The portal swirled with pale green.
“Here we go,” I murmured.
It was the delegation arrival day, and the four of us waited, positioned around the portal, Sean and I directly in front, Gaston on the left, and Tony on the right. Sean and I wore our robes, Tony opted for a plain brown robe as well, and Gaston decided on black boots, black pants, and a black pirate shirt with a black high-tech ballistic vest over it. The vest, which must’ve been custom made to accommodate his powerful frame, fit him like a glove and did a good job of masquerading as fashionable accessory rather than impact-resistant armor. Tony asked him what his outfit was called, and Gaston told him that if he had to be menacing, there was no reason he couldn’t be dashing as well.
A giant snow globe emerged from the portal. Oomboles, as expected according Miralitt’s manifest.
The eight-foot-wide bubble slid forward. It sat on a two-foot tall ornate base fitted with a communication screen. The base concealed the moving mechanism and the filtration system, while the globe was a flexible hyper-durable membrane containing the precisely calibrated water particular to oombole oceans.
More globes followed the first, each holding a motionless four-foot-long fish. The globes were dark and translucent and the beings within were mere outlines.
We waited.
Oomboles didn’t deal well with portals. They always went into short-term sedation during transit, and their globes would attack anyone who approached.
All twenty-one globes completed the transit.
A minute crawled by.
The lights clicked on in all globes simultaneously, turning the membranes transparent and illuminating their passengers. The oomboles came in every color of the rainbow. They were covered with glistening scales, and their round heads with a slight overbite, big eyes and brightly colored snail-like antennae gave them hilariously comical expressions. The fringe of tentacles that sprouted under their chin and enabled them to wield tools had been withdrawn into their bodies. Their incredible dorsal fins, disproportionally large with pronounced spines, lay flat.
The oomboles opened their eyes. Our gazes met.
All 21 dorsal fins snapped open, vivid with a multitude of colors and flashing with bioluminescent sparks that ran down the spines. The fins went flat, snapped open, flat, open, flat, open. Open, flutter, flat, snap flutter, snap…
The more agitated the oomboles were, the faster they talked with their fins, and passing through the portal must have discombobulated the oomboles beyond their capacity. It was like being greeted to a psychedelic display of jazz hands viewed at ten times the speed. The translation units built into the bases struggled to transform the rapid chaos of colors and movement into words, spitting out gibberish onto their screens. The screen belonging to the globe on the far left crackled and went dark. A small puff of smoke slipped from its edge.
I raised my hand. A wide length of carefully dyed fabric segmented by plastic spines snapped open above me, held up by Gertrude Hunt’s tendrils. I went through the folding and snapping sequence, assuring everyone that currents were calm and free of predators. We would have to rely on the communication screens for anything more complicated but greeting species in their own manner tended to calm them. It was a small gesture that went a long way.
The oomboles quivered, slowing to a somewhat calmer frenzy.
I took them to their suite, which consisted of a constellation of shallow pools connected to a larger habitat. They immediately formed a school around the spouse candidate, a spectacular orange specimen, and the fins stopped flashing.
The Donkamins were next. I braced myself.
For visually evolved species, sight was crucial. We evaluated everything, from the suitability of a potential mate to our offspring’s health by eye. We noted the skin tone, the condition of the eyes, the sparsity or fullness of hair just so we wouldn’t miss that someone was deathly ill and would be able to avoid them in time. We made millions of assessments unconsciously, examining each other, our pets, and other animals, because fearing a rabid dog foaming at the mouth saved our lives.
Unfortunately, our perception was flawed. Our eyes had difficulties distinguishing between minor skin ailments like ring worm and a plague. Every year dozens of people thought they saw a monster instead of a mangy coyote. Things that were just different enough often freaked us out, because when our rudimentary biological brain had no frame of reference, it interpreted everything as danger just to be on the safe side.
Donkamins tripped every human visual alarm sensor in existence. A relative newcomer to the interstellar scene, they were aggressively trying to expand and grab their own slice of Galactic real estate. The first of their species had visited Earth roughly 200 years ago. An innkeeper urban legend said that the first innkeeper who opened the door to them, took one look, and blurted out, “Don’t come in!” which was how they got their nickname.
The portal swirled. Twenty-one donkamins entered the arrival chamber in an orderly procession. They were eight feet tall, hairless, covered with pale pearlescent skin, and unmistakably humanoid, although they were not even mammalian. Their tall, thin bodies stood upright on two appendages that resembled legs. Their shoulders sloped very sharply down as if their clavicles had been broken and just kind of dangled there. They had two upper limbs, long and reasonably arm-like, and two hands with seven very bony long fingers without fingernails. Their round heads sat on seemingly human necks.
I glanced at Sean. He had gone still like a statue.
To start with, donkamins were scantily clad. Their clothes consisted of lengths of diaphanous fabric, strategically tied at some odd place they considered aesthetically pleasing. Then came the nipples. They were pink, incredibly human, and arranged in two rows that ran down the donkamin chests all the way to where human groin would be. They were not technically nipples, but they definitely looked the part.
The chests themselves appeared to be deformed, as if someone took a giant trilobite shell and stuffed it inside the donkamin body so the ridges protruded under the skin. Then came the faces. They had large eyes that would’ve made any barn owl proud. Their nasal openings were shielded by a smaller version of that trilobite shell, and their mouths were very wide and lipless. The effect was at once revolting and horrifying, and it wasn’t even the worst part.
I took a step forward. “Greetings, Children of the Silver Star. Gertrude Hunt welcomes you.”
The leading donkamin opened his mouth, a bright red, wet cavity studded with conical teeth. The ridges in his chest slid, elongating, and his neck stretched forward in an arc, covering the eight feet between us until we were eye to eye. His owl eyes stared at me unblinking.
Yep, that was the worst part.
“Greetings, innkeeper,” the donkamin said. “We are pleased.”
I led them to their rooms. Technically it was Sean’s turn, but he was still standing still, and I took one for the team.
The Kai were next. Short beings from a high gravity world, they were covered in a natural armor of bony plates. They had six limbs and strange, snake like faces with three protruding bottom fangs and pretty pink eyes. They were the first of the nonhumans to have brought a human-like candidate, a lean beautiful male with silky blue hair, golden skin, and pink-colored irises. Clearly some genetic fiddling had taken place. The candidate’s name was Prysen, and he spoke all three languages of the Dominion flawlessly.
Strictly speaking, a human-like candidate wasn’t required for spousal selection. Only the potential genetic compatibility mattered, and the economic and diplomatic benefits the union would bring. However, having a human-like spouse definitely helped, something the oomboles and donkamins had yet to figure out.
The Kai were a very formal species. They inquired about my health, Sean’s health, the health of our respective parents and siblings, and informed us about their health and their relatives’ medical issues. Sean barely had a chance to settle them into their quarters and get back in time.
The Dushegubs were next.
The portal swirled with light. A mass of dark tree roots slithered out of it.
I tapped my broom.
A gaping hole yawned in front of the portal. Two thick branches shot out of the ceiling, grasped the wriggling root ball and yanked it out of the swirling light and down into the hole. Tree limbs, trunks, and foliage plunged into the gap and the floor reformed itself. The Dushegubs were safely in their underground pit.
A lone human walked out of the portal. She was statuesque and very pale, with long golden hair that fell in ringlets around her shoulders, and big violet eyes. An elegant gown sheathed her frame, showcasing all the right things.
On the edge of my vision, Gaston raised his eyebrows.
“Greetings, Candidate Sybate,” Sean said. “Your delegation is already in their quarters. I will show you to your room.”
She gave him a soft smile, the two of them went off, her high heels clicking softly on the floor.
“Trust is a wonderful thing,” Tony said when they were out of ear shot.
I nodded. “It is. Since she is the Dushegub candidate, she will eventually try something, and he can neutralize her faster than me.”
The portal flashed again. So soon?
The light swirled and two beings emerged from it. The one on the left was an Otrokar, and a familiar one at that. Tall and lean, he held himself with the ease of a predator in a familiar territory. His skin was deep bronze, his hair dark, coarse, and short, and when it caught the light, it shone with vivid red. He surveyed the scene with sharp eyes, startlingly light green against his sun-scorched skin.
