A Court of Splintered Harmony Sells 1.7 Million Copies in One Day — Sarah J. Maas Smashes Her Own Record by 600%
The sixth ACOTAR book is now on track to be the biggest book launch of 2026 — and it pushed Maas past 100 million books sold worldwide.
Five years of waiting just turned into one of the biggest days in modern publishing. A Court of Splintered Harmony, the sixth book in Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series, sold 1.7 million copies on its release day alone, according to publisher Bloomsbury.
That number is 600% higher than the first-day sales of her last ACOTAR novel, A Court of Silver Flames (2021). The book went on sale at 12:01 a.m. worldwide on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after midnight parties packed bookshops from Washington, D.C. to Auckland.
- 1.7 million copies sold on release day (pre-orders + day-one sales).
- That is 600% more than A Court of Silver Flames sold on its first day.
- The count covers English print and e-books in the US, Canada, UK and Australia only — no audiobooks, no translations.
- Maas has now passed 100 million books sold across her three fantasy series.
- Book 7, A Court of Forgotten Melody, arrives on January 12, 2027.
A Court of Splintered Harmony Sales: The Numbers That Shocked Publishing
Bloomsbury says the 1.7 million figure adds up worldwide pre-orders and first-day sales. It counts English-language print books and e-books sold through big retailers and independent bookshops in four countries. Audiobooks and translated editions are not included — so the real total is even bigger.
Based on these early results, the book is heading to become the biggest book release of 2026, as Variety reported.
What counts in the 1.7 million?
| Format / Market | Counted? |
|---|---|
| English print books | ✅ Yes |
| English e-books | ✅ Yes |
| US, Canada, UK, Australia | ✅ Yes |
| Pre-orders + release-day sales | ✅ Yes |
| Audiobooks | ❌ No |
| Translated editions | ❌ No |
What Sarah J. Maas Said About the Record
When she writes, she only thinks about the characters and the stories she wants to tell — and seeing how much these books mean to so many readers leaves her truly amazed and deeply grateful.
Maas's team also confirmed that, with this release, her books have now sold more than 100 million copies worldwide across her three fantasy series: Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses and Crescent City.
What Is A Court of Splintered Harmony About? (No Spoilers)
The story returns to the Night Court in the land of Prythian, still healing after the Hybern War. Old betrayals have split the people who rule and protect the Night Court. To stop a dark, ancient enemy — Koschei the Deathless — they must find their way back to each other.
The book is called "The Valkyrie Cycle: Movement I". Maas said the new story grew so big that it had to be split. Book 6 holds part one, and book 7, A Court of Forgotten Melody, holds parts two and three.
you loved the Night Court, Nesta's arc in Silver Flames, or you want to join the conversation before book 7 drops in January.
you haven't read books 1–5 yet. Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses — this is an adult series with mature themes.
Midnight Parties, Faerie Ears and Sold-Out Shops
The launch felt like the old Harry Potter nights. Fans wore pointy faerie ears, wings and costumes at midnight events. At Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C., about 70 fans showed up for the store's first-ever midnight release party. In Los Angeles, The Ripped Bodice hosted fire performers.
In New Zealand, Book Hero said it took more than 1,000 pre-orders, and one fan said she travelled from Christchurch just for the launch. Many stores in the US sold out their party tickets days before.
Why this matters for Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury — also the home of Harry Potter — needed a big win. Its first-half revenue slipped 5% this year and adjusted pre-tax profit fell 30%, AFP reported. A record-breaking Maas launch could turn that around.
ACOTAR Books in Order: Full Timeline
A Court of Splintered Harmony: Quick Facts
| Author | Sarah J. Maas |
| Series | A Court of Thorns and Roses — Book 6 |
| Release date | October 27, 2026 |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury |
| Length | 352 pages (hardcover, per retailers) |
| Hardcover price | £25 UK / $32 US (list price at retailers) |
| Next book | A Court of Forgotten Melody — Jan 12, 2027 |
FAQ: A Court of Splintered Harmony
How many copies did A Court of Splintered Harmony sell on day one?
1.7 million copies, counting worldwide pre-orders and release-day sales of English print and e-books in the US, Canada, UK and Australia, according to Bloomsbury.
When was A Court of Splintered Harmony released?
It went on sale at 12:01 a.m. worldwide on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Is A Court of Splintered Harmony the last ACOTAR book?
No. Book 7, A Court of Forgotten Melody, comes out on January 12, 2027, and covers parts two and three of the Valkyrie Cycle.
How many books has Sarah J. Maas sold in total?
More than 100 million copies worldwide across Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses and Crescent City, her team confirmed after this release.
Does the 1.7 million include audiobooks?
No. Audiobooks and translated editions are not part of the 1.7 million figure.
After a five-year wait, A Court of Splintered Harmony sold 1.7 million copies in a single day — six times more than Silver Flames — and pushed Sarah J. Maas past 100 million books sold. With book 7 only eleven weeks away, the ACOTAR frenzy is far from over.
This article is based on a report by Youm7 (اليوم السابع).
Read the original report ↗Additional sources: NPR · AFP via Kuwait Times · 1News · sarahjmaas.com
