The long-anticipated return to Prythian is finally on the horizon, promising a narrative scale that dwarfs anything previously seen in the A Court of Thorns and Roses universe. During a viral appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast on March 4, 2026, bestselling author Sarah J. Maas ended years of speculation by confirming that the next chapter of her beloved series is not merely a single book, but a massive, interconnected story spanning multiple installments. Driven by a surge of inspiration that resulted in over 1,000 pages of manuscript, Maas revealed that the project has evolved into a four-part saga. This expansion marks a definitive shift in the series’ architecture, offering fans an ambitious, continuous narrative that explores the depths of her romantasy world with unprecedented breadth and detail.
The Architecture of a New Epic
The upcoming releases represent a departure from the traditional trilogy structure that fans have come to expect. As Maas explained during her conversation with host Alex Cooper, the story grew organically during the writing process, becoming too vast to be contained within a single volume. Rather than trimming the narrative, Maas opted to divide the massive work into parts, ensuring that the sprawling scope of the story remains intact.
This storytelling approach—conceptualized as one “massive, massive story” told across four distinct sections—means that the upcoming books are designed to be read as a cohesive whole. The first part, known colloquially as ACOTAR 6, is slated for release on October 27, 2026, and serves as the opening movement of this expanded tale. It will be followed in quick succession by a second volume on January 12, 2027, which contains the second and third parts of the story.
Charting the Release Timeline
The decision to publish these installments in such close proximity is a departure from the multi-year waits that previously defined the series. Maas noted that the rapid release schedule was a necessity dictated by the story’s own momentum, acknowledging the enthusiasm of a fanbase that has waited over five years for the next entry since the publication of A Court of Silver Flames. While the first two volumes have firmly established release dates, the fourth part of the saga remains in the active writing phase, with no official timeline for its completion.
This staggered rollout allows the author to deliver the massive narrative to readers without compromising the complexity of the plot. For a series that has consistently pushed the boundaries of the romantasy genre, this structure serves as a testament to Maas’ evolving creative process, which prioritizes the integrity of the story’s development over the constraints of a standard publishing cycle.
Navigating the Future of Prythian
Beyond the excitement of the release dates, the interview provided a rare glimpse into the logistical and creative hurdles of maintaining such a popular series. Maas was candid about the transition from writing as a “pantser”—someone who writes without rigid outlines—to managing the intricate demands of a long-running franchise. She emphasized that the story simply “wanted to come out” in this expansive form, a sentiment that resonates with fans who have spent years theorizing about the hidden layers of her world-building.
As the community prepares for the return to Prythian, the focus has naturally shifted to what these new volumes will contain. While plot details remain guarded, the confirmation of a multi-part structure has already sparked intense discussion regarding character arcs, lingering mysteries from the Spring Court, and the direction of the series’ core emotional conflicts. For a fanbase that has remained fiercely loyal through the “ACOTAR Drought,” the arrival of these books signals that the world of Feyre and her inner circle is not only far from finished but is entering its most ambitious chapter yet.
