Last updated: March 31, 2026
Sarah J. Maas confirmed it on Call Her Daddy on March 4, 2026: ACOTAR 6 arrives October 27, 2026. ACOTAR 7 follows January 12, 2027. And an eighth book is already being written.
After five years of waiting since A Court of Silver Flames, we finally have dates, a timeline, and enough confirmed details to separate what's real from what's still fandom theory. This page is our running record of everything announced, everything leaked, and everything still unconfirmed. We'll update it every time news drops, cover reveals, title announcements, preorder updates, all of it.
For the full series reading order including all novellas and bonus chapters, start with our Complete ACOTAR Reading Order. Looking for something to read while you wait? We have a full guide for that too.
The Confirmed Release Dates
ACOTAR 6: October 27, 2026 ACOTAR 7: January 12, 2027 ACOTAR 8: In development, no release date yet
All three books are part of one continuous story. Maas explained on Call Her Daddy that when she sat down to write ACOTAR 6, the story expanded far beyond a single book. By the time she finished part one, it was already over 400 pages. The full narrative is structured in four parts across three books: part one is Book 6, parts two and three are bundled into Book 7, and part four (still being written) will become Book 8.
Maas was emphatic about not making readers wait between installments. The back-to-back release schedule, with only 11 weeks between Books 6 and 7, is intentional. She described the first two books as one massive story that she wanted in readers' hands as quickly as possible.
What We Know About the Writing Timeline
Maas posted an Instagram reel in July 2025 closing a notebook and opening sparkling wine. Her signal to fans that the first draft of ACOTAR 6 was complete. She had previously mentioned heading north "to write for a while" in April 2024, with ACOTAR hashtags in the caption.
On Call Her Daddy, she described the writing process as long and deliberate. She said it took time to find the right story and to be in the right headspace to write it. When the story was finally ready, it came out of her in a way that surprised her, and kept expanding beyond what she'd planned.
The rapid progression from a completed first draft in July 2025 to confirmed release dates in October 2026 and January 2027 suggests that both Books 6 and 7 are likely deep in the editing process. Book 8, which represents the fourth and final part of this story arc, is still being written.
Preorder Information
Preorders for ACOTAR 6 are now live. As of March 2026, the book is available in hardcover only. No paperback thus far but, Kindle, and audiobook editions have been listed yet.
Confirmed preorder details:
Both books are listed as untitled. No covers have been revealed. Preorders are available through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and independent bookstores. If you prefer to support an independent bookstore, many are already taking preorders and planning midnight release events.
Planning your ACOTAR Listen? Libro.fm is offering two free audiobooks when you sign up with the code SWITCH which means you can preorder the ACOTAR 6 and 7 audiobooks the moment they're available and support an independent bookstore while you do it. If you're already a member, your monthly credits work for preorders too. Sign up for Libro.fm and get two free audiobooks
Title, Cover, and Blurb
Title: Not yet announced Cover: Not yet revealed Blurb: Not yet released
Maas did not share any of these details on Call Her Daddy. Historically, Bloomsbury reveals covers and titles a few months before publication which would put a reveal somewhere between June and August 2026 for the October release. We'll update this page the moment anything is announced.
Every previous ACOTAR title has followed the "A Court of (noun) and (noun)" pattern. Fan speculation on the title is already running hot, but nothing has leaked or been confirmed.
Who Is the Main Character?
Maas has not officially confirmed whose perspective ACOTAR 6 will follow. But the evidence points strongly in one direction.
The ACOTAR series has been structured around the three Archeron sisters. Books 1–3 followed Feyre. Book 5 followed Nesta. Elain is the last sister without her own full story, and her arc has been quietly building since A Court of Silver Flames. The Azriel bonus chapter from ACOSF, in which Rhysand intervenes to stop a moment between Azriel and Elain, is widely considered the most significant piece of setup for whatever comes next.
Maas has described this series as being about women finding their power, and Elain is the Archeron sister whose power remains the most unexplored. She's a Seer with abilities that have barely been examined on the page, and her love triangle with Azriel and Lucien is the longest-running unresolved romantic thread in the series.
Maas herself has been carefully noncommittal neither confirming nor denying. But the structural logic of the series, combined with the setup in ACOSF, makes Elain the overwhelming favorite.
Do You Need to Read Crescent City Before ACOTAR 6?
The short answer: it's not required, but it's strongly recommended.
House of Flame and Shadow, the third Crescent City book, connects directly to the ACOTAR world in ways that go far beyond a wink or an Easter egg. Without spoiling the specifics, characters from Prythian appear in Crescent City. Events that happen in HOFAS have consequences that carry into ACOTAR's world. Bloomsbury has explicitly recommended reading ACOTAR before Crescent City, and Maas herself has said the worlds are connected.
