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It has been five long years since readers last set foot in Prythian, but Sarah J. Maas is making up for lost time in a big way. Following initial confirmation earlier this year that more instalments were in development, we now have the official titles, covers, release dates, and story synopses for the next two novels in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
The news was revealed across social media alongside physical billboards in New York, Los Angeles, and Denver. Published by Bloomsbury Publishing, these two upcoming releases signal the start of a fresh story arc currently referred to in series coverage as the Valkyrie Cycle.
Book Six: A Court of Splintered Harmony
The sixth book in the series, titled A Court of Splintered Harmony, is scheduled for publication on 27 October 2026. Arriving with a pink and orange cover design, the book carries the central tagline: “What was broken will be remade.”
According to the official synopsis, the plot turns back toward the ongoing threat lurking on the continent. Koschei the Deathless, who has spent millennia bound to a mountain lake, is beginning to stir once more. His insidious influence is creeping across Fae lands, drawing powerful allies who hope to reclaim human territory. Meanwhile, Prythian remains fractured following the ruinous Hybern War, making any attempt at a unified front difficult.
The rulers and guardians of the Night Court are dealing with internal rifts of their own, sparked by recent betrayals and newly uncovered truths. To have any chance of standing against Koschei’s rising shadow, the Night Court will have to mend these internal fractures and rebuild their past alliances before the continent falls.
Book Seven: A Court of Forgotten Melody
Rather than making readers wait another several years for the continuation, the seventh book will follow a mere three months later. A Court of Forgotten Melody is set to arrive on 12 January 2027, featuring an orange and teal ombré cover. Its pairing tagline reads: “What was lost will be reclaimed.”
The story description for the seventh entry paints an even more precarious picture for Prythian. Traditional political ties are collapsing, and diplomatic efforts are failing to hold the realm together as Koschei’s power grows. With peace hanging by a thread, members of the Night Court’s Inner Circle scatter far across the world in search of any advantage against Koschei and his formidable new allies.
Interestingly, the blurb highlights that old enemies will re-emerge from the past, while hinting that the Night Court still has a critical role to play in an approaching crescendo. Given that phrasing, it seems highly likely that this pair of novels will build toward further entries in the series rather than wrapping up the narrative completely.
What This Means for Fantasy Publishing
Releasing two major hardbacks in the span of twelve weeks is an aggressive strategy from Bloomsbury, but it reflects the unprecedented commercial footprint of the series. For readers looking for the best fantasy books of the coming years, this double-header dominates the autumn and winter schedules.
It also mirrors broader industry trends where publishers roll out back-to-back releases to maintain audience momentum. We have seen similar scheduling ambitions when tracking massive 2026 publishing plans across the wider genre, as publishers adapt to high demand from hyper-engaged online fanbases.
If you are catching up on the series or keeping track of how the narrative threads fit together, keeping an eye on the core cast’s fractured relationships after the Hybern War will be key. With Koschei finally taking centre stage as the primary antagonist, the stage is set for a chaotic winter in Prythian.