The last time I saw him, he had worn the full armor of the Hope Crushing Horde, a combination of braided leather and chitinous bony plates embedded with complex circuitry. Today he’d traded it for a lighter spacer armor woven of ballistic material that looked like leather but shielded like reinforced steel. A belt with pockets hugged his waist, supporting an array of wooden and bone charms dangling from it. A golden medallion, a sharp-rayed sun studded with jewels, hung from a leather cord around his neck, identifying him as the emissary of the Khan.
Now it made sense. These were the observers. Miralitt did say that they would pop through in batches between the formal delegations. One of the delegations was from a southern Otrokar Clan. The Khan and Khanum were both northerners and there were always tensions between north and south within the Horde. They had sent their son to see what happens.
Envoy or not, his knife was still with him, a long slender blade riding in a sheath on his thigh. He was deadly with it. Sean would just love this.
The other being was clearly a vampire. Vampire knights lived in their syn-armor, removing it only for the most private moments in the safety of their rooms, and she wore hers like a challenge. It was in excellent condition, so black it swallowed the light, and her long red cloak took it over the edge right into drama. She carried a blood sword in a sheath on her hip. A mane of brown hair dripped over her shoulders, inconveniently obscuring the house crest on her chest. Her face was beautiful and familiar somehow, although I was sure I had never seen her before.
The otrokar and the vampire stared at each other, and I saw the precise moment they both realized that whoever spoke first would get greeted first. The Horde and the Holy Anocracy were at peace, but their rivalry was alive and well. They opened their mouths at the same time.
“Greetings, honored guests!” I said before they decided to get offended and start a brawl.
The Otrokar got there half a second earlier. “Winter sun to you. So good to see you again, Dina.”
The vampire knight clamped her mouth shut. He shot her a triumphant glance.
Yes, we have met before and know each other. No need to rub it.
“Winter sun to you also, Under-Khan Dagorkun. How are your mother and father?”
“The Khan and Khanum are well,” Dagorkun told me. “My mother recalls you fondly and has tasked me with delivering this tea to you.” He produced a small ornate box.
“I am deeply honored.” I bowed my head and let a tendril rise out of the floor and swipe the box from his hands.
The vampire knight rolled her eyes.
I turned to her. “Greetings…”
“No need for formalities,” the vampire knight said. “My name Alvina, Lady Renadra, Commander of the Krahr Vanguard, Daughter of Soren and Alamide.”
Lord Soren? Oh. Oh!
“You may call me Karat,” she said, hammering every word in like it was a nail in Dagorkun’s coffin. “I am Arland’s cousin. His favorite cousin. And I am your sister’s best friend.”
She pulled a small packet from the inside of her cloak. “Lady Helen sent these treats for the feline creature. She also sent you a hug and a kiss, but you will have to imagine it. I do not go around kissing random humans.”
Karat tossed her hair back and triumphantly strode toward me, leaving Dagorkun behind.
Icing on Friday cupcake! Thank you for Innkeeper.
Certified!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣That ending was🤬 AWESOME !!!
+1
Thank you, I so look forward to Friday and your gem.
+1
+1
+1
Wheee.
First?
First?
Awww shucks!
Thaaaaaaanks !!!
YAY!
Seriously, could you guys write a better scene!?! I DON”T THINK SO!!! SQUEE!!!!!!!!
I don’t know how you manage to get better every time. Karat makes me happy!
Wow! I’ve never been so close to first on a Friday before.
Oh this just keeps getting better and better!!!!
Now to re-read 4 or 5 times and hope that a time warp will happen and send us the next installment much faster than a week…
+1 I bet George has access to a time warp machine. Too bad he is home being consort or we could borrow it.
Finally! Friday is here and so are the guest. Thank you!
And a win for Karat!
Give that Vampire a mug of coffee–
😂 a good mugful.
Yay! Innkeeper Fridays are the best.
Totally not first…is that a new award?
Let’s see if the picture upload works for me this time 🙂
Hahahahaha
❤️
Karat!
This chapter does make me contemplate how humans have many negative responses that are biologically based. We adore young kings of all kinds ifmthe have big eyes, small nose and chin. Ducklings, chicks, puppies,babies.
This chapter makes clear what things gross us, scare us. No wonder aliens have not arrived.
we do seem instinctively grossed, fearful or attracted without experiences.
Your xenophobic fan!
to be fair, I think part of the reason that we have this built in is probably due to natural selection. If all kids started thinking that venomous spider was looking super cute, not sure how far their survival skills would have got them
Babies have to be cute. No parent would tolerate them at 3am otherwise. The things that make them cute (small nose, big eyes, etc) seem to be biological adaptions (eye size is fixed at birth, nose gets in the way of feeding, etc) So adults have adapted to find babies cute, not the other way around.
oh definitely we’ve evolved to find babies cute, but with things like typophobia (do not google image search this if you’re not familiar its a fear of holes/patterns) seem inbuilt into us. makes me wonder since insects would usually look like that right?
I did not think this was a problem for me….i blamed my aversion to narrow stripes on my astigmatism, which made them kinda … swim. Ick.
But then, someone dragged me to see a Suriname Toad. And of COURSE it was a female.
Closest i have ever come to throwing up in public, on a good friend (yes still, but it was close), without warning.
Ok that is kinda gross. Wonder if it was the inspiration for the planetary inhabitants in John Ringo’s March Upcountry series? If I remember correctly there was something like this going on.
Am pregnant so my stomach is already a little delicate and then I googled that toad…why do I do these things to myself?!
My son isn’t going to survive! He thinks Great White Sharks (and any sharks really) just need more hugs! 🤦🏼♀️ He’d love to have a pet crocodile, or T-Rex. A velociraptor would do in a pinch……thankfully he DOESN’T like spiders. I, his arachnophobic mother, am so very grateful.
This is too fun. Everything does better with more hugs lol
He is marvelous.
OMG. This is going to be the best Innkeeper yet!
Thank you! 😊
I caught it just before goung back to work! So excited to get the party started. Karat was one of my favs of Mauds crew
+1 Karat 🙌
Yes Karat!
How long until the first comment shopping Karat and Dagorkun? (And no this one doesn’t count!)
Good to see them both again – and two really nicely realised new species – i look forward to seeing more semaphore with fins!
Shipping not shopping – stupid autocorrect! Sorry!
Well, this whole event is for a royal to shop for a consort, so not too far off.
Bizarre, shipping is a perfectly good word. And +1000 for Karat and Dagorkun, that would really set the cat among the pidgeons!
I am not sure about a relationship between the two but I could definitely see them joining forces to help Dina if the occasion calls for it.
You know it!
My thought too…
oooooooo I ship them!
How nice to see Karat again!
lurve this – thank you
Thank you! I always look forward to the new installment on Friday. It’s a lovely little treat and I appreciate your generosity in sharing it with us every week.
I knew this was going to be an awesome story before today’s post. I was already excited but now the awesomeness is EPIC in proportion!!! We do not even know why Caldenia would be upset with whomever is coming. No one has even tried to kill anyone yet or asked for any obscure hard to find item. We do not know what the female wolf is doing. We are not even to the point of rescue. We do not even know where the Inn is building a door to. All will come but we are already at EPIC awesomeness. I will have to find a new scale of greatness after epic. Wow I am just amazed Dagorkun, Karat, Cookie, Gaston and an entire new cast of characters. Words cannot describe the absolute perfection. I thought I was excited before with previous chapters, there is definitely a new bar.
+1
+1. And remember, Officer Marais is seeking a way to be present and assist also! (meanwhile, in the kitchen, Orro and confederates…)
Oh gods I love it! I always enjoy your different aliens. They are fun to imagine; my brain is weird and I can’t help from trying to visualize most things I read about — it’s a compulsion — which can be tricky with books like yours. It’s fun. And to bring Dagorkun and Karat and their posturing? Extra fun. You guys are the best!
OH, OH, OH!!!!! What a Fabulous piece!!! Thank you for the glorious word pictures, and the wonderful creations. My day just became brighter!!
Spectacular, as always! Thank you. Can’t wait to read about the festivities and what Orro’s going to whip up for the guests.
To the BDH: we are shipping these two right?
Which two? 😀
Dragokun and Karat or Gaston and Sybate, the Dushegub candidate?
Karat and Gaston seems like a better fit to me; both are premier swordfighters with a strong background in strategy and tactics.
Yes I never even thought of them. But I like it
+[
Heavens no!
Those two are destined to be the crusty old friends, sitting in a corner, and telling “in my day” stories….snarling at the young whippersnappers!
Agreed! I like gaston with yhe candidate tho! She seems his type lol elegant yet can slice your throat heehee
That was my first thought, too, especially after Karat’s comment about not kissing random humans.
