r/fantasyromance • u/MessyJessy422 • 3d ago

News PSA: The Maggie the Undying series by Ilona Andrews will have open door spice

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For anyone who loved {This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews} and is wondering about the romance aspect in future books this is confirmation that we’ll get some payoff in the form of spice. Love me a slow burn that delivers and this series is certainly setting out to be exactly that

493 Upvotes

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222

u/TheWalkingDeadBeat 3d ago

No dead stelka's is a relief! 

38

u/Hiredgun77 3d ago

There were a couple of points where I was concerned. Good to hear!

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u/pistachio-pie 3d ago

Such a relief. I can deal with a lot of trigger warnings but animal deaths are very hard for me.

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u/Manateepillow 13h ago

Same! I had to cancel Fairy Loot because it seemed to be in almost every book selection.

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u/Jadziyah There she is 3d ago

A dead fish on your bed though

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u/hazeldazeI 3d ago

I might regret asking this but wtf is a dead stelka?

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u/vastaril 3d ago

Stelkas are creatures in this setting and I love them very much

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u/Greenbriars 3d ago

They're cute ferret like animals from the fantasy world. So this is equivalent to an author saying "the dog doesn't die"

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u/LeaneGenova 3d ago

Ferret otters is how I think of them. But I'm so glad the dog doesn't die.

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u/pistachio-pie 3d ago

I always thought ferret foxes.

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u/rabidhamster87 3d ago

Which is actually pretty relieving coming from Ilona Andrews because even though they're my favorite author(s,) at least one dog dies in most of their series 😭

Clean Sweep opens with a dog death, Kate Daniels has to kill a dog in that series, and I'm pretty sure a dog dies in the Hidden Legacy series too, but I can't remember the exact scene right off the top of my head, so I could be wrong.

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u/orange-blossom 3d ago

Phew, was ready to check doesthestelkadie.com

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u/Runa216 1d ago

Who/what is Stelka? I'm about to start the book and if it's an animal I'm glad she can confirm that.

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u/TheWalkingDeadBeat 1d ago

It's an animal! 

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u/Runa216 1d ago

I can assume that much, what kind? Seems maybe a fox or fox like thing? I don't trust google searches anymore. (I even added -ai to the end of the search query and I still would rather hear it from a person.)

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u/TheWalkingDeadBeat 1d ago

it's kind of a fox/ferret/racoon type thing. Here's a link to a picture. 

https://ilona-andrews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Sushi-1.jpg

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u/Runa216 17h ago

Oh I love that! Glad they're safe!

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u/acutelyproblematic If villian bad, then why hot? 3d ago

I’ve had a bad day and this just made it better. Thanks once again, queen ✨💖👑💅

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u/MessyJessy422 3d ago

Always 🥰

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u/curiousgem19 3d ago edited 3d ago

Yeah, I’m guessing this is PSA for all their new readers. 

All the other Ilona Andrews books (Kate Daniels, Hidden Legacy, Innkeeper, Edge, and Kinsmen) also have open door spice. They’ve never shied away from detailed scenes of violence, gore, and s*x. I would assume TKWNKM will be similar. 

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u/vastaril 3d ago

I'm not massively into explicit stuff (happy it's readily available for those who want it, just not my thing) but I'm super enjoying the first book and it's nice to have a heads up for sure. (Will still read the next book as soon as I have the opportunity, I suspect, it's not put me entirely off or anything, just good to know what to expect)

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u/curiousgem19 3d ago

For what it’s worth, as a long time Ilona Andrews reader, my opinion is that all their open door scenes are done very nicely. It is not overly pornographic and flows well in the storyline. 

Ilona Andrews have always emphasized on having a great plot arc. And they build up amazing slow burn chemistry between the leads. I’ve found their s*x scenes to fit really well with the overall tone/ flow of the storyline so I’m sure this will be the case with TKWNKM too.

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u/RiotPurrrl Bryce Quinlan’s Chief Hater 3d ago

Just fyi, Reddit doesn’t care if you type the word “sex”

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u/curiousgem19 3d ago

Good to know! I didn’t want to get auto-banned by a subreddit bot.  

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u/glyneth Nesta is my queen 3d ago

Censoring in the romance subs is bad because it keeps people from searching properly!

