Sarah J Maas ACOTAR books are moving into a major new chapter, with two upcoming installments now officially confirmed for U.S. readers. Sarah J. Maas revealed the titles and covers for the sixth and seventh books on August 17, 2026. The new books are A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody. They are scheduled for October 27, 2026, and January 12, 2027, respectively.
The announcement ends a long period of uncertainty around the next part of the bestselling fantasy series. Readers now know the names, publication dates and position of the two upcoming books.
The new releases will return readers to Prythian after A Court of Silver Flames. They will also begin a new story cycle connected to the Valkyries introduced in the fifth book.
How Many ACOTAR Books Are There?
There are currently five published books in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
Two additional books are scheduled for release. Once those books arrive, the series will have seven published installments.
The reading order is:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses
- A Court of Mist and Fury
- A Court of Wings and Ruin
- A Court of Frost and Starlight
- A Court of Silver Flames
- A Court of Splintered Harmony — October 27, 2026
- A Court of Forgotten Melody — January 12, 2027
The first five books are already available. Bloomsbury’s current U.S. listings confirm the October and January publication dates for the next two installments.
For anyone starting the series, publication order remains the easiest way to read the story.
A Court of Thorns and Roses Begins the Story
The first book introduces Feyre Archeron, a young woman who lives with her family and struggles to provide for them.
Feyre hunts in the woods to help keep her family alive. One hunting trip changes everything when she kills a wolf that is actually a faerie creature.
She soon finds herself taken into Prythian, the magical realm that forms the center of the series.
The novel introduces the courts, magical creatures and political tensions that shape the later books. It also establishes the relationships that become central to Feyre’s story.
For new readers, this book provides the foundation for everything that follows.
A Court of Mist and Fury Expands Prythian
The second installment takes the story beyond the events of the first novel.
Feyre must deal with the consequences of what happened previously. Her understanding of Prythian also changes as she learns more about its courts and its history.
The book introduces additional locations and develops several major characters.
It also increases the importance of political alliances and personal choices. As the story grows, Feyre becomes more aware of the dangers surrounding her.
This installment is an important step in the series because it broadens the world while deepening the main relationships.
A Court of Wings and Ruin Raises the Stakes
The third book moves the story into a larger conflict.
The different courts of Prythian face serious danger, making cooperation increasingly important. Feyre must navigate alliances while dealing with threats that affect the wider realm.
The story combines fantasy, romance, politics and battle.
It also brings together characters who previously stood on different sides of major conflicts.
For readers following the main Feyre storyline, this book provides a major turning point and sets up the events that come afterward.
A Court of Frost and Starlight Connects Two Eras
The fourth book is shorter than the main novels and takes place after the events of A Court of Wings and Ruin.
Rather than introducing another large conflict immediately, the story focuses on the aftermath of the previous battles.
The characters begin rebuilding their lives while dealing with the emotional effects of what they experienced.
The book also prepares readers for the shift that comes with A Court of Silver Flames.
For that reason, readers following the complete series should keep it in the reading order.
A Court of Silver Flames Changes the Focus
The fifth installment changes the main character focus.
Nesta Archeron takes center stage, giving readers a much closer look at her personality, struggles and relationships.
The novel also introduces important developments involving Gwyn and Emerie.
Together, Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie become closely associated with the Valkyries. Their training and friendship form one of the major elements of the story.
That connection is now especially important because the upcoming books are part of a new story cycle called The Valkyrie Cycle.
The fifth book therefore serves as an important bridge between the earlier ACOTAR storyline and what comes next.
A Court of Splintered Harmony Release Date
The sixth installment, A Court of Splintered Harmony, will be released in the United States on October 27, 2026.
Bloomsbury currently lists the book for preorder in hardcover and digital formats. The U.S. publisher lists a 352-page hardcover edition.
The book is the first installment in The Valkyrie Cycle and is identified as Movement I.
The title was officially revealed by Maas on August 17, 2026, along with the cover.
The announcement also confirmed that this is not simply a standalone continuation. It forms part of a larger story that will continue through additional installments.
The official promotional line for the book is:
“What was broken will be remade.”
The sixth book will return readers to Prythian and continue unresolved conflicts from the existing series.
A Court of Forgotten Melody Release Date
The seventh book is titled A Court of Forgotten Melody.
It is scheduled for release in the United States on January 12, 2027. Bloomsbury currently lists the book at 928 pages in its U.S. hardcover edition.
The book is identified as Movements II & III of The Valkyrie Cycle.
Its official promotional line is:
“What was lost will be reclaimed.”
The January release follows the sixth book by less than three months.
That schedule gives readers two new ACOTAR books within a relatively short period.
The seventh installment will continue the larger story that begins with A Court of Splintered Harmony.
What Is The Valkyrie Cycle?