But Gaston is only 3/4 human!
I’m hoping for more of Gaston as a romantic interest, too. It is one of those interesting character growths that these authors do so well. His education was probably as thorough as George and Jack’s, including the aristo stuff, and he clearly appreciates some of the finer things. Very different from the shack in the mire.
Gaston and Sybate. Yes.
What about Miralitt?
Yes yes we are!!!
What do you all mean by “shipping”?
“Shipping” is short for “relationshipping”- aka fans expressing the desire that two characters meet and have a romantic relationship because it would be fun to read about it.
Matchmaking by readers, in other words 😊.
Hope this helped.
Thank you for answering the question; I was wondering too…
What abour Gaston and the Sovereign?
I love Innkeeper Fridays! Alvina is always fun. Thank you House Andrews!
+1 100% agree Karat quickly became a favorite. Can’t wait to see where they take us on this time 🤗
Ahhhh Dagorkun and Karat!! This just keeps getting better and better!
Lol! Lol! Lol!
I love it so much!!!!
That was fun to read. Things are going to get…interesting.
Are you match making?
I don’t know about the authors, but the BDH certainly are already 😀
This is awesome
What a great way to start the weekend! Love the introductions to the first candidates and it was wonderful to see two old friends.
Happy Friday!
Delightful! All the creatures are marvelous and I’m so excited to see Karat! Thank you for the installment. Have a great weekend!
🤣🤣🤣 oh how I love Karat!!!! This should be very interesting!
What a party this is going to be! I am anticipating total chaos!
*boing boing boing* Karat and Dagorkun! Wheeeeeeee!
Ohh I love fridays, I get a new glimpse at the innkeeper world.
Love to see Karat and Dagokun. Now to read it again.
Thank you for all your hard work we really appreciate it.
I absolutely love your descriptions of the beings who come to your Inn. I would love to see drawings of what they look like some day.
So would House Andrews and I’m sure most of us! Wouldn’t an illustrated guide companion to the books be amazing?
Artists who focus on xenomorph illustrations are hard to come by and line up with free time etc.
A graphic novel version of the book(s) would make my day!
Yes, the BDH would be interested in having access to The Creature Guide – just a small request, no biggie you understand !
Heehee this is great! Thank you, House Andrews. You always brighten my week with your generosity and the humor you weave into even the most suspenseful moments
Lovely.
Snicker, chortle, guffaw!
This gets more fun by the installment! I can’t wait for what comes next.
Donkamin — Don’t Come In!! I love it, laughed out loud!
Yes! That was hilarious.
My first thought was “Hodor “.
Me too!
That was certainly fun!! Can I just ship Dagorkun and Karat right now? Hehe Let’s watch the fireworks!
PS. big thanks for brightening Friday as usual!!
I wish I could put a laughing emoji and then a heart emoji.
I love this.
😀 ❤️
Here you go 🙂
thank you!
You Go, Karat. A perfect smack down 😀 Now I want to re-read Sweep of the Blade because I’m missing that world.
I would like a version of if Kate and Curran had twitter conversation for Dina and Maud about what Karat is going to get up to. IF not twitter a text chat of some sort. I think it would be fun
The spouse candidate arrival was really cool in itself, the various species never cease to amaze me. And then the visit from Karat, which means some seriously cool things ahead. And these are just the first arrivals…..
The Demilles are amazing! Looking forward to meeting Klaus at some point.
Incredible Imagination Thank you I was very sad today, reading your marvelous story help me I Love It Thank you very munch
Wow!
And thank you. It’s been a crushing week. (My father’s funeral was Wednesday.)
This helps a lot.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Mary Beth.
I hope you find many things to help *hugs*
Hoping you and your family find peace in your memories of him. Hang in there.
deepest and sincere condolences.
peace
sorry to hear of your loss, sincere condolences to you and your family.
Thank you, The BDH is awesome. <3
Sending love and wishing your family and all who knew him well.
Condolences on your father’s passing. Thinking of you and your family.
May there be many things to help.
Love it! Can’t wait to see what happens next! Karat, being Arland’s cousin would explain why she looked familiar. Have Arland and Maud married yet? Wouldn’t Dina & Karat have met at the wedding?
Plus Dina is very familiar with Lord Soren, Karat’s father 😉
I’m confused by the timeline…
Maud and Arland’s wedding hasn’t yet taken place 🙂 . We are approximatively half a year from Sweep with Me. They were due to marry in a month’s time but obviously dum-dum-duuuuuummmm…thingy things have thingy happened 😉
I guess we will have to read on hehe.
thingy things ? will add this terminology to my repertoire
lol — that explains it…
just have to remember patience is a virtue 🙂
Well, Klaus arrived just after they had been discussing the wedding. Hmmm, six months later…
The upside of the week flying by is that Friday means Innkeeper 🙂
Excellent!! I read the Donkamins as donka-mins since we have donk-b-donk a little burro. But I also like the don’t-come-ins. Made me think of wannabes, likely on a neighboring planet. So awesome. Thank you for sharing as you write.
Let’s see…she introduces herself as part of the close circle, and then says, “I do not go around kissing random humans.” Hmmm…may have contradicted yourself there, Karat…
Only if you haven’t experienced vampire culture yet 🙂
I just knew the Horde and the Vampires would arrive. This story just gets more fun every Friday. Sometimes I almost forget that rescuing Wilmos is why this is happening. I almost expect just one or two sentences about saving Wilmos. You know, we went and got him. You have so many fun side characters to use in nifty ways.
So true! Poor Wilmos got kidnapped months ago. I also lost him in the possible mayhem that’s going to be awesome at the inn. Lol! Pun intended.
I always wonder if the innkeeper books are longer. We are not close to Rescueing Wilmos.
Wilmos got kidnapped less than a week ago 😅.
You wonder if the Innkeeper books are longer than…?
You are reading things with a week in between installments. That makes it seem longer, but in reality we are on page 109 and they found out where Wilmos was taken to on page 41.
That means that if you were reading it in one sitting, Wilmos was kidnapped one hour ago. 🙂
Subjective time perception in a nutshell 🙂
When you’re up to your ass in aliens, it’s difficult to remember the goal was rescuing the werewolf!
Nicely done!! 🏆
😂
it keeps getting better and better!!!!
I love the descriptions of the beings that are visiting. Then we get to meet some old friends also. Yea!
Thank you!!!!
Thank you. This has given me a nice burst of warm fuzzies at a much needed time. I wish the same for you and yours as well.
This is SO GOOD! I love absolutely everything about it. 🙂
Oh good i can Not wait a full week for more….please give US more lady Andrews please
Oh yay! It’s a party and HA is giving us lots of our favorites to peek at.
I adore Karat, she is an awesome character. “I am your sister’s best friend.” LOL!
Thanks for this chapter segment. It has so many cool elements: Dina knowing just what to do to make a new species at home, all sorts of interesting aliens, and cool characters we already love. Perfect!
Thank you thank you thank you! This was amazing! 😀 Dagorkun! KARAT!
I started thinking a few weeks ago, this looks like it’s shaping up to but be the big Innkeeper finale…
Hope there’s still a separate Maud and Arland wedding etc book somewhere in the future though!
I wouldn’t jump to conclusions. It’s never safe 😉
Kate Daniels main story went 10 books…then we have the Hugh story which is promised to be at least two books, we have Gunmetal Magic, and the two stories with Jim & Dali, and the Blood Heir which is promised to be at least two books, (and related short stories).
I love the KD world, and for me, the Innkeeper world is as rich, so I’m hoping for many many more Innkeepers beyond this wonderfully unfolding tale in the overall saga. I really really want to meet Klaus…I have a ship for him that I don’t want reveal just yet….
Now I am wondering about your Klaus ship (As a person who is 1000% behind every ship regardless of reasoning)
I wonder who some of the other observers might be. Hoping it’s other familiar faces.
Currently rereading Sweep of the Blade. Wouldn’t mind a Tachi observer.
Yes! The chapter with the Tachi (Tachis?) at dinner was one of my favorite scenes.
oh yes, that would be great !! While The Lady of Sun and Air would be elegant and wonderful, maybe Ke’Lek ?? He did save Lady Helen after all.
Dagorkun and Karat should be fun. The more of the other guest start coming the more think what could possibly go wrong? I think lots of sneaky deals, mayhem and destruction.
Dagorkun and Karat are perfect for each other.
