This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Extended Preview) by Ilona Andrews:

5 stars

She woke up naked, lying in cold mud rather than her own bed, in a foreign, familiar, and vicious world — Kair Toren, the city where her favorite dark and bloody fantasy series is set. Death is a persistent predator here, but fortunately…or unfortunately, as the case may be, she is Maggie the Undying.

I have been waiting for This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me since the first snippet appeared on Ilona Andrews’ blog, over two years ago. I have been in love with this story since I first understood the concept. There is no way any book could live up to this level of anticipation.

Or, so I thought.

The story has changed since those first few chapters were posted online, as books do while under development. At first, I disapproved — the original was already glorious; however, I realized that by adding a brief reprieve from such a hateful, hostile civilization, it highlighted the tension, rather than cutting it. Trading misery, starvation, and fear for warmth, plenty, and calm for a few short hours? It hit hard.

House Andrews’ worldbuilding is, of course, a visceral experience. It takes Maggie a few days to accept, adapt, and plan for survival. In that time, we see horrifying monsters, adorable monsters who find Maggie tasty, and the preferred murderer haunts. Looking up at the towers, Kair Toren is a place of beauty, sophistication, and learning. Nearer to the ground with the lesser mortals, every turn brings new danger, and only the callous and ruthless survive.

Yet, within the limited cast of characters we meet in this preview, there are sharp contrasts — dark warlords who concern themselves with a slight, barefoot shadow in the darkness; a patroness who rewards gratitude; a blademaster whose honor surpasses his need for revenge; and a protagonist who is quick enough to realize that safe passage will require rewriting the story from the inside.

House Andrews weaves a rich, textured tapestry — characters with unique and compelling histories, a culture shaped by violence and greed, and a story structure that pulls the reader in and quietly swallows them whole. Tor, evil geniuses that they are, knew just how much to give us. What delightful torment!

As a long-time, BDH mug-carrying fan of Ilona Andrews, let me just say that this is not their typical story. It’s not urban fantasy. It’s some crazy mash of epic portal fantasy with an urban fantasy heroine. It has a beating heart and bleeds determination. House Andrews are pioneers in genre-bending, trope-tipping innovations. In the extended preview of This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, they decided to stop playing around and brought out the big guns. If you’re looking for a fantasy adventure that defies expectation and leaves you mouth agape, wondering did-that-just-happen, and already begging for more, congratulations! This is your destination.

And that’s only part of the story.