The new ACOTAR book is A Court of Splintered Harmony, the sixth main installment in Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series. It is scheduled for release on October 27, 2026, with the seventh book, A Court of Forgotten Melody, scheduled for January 12, 2027. Both titles and publication dates have been announced by the author and publisher, Bloomsbury, giving readers two new installments to anticipate within a few months.
New ACOTAR Book — Release Date, Plot, Characters and Latest Updates
Image: The cover of the upcoming ACOTAR installment, A Court of Splintered Harmony. Cover artwork belongs to its publisher and rights holders.
Introduction
Fantasy romance readers are preparing to return to Prythian. The new ACOTAR book, A Court of Splintered Harmony, is scheduled to arrive on October 27, 2026, marking the next major installment in author Sarah J. Maas’s bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
The announcement is particularly significant because the series’ previous full-length novel, A Court of Silver Flames, was published in 2021. After years of waiting, readers now have two confirmed titles and publication dates to look forward to: A Court of Splintered Harmony in October 2026 and A Court of Forgotten Melody in January 2027. Bloomsbury, Maas’s publisher, has confirmed the dates on its official series pages.
The upcoming books are also being presented under the name The Valkyrie Cycle. That connection is important for readers who remember the Valkyrie storyline introduced in A Court of Silver Flames, particularly Nesta Archeron and her friends Gwyn and Emerie.
Here is what readers need to know about the titles, release schedule, story premise, characters and what remains unconfirmed.
What Happened? The New ACOTAR Book Has a Confirmed Release Date
Sarah J. Maas announced the publication schedule for the sixth and seventh ACOTAR books in March 2026 during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast hosted by Alex Cooper. Bloomsbury also issued a corporate announcement confirming the two publication dates.
The book titles and covers were subsequently revealed in August 2026, giving readers more concrete information about the next stage of the series.
The two upcoming installments are:
1. A Court of Splintered Harmony
October 27, 2026
Book 6 · The Valkyrie Cycle
The next ACOTAR installment introduces a new stage of the larger story, with threats to the Night Court, conflict surrounding the human lands and tensions following earlier revelations.
2. A Court of Forgotten Melody
January 12, 2027
Book 7 · The Valkyrie Cycle
This is the next scheduled volume in the series’ unusual release plan. Its complete plot and character developments should not be assumed from the title alone.
The interval between the two announced publication dates is just 77 days. That short gap is unusual for a major fantasy series, especially one whose next installment has been anticipated for several years.
However, the two publication dates do not necessarily mean the larger story will be finished by January 2027. Maas has explained that the material grew beyond the length she originally expected, leading her to divide the story across multiple volumes.
Key Details About the New ACOTAR Book
Here are the essential facts available as of October 26, 2026.
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Series | A Court of Thorns and Roses |
| Author | Sarah J. Maas |
| Sixth book | A Court of Splintered Harmony |
| Sixth-book release date | October 27, 2026 |
| Seventh book | A Court of Forgotten Melody |
| Seventh-book release date | January 12, 2027 |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury |
| Story label | The Valkyrie Cycle |
| Main story setting | The fantasy world of Prythian and related faerie realms |
| Full story conclusion | Not yet confirmed |
The dates, titles and publisher are supported by the author’s website and Bloomsbury’s official series information.
One important distinction is that the sixth book is the next scheduled release, not necessarily the final chapter of the entire narrative. Readers should also distinguish confirmed publishing information from fan theories about character relationships and future plot twists.
What Is the Story of A Court of Splintered Harmony About?
ebay.com
Image: The ACOTAR series that leads into the upcoming sixth installment.
The publisher’s description indicates that the Night Court faces new dangers as Koschei the Deathless and potential allies threaten the newly freed human lands. At the same time, the Night Court must deal with tensions caused by betrayals and newly revealed truths.
This premise connects the upcoming book to conflicts that have been developing across earlier installments.
Koschei the Deathless and the human lands
Koschei is an established figure in the series’ mythology. His involvement gives the next installment a broader conflict than a story focused solely on romance or relationships.
The publisher’s description points to a struggle over the human lands and the forces willing to join Koschei. How that conflict unfolds, which characters will lead the response and what its ultimate consequences will be are questions the book itself will need to answer.
Tensions inside the Night Court
The Night Court has been central to several previous ACOTAR stories. Its members have faced political disagreements, personal losses and complicated relationships alongside external threats.
