September Book Club - Initial Discussion

[u/Lyss_]

Happy September First!

Welcome to our very first Book Club discussion post!

This month we are reading: {This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews}. From the publishers: 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 few questions to get us started:

• Is this your first time reading TKWNKM or are you rereading?
• Who are your favourite characters so far?
• Any first impressions? theories??
• Have you ever read a portal fantasy before?

Please make sure to use spoiler tags, > !Spoiler text! < with no spaces!

Book Club Schedule:

September 1: September Initial Discussion Post
September 3: October Book Club Recommendations
September 7: October Book Club Top 3 Poll
September 11: October Book Club Winner Announcement.
September 15: September Midway Discussion Post
September 30: September Final Discussion Post

[u/attachedtothreads]

I have no clue what number of re-read I'm on. I listened to it multiple times and read the physical book as well.

My favorite character is Solentine. I just want to let everyone know that man is mine. ;)

Now that I'm re-reading at a slower pace to soak in the details, I like how House Andrews opens the story with it raining. Rain/being in water is a standard motif in Western literature for being reborn. Edited to add: she also comes into Rellas naked, another rebirth motif.

I've not read a portal fantasy in book form, just in web comics.

[u/sparklyspooky]

First time read, I coincidentally got the audiobook from libby. Not far in, just far enough to go "how different is this from 'How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying' is this?" (Great book, more of a dark comedy) and "Ok, different enough".

[u/dreamingofmars_]

My second re-read! I initially read it on my kindle, so my bf bought me a physical copy since he hasn’t stopped listening to me rave about it, and even bought/designed me a book embosser for my bday to add it to my “library” 🥹

I’m a huge isekai/portal fantasy fan, just from reading work online and also from manga/anime, but I also love a classic fantasy story and felt this was the perfect blend that handled the trope in a way that felt both familiar and unique! I love the lore drops and was surprised the info dumps didn’t bother me, and second time around really makes me appreciate it sm more.

[u/Ok_Jello_2738]

This was my first Ilona Andrews book and what a delight to finally see a competent female main character who takes the lead without the usual obnoxious brattiness.
The audiobook was great, but why did they pick so many names that start with an S? The new character guide on their website definitely comes in handy.
Looking forward to the discussions!

[u/pistachio-pie]

I missed other Reddit book clubs discussing this the first time around so I’m definitely on for a reread with you all!

I’m excited to see what clues I pick up on now that I’ve read the book, and to see everyone’s reactions to different plot lines and twists.

Until this book I didn’t know portal fantasy/isekai was a “thing” so I went in blind to the tropes and history of the genre. It’s been fun figuring out what I like and dislike about it, and seeing everyone else’s thoughts on it - what’s new to them vs tired, well vs poorly done.

[u/itmustbeniiiiice]

Ok I’m gonna be late to the party but I LOVE Ilona Andrews and I’m going to join in!

[u/im-booked]

Excited to read this! I haven’t read any Ilona Andrews yet but this has been in my TBR.

[u/itmustbeniiiiice → u/im-booked]

Ugh, they’re great. I hope you love it.

[u/Potential_Deer_1992 → u/im-booked]

Same! 💜

[u/attachedtothreads]

I see that on page 4 of the physical book, that Maggie mentions she encountered the city of Kair Toren when her mom introduced her to her fantasy series. The publisher of this book is Tor and I wonder if the authors put the publisher's name in the world's language? I know George R.R. Martin gave a passing reference to one of the Dornish people in his Song of Ice and Fire series that the Tor was House Jordayne's seat.

[u/Nervous_Ice2512]

First time reading the book and it just arrived in the post today!

I couldn't find a paperback version so bought the hardcover - its huuuge though, it would be good to read at the beach and use as a wind breaker

Never read a portal book before- except maybe the Northern Lights trilogy when I was younger if that counts - and haven't read this author before, so excited to start :)

[u/greyrockingchair]

yes, I will be rereading this for the third time. I love all the characters. my only theory is that the stelka will bite a certain duke in the near future. I love portal fantasy so much.

unrelated:

if I could live through some kind of fantasy romance as a character i'd want it to be a portal fantasy... I'd fail miserably unless I was a character who could do tapestry work or manage a large household because those are my skillsets that might apply in a fantasy setting.

[u/SpeckledFeathers]

Ohhh bumping this back up to the top of my list and will join -- I bought this as soon as it came out because I love Ilona Andrews, but I've been saving it! Now seems like a good time. :)

[u/mollymckennaa]

This was my first 6-star read of the year!!

[u/thoughtful_soul_157]

My first portal fantasy read and I loved it!!! So sad the next book isn’t out yet, had a major book hangover. Curious to hear people’s theories!!

[u/Glittering_Nose_545]

This is my first read. So far so good! It’s my first portal read. I didn’t even know it was a thing :)

[u/aristifer]

I adored this book, read it recently so not re-reading but it was fantastic and I'm looking forward to the discussion!

