Thousands of fans of Sarah J. Maas’s “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series gathered on Tuesday to celebrate the release of the sixth novel, “A Court of Splintered Harmony.” The anticipation surrounding the launch was evident at midnight events held across the United States, including at The Ripped Bodice bookstore in Los Angeles, where attendees dressed in costumes inspired by the series’ faerie characters enjoyed performances by fire breathers and acrobats.
The “ACOTAR” series, as it is known among fans, has established itself as a major force within the romantasy genre, which blends elements of fantasy with romantic storytelling. Since its debut in 2015, the series has sold an estimated 75 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 40 languages. It also contributed significantly to Sarah J. Maas being named the best-selling author in the United States in 2024.
Taylor Capizola, general manager of The Ripped Bodice, described the new release as a highly anticipated event that unites the fan community. “To see the new one come out and have everyone around, this is really what we’ve been waiting for,” Capizola said. She also emphasized the role “A Court of Thorns and Roses” has played in shaping the romantasy genre, which includes other popular works such as Rebecca Yarros’s “The Fourth Wing” series and Callie Hart’s “Quicksilver.”
The genre's growth has been fueled in part by BookTok, a book-focused corner of the social media platform TikTok, where users share reviews and recommendations. In the absence of official screen adaptations—plans for a Hulu series were halted in 2025—fans have increasingly turned to artificial intelligence to create their own trailers and episodes, expanding the series' reach and engagement.
The release of “A Court of Splintered Harmony” is expected to provide a boost to Bloomsbury Publishing, the publisher behind the ACOTAR series and the “Harry Potter” franchise. Bloomsbury experienced a decline in revenue and profit during the first half of 2024, with a 5 percent drop in revenue and a 30 percent decrease in adjusted pre-tax profit. Nigel Newton, Bloomsbury’s founder and executive chairman, described Maas as a “publishing phenomenon,” noting her titles have previously driven the company to record profits.
The original novel in the series maintained a spot on the New York Times paperback bestsellers list for 92 consecutive weeks, underscoring its enduring popularity. Reflecting this demand, the new book has been released in multiple languages nearly simultaneously, with the German edition launching on Tuesday and Spanish and French translations scheduled for Wednesday.