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What is it?

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We’ve received so many requests and comments regarding the current project that I am going to take pity on poor Mod R and announce what it is, since we are almost done.

We are working on another world fantasy with prominent romantic elements. It’s an isekai, also known as a portal fantasy. Not sure if it qualifies as a romantasy, but it is pretty close, if you like your romantasy with dark magic and a dash of serial killer. (The serial killer is not the romantic interest.)

This book is a love letter to fandom passion. If you ever wondered about the random details of the world you read about and thought a little too hard about the characters, this will speak to you. It’s less LOTR and more Game of Thrones. It’s gritty and dark, but also funny and absurd in places.

This is how the protagonist describes the genre:

There was something about blades and magic that did it for me. Deadly swordsmen with sleek weapons, thieves prowling through the night cities, dark magicians, ruthless nobles, I loved it all.

This is exactly what it says above. Because it’s an isekai, things are really over the top. This book is weird and a departure from out previous work. So please don’t get excited, it’s not Kate 2.0 or Hidden Legacy 2.0. It’s odd.

Tags: other world, found family, grand betrayal, slow burn, mastermind.

[Edit Mod R: Tags are badass magic wielders, move over Alphaholes, will the dress take the dye, stabbing, tea drinking, cute critters, princes in disguise! Ok, ok, I’ll shut up and let Ilona finish.]

It is tentatively titled Maggie, which will certainly change, and consists of three parts titled Bag of Money, Heart of a Knight, and In the Name of the Father. The draft is currently at 110K and will top out at 120. We expect to finish in 2 weeks.

If you are a reader, you have to wait a bit until we decide what to do with it. If you are an editor, we are represented by Nancy Yost of NYLA. Unfortunately, we cannot respond to direct requests. Everything must go through our agent.

We will announce what happens to this book as soon as it does. You will know when we will know.

What’s next, what’s next?

I’m going to kick myself for this. Iron and Magic 2 is next.

Please do not bug Gordon and me about it. Please don’t ask if its done two weeks after we start. I already low-key dread writing it because it will be like writing under a microscope, so please don’t make it worse or we will have to go into internet blackout to get it done and that means no extras for the blog.

We’d love to have some extras for you. Holidays are coming up. Hehehe.

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Comments

  2. I’ve actually been reading a lot of isikai lately, so this project sounds fantastic to me. Looking forward to reading it!

  4. I’m excited to read the new work. Different is something exciting.
    Please don’t stress too much over Iron and Magic 2! We’ll love it! For now, I’ll wait to dust off my copy of 1 until closer to the release of 2.
    Thank you for all you give us.

  5. I’m very excited for Maggie, though the grand betrayal tag has me preemptively anxious! From this fan I say you should write whatever you want to afterwards but be sure and take a well earned rest first. And from the look of the comments section you probably really shouldn’t have mentioned Iron and Magic book 2! (I will be much hated for this but I’m so contrary I now slightly want you to say that you’ve changed your mind and will write something else instead 😉 )

  6. Maggie sounds awesome! But to be honest, it doesn’t matter what you write, I’ll read it. Your world building is always fascinating, and the characters are nuanced and authentic. I’m glad you take the time to make well-crafted stories, so thank you. Your snippets always make my day.

  7. Looking forward to all of it. No pressure. Loved the bit about the dress. Reminds me of me. I currently own a pair of pants that I got on sale. Bought them online for a STEAL. They were described has khaki colored. Well, the reason they were so cheap??? They were mustard yellow, the brownish, stone ground color with a kind of yellow algae thing going on. Only uglier because if you squint at them sideways there’s a tint of puke green mixed in there. Don’t worry, I ordered a cheap black pair too! And it became PAINFULLY obvious that they tried to dye the ugly mustard pants right after I tried to dye the ugly mustard pants. They are not black. They are…is that dark brown with black…why are the pants kind of glowing mustard algae in this light? In any light??? But hey! They were cotton! And on sale! Free shipping and normally 75 dollar pants…and I somehow own two mustard colored puke pants.

    • Sounds like the new dye didn’t take, or it took, but the mustard wanted to hang on.

      It could be the manufacturer over dyed the fabric to cause the color horror.

      What a color description of your pants! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

  10. Isekai is my favorite anime thrope. I’m so glad you wrote a story in that style and will pre-order it whenever that’s available. Sending everyone happy vibes.

  11. Iron and Magic 2? Really?

    *sad/hopeful puppy dog eyes*

    I have had my fingers crossed you would get to it soon. I will keep being patient as much as I can; I will not bother House Andrews because authors don’t need any extra stress.

