A page-turning, unforgettable fantasy set in a city peopled with ruffians, spies, malcontents and murderers. Experience out-of-this world adventure and dangerous politics as Maggie tries to survive waking up in her favourite fictional world.
A heart-pounding epic from No. 1 New York Times bestselling author duo Ilona Andrews.
When Maggie wakes up cold, filthy and naked in a gutter, it doesn’t take her long to recognize Kair Toren. It’s a city she knows intimately from the pages of a famously unfinished dark fantasy series – one 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 encyclopaedic 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 return home, she finds herself enmeshed in the schemes – and attentions – of duelling princes, dukes and villains. This all while trying to save them and the kingdom of Rellas from the ending she’s seen on the a cataclysmic war.
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me is the beginning of the most epic adventure yet from genre powerhouse writing duo Ilona Andrews. For fans of Samantha Shannon, Sarah J. Maas, Danielle L. Jensen and isekai portal fantasy.
A heart-pounding epic from No. 1 New York Times bestselling author duo Ilona Andrews.
When Maggie wakes up cold, filthy and naked in a gutter, it doesn’t take her long to recognize Kair Toren. It’s a city she knows intimately from the pages of a famously unfinished dark fantasy series – one 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 encyclopaedic 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 return home, she finds herself enmeshed in the schemes – and attentions – of duelling princes, dukes and villains. This all while trying to save them and the kingdom of Rellas from the ending she’s seen on the a cataclysmic war.
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me is the beginning of the most epic adventure yet from genre powerhouse writing duo Ilona Andrews. For fans of Samantha Shannon, Sarah J. Maas, Danielle L. Jensen and isekai portal fantasy.
Title: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Maggie the Undying #1)
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Tor Books
Expected Publication Date: March 31, 2026
Review:
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Tor Books for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
The premise of this book drew me in! How exciting to wake up one day and find yourself in your most favorite book. At the same time, what a disappointment to find that things aren't exactly as you thought they were when you were just a reader of the story!
I think the audio killed this book for me. I thought I would love it as audio, but I just could not get into the narrators voice for this story. It didn't fit for me. Sieh's voice was pleasant enough but really not one I'd put along with fantasy. This was my first time listening to this narrator and I just could not connect with how she was telling the story.
I loved the idea of portal fantasy. Traveling to another time/place is so much fun in my mind. But the actual story line didn't work for me. The pacing was slow at times and then sped up to the point where I almost didn't understand what was going on. And the info dumps totally took me out of the story. I understand the FMC loves this story and knows it like the back of her hand, but rather than showing us the story we were just told over and over again what was happening. As for the plot, I really just found it went around in circles. It didn't seem to be going anywhere of importance.
I'm not sure if this story is connected to other stories but it certainly gave off that vibe. I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story I should have already known something about. I didn't care about the characters as I didn't really get to know them. I felt like I was missing a whole chunk of who they are.
This is my first dive into portal fantasy that I can remember, though I'm sure I read some as child, so perhaps it just is not for me. The book has many good reviews and I'm sure the audience that loves this type of fantasy will fall head over heals for Maggie and her story.
Author:
Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.
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