We know, we know. It feels premature to be theorising about ACOTAR book seven before book six has even hit shelves, but hear us out. Sarah J. Maas has sent our fantasy-obsessed brains into overdrive, with the news that she's much further along with the seventh instalment than first thought. In fact, not only does it have a cover and a title (more on that below), but it's set for release in just six months.
So without further ado, everything we know about ACOTAR book seven, below.
What is ACOTAR book seven called?
Book seven is called A Court of Forgotten Melody — The Valkyrie Cycle: Movements II & III.
In addition to the title, we have also received a glimpse at the cover, which features shades of teal green and warm yellow. It also features what some people believe is a Stygian spider – a creature from the Throne of Glass universe.
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What will A Court of Forgotten Melody be about?
Thankfully, we now have an official synopsis to help answer that question. It reads:
"What was lost will be reclaimed.
Prythian might never be the same again. Traditional alliances are crumbling, and no amount of diplomacy seems sufficient to repair them. With the continued threat of Koschei the Deathless on the horizon, a united front is crucial—and farther out of reach than it has ever been before.
Bonds will be tested. Power will shift. And old enemies will emerge from nightmares of the past.
As the Night Court’s Inner Circle disperses far and wide, desperate for any advantage against Koschei and his mighty allies, peace hangs by a fragile thread. But hope can be spun from the darkest of shadows, and the Night Court has its own part to play in the looming crescendo.
A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody together begin The Valkyrie Cycle, a continuation of the ACOTAR series."
Book seven is nearly three times as long as book six
Yes, this is one big story.
The official Australian publisher, Bloomsbury, currently lists ACOTAR 6 at 352 pages, and ACOTAR 7 at 928 pages.
Maas did warn us it would be long. Speaking to Alex Cooper on an episode of Call Her Daddy, she said, “The story that was finally ready to come out of me was big. Really, really, really big."
And it's not the end of the ACOTAR story
A Court of Forgotten Melody isn't the conclusion of the ACOTAR arc.
Maas has revealed that A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody are part of one enormous story, divided into four movements. Book six covers Movement I, while book seven contains Movements II and III. A fourth movement is still to come.
She explained it more fully on Call Her Daddy, saying: “Part one was this huge, huge thing. And then I realised it was gonna be four parts. A book told in four parts. So then I wrote part two, and part three. And those were really fucking long. And... then part four has yet to be written because right now I’m trying to just get part one, which is out in October. And then parts two and three to be out in January is like one combined thing. So it’s basically gonna be, like, three physical volumes, but it's like one thing altogether that no amount of glue in, like, any publisher’s factory could ever like hold this.”
When does ACOTAR book seven come out?
On January 12, 2027. Before that, we'll be devouring book six, on October 27, 2026.
Who will A Court of Forgotten Melody be about? These are the theories
The official synopsis doesn't name a protagonist, and Sarah J. Maas hasn't confirmed which character (or characters) it will focus on.
If we subscribe to one of the fandom's longest-running theories that Elain will finally get her book with A Court of Splintered Harmony (i.e. book six), that leaves the question: who gets book seven?
One possibility is Nesta. A Court of Silver Flames introduced her to the Valkyries alongside Gwyn and Emerie. With book seven covering Movements II and III of the Valkyrie cycle, we could see Nesta's story continue as the conflict with Koschei escalates.
There's also Azriel. If Elain's story is book six, book seven could finally turn the spotlight on the Shadowsinger. This would also force us to confront the question of whether he's destined for Elain, Gwyn or neither.
Lucien could also be involved in the next phase of the story. His connection to Elain could pull him further into the political machinations surrounding the Autumn Court, while his complicated history with Tamlin leaves plenty of loose ends to explore.
Will this be the book that connects the ACOTAR universe to Throne of Glass?
When the cover art for the book dropped, it sent fans into a spiral as the black sketch appears to depict a Stygian spider. If you're a patron of all of Sarah J. Maas' work, you will recognise Stygian spiders as a crucial icon of the Throne of Glass series.
It has fans wondering if this could be a the book that more deeply connects the ACOTAR universe into those of Throne of Glass and Crescent City.
Spoilers ahead. Throne of Glass readers will know the moment we had a view into the Night Court and Rhysand. And Crescent City readers will be familiar with the characters that crossover. But is this perhaps the first time we see Throne of Glass or Crescent City leak into ACOTAR?
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