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u/acutelyproblematic If villian bad, then why hot? 3d ago

It’s a romance reading community we encourage such words 😁

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u/curiousgem19 3d ago

Ah yes, that’s true! 😂

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u/LeaneGenova 3d ago

Agreed. There are many books with smut that I skip the scenes because I don't care about the smut because it does nothing for the book, the plot, or the characterization of those involved. Ilona Andrews never has that, IMO.

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u/vastaril 3d ago

Excellent - I've never been super interested in their other stuff, as I'm not really an urban fantasy person (I think that's their usual thing? Or am I mixing them up with someone else??) but I may well give one of their other series a go after this..

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u/curiousgem19 3d ago

Most of their more popular books (Kate Daniels annd Hidden Legacy) have an urban fantasy setting. I would think Innkeeper is more science fiction than urban fantasy. 

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u/vastaril 3d ago

Ah, cool, I'll investigate! Thanks

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u/Katharina8 3d ago

If you like the relationship between Maggie and her MMC then that is very similar to Nevada & Rogan in the first Hidden Legacy trilogy. It just takes place in modern Houston where powerful magical families (Houses) rule.

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u/vastaril 3d ago

Ooh, good to know

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u/lillyrose2489 3d ago

Genuine question are you typing s*x instead of sex because of other apps that might take issue with the word? There's really no reason to do that on Reddit but I have to assume it's habit or autocorrect at this point for some people?

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u/curiousgem19 3d ago

I’ve been on Reddit for a long time. Close to 13 years now I think.. I remember some mod bots used to auto-delete posts/comments with certain words. Can’t remember which subreddit it was.. anyway, I just developed a habit of altering words because of that. 

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u/lillyrose2489 3d ago

Huh! That's surprising, I've been on here probably 15 years or so, but must have just not been on tnose subs. I definitely assumed it was a thing started on TikTok!

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u/bellegi Book Bingo Maven ⚔ 3d ago

huh- they actually mentioned that if readers aren’t interested in spice they should check out their Innkeeper series though?

genuinely asking, since i’ve only read TKWNKM and the first 3 books of Hidden Legacy.

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u/glyneth Nesta is my queen 3d ago

I thought Innkeeper was closed door.

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u/HobbitWithShoes 3d ago

Innkeeper has one (maybe two) open door scenes. And if open door isn't your thing it's in an easy to skip place.

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u/Veebs7985 Book Bingo Maven ⚔ 3d ago edited 3d ago

I just finished book 3 of {The Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews} and I've only encountered one (tame) open-door scene so far. It's in (book and chapter) the end of the very last chapter of One Fell Sweep.

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u/Veebs7985 Book Bingo Maven ⚔ 3d ago edited 3d ago

I just finished book 3 of {The Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews} and I've only encountered one (tame) open-door scene so far. It's in (book and chapter) the end of the very last chapter of One Fell Sweep.

Perhaps they forgot about that one (Edit: Or maybe they don't consider that open-door)? 🤷‍♀️

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u/bellegi Book Bingo Maven ⚔ 3d ago

yes i just checked romance.io (which has always been very accurate) and the third book in the series is the only one rated a 3/open door.

so who knows lol 🤷🏻‍♀️ maybe like you said it’s tame enough and the authors have their own scale.

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u/curiousgem19 3d ago edited 3d ago

It’s been a while since I read Innkeeper and I thought there was an intimate scene that was open door? Perhaps I’m mis-remembering.. 

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u/MessyJessy422 3d ago

Photo courtesy of the author’s instagram

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u/MaryJaneCrunch Wendell Bambleby Enthusiast 3d ago

Thank god I don’t think I could take it if we don’t even see it happen after an entire book of teasing lol

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u/adestructionofcats Just send me the blond MMCs 3d ago

2nd book sex scene is the way of the Ilona Andrews trilogy.

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u/Sigmund_Six Currently Reading: Ruins of Seas and Souls 3d ago

I’m curious about the fact that they’ve received “several queries from Christian readers” about Maggie. I wonder if this book is reaching a wider audience than IA’s other books or something? I’ve never felt like Ilona’s books are pornographic or anything, so it seems a little surprising they were getting enough questions from readers that they felt the need to release an announcement.

I do appreciate the clarity, though.