Going into ACOTAR 6 without that context won't ruin the book, Maas is careful about making her series accessible on their own. But readers who've read the full Crescent City trilogy will have a much richer understanding of what's happening and why certain things matter.
If you have time before October, the Crescent City reading order is straightforward: House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, House of Flame and Shadow. It's three books, and they're long (each one is around 800 pages), so plan accordingly.
We're publishing a full Crescent City deep dive series starting in May, chapter-by-chapter recaps, ACOTAR connection breakdowns, and a dedicated post on exactly what you need to know from Crescent City before ACOTAR 6. Subscribe to The Weekly Bookmark to get those posts when they drop.
What About the Elriel vs. Elucien Debate?
This is the question that has sustained five years of fandom discourse, and ACOTAR 6 will almost certainly answer it.
The two camps: Elain and Azriel (Elriel) versus Elain and Lucien (Elucien). The mating bond established in A Court of Wings and Ruin connects Elain to Lucien. But the Azriel bonus chapter, the unresolved tension, and Elain's own apparent discomfort with the bond have created a genuine debate about where Maas is taking this.
Both outcomes have textual support. Maas has built the ambiguity deliberately, and it seems likely that part of ACOTAR 6's plot will involve resolving, or at least reframing, this triangle. Whether that means a rejected mating bond, a deeper exploration of what bonds actually mean, or something else entirely is one of the biggest open questions heading into October.
For a deep dive into Elain's story so far, read our full Elain Archeron guide.
Theories and Predictions for ACOTAR 6
Nothing here is confirmed. These are the fan theories with the strongest textual support heading into October.
Elain's Seer powers will be central to the plot. Elain's abilities as a Seer have been mentioned repeatedly but never fully explored. She sees visions of the future, but we don't know the limits, the costs, or what happens when she tries to use them deliberately. ACOTAR 6 is widely expected to be the book where we finally understand what Elain can actually do, and why her powers might be more dangerous than anyone realized.
The mating bond will be tested. The bond between Elain and Lucien has been one of the most uncomfortable threads in the series. Elain doesn't want it. Lucien is respectful but clearly affected by it. Whether ACOTAR 6 breaks the bond, redefines what bonds mean, or forces Elain to confront it directly is one of the biggest open questions. The Azriel bonus chapter suggests Maas isn't taking the easy road here.
Koschei is coming. The death god who has been lurking in the background since A Court of Wings and Ruin. Koschei is connected to Vassa, to Bryaxis, and potentially to threats that extend beyond Prythian. If ACOTAR 6 introduces a new Big Bad, Koschei is the leading candidate, and his story ties into Slavic mythology in ways that Maas has been seeding for years.
The Dread Trove will matter again. The Dread Trove, the Crown, the Harp, and the Mask was a central plot element in A Court of Silver Flames. Nesta's connection to these objects was explored but not fully resolved. With a new story arc spanning three books, the Trove is likely to resurface in ways that connect to whatever Elain (or whoever the protagonist is) needs to accomplish.
We'll update this section as new theories emerge and as Maas drops hints. For now, these are the threads worth paying attention to.
The TV Adaptation: Where Does It Stand?
The ACOTAR television adaptation is effectively on pause. Maas confirmed on Call Her Daddy that she has bought back the rights to all of her novels. This is a significant development after the original Hulu adaptation, announced in 2021 with Outlander showrunner Ronald D. Moore, stalled and eventually fell apart.
Maas was clear that any future adaptation will be under her creative control. She described wanting to be involved in every aspect of how the story gets translated to screen, and said she does not want the adaptation to be altered to appeal to demographics beyond the existing fanbase.
For now, her priority is finishing the books. With ACOTAR 6, 7, and 8 all in various stages of completion, a TV adaptation is likely years away. Realistically we are looking at 2028 or 2029 at the earliest, and only if production begins after Book 8 is complete.
What to Expect Next
Here's a rough timeline of announcements we're watching for:
Spring/Summer 2026: Title and cover reveal for ACOTAR 6. This is when Bloomsbury typically reveals covers, and it will be the next major news event for the fandom. We'll publish a reaction post within hours of the announcement.
Summer 2026: Possible blurb, excerpt, or early reviews. Maas may also confirm whether audiobook editions will be available at launch.
October 27, 2026: ACOTAR 6 release day. Hardcover confirmed. Other formats TBD.
Late 2026: Title and cover reveal for ACOTAR 7 (likely around or shortly after Book 6's release).
January 12, 2027: ACOTAR 7 release day.
TBD: ACOTAR 8 announcement and release date, this depends on when Maas finishes writing part four.
