Three months ago, in a moment of christmassy optimism, I posted a draft quiz meant to help answer that question: Which Ilona Andrews series should you start next?
The idea was simple:
New Hordlings would arrive on our welcoming BDH shores after reading This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me. They would discover multiple Ilona Andrews series waiting for them, each with a different tone and entry point. A shiny treasure trove!
But sometimes even treasure can be overwhelming. The quiz was meant to be one extra quick, fun way to point them toward the best starting point according to their preferences. (We all know they will end up reading everything anyway.)
The Horde very generously tested the first version. And by “tested,” I mean you had many thoughts about how much you hated it haha.
Back to the drawing board I went. Thank you!
The original quiz has been reworked and simplified so it requires much less reading and thinking than the first draft. There are no more jokes or questions about anything to do with morally grey characters or pacing. There is one constraint I can’t change: the quiz plugin cannot produce a reasonably accurate result across five different series with only 3 questions, as many of you requested.
So, new version: same question count, but trims everything down to the shortest prompts I can possible write while still allowing the quiz to hopefully point readers somewhere useful.
You can let me know below whether we succeeded this time, please and thank you!
Take 2:
Please remember the quiz plugin does not work in the email newsletter, so if you’re seeing this in your inbox you’ll need to click here to try it through the blog.
I was thinking hidden legacy is my current favorite and that was what showed up. So not too bad a quiz! Although I got into IA books thru Dina and the inn and it’s also a frequent re-read or listen. Kate and Curran really didn’t begin to grow on me until at least the third book. Thereafter, of course, I was hooked. And Hugh’s book is also on repeat in my life 😁. Truly it’s hard work picking a favorite.
Fun! Thanks!
The new quiz is great. Although I was surprised at the answer I got, because that is not the book/character I would have started with knowing what I know now. But there really isn’t any bad place to start, you end up reading them all anyway. 🙂
And rereading multiple times.
This also works for “which series should I re-read?” For the xth time!
Two suggestions… (1) Spell out HEA, (2) on the TV question offer an option for non-tv watchers, e.g. “I’d rather read”
Works for me. Thankyou.
I got Kate Daniels, which is the series I reread the most. I enjoyed this quiz, it was a lot of fun!
I am one of the Kinsmen! 😊😍
Fun! Good job ModR!
I got Kinsman 1st time through. sort of surprised me, but I was trying not to get Innkeeper. Innkeeper is my first favorite. Second time through got Innkeeper. Third time Kate Daniels.
I think it is a good quiz. Maybe pin it somewhere for new readers of the blog, a how to introduction.
The Edge, yes!
The series has characters beginning in the Edge and continuing in my second choice, Innkeeper, of where to begin reading books in the HA universes.
I completed the quiz and it worked perfectly, no glitches and landed me on the one I expected from the choices I had made. I love it all, so any series recommendations would be great but from a developer perspective, it worked perfectly. I think you have a keeper and a great resource for new readers of IA adventures.
Ha! I got Kate Daniels…which is my all-time favorite series. So, I’d say the quiz works great!
Im Just curious. I looked for ‘This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me’ on Amazon, and the Paperback costs more than the Hardback. Is this correct??
Hardcover $26.39 Paperback $36.28
Hi Roberta, thank you so much for flagging, Ilona is looking into it 🙂
Update: it looks like a third-party seller with a UK copy they shouldn’t be selling on Amazon US.
It’s been flagged with the publisher! Thanks so much for pointing it out again, you’re awesome 😻
Well done! Pointed me to my favourite series so far.
I got matched up with the Kate Daniels books, which makes sense being that I have read the entire series (some of them twice).
I do think you achieved your goal with this one.
Better, much better. I appreciate how the questions gradually get more series specific which will be useful for newbies.
I got Kate which is my favorite series and well I assume that includes Hugh who I’m dying to see what happens with his story. I love the Baylors as well and Maud is also an amazing character. But Kate and her world is still my favorite!
This time the quiz was perfect.
I had fun doing the quiz — and that’s the whole point! For new folks, it would be fun to take multiple times to see what pops up. A great introduction to the worlds House Andrews has created! For long-time fans (I read Magic Bites when first published) I could see the answer for each series and it made me realize what an amazing job they’ve done creating different worlds, formats, vibes… I have enjoyed each but turn to different ones in different moods… THANKS MOD R!
Love Kate and her gang. But also love Nevada and her family. Keep on telling their tales.
I am really struggling to be chalant for the next two weeks.
I like this quiz. I tried to answer as I would if I didn’t know the series to which many of the answers pointed. I was pleased with my result. It wasn’t the one I thought I would get, but I think it’s accurate guidance.
It picked my least favorite series—Innkeeper. To be fair, I do love Maud’s book, and I might be bad at multiple choice and translating my thoughts and feelings into the right answers, so
Hands down, it picked my favorite series (Hidden Legacy). It’s the reason I follow your blog. I am devastated that you announced that it won’t continue. It always hits the right note. I reread the series about every 6 weeks.
The Hidden Legacy series just had a release – an Augustine Montgomery novella https://ilona-andrews.com/featured-release/
The main series is finished- for now. Important distinction 🙂. There are ideas for it’s continuation, just not a firm spot on the release schedule.
This seems like a workable quiz format. It was hard to test though. I think familiarity with IA-Space slanted my results. So, a me problem, not a newbie problem.
I’m obsessed with all the series, each and everyone for me to throw myself into bring different fun, sarcasm and adventures depending on my mood. But I started out with Kate so I think it’s apt that new devotees do too. Long live the horde!! 🫡
Nope, I would not start with Kinsmen, despite what the quiz says. I would start with either Hidden Legacy or Innkeeper.
