It's official. We're impatient.
Ever since Sarah J. Maas appeared on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast, the ACOTAR fandom has been hanging on every word. She confirmed the next book is arriving on 27 October, admitted there are still plenty of things she "can't say" just yet, and revealed the story became "really, really, really big" while she was writing it. In other words, she gave us just enough information to get excited... and nowhere near enough to stop us refreshing Instagram every morning in the hope of a cover reveal.
It's 7 July, which means there are just 112 days until ACOTAR 6 arrives. If you've been putting off starting the series because you think you've left it too late, think again. The first five books total roughly 2,800 pages, which works out to just 25 pages a day between now and release day. That's a couple of chapters before bed or a quick lunch break read, so if you've been waiting for a sign to finally visit Prythian, this is it.
Whether you're a longtime member of the Night Court or someone who's still wondering what all the fuss is about, here's everything you need to know before ACOTAR 6 finally lands on our shelves.
Wait... what's ACOTAR?
If you've somehow managed to avoid the ACOTAR (pronounced ay-koh-tar) phenomenon, first of all... where have you been?
'A Court of Thorns and Roses' begins as a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast. A teenage huntress named Feyre kills what she thinks is a wolf in the woods, only to discover it was actually a Fae. As punishment, she's taken across the wall into the magical land of Prythian, where she quickly learns that monsters aren't always what they seem, fairy tales are a whole lot more complicated than she imagined and the Fae males (not to be confused with fairies - they're FAE) are all tall, immortal and insanely handsome.
What starts as a simple romantasy soon transforms into an epic series filled with dangerous magic, political intrigue, found family, impossible choices, unforgettable villains and enough emotional damage to keep therapists in business for years - proven by the fact that it's been five years since the last book released and I'm still massively emotionally invested.
Oh, and all the impossibly attractive Fae males are around 500 years old. We'll just... skip over that part.
ACOTAR has become one of the biggest fantasy series in the world for a reason. For me it was 'A Court of Mist and Fury' that fully hooked my love of the series, it is one of my all time favourite books and once you fall into Prythian, there's really no going back.
Where are the updates?!
Where's the title? Where's the cover? Where's the blurb? We'll take literally anything at this point.
During her recent appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Sarah J. Maas admitted there are still things she simply "can't say," including the title of the next ACOTAR book. We get it... but that doesn't mean we're going to stop asking.
I mean, look at what Rebecca Yarros just did to the Empyrean fandom. She posted the caption: "Pardon my niece's face while she's reading NOT BOOK FOUR, but she just got to the part where Ridoc..." and then... stopped. Reddit exploded, theories flooded in and everyone (ourselves included) has been asking the same question ever since: WHERE RIDOC WHAAAAT!?
That's all we're asking for, Sarah. One cryptic sentence. One mysterious Instagram post. Give the ACOTAR fandom something to spiral over.
Instead, Bloomsbury announced a gorgeous new ACOTAR hardback box set. And yes... of course I'm buying it. But I don't need another edition. I need updates.
Actually, that's a lie.
Please release special editions inspired by each of the seven courts with incredible sprayed edges, foiling and illustrated endpapers. Seriously. Take my money.
Just... maybe give us the ACOTAR 6 cover first.
Sarah also shared on Call Her Daddy that the story she'd been working on became "really, really, really big," which explains why so many fans believe we're about to embark on an entirely new chapter of the ACOTAR world. If it means getting the story exactly as she wants to tell it, we'll happily wait a little longer... although a cover reveal would definitely make that easier.
Spoiler Alert: The fandom has theories...
With Sarah revealing almost nothing, fans have taken matters into their own hands. She even laughed when asked who the next book is about, simply saying she "can't say," and that's all the internet needed to launch months of detective work.
Is it finally Elain's book?
This is by far the biggest theory in the fandom. Many readers believe the next book will finally focus on Elain Archeron after she spent much of the series quietly in the background. Fans think we'll discover her Seer abilities are far more powerful than we've been led to believe, and that she's been keeping much more to herself than anyone realises. Of course, Sarah J. Maas hasn't confirmed this, so the identity of the next protagonist remains one of the biggest mysteries surrounding ACOTAR 6.