    I am looking forward to Maggie too of course! I think I’ve only read one portal fantasy since high school; there were a few series back at that time that made the rounds of my group of friends.

    • Re: puppy dog eyes

      I have two dogs. The older one has huge dark brown eyes and they are outlined in black skin which makes them look even bigger. And I swear her pupils are always dilated. She’s like that gif of Puss in Boots from Shrek. And she turns into Sad Victorian Orphan Puppy at the drop of a hat. Her ears go down and she looks up at you like she has never known love and if you just do what she wants it will keep her from wasting away. And she’s smart enough to be manipulative, she knows exactly what she’s doing.

      And then we have Thing 2, Willow, the younger dog. She has small golden eyes and Yoda ears, and when she wants something her eyes go wide so you can see the whites around them. Poor Willow cannot beg effectively to save her soul. She ends up with a blep and crazy eyes and Yoda ears.

      So what I’m saying is, when I say sad puppy dog eyes, I’m talking about the deep dark pools of irresistible Victorian Orphan Destitution, not Bleppy Caffeinated Yoda.

      • dying laughing at your descriptions of your dogs! i can picture both of them perfectly. i had a previous dog who could do sad begging victorian orphan quite well. my current dog can’t do those eyes, but she’s part husky and will follow me around telling me all the tales of her woe. so much woe.
        “aroo roo roo roo roo!”
        “oh really?”
        “arooooo roo roo”
        “its like that is it?”
        “arooo roo roo roo”
        “my goodness, i had no idea!”
        “rooooo. arooroo roo.”

  12. Hmmm…. 120k? Makes me wonder if you’ll get to 130k with Maggie. =) Hugh and Elara II made me squee, too! I finally got started in the Graphic Audio Kate books, and I’m really enjoying them! Gotta tell the boss about them, because she has said Kate is her favorite. She finished HL and I think Innkeeper, too. But fun chat is really limited right now due to a rabies issue in our county. ::sigh:: But I’ve said it before, you two could write a phone book and we’d gobble it up and love it! =)

  13. my brain, upon reading the genre: “ITS AN ISEKAI!!!!!!!” and then after I was able to think more words “I have to go reread the snippets with this added context immediately”

    (also yay on Iron and Magic 2! I appreciate the update on the next project – it lets me know what to reread in anticipation 🙂 )

  14. *Squeeeeeeeee!!!*

    (About both but especially I&M2 mention)

    That’s all I’ll say about it though. continue on as usual. 😉

  15. Thank you for making Iron and Magic your next story. I’m looking forward to it!

    I’m so excited about Maggie. Can’t wait to read it.

  16. Sympathy. I remember Obama‘s puzzled response when someone asked him in December after he was elected why he hadn’t fixed the economy yet. His answer was basically, “You know I’m not actually the President for another three weeks, right?”

    We are an impatient, ever hungry hoard.

  17. This is totally (kind of) unrelated, but I’m doing it. My husband has never enjoyed reading because he’s dyslexic. I started reading the Kate series to him and now he’s completely hooked on your writing! He wanted me to let you know the joy that he gets from the books and how much he loves the books. Reading out loud to him has changed the books for me, too. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    • That’s how I got my husband into the BDH, too. =) Every time I laughed,snorted, or made some other noise, he made me read it to him. =) Now he’s a BDHer in his own right,although he says he’s in the “husband’s auxiliary” of the BDH. =)

  18. I can’t WAIT for all of the above. I don’t want to pressure you (and I’m honestly not trying to do so), but I really hope you can get Steve West (even if we have to wait a lot longer) for Iron and Magic 2. Like Ilona, when I read Hugh now in a book, I hear Steve West (which is true for most of the characters he voiced, but Hugh is 100% Steve for me). I love the Graphic Audio books, but I keep expecting to hear Steve for Hugh. 😂. Thank you so much for sharing. May your days be smooth, your writing flow easily, and May EVERY word get published. 😂😂😂

  19. The BDH is impatient and whiney, but we LOVE you, so we hope you’ll forgive us!

    I promise personally to try to restrain myself and refrain from all nagging and incessant Is-It-Done-Yet questions!

    *quietly cheers “WHOOP!! Iron and Magic 2!! WHOOP WHOOP!!”*

  20. P.S. Maggie also sounds amazing! I know you said “not anchor series material” but I wouldn’t be so quick to say that.

  21. Yay Maggie! Yay odd and stubby! Yay Iron and Magic 2! You are the best!
    You really *are* the best, I am in awe of your skill, talent and hard work. Then I start worrying that you’re working *too* hard…before Mom mode kicks in, I will shut up.
    Thank you, looking forward to Maggie.