The new book’s official description specifically refers to betrayals and revelations. This suggests that internal relationships will be an important part of the conflict, although the precise consequences should not be treated as settled until readers have the published text.
The Valkyrie connection
The Valkyries became particularly important in A Court of Silver Flames, which followed Nesta Archeron’s personal struggles and her developing relationship with Cassian.
Nesta’s training alongside Gwyn and Emerie helped establish the Valkyries as a meaningful part of the series’ world. The new publishing label, The Valkyrie Cycle, signals that this part of the story will remain relevant.
It does not, by itself, establish that every upcoming book will focus exclusively on Nesta or the Valkyries.
Which Characters Could Appear in the New ACOTAR Book?
The series includes a large ensemble of characters, and readers have plenty of unresolved questions. Some characters have been named in official promotional material or excerpts, while other character roles remain a matter of interpretation.
Nesta Archeron and Cassian
Nesta and Cassian were central to A Court of Silver Flames. Their relationship and Nesta’s evolving identity are important parts of the groundwork for the Valkyrie storyline.
Their history makes them natural characters to watch in the new installment. However, readers should avoid assuming that every fan theory about their future relationship is confirmed.
Feyre Archeron and Rhysand
Feyre and Rhysand have been central figures throughout much of the series. Their responsibilities in the Night Court, their family and the political situation in Prythian provide important context for the continuing story.
Their exact roles in the new novel should be understood through the publisher’s material and the book itself, rather than assumptions based on previous installments.
Lucien and Elain
Lucien and Elain remain subjects of significant reader interest because of their complicated bond and the unresolved questions surrounding their relationship.
Azriel’s connection to these characters has also prompted extensive discussion among fans. But speculation about future romantic pairings is not the same as an official plot announcement.
As of the publication information available before release, readers should not assume that a particular romantic outcome has been confirmed.
Azriel, Gwyn and Mor
Azriel’s history, Gwyn’s experiences and Mor’s diplomatic responsibilities give the wider series several possible storylines to explore.
The Valkyrie label and the new conflict create room for these characters to remain relevant. Their precise narrative roles and the resolutions of their individual arcs should be judged from the published story rather than promotional hints alone.
Why Is the New ACOTAR Book Being Released in Multiple Volumes?
One of the most unusual aspects of the new ACOTAR book is the way Sarah J. Maas has described its publication structure.
In her March 2026 interview on Call Her Daddy, Maas explained that the story became much larger than she had initially anticipated. Rather than forcing the entire narrative into a single physical book, she decided to publish it in multiple parts.
The current plan divides the larger story into four parts:
- Part one: Published as A Court of Splintered Harmony on October 27, 2026.
- Parts two and three: Scheduled to be published together in A Court of Forgotten Melody on January 12, 2027.
- Part four: Not yet written or assigned a publication date, according to reporting on Maas’s interview.
These details come from Maas’s public comments as reported by Business Insider and ABC News.
This distinction matters because the two upcoming books are connected parts of a larger narrative rather than necessarily being two entirely independent stories.
Readers should therefore avoid assuming that the January 2027 installment will resolve every major conflict. The publication plan leaves a fourth part outstanding, and its eventual release schedule has not been confirmed in the sources cited here.
Background: What Is the ACOTAR Series?
ranker.com
The ACOTAR series is a fantasy romance franchise written by Sarah J. Maas. Its full name is A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the first novel was published in 2015.
The story follows Feyre Archeron as she becomes involved in the dangerous and magical world of the faeries. Across subsequent books, the narrative expands into questions of love, power, political alliances, family, war and personal transformation.
Bloomsbury identifies five previously published installments in the main series before the upcoming sixth book.
ACOTAR books in reading order
For new readers, the following order provides the main publication sequence.
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses
Introduces Feyre, the faerie lands and the central world of the series.
2. A Court of Mist and Fury
Expands the story’s relationships, magical world and political conflicts.
3. A Court of Wings and Ruin
Continues the larger conflict involving the faerie courts.
4. A Court of Frost and Starlight
A shorter bridge between major story arcs.
5. A Court of Silver Flames
Focuses on Nesta and Cassian and introduces important Valkyrie developments.
6. A Court of Splintered Harmony
Scheduled for October 27, 2026.
7. A Court of Forgotten Melody
Scheduled for January 12, 2027.
The list follows the series order presented by Bloomsbury, with the two upcoming titles added according to their announced release dates.
Readers who are already familiar with Maas’s other series, Crescent City, may also remember connections between the two fictional worlds. However, newcomers can begin with the first ACOTAR novel to understand the main characters and the original storyline.
