This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me Read-Along: Maggie’s Magic, Digi’s Deal, and Bellen’s Red Flags

In this episode of Book Dragon Banter its hosts, Katherine, Sage and Zinzi Bree, discuss chapters 32–36 of This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews, framing them as the setup before the climax. They recap Maggie meeting Galiene, exposing the leak to Hreban and learning Maggie can speak Sereso, then discuss expanding magic lore (mage tower, ancient Crimson Empire spells, and Maggie’s unusually strong magic). They cover Solentine and Everard’s fast travel via Drezmurs, Digi’s tense information visit tied to Everard’s past, and Maggie’s feelings as Everard departs. Maggie is “rescued” by flirtatious Lord Bellen, whom they distrust, while Will brings Maggie the butcher’s name. An invitation to the Joeduar ball sets up political drama, and they predict use of Digi’s stone, a coming mage-tower confrontation, and future Drezmur riding.

Podcast links:

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Other links:

Book Dragon Ink Online Writing Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats

Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/

Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/

Book Dragon Ink: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/

Our Summer Read-Along: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Bookshop.org affiliate link):

https://bookshop.org/p/books/this-kingdom-will-not-kill-me-ilona-andrews/f544c8f1dba95f55?ean=9781250377265&next=t&aid=124342&listref=book-dragon-book-club-reads

00:00 Recap and Setup

00:28 Podcast Intro and Rules

02:19 Chapter 32 Magic Reveals

04:43 Carriage Banter and Isadau

07:08 Damaes and Mage Tower Theories

11:50 Crimson Empire Lore

16:54 Digi Meeting Tensions

18:47 Everard Earns Trust Back

23:24 Home vs Kair Toren Identity

28:18 Mystery Notes and Fast Travel

30:57 Drezmurs and Ride Temptation

33:35 Everard Red Flags

35:46 Solentine Warns Maggie

37:46 Future Falling Out

39:42 Bellen Horse Rescue

47:05 Citadel Meteor Magic

48:10 Damaes Mage Theories

51:22 Will Names Butcher

52:31 Joedurar Ball Hype

55:37 Stone of Remembrance

57:58 Kiss Predictions

59:47 Wrap Up and Outro

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