A Court of Splintered Harmony: Everything you need to know about the sixth ‘Acotar’ book
Author Sarah J Maas triggered a re-reading frenzy when she confirmed the sixth book in her A Court of Thorns and Roses (Acotar) series is being released on October 27
Romantasy readers are preparing earnestly for this month’s release of the latest book in one of the genre’s most-beloved series.
Author Sarah J Maas triggered a re-reading frenzy when she confirmed the sixth book in her series is being released on October 27, followed swiftly by book seven in January 2027.
and are highly anticipated instalments, but for the uninitiated, following the plot of these books may involve a little bit of extra-curriculum reading.
Here’s everything you need to know.
The first book in the series is inspired by fairy tales like and sees a human named Feyre (pronounced Fay-rah) imprisoned in the fae realm by an immortal High Lord after killing a faerie wolf in the woods. She soon learns the lands of Pythian are more dangerous than she imagined and the series details her adventures across the land and its faerie courts — facing mystical dangers, political manoeuvres, and romantic intrigue.
With three separate series to her name, Sarah J Maas is considered by many to be the definitive romantasy author and is the entry point into the genre for many readers.
Romantasy blends fantasy and romance and is an ever-growing genre thanks in part to platforms like TikTok. Content creators on the app’s literature subgenre, BookTok, have been passionately championing romantasy reads in recent years.
Other popular romantasy series include series by Rebecca Yarros, which starts with and follows a group of trainee dragon riders; series by Carissa Broadbent is set in a world ruled by vampires; and Irish author Catherine Doyle’s series follows two rival assassins in a game of revenge.
Essentially, romantasy is the ultimate escapist read and it’s particularly beloved by female readers — plus it's been hugely profitable for publishers. the second in series, sold more than 2.7 million copies within its first week, becoming the fastest-selling adult novel since BookScan began tracking print sales 20 years, according to the It’s likely Maas will be a real threat to that record on October 27 when arrives in bookshops.
Well… not quite. You’ve likely heard of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which sees the comic book creator's superheroes coexist, cooperate, and appear in each other's films? It seems we might have a 'Maasverse' on our hands here.
Not to spoil any big plot points, but Maas has authored three standalone fantasy series — and with being the only finished series so far. But despite being set in different universes, a character from one of these series has appeared in a different series. Fans speculate that we might see some more familiar faces before the series ends.
Oh yes, you have to be super vigilant if you’re browsing TikTok for character art. And to make matters worse, we’re seeing leaks from appearing online too. Maas even issued a statement asking fans to stop sharing those leaks.
“I know how much you love these books and these characters; I know you've been waiting for a long time to know what comes next. That love for these stories is exactly why I'm requesting that you please, please don't share leaks,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Nothing about this release is meant to feel like a secret that needs to be found out. Publishing a book takes time and effort from so many hardworking people to get it into your hands.
“Throughout this long process, everyone involved has been dedicated to keeping things from being spoiled, but sometimes things happen, and it is beyond disheartening to see out-of-context moments take away from all of you who have waited so patiently.
“All I'm asking for is just a bit more of that patience-until you can get everything in its fullness, the way it's meant to be.”
Romantasy readers will be out in force to celebrate the latest release — the fact that its publication lands during our midterm break means more people than usual will be available for a midweek bookshop visit.
In Cork alone, there are several bookshops marking the book’s release. Waterstones Cork has teamed up with bookclub Bread, Butter, Books and BookTok creator xlivingthroughpagesx for a sold-out launch day celebration from 6.30pm on Tuesday, which promises a cosy, bookish atmosphere, themed fun, and the chance to connect with fellow readers.
Some bookshops across the country will be open for some midnight sales, including O’Mahony’s in Limerick, which will be open from 11pm Monday for a ticketed event with book bingo games and other celebrations.
In Dublin, Chapters will open from 10pm for drinks, games, prizes, and trivia before handing out copies of the new release at midnight to ticket holders, who are encouraged to dress in costume.
Elsewhere, Dubray and Easons will open from 8am for eager readers, with select Eason stores offering a breakfast of Pythian pastries and cauldron juice for early birds, while all Dubray stores nationwide will have refreshments and free gifts while stocks last.
