THIS KINGDOM WILL NOT KILL ME

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
Book 1 in the Maggie The Undying series
Narrated by Kristen Sieh
Genre: portal fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook

About This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me:

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 page: a cataclysmic war.

Source: Info in the "About This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me" was taken from amazon on 25/08/2025.

Buy Link(s):

 

My Thoughts:

This book got pre-ordered just because these authors are auto-buy for me. But I was having a hard time getting into the story. Portal fantasy is not my genre. Having said that, I seem to be reading a lot of them lately...

I was having a hard time reading the story for the first half of the book. I thought that a "not their best book" gotta happen sometime and I thought that this was it. However, it did pick up towards the end.

The ending was good but it was the epilogue that ruined it. Having said that, it was still a pleasurable read. Couldn't wait to read the next book in the series!

This is my first Kristen Sieh listen and I would buy audiobooks by her again.

Quantitative Evaluation:

Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 4
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (14 hrs listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Maggie The Undying Series:

 

Meet The Authors

About Ilona Andrews:

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.

www.ilona-andrews.com | twitter | facebook | tiktok | goodreads

The Narrator

About Kristen Sieh:

KRISTEN SIEH is a stage, television, and voice-over performer. She was a member of the original cast of the Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical The Band’s Visit, and a founding member of the Brooklyn-based theater company The TEAM, writing and performing half a dozen new plays in the U.S. and abroad. Her TV credits include recurring roles on House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and Boardwalk Empire.

instagram | goodreads

FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.

ASHES OF THE EMPIRE

Ashes Of The Empire by D.E. Sherman
Book 3 in the Keiran: The Eternal Mage series
Narrated by Rylee Kuberra and John Joseph Rogers
Genre: fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Ashes Of The Empire:

It’s been four years since Keiran learned the truth of what happened to his world.

Four years of research and marshaling his resources, four years of experimentation in a futile attempt to recover a faint echo of all that has been lost. His refuge has grown in size and population, and he’s begun to spread knowledge of the old ways of magic in an attempt to revive the lost art to humanity.

There are no more answers to be found at home, and it’s time Keiran sees what’s out there with his own eyes. Armed with more mana than ever, he leaves his sanctuary to explore what’s left of the old kingdoms of the world and plumb their depths for lost secrets.

What he finds is a civilization wrapped up in mysteries and lies, ones that could threaten to break the world a second time.

Keiran will have to untangle it all before it’s too late.

Source: Info in the "About Ashes Of The Empire" was taken from amazon on 30/03/2025.

Buy Link(s):

 

My Thoughts:

Another chunk of a bigger book. Plot started in book 1 and the ending is presumably will be in book 5. Not recommended to be read on its own.

In this book my interest kinda waned. Maybe because there is a bigger threat that outclassed our hero? Maybe it was something else... Anyway, just another installment in the story. Pleasurable read if you are already following the series. I imagine it would be mighty confusing if you are not.

The longest book in the series thus far. And my least favourite.

Once again, Rylee Kuberra and John Joseph Rogers did a wonderful job of bringing this book to life!

Quantitative Evaluation:

Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 5
Story itself = 3.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 1
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (20 hours and 1 minute listening time)
Plot = 1
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Keiran: The Eternal Mage Series:

 

Meet The Author

About D.E. Sherman:

D.E. Sherman grew up reading fantasy and tried his hand at writing his first novel on an old MS-DOS text editor program when he was seven years old. That story didn't pan out; maximum character limits were a thing back then. Undeterred, he kept writing on other platforms, reading full-time, devouring JRPGs, and playing D&D, and he is now the author of the Keiran, God Machine, and Ascendant series. He also writes under the pen name 'EmergencyComplaints.'

Timeless Wind Publishing | twitter | amazon | goodreads

The Narrators

About Rylee Kuberra:

I am Rylee Kuberra and I am what I like to call a storyteller at heart and an artist by trade.

I’m an actress, audiobook narrator, and creative collaborator who’s passionate about giving voice to stories that deserve to be heard, seen, and experienced. Whether I’m on stage, in front of the camera, or behind the mic, my goal is to bring truth and honesty to every story I am breathing life into.

I’ve narrated over 150 audiobooks available on Audible, working with publishers such as Simon & Schuster, Podium, Tantor, Royal Guard Publishing and more! My voice has become home to everything from YA heroines and historical dramas to gritty thrillers and rich fantasy worlds. My goal? To make the listener forget they’re listening — and instead, feel like they’re living the story. Because, who doesn’t want to get lost in a different world for a bit?