I’m shipping Karat and Gaston, myself. Karton. Gasrat. Hmm
Karton 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Gasrat, the new and improved Ghastek
lol! XD
+1
Karton and Gasrat 😀
Yeah, no. Not shipping those two 😀
So delicious! Thank you so much.
Dushegubs-the word is driving me nuts, now everytime I read Dushegubs,my brain translates to douchebags. Lol!
Thank you so much for the wonderful chapter! Is there no release date for the books of the “Innkeeper Chronicles” series in a Brazilian Publisher? I wanted so much to read in my language
Hi Ana,
So happy you love the Innkeeper series!
However, House Andrews do not control the availability of the books in other countries.
Only your local publishers and retailers control that. If you would like to read Innkeeper in your language/your country, please email a local publisher who publishes fiction similar to Ilona Andrews work and let them know you would like to read on your terms.
Ilona and Gordon are very happy to sell foreign rights to other countries and have the books to be available as widely as possible, but that is where their involvement ends 🙂
Aaaand we now have the House Andrews TM Mermaids book!!
To quote Caldenia (good for me that I started rereading!):
I’m so glad you decided to throw the rulebook out the window and inserted Gaston in the books!! 😁
Glorious. Absolutely glorious. Thank you!
KARAT!! YESSSS! And Dagorkun too! Return of the Otrakars, huzzah! Uh, oh, Gaston! Avert ye eyes lest havoc reigns! Oh, what am I saying? Of course, there will be chaos and upheaval (hip hip hooray!).
AND RIPPERCUSHIONS!
yes, YES! Let there be rippercushions!!!
+1
Perhaps Lady Helen could rename the Feline Creature to be Ripper of Cushions.
+1
Yes to all the rippercushions !
Thank you! Thank you!!! Yes, Karat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Dagorkun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is going to be awesome!
Lol, please don’t let Karat be the drunken stripper. Sorry, was a first thought after being excited with these two arrival. Yes, mentally shipping a few matches but not sure who with who yet…these two, Gaston, and the half vampire bodyguard from earlier, even want to throw the annoying female werewolf and Tony in the mix.
Regardless thank you, loving this.
Drunken stripper?
Oh, oh, I just got it! They mean coffee and Arland.
😅 That’s why you’re the one writing the good books hehe!
Well there was that other vampire at the peace talks too
Remember Alvina, talking to Maud, wondered why her dear cousin, Arland, sent her 10 lbs. of coffee. She knows what coffee can do to a vampire.
Yep, somebody would have to sneak it in somehow. HEHE
I am re-watching Big Bang Theory and for some reason this mention of coffee and vampires made me want a lunatic scientist using this event to run indiscriminate experiments on the reactions of various species to coffee and alcohol.
HAHAHA
Yay, one of the reasons Fridays are so amazing! Thank you and hopefully everyone is enjoying this day to the fullest. Sorry, I’m a teacher and next week is Spring Break~ a time to relax.
The description of the donkamins is shudder worthy! I have pretty intense aphantasia– I get almost no imagery in my head, but I managed to get a faint mental image of that.
Like a naked Thinman with beet pink nipples for me 😅
Like a humanoid version of NoFace, with nipples and ridges, is what I got. 😡
I stopped reading so I could imagine something sufficiently horrible in my head, but didn’t have to imagine something as horrible as what was actually described 😂
Same. I didn’t even know I was supposed to get images on my head until a year or so ago. I think that is why I pay so much attention to each character’s personal history and relationships.
Ha!
The cat looked at me strange when I first out laughing
Woot woot here representing the Karat appreciation society!!
Saving the best for last! I didn’t know how happy I would be to see Karat until I did!
Maybe it’s because I recently re-read Sweep of the Blade?
“She also sent you a hug and a kiss, but you will have to imagine it. I do not go around kissing random humans.”
Insert laughing/crying emoji here.
Thanks again for another great Friday.
I can see Dagorkun and Karat becoming unofficial additional security for the Inn, esp since I’m pretty sure Clan Sai will be showing up and not happy to have Nuan Coouki there first (and they haven’t made an oath to Dina either). Loved how she took care of the Dushgubs too.
I know people hate when readers fall into the trap of shipping every character that appears on the screen together, and I usually don’t do it either but…
Karat + Dagorkun????
My brain just did this automatically, help I think it could work
Also, just got to say.. thanks. I was just feeling really tired today, too many stressors going on and this really put a smile on my face 🙂 Hope you have a nice day house andrews + Mod R!
Oh my! this week is awesome sauce!
First, Gaston is right: ” if he had to be menacing, there was no reason he couldn’t be dashing as well”, that makes me go😆
Second, all those new species so well described that we can ‘see’ them. 👏bravissimo!
Third, Dargokun and Karat tried to up each other but Karat dropped the mic 😍! I can ship those two.
Now can we go to next Friday at warp speed please? what is going to happen next?🙀
Thank you Ilona and Gordon for your greatness 🙇♀️
Thank you! I was a having a bad week and this snippet made it all better ❤️
Thank you. Lovely to see Karat again.
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!
The Sweep series is the ultimate crossover series, where with each new installment you get to meet new friends as well as visit with some old favorites. Hooray for HA.
Is it too early to start shipping Karat an Dagorkun? I habe tje innate need to pair them up now that they were presented together.
I loved this chapter. The alien species are super fun.
+1 to this!
Never too early for a ship!
Thanks for the Friday chapter installment. 🤣 battle of connections. I wish I could commission someone to draw all the characters because I do not have the imagination capabilities suited.
Ooh!!! More Lady Karat please!!!
Yea. I just love this each week. It always makes me smile.
I adore Karat. The ending brought a moment of joy. Thank you House Andrews.
Thank you!
Oh Goodie — Karat!
Bwahahahaaa loved the last 2. This is going to be so much fun!
No one has mentioned Tony in all the shipping. Dagorkun and Karat seem too obvious. Gaston looks like he’s going to work at the Inn. But you never know.
Karat would be interested in Tony as a potential threat as Arlan had no doubt discussed the ad hal with her. I also have the impression that ad hal can create portals. Plus, he’s likely to be invited to Maud’s wedding.
House Andrews likes to be sneaky.
Ship (ma)Karony!
Hahaha!😂😂
+1
you know what ship really hasn’t been mentioned? Tony + Gaston…. 😉
Gastony. It makes so much sense. xD
+100
Wheres the inn branching too…
Love it! Karat was a sweet surprise!
This was so awesome! I am sooo happy for this cross over. Thank you!
Yey Karat.
Ahem Karat and Dagorkun. Anyone shipping this?
Thanks IA. Getting better every week.
Instant chemistry, right? Either that or the BDH shipping machine is stuck on shipping HEA for all their favorite characters.
Yes! The only question is the ships name: Karakun or Dagorat?
That was awesome. I have looked forward to every installment of Innkeeper since the very first time we met Dina, but this chapter took the prize for the best yet. What a fun and creative way you both have of crafting words to create this world and build excitement and tension until we’re breathless for what comes next!
Love it!
***Happy sigh***
I feel like a small child in the theater right before a brand new Disney movie starts playing. I am so dang excited that I have the wiggles, lol.
I loooved the last scene. Did anyone else envision them sticking out their tongues at each other and saying “so there!”
🤣🤣🤣
Yes I did!
Love it!!! thank you!!!
So I have a possible BDH prediction that the ceremony observers Karat & Dagorkun (Kardagor) will be instrumental in saving the day in the end & Soren may likely have another wedding to plan ………
Its Friday…. and I have lots of other predictions living rent-free in my head as the next seven-day countdown to the next installment begins again.
I am already at the edge of my seat…… more please?
Just kidding…..House Andrews please take all the time you need we will be here.
So, like many folks these days, my life is full of stress. This morning, I woke with lots of worries and concerns in my mind. Then I read this. Now, I’m only worried for Dina and Sean. Ouch – Arland’s cousin. I remember her. Good luck with that. Glad I’m not an inn keeper.
I have no words. Just squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
This was just delightful! THANK YOU!
It’s like Christmas…this book just KEEPS GIVING!!!!
Lol this is so fanastic i dont even have words!!! 😍😍😍😍
Innkeeper Friday!!!!! Lady Alvin such a wonderful vampire!
Oppps Lady Alvina
I found it!!!
