ACOTAR Is Back: Sarah J. Maas Sets a New Fantasy Sales Record
Sarah J. Maas has returned to Prythian in a very big way.
A Court of Splintered Harmony, the sixth novel in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, has debuted at number one and become the fastest-selling Science Fiction & Fantasy title in the UK since accurate records began. The book sold roughly 187,000 copies in its opening week, passing the previous record set by Rebecca Yarros’s Onyx Storm.
For ACOTAR readers, the size of the launch is not exactly shocking. The series has spent years growing from a much-loved fantasy romance into a full-on reading event: rereads, theories, character arguments, elaborate fan art and readers who will absolutely stay up until midnight for a release day.
A long-awaited return to Prythian
A Court of Splintered Harmony arrived on October 27, 2026, marking the first new ACOTAR novel since A Court of Silver Flames in 2021. That five-year wait gave readers plenty of time to revisit the earlier books, trade predictions and make it very clear that they were ready to go back.
The excitement showed up in real life, not only online. Barnes & Noble announced ACOTAR-themed events and midnight release parties at more than 500 stores across the United States, while bookshops in the UK hosted their own late-night celebrations. That kind of turnout is a reminder that a favorite series can still turn a book release into an occasion.
The numbers are huge, but the reader response is the story
Bloomsbury reported 1.7 million English-language print and ebook sales from preorders and release day across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. The total does not include audiobooks or translated editions, which makes the scale even more striking.
Still, the most interesting part is not the number by itself. It is the energy around it. ACOTAR has the kind of fandom that makes reading feel social: people text friends when a chapter changes everything, show up to themed events, build playlists and reread old scenes with new context. The new book gave that community a reason to gather at the same time.
Romantasy fans have been showing for years that they will make room for a book that promises emotion, escape and a world worth obsessing over. The ACOTAR launch is one of the clearest recent examples of that reader devotion turning into a genuine cultural moment.
If you are catching up, keep it spoiler-free
If the release has you thinking about finally starting the series, begin with A Court of Thorns and Roses and give yourself the space to experience the turns of the story without the internet ruining them for you. For returning readers, this is a good moment to revisit the series in whatever way feels right: a full reread, a favorite-scenes refresh or simply diving into the new release.
And there is already another date for the calendar. Maas’s next ACOTAR book, A Court of Forgotten Melody, is scheduled for January 12, 2027.
Where to find official information
- Sarah J. Maas’s official site for the series and upcoming-release information.
- Barnes & Noble’s announcement for details on the release celebrations.
- The Bookseller’s chart report for the opening-week sales record.