Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Portal Fantasy
Length: 480 pages
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: March 31st, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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.

Thank you Tor Books for the gifted ARC.

NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.

This is my VERY FIRST Ilona Andrews book (and I only just learned they are a writing duo too). And I gotta say…I think I was expecting somethign different? Something that felt sweeping and all consuming and I don’t know if this is just this is just a specific book issue or across the board concern. Someone tell me if there’s a different book I should try instead?

The romance actually felt further back in the plot line than I was hoping for. And that would have been fine if I thought the plot was standing strong enough on its own. I feel like not enough was tackled and it could have been shorter.

I realized that I also don’t love fantasy books with this particular setup. I have totally liked portal fantasy before but with the added element of Maggie ending up within her favorite book series, it didn’t work for me. I didn’t like that she knew what was going to happen all of the time (even when that started to change).

I’m somewhat curious about reading book two? I did think the audiobook narration was good. No complaints there. I don’t necessarily feel like I struggled to get through this but it was missing some key elements that would have ranked higher for me. I did like the interactions between Maggie and the love interest and wanted even more. I loved that it was a slow burn at least.

Overall audience notes:

• Portal fantasy
• Language: mild+
• Romance: kisses
• Violence: moderate-high
• Content warnings: mentions of assault, child abuse, ser!al killer, torture, captivity

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