Good quiz although I struggled with the question about preferred struggle. And since I love all House Andrews books, it’s impossible to get the wrong answer. (But based on recent new books I’ve been reaching for, definitely the correct series.)
mod r you are the best! I liked the humor of the other quiz although I understand streamlining. This is a good quiz!
Well, it gave me what I wanted. Yes, I directly answered questions so Innkeeper was the result! More still required to aid my addiction to what’s to come for Maud and Dina (and Helen of course).
Pretty good! The first two Edge books are my favorites. Although Hugh and the White Witch and Arland and Maud are coming on strong.
I liked the old one too, but for baby hordlings, this is better and easier and then they will be addicted and very chalant and all will be well.
Excellent Job!
I liked this quiz a lot better! I purposely didn’t plan to land on my favorite series, but it was easy to make decisions, and I ended up there anyway. BRAVO!!!
You nailed it!
Hidden Legacy for me. As it ought to be.
Or should it have been Innkeeper? Wait!! I MUST test again.
Oh, you new Hordlings have so, so much to look forward to!
So much;-)
I got the same results as the last iteration, if that helps you. Innkeeper Chronicles for me, which is indeed my favorite!
I knew which answers would lead to what but a new BDH member wouldn’t and that’s what counts, I think it’s a good improvement over the first.
I got Kate, which is great as I’m re-reading the series again while I wait for Maggie
I love all your type of stories. Please just keep writing you keep me SANE🤣 In this current world.
Thank you for the quiz, that was fun! For me it boiled down to two questions, what is the world and who is the sidekick. The quiz matched me with my favourite of course 😉 so it works. I might not always look for a series. I pick up the book, fall in love with the world and now I want to read more! *Kinsman eh
Maybe next surveys can rank our favourites or describe or favourite book or Series in an old fashioned SMS style
Mine was right on the mark with the Innkeeper series! But really any of them would be right ;-). My only suggestion is the spell out HEA for us Book Toc Neanderthals.
So apperantly some of our fellow Horders tell ppl to start KD with Book 3? The Midnightgames one?? R y’all okay???
Hi Mod R,
Muuuuuch better! I would recommend adding a tab about seeing the character relationship grow/romance as an option for the question what keeps you going for the next book—if that’s possible. Honestly, it great though!
Heehee I got the Innkeeper Chronicles, TWICE! Even though I was choosing diffefent answers the second time through!
Definitely my favorite of the series and where I started my IA journey.
As far as feedback on the quiz, I liked it much better than the 1st version. There were three questions that I didn’t love.
1)’tension’ I had to really stop and think about what this was asking, and what each option meant. Im not sure if thats just me, or if theres a better way to word it. The question and options were good, just the wording messed with me personally.
2)’next story’ This one felt like all the options were essentially the same. Usually I pick up the next story in the series because the story is not completed. And I kinda felt like all the options meant some version of that, so it was difficult to choose one.
3)’tv show’ Yeah, my favorite things to watch are cooking shows, home improvement shows, and documentaries… which was not even remotely an option.
Other than my own personal nitpickings I thought it was a really good quiz, and I _LOVE_ the idea!
Thanks Mod R, you are the best!
The quiz suggested to start with my least favorite series you ever wrote, even when I selected against what I knew was questions designed to lead me to that series. The Edge isn’t a bad series, just my least favorite. I wonder how others did?
Need to wonder no longer! 307 comments before yours discuss just that 🙂
I got the KD series, but I have read and loved everything House Andrews has written. a series for every mood lol
Got the one I actually started w. Love me some KD
😆 this is the one I started with!! kate daniels
Much improved. Great job! Perfect!
I got kinsmen in both quizzes, so well done! As you said in the post, new readers will probably end up consuming the whole back catalogue, because all of them contain the key ingredients for Ilona Andrews novels which include intelligence, charm, and excellent writing.
Start with book 3 indeed. :::Sniffs::: “Here kitty kitty”.
This quiz needs a ferret. Very pleased with my result as it is accurate to the mess my brain is at the current moment due to * gestures broadly* ** again** this.
No matter the answer…I still love Innkeepers Chronicles first (it flipped me into the Edge). Ripper Cushions and barsa barsa barsa!
Good job, as always Mod R!👏
Thanks, my result was much better than last time! I got Innkeeper, which – together with Hidden Legacy – is my favourite re-read 🙂 Its nice we’re feeling so fluffy towards our new horde-ies, they’ll be very happy here, I’m sure!
… however, as I am a strong follower of Facts be Damned… If you ever have too much time on your hands, would it maybe be possible for us to also get a 2nd option quiz that asks things like our favorite color or onion to determine our spirit character and therefore what to re-read? 😀
I got the most recent series I had reread, so I’d have to give a thumbs up for accuracy.
Hello,
The reason why I found Kate Daniels, and with it all the other lovely Books and series, was an Artikel in Lyx Forum where some Fan postet under the question „who is your favorite book boyfriend“. Maybe this could be another quiz 🙂
I like the quiz! Good work. (I ended up with the Edge, though I was kinda thinking of Kate. Doesn’t matter — I love every one of HA’s serials.
As someone upstream posted, the quiz needs a ferret. Every book, quiz and post needs a ferret. You can never have too many ferrets. Or bunny cats.
Yes! This new quiz is really cool! I think the new Horde members will find it very helpful.
Huh. I came up with Kinsmen, perhaps my least favorite. Maybe because I picked shorter stories? I was sort of trying for the Edge.
The changes are great, Mod R!
I am, predictably, prescribed Innkeeper… again. What can I say? I love them all but Innkeeper is my safe place.
FIX!!! Definitely a fix, where’s the option for “all of the above”. The only correct answer to most of these questions.
Good update!
Great job MR!