Update (August 18, 2026): Sarah J. Maas has revealed the titles, covers, release dates, and first official story details for ACOTAR Books 6 and 7.
After years of waiting, the next era of A Court of Thorns and Roses is finally taking shape. ACOTAR Book 6 is A Court of Splintered Harmony, releasing on October 27, 2026, followed by ACOTAR Book 7, A Court of Forgotten Melody, on January 12, 2027. Both books are part of a new connected story arc called The Valkyrie Cycle.
ACOTAR Books 6 & 7
-
Titles & covers revealed: ACOTAR Book 6 is A Court of Splintered Harmony, releasing October 27, 2026. Book 7 is A Court of Forgotten Melody, releasing January 12, 2027. Both are part of The Valkyrie Cycle.
-
Confirmed: Sarah J. Maas revealed on Call Her Daddy that the next ACOTAR book releases on October 27, followed by another installment on January 12.
-
Update: ACOTAR Book 6 is not included in Bloomsbury’s upcoming six-month release lineup.
-
Confirmed: Sarah J. Maas confirmed that the first draft of ACOTAR Book 6 is complete.
Below, we’ll keep this page updated with everything we know about ACOTAR Books 6 and 7 — including titles, covers, release dates, the new Valkyrie Cycle, official plot clues, and what remains fan theory.
When Are ACOTAR Books 6 and 7 Coming Out?
The release dates are now official. A Court of Splintered Harmony releases on October 27, 2026, followed by A Court of Forgotten Melody on January 12, 2027.
These are not two unrelated installments. Maas has described the new storyline as one enormous connected story divided into four movements. A Court of Splintered Harmony contains Movement I, while A Court of Forgotten Melody contains Movements II & III. A later physical book will contain Movement IV.
- October 27, 2026 — A Court of Splintered Harmony / Movement I
- January 12, 2027 — A Court of Forgotten Melody / Movements II & III
- TBA — a later ACOTAR book / Movement IV
That unusual structure explains why Books 6 and 7 are releasing only a few months apart: they are designed to be read as parts of the same larger narrative.
The Next ACOTAR Books
Sarah J. Maas returns to Prythian with two new books in the Valkyrie Cycle.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for supporting our work!
What Has Sarah J. Maas Said About the New ACOTAR Books?
Maas first confirmed in July 2025 that the draft of the next ACOTAR project was complete. In March 2026, she explained on Call Her Daddy that the story had grown far beyond the size she originally expected. The result is a connected narrative split across four movements rather than one conventional standalone sequel.
In August 2026, Maas finally revealed the titles and covers. The new arc is officially called The Valkyrie Cycle: A Court of Splintered Harmony is Movement I, while A Court of Forgotten Melody contains Movements II & III.
The main POV has still not been officially confirmed. However, the new descriptions reveal much more about the conflict itself: Koschei the Deathless is moving against the newly freed human lands, the Night Court is dealing with “recent betrayals and revealed truths”, and A Court of Forgotten Melody hints that “nightmares of the past” will join the fight.
What Are the Titles of ACOTAR Books 6 and 7?
The titles are now official. ACOTAR Book 6 is A Court of Splintered Harmony, subtitled The Valkyrie Cycle: Movement I. ACOTAR Book 7 is A Court of Forgotten Melody, subtitled The Valkyrie Cycle: Movements II & III.
The reveal also introduced two taglines: “What was broken will be remade.” for Splintered Harmony, and “What was lost will be reclaimed.” for Forgotten Melody.
The language around the new arc is strikingly musical — Harmony, Melody, Movement, Cycle — while the name The Valkyrie Cycle immediately points back to the warrior tradition Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie revived in A Court of Silver Flames. That strongly suggests the Valkyries matter to the next era, though it does not confirm who the POV characters will be.
ACOTAR Series Timeline: How We Got Here
The series began with Feyre’s story and has since expanded into a larger saga with shifting character focus:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015) – Feyre enters Prythian and meets Tamlin.
- A Court of Mist and Fury (2016) – Feyre’s bond with Rhysand and the Night Court takes center stage.
- A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017) – Prythian fights the war against Hybern.