A human goes off to walk the Lantern Vigil, while my cousin the Marshall stays home to babysit,” Karat said. “I realize now why I have never fallen in love. Im entirely too sane for that nonsense.” – SotB Chap9
This is going to be epic!!!!!!! hahaha 🙂
+++++++++1
She threw the gauntlet and challenged the Authorlords. She had it coming.🤣
+1
House IA: “Challenge accepted. Hold my beer…!”
Woohoo!!!!! The stage is set for some interesting sh*t!!!
OMG this is amazing, better than the duck.
Esto de esperar cada viernes se ha convertido en un ejercicio de paciencia pero después de hoy estoy al borde del colapso!!!!!!
Es verdad!
What a wonderful addition to my Friday. Intriguing (non-humanoid) aliens; Sean getting freaked out by one group and on call to deal with another; and (saving the best for last) Karat and Dagorkun.
Big smiles here.
Thank you!
Whoohoo! *fistpump*
This made my day! I think a new ship has set sail. How will it be called: Dagorat or Karakun? 😉
Her name is Alvina though, right? She just prefers to be called Karat. So it should be Dagvina or Alkun.😂😂
This just keeps better and better. I had expected the Hope Devouring Horde and the Holy Anocracy, just not these two individuals. Oh, the possibilities! I can’t wait.
Love it.
Love the drama.
Made my Friday evening. Karat is going to bang the Under-Khan. Lovely
You have a gift for words, Ricki Martin 🤣
Hahahaha, bang, bang, bang!
Karat!!!
I am already shipping Karat and Gaston.
Thank you for making the week better!
My first thought too – Karat and Gaston, what an epic installment!
*rubs hands together*
this is gonna be GREAT!
thank you!!
You are so imaginative! These so different alien species, yet not so alien to the Inn and the innkeepers. Seems like there will be some action in the near future.
Way to drop a bomb. LOL. So good. Thanks
Thank you House Andrews! It was lovely!
Love it, Love it, Love it!!!!!!!!!
Yaaay! That was awesome. Poor shellshocked Sean!
May I have the audacity to assume and hope that the Horde and the Holy Anocracy will one day soon be united in marriage?🤣🤣
Oooh! Loving the descriptions – psychedelic jazz hands 😂 and Karat and Dagorkun! Thankyou!!
Lady Helen sent.
Wonderful.
Who whoo! I honestly don’t know how you do, ratcheting the excitement and tension up with every chapter. You two are rock stars of fiction!
OK, that makes it official.
Karat will have married a human by the end of the book.
What makes you so certain she would choose a human? Can no one else imagine Lady Alina falling head over tail for Wilma’s, and thinking what a wonderful house husband and parent he might make?
Alvina, aka Karat.
Bleeping Autocorrect!
It’s probably a reference to this quote from Sweep of the Blade where the Lady Alvina doth protested a smidge too much 😅:
“A human goes off to walk the Lantern Vigil, while my cousin the Marshall stays home to babysit,” Karat said. “I realize now why I have never fallen in love. I’m entirely too sane for that nonsense.”
Andrews, Ilona. Sweep of the Blade, The Innkeeper Chronicles volume 4. NYLA publishing, 2019. Kindle edition, chapter 9
Amazing! Thank you for making me smile on a very stressful day.
Yay, Karat!
I love all the different species y’all populate the inns with. Can’t wait to see Dina and Sean and Orro managing them all.
That was magnificent! Thank you!
Thanks!! I am still chuckling!
Thank you for this wonderful gift every Friday. Last week we got Gaston and now Dagorkun and Karat have joined the party. Can’t wait to see what happens next week.
Dagorkun AND Karat! What fun we’re going to have!
Yay!!!!! It’s Karat!! I love her!!
Oh! Many many thanks! This has been a tough week.
Karat and Dagorkun have lightened the gloom.
Also the fishies.
Thank you!
You and Gordon never fail to bring me joy in reading your books. Again, I will read this until the finish and then rush out and order the book.
Hah! So much serving. Anticipating the fun to come. Thank you for the installment this crazy week.
Oh boy. That serie happiness happiness. Seeing those characters is like greeting old friends .
When Gertrude greet previous character it s feel like ” Old friends ! I welcome you to this chapter can’t wait to see what you will do for my entertainment for the rest of the story. Please tell me your life to this point . In details !”
Seeing two rival clan warrior of the opposite sex coincidently appearing together.
The teenager in me :…. Ohhh …. Maybe ?
The adult in me : nah
The kid in me : I m just glad we are all together let s all be friend .
The adult in me look at the teenager in me : okay . Maybe
Hmmmm….I thought we liked Klause for Karat?
I think he’s sort of married to his arbitrator work for like 15 more years…or however much time is left on his 20 year contract.
Yay Karat!
OK so we get the kookoo, a sphinx, murderous trees, orro gets a new kitchen and staff, Sophie and George are married, Gaston runs around in armored pirate attire, and now we get both Dagorkun and Karat all in the same inn keeper! We are all truly spoiled. Thank you
Is gorvar OK?
Gorvar will survive 🙂
Maybe olesard will share some of his feline treats with gorvar and make friends 😊
Isn’t Gorvar hooked up to the medical unit in Gertrude Hunt? The last word was he appeared to be okay.
I’m so in love with you two a d your .Indoor meld. This may be your best work ever!
Dragorkun and Karat, all the way….
Would make a great paring.
Ahhh! Karat!!!!
Yay! Karat!
LOL … loved the end of the chapter. Thank you for the chuckle.
Now I wonder: how compatible are Otrokar and Vampires? 😉
They are compatible 😀 . I’m not confirming anything here, minds you, but if there were a will, there would be a way.
Love this! Perfect blend of humour and imagination. So so good. Thank you 🙂
Just keeps getting better! Sister’s best friend, indeed…
Oh my gosh! So love it! Thank you so much!
Wow, you always deliver! Thank you
I cannot stop smiling! This story is so great!
Woohoo, what an ensemble cast – thank you HA!
With all these players on the field I’m guessing developing a star crossed Otrokar/Vampire relationship may not be on the cards – but I look forward to seeing how they get on!
Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the snippet.
I speculate that Karat was deliberately sent by Maud and Arland. The “situation” is so chock full of possibilities— violence, intrigue, conspiracy etc and Karat is intelligent and competent and vampire. 😊
It’s shaping up to be a good thought provoking story. Thank you both.
Well…*someone* did send Karat. I know but I’m not telling 😛
I’m guessing Klaus. He recruited George. He’s been pulling strings for years.. .find help the parents.
This is just another step in that direction.
My guess
I realized after reading today’s post how much I savor and look forward to each Friday!!! This will be another amazing book!!
Thank you!
I hope Luisa or whomever did the artwork for the Innkeeper books (sorry, don’t have one handy to look up) draws pictures of these guests. I really want to see the fish.
Doris is in charge of Innkeeper art 🙂
Oh my goodness! The tension in the Inn during this conference will be at phenomenally high levels. I can’t wait to find out who is causing Caldenia to be so closed mouthed, as well watch Orro and his new crew handle the various foods required, without melodramatics. Most of all observing Dina and Sean as they anticipate, manage and control everything. This is going to be a very wild ride and I am looking forward to every second of it! Thank you so much for everything you have written and will continue to write!
Our cups runneth over. So much to love. Just when I thought last week was impossibly thrilling and this week would have to be much calmer we get amazing descriptions of our delegations. Then… Dagorkun! Karat! Intense rivalry! The BDH shipping more than Maersk. Wow. Thank you.
Sigh. I love these posts, but I hate having to wait for more. Please don’t stop posting though!
This has made me so, so happy today! I can’t even tell you how much… There was this real blossoming of warmth and joy and laughter in my heart, that I haven’t felt in a week. Thank you! Thank you so much… <3
Another brilliant installment. Love all the new species although I admit I thought “dorkfish!” when the Oomboles were described. Thank you, Bill Engvall!
And if Karat drops a comment that she has met an auditor named Klaus the rippercushions will be fun,
TGIF and the gang is all here.
How long did it take to come up with those descriptions? Did you print them out and tape them above your desk for easy reference?
It’s hours of work for a paragraph of description!
Having non-humanoid aliens in the Innkeeper Chronicles is important to House Andrews, but human nature means they generally don’t come easy to anyone’s imagination.
Awesome! Do I sense a beautiful friendship forming between To y and Gaston? Karat! Woo hoo!
Thanks so much,
“Then came the nipples.” Lol was my favorite line until Karat arrived. I love her.
