ACOTAR 6 and 7 Titles Revealed: Everything Sarah J. Maas Just Announced
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Take the quizHow long have fans actually been waiting for this?
A genuinely long time. A Court of Silver Flames, the fifth book in the series, published back in 2021, meaning fans went five years without a new mainline ACOTAR release. Maas confirmed the release dates back in March during an appearance on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast, but held back the actual titles, covers, and plot details until this August reveal, stretching the anticipation out even further.
What are the actual titles, and what's "The Valkyrie Cycle"?
Book six is A Court of Splintered Harmony, subtitled "The Valkyrie Cycle: Movement I." Book seven is A Court of Forgotten Melody, subtitled "The Valkyrie Cycle: Movements II & III." That structure means the two books together form one continuous, larger story broken into three movements, rather than being two entirely separate, standalone entries. Maas has described it as one massive story that came out of her in a way that surprised even her.
What's A Court of Splintered Harmony actually about?
Based on the official blurb, it centers on the return of Koschei the Deathless, a threat who's been bound to a mountain lake for millennia and is now stirring again, drawing dangerous new allies who want to reclaim the human lands for themselves. The blurb specifically notes the Night Court "will not stand idly by while innocents are attacked," while acknowledging that Prythian is still piecing itself back together after the devastating Hybern War from earlier books.
Why did it take Maas this long to actually finish these books?
She's addressed this fairly directly, including in her own Instagram caption accompanying the reveal, writing "I know how long you've waited. I know how much these characters mean to you. And I also know these stories deserve more than speed and deadlines. They deserve my best self." She's previously described going through a lot in her personal life during the writing process, and has emphasized wanting to find the right story and the right headspace rather than rushing something out purely to meet fan demand.
How did Maas actually reveal this news?
With a genuinely elaborate rollout, more theatrical than a typical book announcement. She cleared her entire Instagram account and transformed her website into a darkened landing page in the hours before the reveal, a classic "something big is coming" signal to her fandom. Digital billboards then went up simultaneously across Los Angeles, Denver, and New York City alongside the Instagram posts revealing the actual titles and covers.
Is this connected to any other ongoing Sarah J. Maas projects?
There's a separate ACOTAR television adaptation currently in development at Disney's 20th Television, though that's a distinct project from these new books and doesn't appear to be tied to this specific announcement.
Why does Maas's fandom react this intensely to what is, on paper, just a title and cover reveal?
Because the ACOTAR series has become one of the defining franchises of the broader romantasy boom, and Maas's own fanbase treats her social media presence with the kind of scrutiny usually reserved for major franchise reveals in film or television. It's also worth noting Maas has been one of the most frequently banned authors in American public schools over the past couple of years, which has, if anything, only deepened her readers' sense of investment in defending and celebrating her work.
Frequently asked questions
When does ACOTAR book 6 release? October 27, 2026, titled A Court of Splintered Harmony.
When does ACOTAR book 7 release? January 12, 2027, titled A Court of Forgotten Melody.
Are books 6 and 7 part of one continuous story? Yes, both are subtitled as parts of "The Valkyrie Cycle," a single larger story split into three movements across the two books.
What is A Court of Splintered Harmony about? The return of Koschei the Deathless, a long-dormant threat now stirring again, with the Night Court moving to defend Prythian's human lands.
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