- A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018, novella) – A post-war transition into the next era of the series.
- A Court of Silver Flames (2021) – Nesta and Cassian take the lead, while Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie revive the Valkyries.
- A Court of Splintered Harmony (2026) – The Valkyrie Cycle begins with Movement I.
- A Court of Forgotten Melody (2027) – The story continues with Movements II & III.
A later ACOTAR book will contain Movement IV and complete this connected storyline. Its title and release date have not yet been announced.
Want to dive deeper into Prythian while you wait? You can explore our complete ACOTAR wiki for character guides, courts, lore, and timelines.
Why Are ACOTAR Books 6 and 7 Releasing So Close Together?
The unusually short gap between the two books comes directly from the structure of the story. Maas has explained that what began as one ACOTAR book kept growing until it became a much larger narrative. Rather than force the story into a conventional single volume, she divided it into four movements.
A Court of Splintered Harmony contains the first movement. A Court of Forgotten Melody contains the second and third. The fourth will appear in a later physical book. Maas has described the project as one enormous story, rather than a traditional trilogy in which each novel has a fully separate arc.
What Do the New ACOTAR Descriptions Reveal?
For the first time, we have more than fandom theory. The new official descriptions point to several major conflicts shaping The Valkyrie Cycle:
- Koschei the Deathless returns as a major threat.
- The newly freed human lands are once again in danger.
- The Night Court is dealing with “recent betrayals and revealed truths.”
- In A Court of Forgotten Melody, members of the Night Court travel far from home as the fight against Koschei expands.
- Koschei is joined by mysterious “nightmares of the past.”
We do not yet know what those “nightmares of the past” are. Ancient enemies, forgotten creatures, Koschei’s history, or connections to Prythian’s deeper past are all possible — but none has been confirmed.
What Could The Valkyrie Cycle Be About?
The official descriptions now give us the broad conflict, but several major character threads remain open. These are the theories that fit most naturally with what has actually been revealed:
- The Valkyries – Calling the new arc The Valkyrie Cycle makes Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie difficult to dismiss as a side story. That does not, however, confirm that any of them is the sole main POV.
- Vassa, Lucien and Jurian – Koschei’s long-running connection to Vassa and the renewed threat to the human lands make this political storyline important again.
- Elain, Lucien and Azriel – Elain remains one of the biggest unresolved character arcs in the series, especially because of her mating bond with Lucien and her connection with Azriel. But Maas has not confirmed that Book 6 is Elain’s book.
- Prythian’s ancient past – The phrase “nightmares of the past” leaves room for old enemies or powers to return. After House of Flame and Shadow expanded the history of the Daglan/Asteri, the Prison and the Dusk Court, some fans are watching that lore closely.
- The Death Gods – Koschei is one of three ancient siblings associated with death, alongside Stryga, the Weaver, and the Bone Carver. Both of his siblings died during the war with Hybern. The new taglines have sparked theories about lost or broken powers returning, but there is no confirmation that either sibling will be resurrected.
Which ACOTAR Characters Could Matter Most Next?
Nesta, Gwyn & Emerie – The name The Valkyrie Cycle is the clearest signal yet that the revived Valkyrie tradition still matters. Which of these women, if any, will lead the POV remains unknown.
Vassa – Her connection to Koschei is one of the longest-running unresolved threads in ACOTAR. If he is now moving against the human lands, Vassa could become central again.
Lucien & Jurian – Both are closely tied to the human territories, giving them obvious political relevance as Koschei’s threat expands. Lucien also remains tied to Elain through their unresolved mating bond.
Elain & Azriel – Both remain major unresolved characters for the future of the series. But the reveal did not confirm that either is the main POV of Book 6 or 7.
Feyre, Rhys & the Night Court – The new descriptions explicitly place the Night Court inside the conflict and hint at internal fractures, betrayal and newly revealed truths. That makes the Inner Circle important even without a confirmed POV.
Themes Already Emerging in The Valkyrie Cycle
- Past vs Present – Lost truths and “nightmares of the past” appear to be feeding directly into the new conflict.