No matter what you say, in my head I’m imagining Gaston in a dread pirate roberts get up now
As you wish…
Absolutely!
Joy! Best part of my day.
Karat!
yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.
Hair toss? Like a hair flip?? Oh no she didn’t! I love Karat and am so glad she’s here. So now, I’ll sit and knit and wait for next Friday’s installment. Thank you!!
Thank you for a wonderful installment! There are so many pieces in play, it feels like the lull before the S* Storm.
Is anyone else wondering who is going to die (or be violently expelled from the Inn) first?
My monopoly money is on the Dushegubs from everything we know in the chapters so far.
Any takers?
Epic one upsmanship, with the win to Lady Karat! The Otrokar vs. vampire rivalry is alive and well.
And the last chapter, with Gaston’s take on George and Sophie (and we knew that one was coming), finally had me breaking down and buying the Edge novels…I think I’ve been burned too often by authors with one great series and the rest relative duds.
Lucky! You have a great series ahead of you.
With Gaston showing up and all the BDH speculation about George and Sophie, I decided to re-read/skim the Edge novels to brush up on them. Lo, I discovered that I’d bought but never actually read the 3rd and 4th ones! I have no idea why not, but what an unexpected treat! It kept me purring while awaiting a few more Innkeeper chapters.
Go Karat!
So funny. “I do not go around kissing random humans.” I love it! And she can probably tell Dina and Sean things about the upcoming nuptials. I wonder if she’ll mention Klaus dropping by?
Lol what if it’s a ‘she doth protest too much’ and had made that ‘random human kissing’ mistake somewhat recently…. 😀 Just shipping here out of control.
She kisses no random humans?
What fun to meet Karat again!
Seriously, that’s just marvelous! Thanks so much for the old friends and new species. I love your universe, it’s a panacea to my tired mind.
“Technically it was Sean’s turn, but he was still standing still, so I took one for the team.”😳 Hilarious!!😂
Love the world building you do and the crisp and spare word selection to describe the characters without repitition. Such a lovely read! I look forward to seeing how this book turns out..
“Lady Helen … sent you a hug and a kiss, but you will have to imagine it. I do not go around kissing random humans.” Oh, this just keeps getting better and better. You’ve gotta love Karat!
I am just desperately awaiting Sean going full awesomeness- you know he will be large and in charge at some point. Dina will just be effortlessly (or effort hidden) smart and scary strong – subtle. Joking in all the shipping and squeeing…
Wow. Wow wow wow. I hope at least some of these make the illustrations, assuming there will be illustrations.
So fun! Love the scene with Karat! Thank you!
Squeee!!! Karat!!
I trick myself into “forgetting” the installments from Saturday to Thursday, so I can be delightfully “surprised” when I read it on Fridays… don’t ask, it just helps waiting…
Thank you so much HA, for such wonderful tidbits at the end of a very stressful week
Laughed out loud at Karat and today I learned what a trilobite shell is, no wonder that’d be visually disturbing.
Loved it!
& Their trust with one another (Dina and Sean) is awesome
Man you guys’s imagination is such a wondrous thing.
Karat!!!! And Dagorkun!!! I’m so excited to see how this all works out! I so very much enjoyed those characters and are so excited to see them again! Also totally think Karat got sent by Maud and Arland for this in particular.
Those new species are incredible! The sparkly lionfish folk, creepy carnivorous trees (with their fae like offering) and the extendo-skeletons with nipples! What other wonderful beings will we see next???
Each installment is such a joy to read! Glad you are all doing okay and hope that everything is going ask kindly for you all (House Andrews and Mod R).
Also… Mod R, how do you make it so you have a pretty picture instead of the colorful pattern icon? Is that possible for non-admin folk or just is it simple magic I’m not seeing?
Hi Relin,
It’s totally possible for everyone!
In order to change your profile picture, you need to head to Gravatar, here https://en.gravatar.com/
Once you create a profile associated with the email address you comment with (or log in of you already have an account), you can replace your profile picture and the website will automatically pull it from there 🙂.
Hope this helps.
Thank you so much! I’m so excited!! (hopefully it works now!)
Yes, it did! Yay!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO MOD R!!! It’s super appreciated 😀
Relin,
Thanks for asking, i changed mine as well!!!! Hope it works 😊
It has indeed! 🙂
I’m so glad others could also benefit too! Now more of us can have pretty pictures!
Thank you !
This is getting very…very interesting!
Oh my gosh! Dagorkun and Karat! It’s like a family reunion! And those aliens are really… alien. Thank you!
Yes! So many of my favorite characters! It’s not a soiree until it’s a party!!! TGIFF! Thank Goodness it’s Ilona’s Fiction Friday!
This always makes the weekend start out better. Can’t wait for the next one.
Karat!!!
This has been the highlight of my day. Thank you House Andrews!!
So excited to have Karat involved!
Ahhhhhh!!! It’s Karat!!!! YES! The guest list for this shindig is just getting better by the page!!! Thank you!!
Karat and Dagorkun together???!!! Holy crap and watch out!!! Can’t wait!!!
Oh my god. I literally screamed when I realised it was Karat! So excited!!! 😍
Coming late to the Comments Party but just wanted to put in a huge, hearty guffaw for Karat. Also, can I give you guys (and Mod R too) the big hug that Karat couldn’t give to Dina? Nice way to end a week. Thanks muchly.
Thank you!
Gaston as an elegant goth pirate!!
Karat!!
This chapter was da bomb!!
📚📚📚
Thank you!!
Can I vote for an arm wrestling contest between Karat and Dagorkun?
Also kitty treats for Olasard.
*sigh* I’m very happy with this development, thank you.
Thank you. You have no idea how much this little bit of happiness was needed today.
Yay! I’ve had an awful headache all day. Worked short-staffed, lots of overtime and under a stressful deadline all week. I was miserable and I felt like my eyes were gritty, about to explode but I HAD to read today’s installment. Dagorkun and Karat made me cheer and laugh. I’m so happy. their entry seriously brought tears to my eyes. Thank you SO MUCH!
Wow! intergalactic bachelor show is on! Karat and Dragorkun in Gertrude Hunt. I hope this does not signal Season Finale for Innkeepers. We still need Krause story and Maud’s ex-in laws getting ripper cushions for their banishment of Maud and Helen.
Nothing of the ending sort has been announced 🙂
Oh, goddess!—how I love reading your stories! Never a disappointment.
Feline creature?
Olasard the cat 🙂
I’m loving it 😍
Come on next Friday.
Oh this is just too good! *dancing a jig*
Might have gotten a little thrill about Karat and Dagorkahn in the same space. *chuckles*
Next Friday can’t come soon enough
I LOVE Karat!!!! I’ve been listening to Sweep of the Blade today!
I am so excited I could die ❤️🤗☺️🤩
Also, I would like to add my ticket to the Karat-Dagorkun ship!!!
But what should the ship name be?
Kardag? Karkun? Kagorkun??
Also also, love the aliens!! They are so awesome and weird and different from anything I could have imagined, I love this series so much ❤️
Thank you so much for the installment and hope House Andrews has a lovely weekend ❤️
Dagorat maybe.
I love Karat! This just keeps getting better every Friday. Thanks for a lovely bright spot in an otherwise dreary day.
Oooohhh the possibilities! I just remembered that today was Friday blog day. I am supposed to be making cookies for tomorrow but stopped to read and I am so glad I did it.
Love it! Have a good weekend
Love this line! “I do not go around kissing random humans.”
Lol!
I can’t thank you enough for a truly great end of my day!
I’m still begging for a picture of Couki!
Seconded!
These installments just keep getting better and better!
Gaston in pirate gear! Karat with the smack down on Dagorkun!
Thank you!
Love it, it is my birthday today so consider it one of my birthday presents, tears are rolling out from laughing some much at the last interaction.
Great!!
Donkamin? Priceless!!
And Tony is there too. It feels like everyone is helping out Dina with her impossible task. I wonder if her parents will turn up……
This really brightened what was otherwise a shitty day. Thanks so much
Ann
What a fabo scene!😂😂😂
I love Karat! You guys are the best.
Hmmm. Sean was transfixed by the Donkamins. Wonder if he encountered them in Nexus? Also from the description they remind me of the Grays … alien visitors to Earth.
Ah, but will she end up kissing or trying to kill random otrokars?
These two. Are these two married. I wanna ship!!!
So glad to read about Karat again, love it.
I really can’t wait to read the rest of this! Wow!