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my little corner of the internet. It truly means the world to me. Whether you're here out of curiosity, collaboration, or just stumbled upon this page - I'm so glad you’re here.

If something sparked your interest or you'd like to create something together, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s make something meaningful.

www.ryleekuberra.com | twitter | facebook | instagram | tiktok | goodreads

About John Joseph Rogers:

From San Diego, CA, John struggled with reading until he picked up reading aloud for his family at the urging of a very dedicated teacher. Since then he has enjoyed being able to immerse himself and listeners in a variety of worlds and characters. With a background in narration and stage acting, he lends depth to characters through a grand variety of voices, accents, dialects, and mannerisms.

johnrogersvoice.com | instagram | linkedin | goodreads

FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.

UNINTENDED CULTIVATOR: VOLUME 4

Unintended Cultivator: Volume 4 by Eric Dontigney
Book 4 in the Unintended Cultivator series
Narrated by Adam Verner
Genre: fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Unintended Cultivator: Volume 4:

Time is a cultivator’s greatest ally, until it isn’t

Emerging from the deep wilds, Sen is now aware of the dangers of his body cultivation method. A method he doesn’t know how to progress. With time running out until his body turns against him, Sen travels to one of the only places he might find the manual that could save him. A place he never wanted to go. The capital.

Of course, the heart of the kingdom holds dangers of its own. Sen is inexorably drawn into the convoluted web of power that controls the vast city. He must navigate court politics, ambitious sects, and the unwanted attention of a criminal cultivator organization.

As he races toward a lethal showdown with cultivator and mortal powers alike, dangerous secrets will be revealed, Sen’s resolve will be tested, and the name Judgment’s Gale will finally be earned.

Source: Info in the "About Unintended Cultivator: Volume 4" was taken from amazon on 15/02/2025.

Buy Link(s):

 

My Thoughts:

Another middle chunk of a bigger book. That means the beginning was in book 1 and the ending is a cliffhanger.

This book picks up just where the previous book left off.

At 16 hours plus of listening time, this is the longest installment in this series, thus far.

It is always intereting to see what new twist in Sen's cultivator growth will develop to, next.

Another thing I like about this book is that I get to see retribution come to Lan Zi Rui and the very small shoe!

At the start of this book, we were given a hint of how the story is going to go by the Clear Spring Sect patriarch when he recounted to Sen his choices of obtaining the manual he seeks and that is exactly the trajectory that the book took.

I can't help comparing this series to James Haddock's books. Like the storage rings. The ability to build houses from the ground up with Sen's earth qi. The idea of the Five-Fold Body Transformation... Very familiar.

I wonder if Eric Dontigney had read any of James Haddock's books...

All throughout this series thus far, it has been challenging for me to keep track of the names of the characters. I am never good with foreign languages and Chinese names seems like to be all the same to me, they are difficult to pronounce and remember. So keeping track of who is who and the characters, slowed down my reading speed even with the convenience of the audiobook format.

Again, Adam Verner did a wonderful job of bringing this book to life!

Quantitative Evaluation:

Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 4
World building = 5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (16 hrs and 8 mins listening time)
Plot = 3
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Unintended Cultivator Series:

 

Meet The Author

About Eric Dontigney:

Raised in Western New York, Eric Dontigney has lived in New Mexico, Florida, Wisconsin, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. He currently resides near Dayton, OH. He is a fan of photo-realism and impressionist paintings, coffee, and well-made food.

Not wishing to tarnish the good names of writers who have come before him, he refuses to name influences. He will admit to reading Neil Gaiman, Harlan Ellison, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ayn Rand, Stephen J. Cannell, Jim Butcher, Kate Chopin, Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Camus, James Baldwin, Tim O'Brien, Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, and Stephen King.

ericdontigney.com | x | facebook | instagram | amazon | goodreads

The Narrator

About Adam Verner:

Adam Verner is a full-time narrator and voice talent with over one hundred titles recorded. He is the recipient of AudioFile Earphones Awards for Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck and The Big It by A. B. Guthrie, Jr. Adam earned his MFA in acting from the Chicago College of the Fine Arts at Roosevelt University.

www.adamverner.com | x | facebook | instagram | threads | goodreads

FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.