- Unity vs Betrayal – The Night Court faces an external enemy while also dealing with fractures closer to home.
- Freedom and Control – Koschei’s connection to Vassa and the human lands brings captivity, power and self-determination back to the forefront.
- What Can Be Restored – The taglines “What was broken will be remade” and “What was lost will be reclaimed” point toward restoration, recovery and the return of things Prythian thought were gone.
Rumors vs Reality
Here is what is now confirmed:
✅ Book 6 is A Court of Splintered Harmony and releases October 27, 2026.
✅ Book 7 is A Court of Forgotten Melody and releases January 12, 2027.
✅ Both belong to The Valkyrie Cycle, one connected story divided into four movements.
✅ Koschei the Deathless returns as a major threat.
✅ The Night Court is dealing with “recent betrayals and revealed truths.”
✅ A Court of Forgotten Melody teases “nightmares of the past.”
And this is still not confirmed:
❌ The main POV of Book 6 or Book 7.
❌ Whether Elain, Nesta, Gwyn or Emerie leads the story.
❌ Whether the Bone Carver or the Weaver return.
❌ Whether the “nightmares of the past” are connected to the Daglan/Asteri.
❌ How the unresolved relationships involving Elain, Lucien, Azriel and Gwyn will play out.
Sources to trust: Sarah J. Maas’s official social media, Call Her Daddy Interview, and official Bloomsbury information.
Will There Be More ACOTAR Books After Book 7?
Yes. The Valkyrie Cycle does not end with A Court of Forgotten Melody. The connected story has four movements, and Movement IV will be published in a later physical ACOTAR book. Its title and release date have not yet been announced.
That means at least one more ACOTAR release is already built into this storyline after Book 7.
What Other Books Is Sarah J. Maas Working On?
For now, the clearest publishing focus is The Valkyrie Cycle. Beyond ACOTAR, Maas has also confirmed that there will eventually be a fourth Crescent City book, although no release date has been announced.
A concrete Throne of Glass continuation has not been officially announced. Older comments and abandoned project clues continue to fuel speculation about future worlds or returns, but those remain separate from what is confirmed for the new ACOTAR arc.
FAQs Quickfire
Q: When is ACOTAR 6 coming out?
A: A Court of Splintered Harmony releases on October 27, 2026.
Q: When is ACOTAR 7 coming out?
A: A Court of Forgotten Melody releases on January 12, 2027.
Q: What is The Valkyrie Cycle?
A: It is the name of the new connected ACOTAR story arc. Movement I appears in Book 6, Movements II & III in Book 7, and Movement IV will follow in a later book.
Q: Who is ACOTAR 6 about?
A: The main POV has not been officially confirmed. The name The Valkyrie Cycle strongly suggests that the Valkyries will be important, but it does not identify a single lead character.
Q: Is Koschei the main villain?
A: Koschei is now officially confirmed as a major threat in the new storyline.
Q: What are the “nightmares of the past”?
A: We do not know yet. The phrase appears in the material for A Court of Forgotten Melody, but the identity of those threats has not been revealed.
Q: Is Elain the main POV?
A: Not confirmed. Elain remains a major unresolved character, but Maas has not announced that A Court of Splintered Harmony is her book.
Q: Will there be another ACOTAR book after Book 7?
A: Yes. Movement IV of The Valkyrie Cycle will be published in a later physical book.
Q: Will there be another Crescent City crossover?
A: Possibly, especially after House of Flame and Shadow, but the new ACOTAR descriptions do not confirm another crossover.
Whatever happens I cannot wait for the next ACOTAR. I have just finished Silver Flames and at times it took my breath away. Am going to start on Crescent City now while I wait as I cannot do without. (I might add I am 70 years old and absolutely loving them) What an amazingly fabulous writer Sarah Maas is.
Silver Flames is breathtaking, and it’s proof that great stories have no age limit! Crescent City is an amazing next step, but if you haven’t read Throne of Glass yet, I’d gently recommend that one first — it’s a complete, epic journey and makes the Maas-verse even richer. Either way: welcome to the joy of never wanting to leave Sarah J. Maas’s worlds ✨