  23. So excited, a brand new world! and promise of Iron and Magic 2! Gives me chills. Will wait patiently . . .

  25. I am looking forward to Maggie even more than before! I didn’t even know that was possible. I have literally loved everything you guys have written so I am not worried about weird or odd. You guys have a way of making those things gold.

  27. “There was something about blades and magic that did it for me. Deadly swordsmen with sleek weapons, thieves prowling through the night cities, dark magicians, ruthless nobles, I loved it all.”

    Omg, all the squees over here! This sounds absolutely fantastic! Is it weird? I don’t know yet – but I love every tidbit of description you’ve given us so far! Gritty! Dark! Romantasy-esque! Stabby-stabby-ness! Funnies and absurdities! My brain is exploding, lol. I want for you guys to have what you want from it – even if that means…. w$@ting for trad publishing…. Oy. BDH will be brave and have patience!

    I promise not to ask about Hugh #2 … but, woot!

    Sending all the good thoughts your way!

  29. Thank you thank you thank you. I’m thrilled to hear Iron and Magic 2 is coming. You have all my respect and patience because I know it will be damn brilliant.

    • If we want eventual Hugh and Elara snippets…this member of the Horde will be very patient. 😇😎📚

      Can’t speak for the rest of the Horde, though.

  33. As a massive consumer of webtoons daily, with a strong lean towards fantasy, action, romance, and of course isekai, reincarnation or transmigration (I’ve probably read most of them), I find nothing weird about these type of stories! What’s more weird is finding one that’s above par, either not full of tropes, or making fun of such tropes, or where the art is just as beautiful as the story (I.E. Secret Lady or Stepmother’s Marchen).

    To hear my favorite authors are taking a spin on it means we’re in for something ☆☆☆GOOD☆☆☆ Can’t wait!

  35. ooooh, isekai, nice 😁

    and we’re finally getting Hugh #2 wohoooo! don’t need to know anything else, happy writing 😄

  37. Asking the BDH to “not get excited” when you are talking about a new work is like asking Kate to not use her sword again. Please. . .

    • but Kate did manage it. She head butted the guy unconscious instead.

      silently chanting, ” we can do it, we can do it, we can do it.”

  38. We will love the new thing and say thank you prettily, be it fantasy, romance, Kate, Hidden Legacy, Innkeeper, or Edge….or a few titles that I’ve left off. And yes, I may daydream about night out & a poker table with Dina and Kate and Julie and Adira and Maud and Sophie and Cerise and Rose trading stories as Caldenia & Evdokia watch bemused…but doesn’t mean I won’t welcome new amazing characters and magic to the table:). Thank you so much for the stories. Always,

  39. “It’s an isekai”
    YES!!!! My favorite genre of Manga/Anime. Everyone get on the Maggie train.
    If the BDH hasn’t seen it Isekai anime has been scraping the bottom of the barrel for good ideas this year. We have one where someone is reincarnated as a vending machine. Makes the one where the person was reincarnated as a sword (which was actually decent) look great.
    I now have 20 million questions about the tropes.
    Did Maggie get hit by an out of control car/bus/truck? Does she get a ridiculous skill that makes her OPed? Is there some gimmick which keeps her at Lvl 1?
    Maggie!!! Maggie!!
    Thank you for writing and good luck on writing the book which will not be named.

  41. Maybe I misremember, but I thought I had read in the blog during Covid that you had written a second Iron and Magic book. But you chose not to release it as it was grim and you thought the real world was grim enough already.

    Are you starting from scratch or reworking that book? Or am I completely misremembering? 🙂

  42. Ok folks, …shushhh it is! Only quiet desperation for a House Andrews fix from here out 😉

  43. Thank you for everything you write for us. We know we can be insufferable, so thank you for not abandoning us 😂🩵

  44. Okay, so, yes, I am excited about Iron and Magic, but right now, I am 100% ALL IN for Maggie.

    I know it’s not Kate, and I am very okay with that. You and Gordon are authors. You’re allowed to grow and change and (*gasp*) branch out, even after many years in the field.
    Personally, I’m looking forward to exploring this branch, and I know I’m not the only one ♥

  45. I have a question & I’m okay if you don’t want to answer at this point.

    Do you anticipate the work-in-progress currently entitled Maggie to be a stand alone novel or the first book in a series?

    I have a hard time waiting for the next book, particularly if there is any type of cliff hanger, so I prefer to start a series when it is finished.