How to Prepare for ACOTAR 6
If you haven't read the series in a while, or if you've never read it, here's where to start:
Read or reread the full series in publication order. Our Complete ACOTAR Reading Order covers every book, novella, and bonus chapter.
Read the Azriel bonus chapter from A Court of Silver Flames. If your copy doesn't include it, it's worth tracking down before October. It's likely the single most important piece of context for wherever ACOTAR 6 is going.
Where to Find the Azriel Bonus Chapter
The Azriel POV bonus chapter from A Court of Silver Flames is one of the most important pieces of context heading into ACOTAR 6. It's the scene that changed everything. Azriel and Elain alone in the river house on Winter Solstice night, the gift exchange, the almost-kiss, and Rhysand's intervention that shut it all down. If you've been in the fandom, you know exactly which scene this is. If you haven't read it, you need to before October.
This chapter does several things that matter for ACOTAR 6. It confirms that Azriel's feelings for Elain are not subtle or passing, they're consuming. It shows that Elain reciprocates in ways she hasn't expressed around anyone else. It reveals that Rhysand is actively opposed to them being together, invoking the political consequences of Elain rejecting her mating bond with Lucien. And it ends with Azriel alone, holding a gift he bought for Elain and redirecting it to someone else. A moment that tells you everything about where his head is.
The bonus chapter was originally exclusive to the Books-a-Million edition of ACOSF. It's also included in some international editions and special printings. If your copy doesn't include it, check whether your edition lists the bonus content on the copyright page. Some readers have found it in the Target exclusive edition as well.
We won't reproduce the chapter here, it's SJM's copyrighted work and we respect that. But we'll say this: the chapter fundamentally reframes the Elain-Azriel-Lucien dynamic and is almost certainly the single most important setup for wherever ACOTAR 6 is going. If you read one thing before October beyond the main series, make it this.
For a full breakdown of what the bonus chapter means for Elain's story, see our Elain Archeron guide.
Consider reading Crescent City before October. House of Flame and Shadow connects directly to the ACOTAR world, and going into Book 6 with that context fresh may matter more than it did for previous installments. We're publishing a full Crescent City deep dive series starting in May if you want guided recaps instead of a full reread.
For a full list of books to read while you wait, including Maasverse and non-Maas recommendations, check out What to Read While You Wait for ACOTAR 6.
What We're Publishing Before October
We're building a full content cluster around the ACOTAR 6 release. Here's what's coming:
Crescent City Deep Dive Series (May–July): Book-by-book recaps with chapter callouts and a dedicated ACOTAR connections breakdown for each book. If you need a refresher before October, this is it.
"Do You Need to Read Crescent City Before ACOTAR 6?": A standalone guide covering exactly what connects and what you'll miss if you skip it.
Elain Archeron: Powers, Theories & Everything We Know: An expanded deep dive into the character everyone expects to lead ACOTAR 6.
ACOTAR Series Recap: The key plot threads across all five books that matter heading into Book 6. For readers who finished the series years ago and need a refresher without rereading 2,000+ pages.
Cover and title reaction post: The moment Bloomsbury announces, we'll have a breakdown live within hours.
Subscribe to The Weekly Bookmark so you don't miss any of it.
FAQ
When does ACOTAR 6 come out? October 27, 2026. Confirmed by Sarah J. Maas on Call Her Daddy, March 4, 2026.
When does ACOTAR 7 come out? January 12, 2027. Also confirmed on Call Her Daddy.
Will there be an ACOTAR 8? Yes. Maas confirmed that Book 8 is in development. It represents part four of the story that begins in Book 6. No release date has been announced.
What is ACOTAR 6 about? No official blurb has been released. The leading fan theory is that the book follows Elain Archeron, the last sister without a full story. Maas has not confirmed or denied this.
Is there a title for ACOTAR 6? Not yet. Maas did not share a title on Call Her Daddy. Titles are typically revealed alongside cover art a few months before release.
Can I preorder ACOTAR 6? Yes. Preorders are live through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and independent bookstores. As of March 2026, only hardcover editions are available. The US hardcover is priced at $32.00.
Are ACOTAR 6 and 7 the same story? Yes. Maas described the books as one massive story split into parts. Book 6 is part one, Book 7 contains parts two and three, and Book 8 will be part four.
What happened to the ACOTAR TV show? The Hulu adaptation, announced in 2021, is no longer in development. Maas has bought back the rights to all of her novels and plans to maintain creative control over any future adaptation. No new network or streaming partner has been announced.
What should I read before ACOTAR 6? At minimum, the full ACOTAR series (Books 1–5) plus the Azriel bonus chapter. Crescent City is recommended but not required. See our ACOTAR Reading Order for the complete guide.
This page is updated every time new information is announced. Bookmark it, and check back when news drops. Next expected update: title and cover reveal (estimated Summer 2026).