The love triangle is finally coming to an end
If the next book is Elain's story, readers are convinced the Elain, Azriel and Lucien love triangle will finally be resolved. Will Elain choose Azriel? Will she accept the mating bond with Lucien? Could Sarah J. Maas completely surprise everyone and have Elain choose neither? Every interaction from previous books has been analysed to death, and the fandom has no shortage of opinions. Or, knowing Sarah, she'll somehow make things even messier.
Lucien's story is much bigger than romance
Another popular theory is that Lucien's future has very little to do with who he ends up with. Fans believe his complicated ties to multiple courts, combined with his secret parentage, are setting him up to become one of Prythian's most important political figures. Some even think he'll eventually lead a court of his own.
Koschei is finally stepping into the spotlight
Hybern may be gone, but readers are convinced the real villain has been hiding in plain sight all along. Koschei has lingered in the background for several books, and many fans believe ACOTAR 6 is where he'll finally become the central threat. Between Vassa, the Mortal Queens and all the unanswered questions surrounding him, there's simply too much left unresolved for Sarah J. Maas to ignore.
Then there's Tamiln...
Some fans are convinced he's heading for a redemption arc. Personally? I'm firmly on Team There's No Way Back for Tamlin. After everything that's happened, I'm hoping he gets exactly what's coming to him. Then again... if anyone can completely change my mind about a character, it's Sarah J. Maas.
What will it be called?
Another thing Sarah refused to reveal during the interview was the title, repeatedly saying she simply "can't say." Naturally, that hasn't stopped the fandom from coming up with its own ideas.
Popular predictions include 'A Court of Seers', 'A Court of Prophecy', 'A Court of Embers', 'A Court of Dusk' and 'A Court of Blossoms', with each theory linking to Elain, the Dusk Court or the next stage of the story. There have been some gorgeous fan-made covers too!
Will any of them be right?
Probably not.
But guessing is half the fun.
What to read while we're (im)patiently waiting for ACOTAR 6
If you've already reread ACOTAR for the fifth time and need something to fill the void until October, here are five romantasy recommendations I think you'll love:
'The Empyrean' series by Rebecca Yarros
If you're looking for another series that completely takes over your life, this is it. Dragons, deadly trials, enemies-to-lovers romance, unforgettable friendships and enough jaw-dropping twists to leave you speechless. The fandom is every bit as passionate as the ACOTAR community, making this the perfect series to devour while you count down to October.
'Quicksilver' by Callie Hart
If it's the irresistible chemistry, morally questionable characters and addictive fae romance that keep you coming back to ACOTAR, add this to the top of your TBR. Packed with sharp banter, dangerous magic and a slow-burn romance that has taken BookTok by storm, it's one of the hottest romantasy reads of the past year.
'Throne of Glass' by Sarah J. Maas
If you haven't read Sarah J. Maas' first fantasy series yet, now is the perfect time. Follow assassin Celaena Sardothien on an epic journey filled with magic, unforgettable friendships, incredible character growth and some of the best plot twists in fantasy.
'Malachite' by Ashley Andersen
One of our favourite Kiwi romantasy reads of the year. With irresistible slow-burn tension, rich world-building, unforgettable chemistry and plenty of twists, it's fast becoming a must-read for ACOTAR fans. If you're looking for your next romantasy obsession, this is it.
'A Daughter of Smoke and Bone' by Laini Taylor
If you loved the magical world-building, slow-burn romance and unforgettable characters in ACOTAR, this is an absolute must-read. Expect angels, monsters, forbidden love and one of the most beautifully written fantasy worlds you'll ever visit.
The countdown is on...
Until Sarah J. Maas or Bloomsbury finally give us another crumb that isn't actually just a clickbait ad of the OG series (I'm looking at you Bloomsbury), we'll keep doing what ACOTAR fans do best: refreshing Instagram, scrolling Reddit, discussing theories and convincing ourselves every mysterious post is secretly the cover reveal.
Sarah, if you're reading this... We'll happily take the title. Or the cover. Or even just one tiny cryptic teaser.
We're not picky.