    In this case I will pre-order Maggie the day it becomes available and promptly devour it on release night regardless of your answer but it would help to be mentally prepared for any loose ends or cliff hangers.

    **Trying to be a fluffy horde member.**

  47. Maggie sounds like my brand of reader catnip. I look forward to hearing more as it comes, likewise for Iron and Magic 2.

  48. Thank you for feeding our curious minds. And please take the time you need to be yourselves first. I’m as impatient as the next fan, sure. And I’m also a fan of good mental health.

  49. I love all of your worlds and can’t wait to read all about the next world. Thank you for snippets and everything you give to we the BDH.

  50. No pressure Happy Dance! I am excited you are ready to work on Iron Covenant 2! I am sucker for a redeemed villain who faces consequences for his actions. And that Elara snippet was soooooo good. But no pressure, on when. Nope, nope, nope. Just excited it will happen, lol.

    I look forward to Maggie and I think it’s hilarious how you try to temper our expectations and we are like “Horde happy has new Book to Devour!” Happy Horde noises.

  51. Woo Hoo!!!

    Much excitement and gratitude for goodies coming our way! We are a much loved BDH.

    Thank you and have a lovely weekend!!!

  54. This is exciting. First: Iron & Magic 2! Woo Hoo! That’s the last I’ll say about it. I’m the king of delayed gratification, & the thought of opening that particular present the day AFTER Christmas ~next~ year is really cool (and if it takes until Labor Day the year after that, that’s ok too 😁).

    Maggie! Portal stories can be tricky. There’s the risk of too much “I know things your primitive minds haven’t even conceived of” or “I’m overwhelmed by these things ~I’ve~ never conceived of.” But from Lewis Carroll to Piers Anthony to Terry Brooks to O.S. Card to Diana Gabaldon, when they work, they’re amazing. I’m looking forward to this. I may be your only fan who “merely tolerates” the sex scenes in your stories [the action, dialogue, & underlying ideas keep me coming back for more], & I’ll keep skipping ahead on those, but the snippets you’ve already released from Maggie have me hooked & you can reel me in at your convenience. I wish you success with however you decide to publish it! (Someone really should just deliver a dump truck of money to your driveway every year in exchange for your latest novel).

  56. Please remember you can always change your mind. It’s your prerogative. No pressure. Write whatever you enjoy writing.

  58. Maggie!!! I am sooooo looking forward to this!!! You’re description sounds perfect. And I know I will love it…when it comes. P@ti$nt here. Really. I promise.

  59. Hey, I think I want that guy’s phone number. Dreamy and dangerous. Congrats for all the future plans and wonderful books. Thank you for firing up the imaginations and all the feels. Happy Halloween.

  62. an Ilona Andrews isekai?! specifically, an Ilona Andrews fantasy romance isekai with black magic and murder?!

    this is proof (to me) that God is real and does, in fact, answer prayers. 🥹

  63. Yay!!!! So excited for Maggie!!! And SO excited for Iron and Magic 2. I dearly hope my fellow BDH-ers don’t make your lives miserable for announcing what you’re working on 🙁 Take as long as you need, and do whatever you have to do to keep yourselves happy/healthy while you work on it!!! I would be so desperately sad if you ever burned out and stopped writing, so please do whatever it takes to keep yourselves enjoying your writing. Every story you give us is a gift that brings us endless joy (I cannot tell you how many times I have reread every single book you’ve written). Thank you, and we love you!!!!

  64. It’s been a tough 5 years for me (before covid even started), and adulting continues to be a challenge for me. Reading and listening where I can, to both the audio and graphic audio versions, of all your stories are what have helped to keep me sane and looking forward. Thank you for practicing your craft and sharing it with the world.

    Looking forward to new adventures and revisiting familiar heroes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

  65. YES YES YES!!!!! HUGH IS COMING!!!!

    Will Maggie be self-published? I know it sounds like it, but I confuse early and often. Just knowing Hugh is at the top of the list comforts me enormously, though.

    • As House Andrews say “you have to wait a bit until we decide what to do with it. […] We will announce what happens to this book as soon as it does. You will know when we will know.”
      No decisions have been made yet regarding traditional or self-pub, they have to go through the agency

  66. Maggie sounds amazing, looking forward to a nice long read. I’ve been waiting on tenterhooks for Iron and Magic 2. Thrilled that is the next project. I will wait patiently as long as you need. Thank you for all your awesome work!

  68. I live isekai! I can’t wait. The only thing that could be better is if your next off-genre foray steps all the way past isekai into GameLit, or even LitRPG. Then HA would officially usurp Alexey Osadchuk as my favorite Russian-ish author

  70. OMG, as an avid isekai reader who loves ALL of those tropes and all of your books, I cannot adequately express just how thrilled I am to be read this. I. Cannot. Wait.