What Has Sarah J. Maas and Bloomsbury Said?
The most reliable information about the new ACOTAR book comes from the author and publisher.
Sarah J. Maas’s announcement
Maas announced the two release dates in March 2026. In her podcast appearance, she explained that the story developed into a much larger project than expected, prompting her to divide it into multiple published volumes.
The author subsequently revealed the titles and covers in August 2026, giving readers the names A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody.
Bloomsbury’s confirmation
Bloomsbury’s official website lists both titles and their publication dates. The publisher’s March announcement also confirmed that the novels would be published within approximately 11 weeks of each other.
The publisher’s description provides the clearest verified outline of the sixth book’s central conflict: the Night Court’s challenges, Koschei the Deathless and the threats facing the newly freed human lands.
What has not been confirmed?
Readers should be cautious about claims circulating online concerning:
- The complete ending of the larger story.
- The final romantic pairings of individual characters.
- A confirmed publication date for the fourth part.
- Plot twists based solely on alleged leaks or fan theories.
- A definitive date for any television or film adaptation.
Unless the author or publisher confirms these details, they should not be presented as established facts.
Why the New ACOTAR Book Matters to Readers
The release is important for several reasons beyond the arrival of another fantasy novel.
First, it continues a major unresolved story. The previous main novel was A Court of Silver Flames, published in 2021. The new installment returns readers to a fictional world whose characters and conflicts have remained the subject of extensive fan discussion.
Second, it expands the Valkyrie storyline. Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie helped establish this group as an important element of the later books. The new cycle designation suggests that this part of the world remains relevant to the upcoming narrative.
Third, readers have a clearer publishing schedule. With dates announced for October 2026 and January 2027, fans can plan their reading and pre-orders around actual publisher information rather than rumors.
Finally, the multi-volume structure changes expectations. The story is being released in stages. Readers who prefer to read a complete arc in one sitting may want to understand this structure before beginning the new books.
The key takeaway is that the new ACOTAR book represents both a return to an established fantasy world and the beginning of a larger narrative released across multiple volumes.
What Happens Next?
As of October 26, 2026, the next confirmed milestone is the publication of A Court of Splintered Harmony on October 27, 2026.
Readers can check the author’s official website and Bloomsbury’s regional book pages for ordering information and any changes to availability. Release timing and delivery can differ depending on the country, format and bookseller.
The next scheduled installment is A Court of Forgotten Melody, due January 12, 2027.
The longer-term publication schedule remains less certain. The author has described a fourth part of the larger story, but a publication date for it has not been announced in the sources cited here. Readers should therefore distinguish the confirmed dates for books six and seven from any predictions about what might follow.
For the latest verified information, visit the official websites:
- Sarah J. Maas — official ACOTAR series page
- Bloomsbury India — ACOTAR books and publishing updates
- Bloomsbury US — ACOTAR books and publishing updates
Frequently Asked Questions About the New ACOTAR Book
1. What is the new ACOTAR book called?
The sixth book is called A Court of Splintered Harmony. It is the next scheduled installment in Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
2. When does the new ACOTAR book come out?
A Court of Splintered Harmony is scheduled for October 27, 2026. As of October 26, it is due to be released tomorrow.
3. Is there another ACOTAR book coming after book six?
Yes. The seventh installment is titled A Court of Forgotten Melody and is scheduled for January 12, 2027.
4. Who wrote the new ACOTAR book?
The book is written by Sarah J. Maas, the author of the A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass and Crescent City series.
5. What is A Court of Splintered Harmony about?
The publisher’s description identifies a conflict involving Koschei the Deathless, threats to the newly freed human lands and tensions within the Night Court. The full plot and its resolution will be revealed through the published novel.
6. What is The Valkyrie Cycle?
The Valkyrie Cycle is the label associated with the upcoming ACOTAR books. It connects to the Valkyries introduced in A Court of Silver Flames, including Nesta Archeron, Gwyn and Emerie.
7. Will A Court of Forgotten Melody finish the ACOTAR story?
That has not been confirmed. Maas described the larger story as four parts, with parts two and three scheduled for the January 2027 volume. Reporting on her comments states that part four had not yet been written and had no publication date at the time of the report.
8. Where can readers find official updates about the new ACOTAR book?
The best sources are Sarah J. Maas’s official website and Bloomsbury’s regional publishing websites. These provide the announced titles, release dates and publisher information. Readers should check the relevant regional page for local ordering options.
