ACOTAR Fans Queue for Maas’s Sixth Novel After Five-Year Hiatus

Key points

• A Court of Splintered Harmony, the sixth ACOTAR novel, was released on Tuesday after a five-year hiatus since the previous installment.
• Fans in the UK queued at bookstores like Waterstones in York and Topping and Company, with some taking a full week off work to read the book.
• Midnight release events were held across the UK, including in York, Wolverhampton, and Northern Ireland, with some venues hosting parties for up to 100 fans.
• The book introduces a new villain, Koschei, and begins the Valkyrie Cycle, with a seventh book scheduled for January 2027.
• The series, which blends fantasy and romance, has a massive global following, particularly on BookTok, and is praised for its themes of female empowerment.

Background

The A Court of Thorns and Roses series, which began in 2015, has become a global phenomenon, particularly on BookTok, where it helped popularize the romantasy genre. The series follows Feyre Archeron, a young huntress drawn into the world of the fae, and has amassed millions of fans worldwide. The previous book, A Court of Silver Flames, was released in 2021, and the five-year gap since then has heightened anticipation for the new release.

How outlets are covering it

BBC emphasizes the UK fan response, highlighting queues at bookstores and midnight release events, as well as the themes of female empowerment in the series. NBC News focuses on the broader US fan engagement, noting book parties and events across the country. The New York Times provides background on the series, noting its loose reimagining of Beauty and the Beast and its exploration of female pleasure, which some critics dismissed as 'fairy smut.' All three sources agree on the massive fan engagement and the significance of the release after a five-year hiatus.

Why it matters

The release of A Court of Splintered Harmony highlights the enduring popularity of the ACOTAR series and the romantasy genre, particularly among younger readers. The massive fan engagement, including midnight parties and sold-out events, underscores the cultural impact of the series and the role of social media, particularly BookTok, in driving book sales and fan communities. The release also marks the start of a new cycle in the series, with a seventh book scheduled for January 2027, indicating continued interest and anticipation from fans.

What to watch

Fans will continue to read and discuss A Court of Splintered Harmony, with some already planning to take time off work to read the seventh book when it is released in January 2027. The release of the new book is expected to further boost sales and fan engagement, particularly on BookTok, and may lead to more midnight release events and parties in the future.