What did Sarah J. Maas's ACOTAR Instagram post mean?

In July 2025, Maas posted a video closing a notebook with ACOTAR written on it and what appeared to be either an arrow or the numbers 6-8. Alex Cooper asked her directly on Call Her Daddy. It was a 6 with an arrow pointing forward. Maas confirmed the confusion was unintentional and blamed her handwriting.

Is Elain going to reject her mating bond with Lucien in ACOTAR 6?

Maas did not answer directly but addressed the concept on Call Her Daddy. She described Elain as someone processing enormous trauma — being forcibly transformed, losing her human life, and bound to a stranger involved in the events that changed her. She framed it as a question of free will: does nature always get it right? She said she finds the tension genuinely interesting to explore. Team Elriel and Team Elucien remain at war.

Is the Azriel bonus chapter from ACOSF canon?

The Azriel bonus chapter, briefly included in some editions of A Court of Silver Flames before being removed, showed him almost kissing Elain before Rhysand intervened. It is considered canonical by most of the fandom. Maas did not address it specifically on Call Her Daddy, but her comments on Elain's mating bond are being widely read as a significant hint.

What is Elain's power in ACOTAR?

Elain was Made into a Fae in the Cauldron alongside her sisters, but unlike Feyre and Nesta her powers remain largely unexplored. She has visions, some of which come true, and a mysterious connection to growing things. Many fans theorize her abilities go far deeper than what has been shown on the page.

What did Sarah J. Maas say about Lorcan on Call Her Daddy?

Alex Cooper asked what Lorcan did. Maas said someone had only recently explained the fan theory to her and she still does not know how she feels about it. She teased a potential surprise bonus content release for fans someday but gave no confirmation or timeline.

Sarah J. Maas Announced Two New ACOTAR Books on Call Her Daddy Release Dates, POV & More

Q: When does ACOTAR 6 come out?

The first volume releases October 27, 2026. The second volume, containing parts two and three of the story, releases January 12, 2027. Part four is still being written and will follow at a later date.

Q: Is ACOTAR 6 Elain's book?

Maas did not confirm the POV character by name on Call Her Daddy. She called it one of the surprising things about what came out and declined to reveal it. Elain Archeron is the overwhelming fan assumption and the only Archeron sister without her own full-length story. Her unresolved mating bond with Lucien and her connection to Azriel have been building since A Court of Wings and Ruin.

Updated: March 4, 2026, Sarah J. Maas just appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast with Alex Cooper, and the internet is not okay. Here's everything she revealed, plus answers to every question the ACOTAR fandom has been screaming into the void for five years.

It finally happened. Five years after A Court of Silver Flames hit shelves in February 2021, Sarah J. Maas sat down with Alex Cooper on Call Her Daddy and if you're reading this, you already know things got interesting. Below is everything we know about ACOTAR 6, the Maasverse announcements from tonight's episode, and what it all means for readers.

What Sarah J. Maas Announced on Call Her Daddy Tonight

Two new ACOTAR books. Back to back. The first drops October 27, 2026. The second follows on January 12, 2027. And they are not two separate books in the traditional sense. They are one enormous, single story that could not fit inside a single physical volume.

We knew going in that this was not just a casual interview. The episode description briefly posted to YouTube before being quietly deleted read: "SJM shares the exclusive announcement that new ACOTAR books are coming, answers the internet's burning questions." New ACOTAR books, plural. The fandom noticed. Tonight we found out exactly what that meant.

The Release Dates: October 27, 2026 and January 12, 2027

This is not a typical two-book announcement. Maas was explicit about what's happening: one massive, four-part story told across two physical volumes released eight weeks apart. Part one arrives October 27, 2026. Parts two and three arrive together on January 12, 2027. Part four has yet to be written.

She described the story as something that poured out of her unexpectedly while writing in Montana last summer. By the time she finished part one, it was already 400 pages. Parts two and three were, in her words, "really fucking long." The January volume will contain both of them combined. "No amount of glue in any publisher's factory could ever hold this," she said.

The back-to-back release was a deliberate decision. Maas said she couldn't stomach the idea of making readers wait a year between parts: "I could not live with the idea of publishing part one and then being like, yeah, wait a year...I was like, no. I want that in everyone's hands." The intent is for the full story to be read as one "massive, massive story as opposed to a trilogy."

There will be, she confirmed, a lot of ACOTAR in a very short time.

How Big Is This Book?

Very. Part one alone is approximately 400 pages. Parts two and three are each described as "really fucking long." Part four is still being written. By Maas's own description, the complete story across all volumes is one of the biggest things she has ever written. A four-part structure she gave herself permission to follow wherever it led, abandoning traditional format entirely in service of the story.

She has not revealed the title or cover yet. "I'm not gonna tell you the title yet," she said, "or cover any of that. But I've seen some of it."

Whose POV Is ACOTAR 6? The Elain Question

Maas did not confirm the POV character by name on the episode. But given everything else she revealed, Elain remains the overwhelming consensus. Maas herself hinted at this as far back as 2021, saying on Instagram Live that she thought the direction of book 6 "was pretty obvious." In a 2022 LiveTalksLA interview she added: "As soon as Nesta and Elain came back onto the page in A Court of Mist and Fury, I knew that they would have journeys beyond what the readers were seeing." Elain is the last Archeron sister without her own book, sitting at the center of the series' most contested love triangle.

Want the full breakdown on Elain, her powers, and the Elriel vs Elucien debate? We have a complete guide here.

If the slow-burn tension is what keeps you reading, our roundup of the best enemies-to-lovers books has your next read ready.