Thank you for a wonderful chapter.
Now, I know it’s unlikely. I know there would be massive difficulties. But, imagining the look on Lord Soren’s face if Dagorkun and Karat got together is going to keep me giggling all week.
OMG! Everybody we love is making an appearance! This is so exciting and I absolutely cannot wait to read more! Fridays are becoming the highlight of my week because of these chapters, thank you!
Absolutely wonderful! Love Karat’s greeting. Can’t see what happens next.
I just reread the previous posts. I can’t even begin to fathom how this is going to end. All the pieces refuse to fit together in my head, but I know this will be EPIC!
1. Finally Karat will get to experience first hand the delights of earth and the inns.
2. Gaston, now that George is married is at loose ends.
3. Dina has a large amount of backup, that she will be able to call on for assistance.
4. All that power will make Diana’s inn one of the strongest on Earth.
5. 300 guests, someone is bound to know what happened to her parents.
6. We don’t know who Caledania is supposed to be concerned about.
7. We still have to rescue Wilmot and stop the real bad guys. This is just a detour on
that journey.
All the thoughts, all the possibilities, all the potential… I’m exhausted just thinking about it, but in a good way. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Bachelor has same title/last name? As Caldenia. Olev???
Hi Marijke,
Do you mean Olivione? Letere Olivione is not Caldenia’s last name, it is a title 🙂. “She who controls Fate”.
To my knowledge, she is the only one who was referred to by this title, it was never applied to the Sovereign.
We do not know Caldenia’s or the Sovereign’s last name 🙂
Your written word is truly truly charming and engrossing👍👌.. really appreciate that you so freely share the bounty of your imagination with us 🤩..thank you !
..and thankyou for brightening and pleasuring our hearts and minds.
May the Almighty bless your pen.
Blessings upon blessings be showered upon you and yours . thankyou very much 💐
Wow. Love this chapter. You guys knock it out of the park again. Kudos!
Thank you. Another great installment. 😊
Such interesting guests! And yay for the familiar faces!!
Must reread, so much to take in 🙂
Anyone else shipping karat and dagorkun? Perhaps karagorkun? Or dagrat? Wouldn’t that shake things up!!
Pretty much everyone 😅
Awesome!
Love Karat!
Any updates on whether Renee raudman will be back to narrate this when there’s an audiobook? She was my favorite of the 2 narrators for the series (not including graphic audio)
Hi Jenna,
Natalie Naudus will return to narrate the Sweep of the Heart audiobook 🙂
Aw man…..I mean…she’s not bad, but Renee raudman had the better Dina southern accent and caldenia…and Orro!
I recently listened to the graphic audio version of Sweep in Peace and the narrator for Dina is fantastic.
So glad Karat has shown up – what a perfect entrance! Lol
I love reading these tidbits each week, and I can’t wait for the full book to come out… it’s going to be so awesome!
So good, so good!!!
Thanks
Oh my gosh, the party has finally started and we readers are the honored guests! Thank you for this blessing IA, tears of love and joy for you and your gifts!
I love Innkeeper Fridays! Thank you so much 😊
Anyone who would undertake an interstellar journey and carry treats for the feline creature is OK in my books. What a delightful read.
Hi.
I have a question not related to Sweep of the Heart but about the Innkeeper universe.
In the short story ‘Helen and Gerard meet’, there are two kids, Charlie and a toddler.
Where are they? Are they Klaus and Maud? If so, they are not Gerard’s kids and they are Dina’s half-siblings.
If they aren’t Klaus and Maud, who are they?
The two children are Klaus and Maud 🙂 .
Yes, they are Dina’s half siblings, which is specified in the books 🙂 , however Gerard is the only father Maud has every known:
“Gerard Demille wasn’t her biological parent, but he was the only father she ever knew. He came from a time when knowing how to use a sword meant the difference between life and death.”
Andrews, Ilona. Sweep of the Blade, The Innkeeper Chronicles 4. NYLA Publishing, 2019. Kindle Edition, Chapter 7
I hope House Andrews realises that now absolutely everyone will demand the Karat/Dagorkun story :))))))
Because we are a greedy lot :)))))))
Brilliant. I love when we get a mix of new characters and old friends. Always makes me smile….
Thank you
Brilliant ! Love it !
Thank you!!! 😊
So there! That was quite the entrance. The one up man ship is always fun.
Oh, SO good! I will re-read this chapter many times today! 😀
Thinking of names, Dushegubs is not a word I’m familiar with or know how to pronounce, but it is distinct enough, and the description in a previous segment was vivid enough that as soon as I saw it I thought, “ Oooh, the homicidal trees have arrived.” For me, that is a good name.
The description of the Donkamins is so wonderfully creepy. I find myself hoping there will be a picture of it when the book comes out.
This was a wonderful installment. Thank you!
Just Fab! Karat and Dagorkun are back! Love this!
Thank you for a laugh out loud moment – gotta love Karat. “I do not go around kissing random humans”… good for her – neither do I!
Wonderful as usual on a weekend. Thank you
This is amazing!!!! I love it. love Karat. This is going to be a great story!!!!!
I love it, so awesome.
Yes! YES!! YESSSS!!!!!!
Thank you. This was perfect. Not to rush you (because I remember the rules about release stuff and Gordon) but I can’t wait to buy the book and the audio book.
I can already hear Ms. Naudus’ dry tones as she voices Karat!
Oh, this is priceless! I am so glad I recently reread the book that features Helen and Karat.
Yaaas! So good!!! I’m shipping Dagorkun and Karat and no one can stop me 😁😁😁😁
No one would DARE hehe! No one wants to either, given the comments 😉
Hummm Karat and Dagorkun ?
Possible? (rubbing my hands together like an evil villain bwaahahahaha)
So. Dang. Cool.
Oh my god….I can’t wait for the fireworks!
What an installment: thank you very much for yet another GREAT start to the weekend! Here’s hoping HA also has a great weekend filled with lovely cups of tea, delicious cookies to accompany, nice weather, and whatever else your hearts most desire. 😁
Sheer genius! Thank you so much for your work! It never fails to entertain!
Ah, so much fun. The worldbuilding of the Innkeeper universe gets better and better.
Oh, great day of the morning. Fabulous chapter! Thank yew!!
Yes!!! Karat is back!
Great ending!! I’m so glad we get wonderful characters like Dagorkun and Karat—and together!! So good for a forbidden romance 😘
Omg the plot thickens Karat and Dagorkun, at the Inn, 😆 🤣 😂 😹
As I read another episode, I wonder if we will ever have the pleasure of seeing an images book of the fascinating species of travelers, guests, enemies and friends that have been described in the Chronicle. We get some snippets through the beautiful drawings but, wow if the words were “translated” by a graphic artist.
Perhaps a manga?
One should always live in hope, it’s what I always say 😉
Graphic novel versions of the Innkeeper books? Just take my money already!
Seriously, that would be awesome.
Donkamins? Are you kidding me? That is genius!
Sometimes I have mental background music (instrumental not vocals) when reading books. Night on Bald Mountain for the last battle between Roland and Kate, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring for parts of the Goblin Emperor, stuff like that. All these guests signing in at Gertrude Hunt make me think about the procession of the Royal Children in King and I, which I realize is a colonialist misrepresentation of the true worthiness of the government of Thailand, but hey, the music really fits…
Awesome. HA is amazing.
Another tantalizing episode. Sigh. Too soon over. Looking forward to the next installment. Love the story so far!
Love Karat. This makes for a very interesting situation. The imagination I don’t have is imagining all sorts of situations. Thanks, Nancy
Thank you for the usual wonderful chapter. Many new and old characters to enjoy. Also to Moderator R a big thank you for explaining some bits like “shipping” and what some characters were referring to when they spoke.
I really love the word pictures!! I can literally see the oomboles and the donkamins….and especially Karat’s insouciance at the end….
The chapter installment is wonderful and the posts entertaining. Glad to see that many are shipping my favorites: Dagorkun and Karat. Regarding the secret “guest” that threatens to upset Caldenia, I assume it is whoever toppled her from her position as “galactic tyrant” (Cai Pa wouldn’t upset her: she’d just laugh and poison him for almost getting Dina killed). As everyone says, Innkeeper Friday/Saturday is just wonderful — contented sigh — thanks to House Andrews, such talent.
It’s the Sovereign that Caldenia will have the issue with.
I’m loving this and want so much more.
