    Thank you, Ilona and Gordon, for sharing your creative spirits with the world – I am better for it.

    Sending peace, health and safety to all!

    • Thank you House Andrews team for including the Bookshop link above and for another Horde member for mentioning in the comments else I would have been not known what that was for as I didn’t know that was a ‘thing’…

      Local bookshop supported –

      truly can say I have NEVER been so excited to procure a book before for SO many reasons…..

      Wishing everyone the most supremely magnificently delightfully wondrously fabulous day!

  136. Love the cover. Love the snippet.

    Currently I can only order the Audiobook on Amazon Australia. I expect the ebook will (eventually!)be available to pre-order before the release date!

    • It will! The links are being replaced with the U.K. edition around the Commonwealth and it is unfortunately taking quite a while!

  138. Not available Amazon au in ebook, or Apple Books Au. Only on audible, I like to read my books 🙁

  139. Is the deluxe edition of the book just the hardcover version? Or is there a special place we must order it?

  140. Not quite ROFLMAO!!! Thanks for a great snippet, and the beautiful cover that’s coming. One possibly close to doing justice to the great story it will have inside it.

  141. Lovely as always. Chernobog grant me patience. The void . . . oh wait, wrong world . . . Roman, please tell Chernobog sorry I bothered him. . . I will be fluffy and chalant. Ommmmmmmmm

  146. It’s beautiful and of course will be brilliant. And while I’m thrilled with the Inheritance posts, I’m missing Hugh. Could you please have a snippet of him soon?

  148. When will there be a countdown to release established on the home page? I do so enjoy watching the days countdown til launch day.

  150. Love the cover!! It definitely feels like a fantasy genre cover.

    And love the snippet!! I can’t wait to read this. March 2026 seems too far away. Thank you for creating another world to enjoy. 🙏

    And the Amazon link says:

    At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

    Does this mean we’re able to download a copy like we used to before the recent changes?

  155. I admit I am at work, with tons on my plate, it has already been a stressful morning and then I saw this. Happy feelings now, it made me smile.

  156. Squeee!!! I just preordered the hard back! I’ll be getting the eBook AND the audio, too! I’m SO excited!

  159. 100% off topic but

    TAPAS INNKEEPER IS AVAILABLE AT MY LIBRARY

    YAY!!!

    just started and it’s so fun

  160. Oh oh, what comes next?! Okay definitely looking to get this one. Now I must wait as Chalant as possible.

  164. Beautiful cover. I love how much it says about what you’ve shared about Maggie.

    I have to say though, I think my absolute favorite thing is that M in Kingdom. because there’s all this rich detail going on in the cover, and that M doesn’t otherwise match the stark title font (only other embellishment is the opening “T” bookending the emphasis). it’s a finger being waggled in the face of the book and it’s just so perfect. 😀

  165. Amazon just suggested this book to me on the “Books You Might Like” section of their webpage at 50% off for the Kindle edition pre-order. So “WooHoo! They are helping with getting pre-orders. I noticed it when I recognized the book cover.

  167. That cover is Beautiful! It reminds me of the Patricia McKillip covers from back in the day. I will have to get the hardcover now for my shelf of Joy! Thank you.

  170. Woot woot!🙌🏾🙌🏾
    I’m late catching this train but thanks so much for sharing your beautiful cover. I might have to buy the hard cover… it’ll still go on the reader but I want to see 👀 the cover!!
    Thank you also for the snippet, which of course I inhaled with my eyes…

    Something food to look forward to in 2026 ☺️☺️☺️

  171. Wow!

    I really like the cover.

    It reminds me of books I’ve seen on epic fantasy/adventure/sci-fi book shelves in bookstores from back in the day. Authors such as Ursala K. Le Guin, Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey, Elizabeth Moon, Piers Anthony, Mary Stewart, Terry Brooks, Marion Z. Bradley and so many more… the covers were so colorful, wild and straight out of fantastical imaginings of the artist and the author. I’m dancing in my chair with glee! Can’t hardly wait for Maggie 2 and a new cover reveal.

    I noticed this post didn’t get as much love/comments as your next one: “No Friday Inheritance” post, but that’s okay — we’re special!

    Thank you for sharing your creative imaginings with us, your Book Devouring Horde. May we always be worthy and deserve to earn your words.

    Toodles!

  172. Hello,

    Amazon only has a hardcover print version. Will a soft cover be available? I suspect yes, but I would also like to pre-order the soft cover book.

  173. Beautiful. Bright. Intriguing.

    I get the value of cross-marketing by popular authors, especially with a new genre. But, I‘m waiting for the day the blurb on the cover just says: „We‘re trying something new. – Ilona Andrews“ That is simply the most compelling recommendation!

  175. Hiw did I miss this post 😂! I haven’t been on Facebook lately, that’s how!
    I so love this snippet and the cover is AMAZING!! I’m so sold on this book already, you both write it I will read it 😆!!! I can’t wait for March, 2026 now!!
    Thank you for this!! But I also need Hugh book #2 please!!!

  176. I just finished the ARC(and then immediately flipped back to page one to re-start the entire thing, which should be an indication of how much I loved it), and now that I’ve read the book I think the cover is a great representation of how fresh, spectacular, and *special* what y’all have written really is. I’ve been reading your work since Magic Bites came out when I was a teen, and now I have babies of my own, so I really feel I’ve been with y’all for the whole journey, reading everything and rooting loudly all the way; with Maggie, I believe y’all are about to launch into the stratosphere. The BDH is about to get a lot bigger.
    I adored the book and I cannot wait for the whole word to read it <3

    • Kimberly, thank you so much! You are so kind. I’m thrilled the book worked for you. This made my week. I almost cried.