The ACOTAR TV Adaptation

The show is happening and Maas is heavily involved. She confirmed on Call Her Daddy that she is deeply embedded in the adaptation process and is still searching for the perfect Rhysand. No casting has been announced and no premiere window was given, but the message was clear: she is not handing this world off and walking away. We'll update this section as casting and production news surfaces.

What Did the "6–8" on the Notebook Mean?

The mystery is solved. It was a 6 with an arrow, not the numbers 6 through 8. The arrow pointed forward, toward whatever came next. Given that we now know two volumes are coming back to back, the notation makes perfect sense in retrospect: one story, moving forward at full speed, too big for a single book.

FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About ACOTAR 6

Did Sarah J. Maas confirm ACOTAR 6 on Call Her Daddy?

Yes. Maas confirmed two new ACOTAR books are coming. The first on October 27, 2026 and the second on January 12, 2027. They are one massive four-part story split across two physical volumes, not a traditional duology.

What is the title of ACOTAR 6?

Not yet revealed. Maas said on Call Her Daddy she is not sharing the title or the cover at this time. In October 2024, fan-made covers for a title called A Court of Shaded Truths circulated widely, but these were confirmed to be fan art, not official.

When does ACOTAR 6 come out?

The first volume releases October 27, 2026. The second volume, containing parts two and three of the story, releases January 12, 2027. Part four is still being written and will follow at a later date.

Is ACOTAR 6 Elain's book?

Maas did not confirm the POV character by name. She called it "one of the surprising things" about what came out and declined to reveal it. Elain remains the overwhelming assumption: she is the only Archeron sister without her own full-length story, and her unresolved mating bond with Lucien and her connection to Azriel have been building since A Court of Wings and Ruin.

Does ACOTAR 6 end the series?

No. Maas described this as one massive story needing more than one volume not the conclusion to ACOTAR. Part four has yet to be written. Barnes & Noble listings that surfaced on March 3 suggested additional titles beyond what was announced tonight, so more is coming after this project wraps.

What did Sarah J. Maas's "6–8" Instagram post mean?

In July 2025, Maas posted a video closing a notebook with "ACOTAR" and what appeared to be either an arrow or the numbers "6–8" written on the cover. Alex Cooper asked her directly on Call Her Daddy and it was a 6 with an arrow pointing forward, full stop. Maas blamed her own handwriting: "I guess I have really shitty handwriting. That was not intentional at all."

Is Elain going to reject her mating bond with Lucien?

Maas didn't answer directly, but she addressed it thoughtfully: she described Elain as someone processing enormous trauma, being forcibly transformed, losing her human life, bound to a stranger who was involved in the events that changed her. She framed the mating bond question as one of free will: does nature always get it right? Does it sometimes get it wrong? She finds the tension genuinely interesting to explore. Which, knowing SJM, is about as much of an answer as we're getting before October. Team Elriel and Team Elucien remain at war.

What happened with Azriel in ACOSF? Is his POV chapter canon?

Azriel's bonus chapter briefly included in some editions of A Court of Silver Flames before being pulled showed him almost kissing Elain before Rhysand intervened and ordered him to stand down. It is considered canonical by most of the fandom and is the bedrock of every Elriel theory. Maas did not address the bonus chapter specifically on Call Her Daddy, but her comments on Elain's mating bond situation (above) are being read by the fandom as a significant hint.

What is Elain's power? Is she really just a seer?

Elain was Made into a Fae in the Cauldron alongside her sisters, but unlike Feyre and Nesta, her powers remain largely unexplored. She has visions, some that come true, and a mysterious connection to growing things. Many fans theorize her abilities go far deeper than what's been shown, possibly linked to the Cauldron itself or to something the series hasn't revealed yet.

What is Lorcan's deal? (Alex Cooper asked!)

Lorcan Salvaterre is a warrior and mate to Elide Lochan in Throne of Glass and one of the Maasverse's most unresolved threads. Cooper asked what Lorcan did. Maas said someone had only recently explained the fan theory to her and she still doesn't know how she feels about it. She teased a potential "bonus content, surprise Christmas present" for fans someday. Not a confirmation. Not a denial. Peak SJM.

What is Rhysand's last name?

Still not telling anyone. Maas refused to reveal it, brushing it off: "He's one of one, right?" Five books, countless fan theories, zero answer. The mystery lives on.

Is the ACOTAR TV show still happening?

Yes, and Maas is in the driver's seat. She confirmed she has the rights back to everything describing getting her rights back as "a big part of my journey in recent years" and said she will not settle for anything less than the perfect Rhysand. She has not found him yet. No casting announcements, no premiere window, but her involvement and creative control are non-negotiable.

Where can I watch the Sarah J. Maas Call Her Daddy episode?

The episode is available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Search "Call Her Daddy" wherever you listen. It dropped March 4, 2026 at 8pm ET.

The Timeline That Got Us Here

February 2021: A Court of Silver Flames (Book 5) publishes
January 2024: House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City 3) drops; Maas confirms ACOTAR 6 is next
July 2025: Maas posts Instagram video closing an "ACOTAR 6" notebook and popping champagne (first draft done)
March 2, 2026: Alex Cooper teases her next Call Her Daddy guest by standing in front of a shelf full of SJM books
March 3, 2026: Barnes & Noble listings for three unreleased ACOTAR titles surface online
March 4, 2026: Sarah J. Maas appears on Call Her Daddy...and here we are

Bookmark this post! We're updating it in real time as more details from the episode surface. And if you need something to read while you process whatever just happened check out this weeks new releases, we have you covered.