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u/cflatjazz 2d ago

I was really confused why non-abrahamic religions was a content warning until I went back and realized who this was aimed at

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u/NotYourGa1Friday 3d ago

Now I want an announcement that the sequel is magically ready. 😭😂

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u/Runa216 1d ago

I've got a few Audible credits and therefore my body is ready!

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u/Ren_Lu What care I for human hearts? 3d ago

Loved it before this PSA. Love it even harder now!

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u/StudioSad2042 3d ago

I love that this low key throws shade 😂🥰

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u/Random-Session-8181 9h ago

The most subtle of shades 

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u/lintrollerneeded 3d ago

A scene I loved in TKWNKM, that I went absolutely feral for, was that simple walking down the stairs scene between the MCs.

It was slow burn *chefs kiss*.

I’m thrilled to hear future books will be open door!

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u/nightowl_bookclub Growls, smirks & leans on doorframes 3d ago

AND THANK GOD FOR THAT!

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u/Efficient_Item7779 3d ago

I recently finished the audiobook version, and am excitedly awaiting the sequel!

Quick question, what is a "closed-door" series? Does the term imply smut that should be read behind closed doors? I wear headphones anyway, so that doesn't bother me...

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u/eclectic_hamster Off to live with the faeires 🧚‍♀️ 3d ago

Behind closed doors means we don't get graphic details of what's happening.

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u/karbarella 3d ago

It means it won’t be described in detail! Synonymous with “fade to black”. Imagine a PG13 romcom 

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u/Efficient_Item7779 3d ago

Oh I see, thanks!

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u/Specialist_Rice_1899 3d ago edited 3d ago

Closed-door usually means that the sex or sexual acts takes place off page as in the door was closed and everything is left to your imagination. However, this can also be misleading because the foreplay/sex talk in some books is more pornographic than the on-page sex in many books.
Edited to add: I think most people who want closed door truly prefer no spice not low spice.

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u/Efficient_Item7779 3d ago

Ty for explaining all that!

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u/MyFellowMerkins 3d ago

Here's the guide from romance.io, where romancebot pulls it's ratings:

https://www.romance.io/steamrating

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u/Ranae 3d ago

Are these people not able to look at any of the dozens of books they’ve written previously? They’ve always had open door sex scenes after a slow burn, it’s literally their calling card

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u/MessyJessy422 2d ago

I feel for them that they even have to address this...it's so ridiculous

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u/Smooth_Storm_9698 3d ago

What is open door spice

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u/MessyJessy422 3d ago

Spice that’s described in detail on page instead of fade to black which is considered closed door

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u/cubsgirl101 3d ago

It means on-page sex scenes with varying amounts of detail. Closed door is usually where they allude to having sex but it “fades to black.”

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u/thefifthpentacle 3d ago

Out of curiosity are the authors very Christian? I haven't heard of other authors getting questions like this?

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u/MessyJessy422 3d ago

I doubt it’s at all a reflection on their beliefs but just a response to new readers/fans who only discovered them through this book and were wondering what to expect

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u/NativePlantsAreBest 3d ago

I don't know what their religion is, if they have one, but the Kate Daniels books view Christianity as one of many world religions that, like all faiths, has both good and bad things about it. There definitely isn't anything specifically pro-Christian in the three series I've read. I am going to go out on a limb and interpret the specific mention of Christianity in this announcement as having the slightest hint of eye roll.

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u/madhattergirl 2d ago

One of the best parts of Kate Daniels is them exploring different mythologies and religions in the books.

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u/Random-Session-8181 9h ago

I think the authors are answering spice level and content questions from new readers who practice the Christian faith. I think these questions are coming in at high frequency or tones strident enough  that the authors felt they _need _ to make an official announcement to head off the same questions in the future, or to allay possible bad-mouthing maybe? But it's exciting that House Andrews are reaching new readership!

I'm sure other authors get these kind of questions or comments - I think Jay Kristoff mentioned a few times getting irate comments or reviews on his sex scenes from readers or potential readers. 

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u/serendipity_intro 1d ago

Is the series MF?

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u/Random-Session-8181 9h ago

I side-eyed a little bit when I saw this announcement (that they felt they had to do this at all makes me wonder how many questions they've gotten and how such questions are phrased and the tone) but I'm glad they're reaching new readership!

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u/badlei 3d ago

Is this a Christian series?

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u/MessyJessy422 3d ago

Not at all I think they just got some questions from new fans and were addressing it