The Valkyrie Cycle is the name attached to the next major storyline in the ACOTAR universe.
The first new book covers Movement I. The second covers Movements II and III.
This structure reflects the way Maas has described the upcoming story. Instead of treating each release as a completely separate adventure, the books form parts of one larger narrative.
The connection to the Valkyries also follows the events of A Court of Silver Flames.
Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie became closely connected through their training and friendship in that book. Their story now provides an important link to the next phase of the series.
However, not every character detail has been officially announced.
Readers should therefore avoid treating online theories as confirmed plot information.
Koschei Remains an Important Threat
The upcoming storyline also continues the conflict involving Koschei the Deathless.
Koschei was established earlier in the series as a powerful and dangerous figure. His presence gives the next books a direct connection to unresolved events from the existing story.
The official material for the new books keeps many plot details under wraps.
That means readers know the broad direction of the story without knowing every major event that will occur.
This approach leaves much of the upcoming narrative for the books themselves to reveal.
Why A Court of Silver Flames Matters Before the New Books
Anyone preparing for the next installments should pay close attention to A Court of Silver Flames.
The fifth book introduces a stronger focus on Nesta and develops the Valkyrie storyline.
Gwyn and Emerie also become important to that part of the series.
Their friendship and training give readers more background for the Valkyrie connection that now appears in the title of the new story cycle.
As a result, reading the fifth book before starting the new installments provides useful context.
Readers who have only finished the original Feyre-focused trilogy may want to continue through A Court of Frost and Starlight and A Court of Silver Flames before moving to the new books.
The Complete ACOTAR Reading Order
For U.S. readers, the current reading order is straightforward.
| Order | Book | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Court of Thorns and Roses | Available |
| 2 | A Court of Mist and Fury | Available |
| 3 | A Court of Wings and Ruin | Available |
| 4 | A Court of Frost and Starlight | Available |
| 5 | A Court of Silver Flames | Available |
| 6 | A Court of Splintered Harmony | October 27, 2026 |
| 7 | A Court of Forgotten Melody | January 12, 2027 |
This order follows the current series listings from Bloomsbury.
Readers do not need to rearrange the published books.
Starting with the first novel and continuing through A Court of Silver Flames provides the background needed for the upcoming story.
What Is Confirmed About ACOTAR 6 and 7?
Several details are now official.
The sixth book is A Court of Splintered Harmony. It will be published on October 27, 2026.
The seventh book is A Court of Forgotten Melody. It will be published on January 12, 2027.
Both books are part of The Valkyrie Cycle.
The first book covers Movement I. The second covers Movements II and III.
Bloomsbury has also opened preorder listings for both books in the United States.
These are the key facts readers can rely on right now.
Other claims circulating online should be treated carefully unless they come from an official announcement.
What Comes After Book 7?
The upcoming story is larger than the two books currently scheduled.
Maas has described the new storyline as a much bigger narrative that has been divided across multiple books. Current reporting on her announcement indicates that another installment is planned as part of the larger cycle, but no release date has been confirmed for that future book.
Therefore, readers should not expect January 2027 to necessarily mark the end of every story connected to the new cycle.
At the same time, there is no confirmed publication date beyond the two announced releases.
For now, October 27, 2026, and January 12, 2027, are the dates that matter most.
Sarah J. Maas Has Three Major Fantasy Series
Sarah J. Maas is known for three major fantasy series: A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass and Crescent City.
Her books have become a major force in modern fantasy romance. Bloomsbury currently says Maas has sold more than 75 million books worldwide.
ACOTAR remains one of her best-known series.
The story begins with Feyre and Prythian, but the cast has grown considerably over the course of five published books.
That wider cast now allows different characters to take the lead in future stories.
What Readers Can Expect From the Next Releases
The confirmed information points to a return to Prythian and a continuation of unresolved conflicts.
The Valkyrie Cycle will build on developments from A Court of Silver Flames. The upcoming books will also continue the wider threat involving Koschei.
Beyond those confirmed details, much of the story remains private.
That means readers will have plenty to discover when the books arrive.
The two release dates are also close together, creating an unusual schedule for a major fantasy series.
Fans will receive the sixth book in October 2026 and the seventh only a few months later.
Latest Sarah J Maas ACOTAR Books Update
As of August 18, 2026, the series has five books available and two more officially scheduled.
A Court of Splintered Harmony will arrive on October 27, 2026. A Court of Forgotten Melody will follow on January 12, 2027.
Both titles are confirmed, and both are tied to The Valkyrie Cycle.
For new readers, the best starting point remains A Court of Thorns and Roses. From there, the story continues through A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight and A Court of Silver Flames.
The upcoming books will then take the series into its next major chapter.
Which ACOTAR book are you most excited to read, and what do you hope the new Valkyrie Cycle brings to Prythian? Share your thoughts and keep following the latest confirmed updates.