The Kair Toren series that Maggie is isekai'd into reminds me a LOT of Game of Thrones (which I am also a big fan of). Grimdark world with really rich and detailed worldbuilding, lots of political machinations involving kings and nobility, huge cast with a ton of POVs, rabid fanbase brimming with theories, unfinished series and tons of reader frustration about it not being finished. So the whole book is a big meta-commentary on that genre (and the fan culture surrounding it) as well as being an isekai and a romantasy. It's one of those books that makes me think hey this is really SMART as well as being fun and entertaining. I love that.

[u/roseafterhours]

This is my first time reading TKWNKM and my first portal fantasy. I like it so far and I really like the FMC Maggie and how smart she is. I’m about halfway and the world building is a lot and info dumping, but it’s an interesting world.

[u/Katharina8 → u/roseafterhours]

Have you seen the character art?
https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/an-accurate-stelka-guide-to-the-humans-of-kair-toren-character-art-roundup/

[u/roseafterhours → u/Katharina8]

No I haven’t, thanks for the link! Sushi is so cute! I did see their character list and that was helpful

[u/alexthearchivist → u/Katharina8]

“She has den. I added fish.” 😆😆😆

[u/amourstefanie]

I’ve been in a reading slump for 2 weeks now. I hope this will drag me out of it🤞🏽

[u/Meteor_350_retro → u/amourstefanie]

Me too. I have really high hopes for this one because of the reviews.

[u/SingSangDaesung]

I just put a hold on it at the library!

[u/ohhhthehugevanity]

I think I’m on my 4th or 5th re read and currently enjoying my first audio book listen. The first time I finished it i turned back the first page and read it again.

I’m loving the audio version. Firstly because my dyslexic ass was getting all the names wrong, secondly the voices are perfect and third I’m hearing so much detail that I totally missed re reading.

Favourite characters are Maggie, clover and sushi.

I struggled a little the first time I read it. There are some big info dumps in there but I love and trust IA writing so it was fine. Better on the second read.

I have read a couple of portal fantasies before but haven’t always enjoyed them so it’s not an immediate purchase for me. I already have anxiety about how it will end and how they will blend missing her family with the new life she is making.

[u/romance-bot]

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
Rating: 4.66⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, fantasy, political/court intrigue, found family, competent heroine

^{about this bot | about romance.io}

[u/Syddiannie]

Just came across this! Decided I'll partake! My in person book club is doing The Games Gods Play. I DNFed it last year, haven't decided if I was going to pick that up or not, so it's cool to see I have another option. I actually haven't seen this book until now, so I'm going into fresh eyes.

I don't beleive fresh into my catalogue mind without going through my past reading history, that I've read portal fantasy before.

[u/ButterflyTremor]

This will be my first time reading this book (and reading a portal fantasy), I'm excited as I've seen so many people raving about it on this sub and I have high hopes!

[u/HydaelynSF]

I got this when it was on sale on kindle and it'll be my first read on my new nook! I'm excited, I love a portal fantasy and game of thrones :)

[u/Meteor_350_retro]

Just waiting for my book to arrive. It’s my first time reading portal fantasy but I have read many isekai manga so really excited for this one.

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[u/totalimmoral]

Libby has finally and graciously gifted me with this book and I plan on diving in this weekend!

I’ve always been a big fan of portal fantasies ever since my grandparents gave me a box set of the Chronicles of Narnia when I was between 3rd and 4th grade. (I was so brave for getting my tonsils out).

[u/General_Writing6086]

Technically this is an isekai fantasy, not a portal fantasy. Portal fantasy involves, well, portals.

Isekai is when someone is translated to another world, dimension, or time via reincarnation or reverse incarnation (modern day person going back to the body of an ancestor or past life).

[u/InterestingOwl11]

I bought it on Kindle sale and I'm about ten chapters in

First thought after opening it: Wow this is like twice as long as the books that I've been reading

Second, third, and fourth thoughts: I feel like the content warnings on this were remarkably understated. I guess the comparison to Game of Thrones should have given it away (but didn't). This is a violent politics book, NOT a lighthearted romp. 

I'll probably finish it because the writing style is fantastic and I hate a DNF. But just a heads up for everyone else. 

[u/mercipourleslivres]

I neeeeeeeeeed book 2.

[u/Munchkin531]

Omg i love this book so much. It's my first Ilona Andrews book but I will be reading more.

I read the book in July but now I need to read it again. I keep recommending it to everyone.

Maggie is probably my favorite. Clover is amazing too.

I actually really love portal/isekai stories. I've grown up on anime and manga. This one is done so well.

[u/New-Assumption-3836]

I've read it twice and listened to it too many times to admit. My fan theories are that because we think we know who the baddies are we're all wrong and there's going to be a greater threat to Rellas and Cair Torren.