I absolutely giggled at Sean’s reaction to the Donkamins (what a hilarious origin story for their name, though I’m sure the innkeeper in question – if the urban legend is true – was mortified when their head caught up to their instincts!) and YES!! I am PSYCHED for these familiar faces rejoining the ensemble.
Is it terrible that I’m wondering if Karat’s protestations in Sweep of the Blade about not falling love is going to be tested this book (maybe in the form of an Otrokar alliance…?) I know, I shouldn’t ship characters on their first appearance together and there’s a probable chance they may or may not have slaughtered one another’s relatives on Nexus but…
Oh my, thats incredible, amazing! Thank you for these Scene! Karat and Dogurkon of the Otrokar and all the others species, so excellent described, its amazing! Thank You
I am constantly amazed at your creativity and description! NO ONE can match your imagination.
Squee!! Karat! 😍 YAS!!
OH!!!! I love ! I love it. You guys are so good.
Best smack down without really smacking down. Karat is awesome.
Thank you. This is such a treat.
This is one of my favorite things in all of your stories, but particularly Innkeeper: I love the non-human beings. You describe them in a way that makes them easy to visualize, and add enough background info to make their behavior/physiology both logical and distinctive.
I have reread all of your books many (many!) times, but Innkeeper is the series I choose when I want to be reminded the universe is big, and mostly good.
Thanks for the treat!
Yes absolutely
This is fantastic!
I love Karat so hard…
Kiddies, with full respect, how do you do this? I mean really, the descriptions and the “reality” is so much fun. No one and I mean NO ONE does it better. Thank you.
Previously Karat was focused on her career and not matrimony. I wonder what the conversation was that sent her where she is now. It must have been a doozy
I love you guys, great chapter. The innkeeper books are a gift that keeps on giving.
Oh Karat is there!! What a treat!!
Loving it. I’m staying next door this in Liverpool at the moment (see link). And I wondered! Not that Innkeepers would be that gouache in the their advertisements.
Karat! This is going to get good!
Ooooh, this is going to be even more FUN! Thank you! I’d love to have a seat in the balcony and get the popcorn ready to watch the fireworks.
Or better still, Orro made snacks!
Yay more Karat!
KarKun?
This has been a complicated week-making decisions post retirement. Somehow I overlooked Friday- Saturday is now my favorite day!
Usually I read the chapter, reread it, then read the comments. Not today. I read the chapter and my smile grew and grew (Cheshire Cat size). My heart rejoiced, all is right with the world. So many of my favorite characters came to visit, felt Christmas morning when I was a kid. Now I’m going to turn on CCR “Born onthe Bayou “, dance and then reread, check blog and dance some more. PHENOMENIAL WRITING!!!!!!
Excellent tension between Dagorkun and Karat. I hope sparks fly, so to speak, maybe a budding romance… 🙂
Oops! Phenomenal!!!!!
Ahah, the thick plottens some more. Interesting alien species and looking forward to seeing what Karat is up to 🙂
Very enjoyable (as usual !)
I love the vampires and their drama So. Much.
Love 💕 so good!
I always love reading the new section but then coming to the comments and seeing how much everyone else loves it too just makes it so much better.
Yay innkeeper THANK YOU
Oh that was great! How neat to have the horde and the vampires again! But how do you invent those species’ names!
How fun!
I knew it would be Karat! And Dagorkun! This book is a gift that keeps on giving. Thank you, Author Lords.
Oooo…. Just gone back to re-read sweep in peace – and Dina says the Vampires and the Otrokars clash and feud and that half the jokes in the galaxy start ..” a vampire and a otrokar walk into a bar…(or in this case an inn!)
What a fantastic chapter. Will be the best Innkeeper book ever. Definitely shipping Karat & Dagorkun.
Dina has a lot of friends and they are all sending her help! Whose next? And Karat announces that she is Maud’s Best Friend? What a human thing to say.
Thank you for giving us something wonderful to look forward to. The very thought of Friday makes me extra happy because of the free delicious reads that I go through each day of the week like a champ.
Hello,
It’s getting more and more interesting.
Loved everything about this chapter !
Thank you very much !
It is always so funny and awesome so see characters we already know come back 😁
omg, i hadn’t realised you’d started realising these, but it’s just as well i only noticed once my university term was over! I love Karat’s smug little introduction and I hope we get to hear a bit more about what’s going on in House Krahr!
*releasing
Hey Beth!
Congratulations on finishing the term 🙂 ! Here are all the Sweep of the Heart chapters https://www.ilona-andrews.com/category/innkeeper-chronicles/sweep-of-the-heart/
This tale just keeps getting better and better. Thank you.
EEEEEEEEE! I’m so excited Karat is here!!!!
Alvina, yes!
I’m so happy familiar characters arrived. I’m hoping we can get updates about what is going on with Maude, Arland and Helen.
So excited every weekend for the next chapter….
I love that you are writing at your own pace! It means you have time to really develop the story and the characters
Please keep up the good work! I am so glad I found you as I read all of your anthologies now and re-read them
A good book is the best companion
AWESOME! Thank you for bringing back some favorite characters from other books. It is always wonderful to see how they are doing.
All the gang is here… thank you!!!
Oh, that’s so good!
So happy to see Karat again. Love her character. The icing on the cake for this week 🙂
First, let me thank you for sharing your stories with the world, the BDH and by extension me. Thank you for helping me find my balance when the world and life is being difficult and giving me grief.
Second, love the new book so far! Can’t wait to see what happens with Karat and other characters. Being an emissary at this event sounds to me like a job for the Maven of the house. Is Karat filling in for Maud for some reason? Any reason why Dina would know about Helen’s poisoning, but not Klaus’ visit? Any chance of Adira Kline stopping by? Tony and Adira would be fun.
So many possibilities! Can’t wait to see what happens. For now I’ll speculate like everyone else. Thanks again for sharing.
Oooh, this is gonna be fun! Karat striding around….
An excellent comeback is worth a thousand first words!
Please can I assume that there will be a book/ebook coming? I adore Fridays but I need to have them all together in my grubby hands!
Hi Carole,
Yes, Sweep of the Heart will be released as book, ebook, audiobook- all the usual Innkeeper Chronicles treatment 🙂 . It’s still being written, so there’s no date announcement yet, but watch this space 🙂
Karat and Dagorkun are soooo going to fall in love, they just don’t know it yet !
Wowser, this is really fun!!! All our favs!!! Meanwhile, in re Gaston and his pirate outfit, “a pic or it didn’t happen” … really, I need it for my bedside table, I might even find a pink plastic frame with rhinestones …
Aside from all the romantic potential these characters bring, I have a bit of trepidation about what happens when Caledonia and Karat meet. Maud may no longer be Karat’s bestie.
Sorted 🙂
Dagorkun and Karat!!!!
You are too good to us!! This is me right now:
Hahahahaha😂🤣😂 It. Just. Gets. Better. Karat and Dagor? Pardon me, haven’t we met?
I am so late to the party, but so happy with the ever-growing guest list! 😍
I read hundreds of books every year and the Innkeeper universe remains my favorite.
So grateful for your writing.
I’m smiling so hard and can’t stop. Loved this, thank you both so much.
Haaa I love when the Hope Crushing Horde and the Holy Anocracy get petty with each other.
I am laughing so hard right now. Thank you.
I’m sure that you hear this often, but here’s my addition to the chorus: More, please!
Wheeee! So much fun to look forward to! And how will the vampire and the otorkar find themselves at the end of this tale? This just gets better and better!
Thank you so much!
Dagorkun and Karat! Ha ha ha…this is gonna be fun!
Wonderful! Thank you!
Love it can’t wait for the next part
Love the vampire!
I’m just love every word lol
The oneupmanship, so we’ll written. Cannot trump ‘your sister’s best friend’.
Perfection!!!
24 hours until the next one, all being well…
I know it’s not finished yet but I’m hoping it’s published soon, I keep looking for it because it’s so good and I’m so excited every time I find a new chapter has been posted.
Once in awhile I save these gems to savor as a reward after what I know will be a really difficult event. This installment was so worth waiting for.
I cannot wait to see what happens! Karat and Dagorkun. Fireworks are bound to fly
Wonderful. Thank you.
Karat once said she knew why she’d never fallen in love…she was too sane for it…
Dagorkun?😏 Tony is possible I guess but the beautiful irony.
Still want to know what Helen and Arlan got up to that covered them in pine sap🥺
That was great even though I read it in the wrong order. Thx.