  71. When I tell you the indecent noise that left my mouth on reading Tha second part
    (thank you for your trust)

  72. I love isekai!!!! One of my favorite genres (usually mixed with litrpg or wuxia/xianxia). So excited.

    Also, I really liked the webtoons you recommended the other week. I devoured Greatest Estate Developer.

  73. love you guys. hope all the best for the new book. I’m not sure if it will be one I like or not one thing I love about your books to date is there relaxing don’t get too tense I don’t have to worry about the main characters dying which is one reason I stopped reading a lot of the male authors even though I loved their story’s, some feel a need to kill off characters pretty regularly and I can’t handle it LOL guess I’m too fragile.

    I wish all the best for house Andrews, the mods and all of bdh

  75. Thank you for being the wonderful, detail-oriented, quality writers that you are. I do browse through my reading/listening stash and and think, “Oh, how I wish there was something new from Ilona Andrews.” But that’s because you are awesome, not because I want you to hurry up and finish. When you complete the next what ever book it is, I will buy it, I will read it, and I know I will love it.

  77. Yay Iron & Magic 2! Good luck writing it! That is the last I will say because I love having y’all posting snippets and generally being around.

  78. Thank you for sharing your plans. Looking forward to read it.
    I hope that we will get the translation to Polish soon (we have Just main 10 Kate’s books and Hidden Legacy – 3 books) after it will be relased.
    Have s great weekend and thank you for being my cure for the bad days.

  80. While isekai can be very overdone, I absolutely love new or unique takes on isekai, and I am sure you will deliver exactly that. Can’t wait to see what you make of the genre!

  82. Heee-heee-hah! Very glad to read all of this. I hope “Maggie” finds a home because the thought of a HA portal story fills me with joy. I haven’t read much of that type, but there’s one series (maybe I learned of it from a recommendation thread on this blog?) that has become a go-to comfort read.

    I shall patiently wait for the other and never say a word about it until something is voluntarily released. 🙂

  85. *Snoopydance!* About everything! Everything in this blog I mean. Real life could take a hint. Not that it’s not improving! But books are still a lot better. Especially HA books.

  86. Iron and Magic is my favorite of all the books you’ve written. I hate horror and gore but love this book.
    Go figure.

  89. Congratulations on being close to finished with Maggie! It must feel amazing to finish the first draft of such a large project – at least until the edits come in. 🙂 I sincerely hope that you get to take at least a week or two off to recover.

    I haven’t read any Isekai (other than old ones, like Alice in Wonderland), so I’m really excited about Maggie – I bet it will be amazing. And thank you for your generosity in telling us about Hugh! I’m sitting here with a really huge grin and I’m wishing you zero pressure while you write it.

  91. I wish you could have seen the look of pure joy when I read that Iron and Magic is next. *goes to wait very patiently* Thank you Ilona and Gordon!

  92. Thank you, yay, i apologize for superpushy BDH, yay again, cccchhhiiiji!

    I.LOVE. Iron and Magic, and wish you all the best in writing it.

    No matter how differsnt ” Maggie” is, we appreciate your work!

  94. My husband gaped at me hooting and waving my arms in the air when I read that Iron and Magic 2 is next! Woooooooooooo! I’ve been waiting! In respectful silence! Woooooo!

  95. OMG, you have already told the BDH how hard writing Hugh and Roman ( Dark Volve is), anything you put out I will appreciate!!! I still remember the interview with the Inn. So much fun!

  96. OMG, you have already told the BDH how hard writing Hugh and Roland ( Dark Volve is), anything you put out I will appreciate!!! I still remember the interview with the Inn. So much fun!

  97. Yea!!!! I have been hoping that Iron and Magic would come out before too long( I was going to say “ before I die” but I didn’t want to be too dramatic or to pressure anyone).

  98. Three (3!) mentioned projects (or hinted at). The universe is good to us. (Almost said “gods” but then people will get fussy thinking I’m deifying IA.) Thanks ever so much kind creators. 😁

  99. So excited for Maggie!

    I love reading Asian Isekais, but there really isn’t much in the genre coming out of western lit, so this will be fun!!

    For anyone that doesn’t know, isekai (異世界) is a Japanese word that translates to “different/strange/another world.” So, the genre is basically that – when some is either transported to (think Narina) or reborn into another world.

  100. Super excited about everything the two of you write! Thank you for being you, and sharing your love of words and tales with us