This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
- BookishAdventuresOfP
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Author : Ilona Andrews
/Fantasy Romance/
Publication date : April 2, 2026
Blurb:
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.
My thoughts:
Pageturner is the word I would use to describe This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, because it made me feel giddy with the mantra "What will happen next? 😯?" and that feeling stayed even after finishing the book.
Suddenly finding herself frozen, without any clothes or means of shelter or food, our main character, Maggie, is thrown into her favourite book series, which she knows by heart.
With no idea how she got there, her only "weapon" is her knowledge of what is to come and the fact that she cannot die. So, step by step, she gains allies, and her journey begins.
One thing I wish had been done differently was how all the information and backstory were presented, as they were too lengthy and often interrupted the interesting moments unfolding.
Nonetheless, as the story went on, I just couldn't put it down! I literally spent two nights until 4am, wanting to know what would happen next and what Maggie would reveal from her arsenal of knowledge.
She was a breath of fresh air, and I loved her character because she was smart and didn't let her romantic feelings dictate what she wanted to do. She acknowledged them, but unlike other romance characters who forget and forgive their love interest in a chapter or two, as if nothing happened, she kept her wits about her, made her feelings clear, and set boundaries.
The dynamic and chemistry between them were set up brilliantly, like a game of gaining trust and gradually building up from there.
One of the character changes was made so brilliantly that I actually felt the difference between then and now in the way they spoke and the whole vibe. I just loved it.
The mystery and problem-solving kept me on my toes (and, as I said, kept me awake with the chant "One more chapter😂") and were really intriguing. Like all of them, I looked to Maggie for the answers.
From the side characters, I loved Solentine most, with his dark charm, and Clover for her strength, and I can't miss mentioning her haggling skills😂❤️
I'm definitely tagging along for book two!
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